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Chapter 8
As Juhee got ready to go outside, Rowen asked her,
“Juhee, are you going to the forest?”
After being rejected when he once called her “Lady Juhee,” Rowen had started calling her by her name instead.
“Yes.”
“Let’s go together. It’s dangerous.”
Mel burst into laughter at his words.
—You’re saying that to Juhee?! The forest would never put Juhee in danger. Rowen, you’re really stupid!
Juhee draped her robe over her shoulders and replied,
“It’s fine.”
“Huh? But…”
“I can handle it alone.”
Juhee was used to doing everything by herself, so having someone follow her around felt bothersome.
But Rowen didn’t know her circumstances, so he just felt upset.
He wanted to get closer to Juhee, but she always treated him coldly or drew an invisible line, keeping him from getting any closer.
“If you’re bored, just take a short walk around here.”
“Ah, okay.”
“And I’ll say it again—don’t go into the forest alone.”
For a moment, the way Juhee looked at him sent a chill down his spine. Rowen swallowed hard and quickly nodded.
“I’ll be back.”
“Have a safe trip, Juhee.”
Since they had run out of firewood, Juhee headed out to gather dry branches.
After she left, Rowen hesitated for a moment before suddenly getting up and running after her.
“Juhee!”
Juhee, who was heading toward the forest, quickly turned her head to look at him.
“Use me.”
“…What?”
Juhee frowned slightly at the sudden remark.
Worried she might misunderstand, Rowen hurriedly added,
“Ah, I don’t mean anything weird! I mean, use me as a worker.”
“A worker?”
“Yes. For example… chopping wood?”
Juhee seriously considered his suggestion.
If they used an axe, they could secure a large amount of firewood at once.
As for moving the logs, she could just ask the spirits for help.
After a moment of thought, Juhee nodded.
“Alright, let’s go together. But whatever you see, don’t ask any questions.”
“Yes, Juhee.”
Though it sounded strange, Rowen quickly agreed, grabbed an axe, and followed her.
After entering the forest and choosing suitable trees, Rowen began chopping.
Juhee had been worried he might get hurt, but her concern turned out to be unnecessary—he was quite skilled.
Not only that, but he worked quickly, cutting down two or three trees in no time.
Sweat dripped down from his forehead, running along his jaw and falling to the ground.
Once the trees were cut, it was time to carry them back.
Juhee, who had been sitting on a nearby tree stump, stood up and walked toward him.
When they got back, she figured she should give him some water first.
“Silph.”
The same spirit she had seen before appeared in front of her.
Only then did Rowen understand what Juhee meant by “don’t ask questions.”
He had many things he wanted to ask, but since he had already promised, he stayed silent.
—What is it? Just say the word! I’ll do anything!
“Can you take these back to the house?”
—Of course!
With a cheerful voice, Silph stirred the wind.
A cool breeze brushed past their faces, and soon the logs floated up into the air.
Rowen watched in amazement, then hurried after Juhee as she exited the forest first.
—I’ll leave them here!
“Thank you.”
—Call me again if you need help! I’ll be waiting.
After Silph disappeared, Juhee went inside, brought out cold water, and handed it to Rowen.
“Drink this.”
“Ah, thank you.”
Since he had sweated so much, Rowen smiled brightly and drank the water.
After a short break, he got moving again.
He didn’t seem tired at all and kept working without rest until all the wood was chopped into firewood.
“How is it?”
“You’re very fast.”
“I did well, right?”
“…Yes, you did well.”
Seeing the expectant look in his eyes, Juhee answered awkwardly.
At her praise, Rowen’s face lit up.
She hadn’t expected him to be so happy over just a simple compliment, which made her feel a bit embarrassed.
“I’ll take care of things like this from now on. Juhee, you can just relax.”
“By yourself?”
“I’m already in your debt. I should at least do this.”
Juhee slowly nodded, knowing he wouldn’t listen even if she refused.
Of course, she had no intention of actually letting him do everything alone.
They neatly stacked the firewood to one side. There was so much that they wouldn’t need to gather wood for quite a while.
Then something occurred to her.
When she first found Rowen, he had been covered in blood, standing in front of her house.
That meant he had come through the forest.
There was no way to reach her house without passing through it.
But when she examined his injuries, there were no claw marks from monsters—only wounds from a sword.
