EP.57 Mars
After making a compromise, Cloud and Mars went down to the village to find the stationery.
But Neria did not know how to stand up, leaning her back against a tree.
It has to be.
Because her mind is very complicated right now.
‘Did you know..?’
Somehow, she overheard their conversation. She heard that Mars had suffered a broken heart, and Cloud was comforting him.
It was when Neria was pleased with his mature comfort.
– Just say it out loud. It’s amazing to see your childhood friend sucking another guy’s c*ck and living well.
She heard quite a few shocking things.
Cloud said.
It must have been referring to what happened between her and Gith.
‘How..?’
It was thoroughly hidden so that Cloud could not find out. But he knew it for granted. Now, he said with a smile, as if it was nothing special.
‘Then that’s what Cloud told Mars…’
Was that..?
No, more than that…
He saw.
He has seen it.
Cloud saw it.
That fact was enough to shake Neria’s mind.
It feels like her chest is tightening.
She is frustrating.
She can’t breathe properly.
Instantly, she felt that disgusting touch on her lips.
“Ahhh…”
Have to wash.
I need to wash this dirty mouth. You have to wash it and make it clean.
Neria turned her head frantically and looked around. But there was no place around her, such as a well or a river, where she could wash her mouth.
Instead, there was a bottle of sake brought to drink with Cloud.
Neria opened the bottle of wine. She immediately took a breath in her mouth and rinsed her mouth. Then she put alcohol on her hand and wiped her lips.
It was a very strong drink, so the strong smell of alcohol stung her nose, but it didn’t matter.
Because the most important thing for her right now was to wash her mouth.
However, whatever was poisonous was still poisonous.
“Hehehehe..!”
As she was rinsing her mouth, alcohol touched my throat. She fell right down. She vomited as she spit out her drink.
By the time the nausea was over, tears were dripping from her eyes.
“Cloud… Cloud…”
Did you know that you accepted me as a colleague again?
Why?
Because we’ve been friends since a long time ago?
Or do you notice that I am being abused by Gith?
-Originally, childhood friends don’t go well together. This is an immutable law that I realized while traveling on the continent.
“Sorry sorry…”
I’m so sorry, Cloud.
I’m sorry for hurting you so much.
I didn’t want to… no. no. I won’t make excuses. sorry.
Sorry.
So please don’t say that.
“I mean, you are the only one I have…”
I don’t know what you think of me.
Even if you think she is a dirty woman with no concept of chastity.
I mean you are everything…
Neria spent that night in tears.
After staying up all night thinking about how she could be forgiven by Cloud, she decided to tell him the truth.
All she did was because of Gis’ threats, and she had no choice but to follow it.
It’s the truth that she hid because she didn’t want to be found out about it… but if Cloud already knows, there’s no need to hide it.
‘If you tell the truth… Cloud will forgive you.’
Rather, it might comfort you why you said it now. With that as an opportunity, we might be able to strengthen our bonds again with a common enemy called Gith.
Neria descended from the mountain with anxiety and small anticipation.
It was when she took a deep breath in front of the inn and made up her mind.
“The Cloud is a dog!”
A girl with pink hair smashed through the inn door.
* * *
“Ugh-”
Isabelle woke up and immediately started stretching. Even though she did, she still had a frown on her body. It’s because she sleeps late and wakes up early.
‘Oh really. Why was that person so persistent yesterday again?’
On the way, she asked how many times she wanted to go back, but he didn’t notice it, or he did but he pretended not to. Thanks to it, she came back later than the scheduled time.
In her heart, she wanted to sleep more.
However, it seemed that her lifestyle would collapse if she did, so she endured it and went out of the room.
“Good morning?”
Her mother greeted her in the morning, stirring the soup in the pot with a ladle.
Isabelle answered with a yawn.
“No. I am very sleepy.”
“Oh, did you come to see the baron’s son-in-law yesterday as well? What did you say?”
“It’s always the same. To brag about how good you are. I am tired of dying now.”
As Isabelle grumbled, her father, who was sitting in the chair, spoke.
“That’s right, because it’s good. Are you noble? Why don’t you change your mind right now? Opportunities like this often come…”
“Dad, did I tell you to stop talking?”
“Ah, no… Dad just thinks about the future, he’s more of a son of a baron than that guy named Mars…”
“Dad?”
“Hmmmm..! Okay. Don’t stop.”
Her father, who couldn’t win his daughter’s gaze, coughed and looked away.
Isabelle sighed deeply.
“Really, Dad is too harsh on Mars.”
“It’s all because your dad cares for you. you understand. Did I get a letter from you?”
