557 - Marriage is a Community of Destiny! #9

The first day of the New Year, spent struggling inside a black cocoon with Gloria.

Upon returning to the mansion, I had to endure muscle pain and fatigue that were far more severe than I had expected.

Was it a reaction to doing something I wasn't suited for?

I thought a shower might help.

Instead, it only made me feel languidly exhausted.

"Uwaaaa-. My body is melting-."

"Hassan, stop exaggerating-!"

Luna smacked my back with her hand.

"Hieek-!"

Aside from screaming, I was in such bad shape that I couldn't even move my limbs. Sseuk-. Luna placed a cold, wet towel on my forehead as I lay on the bed and spoke.

"It would be best to stay lying down for today. Various memories and experiences from Gloria suddenly clumped together and hit you, so Hassan-ssi's body is suffering the aftermath."

"Is that so?"

"I don't know for sure either. Honestly-. Right from the first day of the New Year. Hassan, I don't know why I have to nurse you when you haven't even been good."

I had nothing to say to Luna's grumbling.

"Luna-ya, there's no one but you."

"What are you talking about? You were just rolling around with another girl until a moment ago-!"

"Even so, Luna, you're the only one who forgives a guy like me."

"...I don't care!"

Luna snapped in anger. Then she pulled back the blanket and slapped my stomach once more with her palm.

"Take one more-!"

Chal-ssak-.

Actually, she hit me twice.

"Ugh...!"

I did my best to pretend it hurt and screamed, but.

Luna just gave a hmph-like snort as if she were sulking.

I understand.

It's because I left Luna alone and got involved with another woman. It's only natural to be angry. In fact, what I should really fear is when Luna stops getting angry at me no matter what I do.

Because that would mean her feelings or affection for me aren't what they used to be. By then, it would be safe to say we'd become like a show-window couple who are only together for appearances.

No matter where the other is, with whom, or what they are doing.

It would be no different from being strangers with no emotional change.

Thinking that way, Luna's current anger made me feel like she cares for and loves me that much, so I felt very good.

I might have to work on soothing Luna's mood for the next few days.

"Luna-ya, hit me more-. Get angrier-! Ung-ae-!"

When I tried to suddenly hug Luna's waist like that, Luna was startled and pushed my face away.

"Hassan, you really must be sick! Saying such weird things! Stop talking nonsense and just lie down!"

"Okay."

In truth, I didn't have much strength to move anyway.

However, while Luna was stirring a damn bitter-looking elixir with her pinky to put in my mouth, she spoke as if something had occurred to her.

"But. I couldn't just leave her. That girl huddled in the corner. Somehow, she seemed like Hassan-."

Is she talking about Gloria?

I thought back to Gloria huddled in the cocoon and Luna, who had pushed my back toward such a person.

Honestly, I never imagined Luna would push my back like that. If Luna hadn't supported me, I wouldn't have been able to take a step toward the cocoon.

This is the truth.

But on the other hand, I also had a feeling-call it belief, trust, conviction, or a sense of unity-that Luna would push my back.

Because Luna and I are like one body and soul in many ways.

"Is it because she absorbed Hassan's karma?"

Luna said she couldn't hate Gloria.

Whether it's because, as Luna said, Gloria took my memories and came to possess a karma quite similar to the existence known as Hassan.

Or whether it's because her black hair and eyes resemble mine, I don't know.

But she said she just couldn't hate her and couldn't leave her like that.

I asked.

"So where is Gloria? She must be in bad shape like me."

"The nymphs are taking care of her in the next room. Doris and Paranoi."

"Really?"

I listened closely. Then, the sound of small chatter drifted in from the room right next to mine.

━Aaat-! Why won't you put this sugar water, which this Paranoi personally made, into your mouth...? This Paranoi's sugar water is even more delicious than honey water-it is...!

━As expected, this Doris's honey water has triumphed...! This Doris's honey water is on a completely different level of effect compared to sugar water mixed by a ditch nymph-it is...!

It seems they are playing well.

I also felt relieved.

Just then, the door burst open, and Hippolyte, wearing a long, flowing dress, entered the room.

"Hassan, how is your physical condition?"

"It's good."

