Chapter 255: A■■ne(3)[R-18]
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 255: A■■ne(3)[R-18]
“Go ’way!”
At first, she was wary.
And why wouldn't she be?
He was the first human she had ever seen in her life.
It would have been stranger not to be wary of a human who had trespassed into her nest without permission.
But despite the girl's best efforts to threaten him, Ian returned the next day.
And the day after that.
And the day after that as well.
Ian came to the nest every single day to talk to her.
“....”
Of course, the girl didn't answer.
Instead, she curled up in the deepest part of the nest and waited for Ian to leave.
However, Ian's persistence was tougher than the girl's silence.
Every day, he sat in front of the nest and prattled on about trivial stories from the village.
And whenever he left, he always left something behind.
Small, precious things like sweet treats, shiny pebbles, or a wooden comb.
As Ian's footprints became more deeply etched at the entrance of the nest...
The girl's curled-up body began to relax, and her ears started to tilt toward the sound of Ian's voice.
And when did it start?
The girl began to peek outside the nest, waiting for the time Ian would arrive.
Without even realizing it, the girl was being tamed by Ian.
*
“I’m here.”
“I-an!”
Her tongue was still short, making other words difficult, but thanks to practicing countless times by herself, she could pronounce Ian’s name perfectly.
“Snackies! Gimme snackies!”
As the girl scurried out with a bright smile and held out both hands, Ian gave a wry smile and pulled the snacks he had brought from his coat.
Flutter— flutter—
“Snackies!!”
Her tiny wings flapped so fast they created a noticeable breeze, showing just how much she had been looking forward to this.
Swish!
Just before the girl’s hand could reach the snacks, Ian laughed playfully and lifted them high above his head.
“Wh-at! Why! No snackies!”
“I’ll give them to you. But before that, I have something to ask.”
“Ask me?”
“Yeah. What’s your name? We’re friends now, so you should tell me.”
“....”
At Ian’s question, her fluttering wings slumped.
“I, I am...”
After hesitating for a moment, the girl eventually bit her lip and shook her head.
In her heart, she wanted to reveal her True Name to Ian right then and there.
Just as humans have three basic desires, the urge to reveal one's True Name to a precious person was like an instinct for Dragons.
Just imagining Ian calling her by her name made her chest feel ticklish.
However, she could not give him her True Name.
—Never, ever reveal your True Name.
She couldn't break the words her beloved mother had repeated over and over before she disappeared.
“What’s wrong? Why so quiet? Don’t tell me you don’t have a name?”
“....”
“Hmm... then, I’ll give you one.”
Ian thought for a moment and then spoke.
“Hayangi. From now on, your name is Hayangi.”
“...Ha... yangi?”
“Yeah, because your hair is pure white and pretty.”
Naming her Hayangi just because her hair was white...
Looking back now, it was a name that felt quite lazily given.
But the girl at that time didn't have the luxury to care about that.
──Because it’s pretty.
Thump— thump—
Because of those words Ian had tossed out so casually, the girl’s—no, Hayangi’s—heart began to race wildly.
“How is it? Do you like it?”
“Yeah, Hayangi... likes.”
Summer passed.
Ian and Hayangi splashed in the shallow stream near the nest.
Miraculously, the flat stones Ian threw skipped across the water several times, reaching all the way to the other side.
Autumn passed.
Ian wove a flower crown for Hayangi with clumsy hands.
Hayangi didn't take the crown off her head until the flowers withered.
Winter passed.
On the day the first snow fell, Hayangi was mesmerized by the white world, the first she had seen since waking up.
But before she could be moved by the world's transformation, a snowball thrown by Ian flew into her face.
Spring arrived.
Hayangi took Ian to her Secret Garden.
Marigolds, roses, petunias, dahlias, mapleflowers, lobelias, cattleya, lavender, and even bridal wreath.
They were flowers of seasons that naturally could not bloom together, but the world readily granted Hayangi’s forced compliance.
Summer came again.
The two, who had grown a bit taller than the previous year, ventured into deeper parts of the stream.
Hayangi figured out how to swim by using her wings like oars.
Ian watched Hayangi with an envious look.
Autumn came again.
The two made a bet on who could gather more acorns.
The loser had to grant the winner one wish.
Hayangi lost, and Ian’s wish was to touch Hayangi’s horns.
...And then, winter came.
It was a winter with heavy snowfall.
“...Haa-yawn.”
Hayangi woke up in her nest.
The pure white scenery visible outside the nest was nice, but her heart was fluttering for a different reason.
Today was the day Ian was coming.
“Hayangi is pre-tty~”
Hayangi sat in front of the small hand mirror Ian had brought her once, carefully brushing her White Husk hair with the comb he had also gifted her.
A child’s brushing.
To be honest, it wasn't an act that meant much, but her clumsy hands were guided by the desire to look even a little bit prettier for Ian.
Flutter— flutter—
The time Ian was supposed to arrive was 4:00 PM.
“Only one hour left~!”
Hayangi’s heart began to feel happy starting from 3:00.
“Snowman! Gotta make one! A big one! I’m gonna make it big!”
Thinking of surprising Ian, Hayangi began to roll the snow.
For the World’s Beloved, something like this was incredibly simple.
“He’ll be so surprised!”
