Dorothea's eyes narrowed as she looked at where Ben was sleeping.
Although it was faint, there was an energy floating around.
A vague spirit drifted in through the cool air, fluttering in front of her.
“A spirit that isn’t that s67r4trong.”
She felt embarrassed that she was sneaking in front of me and doing tricks. It was only for a moment, but her vision was blurred as if there was fog.
'It's rare. I can't believe a soul that couldn't materialize runs wild like this.'
The faint soul that touched her fingertips was losing its strength but was calling out to her as best as it could, like a half-dark bird.
Normally, she would have just ignored it, but the earnest call caught her attention.
'Have I become sentimental?'
Even when she glanced outside, there was no sense of evil in her eyes.
It seems like he has been in this world for a long time, but it is surprising that he has such pure energy.
'It bothers me that I have to use strength...'
Didn't she choose to 'live' this life because she wanted to do whatever her heart wanted?
After making up her mind, she set foot on the floor.
A small breeze supported her body as it swayed precariously with each step.
“Something that has no substance is making an effort.”
Dorothea laughed.
There was no way she could help a living body with her weak strength, but the effort was futile.
“At times like this, I want to wake up my strong legs and take them away...”
It was obvious how Wood would react to Dorothea's words that he had been called, as he still freaked out and pretended not to hear every time they tried to discuss this world and the afterlife.
The biggest problem with her legs was that they were too small.
Dorothea took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and concentrated.
It's not that she gained nothing by sending away all of Madam Marsha's family.
In the process of the soul finding its way, there comes a time when 'soul power' is temporarily filled.
Even the girl who sent the soul as a guide had a little bit of soul power in it.
For example, it is a hidden measure like an emergency fund.
'I never thought I'd be using it this soon.'
After a few deep breaths, brilliant lights like fireflies gathered together and were absorbed by the trembling legs.
Her legs, which had been shaking like a fawn, stood straight on the floor.
She knew that she did not have much time or energy to spend.
“I’ll be back.”
Even as she hurriedly opened the door and disappeared, no one woke up.
Behind Dorothea, who was ahead, a vague shape like fog followed her as if to protect her.
***
She walked across the quiet night toward a place where she could hear the sound of water.
The grass that gently brushed against her feet turned the edge of her dress green and wet.
She walked quickly, conserving her wasting soul energy.
The moment she got close enough for the scent of water to fill her nose, the ghost that was following her suddenly disappeared.
"This."
You call someone, give only half of the information, and then disappear.
What are you telling me to do?
It was a moment when Dorothea looked around.
"Pooh...”
In the middle of a deep river beyond a field of reeds, a figure that appeared to be a human was seen jumping up and wading through the current.
Someone's half-naked body was revealed through the swaying bushes.
The slender forearms and slender body that still looked young were revealed. She could see that his jet-black hair was wet with water and stuck to his shoulders.
The face was revealed in the moonlight that broke through the clouds.
Maybe the reason why his complexion was so pale was because he was soaking in ice-cold water?
Nevertheless, the face revealed in the moonlight was quite beautiful. Pale gray eyes shone brightly beneath thin, dark eyebrows.
The sight of water droplets from his wet hair condensing and flowing down his jawline made the boy look even more mysterious.
Looking closely, she could see the dense silver armor the boy had taken off right nearby.
With military boots that look precious and good at first glance, probably made by a famous craftsman.
'Is there a devil in this village?'
Why do soldiers visit this quiet rural village so often?
Dorothea glanced at the naked boy with an indifferent expression.
Standing behind the densely planted reeds, her small figure was not easily visible to others.
That was the moment when she moved without any intention of being caught.
The other person reacted quickly to the weak sign of presence felt among the reeds swaying in the wind.
Dorothea blinked as a small dagger passed by her ear just in the nick of time.
"Come out."
There was life in his cold voice.
A harsh warning was issued in a voice that had not yet reached its transformation stage.
“If I go there, you won’t be safe.”
Dorothea slowly walked out through the reed forest, hearing a voice full of terrifying murder.
The boy fell silent when he finally saw the true identity of the pretender.
Dorothea, with her thin, pale complexion, seemed fearless in his eyes.
She raised her bony hand without any calluses in greeting.
"Hi."
“...”
Her thin neck was twitching precariously as if it might fall off at any moment.
Even while looking at the curious pink eyes, the boy did not give up on his life.
“What is you doing?”
“I’m Dorothea Everly.”
“...”
There was irritation in his gray eyes.
It seemed as if he was lost in the fact that she was such a trivial girl that even the other person's caution was laughable.
“Go back.”