"It doesn't look particularly good. Here, this is bamboo shoot freshly pulled from the Deer Forest. It's a secret porridge made by boiling bamboo shoots, pulling them like noodles, and adding duck and medicinal herbs."

Hippolyte handed me a soup with steam rising hotly from her hands. However, I didn't have the energy to eat it, so I just opened my mouth.

"Good grief, I feel like I've gained a giant child."

At that sight, Hippolyte, as if she had no choice, scooped up the porridge with a spoon and put it into my mouth bit by bit.

I only had to close my eyes and open my mouth.

I'm enjoying such luxury because I'm sick.

Is this heaven?

Just then, a bitter taste filled my mouth.

"What is this? The taste is a bit different. Bitter, sour-. Hippolyte-nim, isn't the food cooked wrong?"

"Hehe, Hassan, that's my special elixir-! Its name is Fairy Infusion of the Small Yard Tribe. It contains the essence of 15 fairies."

When I slightly opened my eyes, Luna was also holding out a spoonful of bubbling elixir to my mouth. To have to eat delicious soup and a bizarre elixir together.

I felt like my stomach was going to turn.

But the effect must be quite good, as I felt vitality returning to my body quickly.

"Still, it tastes too bad."

"It's good for your body!"

Despite it being a monumental day spent with my companions on the first day of the New Year, I had to spend half the day from morning to afternoon lying in bed receiving care.

The sun set.

Finally, when the moon rose high in the sky.

I was able to shake off the bed and get up with a relatively light body.

"Receiving-."

* * *

As I opened the door and stepped into the mansion's hallway, I saw the back of a girl covered in raccoon fur. She seemed to be looking at the outside world through the hallway window.

"How are you feeling?"

"...."

Even though I asked, Gloria didn't answer.

What is she looking at to be so focused?

Curious, I also stood beside her.

I saw a large brazier burning in the mansion's garden, nymphs circling around it, and Antiope and Hippolyte grilling meat next to it.

Beside them, I could also see Luna following behind Paranoi.

━Paranoi-! I told you that pancake isn't cooked yet-! And, I'm going to stack them high like a tower! Don't eat it!

━In this Paranoi's view, it's already beyond cooked and has become an aged pancake-it is...! I shall dispose of it into this Paranoi's mouth-it is...!

Those bustling scenes were reflected in Gloria's black eyes.

I casually tossed out a word as if passing by.

"Don't just watch from afar like this, go and join them. It'll be more fun to go and see directly than watching through the glass."

To that, Gloria replied immediately as if she hadn't even thought about it.

"If I cut in, everyone will suddenly back away or go quiet."

"Is that so?"

It felt like a very familiar feeling.

I thought about Gloria being invited to parties or events. Some would have approached her with goodwill or curiosity when she appeared.

But the groups Gloria approached with goodwill might have felt awkward, and soon one or two would have left the spot with the excuse of having another appointment.

Gloria said.

"Hey, Hassan-. How do you make friends?"

"Friends?"

Asking how to make friends.

Since she asked so suddenly, nothing came to my mind either.

"Well...."

"When I was young, my friends were friends as a matter of course. We'd wake up in the morning and see each other's faces. We'd play together until the sun went down. Before we knew it, we had become friends naturally."

"I see."

This conversation also brings back memories of my own childhood. Kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, high school, university, the military, and so on.

In places where people of similar environments gathered, I made friends as a matter of course. I don't know what the method was.

I just realized we were friends when I came to my senses.

After that, how was it after coming to this other world?

Life was so busy and hectic that having friends was close to a luxury for me.

Excluding my current group in this world, the guys I could call my friends would be Kalidur, Malko, and maybe the skeleton knight Achilles or Bacchus.

But if asked how I became close to them, there was little I could answer.

Making friends is a very difficult thing.

As you get older, there are more things to consider, like maintaining face, so it becomes even harder.

But one thing is for sure: rather than watching from behind a window like this, it's best to just dive in, no matter what.

If you rub shoulders and talk to each other, it'll work out somehow.

So I pulled Gloria's arm.

"Let's go too. It's the first day of the New Year. And it's your birthday."

"It's cold outside."

"They've lit lots of fires, so it'll be warm."

"...."

Gloria seemed to resist slightly, but as I continued to pull her arm, she reluctantly moved her steps as if she couldn't help it.