Isabelle’s eyes widened at the word “letter”. Her mother smiled slightly and added her words.
“It’s a letter from Mars, not the baron’s son.”
“Mars?”
Isabelle’s face suddenly changed to the contrary.
“Where is it?”
“There on the table.”
Isabelle turned her gaze to the table. On her table was a letter, as her mother had said.
Not a fancy letter with a seal stamped on the envelope, but a letter that just folds the stationery twice.
But Isabelle liked this letter more than the fancy letter.
Because the word ‘Mars’ was written on the edge of the folded stationery. Isabelle, who picked up her letter, narrowed her eyes for a moment and looked at her father.
“I’m asking just in case… Didn’t you secretly read my letter?”
“…even so, I don’t do that.”
“Then I’m happy.”
Isabelle hummed and entered her room. As she sat on the bed, she looked at her letter with a smirk.
‘Is this what Mars wrote?’
Laughter doesn’t stop
In fact, it was not limited to today’s story that she couldn’t stop laughing.
For a while, she continued to laugh.
So much so that she was worried that wrinkles might form.
‘I was skeptical because it was the way Narah said…’
It was time to contemplate Mars not caring about her because he was preoccupied with the sword.
Narah informed her that he was a pushover, saying it was a solution to her troubles.
Advice from Narah, who has never been in a relationship.
I didn’t have faith in the spirit, but I followed it with doubts because there was no other way.
But, unexpectedly, the effect of the mildang was enormous.
It’s been less than two weeks since we started stalking, because Mars came and apologized to her.
Isabelle was surprised, but did not immediately accept the apology as Narah had said.
Then Mars apologized to her even harder. He daily visits are basic, and he even bought and gifted things she might like in the city.
Mars, who had been neglecting her by swinging his sword all day, was so focused on her that he wondered where she had gone.
Isabelle was delighted with that.
It was so nice to see Mars joking around in each of her actions. Being able to put her likes in her hands and control them gave her a great sense of relief.
‘In the end, Narah was right. I had to grab his leash.’
How good it would have been if I had known about wheat flour from an early age. Isabelle was relieved that she felt sorry for him, but she was glad that she knew now.
Her attention again turned to Mars’s letter.
‘He even wrote a letter… will I forgive him soon?’
To be honest, it was difficult for her to not have a proper conversation with Mars for two weeks.
I’ve already grabbed the leash, so I’ll just have to adjust it well from now on.
She smiled and opened the letterhead and read the letter.
As she read the letter, her expression hardened little by little.
To Isabelle.
Hi? I am Mars
Aren’t you a little embarrassed to receive the letter all of a sudden? It’s my first time writing a letter, so it’s awkward. So, please forgive me if I’m a little shy.
First of all, I want to apologize for neglecting you as I was immersed in swordsmanship practice for a while. I never did that on purpose! Because you are my friend who is much more precious than swordsmanship.
The reason I made that mistake was simply because every time my swordsmanship improved, I felt like I was becoming a better fit for you. You are a very precious friend to me, but sometimes it was so bright that it felt hard to look at.
I know that saying this is only an excuse. I know how angry you are with me. I apologize again. Sorry.
And from now on, the main point is that I have decided to go on a trip. I haven’t made any concrete plans yet, but I’m thinking of visiting the entire continent for now.
Before leaving for the trip, I wanted to say goodbye to you, but I couldn’t find the courage, so I wrote this letter.
Maybe you don’t have to worry about me. Cloud hyung gave me good equipment and took care of my travel expenses.
The trip will take a long time. Because the continent is so wide. By the time I come back, I’ll be a lot more mature than before. I’ll try to be like that.
So, Isabelle.
If I come back from my trip and meet again.
Then forgive me.
And be my friend again.
Mars.
Isabelle read the letter again.
The content did not change.
Isabelle read the letter again.
The content did not change.
Isabelle read the letter once more.
The content did not change.
No matter how many times she read it, the content did not change.
She pinched her cheek strongly. It hurt.
It wasn’t even a dream.
Isabelle then faced reality.
“No no. no!”
She opened the door roughly, clutching the letter.
“Oh! It’s a surprise! Isabelle, why all of a sudden…”
Ignoring even her mother’s words, she ran out of the house. Without even putting on her shoes, she ran towards the hill where Mars’ house was.
Even though her bare feet bled from every bump on the rough ground, and she was out of breath from running up the hill, Isabelle didn’t stop.
Because it was so urgent.
After running non-stop, she was able to climb almost all the hills. If you go a little further, you will see Mars’ hut.
“Please, Mars…”
Stay there.
