I Can’t Run Away From the Girl Who Saved Me

20 – Sleep (6)

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Sylvia was hugging Ash, who was crying in her arms, without saying anything.

Just as he was when he received Ash that had jumped from the tree, he hadn’t even put it down yet.

To be honest, she was confused.

Even ten minutes ago, the thought that filled Sylvia’s head was, ‘I want to cut off Ash’s leg so he can’t escape. Should I cut off his right leg or his left leg?’

However, after seeing Ash screaming from the top of a tree, being chased by a vicious mountain beast, Sylvia quickly realizes that he did not run away and abandons her, and smiles.

If you think about it, it was always like that.

Ash had already disappeared several times without a word, but he had never tried to run away.

The first time it was at Layla’s grave, and the next time it appeared after gathering some wild greens.

Today, when I was away until the late hour, I was trembling on the tree without being able to return to the cabin because I was chased by a bear.

After all, Ash never once tried to leave her.

That fact warmly embraced Sylvia’s heart.

Besides, right before he was hit by the vicious bear’s front paw on the tree, he called Sylvia’s name.

I couldn’t tell if he was asking for help or if I was the last person to come to mind before dying.

As soon as she heard that cry, all of Sylvia’s anger melted like snow in spring.

Of course, I had no intention of going on like this.

A sword that was never picked up again after cutting down a lot of villagers.

The moment she impulsively pulled out her own sword, which she never wanted to hold, she could feel once again how obsessed she was with him.

Now I don’t want to be alone ever again.

The fact that he sacrificed himself to save the world as a hero had even a subtle pride, but he couldn’t stand the pain of being lonely.

She herself was well aware of how contradictory she was.

There was, however, a little bit of shame.

It wasn’t that she couldn’t stand it, she just became intolerable.

Obviously, until Ash appeared, he was doing well alone, chewing on the solitude and loneliness.

Over the past few years, the only driving force that allowed me to endure the loneliness of being isolated from the world was definitely my mission and pride as a warrior.

In this forest where no human trace can be found, a life of waiting blankly for the end of life to come someday.

She laughed at her, saying that the resentment and compensation mentality that suddenly came to her were the only price for defeating the demon king, but she suppressed her inner feelings and silently waited for death in the same daily life every day.

There is no praise or praise.

There was no glory, no hope, no reward.

To be honest, it was difficult to endure with only the mission and pride, but Sylvia was leading a life of remembering her colleagues who died first, commemorating all those whom she had killed, and looking at the hourglass slowly pouring towards death.

Because that was the destiny and mission given to the hero Sylvia.

But, I couldn’t do that now.

I can’t go back to the time when Ash wasn’t there anymore.

Sylvia could no longer bear the silence of an empty cabin.

And it was definitely Ash who made him this way.

He created a crisis in Sylvia’s mission.

Although the misunderstanding and anger had already been resolved, she was still thinking of a way to tie Ash to the cabin somehow.

His cooking was a great pleasure, but it didn’t matter if he couldn’t cook anymore.

I know how much he loved his sister, but honestly, I wish I hadn’t even gone to the graveyard.

The forest is inherently a dangerous place, so Ash might die by a foolish mistake like today.

So I always wanted Ash to stay still in my cabin.

Sylvia wished that way even though she knew it was selfish.

Because, that’s okay.

Because Ash said that it’s okay to be selfish.

To be honest, it doesn’t make sense that I, who had accomplished all of that journey, couldn’t even hope for this much.

Didn’t he ask permission to spread a curse that would annihilate mankind?

As long as you have Ash.

If I keep Ash by my side, I will be stuck in this damn forest until I die and won’t step out.

If he stayed by my side, it was clear that I would be able to enjoy life in the forest for the next few decades.

Now, for Sylvia, Ash has become essential to continuing the sacrifices she has accepted as a champion.

The most important piece that made her a hero, the name of that piece was Ash.

however,

“Sil, Sylvie… ah… Mr.”

