Chapter 2.2

Chapter 2.2

“Is that so? Anyway, I’m not a criminal.” Just as the man was about to argue, Ara quickly added. “But you’re not a person, are you?”

“…” The man did not retort. She does have some points.

“Article 319 of the Criminal Code. It clearly states from the first sentence: ‘a person’s residence’, blah blah blah.”

This time, instead of a verbal retort, the man’s sharp gaze bore down on her. “What makes you so fearless?”

The man asked, his face filled with suspicion.

“I just found out today that I’m this fearless.” Ara shrugged. The lack of reality seemed more pronounced to her than to the man. It felt more convincing that this was a dream.

“Who sent you?”

“No one sent me. I came here alone.”

“Why did you come here?”

“Well… I thought if I hid here, people wouldn’t be able to find me.”

“Hide?”

“Um, it’s embarrassing, but I ran away. I suddenly ended up with a huge debt.”

Ara confessed impulsively and then realized her mistake. She had hidden herself deep in the mountains to escape people, only to reveal her situation so easily.

Still, assuming he really was a goblin, which was ridiculous but seemingly true, he probably wouldn’t go running to those awful loan sharks to rat her out… right?

Just as she reached this thought, the man unexpectedly leaned forward and grabbed her shoulders.

“Wait, let go, let’s talk this out… talk!” In an instant, Ara turned pale and grabbed the man’s arm with both hands.

Despite her desperate efforts to push him away, the man didn’t budge an inch. If necessary, she needed to kick him in a vital spot and run, but her legs, exhausted from the arduous hike, refused to obey.

What should I do? Am I really going to die here?

Grandma, I’m sorry. I should have listened to you when you said this place was cursed…

“Ow!”

Suddenly, her shoulder felt as if it had been pricked by a needle.

Ara glanced at the shoulder the man was gripping and couldn’t believe her eyes.

Between his long, sturdy fingers, a dazzling ring was glowing. The ring, crafted with a gold band and a large green emerald, sparkled as if it were a light source itself. Mysterious characters streamed from the center of the ring.

The characters formed a precise line, swiftly piercing through Ara’s chest and then retracting back into the ring, which lost its light almost immediately.

“Wh-what is this…?”

Ara stammered, reflecting on the magical moment. The needle-like pain had vanished completely.

Instead of answering, the man shook off her hands and straightened up. When he shook his right hand, the ring disappeared as if it had never been there.

“You really are just a human.”

His voice carried a hint of disappointment as if he couldn’t comprehend what had just happened.

Ara was equally baffled, unable to make sense of what had transpired.

“Get down.”

The next words were even harder for Ara to process.

“What?”

“I made a mistake. You’re just an ordinary human who isn’t worth bringing in.”

…Mistake? Not worth bringing in?

Ara bit her lip in frustration. Each word from the goblin was infuriating, but that was secondary now.

“When you go back, I’ll close the gate of the Maze Garden, so you won’t get lost for long.”

“Maze Garden? What’s that… No, that’s not the point. Goblin man, wait.”

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t keep it a secret that you met me. Everyone will just think it’s crazy talk anyway.”

“No, I was thinking of getting down from here.”

“Ah. Be careful on the way down. Unfortunately, mountain beasts are not my concern.”

The man spoke as if he didn’t hear Ara’s protests. Not only that, but he tidied up the scattered belongings with a flick of his finger and tossed them into Ara’s arms.

“Well then, goodbye.”

With that, he turned away without hesitation.

Ara didn’t have time to think. She threw the bag he had handed her to the ground and, instead, crawled over and grabbed the hem of his pants.

“I can’t go down from here.”

The man sighed, seemingly exhausted by her desperate plea.

“Let go.”

“My legs hurt; it’s too late, and if I go down, I’ll die.”

“I see. That’s unfortunate. But what does that have to do with me?”

“Wow, listen to you. You’re really heartless.”

“You can finish cursing me on your way down. Now let go. Do you want me to remove your hands myself?”

The man slightly moved his fingers, ready to use his powers to break her grip.

Ara quickly changed tactics. She dramatically released his pant leg and plopped down, crossing her arms.

“Hey. Isn’t this too much? Who kicks out a helpless woman in the middle of the night?”