Chapter 147: Hero Yerin (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 147: Hero Yerin (1)
“Sihyeon… caught a severe cold…?”
“Yes. It seems adjusting to the new environment wasn't easy for him.”
“He didn’t look like he was in bad shape, though….”
Yerin trailed off, her eyes quietly fixed on Aris.
I couldn't tell if she was doubting whether the Saintess was telling the truth, or if she was simply lost in thought after hearing that my condition had suddenly taken a turn for the worse, just as she’d mentioned.
“…….”
In the silence that followed, there wasn't a trace of anything positive in the way Yerin looked at Aris.
Since they had spent a significant amount of time together as members of the Hero’s Party, it wasn't as if she was openly displaying intense hostility toward Aris just because of me.
However, both the coldness in her eyes and the hardened expression on her face—one rarely seen in her daily life—were enough to make me certain.
The Yerin standing before me was not treating Aris with any shred of goodwill.
Perhaps sensing this, Aris didn't offer any further explanation, instead letting her own presence add weight to the heavy silence Yerin had intentionally created.
From my vantage point, I couldn't see Aris’s expression clearly, but since Yerin’s demeanor remained unchanged, I had to assume Aris was treating her with her usual composure.
As a result, Aris shifted her gaze back and forth, following the other woman's reactions as she always did.
When Yerin, who had been staring at Aris in silence, glanced toward me, Aris’s gaze followed suit.
And when Yerin looked down at me, her lips pressing into a firmer line, and met Aris’s eyes again, the Saintess showed her characteristic reaction—an attempt to comfort someone filled with distress.
About a minute passed in that manner.
The heavy silence was finally broken by the very person who had created it.
“……Aris.”
“Yes, please speak, Lady Yerin.”
“About Sihyeon’s condition…. I need to… see for myself.”
“…Are you sure that’s wise? If your own health were to be compromised, it might cause a major setback to our future plans. If I recall correctly, you have a full schedule for today and tomorrow.”
“I know. I know how important my role is for the upcoming schedule. And I know that if these plans get pushed back one by one, it could cause a great deal of trouble for the villagers….”
Yerin let out a short sigh and shook her head weakly.
“I can’t be certain about my own condition… but I think if I have the help of the Holy Sword, there won’t be any major issues.”
“…I suppose that might be true.”
For a split second, Yerin’s eyes flashed.
“Aris… you don't seem very keen on me checking on Sihyeon’s condition, do you?”
“…Of course not.”
Aris gave a small nod, her gestures as composed as they were whenever she smiled.
“You may do as you wish, Lady Yerin. It’s not as if I have the right to stop you. However….”
“I’ll take responsibility for my own actions. Even if I catch the same cold Sihyeon has, I’ll make sure it doesn't interfere with the planned schedule. Now, please move aside.”
After a moment, Aris quietly stepped out of the way, and Yerin immediately moved into the vacant space.
As she drew closer, I realized that one of my suspicions was correct.
Whether she was doubting Aris as I’d guessed, Yerin’s face, seen up close, was filled with suspicion toward someone.
As if to verify if Aris’s words were true, Yerin walked quickly to the side of my bed and began to examine my face closely.
Just as Aris and Frey had done while they were taking turns with me over the past few days, Yerin leaned in so close that our noses almost brushed.
Because of that, I could clearly feel the warmth of her breath.
Immediately after, a very strange sensation washed over me.
It had been a long time since I’d seen Yerin after the party disbanded.
Despite that, because of my past memories, Choi Yerin was the kind of person who made my blood boil just by thinking about her.
So, from the moment she appeared earlier, my mind had been filled with nothing but disgust for her very existence.
That was definitely how I felt….
“Si, Sihyeon….”
But now, it was completely different.
I was in a state where not a trace of anger could be found.
And the void where that anger had once resided was rapidly being filled by an emotion I hadn't expected at all.
As I looked up at her face and heard her call my name in that worried voice, an inexplicable feeling surged within me.