We went down the long and many stairs, passed through the mansion's lobby, and finally opened the main door to enter the garden where braziers were burning warmly everywhere.

People's gazes gathered on us.

At that, Gloria hid behind me.

Leading such a Gloria, I approached the largest burning bonfire. Many foods were already laid out there.

I was hungry, but I didn't even know what to eat first. Just as I was thinking about what to eat first to maximize my appetite, Hippolyte spoke.

"For the meat, carve off as much as you want with a knife and put it on your plate."

At those words, I picked up a suitable plate, pulled out a cooking dagger, and sliced off pieces of the meat roasting on the brazier onto my plate.

"Roast it whole and carve off as much as you want to eat. It's the Amazon River way. But you mustn't leave any."

Hippolyte's eyes turned toward Gloria.

Sseueueuk-.

Normally, I wouldn't have thought much of it. But because Gloria had talked about making friends and whatnot, even I started to feel nervous.

Will Gloria be able to blend in well among the people?

The tension of watching that reminded me of the animal TV programs I often saw as a child.

It felt like wondering if a wild beast raised by humans could regain its wildness through hunting training and live well in the wild again.

Of course, in this case, it's the opposite.

I'm curious if Gloria, who has lived in the wild, can live well among people.

No, perhaps the crowd of people is the real jungle. A jungle full of complex, bustling people whose inner thoughts are unknown.

I don't know if Gloria, who has lived in solitude, can survive well in that jungle. Gloria herself seemed to lack confidence, as she was busy hiding behind my back.

If she keeps using me as a shield like this, she might not be able to approach the others.

I was slightly worried about what to do.

"Aaat-! Look, the black Kore has come...! She's the girl this Doris discovered last time...! Just as this Doris said, she's a magnificent rough diamond-it is...!"

"Hoeee, this time for sure, we should all go and decorate her...!"

Before I knew it, nymphs who had spotted Gloria flocked over and began pulling her arms. Gloria was as popular with the nymphs as Luna was.

There were more than last time, easily ten or so nymphs.

Their names were Hoenoy, Ononoy, Eris, Meteriol, Geris, Aine, Luanoy, Korne, and so on-. Among them were nymphs who had been shut in their rooms saying they were hibernating.

Did they wake up from hibernation because the weather got warmer? It shouldn't be fully spring yet.

"We must put flowers on her head like a crown-it is...!"

"Hoeee, for her arms, a stem bracelet made of grape flowers is good-!"

"Y-you guys, my clothes, why are you taking off my clothes!?"

"Just stay still-it is...!"

Thus, Gloria came to wear a fluttering, airy dress befitting the protagonist of a New Year's festival and birthday party, and a tiara made of flowers instead of raccoon fur on her head.

Her hair was neatly combed, and her face was decorated with powder and rouge brought by the nymphs.

"This is a flower this Doris picked in the Deer Forest today-it is...!"

As Doris placed a flower similar to a white rose on her head as a finishing touch, bees that had been buzzing in the sky began to dance around Gloria.

At that sight, Doris shouted loudly.

"Everyone, sing a song for Kore, whose birthday it is today-it is...!"

Then the nymphs held hands and began to circle around Gloria from left to right.

At the same time, they sang a song.

"You were-. Born to be-. Loved-."

At that song, Gloria seemed extremely embarrassed and didn't know what to do, her eyes darting around busily.

"Hassan-."

She soon gave me a somewhat desperate look as if asking for help, but there was no way I could help her.

But contrary to my worries, I could tell Gloria would be able to make friends soon.

There's nothing for me to help with.

So I slowly strolled around the mansion's garden, where people were singing and chatting everywhere. I wanted to loosen up my body, which had been sluggish from lying down all day.

Just then, in a corner of the brazier, a purple-haired girl who was warming herself by the fire beckoned to me.

It was Lady Nox, Luna's mother and my mother-in-law.

『Child-. I feel a strange energy from you-. That auspicious thing-. Inside your pants-. Could you take it out and show it to this lady-?』

MnZBMElkRjFKc3ZCR0RiWklQRlA5WlZINzRaZThhUzZ1cnMyS01IbEgxWXhPZ2F0bnhhUXJHVitqak01M2ZPMw