WE TRIED TLS
Is It Bad That the Main Character’s a Roleplayer
Chapter 249 | Is There Meaning? (3)
> [Erm… I wasn’t going to say anything.]
I had a dream where something soft, squishy, and damp… where something crimson wrapped around my whole body.
> [Is this really the best way…?]
Sometimes, I also felt something hard, things which were lined up so evenly that I thought they must be some type of railing.
> [I mean, was there really no better way than carrying him in your mouth?]
Ah… Right. In that dream, wind and rain kept pounding down on my body. The gusts were so strong that the rain pelted me on either side, not only from above.
The thing was, the rain that fell on me from above felt somewhat viscous, and the drops were so big that I started to wonder if it really was rain… But I figured it was just like that because I was dreaming
> [I don’t even know anymore…]
Anyway, it was a really weird dream. I really didn’t want to have it again.
* * *
“…!”
And then I awoke to an unfamiliar ceiling. No, wait. Was this the ceiling of a cave?
I slowly released the tension around my eyes and moved them. My pupils rolled to the side, carefully taking in the surroundings. In this tilted world, wondrous nature greeted me with gentle colors.
It was incredibly beautiful.
I could only blink in awe. A vast cavern with a hole at the center of its ceiling, sunlight pouring through it, all kinds of lush plants growing from that light, and clear spring water flowing between the plants…
Let me say it again: this scenery was so captivating that you couldn’t help but admire it.
“Do you like the view of the swamp?”
But no matter how awe-inspiring the view was, I really should’ve gotten an understanding of my situation first.
I forgot to do that, so when I suddenly heard that question, I could only tightly press my lips together.
Why did I wake up here, and who was this person talking to me now? Did they know who I was when they helped me? These questions belatedly pounded through my head as if to say it wasn’t too late to think about this yet.
“You shouldn’t move.”
Somewhere in that process, I’d tried to raise my torso and reach for my sword, but that ultimately failed. The other person tried to stop me, but the more decisive factor was that my body refused to cooperate properly.
My body, which I’d managed to lift slightly, flopped down onto some layers of fabric beneath me.
“Your fever hasn’t fully gone down yet.”
The phrase about feeling “as heavy as lead” suddenly felt very real. I let out a groan as that thought crossed my mind.
Wasn’t this entirely out of character, though? But considering how much pain I was in, this should be allowed to some extent. This was the worst muscle pain I’d ever experienced. My whole body was trembling and heavy, and my limbs were completely devoid of strength.
Honestly, the fact I was even conscious now seemed like a miracle. Though I couldn’t feel the cold anymore—actually, I felt pretty numb in general—my fingers still shook from chills.
“…Why, why am I here?”
The only good thing was that the face of the other person watching me as I laid back down seemed rather familiar. Recognizing her as the Priestess of the Serhan Tribe (or I thought so, at least), I asked her a question through heavy breaths.
Soaking a cloth in a water basin, she only shrugged in response.
“It seems you don’t remember. Sir Mountain Lord brought you here.”
Once she decided the cloth was sufficiently wet, she pulled it out of the basin and wrung it. Perhaps it’s because she had multiple arms, but while doing that with the towel, she also poured some liquid into a cup with great efficiency.
“…When?”
“It’s been seven days since you first arrived here.”
What? Seven days? I’d been unconscious for a whole week?
“First things first… Please drink this.”
I was so shocked that I couldn’t utter a single word despite having so many questions I wanted to ask, but she was one step ahead of me.
As she gently wiped away the sweat on my skin—I only then realized I wasn’t wearing a shirt, but I didn’t really have the energy to get mad and so pretended not to notice—she brought the cup she’d just filled to my lips.
“It’s an herbal tea made from berries with pain-relieving effects and herbs that help reduce fever.”
Perhaps thinking I’d refuse to drink, she explained its effects in more detail. Not that I even had the strength to refuse it anyway.
I opened my parched mouth and drank the liquid slowly being poured in.
【Aori, how is the Black Thunder Snake doing?】
【He just woke up. I’ll need to monitor his condition a bit longer, but… I think he’s at least stable now.】
About five minutes passed while I sipped on the tea like a baby and had my entire naked torso thoroughly wiped down. Then, an unfamiliar face approached me.
Of course, it was possible I’d seen this person before and just couldn’t recognize them. Maybe it was because my entire body felt as heavy and solid as a rock that my mind grew increasingly cloudy instead of clear.
【That’s a blessing. Just yesterday, I was so worried because we couldn’t even feel him breathe…】
【Well, he isn’t an ordinary person, after all.】
But if I fell asleep again, I just knew there’d definitely be problems… Not health-wise, but in other ways…
Forcing my drooping eyes open, I scraped my tongue against the roof of my mouth. The rough, bitter taste I got in return was one I recognized from when I’d had a serious cold. And even after drinking enough to moisten my throat, the dryness remained. It seemed I was in worse shape than I’d thought.
【For now, I’ll continue to take care of him. If you could just bring something light for him to eat, that would be great.】
【Of course. I’ll bring it right away.】
However, while I struggled to stay awake, their conversation wrapped up. The Priestess of the Serhan tribe returned to my side and continued wiping away my sweat.
Every time the lukewarm towel touched my skin, my body shivered with chills.
“…Who.”
But I couldn’t let this little cold beat me.
I somehow managed to force out my voice. The result was a dry, cracked voice, reminiscent of cracks forming on parched land, but that’s just what I had to work with.
“Who else… knows I’m here?”
More importantly, I wondered when the medicine I’d just drank would begin working. Its effects might make me feel more relaxed.
