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chapter 4
I Dug My Own Grave
Blink. Blink.
Miren slowly moved her swollen eyes.
She must have slept far too long—her eyes were so puffed up they barely opened.
So I missed breakfast again…
She had tried to hold out until morning, but staying awake in that other body for so long must have exhausted her. She ended up falling asleep without realizing it.
Hiding her disappointment, she rubbed her eyes.
Just as she was about to tidy up and stand, she heard unusually loud voices downstairs.
It wasn’t like her quiet younger sibling to cause trouble.
“Compensation? We don’t know anything about that!”
“No, ma’am, I mean—”
“Honey! I think a scammer’s come to our house!”
Miren hurried down the stairs, skipping steps.
She recognized that voice.
As expected, the mage she’d seen yesterday was arguing with her mother at the door.
Just as Miren was about to step in, her father emerged from inside.
He was a well-known giant in the neighborhood—broad-shouldered, bearded, with hands that looked more like a mercenary’s than a farmer’s.
He stepped in front of Hegel with a thud.
“Who are you to bother my wife?”
“I’m not bothering her, I just wanted to—”
“Still not leaving?!”
Hegel flinched as he was shoved back.
Then he noticed Miren standing on the stairs behind them.
She looked ready to leave despite the commotion.
Panicking, Hegel blurted out:
“I’m Miren’s boyfriend!”
“…What?”
“M-Miren? Our daughter Miren?”
Damn it. Whatever.
Hegel nodded anyway.
Her mother’s eyes softened instantly. After all, their daughter had never brought a man home in twenty-five years.
Meanwhile, her bear-like father began tearing up.
“Our… our Miren is dating someone…?”
“Honey! Stop it! Are you going to keep her tied to us forever?”
“Forever! I will! Sniff—”
The situation spiraled out of control.
Miren finally stepped in before it got worse.
“Um.”
“Oh, you’re here, my love.”
“I’m seriously going to kill you.”
“You should’ve come out sooner. You think I wanted this to happen?”
Gritting her teeth, Miren grabbed his arm and dragged him outside.
Before leaving, she threw a line at her stunned parents.
“Mom, Dad. I’ll be back after breaking up with him.”
“What?!”
“WHAT?!”
BANG!
The door slammed shut.
They stopped in the yard.
Up close, Hegel was tall—really tall. His long white hair fell past his chest, giving him a striking presence.
“Hey, rabbit.”
“Rabbit?”
“Your eyes are red.”
“Then should I call you squid?”
“What?”
“Firefly squid are purple.”
Hegel scowled.
He spoke his name slowly, enunciating every syllable.
“Hegel Karner. Don’t go telling people that.”
“Hegel Karner?”
“…You’ve never heard of me?”
“Who are you?”
She blinked.
Was he famous?
Unfortunately, Miren didn’t know many noble names. She’d been sickly growing up and rarely attended social gatherings. And nobles from remote territories were even less likely to be known.
Hegel laughed hollowly.
“…Forget it. Why did you leave yesterday?”
“I was busy. Did I have a reason to stay?”
“I said I’d compensate you!”
“I don’t need it.”
He glanced at her rundown house.
“You’re not poor?”
“No.”
“Then why refuse money?”
“If you insist, I’ll take it.”
She held out her hands politely.
He pulled out a small pouch.
Just as it was about to land in her palm—
“…Wait.”
He pulled it back.
She frowned.
“This is too much for yesterday.”
“Then don’t—”
“So let’s work together.”
There it was.
Miren had known it all along.
“I’m not interested.”
“You’re the best herb gatherer around here.”
“I’m just familiar with the area.”
“Same thing.”
She frowned but didn’t deny it.
He placed the pouch into her hands.
“I’m looking for something. Find it for me, and I’ll give you ten of these.”
“Ten?!”
Inside were gold coins.
Ten times this amount?
Was he a scammer?
Then he said the word that made everything click.
“Artemis.”
The legendary flower that bloomed only under a full moon.
Every herbalist knew of it—said to cure all ailments.
But no one had ever found it.
“How am I supposed to find that?!”
“It’s nearby.”
“How do you know?”
“It’s a magical flower. And I’m a great mage.”
He grinned.
Miren’s expression cooled instantly.
“Right. And I’m the queen.”
“Why don’t you believe me?”
“I said I do.”
She grabbed her straw hat and stepped outside.
“Gold upfront.”
“Fine. But you’re leaving now?”
“Time’s precious.”
“But it only blooms on a full moon.”
“Doesn’t mean we can’t search beforehand.”
She walked ahead.
Hegel followed.
“You’re really coming?”
“You don’t want me to?”
“No.”
“…You’re harsh.”
He still followed her anyway.
“Haah… huff…”
Hegel was barely breathing.
“If it’s hard, you can go back.”
“I’m fine! Totally fine!”
“Sure you are.”
Pranity Mountain was no easy climb.
Miren had grown up here, but Hegel clearly hadn’t.
She muttered under her breath:
“Built with magic or something…”
“I heard that!”
He rushed forward indignantly.
After hours of searching, they found nothing.
Eventually, she sighed.
“Let’s head back.”
“Finally.”
“We should eat before it gets late.”
“Yeah. I’m starving.”
His clothes were filthy now.
She studied him.
“…Do you have somewhere to eat?”
“I’ll just find a place.”
“The market’s closed today.”
“What?!”
She sighed.
“Come to our house.”
“…Okay.”
She stepped closer and picked a leaf from his hair.
Her touch was gentle.
It felt oddly comforting.
Hegel followed her, heart oddly fluttering.
“Mom, Dad, I’m back!”
“Didn’t you say you broke up?”
“Well… we decided to stay friends.”
She led Hegel into the kitchen.
They sat at the small table.
He ate eagerly.
Then—
“So why did you break up?”
“He likes men.”
“WHAT?!”
Hegel choked.
Miren handed him a napkin calmly.
“Oh, I see.”
“There are many kinds of love.”
Her parents nodded knowingly.
Dinner ended.
Then her mother smiled.
“It’s late. Why don’t you stay over?”
Miren froze.
“There’s an extra bed in your room, right?”
“Mom! He’s a man!”
“You shouldn’t discriminate.”
Hegel smirked.
By the time she realized—
She had dug her own grave.
