2

The Man on the Cliff

The next day, I woke up, scratching my eyes, realizing it was already morning. I stood up, grabbed my coat, and prepared myself for the day ahead.

Yeah, I'll be meeting the village chief today to trade flour for goods.

The village chief is a skilled bread maker, and the bread he bakes is absolutely delicious—fluffy, warm, and fragrant.

As I approached, I greeted him with a smile.

"Hey, Chief! Good morning! What bread are you making today?" I asked.

"Just some loaf bread and chocolate cookies," he replied.

"Smells amazing! I'll trade these chocolate-filled bread with flour and three coins," I said, handing him two bags of flour along with the coins.

This should be enough food for the week, at least.

"Maybe I'll have dinner at the mountain spot tonight..." I thought to myself. "I wonder if that traditional-clothed person from yesterday is still there. He's definitely strange... never imagined someone climbing in such attire. Must be a professional."

The Cliffside Encounter

"Hup, hup," I muttered as I climbed the rocky path. My grip on the stones tightened as I noticed a shadow looming above me. A figure stood at the edge of the cliff, unmoving, seemingly staring down.

The rocks beneath my hands were slippery.

"Hey, can you lend me a hand?" I called out, gasping for breath.

But the person didn't budge.

"Hey! You see, I'm about to fall! Hurry up and lend me a hand, sir!" I yelled, my fingers grasping a small branch, my feet barely finding stable ground. Sweat dripped down my face—the heat of the day making it worse.

The man above stared at me with confusion, his brows furrowing as if questioning what I was doing there.

"What are you looking at?! Come help!" I snapped.

Silence.

"If you're not gonna help, I'll drag you down the cliff with me!" I threatened.

"No."

"No?!" I was baffled.

"Why? Do you hate me that much? Did I disturb your sleep the other day?"

"No." He answered again.

I sighed. At this rate, I'll just end up arguing with him. I should focus on climbing up first—safety comes first, after all.

Then, an idea struck me.

"Hey, come closer. I have something to tell you. Quick."

Curious, he hesitated before stepping forward, reducing the distance between us. In that moment, I leaped forward, grabbing onto his slender fingers, then onto his arms, and finally pulling myself up by his shoulders.

"Ah, I'm saved," I exhaled in relief.

I turned to him. "You really saved me this time. I owe you one."

He frowned, crossing his arms over his forehead.

"...What are you doing?"

I chuckled. "Haha, this is the first time I've heard you speak in a full sentence. I thought you had trouble talking."

He averted his gaze, staring at the view from the cliff.

It was breathtaking.

The sky was opalescent, bright, and vivid. The yellow-green grass beneath us felt warm and dry.

This... this was the moment I truly felt alive. As if time had stopped, allowing me to witness the vast beauty of the universe. Everything felt connected.

I turned to look at him. His dilated pupils glistened as he stared across the cliff. He glanced at me, his long ivory eyelashes framing his deep gaze.

And then... he looked into my eyes. Affectionately.

Sinking into the moment, a thought crept into my mind.

"Maybe... he's actually a friendly guy?"

Mixed with a hint of shyness, his gentle nature shone through when I got to know him just a little deeper.

A truly unique and mysterious person.