The Sage that the Sword Saint is Obsessed With

22 – 6. A Friend’s Story (3)

1.

Leewen, wandering through the village like a zombie.

Once again, he was chased away.

If Evan tells him to leave, he must leave.

Persistent apologies were not meant to touch his heart.

Of course, Leewen knew that coming to him every day and doing this was an act that scratched his heart. But this was all Leewen could do.

…What should he do?

He had written a letter and handed it to Evan before.

He didn’t read it.

Evan had ripped it up right in front of Leewen, telling him not to do things like this.

It’s okay.

I had already torn his heart first.

Today, Leewen tried a different approach.

He apologized first and stood in front of the door, talking about what he had done in the past. However, before he could properly start the conversation, he was chased away by Evan, telling him to leave.

It’s okay.

I had already refused to have a conversation first.

No matter what he says or how he treats me, I must accept it as it is.

I am prepared to be hurt with a grateful heart.

“…But there was progress.”

Today, he talked a little longer.

Usually, it is just “leave.”

But today, he said, “Leave a little.”

There may not be a big difference in meaning, but it’s nice just to hear Evan’s voice a little more.

“Are you surrendering?”

It was when Leewen was walking around the village like a patrolman.

As soon as he stepped into the alley of the general store, he heard a voice.

I realized whose voice it was before even seeing their face.

It was Evan’s voice…!

This was the perfect opportunity.

I could speak to him now that I could see his face.

But Ruen quickly hid their body.

They wanted to speak, but they couldn’t.

They didn’t want to show a displeasing face and ruin his mood for no reason.

However.

I want to see Evan.

Even if I have to hide, I want to see his face.

“Yeah, I forgive you.”

Ruen’s eyes widened at the word “forgive”.

…Forgiveness?

Although they didn’t want forgiveness, they couldn’t help but want it.

They were deceiving themselves, but what Ruen wanted most was still Evan’s forgiveness.

Even though they knew they might not receive forgiveness, they still wished for it.

Why did the words of forgiveness come out of Evan’s mouth?

Ruen timidly lifted their head.

“….”

Evan, who was gently stroking the belly of a trembling and frightened puppy.

Evan was faintly smiling.

Enamored by that smile, the puppy began wagging its tail with excitement.

That little b*tch…!

How narrow-minded.

Ruen was jealous of the puppy.

Even though they didn’t dare compare themselves to the wrongs Ruen had committed, seeing that Evan not only forgave them but also received cuteness made Ruen feel even more pitiful.

I’m worse than a puppy…!

Ruen watched Evan for a while.

The puppy, receiving gentle strokes from Evan, happily wagged its tail with a smiling face.

Suddenly, a thought crossed Ruen’s mind.

“…No matter what, that’s not it.”

Leuwen shook her head heavily.

It was a foolish thought.

But…

There’s no time to hesitate now.

If she can apologize to Evan, she’ll do anything.

She’ll fight if she needs to, she’ll strip if she has to.

Evan will probably be disgusted when he sees her face…

But she won’t have another chance if not now.

With both eyes tightly closed, Leuwen entered the alley where Evan was.

“Uh, Evan…!”

Evan, who had been petting the puppy with a faint smile, immediately wiped the smile off his face and glared at Leuwen as expected.

“Ha…”

Evan let out a sigh.

As if his mood had been ruined.

The chilling sound of his breath sent shivers down her spine.

But she still needs to do it.

She needs to do something, anything.

Leuwen lay down next to the puppy.

“I-I’m sorry!”

Even if the other members see, they’ll probably be startled, but Leuwen, who was obsessed with revenge, was no longer in a state where she could think rationally. That’s why she’s doing such a stupid thing.

“I made a mistake.”

Leuwen lifted her shirt and examined her abdomen.

A well-trained and firm stomach.

Tight abs pulling vertically towards the navel.

But it wasn’t a good-looking stomach.

It had many scars.

Cut by a knife.

Pierced by a spear.

Bitten by a monster.

Around the navel, scars filled the surroundings.

Even Evan, who had fought as if he were about to die, had scars on his body, but not to this extent.

They seemed to symbolize Leuen’s life.

Evan felt an inexplicable discomfort.

Leuen, who had taken a submissive posture like a puppy, apologized repeatedly.

“Well… I was wrong. I, I… I was wrong.”

What on earth is he doing?

Imitating a puppy out of jealousy for a puppy.

Committing a mistake and not even understanding it himself.

“Ugh… wrong… hiccup… I was wrong. I… I was wrong.”

