I Don't Want To Work! - Chapter 162

CHAPTER 162

Swiftly, the white teacup, devoid of any pattern, was filled to the brim with tea. 

The rich scent of deep forest, reminiscent of herbs or tea leaves, tickled my nostrils as if I were in the heart of the woods.

“Please, have a sip.” 

The Chief urged, and I lifted the teacup, lightly inhaling the fragrance before taking a sip. 

It was a strong tea with a robust aroma and flavor, which suited my taste as I usually preferred my tea brewed strong.

“It’s excellent. Both the flavor and aroma.” 

I said with a smile as I lowered the teacup. 

The Chief nodded lightly in response before finally pouring tea into her own cup.

“However, Wanderer, what brings you here?” 

Her tone was cautious.

Of course. 

I had never visited the elven village for a long, long time. 

Well, more accurately, I had never found it, even though I had tried.

“Are you here to retrieve a fragment of the World Tree? You’ve attempted to make deals through the Spirit Kings several times in the past.”

Ah, yes, that’s right. 

From Elam to Ifrit, from Gnome to Sylphid.

I remembered poking the sides of the four Spirit Kings, but none succeeded.

“And there was an incident where you were chased by pursuers while trying to touch the bark of the World Tree, which was being sold on the black market.”

“Kuukk!” 

Suddenly, an unwanted memory emerged, momentarily choking me.

Wait, did they record even that?

It was such an old story, and not one likely to come up, so I had been complacent.

Moreover, it was a long time ago, and someone else must have been the Chief then, so why now?

I asked, trying to appear nonchalant despite the turmoil in my mind.

“Is all that recorded?”

It seemed like a failure.

Whether she didn’t notice my agitation or chose to ignore it, the Chief simply stared at me with indifferent eyes.

Probably the former?

‘Anyway, there’s not much change in her expression.’

My mother in my dreams had various expressions.

She smiled to comfort me when I was scared and cried with me.

She sometimes wore a determined face after hesitating as if she were afraid of falling sparks.

But not now.

She just looked at me with a solemn face, as if a solid wall had been erected between us.

“We record and remember everything. Especially when it concerns the World Tree.” 

She said, turning her gaze outside the terrace. 

I followed her gaze.

I hadn’t noticed it from the door earlier, but from the terrace, I could see not only the village but also branches stretching above the terrace.

Familiar leaves, like those I had seen somewhere before.

There was no need for confusion.

How many times had I admired those few dry leaves?

That was indeed the branches and leaves of the World Tree.

“The World Tree is our roof, our land, and our foundation.” 

She continued slowly, in a tone devoid of highs and lows.

“So, the fragrance of a falling leaf, we manage and keep track of it all.”

“I see.”

I nodded and continued observing her sitting across from me.

‘Is she pretending not to know, or does she not know?’

Surely, my mother would have recognized me the moment I entered that door. 

No, she might have heard about it when I first set foot in this village.

But the Chief sitting in front of me now merely treated me as a Wanderer, and she just remained the Chief of the elven village. 

She didn’t show any other side I wanted to see.

“…” 

I looked at the Chief with a slightly changed expression, but there was no reaction from her.

‘I guess just knocking won’t even scratch the wall.’

Usually, such walls were self-built. 

They weren’t easily broken or broken through. 

The best way was to guide oneself to break them from within.

“…” 

I felt a bit sorry, but should I shake her up and get her to speak her true feelings?

‘First things first, if the first part goes well, the rest will follow.’

There were a few things I needed to gain from here.

The most important thing was to meet my mother again.

“Unfortunately…” 

I deliberately shrugged my shoulders and bit my lip, a gesture of discomfort.

“In truth, as you suspected, I’m here because of the World Tree.” 

I said before she could firmly reject me.

“I see.” 

She responded quickly before I continued.

“But the purpose has changed a bit. Before, it was for research, but this time, it’s to save my life.”

“To survive.” 

“Yes.” 

I nodded, lowering my eyebrows.

“I won’t last long in this life. My body is too weak.”

Even if I lacked mana, stamina, and spirit affinity, my body didn’t even have basic health. 

It was a body that could die at any moment.

“Fortunately, my father, a prominent figure, tried various remedies. But they had no effect.”

While those remedies might extend the lives of others by ten years, they barely added ten minutes to mine.

Not only did the remedies not suit me, but my body also couldn’t accept them.

“Still, I managed to maintain my health by trying various remedies. Then, one day, luckily, I obtained a leaf from the World Tree.”

I laughed as if it were a stroke of luck.

“It was a gift from Mage Fordell, the mage of Mage Tower. He said it was an item he received when he escorted a pregnant woman to Syroph Harbor twenty years ago.”

I brought up the story of Mage Fordell from Mage Tower and glanced at the teacup in her hand.

The cup was quiet inside.

Right now, my story alone won’t shake her.

“Despite having obtained a leaf from the World Tree and merely brewing it into tea, I felt like I could survive.”

It was true. 

Despite trying various remedies without much success, just one sip of that tea helped me catch my breath.

So, I truly treasured it. 

I even scraped the leftovers from the box to brew more tea.

“But other than that, I couldn’t find anything else. So, I came here just in case.”

I continued.

The Chief nodded slightly in response. 

“I understand the situation. However, we cannot help you. We can offer some herbs with similar effects, though.”

With that, it seemed like the help and conversation were over as the Chief rose from her seat.

“Wait, I have one more question.” 

I said, grabbing her hand to keep her in place.

“As you mentioned earlier, the products of the World Tree are thoroughly managed. So, who could have stolen the leaf?”

“…I’m curious about that myself. I’ll look into it slowly.”

“Oh! I know.” 

I said, applauding with a grin. 

“Mage Fordell mentioned something. He said the person was exceptionally beautiful, with golden hair and rare pink eyes. Quite fascinating.”

I fixed my gaze on the Chief. 

“Just like you.”

Her face contorted. 

“What?”

Her voice sounded weary and somewhere mixed with resignation.

“What do you want to say to me?”

“Nothing much.” 

I said, looking at her. 

“Thank you, Mom.”

Her eyes widened as she looked at me.

“Thanks to the leaf from the World Tree that Mom left me, I’ve lived until now. And…”

A ripple spread inside the teacup she held.

As if the cup, filled with ripples, represented her heart.

Thanks to that, I could finally say the last thing I wanted to say with a smile.

“I missed you.”

Truly.

She remained silent for a long time after my words. 

She just bowed her head, tears welling up in her eyes.

“I missed you too.” 

She said in a tired voice, mixed with resignation and acceptance.

“I missed you too, my daughter.”

Mom reached out her hand, grasping mine on the table.

It was a desperate touch.

It was a warmth that conveyed the intention never to let go again.

Feeling that warmth, I smiled faintly.

I felt as if the space around me was suddenly filling up.

“I missed you so much….”

Tears fell silently.

As tears fell into the teacup, another ripple emerged.

I rose and took a seat beside her.

“Me too.” 

I said softly.

Then, I gently stroked my mother’s thin back.

“I missed you too.” 

I whispered, my voice filled with emotion.

This was the family I had struggled so hard to find.