“No need to worry. The Black Thunder Snake’s presence here is known only to the priests of the swamp and the Warchief.”
“…Why?”
“Because Sir Mountain Lord ordered it to be kept secret.”
Hmm… That was a small relief. I’d been worried that people from the outside, who’d recently begun interacting with the residents of the Great Forest, might have heard something about me…
“So please rest without worrying. Unless you, the Black Thunder Snake, or Sir Mountain Lord say otherwise, our mouths will remain closed forever.”
After she said those words, I finally felt like I could relax a little. Not completely, but at least a little.
“I’m… being chased.”
“…I see.”
I couldn’t help but worry about that… If they discovered the truth, wouldn’t their attitudes change? And if their attitudes didn’t change and they kept trying to help me—which seemed rather unlikely—that would be a problem in and of itself. If outsiders learned the people of the Great Forest were sheltering me, they could all get into a lot of trouble.
“Protecting me… would be against the law.”
“Is that so?”
But.
“If the Temple finds out, they’ll…”
“Black Thunder Snake, first, understand that we do not worship the God the outsiders believe in. We only revere Sir Mountain Lord and nature. Their will is our will.”
But…
“Moreover, Black Snake, it was you who protected the lives of our young with your blade and saved the persecuted through force.”
I let out a heavy breath. Even that ragged breath carried a burning heat with it, and if it was this hot inside my mouth, it had to be even worse deeper inside me. I was cold, yet hot, and in so much pain.
“When others brought only bloodshed and death, you alone gave us life and breath.”
It made me want to cry.
I just felt so unbearably sad, knowing I had nowhere to go, nowhere to belong, and to top it off, I was in such great pain.
“Because we know who you are, we are willing to carry out his will not out of obligation, but from the depths of our hearts, not in pretense, but in practice. So willing, in fact, that his will and ours are no longer distinguishable.”
And that was it.
“So please, swallow the rest of those words. If the Warchief were to hear them, he would surely be sad.”
Despite knowing I shouldn’t, I still wanted to ask if I could stay for just a bit longer.
* * *
“…I’ll leave in three days. Nothing good will come of me staying here.”
* * *
WE TRIED TLS
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* * *
The Land Turtle lay quietly in the spot they’d been given, enjoying the peace that came the day after the typhoon had passed. The cave, originally meant for just the Mountain Lord, was spacious and serene, perfect for enjoying some leisure time.
【Honored One, is there anything you require?】
> [No.]
That wasn’t all. Perhaps because these mortals had revered their lineage for generations, the ones attending them were incredibly perceptive.
They only asked what was necessary, cleaning the surrounding area or replacing what needed replacing without ever disturbing this pleasant silence.
They also quite liked the bed—though mortals might mistake it for a big bird’s nest—they’d prepared in a sunny spot. It was wide enough that half of it was exposed to the sun and the other half lay in the shade, so they could sleep comfortably in whichever way they wanted.
For example, they could rest in the shade if it rained or stretch out in the sun and enjoy a nap.
The Land Turtle snorted in contentment as warmth from the sun soaked into their shell.
【Should you need anything, please call us at any time.】
> [Okay.]
Although they said that, what would they ever need to ask for? It wasn’t that they disliked giving orders, but they were genuinely unable to come up with anything.
Meals were even regularly delivered on time, and snacks had already been placed nearby.
Not only that, but if they left food untouched for long enough, those mortals would immediately replace it. In this situation, they wondered what else they could possibly ask for.
“…Haah.”
…How very puzzling.
The Land Turtle narrowed their eyes at the one thing they didn’t quite like in this cave. It was the small bed laid out in a lower part of the cave across from their nest, or more precisely, the mortal inside it.
> [Hmph.]
They looked down at the mortal, whose breathing still sounded unhealthy even after a week had passed—to be fair, he’d spent most of that time being moved here through the rain.
They had no idea why this guy was lying there in pain, suffering in silence when he could just say something. They also couldn’t understand why that mortal insisted on preparing to leave despite it being painfully clear he wasn’t yet fully healed. How incredibly foolish.
> [He’ll die if he keeps acting like that…]
Even his earlier declaration that he’d leave in three days seemed utterly ridiculous.
Did the mortal really think he’d be fine in just three days? His swollen feet had only just begun to heal, and his fever hadn’t even gone down yet.
They didn’t know much about mortals’ bodies, but even they could see there was no way three days would be enough. In the end, it was just the foolish stubbornness of a mortal.
『If the Temple finds out, they’ll…』
Truly idiotic.
> [Lord Ancestor, I’m back.]
> [I see.]
How strange. They’d thought this mortal had escaped because he didn’t want to die, that he was just another self-serving coward like those they’d seen in the city.
> [I picked up some wild raspberries on the way. Would you like some? They’re sweet and tasty.]
It’d be rather strange if he were thinking of leaving because he believed the people of the Great Forest would betray and report him. As long as the Mountain Lord protected him, these people would never turn on him.
And yet, even after being told all this, this mortal still insisted on leaving. Why? What was the rest of the sentence the Priestess had asked him to swallow?
> […No. Just deal with that guy.]
> [Huh? Did something happen?]
> [He said he’ll leave in three days.]
> [Huuuh???]
> [Not like I care whether he lives or dies.]
> [Good grief, Sir Knight, really.]
…Well, whatever the reason, it was probably none of their business anyway.
In the end, that thing was still just the vessel of a damn Demon.
> [I can’t let that happen. Looks like I’ll have to stick close to him and keep him from leaving.]
> [Good luck with that.]
And so, the Land Turtle decided to just tune out whatever nonsense the Mountain Lord spouted. It was a time when they were yet to understand that the future was something no one could be certain of.
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