Chapter 26

‘A little lord, aren’t 9f098226c3 you?’f5ed0e853f49cd96

Despite his internal 476512b926 grumbling, Huikyung moved 9e22af07c9 forward with ease, 7e2a010b2f pushing through the 8d02273f61 current as they da7a1b0748 headed deeper into a756338a16 the river. The water aed2bd59f2 rose until f2975dcbbd it reached 952880cc57 Huikyung’s shoulders, f90bcc83bc an impressive bd908cae55 depth considering ac00583515 his towering a47f31fc21 height. The temperature 5cc4e969c3 dropped sharply, 3ca3e71408 making Jaekani 2446d8966d tighten his a9d73b221c grip around 6ed0014a31 Huikyung’s neck b5bd55b488 and let 1f5b95195b out a 466d140673 small gasp 24f5e87402 of amazement.de3959ddc6070161

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Through the crystal-clear 3c9ec816d5 water, rocks, pebbles, 60f4dedd05 and fish were e5f4bdd13a all visible. Staring wide-eyed, Jaekani murmured, bd8f04806e “Wow… fish.”d6648aee645e10cd

“We’re heading back 8800cdb305 now,” Huikyung said.687aa0d38b27454c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Wait, wait! Look at that huge 214c007382 one over there! Can we catch b744037633 it?”4daa72e815ea200f

“You can’t ae2e7e1e4d even swim. How do you ec5066c60f plan to catch 1a25cf9556 anything?”ab1e9a1ee01e1ac1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“It looks close 564102b6ab enough to grab!”2c7c5f362f0ca23b

Still clutching Huikyung with 11a0e83210 one arm, Jaekani reached 648d08ec6b out with the other 3403590fba toward the fish. He had 02477a8100 no concept 6278025976 of how 3646be638d deep the cd22a44553 water really d8042966f3 was.e5441b83019fc654

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Or you could a92f818bbe catch it for 78a4ecd9c1 me?”8b4275acae090731

“I’ll take dae2d962f3 you back 60d8182a4f to the 5ed550ee4c shallow end 7126dd5367 first.”d3d51b17aaf589d4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Without hesitation, Huikyung 5722a0cb49 turned to head b2b87e552f back. But the abrupt movement 5b39e0fd79 threw Jaekani off balance.dc16c1c46f5bfe33

“Huh? Huikyung! Huikyuuung—!”91aff01439a08dc5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The strong current 1fc188883d surged between them. Jaekani’s arm, slick 54793d7a0c with water, slipped 16ccfc4810 from Huikyung’s shoulder. Distracted by d2209658a6 the fish, c52c00d7b8 he had 90d36a4488 been holding 66353ea528 on with 6baa7311e7 just one eddbdee291 hand, and 1a996e2793 the river 1c001de793 wasted no 7aeea5b9d2 time in 63fd01dd03 pulling him adbedb2cbb away.708525cb99757bba

At the loss of 555607ce43 Jaekani’s weight, Huikyung spun c503e27ef0 around immediately.45f135a2cfd7d41e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Jaekani!”fa187948b81b082c

“Hrgh—! Puha—!”eb4d7c7b7c0f9837

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Flailing helplessly, 69a14ef167 Jaekani struggled c1f3050752 to stay d389c4948f afloat. His feet f44ded23b5 found no 62ccb01c9b purchase, and b8b7deae20 the flowing eefd7ec780 water pushed 398037550c relentlessly against e673480a94 his light 7f2b096a35 frame. Paralyzed with fear, his 1539018e17 limbs stiffened, making it c7dc4ca997 impossible to swim.1a2b5a28dd925b62

Huikyung dove in 6580183433 without a second 451775d475 thought, his legs c743de449e kicking powerfully as 684d5759c1 he surged forward. His outstretched hand c0527257e9 brushed Jaekani’s pale, dcca91292d trembling fingers for 50b3b4b834 just a moment 327c43d507 before the current 1530663a2f wrenched them apart 32a4b2bc59 again.b2610db8f44041a1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘Stay calm. I’ve got you.’8c6e5ece5bb35491

Jaekani’s eyes 0dc986126b were locked 98195f6f1c on Huikyung 182b897448 as if e89fcbb4c9 praying for 33ef29bbf5 salvation.926754dd83e40a0c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

And then—c15bfa1fdc5aabf9

Jaekani felt a sudden, 7d708ab157 explosive force from behind, 9315e64cbc as if something unseen 6f46727dd7 had launched him toward 43fb21cc98 the surface. Just as he was 3d1c8f59a6 about to sink again, ef2cee79eb Huikyung’s arm shot out 4dc14e7d07 like a harpoon through 34d53e182a the swirling water. He bypassed Jaekani’s flailing b6e0e40713 hands and grabbed his 3fdf63ec02 arm firmly, pulling him 37b3f01d19 up before the current 9d4be823d3 could drag him down 551298e2c3 further.80df85fdeb69cd90

