At the End of the Hidden Greenery - Chapter 207
As Jiwoo opened her eyes, she sensed someone entering and saw Skiass immediately open the door and walk in.
“Seo Jiwoo, you’re awake…”
“Shh.”
Jiwoo quickly pressed her finger to her lips, trying not to wake Lanset and Arven.
Although Akarna’s body doesn’t get fatigued easily, getting caught in a current and spending the night in a sea cave wasn’t a normal experience.
They hadn’t shown it, but they must have been very tired.
“Let’s let them rest.”
Skiass, seeing Jiwoo signal for silence, didn’t say a word and quietly guided her out.
“Did everyone leave already?”
“Yes… They were tired.”
“I figured… but still… we should wake them up.”
The village had changed quite a bit overnight.
First, the area around the tree in the sea had been beautifully restored, but it seemed like the rest of the village would take more time.
“Ha…”
In that refreshing atmosphere, Jiwoo started to feel a bit warm.
She knew that the tree was looking out for its guests, but she hadn’t expected the beach to be affected as well. Having come in thick clothes during the middle of winter, she was starting to sweat.
“Skiass, I want to buy some new clothes first.”
“Over there… They said they’ve prepared good items at the beach. Everyone’s over there, and the goods are ready for you to see.”
It seemed like Skiass had already planned the route, and he quickly led Jiwoo to where she wanted to go.
The best craftsman in the beach village was waiting for her, and as expected, he quickly entered, returning with a pile of beautiful clothes.
“I knew you’d come, so I made them in advance.”
“Thank goodness.”
Jiwoo had been worried she would have to wait a long time.
She was surprised at how much she had received. There were a lot of clothes.
“You make them this quickly?”
“Of course. I’m the best craftsman in the village…”
As the man began to make some gesture with his hands to shape something, Skiass hurriedly stepped in to block him. From behind Skiass, Jiwoo could hear a frustrated “Tch.”
Jiwoo suddenly remembered something and asked,
“How long would it take to make a swimsuit?”
“By the time you change into it and come back, it’ll be done.”
“That quickly? Then I’ll leave it to you.”
“Yes, yes. Now, let’s take your measurements.”
“That’s enough.”
When the man tried to come closer with just his hands, rubbing them together as if to measure her, Skiass blocked him.
“Didn’t you make it without even knowing the measurements?”
“Ah.”
“And you can estimate it just by looking, right?”
“Wow, you’re not easy to deal with.”
Though Jiwoo had no idea what the man was talking about, he didn’t back down and tilted his head again.
“But tight-fitting clothes are different, right? I need accurate measurements.”
“…”
Skiass glared at him and gave the exact measurements. The man seemed disappointed that he couldn’t measure it himself.
“Do you know?”
“Of course… I know everything.”
Skias turned his head, and his ears turned bright red.
***
Jiwoo left the clothes in Skiass’ care and returned to her lodging.
She planned to change into the new clothes first before heading out again.
As Jiwoo entered quietly, thinking that Lanset and Arven were still asleep, she could already hear sounds from inside.
‘What am I supposed to do about this?’
‘Damn it, that guy…’
They seemed to be having some serious conversation, and the sounds were coming from the bathroom.
Clearly not sounds of bathing, Jiwoo opened the bathroom door and entered.
“Ah!”
“Uwack!”
They both jumped in shock when Jiwoo came in.
Since they lived by the beach, the bathroom looked more like an outdoor hot spring. It was pond-like, with Arven sitting in the water, and Lanset standing a good distance away, looking frustrated, with his hand pressed to his forehead.
“…What’s going on?”
Arven, with just his face above the water, quickly tried to explain.
“Uh, I… bought something wrong…”
It seemed like they had bought something while Jiwoo was out shopping for clothes. However, Arven didn’t say exactly what it was.
“What did you buy?”
“Something… to improve a… couple’s relationship…”
“Mm? We’re already getting along just fine.”
Jiwoo chuckled, thinking he might have bought some kind of charm or talisman.
But Arven squeezed his eyes shut and spoke in a much quieter voice.
“To make it… even better…”
As Arven hesitated and couldn’t finish the sentence, Lanset, unable to hold his frustration, pointed toward the pond.
“He bought bath salts.”
Ah, so it was to improve their relationship in that way…
Arven glared at Lanset, as if thinking that he was really going to say that?
But it didn’t seem like such a big deal. Bath salts were something they often used when bathing together.
“Well, then you should use them since you bought them.”
Jiwoo thought it would be nice to wash up again before changing clothes.
But as she approached, both of them jumped back, looking extremely alarmed.
“No!”
“Don’t!”
Their response was so strong that Jiwoo stopped walking. Standing at a distance, she waited for them to speak. Then, in a small voice, Arven said,
“Just… don’t come too close. I’ll handle it myself…”
“Handle it yourself?”
“…”
He couldn’t answer, so it seemed like it was a problem he couldn’t solve on his own.
Realizing something might have gone wrong, Jiwoo spoke seriously.
“I’ll go get Solmih.”
“Th, That’s…”
“Absolutely not!”
They were even more alarmed at the mention of bringing the elder over. It was clear they didn’t want anyone to find out. This reaction strongly meant that something had gone wrong.
Jiwoo squinted her eyes and walked toward where they were.
“Ah, ahh, Seo Jiwoo, wait, stop!”
Arven in the water was fidgeting, and Lanset was stomping his feet, but they didn’t stop her.
However, something felt off. The water around the pond was unusually slippery. It seemed to have a slight viscosity, clinging to her body, and it felt almost as if it was vibrating. Even though Jiwoo only dipped her feet in, she could feel the strange sensation.
And then she felt it creeping up her legs. Realizing something was wrong, Jiwoo tried to pull her legs out of the water, but the water seemed to rush in and pulled her back in.
“Ack!”