I can’t breathe!

I had no choice but to turn back into a human.

“What’s going on?”

With a great commotion, Edrish opened his eyes. And right in front of my face…

I was still pinned under Edrish.

“What are you doing under me?”

“I’m struggling to survive.”

Haha. Did I get pinned because I wanted to?

As I escaped from Edrish, I vowed.

Never to turn into a hedgehog to escape again…

I almost got really crushed…

What to do for the rest of the nights?

I was deep in thought. I sipped my tea as I watched the landscape passing by.

The sun was just rising.

From a distant place, red energy flashed. The sky, which had been consumed by darkness, gradually embraced the light, revealing a brilliant blue.

It was getting brighter. Only then could I see the land we were running on clearly. White wildflowers spread out endlessly. The wildflowers captured the enchanting sunrise.

It looked like a living painting.

Before the vast and absolute beauty, I felt a void. Part of me was moved by indescribable emotion.

If I had a camera, I would have taken a picture. No, this was a landscape that could never be captured in a photo.

“Edrish, come here.”

“Why.”

“Hurry, hurry.”

Actually, I thought he wouldn’t come, but surprisingly, Edrish appeared next to me.

Is it because he’s bored on the train?

I pointed out the window.

“Look outside. Isn’t the sky and the wide field so beautiful? It’s like a painting…”

“Not at all.”

Eh. Who’s the one who spoiled the mood? Get down and stretch out.

“Don’t you think it’s beautiful? Why? Look, how peaceful and serene it is. It’s like all the warm colors of the world have been released to create a fantasy…”

“Not good.”

He interrupted me again.

“Seriously?”

“Yeah.”

He looked serious. There was no change in his expression, and his eyes were emotionless.

His eyes were more lively when he looked at me.

Why? How can that beautiful scenery not be beautiful…

I was puzzled and sent Edrish away.

But that was not all.

“What about that, Edrish? There’s a small village over there. It looks like only ten families live there, but it’s so pretty. With colorful roofs and…”

“Not pretty. Don’t call me for such useless things. I don’t want to see any of it.”

“Then, what about those cute cows?”

“I don’t like it.”

“This is…”

“None of it is beautiful.”

It was repetitive.

Edrish really didn’t feel any inspiration from anything.

I was genuinely curious about his mind.

I snatched the book from Edrish, who was reading, and sat down in front of him.

“Then Edrish, what’s pretty to you?”

“…….”

Edrish was silent for a moment. Then, he slyly took the book back and said,

“Nothing like that. To me, the whole world is those who have stolen my family, and everything is stolen land.”

Ah.

I finally understood Edrish then.
Indeed. How could one who finds beauty in such things become a villain that starts a war?

Looking at the village, all that was visible to Idrysh’s eyes were the houses of rebels who had cruelly dragged out their families and murdered them, and looking at the vast fields, all he saw was stolen land. To him, that was the only truth and what mattered.

With such thoughts, his mood sank all at once.

How painful would it be to live if the world were filled with only such things? It would truly be like hell.

Can I… prevent Idrysh from starting a war? Can I change such a heart? Dare I…

Of course, I had to do it. I was the only one who could change it.

More than anything else, it was for Idrysh. I really did not want to see him perish along with the world, only hating it all along.

I had to save both the world and Idrysh.

In the midst of my overwhelming feelings, I steeled my resolve again and again.

“No, you will come to love the world too, like me.”

My eyes met Idrysh’s for a moment. Idrysh looked at me closely, as if trying to gauge the intention of my words.

But soon, Idrysh turned his head back to his book.

“No, that will not happen.”

“No, there are so many beautiful and pretty things in the world. It will surely be so.”

At my determined words, Idrysh did not reply in the end.

That was fine. If I kept talking and talking, someday Idrysh would…

It was then. The scenery passing outside the window slowed down.

“Huh? It seems to have stopped.”

As if to confirm my guess, the conductor appeared.

“We will stop briefly. You may get off and reboard if you like.”

I quickly looked at Idrysh.

“Let’s get off, Idrysh! Let’s get some fresh air.”

“I don’t want to.”

Yes, I knew you would say that, you negative, pessimistic tiger.

“Then don’t. I’ll go by myself.”

“Don’t go far and stay in front.”

“I’ll take care of it. Hmph.”

I left Idrysh behind and headed for the door.