The Melancholy of the Wolf (3)
The name Land of Pastoralism is not in vain.
In Pulan, where the number of cows and pigs is overwhelmingly greater than the number of people, Toren Village, located in the deepest mountain valley, has experienced many changes in recent years.
As the village is already aging, there is no influx of young people.
There is plenty of work to do, but no one comes to this place to work, so isn’t this a town where you only see the same people you always see?
Therefore, it is natural that when something good happens in a house, the whole village becomes abuzz.
The happiness of one family is the happiness of the entire village. It is not particularly strange that in just half a day, word spreads throughout the village and everyone congratulates you.
The most recent thing that caused an uproar in the village was the return of Yenica Palover.
Yenika always returns home every vacation and gets her face stamped, but this time she returned home was especially noisy.
The incident occurred as soon as Jenica Failover returned home.
Everything was natural, from returning to Failover Ranch, changing into village woman-like clothes and washing dishes, helping with the ranch work as usual, and eating a meal with sheep’s milk cheese and rye bread with my parents.
However, there was a hint of something different from usual.
Orte Palover, the owner of Palover Ranch, and his wife, Sayla Palover, know their only daughter, Yenika Palover, better than anyone else, whom they raised as a golden jade leaf.
The same goes for the fact that she is absolutely terrible at lying. The two people, who have watched Yenika’s growth process over the past ten years, can see through Yenika’s psychology just by looking at her facial expressions.
― ‘You seem to be worried a lot lately, Yenika. Is it because you stepped down from your senior position? The second place alone is truly amazing.’
– ‘Yes?! Oh no! Of course, it’s a shame… but I’m not that depressed because of it! ‘Dad too!’
Jenica, who had been denying Orte’s words while sitting at the dinner table, waved her hand in positive denial out of fear of causing unnecessary concern.
This is the reaction to telling the truth. Still, I’m glad that he doesn’t seem stressed because of his grades, but why does he seem particularly lethargic?
The couple noticed several times that they were staring blankly into space or sighing heavily, as if they were worried about someone.
– ‘Or something… did you find a boy that bothered you?’
– ‘huh? No, what do you mean! Dad, why on earth are you saying such strange and incomprehensible things? When I say that about a boy who is bothering me, it sounds like I have some strange thoughts! That’s really how dad is always!
If you have time to talk about such strange things, I’ll go change the food! No, it’s something you have to do anyway… but anyway, don’t say things like that without any context! ‘You’re so surprised!’
Yes that’s right.
The Failover couple, who had been scolded, showed their anger as they watched Yenika’s reaction as she explained the words at length.
Is that really so? Surely Yenica Failover has reached that age too.
The Failover couple is already open-minded when it comes to rational reasons.
This is a rural area where you have to search every nook and cranny to find a few young people. I was always worried that Yenika, who grew up working on a ranch in a place like this, would grow up to be a village woman who didn’t know anything about the world.
The couple couldn’t control their excitement as they wondered if they were going to catch a man when there were already not enough workers at the ranch.
To begin with, the Failover couple had very low views on men.
No matter how much Yenika can fly and crawl, I did not expect to attract people such as children of noble families of noble status, talented magicians with decent looks, or popular and reputable networkers.
However, I only have a small wish to be good at ranch work and dexterous. I would be very moved if I lived in this village for a dozen more years and became an old maid and did not get caught up in my age and marry a strange person.
That Jenica is rationally attracted to a male student from Sylvania!
My son-in-law! He is my son-in-law!
The sweet three-letter sound that was never dreamed of in this crumbling town. My son-in-law!
Like a pirate who discovered gold and silver treasure, Sayla Palover turned on the light in her eyes and wrapped her arms around Yenika’s back.
Even considering that she is my daughter, Yenica Palover is a woman that many men have no reason to reject. Her appearance is cute and pretty, and her abilities are such that there is no need to worry about her. In this day and age, such a simple and kind country girl is a natural monument in itself.
Since there was absolutely no reason to reject who the other man was, a meeting meeting was already underway in the heads of the Palover couple.
