Farming Druid - Chapter 93



Only Noblemtl

093. Oh… How did this happen?

It was Haneum who came to see her grandmother.

He said he would be alone, but he came looking for me because he was worried.

“Sit down.”

At her grandmother’s words, Han-eum sat down next to her.

Shh …

The wind blew and the leaves rustled, creating a pleasant sound.

Haneum did not know that the sound was ‘the song of the leaves’.

“How about the tree?”

Haneum shook her head at her grandmother’s question.

The grandmother let out a small sigh when she saw that sight.

“You too, go in and rest.”

“What about Grandma?”

“I’m fine. And I just want to be alone… … .”

“… … .”

After saying goodbye to the grandmother who said she wanted to be alone, Han-eum went into the hospital building.

I planned to watch my grandmother from afar because I could see the garden from the duty room.

Haneum leaves the place.

The grandmother muttered, running one hand over the necklace medallion.

“Puppy… … Please save your son… … .”

* * *

The tree was walking endlessly.

A white wall that continues on and on.

Hmm―

It was a tree that gave off a warm feeling around it.

I looked around.

All I could see were blank white walls.

Not with your feet on the floor.

I felt like I was floating in space with no gravity.

‘Where is this?’

After preparing dinner for my grandmother.

I remember falling backwards with sudden tinnitus and a headache as my field of vision narrowed.

I even remembered my grandmother’s surprised look.

‘Ah. Grandma… … But where on earth is this?’

Empty space.

It was a place where only white walls were visible.

A small tea table and two chairs.

The table and chairs were made of white, like the white walls.

Hmm―

When I was looking at the tea table and thinking.

The sound of heels was heard from somewhere.

Crackle, crackle

The sound was too loud to be called the sound of high heels.

Yeah, it’s like the sound of a man’s heel taking a step.

The tree’s mouth opened open on its own when it finally saw the person who had appeared.

“Oh, Dad?”

When I was in the 6th grade of elementary school.

It was my deceased father.

“son-.”

It was the father I had longed to see so much.

At his father’s call, the tree ran towards him.

“dad-.”

“A grown man is hugging me… … It’s awkward?”

“… … .”

Shouldn’t this be called a touch breaker?

That’s why I got a lot of back smashes from my mom.

Oh my―

I sighed.

When my father saw that, he chuckled and pulled out a chair at the tea table and sat down.

“Sit down.”

“… … .”

“Then stand still.”

I looked into my father’s eyes without saying anything in response to his words.

The corners of his eyes had turned red.

Well then, that’s right.

There was a reason why my sensitive father was grumbling.

It was to hide his feelings.

The tree pulled out a chair and sat down, looking at its father.

“Dad—. No, Father. When I’m having a hard time or when I’m sick. And when it’s the anniversary of your death… … I really think about you a lot.”

The tree looked up at the ceiling and held its nose.

My throat is sore.

Because he was the father I longed to see so much.

I especially wanted to see my grandmother when I received the medal.

“… … .”

“I really missed you.”

Was it because you said you had a lot of thoughts?

My father, who had been staring blankly at the tree, covered his face with both hands.

The tree waited, knowing that she was crying quietly.

But I still said what I wanted to say.

“The necklace my dad made for me… … Thank you.”

“… … .”

Father looked at the tree with slightly surprised eyes.

“I always remember him coming home from work and working hard with a carving knife to make something. I had forgotten about it, but I remembered it after receiving a ‘gift’ from my grandmother.”

“… … .”

“If. Dad were alive… … Dad would have become the ‘Guardian’ instead of me. And… … .”

The tree kept its mouth shut.

It was because my father’s eyes looked so sad.

My father, who was staring blankly at the tree, seemed to have made up his mind about something.

“son-.”

My father’s voice was calm and peaceful.

The tree listened to its father’s words.

From an early age, my father’s voice captured people’s attention and captivated them.

My father told me about my grandmother.

He also told us all how great our mission as guardians was.

“… So that’s why Grandma’s burden was so heavy.”

“That’s right. My mother, no, she’s my mother, but she never said a word that it was hard. I hid the information about the succession ceremony from you because I didn’t want to make it hard for you… … After you have the succession ceremony, your mother… … .”

“Huh? Why Grandma?”

Father swept his bangs up.

‘My mother didn’t tell me, so I can’t tell her.’

I pulled up a chair and faced the tree.

The father, seeing the tree with a bewildered and confused expression, reached out and patted the tree’s head and said.

“Did you hear that the large tumor in your head will continue to grow even if it is removed with modern medicine?”

Nod—

Namoo had surgery to remove a tumor when he was in high school.

I had heard from Professor Do Joong-ha that the tumor was growing here and there in my head.

It is also said that the tumor behind the eye is the biggest problem.

“Your grandmother is rushing the succession ceremony to get rid of what’s on your head.”

“… … .”

The tree curled its lips at the father’s calm tone of voice.

I wondered what would happen to my grandmother after the succession ceremony.

The talk of rushing the succession ceremony was a thorn in my side.

Beep-

A sharp, tinnitus-like sound began to fill the white space.

When the father heard that sound, he looked at the tree with longing.

“I don’t have much time now.”

The father got up from his seat and raised the tree.

“son-.”

He hugged the tree tightly and patted its back, saying:

“As a ‘guardian’ of nature, I hope your future will be blessed. And remember that your mother and I loved you very much and still do.”

My father’s hand caressing the tree’s cheek was very warm.

With some hesitation, he hugged his son tightly in his arms and spoke while lightly hitting his lips on the tree’s forehead.

“This is all a father can do for his son. And I’m calling you. Now―. Go ahead and go.”

Let’s gently push the tree with one hand.

My father was walking away, feeling like I was falling off a cliff.

Unconsciously, the tree reached out.

