There was nothing as meaningless as asking “since when.” It had been that way since Ban became his only existence. In other words, Orma inwardly couldn’t understand why Ban was so devoted, passionate, and dedicated to him.
He was in such a ruined state that he couldn’t deny the world’s words calling him an ‘Evil God.’ A state filled more with hatred and malice than affection and kindness toward anyone.
For a long time, he wandered around searching for death. However, only his interior continued to become desolate, and rather, as time went on, his body was reconstructed as a God.
It was right at that moment that Ban came to find Orma.
Even to the opponent who had killed him twice, he smiled freshly and said he willingly wanted to become his Apostle and had come to find him. Was there even a way not to fall helplessly for such a person?
Conversely, Orma wanted to ask. What on earth are you thinking to be so kind? You’re human too in the end, so you’ll live a short life and then leave me behind and go far away.
Then, what about me, left alone after that…?
* * *
“…Do you have something you want to say?”
“No.”
Then why are you following me around like this? Thinking about yesterday’s rampage, this was certainly better, but still, following only him around since morning was somehow strange.
Ban tilted his head and started organizing their luggage again. Because he’d hastily stuffed all of Jaena’s belongings except for the horse into the shadow while going to find him, unidentifiable items would come out every time he forgot about them.
“…What’s this?”
“Ah, that’s my comb!”
“Comb?”
“There’s a mirror too! It’s a set!”
Was Jaena so diligent about self-care that he’d comb his hair looking in a mirror…? Even yesterday, he seemed to only have gone around cheerfully meddling here and there covered in dust.
By the way, so the mirror found in the shadow yesterday was Jaena’s. Ban slowly nodded and pulled out the mirror and comb from the shadow to hand them to Jaena.
“Ahem, this is a comb for grooming my tail.”
“What about the mirror?”
“If you buy them as a set, they give you a discount, so I bought them together!”
“…Is it your money?”
Orma, who had been listening quietly, finally intervened. He didn’t care at all that Ban spent money like water, but with Jaena it was a different story. Normally Jaena would grumble, but since he was still moved that Orma had come to rescue him yesterday, he just grinned.
“You have so much money, Orma-nim! Would buying a mirror make that enormous fortune disappear?”
“It’s wasteful to buy things you don’t really need.”
“So what if I indulge a little! Oh right, Ban-gong. The place that sold the comb also sold small accessories, didn’t you see them?”
“Just a moment.”
At those words, Ban rummaged through the shadow again. The shadow was really convenient for storing things, but if he roughly shoved things in, he’d forget what was there. Still, fortunately, if he thought about it and put his hand in, what he recalled would be caught right away.
“Um… is it this?”
“Oh, that’s right!”
What Jaena had bought was a charm with a small bell attached along with several strands of thread tied together as a tassel. Jaena took it and smiled broadly as he held it out to Orma. When Orma silently raised only one eyebrow and sent a look saying ‘Why are you giving this to me?’, he chattered cheerfully.
“Well, aren’t you my teacher now, Orma-nim? Come on, I bought this thinking it would look pretty hanging from Orma-nim’s spear!”
“…”
That’s quite commendable for you. Orma looked at Jaena with such eyes, then took the charm with an indifferent face. And immediately took the sword hanging at Ban’s waist, hung it on the handle, and said:
“From now on when you indulge, buy something that suits Ban too. Expensive, good stuff.”
“Then I can indulge?”
“Yeah.”
“Wow!”
“…”
What kind of conversation is this? Ban, who had been busily organizing luggage alone, slightly frowned.
At the same time, someone approached Ban and cleared their throat softly to announce their presence. Ban finally raised his head hastily only after seeing the snake tail drooping weakly in front of him.
“Ahem, good morning, Apostle-nim.”
“Good morning to you.”
“Are you… leaving right away today?”
From the question that seemed to probe with slight expectation, it seemed they inwardly hoped Ban would stay in the Black Wildwood a bit longer. However, before Ban could answer, Orma quickly responded first.
“Yeah, we’re leaving right now.”
“Ah…”
“We could stay a bit longer, but we have a path to take, so it seems we must leave within today.”
“I see…”
At the expression and voice full of regret, Ban felt unnecessarily sorry. In truth, staying one or two more days wouldn’t be any problem, but since Orma found this place uncomfortable, there was no help for it. Ban smiled awkwardly and changed the subject.
