𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟒

(4)

Five days have passed since Luo went missing.

His name hasn’t been erased from the logbook at the wooden hut. His home was checked, but there were no signs of him returning.

Considering Luo’s penchant for sticking to his daily routines, his absence from the general store suggests he truly hasn’t returned. Lost in thought, Saji leaned on the counter.

The last witnesses were young moss collectors of Luo’s age group. The boys claimed they saw Luo precisely when he jumped off the “Jaw Gate.” It matched the destination recorded in the logbook.

Moss collection is typically a day trip. The Grand Canyon lacks stable footing, and the winds are strong. Additionally, dangerous demon beasts inhabit the area. Spending a night there would be unthinkable, barring emergencies.

Realistically, either Luo fell or was attacked by a demon beast. Optimistically, he might be injured somewhere, unable to move.

Following protocols, veteran moss collectors searched the “Jaw Gate” but couldn’t find Luo.

To avoid double tragedies, they must have searched only the upper layers. However, Luo might have ventured into the middle layers. Those layers should be searched.

Saji suggested this to Gordu, the head of the moss collectors, but was met with nothing but scorn.

ㅤ

“It’s hard to believe a ten-year-old went down the ‘Jaw Gate,’ let alone to the middle layers. We can’t risk our men on such uncertain information. Besides. . . . . .”

ㅤ

Gordu said mockingly.

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“Didn’t you once flee from the middle layers of the ‘Jaw Gate’?”

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Saji couldn’t respond.

Saji, a former moss collector, used to be a partner to Luo’s father, Theo. His role was to assist in dangerous descents and to be vigilant against demon beasts.

Theo, three years older than Saji, was like an elder brother. He would fearlessly challenge any danger. Whether on cliffs or below, he’d take reckless actions and then boast about them.

 Saji deeply respected Theo in such a way.

 When Theo, the admired one, married Carla, the village’s finest daughter, Saji wholeheartedly celebrated. The same went for when their son, Luo, were born.

 Both Theo and Carla are no longer in this world.

 Saji continued to regret his decision from that time.

 It was four years ago on that day. Theo said he needed to go down to the middle layers of “Jaw Gate” to buy medicine for Carla, who had been afflicted by an epidemic. He claimed to know a place with purple moss. Saji accompanied him, but along the way, they heard the cry of what seemed to be the Rock King Eagle.

 “Today is an ill-fated day; let’s attempt it another day.” Saji said this, trying to stop Theo. However, Theo did not heed his words.

After an argument, it was decided that Saji would stay near the boundary between the upper and middle layers. Theo, who descended into the middle layers, was attacked by the Rock King Eagle.

Telling Carla about Theo’s death, Saji was consumed by his stupidity and weakness.

He should have known the Rock King Eagle was nearby. He should have done everything to stop Theo, even if it meant fighting him. If not, he should’ve died alongside Theo.

It was an irrevocable mistake, and Saji couldn’t even apologize to Carla.

Misfortunes lead to more misfortunes; they chain together.

Shortly after, Carla died of illness, and Luo broke.

The only thing Saji could do for the trembling, mumbling young Luo in bed was to bring him food.

Saji retired as a moss collector and took over the family’s general store.

A year later, Luo casually appeared at Saji’s store, asking to be taught how to become a moss collector.

He said it was to avenge his father.

Saji thought that becoming a moss collector for such a reason would only lead to an early death. However, he couldn’t refuse when he sensed a light in Luo’s innocent eyes, similar to madness.

Luo was broken.

To become a moss collector, a recommendation from another moss collector is required. Even though he had retired, Saji had that authority.

When tested by making him climb a practice rock wall, Luo easily reached the top. Saji was taken aback. The change in the rock wall was extraordinary. Saji’s father, Theo, had also been under the strong protection of “Ishigami-sama,” but Luo was even more so.

When Saji reported the test results to the headman Gordu, he was met with skepticism.

ㅤ

[Doesn’t the young man hold a grudge against me?]

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When Carla fell ill with a contagious disease, Theo asked Gordu for a loan, but Gordu refused. He told him to collect moss if he wanted money since he was a moss collector.

The young Luo might blame Gordu for his parents’ deaths. Gordu said he couldn’t keep someone who might be seeking revenge close. Despite usually acting tough, Gordu was a coward at heart.

Then, Saji proposed.

ㅤ

[I’ll mediate between you and Luo. I’ll handle the moss and information transactions. I don’t need a commission. I’ll properly discipline Luo and won’t let him appear before you. So, please approve.]