What kind of person the most important man was was left behind. Unless you are a really crazy person, you are ready to accept everything. In the first place, if you are a student at Sylvania, it feels like you are guaranteed at least something.
– ‘Yenika! Yenica! ‘You’re finally doing it!’
― ‘Honey, don’t make too much of a fuss…! But by the way, what kind of anime is it? Maybe you don’t like it when your in-laws are too generous? Do you think you might like a more classy feel…? Should I get the dress I wore at my wedding altered again?’
– ‘Are you a bit of a shooter? My dream was to have a drink with my son-in-law and shoot some targets… No, it’s still too early to drink. I wish I looked a little more masculine rather than slim… what do you think…?’
Even if you drink a bowl of kimchi soup, it won’t be this spicy. There is a degree to what a person is like.
Yenika’s expression was hardening in real time.
– ‘Oh no! ‘Why do you think like that!’
– ‘Yenika! We all know without even trying to hide it! So what’s your name…?’
– ‘Don’t tell me! ‘Why do I have to tell you something like that!’
At the point where the answer came out, ‘I won’t tell you’ instead of ‘There is no such person’, Yenika was essentially admitting the truth. In any case, he was a person who was truly terrible at lying.
– ‘No, you could tell me! Yenica! Do you know how hard this father went through while taking charge of the Palover Ranch?! ‘I wish I had some joy in life too!’
― ‘Ah, Dad… why are you making such a fuss…’
― ‘It’s not bad to end your life like this, cleaning up cow shit and milking cows, but in this world, you have to keep your fists clenched and your strong feet upright. As I stand… It is a man’s heart and a man’s life to want a son-in-law…! So, let’s at least hear the name! In the first place, a man should know better than a man!’
– ‘it’s okay! Done! please! Lower your voice! Everyone next door will hear it!’
As Yenica pounded the desk in a fuss, Orte Palover let out a sigh, his muscular arms hanging limply.
― ‘Yes… That’s true… If that’s the case… there’s nothing we can do…’
― ‘Honey, we have to be careful too. Yenika can’t just have a kind and pretty heart forever… I decided on the day I gave birth to Yenika that I should brace myself because puberty will inevitably come someday. Don’t be too upset. Now the promised time has come.’
― ‘I see… I guess… I guess it’s a process that everyone goes through. Now, if I mix my clothes with her own and wash them, Yenika gets angry and says that they smell like sweat, and when we make eye contact, she frowns, slams the door, goes into her room, and starts pounding on the table, telling me to give her my allowance or whatever… My mental preparation was already complete… but it’s such a sad thing… I’m now becoming a sour old man stuck in a corner of the room… I guess this is the twilight of life… It’s bitter and lonely. …’
― ‘Why are you thinking in such a leap of faith…! I’m not like that, I’m not like that…!’
When Jenica saw Orte’s tearful face, she hesitated for a moment. Anyway, I can never tell you the name.
In this small rural society, the moment you utter that name, it will be an instant for the rumor to spread throughout the village. I know this well because I am Yenika, who has lived in Toren Village longer than anyone else.
However, as the couple’s intimidated expression continued to put pressure on them… soon, cold sweat began to trickle out.
“Ugh… that…”
In the end, Yenika, who had a kind heart, hesitated and spoke.
“The arrow… shoot well…”
When she saw Orte’s expression turning red, Jenica felt the blood rush to her head.
– ‘O Yenika! I heard the news! ‘I’m so happy that you seem to be enjoying your school life to the fullest!’
― ‘Bring him to the village sometime! ‘I’ll pick raspberry liquor that’s been brewed for over 20 years!’
– ‘Then I’ll slaughter a whole pig!’
– ‘Can I just have a pig?! Gotta catch the cow! ‘I’ll search the entire pasture and catch the best quality ones, so if you come across anything, be sure to tell me!’
I didn’t say his name, but it was true that I made a mistake anyway.
There was no way the Failover couple, who had been scolded, would not tell the villagers about such an important matter.
