Chapter 112 –
That door could only be opened by Novembris.
A door to the human world.
As I hurried to leave, a branch grabbed my wrist.
[“Humans are not to be trusted. If you’re not careful, their malice could hurt you again.”]
“Just like Yggdrasil said… humans are scary and can’t be trusted.”
After all, I had died from human cruelty.
But… I was also saved by a human.
Looking at the World Tree, I spoke.
“But I trust Didi.”
At my firm words, the branch slowly loosened its grip.
[“…Even if that’s your only chance to survive?”]
Instead of answering, I smiled brightly and turned the doorknob.
“I’ll be back!”
There was no way Dedrick could ever mean harm to me.
To Novembris, all humans might be the same, but Dedrick… was different.
When I stepped through the door, I saw a room bathed in quiet moonlight. It wasn’t Dedrick’s room.
Right in front of me was a wardrobe. Faint smoke leaked from the door’s cracks.
It wasn’t smoke from a fire. I carefully opened it.
Inside was a white, foggy mist — sleeping incense. When Dedrick couldn’t sleep, Pable would sometimes light it for him.
He was uncomfortably curled up in the narrow wardrobe, his long legs folded.
I reached toward him. Novembris was no longer there to stop me.
Please… recognize me.
I gently brushed his hair from his forehead. I hadn’t felt his presence in so long.
My nose stung with emotion.
“So soft.”
As I ran my hand through his hair a few more times and was about to pull away—
Grab!
His large hand caught mine tightly. I flinched. His long lashes trembled and slowly his eyes opened, revealing soft blue.
A single tear rolled down from his sleepy gaze.
“Mary… is that really you?”
His voice trembled badly.
“You even appear in my dreams now…”
I bit my lip, overwhelmed with emotion. He kissed the back of my hand and pressed his face into my palm.
“I missed you.”
“…Me too.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“…Then why didn’t you come to see me all this time?”
“I watched over you every day.”
“…That makes me happy.”
He gave a small laugh, then pulled me into a tight hug, burying his face in my shoulder.
I found myself holding his head tightly.
“Why sleep like this…? You should sleep in bed.”
“This is more comfortable.”
“In this narrow wardrobe where your long legs can’t even stretch?”
He chuckled and rubbed his face against my shoulder.
“Especially in winter. It’s warm… and I don’t have to think.”
“…You remember?”
“I remember everything about you. Even your breathing.”
I just wanted to see him for a moment.
But now… I want more.
I didn’t want to let go of Didi.
But time was cruel.
The door opened again, this time beckoning me to return.
I hesitated. Sensing it, Dedrick held me desperately and wept.
“I’m sorry for leaving you alone underground.”
His apology brought tears to my eyes.
“It must’ve hurt so much… been so hard…”
I couldn’t speak. He held onto me like he’d break without me.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you. But still…”
I gently wiped the tears from his cheek. He leaned into my hand, begging softly.
“Can’t you stay with me?”
“…Didi.”
“Please don’t go, Mary. I can’t live without you…”
I kissed the top of his head and whispered.
“I’ll be back soon.”
“Please, Mary…”
“I promise. So wait for me, okay?”
Tears falling, I pried his arms off me and quickly stepped into the door before he could grab me again.
Back in the sanctuary, I collapsed on the floor, overwhelmed by his desperate touch.
I sobbed, hard enough to shake the world.
***
Lying there breathlessly, Dedrick’s tearful face wouldn’t leave my mind.
Just then, a flower dropped onto my head.
Warmth spread through me, and I felt energy return.
I got up and hugged the World Tree tightly.
“Was there malice? Did you sense it?”
The branch gently shook no.
“See? Didi would never hurt me.”
The reason I hadn’t approached Dedrick until now was because Novembris had been shielding me.
He thought Dedrick might also carry human malice.
But I proved that wrong by touching him.
Until now, I had done everything Novembris asked, thinking he was protecting me.
I thought appearing before Dedrick once would be fine but…
But Dedrick was in danger. He was barely surviving, not living. Even after getting revenge, he was falling apart.
He had seen the underground…
I was afraid he would leave this world before I could reach him. So I hugged the World Tree tighter.
“Please help me. I’m scared he’ll disappear forever…”
I expected rejection.
But this time, it was different.
[You are under Novembris’s protection. If he allows it, then I will help too.]
I looked up in shock.
“Why? Why so easily this time?”
I had been preparing myself for a fight. This caught me off guard.
[Your reason for living again is that man. If he disappears… so will you.]
“What do you mean…?”
Yggdrasil said no more.
[It’s too soon, but I can’t bear seeing you suffer anymore.]
Joy mixed with fear in my heart.
“What if Novembris says no?”
Silence.
Then, he asked instead—
[What if he says yes?]
“…Then?”
[I’ll help you.]
My heart leapt with hope.
It wouldn’t be easy to persuade that stubborn Novembris, but if I could — even Yggdrasil would help.
I can see Didi again!
I waited eagerly for Novembris, chatting with Yggdrasil to distract him from changing his mind.
Time didn’t flow here, so I didn’t know how long had passed. But I avoided thinking about anything bad happening to Dedrick.
I tried to stay positive.
Then, from beneath the tree, roots rose and formed Novembris’s body.
He’s here!
I jumped to my feet.
“Bris!”
He opened his arms, and I hugged him tightly in joy.
“How have you b—”
Suddenly, he stepped back, holding my arms away.
His eyes were sharp.
“Did you… touch a human?”
“Uh, well…”
Before I could explain, he pinned me against the World Tree.
“I must cleanse the filth of human energy from you.”
“Wait, Bris!”
“Stay here.”
He wouldn’t listen. He rushed to the lake and activated the rain.
Heavy drops poured down as I waited.
Soon, he returned.
“Now, cleanse yourself properly.”
I sat cross-legged and clapped my hands.
“Training mode!”
“Pfft. What are you doing now?”
He laughed… then immediately frowned.
“You said to cleanse myself. Once I’m done, you have to hear me out.”
At last, he seemed calmer and looked at me.
“…You have something to say?”
“Yes. About touching a human.”
“Then say it now.”
He sat down beside me.
I dropped my silly pose, knelt, and pressed my hands together, pleading.
“W-Why are you looking at me like that?!”
His ears turned red, but I didn’t stop.
“The one I touched was Didi.”
“…”
His eyebrows furrowed tightly. I quickly added—
“I touched him and I’m fine! Didi doesn’t have any malice towards me!”
“I told you, all humans are the same. I don’t believe you!”
“I know you want to save me because Yggdrasil told you to, right?”
“What? No! That’s not the reason. I just…”
“Just?”
He went silent, clearly flustered.
