At the End of the Hidden Greenery - Chapter 227

“That much is fine. No, actually, it’s better.”

“Better?”

“You’ve never hit us before.”

“……”

Jiwoo was at a loss for words. There was no reason to hit them, nor did she want to.

“Then I guess I’m the only one who’s had that kind of experience with you, Seo Jiwoo.”

“What? Don’t joke around.”

“Hmm, does it seem like a joke?”

Kaman smiled with a teasing eye and whistled softly.

He wasn’t saying it was good to get hit, but seemed happy just to be the only one to have that experience.

Jiwoo reached out to Kaman’s cheek, the same cheek she had just slapped.

“Kaman, if it’s an unforgettable experience for you, then even better.”

Tilting his head, Kaman took Jiwoo’s finger resting on his cheek into his mouth and gently bit the fingertip with his slightly exposed canine tooth.

“So it’s okay.”

The smile in Kaman’s eyes wasn’t warm or bright. It was sharper, more piercing.

Maybe it was because they were different species.

Sometimes when she felt possessiveness in such a different direction, it felt like being tightly caught in a snare. Like a flower that seemed fragrant and beautiful but was actually a trap.

Meanwhile, the conversation among those ahead continued.

“…If that’s true, can you guide us there?”

“And if it’s not true?”

“Then it’s not.”

Tyrinos glanced at Jiwoo, eyes as red as blood, observing her closely.

“If it’s not, we have nothing more to lose here.”

After a while, they arrived at a surprisingly well-maintained village.

Despite her dazed state, Jiwoo looked around in mild surprise.

‘Interesting. Didn’t they say there were no Ellandos here?’

Since this was a place where the children of Ellandos lived, the architecture and decorations were beautiful, similar to any other village Jiwoo knew.

Compared to the dying Ellandos beach village, which reeked of death, this place seemed just like any other village, except for the absence of the Ellandos tree.

While Jiwoo’s husbands were made of fresh flowers and trees, this place had a drier feeling. Like fallen leaves rather than flowers or trees.

From slightly sick trees to those seriously ill, Jiwoo had seen almost every stage of dying trees.

But encountering a true death, or the absence of Ellandos, was her first time.

After guiding Jiwoo’s group to a resting place, Tyrinos said quietly.

“Rest for now. We’ll check things out.”

What exactly they intended to check, Jiwoo didn’t know. But before she could consider it, utterly exhausted from the journey, she fell asleep as soon as she lay down in the resting place.

Before drifting off, she overheard her husbands and Tyrinos’ group talking seriously nearby.

***

Jiwoo had that strange dream again.

Falling into a vast darkness with no up or down, feeling like she was being watched. Somehow, that gaze seemed closer this time.

“Uht…!”

Startled, Jiwoo opened her eyes.

She met Solmih’s gaze right in front of her. Overwhelmed by the deep rose scent and dizziness, she squeezed her eyes shut.

“Seo Jiwoo…”

Solmih wiped the cold sweat from Jiwoo’s forehead.

“Would you like to step outside with me for a bit? Let’s get some fresh air.”

“Yes… I’d like that.”

Feeling too dizzy, Jiwoo nodded.

Solmih carefully lifted her and led her deeper into the dark forest.

“The man named Tyrinos thinks he knows the cause of what happened to you.”

“Really?”

“Yes, he wants to explain….”

Solmih hesitated, then checked that no one was nearby before continuing.

“But first, I want to start treatment.”

“Huh?”

The treatment involved touching Jiwoo’s body to restore her senses. Because the process didn’t look pleasant to outsiders, Solmih seemed to want a private place.

“It can be done while getting hit.”

“….I don’t want to do that.”

“I thought you’d say that.”

Clearly, he brought her prepared to endure being hit. Judging by Kaman’s reaction, it almost seemed like something to be happy about.

The real problem was how uncomfortable Jiwoo felt about it. No matter how unavoidable, she didn’t want to treat them carelessly.

“Could, could, you, you just hold me like before? Maybe call others to help…”

Though it didn’t work out as the others arrived, Jiwoo thought it would be better to be held still. She never imagined she’d say something like that.

“Good idea.”

“…Yes.”

Although Jiwoo hadn’t suggested it first, she was more comfortable now handling multiple people.

“But if we restrain you with hands and arms, even if we’re careful, you might get hurt.”

“What?”

Expecting him to call other husbands, Jiwoo watched in confusion as Solmih gently set her down.

Then, at Solmih’s small gesture, a sprout burst up from underground and rapidly grew into a vine.

Jiwoo watched dumbfounded as the vine wrapped around her legs, climbed up her arms, and tightly coiled around her wrists.

Until she felt the soft vine grasping her wrists tightly.

“…!”

Startled, Jiwoo reflexively tried to twist her wrists free, but the vine was so firmly entwined she couldn’t move.

“…Sol, Solmih?”

Solmih wrapped Jiwoo and restrained her then stepped closer and whispered into her ear.

“It’s okay now. You can move as much as you want. You won’t get hurt.”