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Episode 47. If Lucy Were Here

In the western village, the roars that had been heard for days finally ceased.

"Unbelievable."

Instead, piles of monster carcasses next to the cabin greeted the villagers.

The monsters had started increasing about ten days ago. They'd scraped together whatever money they had and requested subjugation from the knight orders, but they were all refused, the compensation deemed too small for the difficulty.

Then one knight order sent a carrier pigeon, offering to take care of the monsters first.

This is lucky, the excited villagers thought, and on the promised day, they waited with anticipation. But the magnificent knight order they'd imagined never came — instead, a young man with a pretty face arrived.

Alone.

They thought they'd been deceived by a con artist, but to their surprise, the man named Lapin single-handedly took down over ten monsters. He even offered to give all the valuable monster hides to the village.

"Thank you so much. Without you…"

The village chief cautiously approached Lapin.

"You are our hero. Take as much of the village's minerals as you need! If there's anything else, just say the word."

"The guild members will come later to mine the ore."

Lapin's blunt voice came out.

"I-is that so?"

"Since there's time left, I'll stay here and check for any more monsters."

He answered with an indifferent expression and turned to go back to the cabin.

"Wait!"

A young woman from the village urgently stopped him. Lapin paused and glanced at the woman beside the chief.

"If you don't mind… would you like to have dinner together?"

The woman who had run over couldn't hide her flushed face.

"Come to think of it, you haven't had a proper meal since you arrived."

'Ah… what do I do!'

The woman held her breath.

The moment she first saw Lapin, she was captivated by his striking features and sturdy build.

His quiet nature that didn't mix with the villagers, his steady actions that only did what was needed — everything was perfect. While others called him a con artist, she had prayed: even if he couldn't catch them, please don't let him die.

'He's not just handsome!'

He was stronger and more dependable than anyone. Would she ever see another man like him in her lifetime?

She was certain she wouldn't. So she gathered her courage for the first time, hoping Lapin would understand and accept her feelings. Please, please.

"It's fine."

But what came from his mouth was a polite refusal.

"J-just a light dinner!"

Thump. Her heart sank, and she desperately looked up.

"If you don't eat properly, you'll collapse later— Ah!"

In her eagerness, she stepped closer and grabbed his arm.

"Don't touch me."

Not knowing that his hand would be so harshly brushed away.

Lapin's expression as he looked down at her was frighteningly cold.

"S-sorry…"

"Enough."

Giving his cold refusal, he turned his back.

"…."

She stared at that broad back.

He was a man like a thorny rose — cold, yet sharp. Yet she was so smitten that she saw even that as one of his virtues.

Would such an aloof man even know what love is? If he had a woman he loved, would he smile brightly in front of her?

She couldn't quite imagine it, but that was fine. Even if he didn't smile, she desperately wished that Lapin's fate would be her.

---

Opening the door, a dark, narrow space greeted Lapin.

Only a lonely chill remained inside the excessively quiet interior. Each step made the creaking floorboards sink.

Lapin leaned against the wall and passed the time.

'Only the third day out of a week.'

He recalled the village woman who had grabbed his arm.

He hadn't needed to be that harsh.

There was only one reason he'd become more sensitive than usual.

He missed Lucy too much.

The longing was sharper than expected, making his temper prickly and his words cold. He wondered how he'd endured the three-month expedition.

Every time he closed his eyes, Lucy's smiling face, her scent, her touch — all the sensations she gave him would bloom like illusions and then cruelly vanish.

If Lucy were here, a bright candle and warm warmth would have welcomed him.

Lapin smiled bitterly and turned his gaze to the window that creaked as if about to break. The wind was fierce, as if it might rain.

"…."

If Lucy were here, he'd be hearing colorful stories instead of the knife-like wind. Once she started talking, she'd go on endlessly.

Staring blankly, Lapin shifted his gaze to his stomach. He was hungry. The nameless woman's persistent words had only made his hunger worse.

He rose, put down his coat and sword, and searched the shelves for ingredients. All that was there were sweet potatoes, carrots, and cucumbers. The meat he'd come to love because of Lucy was nowhere to be found.

If Lucy were here, she'd complain endlessly about how to make a meal with these.

Lapin roughly washed a carrot and bit into it.

Whether it was unripe or not, bitterness rather than sweetness stung his tongue. It was hard and didn't chew well. Since he hadn't cleaned it properly, sand kept crunching between his teeth.

If Lucy were here…

He assumed Lucy would be by his side in every situation. That was the only support that helped him endure the empty void and the hard times.

'Damn.'

When did it become like this?

Lapin scoffed at his own situation.

Lucy Ohan was simply his rescuer, his savior, his benefactor.

That's what she was. But at some point—

No, Lapin might have foreseen this from the moment he first saw her. After all, on the day she saved him, he was captivated by the bright light that enveloped her.

Lucy had always been a radiant person from the very beginning.

Now, without her, he worries; if she disappears, he feels anxious; if she's cold toward him, his heart aches with pain.

That small woman had become a vital organ, an indispensable existence. And so he thought of a future with her, wishing to become each other's companions.

Companion…

Someone who could monopolize Lucy's love,

someone who would know every part of Lucy's body,

someone who could share emotions with her.

So, as he ate the tasteless carrot, he thought.

That he missed Lucy.

That he missed her terribly.

After tonight, three more days. He just had to endure that long.

"…?"

Lapin turned his head at the artificial sound from the window. A pure white carrier pigeon, holding a new letter, was pecking at the closed window with its beak.

His colorless expression vanished, replaced by a bright smile — so pure that the villagers would have been shocked.

"Nothing's happened to Lucy, right?"

Opening the window, Lapin took the letter and stroked the pigeon's head.

With anticipation, he unfolded the letter and read the first sentence.

【Lapin, I have something to tell you that I couldn't say before. 】

Ah.

"Damn it."

Lapin's face instantly contorted.

He'd snatched it eagerly, thinking it was from Lucy, but it was from that damned director bastard.

【I'll summarize since I'm busy. 】

Should I just tear it up?

【1. We've decided to extend your punishment by another week. I'll send Jamie tomorrow evening, so finish the work I've assigned along with him. You can do it.

2. Don't complain about the punishment. We've had to make this decision due to pressure from the Tulda family, so I trust you understand? 】

Knock, knock.

Lapin didn't even notice the knocking.

【I hope you won't be unnecessarily anxious about the mention of Tulda.

There was nothing for you to worry about, and in fact, Lucy and I handled it well. If you stay there comfortably for another week, they won't notice your presence.

That is all. Stay healthy. 】

The closed door slid open.

"I-I'm sorry for coming in uninvited."

It was the village woman. She carried freshly baked bread and hot stew as she cautiously entered.

"I was worried about your dinner, so I made some—"

She gathered her courage and looked straight at Lapin.

Instead of the man with messy hair and clothes that blended with the darkness, there stood a man with deep red eyes.

"…!"

Who was this man? The man she'd fallen for was gone, and in his place stood a monster.

Overwhelmed by crushing terror, the woman's hands holding the dishes trembled violently.

Those terrible, chilling eyes slowly moved toward her.

"I, I…"

She squeezed her eyes shut as Lapin approached.

"…."

How long did she stay like that — a few seconds? Noticing the silent surroundings, the woman struggled to lift her heavy eyelids.

"Uh, excuse me?"

The man she'd fallen for was gone, and the beast was gone — only she remained, alone.

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