I Just Wanted to Avoid Death - Chapter 139

How had the conversation gotten to this point?

Truthfully, because Eldis had looked so composed, Yeshion had assumed he hadn’t been too shaken over his death.

But that wasn’t it at all.

He had simply hidden it, pretended it was fine. Because Yeshion was alive and standing before him now.

“This time… if anything happens, I’ll try to avoid it properly.”

“Avoiding it isn’t the problem. I brought this up because of your attitude, Priest Yeshion.”

“…My attitude?”

“I told you not to heal me. And yet you disobeyed and died in my place. That’s the attitude I’m referring to.”

Eldis’s hand, which had been idly brushing beneath his eye, tightened.

‘I thought I could brush this off…’

But the sharp glint in his gaze made it clear—he’d never let go of that moment.

‘Of course he didn’t.’

They say that those who leave never truly understand what it’s like to be the one left behind.

Back then, Yeshion had simply thought, As long as Eldis lives, it’s fine. So he had chosen to save him. Because he believed Eldis’s life would be more valuable to the world than his own.

‘…I couldn’t let him die because of me.’

But that was only from Yeshion’s perspective.mIt had nothing to do with considering how Eldis might feel, being the one left behind.

There were so many things he wanted to explain. But facing someone who had mourned at his grave, Yeshion couldn’t bring himself to say I had no other choice.

“N-Next time, I won’t do that.”

“Next time, you say.”

The low timbre of Eldis’s voice sent a chill down his spine.

‘Did I say something wrong?’

As Yeshion glanced nervously up, he was met with a gaze full of disbelief.

It was the look of someone who was sure—if the same thing happened again, Yeshion would do exactly the same thing.

And he wouldn’t keep the promise he’d just made.

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”

“To be frank, I don’t believe a word you say.”

“…..”

“So I’ve come up with one solution…”

Eldis wiped the cold look off his face and extended a hand toward Yeshion.

And when Yeshion hesitantly took it, Eldis pulled him forward without hesitation.

In one swift motion, Yeshion was lifted from the water and placed right into Eldis’s lap—face to face.

“…Wait, H-Archpriest!”

Yeshion panicked, trying to scramble away somehow.

His body, soaked and bare, was pressed directly against Eldis’s, anywhere he touched, he only found skin. Both of them were completely naked. 

Flustered and embarrassed that he might accidentally show something, Yeshion flailed—only for Eldis to pull him in tighter with an arm around his waist.

“…Hhk!”

Water rippled violently as their bodies touched.

The second their skin met, Yeshion jolted—and under him, something blunt pressed against his bottom.

“L-Let go of me…!”

He shoved at Eldis’s chest, face bright red, only for his wrist to be firmly caught.

“I can’t.”

“Why not…!”

Why does it have to be at this distance?!

Still trembling and wriggling, Yeshion froze when he felt something twitch beneath him. Eldis’s expression hardened, and Yeshion bit his lip.

But Eldis didn’t seem to notice—or if he did, he didn’t care. He just continued speaking calmly.

“I’ve found a way to protect you… no matter what happens… when you’re too hurt to move.”

From minor injuries to deadly poisons, even at death’s door. There was one way to keep him alive through it all.

“…And what is that?”