As usual, swing your sword in front of the hut.
Just by looking at that familiar face, all the negative emotions that plagued her heart seemed to be washed away.
Isabelle hit the ground hard.
Mars’ hut entered her eyes…
There was no Mars wielding a sword.
In an instant, Isabelle almost collapsed, but managed to win her heart.
“Mars is so… Why are you oversleeping today?”
Unlike climbing the hill, she walked slowly towards the hut. With every step she took, there were drops of blood on the floor.
“Mars~ I’m here~”
Right in front of the shabby hut, Isabelle said aloud. There was no answer from inside the hut. Isabelle grinned.
“How deep are you sleeping?”
She can’t help it. She have no choice but to wake herself up.
Isabelle entered the hut. The structure of the hut where Mars lives is simple. A single room structure in the shape of a large rectangle. There is no such thing as a room, so you can see the bed right away when you enter.
And there was no figure of Mars sleeping on the bed.
“Uh, huh? No..? Oh, have you ever been to the village? You may have been at odds with me.”
She tumbled into the hut and sat with her buttocks on the bed.
You can go back to the village like this and then cross again. Isabelle thought she would wait for Mars to return.
She looked around the cabin and smiled.
“How long ago did you clean? Why is it so clean…”
Isabelle’s smile hardened when she saw that the side of the large drawer was empty.
Originally there had to be a sword.
He said that he bought it in the city with the money Cloud sent him, and he must have the sword that Mars used to brag about.
“No… no… no…”
Isabelle got up and looked under the bed. Again, his sword was not here either. clump clump. Her heart began to beat nervously.
“Mars can’t leave me alone.”
Isabelle walked over to the drawer and grabbed the handle.
“Is that right, Mars?”
Opened the drawer.
The inside was empty.
“…”
After quietly closing it, the second and third drawers were opened.
It was still empty inside.
Her heart sank with a thump.
Despair in the name of reality began to approach her.
But she pushed it away.
Instead, she started scouring the inside of the hut.
Does not exist.
There’s nothing.
In the hut where Mars lived, all traces of human existence had disappeared.
“Lie.”
Isabelle muttered that with a bewildered expression on her face, and then ran out of the hut.
There was still hope.
The ground in front of ten steps from the second tree behind the hut.
Beneath the ground were the relics left by Mars’ mother. It is the wedding ring that he handed over to the bride to wear when they get married later.
If Mars had left, there’s no way he wouldn’t have taken it with him.
So, if that’s all there is, it’s proof that Mars didn’t leave her behind.
Isabelle began to dig in the ground.
She didn’t bring a shovel, so she dug up by hand. Her skin was rough and her nails were broken, but she kept digging.
However, despite such efforts…
“no..?”
There was nothing she dug.
Mars was truly on a journey.
Isabelle, leaving her behind.
“Why..? Why…?”
She can’t understand.
Why are you leaving me?
You like me.
Even when we talked about the wedding ring you inherited from your mother, you gave me a subtle gaze.
“How about being cold lately? Are you mad at me?”
I’m sorry if that’s the case.
I did it because I loved you so much. I did it because I loved you. I mean it’s because I want you to look at me.
“But what if I just leave…”
If you were going on a trip, you could have said goodbye. Had you been, I would have realized that something was wrong. Could have cleared up the misunderstanding…
But Isabelle knew why Mars had left a letter instead of saying goodbye.
The reason is also because of her and herself.
That fact tore Isabelle’s heart to pieces.
“Mars please… please come back… I’ll apologize…”
We was supposed to go to a festival in the city this time.
Because of that, I harassed and strangled my dad, so I even bought pretty clothes.
I’ve also been saving up pocket money.
What good is it without you…
Huh?
“Mars…!”
Isabelle sobbed with the letter in her arms. Please, wishing this all was a dream. Otherwise, hoping Mars will change his mind and come back.
But in reality, the probability of that happening is very low.
Because of this, Isabelle could not stop crying for a long time.
She had stopped crying when she had squeezed all her tears away, and when there were no more tears to come out.
Isabelle still opened the letter with a sad expression on her face.
And she found a name that bothered her.
“Cloud…”
A man who hated her and called her Pink-Woman from the first time he saw her.
This man must have had the greatest influence on Mars leaving her on a journey.
As she thought about it that far, the sense of loss and despair that had gnawed at Isabelle’s inner self disappeared. Anger and murder took their place.
She went straight down the hill to the village.
She kicked the door of the one and only inn in the village and shouted.
“The Cloud is a dog!”
“Wow!”
Cloud barked while eating breakfast.