Episode 289.2
(EP-289.2) Depression #2
289 – Fairy’s Depression #2
Stella said.
“This forest is long filled with witches who were exiled or fled. There are many souls of witches who went mad while researching taboos.”
Terrifying.
In this world where necromancy exists, souls and ghosts were very much a reality. So hearing ghost stories couldn’t just be dismissed lightly.
“Well, I’m more afraid of wild beasts than ghosts. A forest this big has its masters.”
Seuk.
Stella, holding a torch, knelt down. In front of her was a deep paw print.
The problem was that it was about the size of my torso. How could it be this big?
“Tartarus wolf. Judging by the size of the print, it’s about three or four ters long.”
A wolf that’s 3 to 4 ters long?
The thought of such a creature roaming the forest was quite unsettling. It seed Stella felt the sa, as she lightly shook off her hands and said.
“We might be better off spending the night in the forest. Tartarus wolves hunt in packs. It’ll beco a hassle if dium-sized ones swarm in.”
When it cos to forests and beasts, Stella was a professional. I decided to quietly follow the expert’s advice.
If there’s one thing I learned as a novice politician in Angmar, it’s that when you listen to experts, you’ll at least make it halfway through.
“I saw a shack on the way here. It looks like a place the forest keeper abandoned. It’s nearby, so let’s go there.”
“Okay. I’m sorry for causing such trouble.”
“No need for apologies between us. We all inconvenience each other sotis.”
Stella turned out to be more easygoing than I expected. Even if it was just an act, she seed to be tolerant of others’ mistakes, perhaps because she had lived a life of trouble.
I almost doubted whether this was the sa Stella who once made kneel before her.
“There it is, the shack.”
As we continued walking, a shack shrouded in darkness ca into view. It was more of a dilapidated ruin than a shack, with holes in the roof and missing windows.
Still, the fact that it had walls and a space to shelter us offered so comfort. It was better than being out in the open, and I wasn’t in a position to complain.
Creak-.
When we opened the door, the inside was filled with thick dust.
I waved my hand through the cobwebs hanging all over and kicked aside so stones and debris on the floor.
The place wasn’t large, just a few square ters in size, like most shacks. There was even a single bed—likely a space where soone once lived alone.
Creak, gieeek.
Stella started rummaging through the shelves of the hut like an adventurer on a search.
“It looks like the forest keeper used to live here. There are still plates and bowls left behind. There’s even a fork and knife. If we look around, we might find so supplies we can use for camping.”
As she said, there were a few remaining items like matches and oil on the shelves. Even though it was sumr, the northern nights were quite chilly, so we decided to light a fire in the old stove to warm ourselves.
Whoosh—.
The fire lit up.
Only then was I able to take a proper look at the place. A bed. Shelves. A table. And a closet. Sothing about it felt oddly familiar.
It hit then—it reminded of the one-room place I had lived in as a child. The one I shared with my mother. The size was about the sa.
“Theo-kun, what are you doing?”
Stella asked as she noticed getting up.
Instead of answering, I opened the old closet. There were no clothes inside, but what caught my attention was the back of the closet door. I used to scribble on it.
From the sun, moon, and stars, to birds, clouds, and holding hands…
For a mont, I was lost in reminisce.
anwhile, Stella had already prepared a ss tin and washed it out with water from her canteen. She began adding various ingredients to it, setting it to boil. Looks like she was cooking.
Co to think of it, I was pretty hungry too.
“I have so ingredients as well.”
I added so sausages and dried at from my inventory into the ss tin. After letting it simr for a while, the dish beca quite appetizing.
Slurp.
Eating sothing warm in a cozy place helped release the tension that had unknowingly built up. Stella even took a swig from a small flask from sowhere.
Gulp, gulp.
“Ah, northern stuff really have a kick.”
I could tell from the sharp sll that it was alcohol. It was strong enough that I almost wanted to cover my nose.
Seeing frown, Stella, her face flushed red, asked.
“Theo-kun, you really don’t like alcohol, huh?”
“I don’t understand why people drink sothing that doesn’t taste good. It’s just bitter.”
Stella chuckled at my words.
“It has a strange sweetness to it. But I get it—nymphs have sensitive senses of sll and taste, so it makes sense that you’d hate it.”
“You seem to know a lot about nymphs.”
“I didn’t just get paid at Ark for nothing. I did a lot of research on both nymphs and elves.”
Fueled by the alcohol, Stella began to ramble on by herself.
She would laugh to herself and mutter, “Ah, I shouldn’t have presented that paper back then,” or suddenly burst out angrily, “That bastard Professor Lurina stole my research and claid it….”
That’s how people get when they’re drunk.
One of the reasons I dislike alcohol was because it makes people lose control like this. I’ve been surviving so fiercely losing control like that was sothing I wanted to avoid.
“Ugh, it’s hot. Should we put out the fire?”
Stella asked while looking at the fire, seeking my opinion. But I still felt chilly and shook my head.
“I’m cold.”
Stella chuckled in response.
“Then I guess I’ll take it off.”
“Take what off?”
I was taken aback.
I really thought Stella was about to start taking off her clothes!
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