Chapter 53

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“I don’t really understand it either. Even when I was in Achaia, I was never this powerful……”

Kwanach slowly bent down and grasped one of the plant stalks in his hand. Then, in a slightly surprised voice, he said.

“It’s amazing. Come over here and touch it. It’s no ordinary plant.”

I quickly crouched down beside Kwanach and put my hand close to the plant I had grown. I could immediately feel its firm texture, as if it were made of steel.

When I patted it with the back of my hand, it was hard enough to hurt my skin.

Yet the weight of the vine was surprisingly light. It was like mithril.

It is a mineral resource whose value is enormous because it is so rare and difficult to mine. Its strength is harder than iron, but it is also as light as a feather, similar to the attributes of mithril.

“Well, that’s strange. How did this happen?”

“Didn’t you intend it?”

“No. I can’t really explain it…it was like an instinctive eruption of power.”

“Is this the first time you’ve used magic like this?”

“I was able to make hard plants even when I was in Achaia. It helped defend the border. But it wasn’t this light…….”

It was a power that came out of nowhere. I hadn’t figured out what kind of power it was yet, but even glancing at it, it seemed to be useful.

“What’s happened lately?”

Kwanach stood up and helped me get up. We walked slowly and sat side by side on the edge of the bed.

I said, suppressing all sorts of confusion deep inside.

“I’ve been lying here for a long time, but since I collapsed I’ve been having dreams.”

“Dreams?”

I hesitated for a moment, and then opened my mouth.

“I heard the Goddess’s voice in my dreams.”

“Did the Goddess of Fahar give you a sign?”

As I was looking back at my memories while explaining to Kwanach, I suddenly remembered a scene.

It was a dream I had while I was wandering between life and death after being poisoned.

It was the first time I heard the voice of the Goddess. I saw the silver forest, and I also saw Kwanach, who existed in the middle of the cold world in a much bleaker form than now.

Why did I have such a dream? I don’t think Kwanach has ever been to the Silver Forest.

I said, staring at Kwanach.

“You know, there’s something a little strange. In a dream …… that I had right after I collapsed, I saw you in the Silver Forest.”

Kwanach’s silent face darkened for a moment.

“Speaking of the Silver Forest… The Silver Forest is in your homeland, isn’t it? I heard it’s called the end of the world.”

“Yes, it’s a place that only the King of Achaia is allowed to enter. Do you know it?”

“I’ve heard rumors. It was the blessing of the Silver Forest that gave you this power.”

“Yes, that’s right. The Founder swore an oath to protect the Silver Forest. In return, the forest bestowed many favors and virtues on the royal family of Achaia.”

As a result, one Awakener per generation was born to protect the kingdom, and the king of Achaia could make a wish on the Silver Forest once in his lifetime.

“I see.”

“But in my dream, I saw you in that forest.”

“I was? That’s strange.”

“Isn’t it? It’s a place where you can’t enter unless you’re the king of Achaia. I went there when I was young and I felt an intangible force pushing me away.”

A dream is something that is far from reality.

“Was it a clue of some kind?”

“It could have been.”

Kwanach’s face was subtly hardened. A subtle tension was evident.

The scene in the room was quite bleak now. The floor was covered with green vines that held magic.

It didn’t really matter how or why my power became stronger. The fact that I now had a powerful power was the most important thing.

I must now use this power properly. In order to do so, I could not sit still like a peacock trapped in a large, glamorous birdcage.

I said, looking up at Kwanach a little nervously.

“Um, did you see that? With this level of power, I can protect myself anywhere.”

“What do you want to say?”

“Let me out of this room, Kwanach. I may be able to help you, and this country, with my power.”

Kwanach closed his mouth tightly and furrowed his brow as if troubled for a moment. Then he said in a low voice.

“Do you really hate being here so much?”

“Yes.”

Kwanach flinched for a moment at my quick answer.

“It’s safe and you have everything you need.”

“That’s why I don’t like it.”

“……. How exactly do you want to help me out when you get out of here?”

“You know I’m useful.”

Kwanach’s pitch black eyebrows furrowed coarsely.

“I’ve never thought of you in connection with practicality. The expression is quite unpleasant.”

