The young scholar saw it clearly for the first time...
He realized just how worried the woodcutter and the woman had been about him...
Previously, the young scholar had focused most of his attention on the Black Monster.
His impression of the woodcutter and the woman had mostly been that they disapproved of the Black Monster.
Their disapproval had stirred up his defiance.
So he had somewhat overlooked...
The worry in their eyes whenever they looked at him.
The young scholar pressed his lips together, his Adam's apple bobbing a few times. "...I'm sorry."
At last, he managed to speak.
He knew he should apologize...
But the words had been stuck in his throat.
He had struggled for a long time before finally forcing them out.
The joy on the woodcutter's and the woman's faces faltered.
Huh?
They were a little confused.
"You were just fine..."
"What are you apologizing for?"
The woodcutter asked outright.
Could it be...
A flash of insight struck him, and his expression darkened. "What you just said was a lie!?"
What?
Now it was the young scholar's turn to look confused.
"Lie to you?"
"What did I lie to you about?"
"I didn't."
"Were all those things you said earlier true?"
The woodcutter stared fixedly at the young scholar.
The things he'd said earlier?
He'd said quite a lot—
Ah.
The young scholar understood.
"You thought I was lying when I said I'd figured things out?"
The young scholar could only smile wryly.
Was that what his older brother thought of him?
That he would joke about something like this?
The young scholar's expression said it all.
The woodcutter pursed his lips.
"Then what are you apologizing for?"
He had thought the young scholar had gone back on his