After having a drink at the village hall and sharing a conversation with Ortega Jenica, who was in a good mood, the rumor spread quickly.
By the evening of the next day, the village was already in a state of decline, so Jenica, who was walking around the village square with a basket full of fruits, was feeling feverish on her face.
– ‘Oh, when she comes, be sure to stop by our Helken General Store! I don’t have much to take care of… but if there’s anything I need repaired, I’ll do it for free!’
– ‘If you’re from Sylvania, aren’t you from a fairly wealthy or noble family? Maybe not all of them are like that, but there are a lot of them! Yenika, you have really achieved success! It’s the pride of our village!’
– ‘Yenika! Yenica! Yenica! Yenica! Yenika!’
– ‘It’s a good time! About 25 years ago, I also used to beat up some city guys… I miss it, I miss it~’
Jenica, who had been walking around receiving congratulations all day, declared to the Palover couple at breakfast the next day.
― ‘I want to go back to Sylvania tomorrow.’
It sounded like a thunderbolt. Once he returned home, Yenika stayed for at least 15 days, but he announced his return after only three days.
– ‘What’s going on, Yenika? ‘I’ll have to wait a little longer.’
– ‘I…’
Jenica, whose face was blushing, spoke with tears in her eyes.
― ‘I can’t live here anymore…’
The delicate heart of a girl was too difficult to handle for a penny-pinching ranch couple in a rural village.
…It was a tearful thing.
*[I was thinking about old times]
In the center of the northern forest, there is a fairly large lake.
It is truly an amazing lake. The amount of stagnant water was not that great for a lake, but the water did not become cloudy or rotten.
Stagnant water will inevitably become slightly cloudy, as if someone is continuously purifying it… The water of the central lake always looked clean and mysterious.
Especially in the morning, there is a gloomy fog due to the humidity, but the sight of the lake softly revealed through the morning sunlight is like a scene from a fairy tale, and is quite spectacular.
It seems that some students use it as a morning exercise course. In particular, guys like Ziggs are regular customers.
Well, it was morning at that time… Now it was night, and the starlight in the night sky was shining faintly as it reflected on the water.
‘Merilda’s Guardian Tree’ rises on a small grass island in the center.
When you sit back and look at the view of the forest, it feels as if the night sky is also on the ground. This is because the night sky reflected on the bright view index clearly shows starlight as if it were the sky itself.
From somewhere in the coniferous forest that spreads between the two skies, only the distinctive sounds of insects or rodents moving through the forest can be heard on summer nights.
Summer nights are never quiet. It is noticeably different from winter nights when you feel like you are alone in the world.
It makes me think that even in this forest that appears to be full of trees, there is definitely a lot of life lurking around.
“Thinking about the old days?”
[It just happens once in a while. ]
Merilda was walking on the surface of the water. This was possible because the epiphany was released. Since the mana was depleted, it would not have been visible to me if it were not for the power of the staff.
Watching them walk barefoot on the water reflecting the starlight of the night sky, it feels like they are stepping on the sky, not on the water.
[You destroyed the Ross Taylor family not long ago. ]
“To say it was smashed is an understatement.”
[What do you think? It’s true. ]
Merilda lightly lifted the hem of her skirt on both sides and turned her body around, causing a slight breeze to blow up.
[I don’t know what you think, but to me, the Ross Taylor family is a family with a long history whose name has been around for a very long time. ]
“I don’t think it’s any different.”
[ well. Knowing the history and actually observing it are two different stories.]
“That’s true, too.”
Merilda smiled as she saw me admitting it so coolly, saying she knew that would happen.
[Every time I see such a large group or group disappearing, I get the feeling that times have changed again. What else can I say about this? It feels very draining. ]
“Hmm…”
[ Don’t you understand? ]
“To be honest, yes. I don’t really understand.”
Merilda smiled and continued her story.
[Sometimes I feel like the times leave me behind. Is it because my life as a spirit has also entered its twilight period? I often have useless thoughts. ]
We have entered the twilight period.
I couldn’t respond to that expression for a moment and had to gather my thoughts.