Ash buried his face in Sylvia’s arms and sobbed.

Sylvia stopped all the thoughts she had been thinking of until recently with a shock that easily exceeded her expectations.

It was a light, mind-bending shock.

cut off your leg?

who? his legs?

Ash crying with his shoulders shaking?

Am I to cut off the legs of this poor boy who is barely finding reassurance as he warms his frightened body with the warmth of my arms?

Sylvia slowly lowered her confused hair and looked down at the gray hair in her arms.

A strong urge to stroke Ash’s hair swirled in her mind.

But with one hand holding him up and the other holding the torch, Sylvia finally brought her forehead to his head.

“don’t cry. are you okay.”

“Ehh, Sylvia-san…”

“You were scared.”

“Yeah… I was scared.”

‘Oh my God, what a terrible thought did I have?’

Sylvia silently rubbed her cheek against his head.

It seemed as if he was trying to share the warmth of his body as much as possible.

Ash, like a baby seeking its mother’s milk, burrowed deeper and deeper into Sylvia’s arms.

＊

The two returned to the cabin holding hands.

By waiting for Ash to calm down, it was already close to midnight.

“…I’ll prepare dinner.”

Ash said in a hoarse voice.

His face, which Sylvia glanced at, was red enough to be recognized even in the dark.

After he calmed down, he seemed to be ashamed of crying profusely in a woman’s arms.

Sylvia smiled and replied.

“It’s late, so it’s okay. Instead, let’s have breakfast together tomorrow when we wake up.”

“Are you not hungry?”

“Thanks to someone, I was so surprised that I couldn’t think of anything to eat.”

“…sorry.”

Ash lowered his head helplessly.

“I’m not angry, so it’s okay.”

Sylvia, furious that he had disappeared, lied without spitting.

At least it wasn’t wrong, considering how I feel now.

It’s been a long time since the anger at Ash’s appearance just before has already been blown away.

“Ah, the basket.”

“hmm?”

“Sorry, I lost my basket while being chased by a bear.”

As Ash sat down weakly on the bed, Sylvia smiled and stroked his hair once.

“It’s okay if you don’t mind. You will be tired, so go to sleep today.”

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“…Ah yes.”

Sylvia put Ash on the bed and slowly went back to her room.

Carefully closing the door that had been left open for several days, Sylvia lit a candle on the desk, sat down on a chair, and took out a sword.

Then he slowly began to wipe the sword with a dry cloth hanging from the back of the chair.

Blood and fat on the used sword must be wiped off within the same day to prevent damage.

It was a habit acquired through long adventures.

However, even though it was equipment maintenance that she had already repeated several times, her hand polishing the sword was somehow awkward.

“…ash.”

She quietly called Ash’s name.

At that moment, Sylvia’s stomach area became hot.

Just by repeating the name, it felt like a hot fire was spreading in my heart.

She kept rubbing only one part of the sword in a daze, recalling Ash’s appearance from a while ago.

Ash hugged him tightly in his arms while crying.

Every body that touched him seemed to still remember the sensation.

Now, it’s even strange.

It wasn’t even the first time he had physical contact with Ash.

However, this feeling was clearly different from the hug he gave him in response when he hugged him not long ago.

It was the first time I had ever seen Ash so desperately demanding his arms.

“…cute.”

Sylvia whispered quietly and smiled.

And at the same time, my anxiety grew.

I knew he had no intention of leaving him.

Sylvia clearly understood that he, who understood and accepted the situation of being cursed, could not be anxious to leave the forest now.

However, whether Ash was ready to live in this forest was another matter.

For him who had to live in the forest already, it was a strange statement to ask whether he was ready or not, but it was an important issue.

Even if he doesn’t try to run away from me, he’s a weak being who can lose his life in the forest at any time.

It was a worry that Sylvia, who had excellent dance skills herself and had always been with strong colleagues in her life, had never thought about.

In fact, the bear that attacked Ash today was enough for Sylvia to kill without difficulty even without a sword.

