Chapter 87
Six magic tools — including the dagger hidden in my pocket — gleamed brilliantly before my eyes.
I swallowed hard and asked,
“Don’t tell me all of these are…?”
“Yeah. S-rank.”
Gasp. My hand flew to my chest.
My greedy eyes swept over the artifacts.
“Let’s take them all. They’re heavy, so you carry them.”
For once, maybe I could actually contribute something to the family.
“If we’re done organizing, should we head out again? Doesn’t look like there’s anything else here.”
“Yeah.”
Not long after stepping out of the temple, we managed to find the medium we were looking for.
I frowned at the sight of an enormous, ancient tree.
I didn’t even need to ask Hereis — it was obvious.
Just looking at it screamed, “I’m suspicious,” “I’m evil,” radiating wicked energy from every inch.
The source was a black crystal embedded in the trunk.
“Disgusting.”
The corrupt aura was so strong that my body tingled.
“Shishi. Stay back.”
At Hereis’s words — meaning he’d take care of it himself — I stepped back without argument.
‘That tree… I’ve seen it before.’
Again. That strange sense of déjà vu washed over me, followed by a sharp headache.
“Ugh.”
Suddenly, my vision spun.
I could hear Hereis and Ban shouting something, calling out to me, but everything sounded distant, like I was underwater.
A drop of water landing on my cheek startled me awake.
“Huh?”
When I reached out my hand, raindrops began to fall one by one onto my palm.
“It’s raining…”
“What are you doing spacing out? We need to get out of the rain.”
As I stared blankly at the sky, Hereis grabbed my arm impatiently.
“It’s fine, I’ll just pull up my hood—”
Shaaaaaa!
The gentle drizzle that had fallen like a fox rain suddenly turned into a torrential downpour.
“Yeah, guess the hood’s not gonna cut it.”
“Told you so. Come on, let’s take cover.”
Hereis grabbed my wrist and led me toward a nearby cave.
Even though we moved quickly, it was impossible to avoid getting drenched in that sudden storm.
Soaked through in an instant, I wrung out my sleeves and grumbled,
“What kind of absurd weather is this?”
“Absurd? I told you it looked like rain.”
“And you’re the one who said we should finish up quickly before it started!”
As I pouted at Hereis for ditching me, I froze.
‘Wait… how can it rain? Time should’ve been frozen here.’
That’s when I realized.
This wasn’t reality — it was a continuation of that dream.
And the one moving this body wasn’t me.
‘Damn it. I’m not even feeling out of place anymore.’
At least last time I’d recognized it as a dream. Now, if not for the rain, I might not have noticed at all.
Maybe because it was happening in the exact same place as before.
‘Seriously, why do I keep seeing Hereis’s past? I don’t care!’
Especially when she was involved — even more so!
No matter how much I protested inside, this body continued moving on its own.
“Achoo!”
Shivering from the cold, I sneezed. Seeing that, Hereis approached and reached out a hand.
“You didn’t even bother to dry yourself first, did you?”
He scolded me, muttering about how he had to take care of everything, yet still cast a drying spell that left my body and clothes warm and dry in an instant.
It was the same magic he’d used on me today.
As I smiled brightly at him, I teased,
“See? Even if I don’t take care of myself, you always do it for me. It’s your fault for spoiling me.”
“Haa… Next time, I’m not helping. Do it yourself.”
He said that, but still took off his cloak and draped it gently over my shoulders.
‘Just like today… he did this for me back then too.’
Maybe giving women his clothes was a habit of his.
Crackle, crackle.
I stared blankly at the burning campfire, grinding my teeth in frustration.
He was always someone else’s first. Whatever I did, I was always second.
“—. Here, take this.”
Ah, and of course, he still wouldn’t tell me her name!
If you’re going to show me this, then show everything, not just enough to make me curious!
“Herene, come sit over here. You’ll get cold.”
When she patted the space beside her, Hereis shook his head.