“I mean, that’s exactly what it is.”

He flinched at my fierce voice. Unlike how he looked, he was an emotional man.

“And if you let me out first, I’ll know more about what I can do.”

“You have a point.”

“…… and.”

I stared at Kwanach, who sat beside me but did not make contact with me.

“Are you okay with keeping a distance from me?”

His stiff jaw flinched. A hard voice came out.

“No.”

“I don’t want to be cold to you either.”

“…….”

“You said you were okay with me hating you.”

“…… Yes.”

“Lie. You look like you’re about to cry every time.”

“When did I ……?”

“You always did that.”

“…….”

“I miss you too. To spend time like this without being able to hold your hand…you know…….”

“Stop.”

Kwanach interrupted my words and stood up quickly. Then he stood with his back to me. His back, solid and woven with muscle, cramped slightly. His neck was slightly red.

He still looked at the other side and said,

“I’ll think about it.”

“Really?”

But the thought that you might be injured is driving me crazy. I’ll never be able to forgive myself forever.”

“…… Why are you so hard on yourself?”

“…….”

“Don’t you know that this is not your fault either?”

Kwanach seemed to be tormented by the compulsion to keep me safe. The anxiety was eating away at him and distorting him.

“I will leave now. I will call someone to remove this vine.”

Kwanach walked out of the room with a broad stride, not wanting to speak anymore.

* * *

Kwanach hadn’t shown his face for two days since he went out, full of confusion. Does he need time to think? Or is he investigating something?

I waited in the room in silence, as he was never going to break his stubbornness easily. As my strength increased, I didn’t feel as depressed or cramped as I had before.

I could always get out of here if I wanted to.

All I had to do was ask Marianne to find some seeds, fill the main building with vines, subdue the soldiers, and escape. I could have built a wall of plants as hard as mithril in my exit route to prevent them from following me any further.

But I didn’t do that. Getting out of here wasn’t the only thing I wanted. My goal was to untangle my tangled relationship with Kwanach and bring him back to reason.

Being trapped helplessly was very different from waiting for Kwanach of my own free will. The power gave me room in my mind. And it felt like that power was getting stronger and more sensitive as time went on.

‘I can feel it, the life force. …….’

Even though I was in my room, I could feel the energy of the plants outside the building. It was the first time that the plants and soul seemed to be so close.

It was a feeling of blending in with nature. The sensation was so acute that it was too much for me to handle. I deliberately suppressed my power and cut off my interaction with the plants. Otherwise, I felt like I would be weighed down by the energy of the humming plants.

Maybe it was because of my nervous system. I was usually a good sleeper without waking up in the middle of the night, but suddenly I woke up at dawn.

It was the dawn of the second day after I met Kwanach. It was dark everywhere. I fluttered my heavy eyelids. I was very thirsty.

“Ugh. ……”

As I groaned, I saw a huge shadow looming nearby.

“Intruder?”

My fuzzy sleep fled quickly in the blink of an eye. My body temperature was boiling with fear and tension.

“Who, who is it!?”

That was when I let out a broken voice and shrank.

“It’s me, Usphere.”

A familiar voice came from the darkness.

“Kwanach?”

My shoulders, which had been frozen for a moment, relaxed. Kwanach hurriedly turned on the light on the side table next to the bed. Immediately, a warm glow pierced the darkness, and I saw the bewildered face of Kwanach.

“It wasn’t an intruder. Surely, with such ironclad defenses, there was no way anyone could have come in.”

As soon as I confirmed that it was Kwanach, a sense of relief washed over me. I groggily sat up and stared at Kwanach.

“I was surprised. Why are you here?”

“I’m sorry.”

After two days of not showing, Kwanach knelt on one knee beside the bed after rubbing his face. I gently grabbed Kwanach’s wrist and pulled him to me.

“Why are you there? Come up here.”

I felt Kwanach’s body stiffen at my touch.

“It’s easier here.”

“It’s easier on your knees?”

“I’ve been doing this a lot lately……D*mn it. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“You came to see me in the middle of the night every day?”

Kwanach couldn’t continue talking and closed his lips tightly.

His eyes were wandering around.