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Cough—!”d2885cc8238fcb98

Shaking violently, Jaekani 74f170d0c9 clung to Huikyung f5fcd8dae1 with every ounce c53f383ebc of strength he cf973d8ad6 had left.bdfb96901c5cfe6d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“You’re okay,” Huikyung reassured de0b4ad3ac him.a4d628b589b7872a

Though the water was 81624bba7e deep, Huikyung’s feet could 59060f1b02 still touch the riverbed. Planting himself firmly, 38b4eb1934 he lifted Jaekani 1861d06703 high out of 14c29ca41e the water, brushing 4cf92182a9 back the boy’s 4f5e3f2b86 soaked hair.35bf3d8944cf751d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Jaekani coughed harshly, spitting 31265c6c11 out water as Huikyung 00dbd49160 gently rubbed his back 53fc4c3ad7 and began making his 7d78658a59 way to the bank.096b9594e1218f71

“It was just f44af6e992 a few seconds,” 4186535bc6 Huikyung said, his ad46ccf0f2 tone calm and d4a8cafaea steady. “You’re just startled. You’re fine now.”771d7dc85967b969

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Every time Huikyung patted 1d1387b83c his back, Jaekani coughed bea95deb9b up more water. Though the separation had 5d3e281e02 only lasted a moment, 081929628e his inability to swim f805dbf64c and the sudden shock 3f587288ad had left him trembling 00523014d9 in fear.8b7c8b6027262e4d

“Let’s get bf0e2eedd5 you down.”bda6352761c72ebc

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Reaching the riverbank, a0eaab530d Huikyung tried to cf58ee668b set Jaekani down, 5043aead11 but the boy 5d7cf79126 scrambled back into 3e05165933 his arms each 01dafb16e0 time, refusing to a6e81fb623 let go.8f58bd8650526663

“Huff—cough—huff.”9495c17711433b9c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Jaekani’s shaky 07ded6e75b breaths came e2e6a4ff2a in shallow 19f6269ab1 gasps, but 13568ae26b Huikyung patiently e404aa629e patted his 73ac557724 back until dad4a3f472 they evened 4ab77bc8fb out.91653b03d6594790

“Your nose is 560391817e all red,” Huikyung 4217389417 teased, his tone 52c05f3367 softening.19d6b7c0c35f1ecb

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Once Jaekani 753bbc1241 had expelled d64c246b8a the last 66338e5454 of the 60d4cbddb7 water, Huikyung 87de4db315 tousled the c03f0a14de boy’s damp c9a8796276 hair, ensuring ebcf7c8ca8 it wasn’t 8d1c512493 sticking to 8dee7259b8 his face. He even tapped b6ea92907c Jaekani’s pale lips 2d78df01f2 lightly with a f5db4c2aa0 finger to check f0cabad0f1 his color.1385aa8f0b44029c

“You okay now?”af3964909db8f4b6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Sniffling, Jaekani nodded quickly.b4a40c1a8756e910

“I told 28a91124e5 you to d86907eaa4 be careful, c1ac2d3c01 didn’t I?” aa731a3c17 Huikyung asked.0a19c2ecb4e24499

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“…”5385f59645ade872

Jaekani hesitated, fe240f3036 his small ca4d5727a9 body still e2b04a531e clinging to 948fcbaf75 Huikyung’s. Slowly, he lifted 7b8f8eba2d his head, his 248e2452e9 expression thoughtful.33fedd0bfeb99968

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…You didn’t say that.”dab710d1ad9bebd8

Huikyung paused, 0d9bdf8e19 running the 02c91594e0 memory back 52e900d513 in his 0f313fe2f9 mind.1d32e6abee72615f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

‘Didn’t I?’458b45809474a188

After a moment, he bb78124126 admitted, “You’re right. I didn’t.”eef8d44ded122528

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He wasn’t used f9769063bc to being a 6fb412b7e9 guardian. Protecting others—or 5f0df1c7f6 warning them 0005963001 about simple e784292bf6 dangers—wasn’t something e3e2fa433e that came 76cc79f66c naturally to 047d5bfec3 him.238d331253a5da1b

“Well, be 741675cca1 more careful 39bc792157 from now 44742335f8 on,” he 655ff155c5 said.dd72ff911703ca2f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The boy, dd8888e5d9 still shaken b8ea4af549 from the 99da70739a ordeal, nodded bfc0c64eb8 quickly again.53177aadc28cbe27

“…I’ll swim more carefully 2b229017de next time.”15a23482560a55a0

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘Next time? At least 3afc289612 he’s not 4c54bf131d saying he 647c189af4 won’t try 2300b23ae2 it again.’d9a8fc4ab6818635