Merilda is a high-ranking spirit who has lived for a long time.
It is known that all spirits do not have the concept of lifespan, but this is incorrect.
There is no such thing as death from physical shock or magical power, and no spirit can spend more time in this world than is allowed to respond to its magic.
There is only one way to extend the allowed time. All it does is raise its status.
From a fluid spirit that emits magical power for about a week and then disappears, to a lower-level spirit that can maintain its magical form for several years.
And then it progresses to a mid-level spirit that can easily maintain its life for several decades, and then to a high-ranking spirit that does not disappear even after living for hundreds of years.
However, no matter how powerful a spirit is, at some point it must participate in the cycle of this world.
Although there is no concept of death, the concept of return to nature remains. Although it may not seem much different from death, we can at least harbor hope that one day we will be able to return to the spirit of the body and start from scratch.
The life of a spirit is so long and monotonous.
“Merylda, you…”
[Don’t get me wrong, I still have a long way left. At least over a hundred years. ]
After saying that, Merilda smiled like a wolf.
[Why? Were you worried that it would be gone soon? Kuhu. ]
“…I’d be lying if I said I didn’t do it.”
[Wow, you’re being honest in this strange part. You seem to be a very affectionate type. ]
“No matter what, I’ve benefited a lot from you. I’m not that cold-blooded either.”
I leaned my back against Merilda’s guardian tree and looked up at the sky blankly.
“I was just curious as to why you were so depressed. Now you know.”
[ depressed? I? ]
“If you pretend, you’re just pretending. You’re depressed right now. Do I really need to tell you that?”
Having a heart is the same for both spirits and humans. And although it is my personal opinion, I think the way the mind works is similar whether it is a human, an animal, or a spirit.
The reason why Merilda seems particularly lethargic or worried is also similar.
“Humans are the same.”
I spoke with a deep sigh.
It was a story that was equally true on the battlefield and in peaceful society.
Young, young and full of energy… spirits like mugs all see the ‘future’.
I became a middle-ranking spirit, and by further improving my magic sensitivity and increasing my magic power, I will one day become a high-ranking spirit… I dream of commanding spirits and wandering the world with a capable spiritist.
But they live long enough… The spirits, who are nearing their twilight years, see the ‘past’.
I met certain spiritists, saw certain people, and experienced certain eras.
The days we have lived so far and the days we will live in the future. If you weigh which of the two has more, you can easily find out what kind of person you are.
Those who have more days to live look to the future, and those who have lived more days look back on the past.
This is the same reason why a young man who has just graduated from college and an elderly gentleman who is about to retire cannot communicate.
A young man talks about the future, but a gentleman only talks about the past. After becoming aware of the discrepancy, the gentleman gradually falls into depression.
My story is coming to an end. In the end, the times moved on and left me behind.
After realizing that fact, there are definitely times when tears come to my eyes just looking at the setting sunset.
[That girl looked like Sylvania. ]
Suddenly, a story about Great Sage Sylvania emerged.
I wondered if this was a story that Merilda, who looked more like Sylvania than anyone else, would say… but then I realized it wasn’t about her appearance, so I closed my mouth.
Patriciana was a child who was so immersed in her studies that she didn’t even know about her bachelor’s degree.
[The great sage was also an eccentric who devoted himself to his magic research no matter how harsh and difficult the environment was. ]
“So you hung out with him?”
[I just wanted to watch. It reminds me of the old days. I think I caused you some trouble in the process. ]
“This isn’t a problem, so don’t worry too much. Tracyana came and took care of everything.”
Merilda smiled and tilted her head.
[ In the end, it was a girl that was more different from the Sylvania I saw long ago. Well, of course. A weirdo like that will easily appear again. ]
“Is that so?”
[ Okay. As you said, I may have been a little depressed. ]
Merilda stood on the water with the hem of her skirt spread out and looked up at the vast spires of Sylvania. There are more than one or two spires rising among the stars in the night sky.
