I was walking at the front.
They were a few steps behind me.
I was in a tight spot.
Bound by my fishing net.
I wished Flit would hold my bag.
And Valex was holding the map in his left hand,
and the rope of the net in his right, making sure I couldn't escape.
After a while, he asked me:
"So why do you want to head toward that tree? And how did you get this map?
And where is it leading?"
I didn't turn to him and didn't answer.
But he kept talking.
"When Flit and I saw this tree, we couldn't get close because of that bird.
I think that tree is its nest."
Upon hearing that, I said without turning around:
"So you want to go back there to get eaten?"
"I'm not afraid of anything now.
As I said, if we don't move, it won't be able to see us.
Anyway, I think it will take us a day to get there."
"Fool."
"What did you say, boy?!"
"I said you're a fool, you have no clear plan."
"Didn't you hear me? If we don't move, it won't be able to see—"
I turned to him, stared him straight in the eyes, and said:
"So what? Should we stay frozen forever?
And what will you do even if we reach the tree?
You don't know what's there, and for your information, neither do I.
I didn't even know about the bird before I went."
He was silent for a moment and asked:
"Why did you want to go there if you didn't know what's at the tree?"
"None of your business."
Flit stepped toward me angrily and said:
"Stop talking to Valex-sama like that and show some respect."
"Why should I show respect to someone like him? He's just muscles without brains."
"And you're just brains without muscles."
"And you are nothing, so why are you talking?"
I saw her expression change.
She looked like she was about to cry.
Suddenly, Valex yanked the rope hard as if squeezing me.
"I'm starting to lose patience, boy."
We noticed darkness beginning to fall.
Valex said loudly:
"Alright, we'll camp here."
We sat by a tree and lit a fire.
I saw Flit take my sleeping mat out of the bag.
She placed it beside me without looking and sat near Valex.
I didn't say a word.
I slowly lay down on the mat, turned my back to them, and pretended to sleep.
After a short while, I heard them talking.
"Valex, am I nothing?"
"Of course not, don't listen to that boy, he's just angry because he's tied up like a fish."
"But I almost helped you, you hunt for me and protect me, and I don't do anything useful."
"Stop talking about yourself like that. You are doing the most important thing ever."
"What is it?"
"Keeping me from being alone in this savage world. I would have lost my mind if I were alone. You are like a guardian angel to me."
She spoke happily:
"Thank you, um… I mean, Valex-sama."
"Please, call me uncle whenever you want."
"Okay, thank you, uncle."
I heard this conversation, and somehow it felt familiar.
I remembered a similar conversation I had with my grandfather.
I was about eight years old.
We were waiting for the Vales to prepare us to eat.
I asked my grandfather:
"Grandpa, am I beautiful?"
"Of course, my boy."
"What's beautiful about me exactly?"
"You keep me company in my loneliness in this world. This old man wouldn't have survived without you."
…No wonder, it's been a long time.
I forgot the rest of that conversation.
I wish I could go back in time and ask him if this is what beauty is.
Suddenly, I heard footsteps… it was Valex.
I pretended to sleep.
But I found him undoing the net around me.
After he untied it, he turned and went back to sit beside Flit, who was asleep.
Before I could say anything, he started speaking.
"Boy, I know you don't trust us, and I don't blame you.
What we did was wrong, but we're not bad people. We just want to survive in this world.
And after seeing the map you have, I felt that maybe you know a place we could live, a safe place."
Then he knelt and said:
"Please, take us with you. You're right, I'm just muscles without brains.
All this time I've survived by luck, but I know the day will come when my luck runs out.
And if I die, Flit will have no one to protect her.
So I beg you, take us with you. I promise we'll be useful to you."
I looked at him, stunned.
But I thought about it for a moment.
Can I trust him?
Will I need two people like them?
After thinking, I told him to lift his head and said:
"Okay, I agree.
I still don't trust you both, but I don't know when I'll need you, so I agree.
From this moment on, we'll be a trio."
He looked at me firmly and said:
"Thank you, I promise you won't regret it."
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Next chapter: The Bird's Nest