Ash is weak.

Sylvia only realized that fact.

“Didn’t you say wizard…?”

Then why didn’t Ash cast his magic on the bear?

Was it because I was afraid that I couldn’t make a normal judgment?

Or is it that the magic that would do effective damage to the bear isn’t working?

Sylvia was troubled.

It wouldn’t be strange if I lost him at any time.

He would have to keep him out of the woods any longer, but he couldn’t keep an eye on him all day.

“As expected… do I have to amputate my leg?”

No, probably impossible.

Sylvia instinctively realized that she could never harm him.

Then why don’t you train him yourself?

I don’t know much about magic, but the sword can teach me.

Even if you don’t necessarily learn the sword, you can train it.

No, if Ash is strong enough to get out of the forest, he might run away this time?

No, no, Ash won’t run away.

Well, I’m not sure.

It’s only been over a month since he entered this forest.

A year, two years, or more would surely make him sick of this seclusion.

A stronger trigger was needed to tie Ash up here without leaving any scars on his body.

A stronger motive and reason for him not to leave this forest.

what occasion? what occasion?

How did I survive in this forest?

Pride in sacrificing to protect the world as a warrior?

Honestly, haven’t those positive feelings already worn out?

Then why can’t I get out of this forest?

Sylvia suddenly realized that she had been immersed in thought, even stopping to clean her sword.

Putting her thoughts aside, she decided to wipe the sword first.

When I rubbed the sword with a quick and familiar skill, the black blood on the sword was quickly wiped away and became shiny.

I couldn’t remember where I put the extra abrasive or linseed oil.

The time when I was about to put the sword back into the scabbard, saying that it would be too cumbersome to find it now, when it was already dark, so I would have to do that tomorrow.

She suddenly met her eyes with her own red eyes reflected in the sword.

Oh, it was.

I couldn’t go out because of this memory, this experience.

Then Ash… do the same to him…

When some terrible memories and plans were crawling in her red eyes.

smart

“Hey… Mr. Sylvia?”

Ash knocked on Sylvia’s door and spoke to her.

Sylvia hurriedly put the sword into the scabbard and pushed it under the bed.

“ash? what’s the matter?”

“…Uh, there…that’s it.”

“wait for a sec.”

When Sylvia opened the door, Ash appeared with a blushing face.

“what’s the matter?”

“Uh… Mr. Sylvia, you haven’t changed your clothes yet.”

“Ah, yes. I have some work to do. Now get changed and sleep. why?”

“…That’s it.”

Ash licked his lips and twisted his body.

what the heck, it’s cute

Looking at Ash’s face, he had something he wanted to say, but it seemed like it was difficult to say.

Sylvia hurriedly smiled.

“Tell me it’s okay.”

“…that.”

“hurry.”

“… I don’t know.”

Ash closed his eyes and opened his mouth.

A very small voice came out of his mouth.

“Just for today… can we sleep together?”

For a moment, Sylvia stopped breathing.

It was because of the thought that there was a possibility that even the sound of his own breathing could make him hear these words incorrectly.

“… what?”

“that is…”

“Say it again.”

“That… can’t we sleep together?”

Ash, shyly lowering his head and glancing up as he spoke, was very cute.

Sylvia thought her expression would collapse if she relaxed even a little, so she braced herself and held on.

“Oh, only today!”

Oh no,

Sylvia smiled briefly.

She immediately changed her expression, but still forced the corner of her mouth to rise and said mischievously.

“Huh… Why?”

Ash turned away shyly and covered his mouth with his clenched fist.

“Kuhmm, uh, I guess… the sound coming from the forest in the middle of the night…”

“A sound?”

“…Today feels a bit… scary.”

hey,

It’s crazy.

Instead of answering, Sylvia grabbed Ash’s wrist in an instant.

Her hand looked like the head of a snake snatching a mouse.

“Sylvia-san…? Wow!”

Then he pulled Ash with all his might and slammed the door shut.

Visitation did not open until the next morning.

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