Chapter 274 – Mary (2)
“Have you calmed down now?”
After about an hour, her sobbing noticeably subsided.
“…Sniff.”
She sniffled and nodded her head repeatedly. I wiped the sweat from my forehead.
‘What a difficult situation this is.’
Since Mary’s weeping started, I couldn’t count how many times I had stroked her head, held her in my arms, and caressed her back. The more I tried to console her, the more her emotions intensified, and she cried even harder. It was so heart-wrenching that even I felt tears well up in my eyes.
I continued to stroke her head gently, avoiding any cumbersome branches. The same went for her back. I patted it carefully, steering clear of the wooden armor as much as possible.
However, if my hand slowed down…
– Poke, poke.
She would grip my collar tightly. It was the tree spirit’s command to stroke her more quickly and with greater intensity.
With this, I had to diligently move my hands again.
Apart from Mary crying, nothing had changed since that time.
The position was rather uncomfortable.
I was seated awkwardly on the floor, and Mary had buried her face in my embrace.
I held Mary tightly. I could feel her body trembling slightly.
She was short and light, so it didn’t feel as though I was lifting much at all. It was like wearing a crossbody bag filled with a considerable amount of belongings.
As I carried her to the sofa and sat down, Mary followed along.
Judging by her actions alone, she was just a grown-up Shiba.
I wished our Shiba wouldn’t act so childishly.
“Mary.”
“…Mm.”
“Are you alright now?”
In response to my question, Mary timidly nodded and cautiously looked up at me.
Her eyes were swollen. Different fluids had stained her eyes and nose. As I attempted to wipe her runny nose with my sleeve, Mary jerked her head back, refusing my hand.
“I… you said you hated it….”
Does it still linger in her heart?
It’s unbelievable; I’m doing something here that I couldn’t even do with Shiba.
“If you really hated it, you would have chased me away from the beginning.”
“…All humans hate me.”
“I meant that if you, Mary, kept cursing and acting like that, it would be true.”
“…….”
Having calmed down a bit, I decided it was time to return to the discipline.
“What did you, Mary, always say to me?”
“…I said I didn’t like it.”
“And how do you think that made me feel?”
“I never thought about it. Because you’re human….”
I must add an intuitive explanation.
Prejudices cannot be shattered when emotions run high.
Only now, when the mind and body are unstable, can this be done.
“Conversely, if I were to curse at you, Mary.”
“…Are you going to curse?”
“How would that make you feel?”
“Well…Well, it’s just… Ugh.”
Did she imagine me cursing at her? She was about to shed tears again, so I patted her back and stroked her head.
Finally, Mary spoke in a choked voice.
“It’s not good…”
“Everyone feels the same when they’re upset. Even trees deserve respect.”
“…Trees, like humans?”
Surprisingly, Mary, who would usually have cursed at me for trying to teach her, was actually listening to what I had to say. Perhaps she hadn’t had many opportunities to hear or learn about such things before.
I nodded lightly.
“…Why?”
Power structures are typically useless without subordinates. Even if they have a triangular hierarchy, if those who are ruled refuse to be dominated, all that remains is war or revolution.
Would Mary want to understand such a structure? It might be difficult for her. After all, she seemed like a complete child in my eyes.
“Mary, you can do much more than humans.”
“…Yeah.”
So, I persuaded her in a different way.
“You can learn more.”
“…That’s true.”
“You possess powerful magic, and you have much grander branches and roots.”
“Yes.”
Living a life dependent on someone else can drive any child mad.
A world revolving around oneself; they firmly believe in it and hope it will manifest in reality. All children are like this, and Mary was no exception.
“By helping humans with this power.”
She tempted.
Assuring her that she could truly secure a group centered around her. Though various obstacles might arise, for now, this would be enough.
“At least some people could genuinely like you, Mary.”
“…But they all said they hate me.”
“Think about it.”
She paused the formal speech for a moment. Mary’s reaction didn’t change much. Her eyes widened slightly in surprise, but she lacked the strength to defy.
“Imagine humans sincerely liking you, bowing their heads and pondering how they can accommodate you, Mary.”
