138 - The Freed S*aves Became Obsessed

The chieftain of Lake Fortress, Darka. She had grown senile, even forgetting her own identity and the nature of her relationships with those around her. While it's common to attribute such states to aging, Darka had experienced a specific catalyst. Darka had a son. His name was Baskal. For the northern people, becoming a Nosgard was regarded as the highest honor, and Baskal was no exception to this belief. Baskal was a proud Nosgard, admired by many. With his skills and character, he had become widely supported by the tribe members as the next chieftain. But misfortune strikes where people live, even without the presence of a fox spirit. One day, while out to exterminate monsters, Baskal met a tragic fate. He returned colder than the frigid north as a lifeless figure. The village was plunged into mourning with the death of their future leader, friend, and comrade Baskal. The mental shock from losing her son caused Darka to lose her mind, and when she awoke, she had become the elderly person with dementia she is today. In essence, I am portraying Karami, a long-time friend of the deceased Baskal. ‘Although, of course, he’s a fictional friend.’ While playing the friend might seem the easiest approach, the complexity of the act is on another level. The appearance alone poses challenges, not to mention those little details one could only know if they were the character themselves. No matter how much of an adept I am at inhabiting characters, I cannot know everything. If an NPC is crucial to the story, learning every single detail is practically impossible unless they’re a main character. On the other hand, having an old friend is plausible and provides resilience against the distortion of memory. Initial awkwardness at our first meeting was irrelevant since Darka was a dementia-ridden elderly woman. Any ill feelings she may have had towards me had long faded into the recesses of memory. Treating her as I would a friend’s mother, I whispered to Darka with a pleasant smile. The now significantly leveled-up [Master of Negotiation] skill demonstrates its power. Like hypnotism, it engraves persuasive words into Darka’s memory. “Chieftain, the tribe members have returned from the hunt. How about saying a word of appreciation for their efforts?” “Yes, well done. Go inside and rest.” “...Chieftain, why is that man here?” “Yorn. Baskal’s friend Karami has come! We thought he was dead, yet here he is alive. Can you believe Baskal is nowhere to be seen when his friend has visited?” Yorn showed a hint of hesitation but quickly recomposed his expression. “Chieftain, Baskal never had such a friend. That man is a slave trader here to steal your jewels. Please think it over.” “What? Here to take my jewels?” Darka looked at me with suspicion. Ignoring what anyone else said, Darka heeded Yorn’s words closely. It indicated her deep trust in Yorn. But who am I? I am Baskal’s closest friend, Karami—a figure closer than a subordinate. I started recounting a tale known only to ‘us.’ “I remember so vividly. Every time we went out hunting, Baskal would get scolded for getting injured so often.” “Baskal was such a troublemaker. He never listened, no matter what.” “But after playing, the Chieftain would always make us burdock root soup. I can never forget that taste.” “Yes… indeed. Baskal loved that soup so much I made it every day.” Darka’s eyes glimmered with nostalgia as she reflected on past memories. Soon, however, her gaze turned sharp towards Yorn. “Yorn! Karami is Baskal’s dearest friend and like my own son! Accusing him of being a villain!” “Chieftain. It’s all lies from this man.” “Be silent! If you continue to slander Karami, I will not stand by idly!” “...” Yorn eventually held his tongue. “Leave at once!” “Yes…” “I have such a foolish subordinate. I apologize on his behalf.” “Ha ha, he must have mistaken me for someone else. Mistakes happen in life.” “How can you have such a kind heart? Had Baskal been half as kind as you, things might have been different.” Darka’s eyes brimmed with affection as she looked at me, whereas Yorn, dismissed by Darka, left the tent, directing a fierce glare at me. I’d better wait a while before leaving. Leaving immediately might lead to my demise. In any case, winning Darka over was a success. Naturally, I’ll need to return periodically to implant more false memories, but that’s manageable. There is, however, a slight drawback to this plan. “Here, Karami. Try some of this. These winter potatoes are so sweet.” Darka offered me food. But I’ve already eaten so much that I feel like I’m about to burst. With a congenial smile, I politely declined. “Ha ha, Chieftain. I’ve already eaten a lot.” “What are you talking about? I don’t remember you eating anything. The Karami in my memories ate even more. Are you sure…?” “…Now that I think about it, I am quite hungry. I’ll eat with gratitude.” “Yes, have this, and that too. You’re so thin, what’s going on? You won’t survive this harsh north with such a body.” A grandmother who can’t stand seeing her grandchildren go hungry combined with the relentless insistence of a dementia patient results in an endless offering of food. I managed to leave the tent just as my stomach was about to revolt. *** I returned to the tent. A shared living space for me and Ashies. Despite taking numerous measures against the cold, being with Ashies made it feel as if snowflakes were softly falling. An