“Ah― Dad―.”

The shape of my father’s mouth at the end.

‘I love you, tree. Don’t be sick.’

The tree, reading the shape of the mouth, felt his father’s emotions touch his heart.

Tears flowed from the tree’s eyes as its gaze was filled with worry, affection, and regret.

Ughh …

Tears flowed without stopping.

It was tears I didn’t even cry when my parents passed away.

* * *

“Baby―. Tree―.”

I opened my eyes to a soft voice.

My grandmother’s face came into view.

“… Ha… Mi.”

It felt like something was stuck in my throat.

I rolled my tongue around in my mouth and something like a tube got caught.

“aha-.”

“Just wait a moment.”

The grandmother looked around in a panic and called the doctor.

Then, the doctor quickly came and examined the tree’s condition.

They removed the tube and put a nasal cannula (a type of oxygen respirator) on me.

“You will feel a foreign body sensation, but your voice will come out.”

The tree nodded to the doctor’s words.

After that.

I felt my grandmother holding the tree’s hand tightly.

“Okay―”

“Yeah. Yeah. You’ve had a hard time.”

Grandma’s eyes were warm.

The hand that stroked its forehead was soft and warm, and the tree fell into a deep sleep.

A few hours later.

Haneum came to hear the news that the tree had awakened.

“Did you sleep well?”

The tree nodded weakly at Haneum’s words.

“How’s your neck?”

“It’s… okay.”

“Oh my, it’s completely blocked. I’ll give you some water.”

“Uh… Yeah.”

Haneum soaked a gauze in water and wetted the tree’s lips, allowing a few drops of water to enter its mouth.

“How many days have passed?”

Although my pronunciation wasn’t very good, I understood the Chinese characters perfectly.

“Three days. To be honest, I thought you wouldn’t wake up.”

“Is that so…?”

“Grandma was really worried, and [SeeYou] Chef Kang Si-hoo and Team Leader Joo Ha-yoon also visited.”

“I see… I see. Sorry for worrying you… Yes.”

“Oh, you’re being rude. Don’t worry about yourself and don’t think that I caused you any trouble.”

The tree raised the corners of its mouth at Haneum’s rough tone.

Han-eum thought that the pale complexion and pale color mixed with the Parisian look gave off a somewhat decadent vibe.

“I’ll check your condition in the evening and if it gets better, I’ll move you up to a general ward.”

“Yeah… …Thank you.”

“Ah—I went to your house with Grandma. I brought your clothes and luggage and came back.”

“Thank you… … .”

“If you’re grateful, then get up quickly and get up―.”

Haneum patted Namu’s shoulder, gently closed the curtain, and disappeared.

The tree became a little uneasy as groaning and mechanical noises could be clearly heard here and there.

‘ICU… I don’t like it… ‘

Phew―

Professor Do Jung-ha came in and checked a few things before Namu was brought up to the general ward.

“Is there anything uncomfortable?”

The tree, watching the grandmother taking care of this and that, opened its mouth.

“Grandma―. Succession ceremony… … .”

“Shhhhh.”

The grandmother covered the tree’s mouth with her index finger.

“Are you thirsty?”

Nod—

After my grandmother got out of bed.

I held out a paper cup to the tree.

“Drink.”

The tree drank the water the grandmother offered without saying a word.

Gulp— Gulp—

Could it be that it came from a deep mountain spring at dawn?

It was so refreshing and sweet.

It felt like a refreshing and invigorating taste was spreading.

“Want more?”

The tree silently held out a paper cup.

Then, the grandmother poured water into a tumbler.

“The water tastes good.”

“yes?”

After that, the grandmother smiled.

He said as he laid her down comfortably on the bed again.

“Everything will be okay.”

“… … .”

Let’s listen to grandma.

Strangely, I felt sleepy.

Is it because of the sap I’m getting?

The tree fell into a deep sleep again.

Wheeeeee―

The wind blew in through the open hospital room window.

Gently scattered the hair in front of the tree.

– Are you feeling better now?

‘That’s right. I gave you the water I received from Elquines’ contractor, so when you wake up, you’ll be fine for a while.’

-But, do I not have to tell you? If we have a succession ceremony, you have to go all the way over there.

‘… I know too.’

The grandmother stroked the tree’s hair and caressed its cheek.

“I don’t know whose grandson this is, but he’s really cute.”

-Phuhat

Windy Rile held her belly.

When I thought back to her original appearance as an old woman, I was convinced.

Windy Rile also knew that her grandson’s appearance was rare in this world.

I glanced at my grandmother and thought.

‘I don’t understand why you’re wearing that shell right now.’

-So, when is the succession ceremony?

‘As soon as you get discharged. That way, you have a justification.’

-what?

‘The grandmother passed away while looking after her grandchildren. They say… … .’

Windy Rile looked surprised at her grandmother’s words.

– Oh, man. That’s too much. He must feel so guilty. Would he really do that?

‘No, just kidding. It started like that.’

―… … .

The grandmother looked at the tree.

As sweat poured down like rain, the keratinous layer of the skin began to peel off like a reptile’s skin, showing signs of shedding.

The windrail created a breeze that allowed the smell of impurities to escape outside the window.

15 minutes later.

The tree opened its eyes and looked around.

It was because I felt incredibly refreshed.

“Are you awake?”

“yes-.”

I felt incredibly light.

Did you ever feel as energetic as you did in middle school?

Knock knock-

“You’re awake, Tree-kun?”

Professor Do Jung-ha comes in and tilts his head while looking at the tree.

He ordered a blood test from the resident standing next to him.

Professor Do Jung-ha’s eyes widened when he saw the test results that had arrived.

Professor Do Jung-ha muttered to himself after seeing the results.

“Uh… … What’s going on here?”