I Just Wanted to Avoid Death - Chapter 38
Yeshion’s face drained of all color.
There was no mistaking it—Adelio was serious.
Adelio ripped off Yeshion’s pajamas as if tearing away a hindrance. If Yeshion didn’t stop him now, Adelio was truly going to force himself on him.
“Let go of me!”
Terrified, Yeshion shoved at Adelio’s shoulders. But Adelio didn’t budge as he started to pull down Yeshion’s pants.
“This is insane, stop…!”
No matter how much Yeshion kicked and struggled, Adelio didn’t flinch. Back in the underground prison, there had been gaps Yeshion could exploit. But now, even when Yeshion kicked him, Adelio didn’t seem to feel a thing.
“Someone, someone please help…!”
The moment Yeshion shouted, the door swung open, and a man with white hair walked in, grabbing Adelio by the back of the neck and pulling him away.
The weight pressing down on Yeshion disappeared, and he quickly got up and ran to the window. The white-haired man, Eldis, crossed his arms and looked at Adelio.
“As expected from a beast.”
At Eldis’s remark, Yeshion stammered in surprise.
“Arch… Priest… How did you…?”
As soon as he asked, he remembered—he had shouted for a priest when he thought Adelio was going to die.
As Yeshion swallowed nervously, Eldis smiled softly, an expression Yeshion had never seen before.
“I came to retrieve the prodigal priest who ran away. And while I was at it, I also saved your life as you were dying. So, shall we head back now?”
Yeshion bit his lip and glanced at Adelio.
He hadn’t expected things to go this way. The fact that Adelio showed interest in him in this particular manner was never part of the plan.
“…I’ll go back.”
Through this incident, Yeshion had come to a clear realization. Moving recklessly would only result in his escape ending as quickly as a short stroll, just like this time.
Perhaps it would be better to ask Rosaline for help or try to escape again when there was another event at the temple.
He needed to plan each step more carefully and thoroughly. If he made another sloppy attempt like this, he feared he would truly end up locked away forever.
As Yeshion approached Eldis, Adelio spoke.
“You said you hated the temple.”
“…..”
“You asked me to get you out.”
Yeshion turned to look at Adelio’s frustrated face.
“Yes, I did say that.”
“Then why…!”
“And I also told you what I hated.”
Yeshion spoke with a heavy, sinking gaze.
He had made it clear that he didn’t appreciate Adelio’s actions when he had tried to force himself on Yeshion in the underground prison.
Yet, Adelio had ignored his words entirely.
“Yeshion, I just…”
Yeshion had never had a positive view of Adelio. From their very first meeting, it had been a mess, and his opinion of him was already poor.
But it was Adelio’s own actions that worsened it.
“The reason I don’t want to stay in the palace is simple.”
“…..”
“The palace doesn’t feel like a safe place for me.”
The palace—and the crown prince’s side—felt far too dangerous.
Leaving those decisive words, Yeshion took the robe Eldis handed him. It was looser than what he normally wore, and the hem dragged on the floor, making it clear that it wasn’t his own clothing.
As Yeshion donned the robe and stepped out of the room, Eldis followed behind, speaking quietly.
“I’ll keep in mind what you said earlier.”
His golden eyes looked more serious than ever before.
“…Why?”
“I plan to create a temple that you won’t dislike.”
It was a statement that left Yeshion bewildered.
This was the same man who had wanted to kill him because of how much he disliked him, and now he was talking about creating a temple Yeshion wouldn’t dislike?
Unable to process the strange remark, Yeshion chose not to respond, but Eldis added one more thing.
“The temple needs you.”
Yeshion didn’t believe him. What use was a fake priest like him, one who didn’t even have divine power, to the temple?
Shaking off the thoughts, Yeshion spoke up.
“Now that I think of it, you mentioned earlier that you saved me. I apologize for the late thanks. I’ve heard that priests healed by the arch priest are supposed to offer prayers in gratitude upon returning, so I’ll be returning immediately.”
With that, Yeshion began to walk ahead.
The robe was too long, making it difficult to move, but he didn’t want to trip, so he awkwardly shuffled forward. A low chuckle sounded behind him as a large hand reached out toward him.
“There’s a carriage waiting outside.”
Yeshion glanced at the hand before gathering up the dragging robe in his arms.
“I have hands.”
Firmly rejecting the offered the touch, Yeshion walked on, keeping his distance. In the back of his mind, he couldn’t shake off the memory of something Eldis had once said.
“I remember asking you before you collapsed. Who are you?”
…The memory sent a shiver down his spine.
