At the End of the Hidden Greenery - Chapter 280

If the tree was directing its strength elsewhere, then it was only natural that something like this would receive less attention.

“We won’t actually fall ill thanks to El, but it seems this sort of thing can’t be helped.”

“…What if you grow them yourselves instead of cultivating them naturally?”

She was referring to the mysterious ability her husbands occasionally used to make plants grow.

Callan had once grown grapes almost instantly for wine. They sometimes bloomed flowers to announce a visitor’s arrival, and they often gave her fresh flowers or small fruits as gifts. Those always smelled wonderful and tasted even better.

“It might taste a little better than this, but I don’t think it would be the flavor you’re hoping for.”

“I see…”

“And to be honest, growing plants that way isn’t very efficient. It’s like trying to nourish yourself by constantly carving pieces off your own flesh.”

That was true. The children of Ellandos could make plants grow, but they only did it on special occasions, like creating fresh fruit or drinks for celebrations on the spot. It wasn’t a method that could produce food in large quantities.

Using that ability also consumed their strength, so they preferred to farm and hunt, relying on nature for most of their supplies.

Which meant…

“So, you’re saying we’ll have to eat food like this for at least another fifty years?”

Jiwoo had accepted that she would probably outlive an ordinary human lifespan one day. But that was the future. Right now, it still feels unimaginably far away.

Even if her outlook changed later, as long as she remained within the span of a normal human life, she wanted to live like a human. She loved being an Akarna, but she also cherished the fact that she had once been human. At the very least, until she reached the end of an ordinary human lifetime, she wanted to hold on to that part of herself.

The thought of spending that one precious human lifetime eating food like this was devastating.

Seeing Jiwoo looking so dejected, which was a rare sight, the two normally composed men found themselves breaking into a nervous sweat.

“For the time being, we can simply bring food from other regions.” 

“But I can’t be the only one eating differently.”

Jiwoo liked sharing meals with everyone. Besides, when Solmih said for the time being, he certainly didn’t mean the same thing she did.

The optimism of long-lived races…

“Darling, then we’ll find the cause. Just wait a little longer.”

“Really?”

“Of course. I promise.”

With a bright smile, Lugarmel held out his little finger. Feeling somewhat reassured, Jiwoo hooked hers around it. For some reason, she had the feeling that when he said ‘a little while’, he actually meant it.

Once their fingers separated, however, embarrassment crept over her. Had she been acting spoiled? Lugarmel seemed to notice immediately and laughed again.

“What else can I do for you? Tell me.”

“No, that’s enough.”

“Mmm, what a shame.”

Jiwoo’s face reddened.

These men really do seem to like it when she act a little needy. She had been warned this would happen.

Over the past several days, quite a few visitors had come looking for her. Each had been affected by the changing environment, suffering from what they all casually called the tree’s version of a cold.

Fortunately, none of them asked for much. Just a brief handshake, like the one she’d shared with Asilion. When she thought about it, it wasn’t a bad arrangement, one handshake, and they would leave behind gifts in return.

Still…

‘It’s… getting a little troublesome.’

Surely it would be rude to let that show. Their requests were so minor that she couldn’t very well refuse them. The real problem was simply how often they kept coming.

Just as Jiwoo was beginning to grow weary of it all.

“Darling, we’ve found the cause.”

It was the best news she could have hoped for.

Mel had returned after investigating the surrounding area with several of the husbands who usually handled scouting.

Just as he’d promised, it hadn’t even taken more than a few days.

The ones who had accompanied Lugarmel on the scouting expedition were Lanceil and Tevon. As Mel took the lead, Jiwoo stopped beside Lanceil a short distance behind him.

“Was it just the three of you investigating?”

“No. Since it was urgent, we split into teams. It worked out well, we could scout the area while hunting at the same time.”

According to Lanceil, the first team consisted of Lugarmel, himself, and Tevon. The second was Helka, Marron, and Night.

Lancet and Arven, along with several others who enjoyed hunting, had also volunteered to search while they were out.

With so many people looking, it hadn’t taken long to find the answer.

Jiwoo felt both grateful and a little guilty. So many people had gone to such lengths simply because of her complaints about the food.

“It wasn’t that urgent. Everyone went out because of me…”

“If something troubles you, then it’s urgent.”

Just as always, Lanceil answered with complete sincerity. His words eased her heart. This time, Tevon chimed in as well, walking on Jiwoo’s other side.

“If we split up, it goes by fast. Better to solve this kind of thing sooner rather than later.”

More than anything, Tevon simply wanted the inconvenience to end as quickly as possible.

“And I really don’t want to eat food like that for a hundred years.”

“They say it won’t be a hundred.” 

“Seo Jiwoo, if you live that long, it’ll feel like five hundred. Imagine growing old and looking back, only to remember food that tasted like that.”

Being closer to Jiwoo’s age, Tevon understood her perspective better than most.