She considered asking him, but since he had lost his memory, she doubted she’d get a proper answer, so she dropped the thought.
She simply assumed he had survived the forest by luck.
At that moment, Rowen spoke.
“Juhee, go wash up first.”
“Thank you. I’ll be quick.”
While she went to the pond to bathe, Rowen quietly got up and headed toward the forest.
Earlier, he had noticed a very pretty flower there.
He remembered Juhee telling him not to enter the forest alone, but since nothing had happened before, he didn’t think much of it.
“It feels darker than before… or is it just my imagination?”
It had definitely been bright when he was with Juhee, but now it felt dim.
Something felt off, but he dismissed it as his imagination and went deeper inside.
Meanwhile, Juhee finished washing much faster than usual and returned home.
But Rowen was nowhere to be seen.
She checked inside, but he wasn’t there either.
Mel flew around frantically before shouting,
—The forest! He went to the forest!
“…Ha.”
Juhee sighed and quickly headed toward the forest.
After entering, she called out loudly,
“Rowen!!”
But there was no reply.
Only the sound of leaves rustling in the wind echoed back.
Juhee decided to ask the trees for help.
“Tell me where Rowen went.”
Immediately, fallen leaves began tracing a path in a single direction.
Following them deeper into the forest, Juhee soon found Rowen confronting a monster.
“Rowen.”
“…Juhee? It’s dangerous—don’t come closer!”
Ignoring him, Juhee walked straight toward him.
The monster’s gaze shifted from Rowen to Juhee.
Drool dripped from its gaping mouth.
As it lunged toward her, a massive tree swung its branches faster, striking the monster.
“KYAAAGH!!!”
The monster screamed as it was flung far away.
Rowen stood there, mouth agape, staring blankly at the moving tree.
“W-What is this…?”
“Well, I told you not to go into the forest alone.”
Juhee whispered softly and extended her hand to him.
“Let’s go. Quickly.”
She helped him to his feet.
When they turned to look, they saw a horrifying sight.
Thick, sharp branches had pierced through the monster’s body.
After twitching for a moment, it finally stopped breathing.
Rowen felt like he was going crazy with curiosity about Juhee’s identity.
He had already been amazed when she summoned a spirit earlier, but now even the forest itself was protecting her.
“Juhee… why are the trees moving on their own?”
“If you know, you’ll get hurt.”
In truth, she just didn’t feel like explaining, so she answered dismissively.
Sensing her mood had soured, Rowen hurriedly apologized.
“I’m sorry, Juhee. I saw a really pretty flower earlier, and I wanted to give it to you. Nothing happened when we were together, so I thought it would be fine. I’m sorry.”
“….”
“I won’t do it again.”
Juhee turned her head sharply without responding, and Rowen made a pitiful expression.
The mood had been good just moments ago, and now he felt like he had ruined everything.
“Rowen, you’re banned from entering the forest.”
“Ugh…”
He couldn’t argue.
She had clearly warned him, and even if it wasn’t intentional, he had broken that promise.
“Instead, you can go anywhere except the forest.”
“…Okay.”
“I’m not doing this because I dislike you. It’s because you might get hurt.”
At her calm words, Rowen glanced at her.
“The forest is extremely dangerous for others. If you go in without knowing anything, you might die without anyone ever finding out.”
“….”
“You were lucky the first time, but you won’t be the second time, Rowen.”
Hearing that she was worried about him instantly lifted his mood.
To be fair, Juhee did have some concern for him.
But the truth was, if he got seriously hurt or died after wandering in recklessly, it would just become a nuisance for her.
Others might call her cold if they knew, but Juhee had always lived relying only on herself.
If she gave things away to others, nothing would be left for her.
Anyone who had lived her life would never blame her.
“Juhee… are you worried about me?”
His question pulled her out of her thoughts.
She looked at him and saw his eyes sparkling as he gazed at her.
For some reason, she felt like she should say yes—even if she hadn’t been.
“Yes… well, we know each other…”
“I’m happy you’re worried about me.”
“….”
Juhee had never met someone so honest about their feelings before.
It made her flustered.
“Huh? Juhee, let’s go together!”
Flustered, Juhee unconsciously quickened her pace.
Rowen, not understanding why, simply hurried after her.
