Where the Torrent Settles

A piercing agony tearing across his back. Icy-cold water.

The glamorous dress that had always been such an encumbrance now coiled around him even in this moment, a constricting shroud pulling him down, deeper into the dark and suffocating abyss.

His lungs contracted violently as the merciless cold water forced its way into his nose and mouth. The chilling sensation that surged up confirmed that the death he so desperately wished to avoid had finally reached him. Though he had desired only to survive his entire life, the most excruciating part wasn’t the impending death, but the betrayal.

[My child, how did you end up there?]

That betrayal was so agonizing that he couldn’t bring himself to truly rejoice even before the miraculously granted opportunity for life. When the only irreplaceable existence turned its back on him, his heart was torn to shreds.

With what words could this intense pain be expressed? He wept endlessly, unable to even make a sound, until the moon set, the sun rose, and the moon rose again, eventually collapsing from exhaustion. Crying again, collapsing, crying, and collapsing. Finally, having no strength left to cry anymore, he regained his senses, and only then did he notice the gazes directed at him.

Ah, what a warm look. But there was no way to know if it was sincere. A person he had trusted all his life, and a person with whom he had shared budding emotions, had betrayed him with such a look.

[What is your name?]

A couple with kind eyes had fished his worthless body out of the freezing water and nursed him back to life with utmost care. This was the only question they had asked him, who had been unable to make any response like an idiot, only letting tears stream down.

The incredibly selfless look in their eyes, wishing for nothing from him, reminded him of someone and made him sorrowful again, but he had nothing to answer to that single question.

[…I don’t know.]

Who exactly am I. For what have I been living.

The only name he remembered was one that should not have been given to him. It was something he had always wanted to discard most. However, that name, which had dominated his entire life, lost even the meaning it had barely retained in the face of the cruel betrayal. Nevertheless.

I want to live.

It was still painfully agonizing, but the past of living with bated breath only to survive was telling him to survive even at this moment.

But he didn’t want to live like before. The hot water that flowed over his hot eyelids and down his cheeks had no intention of stopping, but there had never been a time when his desire was as clear as now.

I want to survive. But I don’t want to live like before.

‘I don’t know anything.’

The beginning of a new life was a lie, but it was also a truth. That day, the past sank beneath the torrent.

This place, famous for its delicious food and the only inn in Lumisen, was bustling noisily for a change. Lien continued serving, weaving flexibly like a fish between tables that were unusually narrow today due to the large men. This wasn’t a very large or commercial town, so days when the restaurant was this busy were rare. He served the customers, who were drinking and making merry early in the evening, without any particular complaint.

As he cleverly placed the beers he had carried with both hands onto the table, the village men, who were practically swallowing the meat dishes whole, burst into loud laughter and picked up their glasses. Lien flinched at the glass that was naturally being placed in his hand, then secretly checked the kitchen. Fortunately, his father didn’t think of coming out of the kitchen, seemingly distracted by the busyness after a long time, and his mother was looking at the doorway with a yawn. Confirming that no one was paying him any mind, Lien raised his glass with the men and clinked.

“For the great hunter Jackson~!” “For him!” “You crazy bastards!”

The person whose name was mentioned was currently drinking heavily to escape reality as if he was going crazy with embarrassment. Lien downed the free beer refreshingly and placed the empty glass on the table. It was free for him, but not for the men, and they would have to pay for this too. One of the men, who didn’t care where Lien placed the glass, drinking beer and chewing venison, gave Lien a thumbs up and said.

“Wow~ Your father’s food is always the best!” “Did you just realize that?” “Of course, of course~ I say he cooks better than my wife.” “Hm. I’ll make sure to convey that to Aunt Lynette.” “Wa, wait! I’m dead if my wife finds out!” “Then order lots!” “Hahaha. Lien, this kid is quite good at business!” “I am also grateful to the great hunter, Uncle Jackson, of course. Since you gave us good meat cheaply.” “Please stop with that prefix?!”

Despite having a burly physique, the hunter was a simple person who got embarrassed by the prefix attached to his name.

He’s so easy to tease, that’s why he’s made a laughing stock every time.