“How could you know that… Everyone just lies.”
“You’ll see.”
It’s impossible to mimic the tone of someone who bows their head deep within their heart. Mary might not know, as she’s likely always been on the receiving end of negative gazes.
“If you’re unsure, try changing your attitude just once.”
“…”
“There’s no difference between humans and trees. Apologize to those who were wronged.”
“…Why should I?”
“Don’t you want to?”
Mary nods her head, seemingly less shocked than before.
I cool my voice.
“You don’t want to?”
I lower my voice, as if disappointed. At this moment, while we make eye contact, my expression shifts constantly. As Mary’s face hardens, it pales.
“Ah, uh, ah…”
Belatedly realizing her mistake, she vigorously shakes her head.
“…I-I’m sorry. I apologize…”
I hadn’t intended to demand honorifics, but it doesn’t matter. She changes her expression once again and strokes her head.
Mary wore a look of confusion, unable to fully grasp the situation at hand.
I embraced her tightly as a gesture of praise, not forgetting to activate the pheromones.
I couldn’t tell if a pleasant scent emanated from her body, but Mary’s face, nestled in my arms, certainly appeared brighter than before.
“I always used to curse at the arborist,” she admitted.
“…I didn’t.”
“Mary?”
“I did, I did. I cursed a lot…”
“What should we do then?”
“Apologize… will that suffice?”
“Yes. And pay attention to your expression.”
I anticipated a surprised look on Mary’s face.
She might wonder what she had done wrong, or be taken aback.
Yet, every day, without fail, if she demonstrated a change in attitude, the demeanor of others would soften as well. It was true that some ill-tempered nobles could be harsh, but few had the audacity to act that way toward a tree.
“If you win people’s favor in this manner,” I explained, “then someday, won’t even those who once despised you come to acknowledge you?”
“So, what changes?”
“Hey, everything changes. There will be much more to laugh about than when I was locked up in my room alone.”
Upon hearing this, Mary shook her head with a sorrowful expression.
“That’s not going to happen.”
“Why?”
“…Because I can’t become the World Tree.”
The World Tree.
Mary wiped her tears with her sleeve. Her face crumpled as if her eyes were stinging.
“I have too few branches… and I’m too short. My roots are shallow, so I can’t become the World Tree.”
“So, you ignore everything?”
– Nod.
There was another situation like that.
It seems that her inferiority complex didn’t arise for no reason.
In cases like these, empathy is the best choice.
“It must have been hard.”
When I gently patted her head, Mary vigorously shook her head.
“That’s why I have to try harder.”
“…What changes if I do it here? Now, I’m already done growing…”
“Doesn’t one continue to grow even after the growth period is over?”
“…I suppose so.”
It will grow ever so slowly, but trees are different from humans. They hold the potential to grow whenever there’s enough time, capable of taking root in the deepest of places. It’s not that Mary is unaware of the reason for her despair, but it’s something that can be overcome.
“Then we must do it.”
“But I could be released. Humans did… they said it was a good sight.”
“So you’re giving up?”
“What do you want me to do?”
“We have to try.”
I possess an arboretum, about four in total. I was fortunate when spinning the draw to extract fertilizer and water, so I ended up with quite a few tree rings.
However, I had no intention of giving them away. I wasn’t even sure of their effectiveness for Mary. Moreover, it’s not wise to teach the easy path first. Becoming self-sufficient should be the priority.
“We shouldn’t fear trying.”
Mary choked back tears.
“…Everyone will think it’s a sight they don’t want to see.”
A considerable amount of time has passed. It’s time to bring this to a close.
Come to think of it, ever since we met here, Mary has never cursed. It could be due to her fragile heart, but it’s highly probable that this is simply her nature. Elementary school children might pick up bad words from the internet and act like they know it all, but when faced with a serious situation, don’t they just wander around aimlessly?
“Not everyone is like that.”
“Everyone will be…”
I gently brushed Mary’s heated forehead. As her head tilted back, the pure girl’s face came into view. There were quite a few tear stains on her cheeks from crying so much. If a tree were to become human… its appearance would undoubtedly be a masterpiece.
