I Just Wanted to Avoid Death - Chapter 81
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Wearing another’s body, living under another’s name—Yeshion thought he would be trapped in that name for the rest of his life. What’s more, having possessed a villain, he believed he’d receive not even a shred of mercy, only endless hatred.
But at some point, Eldis was different.
He reached out not with hatred, but with a helping hand. When he traced back to when that shift might’ve happened, it seemed to be around the time Eldis asked who he truly was.
Even though he must’ve known those words were nothing but lies, Eldis played along. And in doing so, he treated him not as Yeshion, but as someone merely borrowing Yeshion’s body.
The only one in this unfamiliar world who saw him not as Yeshion, but as someone else entirely—
That was Eldis.
Yeshion tried to ignore it, to run from it, but each time it felt like Eldis was the one pulling him back.
‘Crazy. I must be completely out of my mind.’
He had sworn not to get involved with characters from the original story, and yet, when someone recognized him and took care of him, his heart opened before he realized it.
But really, how could anyone not open their heart?
Eldis had saved him again and again from the brink of death. How could he not be shaken?
“But still.”
There are some desires one can allow, and others that must never be pursued.
Biting softly on the inside of his cheek, Yeshion looked up at Eldis’s face. He had fallen asleep as if fainting, all his defenses undone.
“Thank you. I mean it.”
The first person to discover the real him, someone unknown to anyone else. Someone who didn’t look away, but met him face-to-face.
Even if the feelings that bloomed would eventually have to be buried, disappearing alongside some inevitable farewell, his gratitude was true.
If it hadn’t been for Eldis, he would’ve simply run away from the temple, overwhelmed by the chaos before him.
And he would’ve died.
“One day, I’ll repay you.”
Since he was the one who saved him, he hoped a chance would come for him to do the same someday.
When he whispered that small hope, Eldis pulled him in tighter, arm wrapping around his waist. Yeshion looked up, startled, wondering if his muttering had been heard—but Eldis remained fast asleep.
Wearing a faint, small smile, Yeshion slowly closed his eyes. This warmth, which he’d always tried to reject, felt strangely welcome tonight.
* * *
The next morning.
Yeshion blinked slowly awake. By the time he stepped out of the tent, Edward had vanished without a trace.
“He’s not… dead, right…?”
He asked with a worried face, and Eldis, having just finished his meal, wiped his lips with a napkin and replied.
“If he had shown up even one more time today, he might have been.”
“…Seriously?”
When Yeshion asked again, Eldis only shrugged. Then, placing the dagger once more into Yeshion’s hand, he added.
“We’re short on supplies in the camp, so I sent him to fetch more. You won’t be seeing him around here today.”
“Oh…”
“Also, the Saintess and I will be stepping out briefly for a purification task. We’ll return as quickly as possible…”
Eldis furrowed his brow, still clearly uneasy.
Seeing his elegant face crease with concern, Yeshion shook his head as if to say it was fine.
“I’m not a child. I’ll be okay…”
“As expected, I can’t settle my mind leaving you alone. Go with the Saintess.”
“…What?”
“Today’s task is simply locating the monsters and checking whether the divine barriers we set yesterday are still working properly.”
Eldis continued explaining as if he hadn’t heard Yeshion’s words at all.
Even Rosaline, standing nearby, was nodding as if it was better to take Yeshion along than leave him behind.
“Are you sure it’s okay for me to go with you?”
“It might be helpful. You’re rather sensitive to energy.”
“…Me?”
How could someone without divine power be sensitive to energy?
When Yeshion looked at him, confused, Eldis turned his gaze to Rosaline and continued,
“If the gathered energy makes it hard to find the path, just ask Priest Yeshion. If a monster charges, just cut it with that. But don’t stab yourself again.”
Then he addressed Yeshion directly, as if reminding him.
Yeshion, holding the dagger still, blinked and asked,
“Shouldn’t the Saintess be the one holding this instead of me?”
“The Saintess is so clumsy, she’d probably cut her own hand trying to draw it. You’re much better suited to carry it.”
To that, Rosaline cried out, “I am not!”—strongly denying it. But the fact that he didn’t ask for the dagger back suggested it wasn’t entirely untrue.