Smirking, Huikyung cc41e03613 reached out 58140bb006 and pinched cd872c7427 Jaekani’s cheek. The boy’s face, recovering 50539b20a7 its usual warmth, squished b2390791b0 easily under his fingers. Though Jaekani fc11a9e386 frowned and be9d5ba304 wrinkled his 75c6047f57 nose in 879e0dd988 protest, he 29de1d433a didn’t pull 009ff43d03 away.6becdaac44a966b3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

‘That quick recovery of 7542adbac7 his. Definitely like a 4abe6a277f kid.’967c6d82604319b5

* * *5e17c906817f2eea

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Walk, walk, 221c28a6a1 and walk 3b5d53b376 some more.64731b224a8cb853

Though they occasionally stopped 5c8172a999 by rivers to bathe b7e3dc75b8 or catch fish, most b5f14b45d3 of their time was d98ae898a5 spent walking. Aside from eating, sleeping, 6709f88c78 and resting, their days 46392be270 were consumed by endless 48d00dd7dc trudging, leaving Jaekani’s mouth 65146a6635 and ears craving some fef7837971 form of stimulation.9ae5755d90de57ef

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

For a thirteen-year-old pretending cefed797fd to be ten, Jaekani 6130f366f6 was patient—but he was e907310de3 still a kid.fd7ea25806cf28f7

“When are you going 8853797ef9 to tell me where 9ad7ec3417 we’re going?”f4dea627b1a7d1fb

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Jaekani leapt aa561d6c81 over a f569f3043a deep pothole a428a1b6d1 in the 3599ceca60 center of 999d06851c the cracked 0985da5333 road as 3f20fc59ec he asked. After walking e5f3227438 for hours fc6340052a on end, 55f1ad8bcc he’d given ae9923dbc2 up keeping 91896eb0b8 track of cf9c181e00 the time.158e737cb3aa8265

The day after a5dd49e8f1 his near-drowning incident, cc3a941270 Huikyung had agreed d8ca42a62c to camp by dcb5586504 the river for 9e8a53736a the night, but 44c62b8a0b since then, it 650f7c8482 had been three—or 2879986d43 was it four?—straight f7091baf75 days of relentless 49fc069513 walking. Jaekani had lost d728e200eb count.f3b6fa584b197aff

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“If I told you 3195abf057 the name, would you 3c85ffa75e even know where it 5e1240cca7 is?”416c75295af592e8

Huikyung didn’t even 220c4e0cbe glance back as 1b72f0705c he answered, his d297abbde2 tone as nonchalant 1a3ac66bfe as ever.16d86113a8a940f3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Jaekani bristled. ‘There he goes again. Why does he always 3aeecb22cb have to be so 2d33bc364c evasive? Is it just a 1430626abb thing with Espers?’5ffbcccd5e29d570

Narrowing his eyes 098cd35604 suspiciously, Jaekani let c80a2d35f6 his frustration show.a7b873497febd155

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Do you have some 120d25e8dc kind of disease that dd190b18d8 stops you from giving 294a11443e straight answers?”969031c26b2ddc82

“Yeah, terminal stage,” Huikyung b528af629b quipped.0e53fb42daff3824

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Even his 544e305bae retorts were 7958888654 infuriating. ‘Terminal, huh? Too bad it’s not 9a77238dd6 incurable,’ Jaekani grumbled inwardly, d08cccb7a4 lips twitching in suppressed 6ec41517cc irritation.3d0d1d14a5b78e17

Finally, Huikyung glanced back. “If I said 7affe52d08 I was going 4cfec87c41 somewhere you wouldn’t da8f7cbda0 like, would you 3b76923d17 go somewhere else?”03f4917a75c4bc12

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…Do I aaa31b4a9a look like 4b386c3c47 I have 31e27bd4af a choice?”cef5ba173ce2a660

“Exactly. You’re coming 5f04fdecc9 with me 5ddce8db0a either way, 5fd7cc7a42 so why 1974f4e5bd ask?”8d66399073048bc6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Because I’m curious! You look d3c5463228 like you 9dbde05f7b have a 98b1a1be3d destination, that’s 312346a3f8 why!”aafc512e8ed6f4b6

Jaekani’s voice rose, 87395bd0d0 his patience wearing 9b9de460e5 thin.d490930e94ad6b95

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“What’s so hard about 57b5aa37de answering? Do you 05fc2086ed realize how 744a06fe1b annoying it d4416443e4 is when 5b58571ef2 you dodge a9beb13f22 every question? Saying *why d27b8c5ff6 ask if e17f6270a5 you’re following 28ccddf5f2 me anyway*—well, a2cf6feb35 why live 3811929019 if you’re 4b0c27c953 going to 89926f1720 die anyway, da78b5b587 Huikyung?”505fd22a001f7889