Whether it was just her personality or because she truly disliked me, she was a woman who had always shown extreme wariness. And because her breasts were smaller than the other women's, she ranked quite low in terms of attractiveness by my standards.
After leaving this cathedral, that was the sum total of the impression I’d had of Yerin during our years of traveling together.
Because of that, immediately after realizing the rest of the party had betrayed me, my impression of Choi Yerin had plummeted to the absolute bottom.
It was definitely strange.
“Are, are you okay…? Are… are you in a lot of pain…?”
Perhaps that was why, as her voice—filled with genuine concern—pierced my ears, the sense of dissonance regarding this situation swelled enormously.
“If you were hurting, you should have told me…. If I’d known you weren't feeling well, I wouldn't have asked you to spar yesterday morning…. Why were you so foolish, pushing yourself until you collapsed…?”
“…It’s not your fault, Lady Yerin. The cold Sihyeon caught is quite acute. He likely didn't show any particular symptoms until around noon yesterday.”
“That means… while Yuliana and I were out……. Sihyeon must have collapsed while he was all alone…?”
“No. Fortunately, I was with him when the symptoms began to manifest in earnest. I did my best to stabilize him, and by borrowing the blessing bestowed by the Goddess, I managed to suppress much of his pain. If he continues to rest in this stable state, his condition will improve before long.”
“……Aris.”
“Yes?”
“Are you sure it’s just a cold…? It’s not… something more serious that you’re intentionally hiding, is it…?”
Sending a suspicious glance toward Aris, Yerin reached out her right hand toward my face.
Perhaps she was incredibly nervous.
Even at a glance, I could see her hand trembling violently.
It seemed she intended to check my temperature by touching my cheek, but Yerin withdrew her hand after barely grazing me.
Shock was written all over her face.
“He has such a high fever…. And his breathing is so heavy…. He looks like he’s in so much pain, as if something terrible might happen at any moment…. Seeing him like this, how… how am I supposed to believe it’s just a cold…? Well…?”
“……Lady Yerin. Please, calm down.”
“Do you think you could stay calm if you were me?!”
Yerin shouted, then flinched slightly and shook her head.
“I’m sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you…. I just… lost it for a second….”
Trailing off, Yerin frowned deeply and pressed a hand to her forehead.
“I apologize for doubting you just now. I’m sorry. Come to think of it, it’s likely thanks to your devoted care that his condition didn't get even worse…. I was too hasty.”
Looking at the sighing Yerin, Aris made a dismissive gesture and spoke.
“It’s fine. I understand completely how you must feel. So please, continue if you have more to say, Lady Yerin. I will listen until you feel better.”
“……Sihyeon. He never once showed any signs of demonic energy. I was taught that even a little demonic energy building up in the body leads to symptoms of corruption…. That it makes it hard to control your emotions and impossible to suppress your anger, until eventually, your mind is gradually consumed by corruption…. But he never once showed that side of himself….”
“…Yes. He was like that.”
“He’s been forcing himself to endure all of that… for us, for the people of the south. Even if his goal is the return to Earth promised by the Goddess, it doesn't change the fact that Sihyeon is the one making the sacrifice. The fact that the Goddess set his return as a condition was basically a threat that nothing good would happen if he didn't cooperate in subjugating the Demon King.”
Yerin let out a deep sigh.
“He’s had to endure that sacrifice alone until now, and will have to for years to come…. But after the Goddess said his return had become impossible, she hasn't come up with a clear solution. We haven't found a proper answer through other gods, either. And in the midst of all that, as soon as he got close to the Demon Realm, he caught this terrible illness….”
Yerin’s gaze, which had been fixed on Aris, slowly moved back to me.
“Even after everything is over, he might not be able to go home…. It’s so pitiful… seeing him work so hard without knowing anything….”
Meeting that gaze filled with sorrow, I was finally able to fully recall my old memories.
Right, that’s it.
The Yerin I knew was definitely like this.
But why… had I been thinking of Yerin that way until now…?