ㅤ

Perhaps feeling inferior, Gordu unusually gave in.

This is how Luo became a moss collector. Every morning, at the same time, he would come to Saji’s store and repeat the same line.

ㅤ

[Saji-san, how much?]

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Then, he’d collect moss until dusk.

Normally, moss collectors don’t spend that much time in the Grand Canyon. They lack the stamina and concentration. They usually collect moss every few days, and naturally, they stop on bad weather days.

From the start, Luo’s behavior was abnormal.

The results were also extraordinary. Luo always brought back a large amount of blue-green moss. Gordu was suspicious, but Saji explained that he had passed on to Luo the special moss spot once discovered by himself and Theo.

Luo was in danger. If he got too much attention, it wouldn’t end well. That’s what Saji thought.

Saji believed that taking care of Luo was a way to atone for what happened to Theo and Carla.

ㅤ

[Saji-san, how much?]

ㅤ

Every time Luo came to the store, Saji felt an overwhelming sense of suffocation.

He couldn’t help but recall the sight of the Rock King Eagle taking Theo away, the devastated figure of Carla mourning her beloved husband, and the sight of Luo, who had rejected the outside world and was trembling alone in his bed.

Whether on sunny or rainy days. Every morning, at the same time.

 ㅤ

[Saji-san, how much?]

ㅤ

In the same tone and expression.

What is this if not a punishment?

However, the endless days of atonement vanished unexpectedly.

Did I truly forgive myself? Saji pondered.

The chains that bound his heart remained unchanged.

It’s obvious. There’s no way he could be forgiven.

Above all, Saji couldn’t forgive himself.

As if all his will to live had been stripped away, Saji began preparing to close the shop. It was still before noon, but he felt entirely unmotivated.

As he went to close the shop’s door, he noticed the bushes nearby rustling.

Glancing over, he saw a boy he hadn’t seen for five days, who quickly hid in the bushes as if he’d been caught.

Just a kid, Saji thought, baffled.

ㅤ

“Hey Luo, come here.”

ㅤ

It was Saji who taught Luo the ways of the moss collector. One of the rules was to always return by dusk, even if no moss was collected. Luo, being unusually strict about rules, must have felt deeply guilty.

Luo, who walked over slowly, was constantly looking down, his gaze restless.

Saji reconsidered himself for a moment.

If Luo were gone, he wouldn’t have to hear that line. He wouldn’t have to feel the pain of old wounds. So, perhaps, he might regret that Luo was safe.

That’s what he thought.

But he was wrong.

What bubbled up from the depths of his heart was pure irritation and anger.

He hasn’t given up on himself yet.

ㅤ

“You little―.”

ㅤ

Saji clenched his fist and landed a blow on the conveniently positioned head of the boy.

ㅤ

“You idiot!”

“Ouch.”

ㅤ

Luo prefers straightforward expressions. Or perhaps, he lacks the ability to understand the subtleties of human emotion. So Saji decided to let it end with one punch.

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“Well, I’ll forgive you for that.”

ㅤ

Clearly relieved, Luo took a deep breath.

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“Seriously, what happened to you? Look at the state you’re in.”

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From the boy’s neck to his chest, a yellow substance was stuck. It didn’t seem like blood, but it was eerie.

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“Egg.”

“Huh?”

ㅤ

Unhelpful.

Eagerly, and somewhat restlessly, Luo opened his pouch. First, he took out green moss. For five days’ worth, it seemed scant. Then, he presented a rare purple moss called “phantom”.

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“You, that’s.”

“The one Dad tried to collect.”

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Next, Luo handed an old marker to Saji. Attached to it was a ribbon with a familiar signature.

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“This is from Theo-san!”

“Yes.”

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The purple moss and Theo’s marker. Saji instantly understood what they signified.

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“You didn’t go to that place, did you?”

“I did.”

ㅤ

The feelings his father couldn’t fulfill were, after several years, now embraced by his son.

Overwhelmed with surprise and unsure of how to react, Luo showed him a giant feather tucked in his belt, which shimmered in rainbow colors under the light.

ㅤ

“Avenge Mom and Dad.”

 ㅤ

Finally, he took something like a shard of a vessel out of the pouch.

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“I ate the egg.”

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Saji remembered. How this boy was hopelessly bad at explaining.

ㅤ

“At that time, it got dirty.”