The Boy’s Funeral (2)
“I thought you were extraordinary from the beginning, but this is really too much. Making everyone cry.”
“I’m sorry…….”
“Stupid. We’re saying thank you……. With your words, Shon will surely be able to go in peace. You’re the only one who considered Shon’s position without even seeing him.”
Coco’s red lips moved from within the black veil. Those lips, having finished speaking, ultimately twisted, unable to hold back the escaping sobs. I decided to pretend not to notice Coco crying. I won’t tease her about this. Perhaps knowing my heart, Coco’s crying grew louder.
Seton’s subordinate knight also sat down and cried.
“Hyung-nim……. I’m sorry.”
“…….”
At Hugh’s voice that seemed squeezed out, Seton only patted his shoulder.
After the final farewell, the coffin lid closing off life and death covered Shon’s form.
Kirki urged people on, saying at this rate Shon’s journey would be delayed. We each took a handful of dirt and sprinkled it on the coffin lid, and soon Shon’s coffin was completely swallowed by the earth.
“The rain…… is really coming down.”
I hadn’t even noticed the rain had gotten heavier. We were all soaked through the shoulders. The umbrella a maid had taken out when it was drizzling was now rolling on the ground, and Coco and the maid were quietly sobbing while leaning on each other.
Her purple hair, wet with rain, drooped down, clinging all over her dress. Everyone looked a mess. Recognizing the rain, I only then felt my body trembling. Ruman strode over and took off his cloak to wrap around me. Even so, it was soaked with rain, but covering myself with it made me feel a bit warmer.
We returned to Coco’s castle soaked with rain.
I washed with heated water and changed clothes.
I took cold medicine in advance, and avoiding people’s eyes, I also chewed up a bunch of herbs. With this, I should be fine for about three or four days. Right after a seizure, as if given compensation, my body wouldn’t be too bad for as short as a week or as long as a month.
No, I absolutely couldn’t get sick this time. I couldn’t get pathetically sick after attending a funeral properly. That would be a huge inconvenience to everyone.
Not that I meant Coco was pathetic.
The rain was still pouring heavily, but judging we couldn’t delay any longer, hyung and I decided to depart. I went to Coco’s room to say goodbye.
“Huh? Ruman!”
On my way to Coco’s room, I saw Ruman and Seton standing in the garden. Perhaps he heard my voice somehow—a Hero’s hearing is scary!—Ruman immediately raised his head and looked at me. Then he grinned and waved his hand lazily. I waved back too, but then felt embarrassed and put it down, walking as if nothing had happened.
No, we’ve been together this whole time, so what was I so happy about that I called out?! I felt a bit embarrassed of myself. Am I a child!?
I quickly ran and knocked on Coco’s door. I heard a faint voice telling me to come in.
“Coco.”
She was lying down with a severe cold. Perhaps because of the fever, her face was redder than usual.
“Why didn’t you use an umbrella? Are you stupid?”
When I grumbled, Coco glared at me.
Seeing her lying down made me feel both sorry and annoyed. Why are you sick and making a fuss!
“Don’t make me talk, just hurry up and get lost.”
Coco’s voice was very, very, very small, unlike her usual self.
She really seemed sick.
I wanted to comfort her, but not knowing what to say, I decided to just not say anything. It was twenty minutes until departure. I just quietly met Coco’s eyes.
Time passed like that.
After changing the wet towel on her feverish forehead about twice, I finally spoke.
“……Thank you.”
“Are you done?”
“…….”
“…….”
Even at a moment like this, we can’t be honest.
I ended up laughing because we were prickly until the very end. It seemed Coco felt the same. We looked at each other and laughed, then became serious, then laughed repeatedly. It was a foolish moment.
“Me too.”
“What?”
What are you suddenly talking about?
When I stared at her blankly, Coco turned her head sharply.
“Thank you for saving me.”
“Uh……. I’m done with that too, you know? And it wasn’t me who saved you, it was hyung…….”
“Can’t you…… just accept a compliment properly? Why is your personality like that?! Huh!”
“Who’s one to talk!! Squawking like a demon hag!”
“What? Are you done talking?! Are you saying I’m all wrinkled?!”
“What? Where are you wrinkled! You’re even young! You’re the prettiest and most beautiful woman I’ve seen, okay? It’s just that your personality is bad.”
“Huh!”
“Hmph!”
“……Whew. Kids these days are really difficult. Ren, it’s almost time to leave, so say goodbye and come out.”
“Ruman! Make some noise when you move around!!”
Déjà vu.
Ruman giggled and closed the door as he left. Why do you walk like a cat! No, do all Heroes do that? Please make some presence!! Weren’t you talking with Seton-nim in the garden? Why did you suddenly come up!
Aaaagh! Embarrassing! So embarrassing!
Coco and I trembled and tried to forget our embarrassment.
Coco coughed awkwardly and spoke, dispersing the awkward air.
“You were right too.”
“Me?”
“Your hyung. That he’s a Hero who doesn’t fail missions.”
“Of course! I told you so!”
I puffed out my chest. Coco swept over me with an annoyed look, but only pursed her lips.
“I’ll tell hyung that too. Hehe.”
“You like that so much?”
“Of course. He’s my hyung.”