“What are your plans going forward? Now that the prohibition is lifted, the snake tribe doesn’t need to continue staying in the Black Wildwood either, do they?”
“Thanks to Orma-nim and Apostle-nim, of course that’s true. However, leaving the land we’ve lived on is not such an easy matter. Some will remain here to guard and manage so that outsiders cannot freely steal the black grass.”
“Mm, that’s true too. Since it’s black grass that even withstands holy fire… Didn’t even the demons of old covet it? If its effects become known, they’ll try to target the black grass.”
“Yes, but… if there are those curious about outside the Black Wildwood, we’ll let them travel the world freely. Of course, it won’t be that easy because of the disaster created by sunlight. Ah, at least we have no intention of returning to the original continent.”
Though they’d escaped divine punishment, it was Orma who released them, not Muhwi. It would be better not to be associated unnecessarily. Ban slowly nodded, and Orma, who had been quietly listening to those words, turned his head with crossed arms to look at the village.
He could see traces of destruction and damage here and there from his rampage, and bloodstains that had splattered from his own body. Well, since the village had been in such chaos from the fire, it probably wouldn’t make much difference if he destroyed it a bit more… Still, seeing the snake tribe elder bowing his head respectfully and being courteous toward him did prick his conscience a little.
“…What are you planning to do?”
“M-me, you mean?”
“Yeah. Aren’t you the elder of the snake tribe?”
“That’s right. I… plan to remain here and rebuild the village that became ruins. So that when snake tribe members who leave this place miss their hometown, they’ll have a place to return to.”
At that answer, Orma crumpled his handsome face mercilessly. Since it had already been a village in a state no different from ruins, he must mean he’d restore it, yet it sounded like he was blaming his own rampage for nothing.
Orma, who had been gritting his teeth, let out a small sigh and lightly flicked his hand. Then a brilliantly shining golden light mass rippled like a wave from Orma’s fingertips and began to spread quickly as if enveloping the Black Wildwood.
Not knowing for sure, but realizing that Orma had bestowed divine grace upon them, the elder widened his eyes and hastily knelt.
“Get up, I didn’t tell you to bow.”
“O-Orma-nim…!”
“You weave black grass to make furniture and make clothes and armor too. Weave it and carry it around like small accessories. Then you’ll be free from sunlight.”
“Aah, thank you! Thank you!”
Though he told him to get up, the elder repeatedly pressed his forehead to the ground in worship.
Orma watched that appearance with an indifferent face, then approached close to Ban’s side and let out a small sigh. He didn’t really want to get involved with humans, so why did humans following him keep increasing…?
“Thank you.”
Why, you ask. Even though he bestowed blessings for the snake tribe who had nothing to do with him, it was because of the Apostle who smiled gently as if he himself had been blessed and conveyed thanks. Orma, who became unnecessarily embarrassed, grumbled while avoiding Ban’s gaze.
“Let’s just leave quickly.”
“Yes, I’ve finished preparing so we can depart immediately once Jaena-ssi comes.”
“…Where did he go again already?”
“Um…”
Ban answered instead by looking at Jaena. With so much to say, Jaena was busily chatting with various snake tribe members and receiving gifts they handed him, his hands full. Well, they were all just items woven from black grass anyway…
“I’m really sorry, Jaena. Thank you for forgiving us.”
“Oh, it’s fine! I didn’t become tiger butter, so it’s all good!”
“B-but… what on earth is tiger butter?”
“What tiger butter is, you see… Hmm, when a tiger goes into a pot…”
Busy spouting nonsense again. Orma narrowed both eyes and trudged toward Jaena, grabbing and lifting him by the scruff of his neck.
Jaena, who was about to ask cheerfully with shining eyes why he was doing that, quietly shut his mouth the moment he saw Orma’s terrifying expression. The quick-witted snake tribe members busily offered their farewells.
“Ah, farewell!”
“Orma-nim, next time, um… please visit again…”
“Orma, may the path you walk always be smooth…”
“B-Ban-nim! Orma-nim! Thank you!”
Even though Orma walked away without responding, not turning his head once with a fierce face, they kept waving with bright faces. Ban obediently followed Orma and only glanced back when they looked like dots.
In that place that had been a terrible landscape no different from hell, the half-remaining black grass swayed like waves following the cool breeze, and above it a faint golden mist covered it, creating a mysterious atmosphere.
