Crown of Thorns - Chapter 21
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Chapter 21

CHAPTER 21

Translator and editor : Cuties

I turned my eyes to the seat nestled in the dark. It was a place that had been prepared in advance. But the boy didnt reveal his curiosity towards it as if he hadnt yet found it lying on the floor. Just as I was opening his mouth, the boy asked the question first.

Are you really trying to teach me something?

I looked at the boy, wondering what he meant. Didnt he come here because I offered to teach him? Didnt he say he would be taught?

The boy hesitated for a moment and continued to speak, perhaps noticing my wonder.

No, I I thought you were just bored.

What?

I thought you wouldnt teach me because there was nothing in it for you. I thought that you were just a little interested in the boy that appeared when you were bored and decided to tease and harass him a little to alleviate your boredom

I was speechless and slammed my mouth into a thin line. Surely there was logic behind the boys thinking. It was the reasonable line of thought when facing a witch. It was strange to do such useless things when you might be in danger. I was portrayed as an evil witch who feasted off peoples misery in the outside world after all.

When I understood the reasoning behind the boys words, another question arose this time. Doesnt that mean he came here thinking I might hurt him?

You came here thinking you might be hurt by me? Why?

The boy kept his mouth shut as if it were difficult for him to say, and then he grudgingly continued.

You were so different from the witch I imagined so I thought you might be honest.

Then what if I were really a bad witch?

Throughout the conversation, it occurred to me that it wasnt a story that a warrior and a witch can talk about. Isnt it more like the image of a mother who teaches her child who acted unreasonably? The warrior is still very young, so I cant help it. The innocent and honest boy makes me reveal my inner feelings. Hes a boy with a really strange ability.

The boy buried his head with his folded arms, perhaps in shame. He said, I came here, but I dont know what I was thinking when I did. He must have been worried. No matter how strong he wanted to be and how much he wanted to be recognized by people, I was not an easy person to trust. Indeed, it would have been more painful and tormenting than it is now. He might have simply nodded his head, even to a demon rather than a witch, but he could never have simply went to look for them.

He looks up at me and opens his mouth, seemingly having organized his thoughts. Those red eyes are so clear and clean that I think I can trust whatever he says.

Well, you dont want to kill me, do you?

How can you be sure of that?

If you had intended to kill me, you would have done it at once.

I didnt answer. The boys words continued.

You want something from me, dont you? I dont know what it is. I dont know what you can gain from helping me. you wont tell me even if I ask. Youre helping me because its not a bad deal for you.

Oh, was it? The boy seems to think hes making a deal with me. I guess he thought I had something to gain from making him strong and saving the world. Yeah, Id rather have him think so.

I nodded. But the boy hesitated as if he had something more to say. Soon his mouth opened and the boys next words embarrassed me beyond measure.

And youre not at all like what Ive been hearing about you. You feel more comfortable than the people I live with. I think youre nice. So I thought it would be okay to believe in you.

Different, you say?

The boy nodded his head.

You listen to me, you claim to be a warrior Yet you dont even regard me, a witch, with caution.

The boy combed his hair and continued to talk.

Im strange, too, arent I? My eyes and hair.

No, theyre beautiful.

The boys eyes flashed an unbelieving light at my words.

Theyre weird? They are not. The boys hair and eyes are beautiful. They were more brilliant than any other color I had ever seen. He was blessed by the sun. It was strange that people thought him strange, not the other way around.

They are like the white snow and the red sun.

The boy looked down at the floor, avoiding my gaze, and rubbed his face with his hands. he rubbed it so hard that his cheeks were squashed around. His eyebrows were also heavily knotted together. I was wondering if he was crying, but he wasnt. There was still no change in his expression, but only his red cheeks and ears were betraying his feelings of embarrassment. He didnt seem to know how to respond to compliments.

I had to be cursed to see such beautiful colors, I felt pity for the people who could not see the beauty in them. Their ignorance of the sun and the sunshine that illuminated the world was pitiful. They were living like that, blindfolded in both their eyes and ears, not seeing only what they want to see all the time.

But what is snow?

The boys question took my eyes off his white hair. It was as white and clean as the boys hair. I had only seen it once before when I was very young, but I was fascinated by its mystery. It became strongly imprinted in my mind so as it would not to be forgotten forever.

Youve never seen it before I guess.

The boy nodded his head.

White, clean and cold. When it reaches body temperature, it melts away. Just like a fantasy. It covers the dirt of the world with its own body and becomes water that melts and awakens life.

Theres such a thing?

The boy asked back in wonder. The two eyes first bore the light. The red jewels within the light were very fascinating. It made me want to have them. But they were like the sun that I couldnt bear.

The boy with his emotions on his face was so cute that I answered without realizing it.

Ill show you later. Snow that looks just like your hair.

The boy nodded his head in full display of his feelings of joy and I immediately regretted it. What courage did I have to make such a promise to go out of the tower to see snow? But as I looked at the hair of the boy, which was parting in front of his eyes, I also wanted to see the snow that existed only in my memory.

Yeah, I can just show him. Its not difficult. I wont ever miss it again, so its not a bad idea to go see it for the last time.

I dragged my hair away from my face with my thumb and index finger and stared at the boy struggling to take a good look. The red irises were trying to see the hair close by. His eyebrows were knit together, but his expression was bright.

I thought it might be fun to see snow with this boy.