Imagining Ian’s shocked face, Hayangi giggled and hid herself at the entrance of the nest.
However...
Even after the promised time of 4:00 passed, Ian did not come.
At first, she waited with a smile.
Maybe he was late because of the heavy snow.
That was all she thought.
“....”
But after thirty minutes passed, Hayangi’s lip began to pout.
She stared intently at the entrance of the nest, twirling her carefully brushed hair around her finger.
When over an hour had passed, she puffed out her cheeks with a huffy expression.
“What! Ian! Why aren't you here!”
It was only after two hours had flown past the appointed time that a familiar figure appeared, trudging through the snow in the distance.
“I-an! Late! You're late! I! Waited! I hate you!”
Hayangi ran out, crossed her arms, and shouted in a very angry voice.
“...I’m sorry.”
But the moment she saw Ian’s serious expression, her anger over his lateness vanished instantly.
“Ian?”
The usual playful smile was nowhere to be found; his face was filled with worry.
“...Ian. Are you mad? Wanna touch my wings?”
Flutter!
Hayangi slightly spread her small wings.
Ian liked touching Hayangi’s wings.
He said the unique texture of the wings made him feel at ease.
...Sometimes he wanted to touch her horns too, but for some reason, having her horns touched felt too embarrassing, so she never allowed it.
“Yeah. Thanks...”
Ian walked over and gently stroked Hayangi’s wings.
Rub— rub—
After touching her wings for a moment, Ian spoke up cautiously.
“Hayangi.”
“Yeah! Feel better now?”
“I... I might not be able to see you anymore.”
“...What?”
It felt like her heart had stopped.
Not being able to see Ian.
The moment she understood the meaning of those words, tears welled up in Hayangi’s large eyes.
“Why! Why? Why can't we meet? D-did Hayangi do something bad? Huh? Because I asked you to bring snackies every day? Then I won't eat snackies anymore! Ian, you eat them all!”
At Hayangi’s trembling voice, Ian slowly shook his head.
“It’s not that... It’s just, my village... we’re leaving this place. They said the request is over.”
“Request?”
“Yeah. The people of our village... usually don't stay in one place. We wander from place to place taking requests... you know, favors from people. It was long this time, but... they said the work we were doing here finished today.”
Ian’s explanation was difficult for the young Hayangi to fully grasp, but...
One thing was certain.
Ian was leaving.
“So... now... we can't meet?”
Hayangi sobbed, hugging Ian tightly and shouting into his chest.
“Don't... don't go!... I... like Ian...!... So... don't go...!”
“Hayangi...”
“Huh?... Ian... I'll... give you all the berries too! Even if they aren't... as sweet as snackies! Lots and lots! I'll give you plenty!! I'll give you lots of shiny stones too! So... let's live... together in the nest!”
Hayangi offered every treasure a child could think of, clinging to him and begging him not to leave.
“...I’m sorry.”
Ian’s refusal flew like a dagger and pierced Hayangi’s heart.
“Why..!...Why!...Are you going..! I-Ian...! Don't you... like me?”
“No.... I like you too, Hayangi.”
“Hic... Then why! Why are you leaving! If you like me... you shouldn't leave! If you like me! We have to be together!”
“...Because my family is waiting.”
“...Sob.”
For the first time in her life, Hayangi truly hated someone.
Even though she didn't know their faces, she hated Ian’s family so much for taking him away.
But...
Just as her mother had cherished her, Ian’s mother would cherish Ian.
Knowing that, Hayangi could only shed tears; she couldn't think of any words to hold Ian back.
“...That’s why, Hayangi.”
“Hic... ugh... ha... hic...”
Ian grabbed Hayangi’s shoulders, looked into her eyes, and said:
“...Won't you come with me?”
“Hic... ugh.. Wh...at?”
Hayangi’s tear-filled eyes widened.
Leaving the nest.
It was something Hayangi had never even imagined.
Because her mother had always said the outside world was a dangerous place.
Then, Ian took Hayangi’s hand.
“I know it’s scary. I know you’re worried. But I promise.”
“...Hic... Wh... what?”
“If bad people bully you, I’ll protect you. For the rest of my life.”
“Rest... of your life...?”
“Yeah. I’ll protect you for the rest of my life. And... I’ll definitely make you happy.”
Thump! Thump! Thump!
At Ian’s serious gaze and the promise of a “lifetime”...
“A p-proposal!”
The words were translated into a completely different term inside Hayangi’s head.
—Never, ever reveal your True Name.
—You must get used to living alone.
—It’s dangerous outside the nest.
Her mother’s words came to mind.
But at the same time, her mother’s final words also surfaced.
—Please, be happy.
Her mother wanted her to be happy.
And Hayangi felt like she could never be happy without Ian.
Grip—
Hayangi’s small hand tightly gripped Ian’s collar.
Then, she took a deep breath.
“Hayangi?”
“Ian... I’m... not Hayangi...”
It felt like her heart was going to explode.
However, her longing to be loved by Ian not as the World’s Beloved, but as a single girl, swallowed all her fears.
“This... really... you can't tell anyone...”
Hayangi brought her lips to Ian’s ear and whispered her most precious secret.
“A■■ne.”
“....”
“That’s... my name...”