The spires of Sylvania, which can be easily seen from the lake in the northern forest, were the remains of an eccentric wizard who was exiled to Aken Island long ago.
Although it may have had humble beginnings, it has now become the best educational institution on the continent.
Those impermanent years were very long, but if you go back and look back, you might remember them as clearly as if they were yesterday.
The memories of the past that Merilda has accumulated will remain in her memory until now, as she enters her twilight years.
As I said, people who have entered their twilight years tend to live by looking at the past rather than the future.
The same goes for the memories that Merilda remembers as she quietly closes her eyes. Memories that I would never forget and keep until the end of my long life. There’s no way they aren’t special.
The time when I was indifferently looking down at the panoramic view of Aken Island from the top of the mountain.
Was it a time when Sylvania was having trouble with accidents whenever she got the chance?
The sight of Sylvania laughing heartily with both hands on her hips is certainly… not an easy sight to forget.
[In hindsight, I thought about it… I never had a friend like that kid. ]
Merilda, speaking in a low whisper, had a relaxed expression that was far from depressed.
[Yeah, it was great back then. ]
You shouldn’t judge based on facial expressions alone.
*[There is the body of the highest ranking wind spirit. ]
I could see that my affinity with Merilda had increased without even opening the stat window.
This is because it felt more like a connection between spirits and spirit masters rather than affinity as a stat. It’s worth it because we went on various journeys together and talked often.
Well, since I actually feel more friendly, my friendliness as a stat will definitely go up. Accordingly, the power of spirit rituals and skills will also be further affected.
However, after a more in-depth conversation with Merilda, what fell into my hands… was information of a higher level than that.
[The highest ranking wind spirit position is currently vacant. Decades have passed, but no one has come close to that level. All that remains is the corpse of the highest-ranking spirit of the past who has expired and transformed into nature. ]
Merilda came to Merilda’s guardian tree and sat down next to me, holding her knees, and spoke.
[ In fact, it can even be called a corpse. It’s a small, silky-shaped lump of magic power. There is no way for a spirit to have a corpse or anything like that, but since it is a trace left behind as it disappears, it is somewhat similar. ]
Merilda spread her palms toward the night sky and continued her story.
[If you get your hands on it, you will make tremendous progress in your elemental arts training. Sylvania finished her research and buried it in the ground. If you want, I will hand it over to you. ]
“Is there some kind of change of heart all of a sudden?”
[ just. It’s hard to find a friend like you. Yenica is also a very good friend, but if you ask her if she is deep enough to reveal her true feelings, it is not so. ]
The highest ranking wind spirit, ‘Tirkalax’.
The spirit in the shape of a giant bear, boasting a body the size of a mountain ridge… was a being from the past that can now only be found in history books.
[But it’s not free. ]
Saying that, Merilda smiled sinisterly.
“I think you’re thinking about something useless again.”
[Not at all~. Like I said, I’m a little depressed. I just thought it would be nice to relieve some of my depression. ]
“What more do you want?”
Merilda suddenly raised her upper body, pulled my tie, and whispered in my ear.
[You know that Yenika likes you, right? Reasonably. ]
I swallowed my breath as the words struck me.
[ Well, it’s not that I can’t understand your situation because you’re so busy, but… Now that you’ve gotten a little more comfortable and it’s a break, you’ve got some free time, right? ]
“What are you talking about?”
[I need to slow down a bit now. ]
Saying that, Merilda twirled the hand that was pulling the tie and spoke in a seductive voice.
[I need to at least give Jenica a kiss before the vacation ends. ]
“…”
As he was staring at Merilda with an astonishment-like expression on his face, Merilda shook off her pure white hair and made a sly face.
[ If the fire fox girl at the top sits down at the camp, it’s obvious that Yenika will be defeated in the battle. Before that, I need to quickly make it a fait accompli, so I can feel at ease. ]
“…”
[Call?]
Summer vacation was already coming to an end.
It won’t be long before students will return to their bachelor’s degree.
For some time, I just stared at Merilda’s sly face, feeling an ominous feeling coming over me without knowing why.
