Welcome to Hell! - Chapter 276: Next to the Huge Tree

Three days had passed since we began spending our time in the flower garden. I had yet to receive any word from the “Mountain God” and we made this place our base while living a communal life with Woodsorrel and the others. Our days were filled with gathering wild vegetables and fruits, hunting non-intelligent beasts, and engaging in mock battles.

It was essential for us to secure our own food to avoid burdening Woodsorrel and the others, and the act of procuring food itself became a form of training. Gathering allowed us to share knowledge of edible plants while hunting offered a chance to refine our skills in stealth, archery, and spiritual arts.

Moreover, the mock battles with the animals of the flower garden were mutually beneficial. We gained experience fighting against intelligent animals, and they, in turn, could accumulate experience fighting human beings.

Though it happened only once every few centuries, there were times when nations attempted to encroach upon the forest they inhabited. The experience of fighting against humans gained during those times would undoubtedly be passed down and prove useful.

“Is it morning already?”

The fourth day dawned. As someone who didn’t require much sleep, I spent the nights in meditation while everyone else rested. While meditating in one place, I focused on increasing my fighting spirit and spiritual power as much as possible without squandering any of it.

When I stood before the “Mountain God” it became painfully clear that in my current state, I wouldn’t be able to protect my comrades should we ever face gods of equal or greater stature as him. This was something I couldn’t accept.

Although I doubted such a situation would arise, becoming even slightly stronger was never a bad thing. I found myself reclaiming the greed for strength I once harbored on the battlefield. It had been a while since I’d been so driven to improve myself, and somewhere deep inside, I found this newfound determination oddly enjoyable.

“Yawn… Good morning, teacher.”

“Good morning, Chirik.”

It was Chirik who approached me as I meditated next to a huge tree. He seemed to have just woken up and he was rubbing his eyes as he came closer. Chirik was a very smart child, but his occasional childish gestures were cute. Perhaps that was why Lappy liked him too.

After washing his face in the clear waters of a pond to shake off the sleepiness, Chirik sat down beside me and began to meditate in imitation of me. Previously, Chirik would focus solely on enhancing his spiritual power, but today, it seemed he was also attempting to raise his fighting spirit. His control was more erratic than usual, and he struggled to grasp the sensation.

“What’s the matter, Chirik? This is unusual for you.”

“Ugh… I’ve been thinking, and I’m trying really hard.”

“Thinking about what?”

When I asked him, Chirik’s face twisted as if he found it difficult to respond, and his control over his spiritual power faltered significantly. It seemed like there was something he was hesitant to share with me.

Noticing my suspicion, Chirik began with a plea not to be angry before he spoke. Indeed, what he was about to say could potentially provoke my anger.

“I always thought you were invincible, teacher. There are strong people like Tigar and Zald, but you were on a different level. But then…”

“I was easily handled by Button, and against the ‘Mountain God’ I was completely overwhelmed. I must have seemed so pitiful.”

It appeared that Chirik had overestimated me. Even though I might be considered strong among demons, I was no match for the true powerhouses, the gods themselves. This was a reality I had come to terms with, and it was the reason I continued to train so diligently.

Chirik quickly corrected himself after sensing my self-deprecating tone. I had thought he might be disappointed after seeing my weakness, but that didn’t seem to be the case.

“It’s not like that… I realized that even though you’re not invincible, you’ve always fought with everything you have. That’s why I want to become strong enough to support you as your disciple!”

Chirik made his declaration while blushing. It was surprising to hear such passionate feelings from the always gentle Chirik. But it brought back memories. I remembered how, when we first met, Chirik had fought to protect the life he shared with Magna and the other children.

And the reason why he became my disciple and refined his spiritual arts was probably to become stronger. His nature, both then and now, was more akin to a warrior’s than a scholar’s. It was merely the recent peaceful days that had made me forget this fact.

“So, you wish to become strong enough to support me… Thank you for that sentiment. It brings me joy, and I believe Chirik certainly has the potential to become someone I can rely upon.”

What filled me with the greatest joy was the realization that Chirik, who was only superficially related to me by blood, had taken it upon himself to make an effort for my sake. Before I knew it, I had stopped my training and placed my hand on his still small head before caressing it as tenderly as I could.

