In This Life I Will Be The Lord Novel - Side Story, Chapter 46

Ten days.
That was the time given until she left the village.
“Finish all your preparations within that time. I’ll tell Abane Rophili as well.”
On the day she woke from her long dream, after a deep silence, Soura left those words and turned away.
It was a short time to recover her strength and prepare for a long journey, but Shan simply nodded.
She only felt sorry for Abane, who suddenly had to finish her research within ten days.
So, after regaining enough strength to walk, she often visited Abane’s house to help her organize things.
“Phew, I think we’re almost done. It’s all thanks to you, Shan.”
Abane said, wiping her sweat.
It was just three days before the deadline Soura had set.
“It’s all my fault that Teacher Abane has to leave so suddenly anyway. Of course, I should help.”
Shan dusted her hands and smiled.
Her face, after days of work, looked refreshed.
“But how about you, Shan? Are you… ready to leave?”
Abane’s question was infinitely cautious.
“Hmm…”
Shan thought for a moment, then nodded.
“I don’t have much to pack anyway.”
“…And the Chieftain-nim?”
When Soura was mentioned, an undeniable shadow fell over Shan’s smiling face.
“Mother seems very angry.”
Soura acted as if nothing had happened.
She worked as usual, and they sat down to eat dinner together every evening.
But she wasn’t truly unaffected.
“She doesn’t make eye contact with me.”
Soura constantly avoided Shan’s gaze.
As if she didn’t want to accidentally read what Shan was thinking.
“Those who leave and those who send them off are bound to be different. Unless the tribe’s rules change, you might not see each other for a long time. Shan, try to understand her.”
“Right. We might not… see each other for a long time.”
Only Shan and Soura knew the true meaning of leaving the village.
Naturally, Shan, who was counting the remaining days she could spend with her mother, rose from her resting spot.
“I’ll be going now, Teacher Abane. I think I need to wake up early tomorrow.”
“Okay. See you later, Shan.”
After leaving Abane Rophili’s house, she went straight home without detouring.
She felt that she couldn’t let the little time they had together slip away so meaninglessly.
Perhaps Soura would never forgive her.
But she didn’t want to leave feeling so hesitant and watchful.
“I should make dinner before Mother comes back.”
She had to spend time with her mother, even if it was just like that.
She had to see her mother’s face more while she still could.
But such plans crumbled before they even began.
“Are you finally here?”
Soura was already waiting for Shan.
“Oh, Mother?”
Shan, who hadn’t expected Soura to be home at this hour, was quite flustered.
Soura gestured to her daughter, who was startled and standing at the doorway, unable to enter.
“I have something to give you, come and sit here.”
Shan quickly went and sat where Soura indicated.
On the table in the center lay a few small bundles.
Shan couldn’t bring herself to ask what they all were and meticulously scanned them with her eyes. Soura asked first,
“How are your preparations for leaving coming along?”
“I’ve finished tidying up Teacher Abane’s house. I think I can leave… at the time you said.”
“Good.”
Soura nodded.
And then said,
“Take these with you.”
“What are all these, Mother?”
When she lifted the heavy first pouch, there was a jingle.
Shan’s eyes widened as she tilted her head and peered inside.
“This… isn’t this money from outside?”
These were things utterly unnecessary in the village, where bartering was common and most things were shared.
“Outside, money is the most necessary thing. Dr. Abane Rophili isn’t ignorant of the world’s ways, so be sure to get help from her.”
“…Yes.”
Shan nodded and untied the second bundle.
It was much larger than the first and contained several thick pieces of clothing.
They were clothes too thick to wear in the jungle, where the weather was hot all year round.
Moreover, they weren’t the traditional attire of the Chara tribe.
They were dresses and robes, similar to what Abane Rophili wore.
“It’s winter outside now, Shan. Change your clothes once you leave the jungle.
In addition, sturdy closed-toe shoes and gloves were all prepared.
“And this.”
Soura handed Shan the third pouch.
It was smaller and much lighter than the first two.
But somehow, Shan immediately sensed that this last item would be the most important and valuable.
Shan pressed her lips together and carefully opened the third pouch.
“Mother, this is…”
Shan’s green eyes wavered as she looked at Soura.
“It’s a map…”
The location of the Chara tribe’s village, nestled deep within the vast southern jungle, had been kept strictly secret until now.
It was a method to protect the tribe from those who sought magical power, long ago.
But the map Soura now handed to Shan meticulously recorded the detailed route from the village to outside the jungle.
“The old men of the Elder Council resisted giving it to me so much. Even though it’s just a copy traced from the original.”
Soura grumbled discontentedly.
“Were you busy because of this all this time?”
“Yes. You need it to safely get out of the jungle, don’t you? And just in case.”
The interrupted words continued.
“You should also know the way back.”
Gulp.
Shan unconsciously pressed her lips together once more.
And finally managed to speak,
“I… I thought you were angry with me, Mother. So I thought you didn’t want to see me.”
“Nonsense.”
Soura clicked her tongue in disapproval.
“Did you think I would send you away empty-handed?”
“…Thank you.”
“Just make sure to pack it well.”
Shan folded the clothes and the map with great care, as if afraid they might wrinkle.
Soura, who had been watching her silently, suddenly asked,
“Where are you going?”
“…A place called Lombardi.”
Shan hesitated for a moment, then answered.
“It’s in the center of the Empire, so it seems it will take quite some time.”
“Good, then that’s well.”
“Yes?”
Soura said to Shan, who tilted her head.
“On your way, ask Dr. Rophili to teach you the outside script. You can’t be illiterate.”
“Yes, Mother.”
“And I’ll write you a letter, so once you leave the jungle, go find the Sector family. They’ve had dealings with our tribe for a long time, so they’ll help you. And…”
Soura wasn’t a talkative person.
As Shan grew up, she had seen her mother as rather taciturn.
But seeing her mother speak so much now was unfamiliar.
“Shan, you have a habit of getting severely ill once a year, so be careful.”
In the end, all of it was worry for her daughter, whom she was sending off alone.
“Mother…”
Shan hugged Soura tightly.
Soura, who had been stiff with surprise for a moment, slowly stroked Shan’s back.
“I pray that your choice will lead you to happiness, Shan.”
For a long time after that, the mother and daughter, embracing each other, refused to let go.
***
It was the day Shan and Abane Rophili were to leave the village.
Just as dawn was breaking, Shan and Soura left their house and headed towards the village entrance where Abane was waiting.
The sound of their footsteps, thump-thump, echoed unusually loudly.
Neither Soura nor Shan spoke a word.
The long yet short path ended at the village entrance.
Abane, who had quietly greeted Soura from a distance, did not approach closer.
She was giving the mother and daughter time to say their goodbyes.
Shan, who had been gazing as if gauging the path extending beyond the village, turned to Soura.
“Mother.”
“Shan.”
But neither of them could bring themselves to say more.
I’m sorry.
Be healthy.
I love you.
Countless words swirled in her mouth, but in the end, the daughter, unable to utter any of them, hugged her mother tightly one last time.
“…Yes.”
Her mother, understanding her feelings, gripped her seemingly still young daughter’s shoulders firmly and said resolutely,
“Go, and don’t look back.”
Shan, who had remained stiff for a moment, slowly left Soura’s embrace.
Tap, tap.
Her footsteps grew fainter.
She knew the sun would soon shine blindingly, but her daughter walked away into the still dark path.
Soura stood leaning on her staff, watching her retreating figure.
Until the sound of her footsteps finally faded away.
“Please be safe. Be safe…”
In the end, only Soura’s voice remained at the village entrance.