Coco seemed somehow displeased with my confident answer.
She looked at me for a long time as if pondering something. Even though I needed to leave soon.
“If.”
“If what?”
“If you ever want to run away, come here.”
“What? Why would I run away?”
I blinked.
What would I have to run away from!
“Ren. Listen carefully to what I say.”
Coco raised her upper body. I tried to help her with my hands, but I almost got dragged along. I got hit on the arm by Coco for no reason. Coco, who leaned her back against the bed with her own strength, grabbed my wrist firmly.
“What’s wrong?”
Coco’s hand didn’t feel unpleasant, so I just left it. Perhaps she had quite a fever, as her body temperature was almost similar to hyung’s.
Since Priest Kirki is here… Coco will be okay, right?
“Having a narrow circle of people is a scary thing. Family is important, but…….”
“What are you suddenly trying to say?”
This feels a bit unpleasant.
Are you trying to say I’m obsessed with hyung?
I got upset.
“Ren. I’m not criticizing you…….”
Coco bit her lip. Her purple eyes were colored with worry. In her eyes, I was making a tearful face.
“I’m just worried about you. So, I’m saying you can come anytime.”
Then Coco opened a desk drawer and gave me a small pouch.
“When you’re in danger, this will definitely help you.”
“What is it?”
“It’s no fun if I tell you. I hope you never have to open it. Ah, hold that tight.”
“Uh…….”
Riella. Pelo. Arashi.
“You know how to do magic!?”
“This is just a spell, stupid. If you learn it, you can do it too.”
“What did you just do??”
“Be quiet! Now. Say your name.”
“Huh?”
“Hurry!”
“Re, Ren.”
Coco glared at me with squinted eyes as if displeased.
Purple and white light rose like mist from the pouch and whoosh! disappeared into the pouch.
“What is this?”
“Isn’t it obvious if I tell you?”
Did you give it to me to tease? Are you giving it to tease me!!
Coco acted all proud and opened her mouth.
“It’s a bound item. Now no one but you can use it.”
“Even if you ask me to return it, I won’t!”
I clutched the pouch tightly in my hand.
Coco laughed at me like that, but I didn’t care.
My cheeks felt like they were burning.
Without realizing it, I held the pouch in both hands and gathered it preciously to my chest.
So, this, this…… it’s a gift!
I, just now, a gift, a gift! I received a gift!
My heart pounded. It was a joy that made even the shadow of sadness retreat for a moment.
What should I do, though? I don’t have anything to give Coco.
I immediately became gloomy. When I looked at her cautiously, Coco made a scary expression.
“Come visit later and learn horseback riding with me. I don’t want to learn alone.”
“Huh? Uh……. That, that’s enough?”
“Yeah. If the weather’s just good, we can go see ‘Lacus.'”
Coco frowned deeply. Then she smirked at me standing there blankly without answering. That ‘beautiful lake’ Ruman asked about? Somehow I feel like Ruman would have secretly gone to see it.
What is that smile about?
“You’re…… you idiot. Can’t you function in society? Why are you so clueless?!”
“What? Why are you suddenly cursing!”
I felt dazed like someone who got hit while sleeping. No, we were just having a good moment……? When I stared with my mouth hanging open, Coco, who had been biting her lips with an annoyed face, burst out laughing with a “pahaha.”
Now that I look at it, Coco’s personality is abnormal too. Getting angry then suddenly laughing. Scary, so scary!
Coco, who had been laughing for a while, only stopped laughing when a cough burst out. When I handed her water, she gulped it down sweetly.
“When I say something like that, this time you’re supposed to say ‘Then we can go see it next time I visit! Or should we secretly go even now?'”
“Right now you have a cold and I don’t even know when next time will be…… I got it.”
I nodded vigorously. Not because Coco’s eyes were shining menacingly. I’m just going along with her because I pity her being sick. But it felt a bit awkward to say it with my own mouth, so I just kept repeating ‘Let’s do that!’ Coco’s eyes narrowed.
“You really have absolutely no interest in famous places, do you? You only like your hyung?”
“How famous is it?”
“There’s even a terrifying legend. If you go on a rainy day, you’ll get eaten by the ‘mermaid’ living in the lake.”
“What!? But you were talking about sneaking there today……!”
“Coward! Puhahaha!”
Coco’s eyes sparkled with mischief. Geez. Is teasing me that fun? I looked at her half-heartedly and ended up laughing together.
“Ah, I should go now.”
“Yeah! Go now!!”
Coco answered without any lingering attachment. Hmm. Somehow feels awkward.
“Uh……. Rest well.”
“See you later.”
“‘Later….'”
Don’t want to? Coco opened her eyes sharply.
I shook my head vigorously.
“Yeah. Right. See you later…….”
I turned my back after waving to her with awkward gestures, but I heard a voice muttering quietly.
“We’ll see each other soon.”
“What did you say?”
Coco was smiling bitterly.
“Nothing, travel safely. I’ll write you.”
“Okay.”
Why are we repeating goodbyes like this! I let the last words slide and grumbled as I walked quickly. As if thinking that regret would fly away quickly if I walked fast.
When I left the room, Ruman, standing at the end of the corridor, gestured lazily for me to hurry over.
