Chapter 239
Chapter 239
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 239
Chapter Title: The Departed and the Returned (14)
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Chapter 239
The next morning.
Horses, a carriage, and laborers sent from Corin arrived at the forest. After we finished transporting the materials needed for construction, we left the forest and returned to Corin.
On the way back to Corin, I had a long conversation with Ravan. Since it was about building Rinshaka's temple, she was very curious about my opinion as a druid.
Most temples were stone buildings. They were typically constructed to be grand and majestic using white stone symbolizing divinity, designed to inspire awe.
So that humans could look up to the gods.
Eternal and immutable spaces for the gods, impervious to the flow of time.
Humans with finite lifespans could only feel instinctive fear in the gods' spaces. That was surely what the gods desired.
But that wasn't the way I wanted it. I was certain it wasn't what Rinshaka wanted either. The new Rinshaka temple needed to feel natural, warm, and embracing. A place where people could rely on it.
Fortunately, Ravan seemed to think the same way. She expressed her desire to break from traditional stone architecture and build the Rinshaka temple using wooden construction methods.
"But my father opposed it."
Ravan murmured, bowing her head shyly.
Well, that was to be expected. Her father managed Corin's castle and the Arjan Temple, after all. In other words, he was a stone architecture expert.
"All the temples in Corin are stone buildings. For preservation and maintenance, stone construction is the right choice. But..."
I listened quietly to Ravan's words.
"But that defeats the purpose. The new Rinshaka temple is meant to be a space for peace, not awe, right? It should be a bit warmer..."
"And more comfortable."
"Exactly! That's just what I was saying. Sequoia Forest has long been an object of fear. The new temple needs to dispel that fear."
Ravan's words were persuasive. I could tell how much thought and effort she had put into it, and how strong her passion was. I nodded in agreement and shared my own thoughts.
"It's true that wooden buildings are weaker than stone ones made of rock. They're always at risk of burning or collapsing."
"That's true, but..."
"But I see it differently. Wooden structures are 'eternal' in another sense."
At my words, Ravan's eyes sparkled. She leaned in eagerly, as if she'd finally found someone who understood.
"In my homeland, the nation's greatest treasure was a wooden structure."
National Treasure No. 1, Sungnyemun Gate.
"It was a city gate, and it was truly beautiful. But one day, someone set it on fire."
"Oh my goodness... Even though it was the nation's treasure?"
"Yes. It was utterly ridiculous. It burned completely. The wooden parts were gone, leaving only the stone base..."
"S-So?! Was it no longer the nation's treasure?"
Her face flashed with worry and anxiety, as if thinking wooden architecture was too dangerous after all. I smiled and answered lightly.
"No."
"...Pardon?"
"It's still the nation's greatest treasure."
"B-But it burned down..."
That was the difference in perspective. If only the 'form' mattered, Sungnyemun wouldn't be a treasure anymore. But in Eastern wooden architecture, it wasn't just about the preserved form.
Wooden buildings made of wood were constantly renewed due to the material's nature. They might look unchanging to the eye, but in reality, major components like pillars and beams were replaced every hundred to hundred fifty years, and rafters every thirty to forty. It wasn't about merely preserving the materials.
In that sense, wooden houses could be seen as 'alive.' They were periodically renewed with fresh wood, infused with new life. They were alive, like a single tree or a forest, growing.
In that regard, wooden architecture was the most fitting for Rinshaka's temple.
Ravan nodded repeatedly in admiration. Then,
"...As expected, we should stick with the direction I originally planned for the Rinshaka temple. That's right. Thank you, Sir Theodore."
"Haha, it was nothing."
I scratched the back of my head and smiled awkwardly. Phew, thanks, Dad. Thanks to my documentary-addicted father, I could bluff my way through again.
"A living temple... That's exactly what I wanted."
"Rinshaka will want that too. A living temple. One that warmly embraces people, like the forest itself."
"The forest... Yes, exactly!"
Ravan pulled a piece of paper from her bosom as if struck by inspiration and began scribbling furiously. Ah, an artist's epiphany! Or something like that. Not wanting to disturb her, I quietly gazed out the window.
