noveltune Chapter 245
Chapter 245
The everyday life in the hut, which seemed like it would continue indefinitely, changed one day.
First, Eve, who had grown fond of living with Peter and Emily, left home.
She only left behind a letter expressing her gratitude for their care.
According to the letter, it seemed that Eve had longed to see a broader world.
When Emily heard the news of Eve’s departure, she expressed her sorrow and frustration, saying it was unreasonable to leave without a proper goodbye.
[If I heard “Don’t leave” during the farewell, I thought I might have lingering feelings and wouldn’t be able to leave. I’m sorry for leaving so suddenly without a goodbye.]
Reading this letter, Emily had no choice but to reluctantly accept Eve’s decision.
If they had said their goodbyes, it was clear that Emily would have tried to hold Eve back.
The same was true for Peter, so both tried to accept that Eve had left as calmly as possible.
Though they worried, they believed that a sharp-minded child like Eve would find her own way regardless of where she went.
“Emily, it’s morning. It’s time to get up and have breakfast.”
“Ugh... just five more minutes, five more minutes...”
“...Alright. If you’re tired, sleep a bit more.”
However, each time they felt Eve’s absence, there was an undeniable sense of emptiness.
That’s how much space Eve had occupied in their hearts.
However, when something bad happens, good things also come.
“...Hehe, teacher. Did you sleep well?”
“Ah, Emily. What’s the matter? You’re awake earlier than usual.”
“Well, I guess I’m less tired than before because I’m not in pain anymore...”
“Really...? Oh, I see.”
Perhaps it was because something unfortunate had happened, there was also good news.
Starting from the day Eve left, Emily’s condition, which had been steadily deteriorating, began to improve miraculously.
“Is it alright to come this far?”
“Of course, teacher. I’m all better now.”
“...Good. That’s really good.”
Emily was recovering her health day by day.
Her once emaciated body began gaining weight.
Even in her breathing, which used to be shallow, vitality now flowed.
If this transformation, which she had long wished for, wasn’t called a miracle, what could be called one?
“Take care, teacher!”
“Yeah, Emily. Look after the house.”
“Yes, leave it to me!”
“Haha, I can count on you. Well then, I’ll be back.”
The emptiness left by Eve was undoubtedly significant, but Emily’s recovered health began to fill that void little by little.
Laughter now echoed in the hut more frequently than before, or perhaps even more than it used to.
This was partly because Emily had regained her health, but more so because Peter had changed.
For Peter, life had always been about preparing for the end.
Because Emily’s end would mean his own end as well.
However, that was no longer the case.
After his life ended, she would continue to live on.
That simple fact transformed Peter.
“Teacher, what are you thinking? You have a strange expression.”
“...Just thinking about how long I can live. I need to be alive until you become a proper adult...”
“What kind of nonsense is that? You have to live a long time.”
“Haha, yeah. I should live a long time, just like you said.”
The man, who had only been preparing for the end until now, began contemplating the future of the one who would live on after his death.
He could now think about a future, something he had never considered before.
And so Peter asked.
“Have you ever thought about what kind of person you want to be when you grow up?”
“When I’m older? Hmm... I haven’t really thought about it...”
And in response to that question.
“Ah! I just thought of one! I want to be a teacher like you, someone who can teach many things to others!”
The girl answered like this.
She wanted to be a teacher who could share a lot.
Peter thought that it wouldn’t be very good for her to want to be like him.
He didn’t consider himself a particularly admirable person.
However, if that was what she wished for, her dream.
Since there was only one thing he could do for her, Peter made a decision.
“...Really? Then I’ll have to teach you harder than before. Haha, I’ll have to study more to teach you.”
“Wha... I have to study even more than now...?”
He had also kept that secret because he wished Emily never learned that he was the one who killed her parents.
When Peter answered this, Eve looked at him with a slightly cryptic expression.
It seemed to ask why he was only saying this now. Peter chuckled bitterly and continued.
“Actually, I was waiting for you to tell me first. But I ran out of time, so I couldn’t wait anymore. Eve, while living with secrets is painful, it’s far more painful to never get to share those secrets. I realized that when I let Emily go. I regret not talking about it sooner. I didn’t want you to have the kind of regret I did.”
Knowing it takes great courage to reveal a secret, Peter had been waiting for her to reveal it first.
However, as the time had grown too short, he could only message her.
Peter wished for Eve not to have the same regret in the future.
“Teach... I...”
At Peter’s words, Eve’s eyes trembled as if there were an earthquake.
Out of guilt.
From anxiety and restlessness.
Deep down, Eve also struggled with the guilt of deceiving him.
But Eve couldn’t speak.
She knew she was not an ordinary human.
When Peter discovered that truth, she feared he might come to despise her.
Even now, she was anxious.
What if he viewed her as that kind of monster?
When she couldn’t even read his thoughts, at that moment, Peter spoke.
“Eve, I don’t care at all.”
As if he had read her thoughts.
“I forgive you for deceiving me. No matter what you are or where you’ve been, I don’t care. You are my student and a precious family to me and Emily. So, it’s alright.”
It was all okay. He said he forgave her and didn’t care.
That’s what Peter told her.
“Yes, yes...”
At those longed-for words, Eve found herself crying without even realizing it.
She was shocked by how he could say the very words she had wanted to hear.
Eve found great comfort in Peter’s words.
But then, as Eve looked into Peter’s eyes, she understood how he could say such things without using his powers.
Because Peter had been saying it all along.
Because he was the one who needed to hear those words most.
Therefore, wiping her tears, Eve said to Peter.
“...Teacher, do you know?”
“What do you mean?”
“Actually, Emily also knew all about the secret you kept.”
At her words, Peter looked surprised for a moment and then smiled, muttering.
“...Emily was a sharp child, so that might be true. I see, she must have known all along.”
“And if it’s Emily, she surely must have said something like this to you.”
Eve spoke, confident that she knew more about Emily than anyone.
“That she doesn’t care. Even if you were the one who killed her parents or didn’t tell her the truth, she would forgive you without a second thought. Because you are a precious family.”
And after hearing those words.
The one who had yearned to hear such words his entire life, but never received them,
“...Yeah. If it’s Emily, I can imagine her saying something like that.”
He smiled for a moment, murmuring quietly.
“Ugh... W-wait... Gah...”
Finally, he couldn’t hold back his tears.
Eve, who understood his feelings better than anyone, quietly comforted him until his tears ceased.
After a long time crying, Peter, with a relieved smile, said to Eve.
“Thank you, Eve. Hearing you say that has put my mind a bit more at ease.”
At his words of gratitude, Eve smiled silently, holding his hand.
“...Eve, do you remember what you told me before?”
“...What say?”
“...You said you wanted to be a teacher when you grew up. Do you still think that way?”
Eve nodded, recalling her words from before.
She still wanted to be someone who could share many things, just like him, with a warm heart.
And her mentor, the teacher she respected,
With a gentle smile, told her.
“You, will surely become a far better teacher than I...”
The teacher softly murmured in a low voice, closing his eyes as if falling asleep.
He drifted into a long slumber, wearing a happy expression.
Surely, he must be having sweet dreams.
“...Goodnight, teacher.”