1. "If you're so kind... can I trust you, I wonder?"
Nh... it's morning...
Ah... did I fall asleep after that...?
I'm lying in a bed. And that's the roof of a certain room...
...so it wasn't a dream?
...hh!
Ah... the human from yesterday...!
...what in the world are you trying to do to me?
Please, you know what I'm talking about.
There is no way somebody would find a collapsed half-elf from the road and carry it on their shoulders on purpose.... unless they had some secret intentions.
You're either going to sell me away somewhere, or make me work as your slave... so, which is it?!
...what do you mean?
You won't do anything... you say?
That just can't be true! Then tell me, why did you bring me here!
... to save me? Me?
Please don't lie to me! I have never heard of a human before who would save a half-elf! Everyone's been nothing but cruel to me! They've all ridiculed me, threw stones at me, hit me, stole money from me...!
And even if you let me sleep in this warm bed and gave me bread to eat... there must be a catch to it, I know it!
...
Certainly... you didn't tie my hands and feet... and the windows aren't locked either...
In that case, you're saying that I can just run away?
...if it can't be helped...?
...
...then just tell me one thing.
What... what am I supposed to do now?
...nothing?
That's just...
Ah... how do I feel? I guess.. my body is still kinda sluggish. I haven't slept well...
...I can rest here?
...
...by the way, this soup...?
Is this for me...?
...understood. Thank you for the meal.
Ah... Yes. I will call you if something is wrong.
...alright.
He's a human. But he didn't do anything upon seeing a half-elf.
Are there really... people like this?
...no. I can't trust him. If I open my heart to kindness... I'm definitely going to regret it later.
That's how it always is...
But...
...this soup is really tasty...
* * *
...hh!
There's... a cart outside!
This human... is he talking to someone?
Ahh... I knew it. That must be the slave merchant... he called him here to sell me off...
...and for a moment I thought that I could trust him.
But this man is also...
...my body still feels sluggish... but I have to get out of here right now. I wonder if they'll see me if I sneak out the window...
...huh?
The cart is leaving... so he didn't come here to buy me? Then why in the world...?
...wha, what is it?!
Ah... it's you?
Um... there, there was a cart outside a moment ago.
...eh?
That was just a normal merchant?
You bought... some medicine?
...I see now.
So it wasn't a slave merchant...
...uhm... May I ask, what is the medicine for?
Eh... for me?
Why? ...Because I'm still in a bad condition... you say?
B-but...! Why would you... buy me medicine...?! I mean, I'm just a ... You don't have to this for me...
I mean, medicine is expensive...
And I'm... a child that nobody wants...
...
...thank you very much.
...I'm going to take it.
...yes. I understand. I'll take it easy and rest for today...
Yes...
...
Is this... really just sleeping medicine?
Or maybe it's some kind of shady drug...?
But....
Even so, it's fine...
At least then I'll get to have a nice dream...
Of course, the medicine wasn't poisoned at all.
This day again, I didn't have to search for food or a place to sleep. I slept comfortably in a warm bed under a roof of a certain house.
* * *
Nh...
...looks like I'm still dreaming.
There's the roof and this bed...
...my body feels incredibly relaxed... There's hardly any fatigue or pain left...
Ah... yes, come in.
...good morning.
Yes. I feel very well.
Thank you very much.
...um.
I've gotten very healthy already.
So, uhm... Surely I must be bothering you already... so I guess it's time I have to take me leave.
...I don't have to worry about that?
But... you must have a family or something... and you must be busy with work, too.
So, if I stay around here forever, there's no way I won't be bothering you...
...no. Well... Certainly, I... I don't have any other place to go, but...
But I, I don't have anything to repay you. So I can't just stay here like this...
...
...you will really let me stay?
...thank you very much. Then I'll be in your care for a while.
Ah... is this breakfast? It looks really good.
...eh? Ah, yes. I can stand up and walk around already.
Let's eat... together? With you?
...no. I understand. Please let me join you.
As we had our meal together, he told me his story.
For some reason, this man has been living alone in this house. Even though it's a big house, he doesn't seem to have any other family. Even though he's such a kind person, it seems that he never got married.
He said he's a so called "author". It seems to be a job where you write down stories, and sell them as books. That's why he can always spend time in this house.
Also, I didn't really notice since I came here, but this house seems to be in a remote place beyond any human settlement. Apart from the occasional merchant, almost nobody ever approaches this place, neither man or elf. He likes peace and quiet, he said.
When I asked him why he saved me, he said: "No specific reason"
Or if he had to say it... he's beein living alone for too long, so it's gotten lonely here.
And that's why I could stay in this house for as long as I wished for.
...I still don't fully believe everything he says. Or rather, I shouldn't let my guard down... just in case that he really does end up selling me some day.
But... when I listen to his gentle voice... there's nothing that tells me that I can't trust him.