Chapter 22: The Price of Happiness

Two days have passed since Zikmund’s gruesome death. Epione offered to restore his body and bury him.

“Are you sure? I can…”

“No, I have to do this.”

She looked at his closed eyes, her expression filled with sorrow.

“…So I can finally let go.”

With a final, “Please take care of Hera,” she vanished.

“It’s over, huh?”

Eve, thankfully, only suffered exhaustion from her battle with Zikmund. She’d fought the Hero to a standstill, despite expending all her magic in the final attack.

“…Thank you, Eve.”

“I did it for Horizon. Don’t mention it.”

“…I’m still grateful.”

“Does this mean you forgive me?”

“…I already forgave you.”

Vega, surprisingly shy, thanked Eve repeatedly. Eve smiled and patted her head. The former rivals seemed to have formed a bond through this ordeal.

“Jaehan, come here for a second.”

Eve called me over, studied me intently, then said, “You’re a strange one,” and, “Take care of Vega,” before leaving to check on the village and returning to central Horizon.

‘…Was she talking about my appearance? Probably not.’

Hera, after a brief conversation with Epione, returned to the cabin with Vega and me. We learned that the power she gave Zikmund was only a small fraction of her total magic, easily replenished with rest.

‘…How much pain does she endure?’

If a small fraction of her power drove Zikmund to suicide, how much agony does Hera experience, having carried it all her life?

With Zikmund’s ambition extinguished, we returned to our… normal lives.

Normal life. What even is my normal life anymore?

Oh, right.

“Hey!”

“Squeak?”

“No! Stop!”

“Squeak!”

I’m a farmer. A very farmer. I forgot to lock up the slimes during the whole… incident… and now, on top of the damage from Vega and Eve’s fight, my farm is completely wrecked.

“Alright, let’s get to work! Once the money comes in, I’m leaving this place. For good.”

“Squeak squeak!”

“And what are you so happy about?”

“Squeak!”

The slimes happily munch on my crops, oblivious to my frustration. I’d smack them if I could, but they’re immune to physical attacks.

“This is so frustrating.”

I don’t even bother assessing the damage. It’s clearly catastrophic.

“Let’s just… work.”

I close my eyes, trying to erase the memories of comforting a villainess, surviving an attack by the First Prince’s henchman, seducing a witch, and defeating a fallen Hero. I’m a farmer. This is my reality.

Vega and Hera sit on the bench, watching me struggle with the slimes. An awkward tension hangs between them.

“…”

“…Hmm.”

They don’t dislike each other, but they’re not friends either. They’ve both suffered immensely, and they’ve both found solace in the same man. They don’t want to lose him, so they can’t be friends.

Hera feels guilty.

‘…I’m the newcomer. Isn’t this too much?’

Her guilt clashes with her desire for Jaehan, making it difficult to approach Vega.

Vega feels the same.

‘She’s suffered just as much, if not more, than I have.’

She knows about the Star Witch’s burden, the constant pain, the unrequited love, the betrayal. She understands Hera’s pain.

But…

‘…That’s irrelevant.’

‘This is different!’

Business is business. They both want Jaehan, and they won’t give him up.

‘…I failed last time, but he’ll like this.’

‘Yes! This is perfect! It’s my first day here, so I should do something nice!’

They both think of the same thing.

I feel a burning sensation on the back of my neck. Two intense gazes are fixed on me from the bench, but I ignore them.

“Squeak!”

“Wow, a flying slime.”

Slimes rain down as I shake a Star Soufflé tree. One of them is twice its normal size from overeating.

“Get down! I need to fix this!”

“Squeak…”

I shoo them away and start repairing the damaged trees and clearing the debris from Vega and Eve’s fight.

‘When I move, I’ll make sure the paths are easier to navigate.’

The winding paths make the work more difficult.

‘Zikmund changed after meeting someone…’

I wonder who that cloaked man was. He wasn’t in the original novel. He manipulated Zikmund, making him ignore Epione, and ultimately drove him to suicide and destroyed the Hero’s party.

‘…I hope I never cross paths with that man.’

Clap clap.

Enough distractions. The situation is resolved. Time to focus on work.

Night falls.

“Ugh… I’m exhausted…”

I overexerted myself.

‘Did they… already go inside?’

I can’t see them on the bench.

“Time for a shower and some rest…”

I head towards the cabin.

Creak.

‘…It’s quiet.’

Too quiet. And dark.

‘Are they inside?’

“Hera? Vega?”

No answer.

‘…I’ll just take a shower.’

I head towards the bathroom.

“…Eek!”

A small scream from inside.

“…What do you think you’re doing?!”

“I was here first… so move…”

“No! I have to… when Jaehan comes back…”

“I’m doing the same thing! Now move!”

It’s Vega and Hera.

‘…What are they doing?’

Suggestive sounds and my name being mentioned… I have a bad feeling about this.

‘Be rational, Jaehan.’

They’re probably just… taking a bath together, bonding. I should wait. If I open this door now, Vega and Hera will… um…

Creak.

“Eek!”

I open the door.

“…Jaehan? You’re back?”

A vision of white greets me. A soft, fluffy paradise.

“…You worked hard. Let me wash you. Come here.”

“No, wait! That’s my line! Jaehan, let me wash you! It’s my first day here!”

“No way. I’m washing Jaehan.”

“…Ugh…”

Two… mounds of whiteness flash before my eyes. And they’re both calling my name.

“…Jaehan, come here.”

“Come on… hurry…”