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Chapter 76
The next time Eidorian came into my sight was when I reached the foot of the mountain.
He was checking the houses one by one, as if searching for us.
It seemed he was starting with the ones closest to the forest.
I swung my arms and tried to quicken my steps, though it didn’t actually make me any faster.
“Your Highness.”
Even though I called him softly, Eidorian flinched in shock and spun around swiftly.
“Why are you here?”
He frowned deeply and scolded me, yet he still reached out, grabbed my wrist firmly, and pulled me close.
“I was afraid you’d get lost if you came down from the forest, so I waited.”
I pointed at the small shed attached to the house he had just exited.
Eidorian was completely covered in zombie remains again—likely to hide his scent on the way down.
And his right arm was bent awkwardly against his chest.
“Fine. Let’s go to where you were staying first.”
He looked at me as if asking for directions. I pointed toward a house, feeling oddly embarrassed.
“Um, over there.”
He would’ve found it anyway—it was next on his route.
My hand fell limply. What must he think of me?
I’d told him I stayed behind to guide him, yet I hadn’t even done that properly.
“Let’s go.”
But Eidorian didn’t seem to care and simply walked ahead.
Clank.
As we approached, we heard the sound of a latch being removed from the door.
Creak.
The door opened.
Uben stood there with a trembling face, covering his mouth, then quickly stepped aside to let us in.
Eidorian gestured for me to enter first.
When he entered last and closed the door, Uben suddenly threw his arms around him.
“Ugh.”
Eidorian groaned in pain—the child must have touched his injured arm.
“Your Highness, are you all right?”
I pulled Uben away from him.
“…You’re hurt?”
The boy froze, startled by Eidorian’s involuntary groan.
“A little.”
Eidorian answered shortly and patted Uben’s head with his remaining good hand.
“Everyone’s safe, right? Where’s Lumi?”
“Eidorian, I’m here.”
Lumi’s voice came from the staircase.
“You’re hurt?”
Looking up, I saw Lumi carefully descending, steadying herself against the wall.
“Yeah. …My leg’s sprained.”
A faint shadow crossed Eidorian’s face.
“We’ll come up. Don’t come down, Lumi.”
He stared at her a moment longer, then headed upstairs.
It was safer than lingering near the entrance.
Once upstairs, Eidorian slowly sat, exhaling a weary sigh.
His face tightened as the movement jolted his injured arm.
“…Your arm is hurt too.”
“The situation isn’t good.”
He replied briefly and leaned his head against the wall, eyes closing as if exhausted.
Lumi took a shirt from her backpack in the corner.
She sat beside Eidorian, supporting his injured arm with her left hand and folded the shirt into a long strip.
“Ugh…”
Even the slightest lift of his arm seemed agonizing.
“I’ll be as gentle as I can.”
Lumi stood closer and slipped one end of the shirt behind his neck.
“If it’s tied too tight and you can’t breathe, tell me.”
Eidorian only nodded.
Lumi tied the ends behind his neck, securing his arm firmly against his torso.
“You should feel a bit better now.”
“…Yeah. Thank you.”
He expressed gratitude, yet worry still clouded his eyes.
Things were clearly not good.
“Lumi…”
Eidorian called her name, then looked at me, then at Uben.
“Your Highness, please rest for today.”
I cut in.
The night was already deep, and there was nothing more we could do.
He had endured far too much today—he needed rest, at least for tonight.
“We can talk tomorrow.”
“…All right.”
Surprisingly, he nodded without resistance.
“This… is this because of the bear?”
Uben finally spoke, struggling to get the words out. The boy clearly had many questions.
“That’s right. But it barely grazed me—it’s not that bad.”
Eidorian pressed lightly on Uben’s arms and sides.
“You’re not hurt, are you?”
“…I’m not.”
Uben shook his head. Then, quite suddenly, he asked:
“Did the Lady defeat the bear?”
“What?”
Eidorian looked confused.
“Did the Lady save Your Highness?”
“……”
Eidorian blinked slowly, as though processing the question.
“Uben.”
“She went to bring you back, didn’t she?”
Lumi tried to stop him, but the boy’s curiosity was unstoppable.
He must have been shocked seeing me come down the mountain carrying Lumi.
I thought he hadn’t noticed, but apparently he had.
Eidorian was injured, and I was fine—so Uben assumed I’d saved him.
“Yes. Thanks to Penelope.”
Eidorian agreed without hesitation, as though it wasn’t a big deal.
Uben’s eyes widened with awe as he stared at me.
I wanted to clear the misunderstanding, but Eidorian spoke first.
“That’s enough. I want to sleep.”
Hearing that, Uben jumped up.
“You didn’t sleep at all on the island, so you must rest!”
He hurried downstairs, returned with blankets and pillows, and set them down.
“I’m fine. The three of you use these.”
“Nights are cold here. Let’s share.”
Eidorian pulled the child beside him.
There was no candlelight in the house—only moonlight through the window.
There was nothing more to plan tonight; we lay down in silence.
Uben beside me whispered good night.
As I lay there, countless thoughts drifted through my mind.
Lillia and Heresdon must be worried sick, waiting for us.
I should tell them I’ll gather food since Eidorian and Lumi are injured.
It was daunting, yet I was relieved the search area was now a village, not a forest—no wild beasts to fear here.
…Did Lumi treat her leg properly?
Come to think of it, it was the same leg she’d injured because of Heresdon before.
Maybe it was weakened and sprained again.
“Penelope.”
Just as I was lost in thought, Eidorian broke the silence.
“Yes?”
But he didn’t speak for a long time.
Lumi, lying beside him, shuffled and turned toward us, puzzled.
Then Eidorian finally spoke again—