I muttered a word to the despondent Mary and stood up from my seat.
“Didn’t I say that if you apologize honestly, your attitude will change?”
“…Again, with that… There’s no need for that…”
“Already one person here has changed.”
Handling a child can be quite challenging. I added a slightly exaggerated gesture, and Mary closed her mouth in surprise.
Tears fell from my cheeks as I gazed at myself.
One can only move when there is a visible change.
Given the opportunity, children will run.
“Give it your best shot. If it doesn’t work and you’re set free… find me.”
Even if I can’t personally be there for her, I can find at least one person to help Mary.
“…You, for me?”
But Mary seemed to misunderstand my meaning. She blinked her eyes repeatedly.
“Yes.”
“……”
A few more tears dropped.
No, it was more like a flood.
“Do you want some water?”
“…Yes.”
“How about the fertilizer?”
“……I want to eat.”
I succeeded in calming her down and provided some guidance for her actions.
Surprisingly, I might have a talent for childcare.
Feeling proud inwardly, I tore open the remaining bag of fertilizer and offered it to Mary.
Wondering how she’d eat it, she searched for a spoon and began to scoop it up voraciously.
An astounding way to eat.
Talking about scooping up dirt, there really was someone doing that here.
Eating it too fast and hastily.
“Are you insane? Did you starve for a week or something? You’re going to be sick.”
I said that because it seemed obvious they would be sick. Maybe they felt a deep, unspeakable affection from that.
“…Well, um, slurp, gulp, sob.”
They start crying again.
“Ugh, seriously.”
Dealing with kids is tough.
* * * * * * * *
“Lee Si-heon.”
The night has passed.
The last day of the second ordeal.
At one point along the way, the arborist came and said he would take Mary away. Unable to help it, they spent the night because she insisted on staying for just one day. I wanted to let her go too, but the arborist sincerely requested it.
I’m sorry. Once I make up my mind, there’s no stopping me.
You’ll have to make a sacrifice.
My face is filled with fatigue as I say this, but what other choice is there?
In a situation with no set schedule, I reluctantly agreed, showing a hint of displeasure.
In the end, not much happened.
All I had to do was hold and comfort the child when they cried, and endure their constant presence in my lap. Other than that, nothing significant occurred.
“Why?”
I respond to Mary’s question.
By now, we’ve become quite informal with each other.
“…Lee Si-heon, I’ll treat you specially… like a tree.”
A tree, not even a wooden statue. I’ve risen a level above Im Jong-hyun, which is somewhat satisfying.
“Fine.”
“…Ugh. I meant for you to be happy! Be happy!”
“I’m happy. Delighted.”
Leaning her head on my stomach, she playfully pounds it, as if threatening me.
Throughout the day, with the child resting on me, my stomach never lost its warmth.
Whenever there was an opportunity, she would sit on my lap or on my stomach, causing quite a commotion. It wouldn’t be odd if there were traces of her behind left on my clothes. She’d request a massage, and since I’m a tree, that would be doable, but when I told her that massaging her body would be too much, she’d pout.
Nevertheless, her personality had improved significantly.
The girl who used to ponder how to hurl insults at me at every turn now not only refrained from cursing but even acted affectionately. It seems that sharing emotions brings closeness in the relationship between a tree and a human as well.
“…I’m trying hard to grow roots. There must be people like you out there somewhere.”
That is how one matures.
“Give it your best shot.”
It wasn’t without mistakes. When she cried heart-wrenchingly, comforting her and hugging Mary was the biggest blunder during the second trial. Once she experienced it, she’d yearn for the embrace whenever she had the chance.
As Mary sat on my lap and bounced around, this time she turned her head and wrapped her arms around my neck.
It was bothersome, but I chose to view it as Mary’s unique expression of appreciation.
“Pat me on the back.”
Her childishness hadn’t changed one bit.
“And my head too.”
If she were to grow as large as the World Tree… hmm.
Perhaps it could somehow be of assistance to me.
I decided to put my mind at ease.
Relax and be at peace.