As he began to confess his mistake, tears overflowed.

Don’t cry, you don’t deserve to cry!

Internally whipping himself, he couldn’t control his emotions.

It’s a mess.

Leuen, shedding tears, admitted that he was wrong.

It’s the same as begging for forgiveness.

Even so, he couldn’t stop.

Just once.

Please, just once.

He wished for a chance to talk to himself.

It used to exist, but now it’s gone, that precious opportunity.

“Heh….”

Evan let out a dry laugh as if in disbelief.

“What are you doing?”

“Well, I was wrong… hiccup… I really… ugh… was wrong.”

The dam of emotions collapsed.

The sadness that had been filling the dam poured out like a waterfall.

Pathetic.

It’s pathetic that he couldn’t endure it.

Evan looked down at Leuen, who was apologizing and crying, like a puppy with a torn belly.

This was the landscape Evan desired.

He had cursed it incessantly.

Life had become a mess, impossible to live.

I wished she had suffered more than I did.

How had Evan’s life been?

For five years.

He had lived those five years with alcohol and violence.

Living a completely ruined life.

Could he forgive Llewelyn?

Evan shook his head inwardly.

Unforgivable.

How could he forgive?

It was truly absurd to be doing this now.

Seeing her weep and apologize with a pathetic appearance, I felt the urge to clap and mock.

Ignoring her like this might be worth considering.

Or perhaps, calling people to witness the disgrace of their leader to the members, experiencing the small pleasure of revenge, could also be an option.

On the other hand, I entertain this thought.

‘Forgive your enemy; there’s nothing that torments them more.’

Rather than constantly facing this and feeling uncomfortable while receiving apologies, it might be better to forgive. Yes, that could be more comforting.

But that, too, is not an easy task.

How could one forgive overnight?

“Get up.”

“Hu… I-I’m sorry.”

“I said, get up.”

“Y-yes!”

Llewelyn sprang up from her seat.

With a face ruined by tears, unable to open her eyes properly, she stood tall in front of Evan.

Hateful.

Truly hateful.

I dislike it.

Really dislike it.

Yet, I’m curious.

It’s fine to curse at how stupid I am.

Fine to call me an idiot.

But instead of resenting constantly, I’d rather untangle the questions I’ve left unanswered for so long and then resent.

Yes, there’s enough reason to hate Lewen already.

Yet, like a fool, I still need more reasons.

No matter how much I think, it’s odd.

The Lewen before leaving was different from the one Evan knew.

Is it true?

Was it really that hateful?

I bring back one by one the questions I’ve been forgetting.

Feels like Lewen has something important to say too.

“You keep acting like this, you’ll collapse from anxiety. That’s why I started drinking again, which I had quit.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. Just hearing sorry might twist my insides.”

“…Okay.”

Lewen bit their lower lip, bowing deeply.

Continuously sniffing.

Shoulders tremble as if trying to suppress emotions.

“Alright, I’ll listen.”

Lewen lifted their head in surprise.

Eyes reddened.

Traces of tears on their cheeks, mucus stuck to their chin.

A messed-up yet beautifully flawed face.

“Me… really?”

Lewen asked again, as if unable to believe it.

“Really… listen to the story… no, listen to you?”

Evan, eyes closed, pondered if it was truly the right choice, then nodded.

“If you don’t listen, I’ll keep bothering you, you know?”

“Ah… I’m sorry…!”

Remembering that he had been told not to apologize, Leven tightly shut his mouth.

Instead, after a long time, he uttered these words.

“Thank you…! Thank you…!”

It had been eight years.

After eight years, Leven expressed gratitude to Evan.

It was the same kind of sentiment he had failed to convey well before.

“Enough.”

Evan waved his hand.

“So, what do you want to say?”

Fist clenched and with a cold gaze, Evan inquired.

“Well… it’s about that day.”

That day.

He didn’t need to explain what day it was.

Just as Leven was about to start telling his story in earnest, sounds of people murmuring outside the alley reached their ears. Someone sobbing and people gathering – it all started outside the alley.

“That time… sorrow!”

Evan covered Leven’s mouth with his hand.

“Let’s go to a quieter place.”

It would be satisfying to embarrass Leven, but Evan didn’t want to share his embarrassing past with others.

“……Mm!”

Leven nodded.

Evan turned around.

Leven followed him.

Watching his back, she carefully touched her lips where his hand had been. Carefully, as if afraid of missing the warmth he hadn’t felt in a long time.