Nurturing the Hero to Avoid Death

Ch 27.6.2

[Attention]

There is a slightly dark scene at the start of this chapter. Please take caution if you’re not good with such things.

From afar, it seems to be around the size of a human child. We gulp, a bad feeling arising in our stomachs.

But as we grow closer to it, we find that the lump isn’t Mite.

Lying on the ground, body covered in blood, is s… Moot.  The subtle rise and fall of his chest shows that he’s still breathing, though shallowly.

Moot’s body has been torn to pieces. It’s even a wonder how he’s still alive.

Did Moot never stop going against those bears after catching up to them and Mite until he dropped?

Unbelievable.

Mite’s nowhere to be seen near Moot, rekindling the hope in everyone’s hearts. We decide to search the area another time.

Eventually, behind Moot’s torn and bloodied body, within a small hole amidst the heaps of soil and rock, we find…

…Mite’s unconscious figure, curled into a ball.

When Gouda-san brings Mite into his arms and lifts her up, Moot slightly tilts his head toward them and releases a low growl filled with pride.

Then he stops breathing and grows still. As if he’s just fallen asleep.

I wrap Moot’s corpse with a cloth and hold him in my arms. Watching from beside me, Lian extends his hand and strokes Moot’s head in a gentle manner. Tremors wrack his voice as he mutters, “I’m sorry.”

I try to think of reasons why Lian would apologize but come up with nothing. So I ask him.

He replies, “Because I couldn’t make it in time.”

But I don’t think the fault lies solely on Lian.

Besides, it’s been more than half a day since we started our search. Since Mite and Moot’s disappearance, even longer than that.

To be able to save Mite is already a miracle.

I tell him that, but Lian only shakes his head, face turned toward the ground. “If I had decided to go sooner… I might’ve saved Moot too…”

In the vicinity, Cheddar-san overhears our conversation and smacks Lian’s back repeatedly, saying, “What are you talking about, Lian-sama?! No need to be this depressed! Really! We saved Mite, didn’t we? We definitely wouldn’t have saved either of them if it were only up to us. It’s thanks to you that Mite’s now safe! Right, everyone?” 

Everyone turns to Lian and nods, smiles on their faces. Amidst Gouda-san’s snot and tears, he also thanks Lian, bobbing his head repeatedly.

As he’s being showered with everyone’s gratitude, Lian stays silent. Only flashes a troubled smile.

After a while, everyone starts making their way down the mountain.

As we watch the backs of everyone leaving, Lian says in a soft voice, “But… if I had decided to change the event sooner, I could’ve rescued both of them…”

I look behind me. Lian seems immersed in his thoughts. When he eventually notices my gaze, he doesn’t say anything else.

I feel like Lian’s acting… somewhat strange today.

He occasionally uses strange wording and says some cryptic phrases that I don’t understand.

He just seems different than usual.