The resolution of our food situation and the fact that we regularly washed meant that not only Chirik’s but all of our hair was glossier and almost free of split ends compared to before. The women were pleased with this, and I too found the texture of Chirik’s hair comforting.

Upon being caressed, Chirik initially responded with a shy yet pleased smile. However, his expression soon clouded over. Before I could find out what was amiss, he uttered softly, but it was unmistakably a wish.

“…I wish teacher was my father.”

Never before had I cursed my keen hearing as I did in that moment. My heart was engulfed in indescribable turmoil and I was feeling constricted as though in physical pain despite my well-being.

On impulse, I pulled Chirik into an embrace. His small frame fit snugly between my crossed legs. Chirik tried to hold back, but eventually he couldn’t hold back his sobs any longer. All I could do was hold him in silence.

◆◇◆◇◆◇

“He must have cried himself to sleep.”

“Yeah.”

Approaching from behind as I embraced Chirik were Chris and Woodsorrel. Woodsorrel didn’t use her transformation technique and was perched around Chris’s neck like a scarf. It seemed they had grown quite close without me noticing.

Just like Chris had mentioned, Chirik who was exhausted from crying was now breathing softly in sleep in my arms. Even though he looked to be alright from the outside, it appeared he longed for a father figure, much like Lappy in her younger days. The difference between him and Lappy might lie in whether he chose to leap into my arms without hesitation or opted to hide his feelings.

The topic of fathers was particularly sensitive for Chirik, who believed his own father had abandoned his mother. It wasn’t a subject to be broached lightly, especially not by me, who was directly involved.

[I heard about the situation from Chris, but wouldn’t it be better to tell him sooner rather than later?]

“Everyone who knows the situation agrees it’s too soon. Chirik is still young. We can’t predict how he might react.”

[Hmm.]

The telepathic communication made Woodsorrel’s skepticism all the more apparent. To Woodsorrel, with her straightforward nature, our cautious approach to Chirik’s situation might seem frustrating.

Perhaps, it was even possible that she realized what my deepest fear was. I don’t know how Chirik will react when I tell him the truth. While this was true, it was also a convenient excuse for not disclosing the truth.

Then, what was my true feeling? It was…. It was the pathetic fear of being despised by Chirik.

[If you have nothing to feel guilty about, wouldn’t it be better for the child if you just told him?]

“Guilty, you say… Indeed, that might be the case.”

Yes, I harbored feelings akin to guilt. It was Orvo who had killed Yaro, Chirik’s father, not me. However, the motive was tied to my being a human. In other words, I was deeply implicated in Yaro’s death.

Logically, I understood that Orvo was the root cause of it all, and I too was a victim. But emotions are tricky. When I thought Chris had died, back when I was just a mere scorpion, I was consumed by rage and lashed out. Had Orvo not picked me up to use as material, I would have certainly died.

I’m alive because of Yaro’s sacrifice. The guilt of having survived by using Chirik’s father’s life as a stepping stone was the true emotion I felt.

“Antares, it’s not your fault. Don’t blame yourself.”

“I understand that in my head, but still, you know?”

Chris tried to cheer me up, but my spirits remained low. It was then, amidst this gloom, that I sensed something odd underground. Deep beneath the surface, I felt as if something stirred.

This was no time to get discouraged. Immediately after I stood up quickly with Chirik in my arms, I felt the ground shake slightly but surely.

My sudden movement must have alerted the others that something was amiss. Chris crouched, ready to move at a moment’s notice, while Woodsorrel smoothly slid off Chris’s shoulder.

“Uh!”

“…Huh?! What?! Teacher?!”

The disturbance deep underground suddenly made its way to the surface, causing the ground to shake violently. Though we were not taken by surprise since I noticed beforehand, for Chirik who had been asleep in my arms, it was as if lightning had struck on a clear day. His eyes, swollen from crying, darted around in alarm.

Tigar and the others, who were standing a bit farther away, were flustered but they weren’t thrown into chaos. It seemed that those with sharp senses, like myself, had sensed the impending shake beforehand.

“Antares?”

“Wait… the epicenter is underground, almost directly beneath the giant tree.”

“Wait a moment… could this mean…?”

Bang!

Just as I pinpointed the epicenter and both Woodsorrel, who understood what this location entailed, and Chris, who had a rough idea, braced themselves, the ground next to the giant tree bulged and burst open and what broke through the surface was…a young three.