I Just Wanted to Avoid Death - Chapter 35
He had a dream.
A dream where Adelio was holding him tightly, begging him not to die.
Even Eldis appeared in the dream.
At the beginning of the dream, Yeshion was clearly in Adelio’s arms, but when the scene darkened and his eyes opened again, he found himself being held by Eldis instead.
What was even stranger was that he felt a cool, refreshing sensation while embraced by Eldis. Despite knowing that dreams shouldn’t carry such vivid sensations.
‘It’s a nonsense dream.’
Yeshion thought as he shook his head and shifted his body slightly.
He liked the softness of the blanket and felt comfortable. Plus, there was a fresh scent, something he could never experience at the temple.
Normally, when he died, he’d wake up immediately in the temple’s garden, but maybe this time it was different because he had survived longer than usual.
“Mmm…”
He wriggled once more, but something felt different—it wasn’t just the warmth. There was something solid beneath him.
“Are you awake?”
“Mmm…”
“Or do you want to sleep a little longer?”
“Just… a little longer… I’m dead anyway…”
Mumbling briefly, Yeshion burrowed toward the source of the voice.
A low chuckle came from above, but still half-asleep, he didn’t fully register it.
His body felt so heavy.
Well, since he’d be starting over anyway, a little more sleep wouldn’t hurt. He could wait until the Saintess started crying before waking up.
“I’m sorry, but you’re not dead.”
At those words, Yeshion’s eyes shot open.
As his blurry vision slowly cleared, Yeshion realized what was in front of him wasn’t bedding.
A simple yet luxurious golden decoration. The robes revealed were the garments of a priest, typically hidden beneath a ceremonial outfit.
A dry gulp followed as he slowly lifted his head in mounting anxiety.
“…Archpriest?”
There was Eldis, staring down at Yeshion as he held him in his arms. Panicking, Yeshion tried to push him away, but Eldis simply pulled him back into his embrace.
“The antidote hasn’t fully worked yet.”
“No, I’m fine—ugh!”
As Yeshion attempted to get up, his stomach churned, and he quickly covered his mouth. Eldis soothingly patted his back and adjusted him more comfortably into his arms.
“Would you like to sit up?”
Eldis asked, lifting himself slightly and leaning against the bed’s headboard. Yeshion, now resting his forehead against Eldis’s shoulder, spoke in a voice that was barely more than a croak.
“…Is this position really necessary for healing, Archpriest?”
Yeshion expected himself to sound normal, but his words sounded strained and hoarse, almost as if the air was being pushed out of him.
Eldis gently stroked his back as he responded.
“This position is for more severe cases. In your case… the poison had already reached near your heart. If I had been even slightly late, you would have died.”
“That’s strange… If this was really the right treatment, I thought you would’ve just let me die.”
Yeshion mumbled something, and Eldis, puzzled, asked what he meant. Yeshion, barely moving, answered without hesitation.
“Well. You don’t like me.”
“…Yeshion.”
“I’m a little tired, but I’m okay now. You don’t have to hold someone you dislike.”
Yeshion tried to get up slowly.
Whether it was by Adelio’s orders or for some other reason, he didn’t want to remain in Eldis’s arms either.
Who would want to be embraced by someone who could take their life at any moment?
Eldis quietly observed Yeshion’s movements and, supporting him, asked:
“Why?”
“…..?”
“Why did you try to run away from the temple?”
Eldis’s question made Yeshion let out a small sound of realization.
Come to think of it, this wasn’t the temple. He had collapsed somewhere, but now he was in a lavish room, smaller than Adelio’s but still grand.
“Just…”
What should he say?
Normally, the lies would come easily, but maybe it was because he felt so unwell that his mind was blank.
He couldn’t even remember why he was in pain, where he was, or why his body ached so much. The biggest mystery was that after finally escaping the temple, Eldis was still right in front of him.
‘…Why did I try to leave?’
There were countless reasons. But perhaps due to his cloudy mind, Yeshion spoke without filtering his thoughts.
“Because you keep trying to kill me.”
“…What?”
“Having a sword aimed at my throat is terrifying… even if you don’t realize it…”
Muttering quietly, Yeshion leaned back against the headboard on the opposite side from Eldis. Even looking around made him feel nauseous, and so he closed his eyes, hoping the feeling would pass.
But it didn’t. Unable to endure any longer, Yeshion eventually drifted back into unconsciousness.
“So that’s why… you were trying to run away.”