We arrived in Corin before sunset. I parted ways with Ravan and Lewis at the city's entrance, and my group headed to the inn. Ravan earnestly asked me to wait, promising to revise the blueprints and come by early in the morning. She seemed timid at first, but when passionate, she was a completely different person.
Well, the architecture part was hers to handle now. I really knew nothing more about it. Besides, I had other things to do besides the temple construction.
「Yaaawn...」
As I stepped down from the carriage, Legion stretched and yawned, woken by the cool air—or perhaps not fully awake. It had slept almost the entire day, except for meals, yet still seemed drowsy. No playing with Pipi, just sleep, sleep, sleep in my inner pocket.
'It must be time for molting after all.'
Just as I'd predicted, it was molting time. The recent appetite, sleep patterns, and the clouding in its eyes confirmed it. As the saying goes, pull the iron horn while it's hot—so today...
"Hmm..."
I looked up at the sky for a moment. The clear sky without a single cloud was starting to glow with sunset. The sun would set soon.
'...Dinner will have to be simple.'
After a quick check on Legion's condition, I unhooked Storm from the carriage as soon as I got off.
"Eh, Master?"
Elle asked in surprise.
"Where are you going?"
"For dinner, then a quick trip to the forest."
"Alone?"
"Yeah. Alone."
At that, Callisto, who had been listening, quickly interjected.
"I'll go with you, Sir Theodore."
I knew it. But I shook my head and replied firmly.
"No, Callisto."
"But..."
"Sorry, but I'm going alone today."
It was obvious, but Callisto didn't understand. Of course—he didn't know about Legion's molting yet. Throughout dinner, he fidgeted restlessly.
"Sir Theodore, we still don't know what's in Sequoia Forest."
"What don't we know? We beat every orc there was. Right, Elle?"
"Yeah, Master. We took them all down."
"Hah, but Sir Theodore, there could be other threats..."
"Fine. If I sense any other threats, I'll call you right away. Happy?"
"...Does that mean I have permission to come along?"
"Well, waiting at the forest entrance might be okay."
"......!"
Callisto still looked anxious, but since I was so firm, he settled for accompanying me to the forest entrance.
After a simple dinner, we headed to Sequoia Forest. I rode Storm, Callisto rode Claudia. He still seemed curious why I was returning to the forest but didn't ask. Probably thought I'd send him back to the inn if he did?
"Alright, wait here, Cal."
"If something happens..."
"Yeah, yeah. I'll signal with a whistle."
"...Please return safely, Sir Theodore."
"Got it. Oh, by the way—which way was the lake?"
"That way."
"Alright, see you later. Take good care of Storm."
"Yes. Sir Theodore..."
Leaving even Storm with Cal, I began walking into the darkening forest.
The simple reason for leaving Callisto at the entrance and going in alone with Storm entrusted to him was this.
-Squeak, squeak.
It was for Legion.
A dragon finishing its molt is in its most vulnerable state. And also its most sensitive. Meaning it could become extremely aggressive and destructive. So unless it was the parent dragon or a great guardian, being nearby during molting wasn't helpful.
In other words, it was also for Callisto's sake. If he entered the forest with me, the highly sensitive Legion might attack him.
For molting, it needed a space where the outer skin could be soaked in moisture. There was a lake near Sequoia Forest where Callisto and Elle had caught geese. That seemed perfect. Mud would be ideal, but a lake wasn't bad either. I used [Leaf Step] to move quickly toward the lake. As I leaped between shadows, I spotted a large buck and a herd of deer in the darkness.
'...After molting, I'll catch a deer and feed it.'
Simple stew or roast would do. With dinner menu decided, the lakeshore came into view ahead.
The newly risen moon, beaver gate. The pale light of the crescent moon and countless stars poured down, creating ripples on the calm lake. With migratory birds gone, the shore was quiet, save for the occasional chirp of grasshoppers. I carefully took the sleeping Legion from my bosom. Yawning once more, it looked at me with cloudy eyes.
"Legion. Today’s the day."
「Theo. Yaaawn.」
"This lake should let you molt comfortably. Here."
「Ugh...」
Already sluggish, Legion dawdled. When I tapped its tail to urge it, it stretched again. And...
-Splash!
It shot up toward the sky.