uninvited guest arrived at such a place. YW9peUx5cktZYXhyU2hzY1VsMkQ0WUoyekJqckxQZWNoM1o2ck1NRjl0OXB4R3JNSVo4NnZnQmJma2IwZ1lUVA "I warned you before I left not to cause any trouble in the village." It was the chieftain, Yorn. The air around him was charged, as though he was about to pull out a tomahawk at any moment. It seems Yorn can’t stand that Darka favors me. Such a petty jealous person, he is. “What foolishness are you referring to? I simply helped the chieftain recall her fond memories. Thanks to me, she laughed a lot.” “How did you get close to the chieftain? The guards reported they never saw you leave the tent.” “Oh, that’s because~” There’s nothing much to it. It’s the stealth robe I bought with points. It’s the item I find most useful. Its performance is outstanding and, most importantly, it's fun. Didn't everyone dream of being invisible at least once as a child? The thrill as I pass by people unseen is incredible. “That’s a trade secret.” Naturally, I have no obligation to share that information. I simply laughed lightly and put a finger to my lips. Yorn’s fist twitched momentarily, likely very displeased. If Ashies weren’t present, that fist might’ve already found its way to my face. Regardless of what tricks I might pull, or how much I taunt him, Yorn can do nothing. Even if he used force to raze the village. Not that I intend on allowing that to happen. He should be grateful that I am simply a good-natured slave trader. “There’s nothing to worry about. In the end, everyone will be happy.” *** “How was the hunt today?” Under the beautifully adorned night sky of Isengard, graced by auroras and the Milky Way. It was time to bond with Ashies. Karami strolled with Ashies along the outskirts of the village, discussing everyday things, nothing grandiose. Ashies looked up at the sky, recalling the day’s events. “It was... fascinating.” “What did you find fascinating?” “Everything.” Everything was fascinating. It was intriguing to watch the organized way they hunted, and equally intriguing to see the team members laugh and chatter among themselves. The scenes of triumph after a successful hunt, and the villagers coming together to celebrate, were all fascinating. “But... I made a mistake. People... almost got hurt.” “Did you?” “Yeah.” “But everyone returned safely, right? Thanks to your efforts, Ashies.” Efforts...? She wasn't sure about that. “I just... felt like I had to.” “Hm, I may not fully understand the feeling you had, but having the will to do something is admirable in its own right.” “Is that... so?” “That’s right.” She didn’t fully understand, but if Karami said so, then it must be. That’s how Ashies processed it and moved on. Walking at some distance from Karami, Ashies suddenly recalled words from the team members. “Is Rami... a bad person?” “Me?” Ashies nodded. “People... said Rami is a bad person.” “Oh dear, I’ve been falsely accused once again.” “Falsely accused?” “Indeed. There’s no one as nice as me in this world.” “Is that… so?” “That’s right.” Once again, Ashies didn’t dwell on it much. Whether Karami was good or bad didn’t matter much to Ashies. “Let’s have some time to speak with Darka tomorrow. It will give you an entirely new experience.” “Okay…” “It’s chillier now that it’s night. Let’s head back inside and get some rest.” “Okay.” On their way back to the tent, Ashies, trailing Karami, observed his back. There was one thing about Karami’s walk that always puzzled Ashies. “Why do you walk with your hands behind your back, Rami…?” While she and everyone else swung their arms as they walked, only Karami kept his hands behind his back. Though insignificant and unnoticed by everyone else, this small action piqued Ashies’ curiosity. “Oh, are you talking about this?” Karami reacted as if he hadn’t noticed before, checking his hands. Realizing it, he found his hands clasped behind him. “In the past, I used to walk normally. Having my hands behind my back is a habit I developed recently.” “…?” “My hands feel empty, you see.” Walking with Mirabel and Rin, holding or carrying them, had become second nature to Karami. Now, trying to walk alone, his hands felt oddly vacant. It’s more comforting psychologically to have your own hands to hold than to flail them about emptily. “Empty… feeling…” Ashies checked her own hands. She could somewhat understand what Karami meant by feeling empty; the moment she heard his words, she too felt a sense of emptiness. “How do you fill this emptiness…?” “There are various ways. Putting your hands in your pockets is one, and walking with hands behind your back like me is another. Or, holding hands with someone else—though you can’t do that alone.” Holding hands. Among the solutions Karami offered, that one lingered in Ashies’ mind the most. What does it feel like to hold someone’s hand? It was a sensation Ashies could never know, having never been allowed even the slightest warmth. Ashies found herself clenching her fists tightly for no particular reason. Lee Kyung Young 2024.12.05 05:53 I'm most curious about how this one will show their obsession. Sang Q 2024.12.12 06:16 Holding hands, haha. Sang Q 2024.12.12 06:16 Holding hands, lol. aoxi 2024.12.15 12:40 Looks like this will end up like Anna. Dog and Cat 2025.01.10 14:36 Will they hold hands? Headmaster Harbor Seal 2025.01.14 02:02 Aww, I wish someone would hold my hand too. Only logged-in members can comment. 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