"No."
Before the boy could respond again to the firm reply, Dorothea added.
“I came to see you, so I can’t go back.”
Her eyes curved as she spoke something unfamiliar.
Horn, who had been slightly pushing his back, was now circling around the boy.
“It’s probably too cold to go swimming. Do you want to continue?”
It was a question asked purely out of curiosity.
With little experience in the world, she thought it was quite possible for a boy to want to swim in the river in the middle of the night. She was just amazed at how he swam until his lips turned pale.
The boy's eyebrows went up at Dorothea's brief, curious words.
“It’s arrogant that you’re so young.”
The boy was not that old, but anyone could see that Dorothea looked much younger.
A boy slowly walked out of the water and stood in front of her.
Although he had not fully grown yet, his lean body had light muscles firmly established. It was proof that his body was well-built through extensive training, even though his frame was not perfect.
As he got closer, the smell of blood became stronger.
“Are you hurt?”
Instead of answering the question, the boy sat down next to her.
A long cut on the side that had been hidden in dark shadows was revealed.
'I didn't mean to swim, but to wash my wounds.'
As Dorothea's gaze turned to his upper body, a slight anger filled the boy's eyes.
“No matter how young you are, I can’t tell, but the girl has no shame.”
“You took it off, I didn’t take it off.”
She just saw him because he was naked, so why is he blaming her?
When Dorothea turned her head, the boy rustled the clothes he had taken off and put them on.
“Speak loudly. If you are considered young, this will end there.”
“...”
Dorothea, who had been staring at him, sat down next to the boy without saying a word. A look of astonishment followed.
“Do you know who I am?”
“How do I know that? I don’t know.”
The boy's eyebrows rose again at the firm answer.
At that moment, Dorothea slightly curled up and moaned. She was fine as far as using her soul power, but once she arrived here, she started to bottom out.
If she had held a formal ceremony, she would have been able to gain more soul power.
Because it was only a temporary measure, it only lasted an hour.
Hearing her heavy breathing, the boy stretched out his hand and touched her neck.
“Your pulse is racing.”
“Yes, it hurts.”
The boy glanced at her calm words.
The girl who suddenly appeared in the middle of the night was extremely strange.
How did she get here with a body that didn't feel strange even if she suddenly lost her breath, and why didn't he feel her presence until she came to his side?
Her complexion was so pale that she looked as if she would collapse after only a few steps without even having to raise his sword.
“Go back home.”
The voice softened. This is because she felt there was no reason to waste her life on a child who was already dying.
Dorothea silently leaned towards the boy.
As the lukewarm warmth touched his skin, the boy's body stiffened.
Before he could shake it off, words came out of Dorothea's mouth.
“My head hurts.”
“What does it have to do with me that you’re sick?”
Despite the cold voice, Dorothea showed no signs of flinching. Rather, she continued to say what she wanted to say, ignoring the boy's words.
“It’s because I thought too much. I thought I would live comfortably here without thinking.”
“Here?”
The boy pondered over her words, which had a strange tone.
Life in her past life was simple.
People always wanted something from her, and all she had to do was make it come true.
Sometimes she cut her body and gave it away, and sometimes she helped harm someone else. Her monotonous life without any freedom was boring, exhausting, and helpless, so she wanted to end it.
Her new life wasn't monotonous, but it made her think too much.
“He keeps making me think of myself.”
"Who."
“He wants something I can’t give him.”
Again, the conversation took a wrong turn.
The boy looked at the strange blonde girl with his eyes wondering if he should continue listening to this bizarre story.
Dorothea continued speaking softly as if she had no intention of stopping.
“I can’t give him what he wants, but he keeps wanting the impossible.”
The boy who was staring at her asked.
“Did he force you to give it to him?”
"No."
“Then why should you give it to him?”
This time, she paused at his question.
The eyes that had been shaking with embarrassment until now were now calmly looking at Dorothea.
Dorothea answered slowly, looking into gray eyes as pale as the dawn sky.
“Nothing.”
“Then I guess you won’t have to give it to him.”
It was a simple conclusion.
She raised her head brightly at the boy's answer.
“Do you think so?”
“you don’t want to give it to him, so if you don’t give it to him, it’s the end of the story.”
The boy who said that was already continuing the conversation, despite being annoyed.
“Do you owe anyone anything?”
“The father of this body.”
"What?"
Dorothea sighed and rested her chin.
“Because the father of this body wants to be treated like a father.”
The boy regretted hearing that her father was worried because she wanted to be treated like a father.
He shouldn't have responded to nonsense from the beginning.
There was no such bullshit.
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