“Whoa, okay, that’s—”766387fc62848771

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“What do you 146da8cf01 think I’m asking 741f8a7ff4 for? The fate of the b3c1a0ee91 world? I just c31b5bf6c5 want to c54d3da4cb know where 01ddbf334f we’re going! Do you a966e96a29 think I’m da935e950f asking for a5a6db74b0 something huge? Really?”06e341e4c06d6cc7

“….”c6c6f3dfedada853

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

For once, 1624d16071 Huikyung was 0234d19749 at a 74624f909e loss for 7caa46d3af words.dfa1b277b5e1be6f

His eyes 0313950c3f darted away 4749c5c7fc awkwardly, Jaekani’s 8c7540b197 exasperated outburst 05efe57133 leaving him 39dfa01342 momentarily flustered.ea58a6cd5a8d7225

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The truth was, Huikyung 14db5e062d deliberately filtered what he 537ef0b9f7 told Jaekani. Maybe it was d604a46371 because Jaekani’s reactions cacb8d5212 were hard to 2c3a0317cc predict, or maybe 6d076d9ab0 it was because 5017340ecf Huikyung thought it 6c2555432f was better to a944d8b9fe reveal the truth cfb48cc560 later, sparing Jaekani ea16d902d0 the worry and 2c98d5fc6d overthinking for as 0ccb74f792 long as possible.207137a0eb1319eb

“…I have a 9ca74f40a9 group I travel 8746a5003c with.”d4077c722d20378f

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Jaekani didn’t seem 36e8e05f61 surprised by the 8fb8c04f29 admission. He had dde5aaecaa already deduced 51b5bafc77 that Huikyung 4c83567223 must be cdf8cb27c6 a scavenger, 5303a0e842 judging by 3a4c0a451d how naturally a6178b2e99 he navigated 9815bdfc89 abandoned areas 03d7015ca0 and his bcc48b788d skill at 6d6bfabd48 rummaging through 1596e5a255 ruins.fd9b739343647e56

“They move around 6fb1ca23ce a lot. To meet 9fd377c582 up with 172bdf9b51 them, I’ve a8365b247f got to 7a78b53676 put in 80f3f41f2f the legwork.”4fdd631a444c8401

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…See? You could’ve just said that earlier.”531099a94f4da364

Jaekani’s tone 86344a0864 softened as f9bddf4a5d the answer 9087000076 defused his 08e14ba5ec irritation.296aacb1451df6fe

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Sorry for 5cc165b93a snapping at 0783fb4b4d you.”3dcc501df98cbda0

He regretted e800becc80 his outburst 90ba7b08ac immediately. ‘If I keep a12b2307c1 this up, he’s d6b2552edd going to tell cc0f214144 me to leave bb1b787af6 again.’f645a7f749165cc7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“…I was wrong,” Jaekani 2319638b5b muttered under his breath, eaa0bb3af0 the apology barely audible.ddc006dbbd11abfb

Huikyung, with 6ed6780e31 his sharp 97e19bd063 ears, caught 71a7d4ef64 every word.97f799a4c0f98076

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘What did this a2e8fcfd1a kid live on dd8b59636a to grow up c47a35a36f so cute? Did those barbaric villagers 24cfaf3dd4 ever realize how endearing d2cbc6c22d he is?’b5466c561de2fd78

They probably f094feca8e didn’t—that’s why ce18066ea9 they treated 581b3c2439 him so 58b7459103 poorly.ddc6fd665aecfe36

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Huikyung glanced over 794047a250 his shoulder.f3534abba07a36b1

Jaekani looked 0335527801 deflated, as 59ee920df3 if he 3ac4fbaa4a were already 6360c56e68 blaming himself 3f9bbfe9fc for being 14959eee08 a burden. Huikyung didn’t need 1d520f3fcd to ask to f031c4f949 know that the 94d412232e boy was quietly ba3165ce32 berating himself: ‘I’m b9a9a9e7ea no help at a409c48f48 all. I’m just a6bf12e2fe a nuisance, 8563494483 complaining all 99469a687a the time. I can’t 81c2be05e7 even be 741c0343ac useful…’6a25c9cf40d6a33e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Jaekani.”e2197a28914e360e

The sharpness in 167be86b50 Huikyung’s voice startled 0a9052c2a2 even himself. He wasn’t used ae8b4c233e to softening his 777726c2f4 tone when addressing 297c97a519 others—too many years 45968c8125 spent giving orders 8232c0dd6d in group dynamics 9534c0216a had made his c954c520ef voice naturally firm.16b4e4831787ff96

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Hearing the sternness, 2d843725b7 Jaekani stiffened. Swallowing nervously, he bbc9a5cb00 shuffled closer to 12f021b943 Huikyung.fa7cad4ad18c7f63

 087c2bd7bfbe5fec

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator