Chapter 76 – Chapter 3: Homecoming – 2
What?
People said I was dead?
I got goosebumps slightly at the incomprehensible words.
“I really don’t know what you’re talking about. Why on earth am I dying?”
“That is…”
“Tia!”
Suddenly, a familiar voice was heard from behind.
When I turned my head, Master was standing there.
“Master!”
“Oh my god… ! “You’re alive!”
Master threw away the object he was holding and ran.
And then he hugged my body tightly.
“Ugh… ?!”
“Thank god… I’m so glad!”
I was able to hear the whole story from my teacher.
When the news that the tribute force was wiped out reached Taildon.
The lord of Taildon immediately ordered mercenaries to be dispatched to help with the settlement.
Master also went to the scene of the attack to look for me, and although he couldn’t find the girl’s body, he said he found my bag and brought it back.
In fact, it seemed like they had concluded that I was dead.
Even if she survived, it would have been impossible for the girl to survive alone in the harsh mountains of Charrak.
It was said that the possibility was that she had been kidnapped by bandits, but the identity, size, and whereabouts of the bandits had not yet been revealed, so there was no room to form a punitive force.
“But how did she come back?”
“That is… “It happened by chance.”
“By chance?”
“We went up the mountain while the donation party was stopping for a moment, but at that time, bandits attacked, and we barely managed to avoid being detected. Then we crossed the Charrak to Rottenbahn… “I went all the way to Deseo and brought the medicine back safely.”
Although quite a bit of the story was omitted, Master nodded his head without any doubt.
It was just a look in my eyes that made me feel grateful for the fact that I was alive.
“Are there any injuries?”
“Yes. I’m completely fine.”
I stretched out my body and spun around to show that I had no injuries.
“Haha! I’m glad you’re doing well. How was it in Deseo? “Wasn’t it scary?”
“Not at all! It was actually fun! It was my first time in such a big city, so it was quite difficult to adapt when I arrived… Well, it is a place where people live after all.”
“Ahahaha!!”
The sound of boisterous laughter rang out.
“As expected, Tia is amazing. It’s really amazing…”
“The great thing is Master! Do you know how many times I was able to overcome crises thanks to your name? And you said you were a great person in your past, so why did you keep it a secret?”
“What does the name of an aging prosecutor matter? Still, this useless name helped you… It seems that ‘Bin Carlos’ did not live in vain.”
Tuk.
Suddenly, Master placed his hand on my head.
“Tia.”
“Yes.”
“My student came back healthy and unscathed, and I am truly grateful.”
“Hehe-.”
Master stroked his hair and stood up.
“Now I have to give Ritsu some medicine, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then I guess I can’t hold on any longer. Go back to Brisden quickly. When Ritz gets better, she can come down with us, and we can talk about what we couldn’t finish.”
“Yes-! “I’ll be back soon!”
“Okay.”
Master smiled happily and waved his hand.
I crossed the streets of Taildon to return to Brisden.
Vincent kept circling around me and talking excitedly.
Thanks to this, I was able to hear all the news about events and accidents that occurred in Taildon while I was away.
Hearing the little guy’s voice, other children also appeared one by one.
Everyone had the same reaction. I ran away shaking, saying, ‘It’s a ghost!’
Fortunately, this time, Vincent explained it for me, so I didn’t have to suffer from a sore mouth.
“Sister, sister! Sister Tia! “Ritz, are you alive?”
“What happened? “I heard your sister caught a bear?”
I didn’t think it was something to make a big fuss about, but there was a rumor going around in Taildon that I had fought a bear.
The children said that they had made a bet between whether it was real or not and that they needed my testimony.
Ugh-. Why is this heartbreaking incident even mentioned in the children’s bet?
I don’t really want to say it, but I guess it’s okay since it’s not the kids’ fault.
“That’s right. “I fought a bear.”
“Look! “You’re right!”
“How strong is Tia! “He’s a hero!”
… Hero?
I am not that great person.
I can’t be called that because I dragged Ritz to a dangerous place.
“The hero… “It’s Ritz.”
“Huh?”
The children who were buzzing looked up at me.
“Thanks to Ritz. I am alive.”
“Ritz oppa? “What did my brother do?”
I held the ruby necklace tightly.
“You protected me.”
The children said, wow, their eyes sparkling.
“So, call Ritsu a hero.”
“Huh! Okay, sister!”
“Ritz is a hero!”
“Okay then, kids, I’ll just leave.”
“Goodbye-!”
After receiving a friendly send-off from the Taildon children, I climbed the hill again.
Sabak. Sabak.
Finally, finally.
I am on my way back to my hometown.
The quiet scent of the forest makes your hands and feet thrill.
The musical sound of insects coming over the mountain valley as the wind blows.
Even though it was a dark evening, I wasn’t scared at all.
This bag I brought from Deseo also felt as light as a feather.
“Whoa.”
After walking hard, a sign saying ‘Brisden’ appeared at the entrance to the village.
My heart was full.
“At las…”
I’m here-!! I wanted to shout the same cool line.
Since the elderly might be surprised, I decided to suppress this joy for now.
I walked lightly on the path.
I miss everything and am glad to see you.
A hut, a small garden, a stone wall, a pile of firewood, a chicken farm and a sawing trough.
Everything is the same, and at the same time, everything is familiar.
Tears came out without me knowing.
Finally… You have returned to your hometown.
I hear a small voice speaking from somewhere.
I hurried over there and saw the elderly people talking loudly in front of the bonfire.
Everyone is a happy face.
I ran towards it as hard as I could and screamed.
“Everyone-! “I’m here!”
Uncle Marvin was startled and stood up.
“Tia? Is it really you?”
“Oh my goodness! Tia-?”
“How could you…”
As Vincent showed earlier, everyone was astonished as if they were seeing a ghost.
I guess the elders thought I died at that tribute table.
She explained that she was not a ghost like this and that, but that she was still alive.
After saying the names of the elders correctly one by one.
Aunt Mary de opened her arms.
“… Come on. Tia.”
“Aunt!”
I hugged him tightly.
Sweet.
The smell of dirt on my aunt’s clothes. And this smell on her apron…
We all baked rye bread together this evening.
Ah, I love it.
Happy…
“Unni Tia-?”
As soon as Marie saw me, she screamed.
“Are you really Tia?!”
“Number of animals! Lol. How have you been?”
He runs up to me like a puppy and hugs me.
“I missed you…”
“I missed Marie so much too!”
I’m hugging Mari tightly and patting her.
Following him, Ruyev also showed his face.
“Loop!”
“You’re alive. Tia.”
“Yes.”
Ruyev watched me in silence, then silently pointed to the house behind.
It was Aunt Sherry’s house.
I immediately knew what that meant.
The reason I left this town.
And it was a gesture telling me to go find the person who would most happily accept the news of my return.
I nodded.
“Thank you. Ruev.”
“…”
Ruyev turned around expressionlessly.
I said hello to everyone, picked up my bag, and climbed the hill vigorously.
I went straight to Aunt Sherry’s house.
Jump up!
Aunt Sherry, who had been dozing off in her chair, woke up.
“Oh my! T, Tia… ?”
“Hello. “I’m here!”
“This… “Is it a dream or is it real?”
“Of course it’s alive!”
“Dead… Wasn’t it?”
“No! I’m alive!”
Aunt Sherry, who was surprised, immediately smiled warmly.
“Huh. Looking at this lively appearance, it really is Tia… Hehe…”
“Why are you crying?!”
“I’m so glad… And it reminds me of the old days…”
My aunt stroked my cheek.
“You… She really looks like Lina. Lina traveled too far. When Lina, who was thought to be dead, returns to the village, she… It was such a happy feeling.”
“…”
“Sorry. “You said something pointless.”
“No. Thank you for telling me about her mom.”
In the past, I didn’t know how to react when I heard things like this.
But now she can proudly and proudly accept her mother’s work.
Because I knew that my mom was a really great person.
“Ritz is in her room. “Go say hello.”
“Yes!”
I opened the door carefully.
And I was able to see that scenery.
On the bed I used until a few months ago.
Ritz was lying down somewhere.
“…”
Her tongue stiffened.
Except her hair has grown a lot.
Ritz remained the same.
I approached carefully and looked down at Ritsu.
What am I dreaming about?
What kind of dream is it that Ritsu sleeps for so long?
It must be a good dream.
Because it’s such a happy dream that I don’t want to wake up.
Even when I come back, you’ll still be sleeping like a baby bird, right?
“I’m here… Ritz.”
Even though I whispered that in my ear.
Ritsu was silent without even a sound.
Closed eyelids.
A pointed nose.
Lips that are tightly attached.
Sharp jaw.
It makes me smile.
Ritz, do you know that?
I’ve seen a lot of men in Deseo.
From beggars in the back alleys, rich people, and arrogant nobles.
But no man. There was no man as kind and handsome as Ritz?
It’s funny, right?
After a short trip, I was able to understand my feelings even more clearly.
I like Ritz more than anyone else.
She got down on her knees and opened the bag.
Among the tightly wrapped clothes, a small medicine bottle was hidden as preciously as a heart.
She took out the medicine bottle with both hands.
Under the soft lamplight, transparent waves sway.
Dienbus.
I traveled for 50 days.
Overcoming the danger of death and running a long distance…
I came back to Ritz.
“Ritz.”
This medicine is atonement for myself.
It is proof of my love for you.
Kirik-.
I opened her cork and slowly grabbed Ritz’s chin.
She opens her lips little by little and tilts the vial into them.
Tororok-.
Like breathing life into a stopped body, like watering a tender new shoot.
Let the medicine seep in very slowly.
Until the end of the stream and the last drop. I put it into Ritz’s mouth.
Eventually, the small vial was empty.
For this moment that lasts only a moment.
I have been gone for such a long time.
“… Ugh, huh…”
… But.
I’m so happy that I can’t stop crying.
If you wait just a little longer, you can see Ritz smiling brightly.
Because I can see the man I love the most again.
I think I am the happiest woman in the world.
Swoosh-.
She laid her head on Ritsu’s chest.
I can hear the heart beating very slowly.
… Excited. Excited.
Listening to that beautiful sound of life, I slowly closed my eyes.
“Get up now… “You sleepyhead.”
