🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 11
As looked at me with his worried, crimson eyes.
The moment I met that gaze, something welled up in my chest.
Who was this little kid even worrying about, saying it’s okay?
And this from the one who got hit directly with boiling stock!
My mind snapped back to clarity in an instant.
I immediately poured healing magic onto As’s back with all my strength.
A bluish glow wrapped around his upper body and sank softly into him.
“You’re the one who’s hurt. Not me.”
I clenched my teeth as I said that, then carefully checked As’s condition.
His back and upper body, which had been splashed with boiling stock, were smooth without a single wound.
I meticulously checked the areas where droplets could have splattered, and then suddenly noticed As hiding his left hand behind his back.
“As, what’s with your hand?”
“…It’s nothing.”
He faltered, trying to hide his hand behind him.
The awkwardness in his actions was suspicious.
So I reached out and pulled his left hand toward me.
“…What’s this?”
On his small palm was a blister so large it looked unbearably painful.
The horrible wound, especially on such a small hand, made me freeze in place.
Instead of answering, As yanked his hand back, stayed silent for a while, then spoke slowly.
“…How is it?”
When I turned my eyes to him, As gave a bitter, self-deprecating smile.
“It’s disgusting, isn’t it?”
The moment I heard that, the thin thread of rationality I was clinging to snapped.
What kind of life has this child lived, to say something like that?
Tears welled in my eyes.
As, oblivious to my turmoil, continued in a calm voice.
“Of course it’s disgusting. Even I find it repulsive. That’s not your fault, Einra—”
I gripped his hand tightly again, pulling it toward me, and flooded it with healing magic. Word by word, I drove it in like a vow.
“It’s not disgusting at all.”
“…”
“All I think is how much it must hurt… and how much I want to help.”
When the healing ended, his palm was restored to perfect condition, without a trace of the blister.
Only after seeing it with my own eyes did I finally feel relief.
“Thank goodness… really.”
I sighed in relief and let go of his hand.
Then, in a low murmur, As whispered:
“…Do you even know what those words mean to me?”
“Huh?”
I blinked and looked up at his face.
He looked as though he was about to cry.
“When you say things so kindly… how am I supposed not to like you?”
“As…?”
“What am I supposed to do? I went and hoped again.”
At his cryptic words, I tilted my head in confusion.
Hoped again?
The word “again” meant he had once placed his hopes on me before.
But I don’t recall ever meeting As before…
Just as doubt was creeping in, As suddenly asked, voice clearer, as though he had made a decision:
“That festival you mentioned before, Einra… Do you still want to go with me?”
His question made me light up instantly.
“You’ll come with me?”
As lowered his gaze slightly and nodded.
“…If you want me to.”
“Yes! I want to! With you!”
My eyes sparkled as I nodded vigorously.
A faint smile crossed As’s face.
“Alright. Let’s go together.”
Overjoyed, I wrapped him in a tight hug.
“Thank you so much, As! I’m really glad you’ll come with me.”
“…What’s there to be so happy about?”
His face pressed against my chest, As mumbled.
“Mm?” I asked, but he just shook his head.
“It’s nothing.”
The words “it’s nothing” were clear enough.
I tilted my head, wondering, when suddenly As raised his face and looked at me.
His pomegranate-like, transparent eyes locked directly onto mine.
“Since you were the one who asked me to go to the festival… just don’t end up hating me.”
I stared blankly at him for a moment, then blurted out in shock:
“What? As, why on earth would I hate you?!”
“…Because you never know with people.”
He muttered this as his eyes fell again.
I held him tighter, putting strength into my arms.
“I would never hate you, As.”
How could anyone hate such an adorable child?
“…Really?”
“As, you’d better not hate me either.”
At that, As suddenly stiffened.
After a short silence, his voice came, slightly trembling.
“…There’s no way I could ever hate you, Einra.”
I froze for a moment.
Those words sounded as though he had known me for a long time.
…Was it just my imagination?
Before I could think deeper, As hugged me back. My thoughts stopped, and I just smiled foolishly.
Well, who cares. I feel so happy right now.