He would be teased until he fixed that simple and shy personality that was unlike a skilled hunter. Of course, as someone who traveled through the rugged mountains, it was to the level of lightly poking at him.

One man, noticing Jackson’s head starting to heat up, turned his attention to Lien. Lien, the most conspicuous young man in the village, was a person quite easy to strike up a conversation with, unlike his haughty impression. The man held out the glass that was half full of beer to him.

“You have another glass, too. Chug~” “I can’t have any more. It’ll be a big problem if my father sees.”

At Lien’s words, the man turned his head towards the kitchen and locked eyes with Alfon, who was staring intently at his son and him. The man, seeing Alfon’s shoulders which seemed to be double his own, pulled the glass back. Only after properly confirming Lien’s refusal did Alfon go back into the kitchen, relieved. Fortunately, the beer he had just drunk didn’t seem to have been caught. The village men who had watched that scene together said with easy-going smiles.

“Alfon is really too much. What’s the big deal about having a glass while working~?” “It’s a problem when he empties the whole barrel with the customers. Uhahaha!” “Do you not remember who you drank that with?” “Us! Hahaha!” “More meat here!” “Yeee-es.”

Lien turned his back and left, at the air of the men trying to gradually make him a target of teasing.

“Anyway, the father and son don’t resemble each other at all.” “The father is like a bear, but the son is like a spotted deer.” “Ey, that’s because…….”

Another man gave a pointed look to the man who was about to continue speaking. Anyone who knew would know that Lien was adopted. That he had adopted his elder brother’s son, or something like that. However, it wasn’t a big deal. Because they got along better than any other family in the village.

“Khum khum, anyway, it’ll be difficult to find a father and son who don’t resemble each other like this.”

Even if he was adopted, they were close relatives, so there should have been some point of resemblance, but Alfon and Lien had no similar aspects at all. Unlike Alfon, whose body was burly and rough enough to believe he was a hunter or mercenary, not a former herbalist, Lien was a young man with a slender body. And what about his face? Alfon was a pretty good-looking man with distinct features, but everyone gets surprised when told he is Lien’s father.

“The village girls fall flat over him, doesn’t he have any thoughts of marriage?” “I say, since he shows absolutely no interest in anyone.”

Certainly, Lien was a beautiful person who was hard to see in a countryside village. His golden hair shone dazzlingly under the sunlight, and when they saw his eyelashes of the same color fluttering, not only the women but even some men’s hearts pounded. It wasn’t like he was only in his room, but for some reason, he didn’t tan either, his always white and clean skin making his forest-like green eyes stand out. His delicate and beautiful features were better looking than most young ladies, so if he remained haughty with his mouth shut, one wouldn’t even dare to strike up a conversation.

“Ey~ Lien could take his pick and marry. You worry about your own son.” “Aigoo~ Since the girls all only look at Lien, he’s done for. He has to go from that side first?” “That, your son will have to figure out on his own!”

Lien let the village men’s words go in one ear and out the other. It was truly useless chatter. And he had no intention of falling for that and becoming a target of teasing. For the hyenas looking for prey to tease, about the level of the hunter was sufficient.

Lien went back to the counter and called his father, so Alfon came out while wiping his hands with a towel.

“Father, I think you’ll have to roast more meat.”

At Lien’s words, Alfon furrowed his brow.

“Do those guys have holes in their stomachs or what?” “Mother is doing the calculation, so it’s good if they order a lot.” “Whew. Those nuisances.” “What do you mean nuisance to the regular customers?” “Lest those people try to make you drink, absolutely don’t accept.” “Hm, yes.”

Alfon, having received a firm promise from him, was still looking at him with worried eyes. Just as he was thinking it was out of character, he turned his head as the back of his head felt itchy, to find his mother, Mona, looking at him. When he tilted his head in question, she said, with her chin propped on her hand.

Oops.

“Why are you making such a face all of a sudden?” “It’s correct that I didn’t see you drinking, Lien.”

Damn it. She saw everything.

Mona’s face, which grinned, was full of mischief. Alfon, having finally understood the situation as Lien held his head, began to flip out. The village men were looking this way with interest, their eyes blurry with drunkenness. He had no intention of becoming a new appetizer for their drinks, but for now, it seemed paramount to calm this angry bear.