“I’m fine. I’m not cold. Just make sure you don’t catch a chill. You’re not in great shape as it is.”
“Where are you going?”
“I’ve still got work to finish.”
He added more firewood and leaves to the fire before standing up.
What kind of “work” could he possibly do in a downpour like this?
I quickly reached out and tugged on the hem of his shirt.
“Herene, are you avoiding me?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Are you scared I’ll pounce on you?”
“…Please, shut your mouth. Aren’t you embarrassed?”
Hereis flinched, brushing off my hand and covering his eyes with one palm.
Too bad for him, his ears were bright red — impossible to hide.
Seeing those flushed ears, I couldn’t hold back my laughter.
Even though inside, I was seething.
“Nope. I’m not embarrassed.”
“Try being embarrassed for once…”
Hereis sighed deeply at my shameless grin.
I winked at him playfully.
“Why? It’s part of my charm.”
“Charm, my ass.”
In the end, Hereis raised the white flag.
Giving up on leaving, he sat down and rubbed his forehead like I was giving him a migraine.
‘Hereis… lost?’
Incredible. She actually beat the great Hereis in a battle of words! I never managed that, not even once!
Well, I suppose the Hereis from back then was a little different.
He still had a trace of youthful awkwardness about him — though he looked more mature than when he was in the Tower, he hadn’t changed much on the inside.
‘Young Hereis… He’s actually kind of cute.’
So rare to see that boyish side of him now — I couldn’t help but widen my eyes.
Well then, might as well enjoy the view while I could.
I plopped down next to him and made a show of shivering.
“Herene, I’m cold.”
“Then sit closer to the fire.”
“Still cold.”
Which, of course, was just my way of saying come closer to me.
“Sometimes I really want to open up your head and see what’s inside.”
“If you did, you’d just find a passionate confession of love for you. Still curious?”
“No. Not anymore.”
Hereis covered his face and shook his head, utterly defeated.
Watching him struggle to handle her made me giggle.
‘Is this why he always teased me? Because it was fun?’
Honestly, I could see why — it was hilarious.
When my amusement showed, Hereis gave me a look of disbelief and then stood up.
“Get up. Sit by the fire.”
“Yessir~”
The moment he sat back down, I leaned my head against his shoulder.
“Get off.”
“Nope. I’m cold. I need warmth.”
It was an obvious excuse, but Hereis still lowered his shoulder a bit to make it easier for her to lean on him.
Whether then or now, he always gave in.
His quiet kindness made my chest ache — in the best way.
Smiling, I nuzzled my forehead against his shoulder.
“How strange. The rain hasn’t even stopped, but there’s a double rainbow.”
At those words, I snapped my eyes open.
Just as Hereis said, two vivid rainbows stretched across the rainy sky.
“Oh no, Hereis. You’re completely caught now.”
“…Caught?”
“Of course! The double rainbow’s proof.”
I pointed upward, but Hereis just blinked, uncomprehending.
“What do you mean?”
“You don’t know the legend?”
“What legend?”
“They say, if you confess your love under a sky where it’s raining and there’s a double rainbow, that love will come true.”
“That’s just a made-up—”
“Shh, listen! And those lovers will always be together — in the next life, and the next after that.”
“…Sounds like a terrible curse.”
“A curse? It’s romantic!”
Way to ruin the mood. I pouted at him.
Then our eyes met.
And, as if waiting for that moment, she said,
“Herene. I like you.”
“…I know.”
I stared at him in surprise.
‘Wait. He said he hated her before…’
So the answer had changed. Realizing that, I smiled softly.
“Then hurry up and like me back.”
“I told you, I need time to think.”
“You’ve had two years! That’s plenty. Just like me already.”
She tugged insistently at his sleeve.
“You sound like a kid.”
Hereis let out a quiet laugh.
That gentle smile filled my heart with warmth.
I closed my eyes, wanting to etch his face into my memory.
“Gasp!”
I jolted awake, letting out the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.
