["Hmph! Even though you never treated me like a brother, I still consider you a friend."]
The Scarecrow snorted.
["I'll just treat it as repaying you for saving me from the Witch's Tail Ring back then."]
["So did you really think I'd try to hurt you?"]
["The most I'd ever do is play a prank on you. I'm not as bad as you are!"]
"Alright, alright. Sorry," Ethan said, "I'll do my best to convince the Cursed Doll to turn you back into a human sooner. How about that?"
"No need!"
The Scarecrow immediately rejected Ethan's offer.
["The Doll told me that within this year, a great disaster is going to happen. When that time comes, it's very likely none of us will survive!"]
["And right now, the weather and all kinds of disasters just keep getting worse."]
["If I turn back into a human now..."]
["I'd be too fragile. I might not even survive a few days before dying. I'd rather wait until everything settles down before becoming human again. By then, the Doll says she can turn back into a human too."]
["Besides, the Witch owns a pretty big house in some city. It'll come with her as part of her dowry and become mine."]
["So I agreed!"]
"..."
Hearing that, Ethan finally understood.
So it was because the Cursed Doll had promised the Scarecrow a comfortable life, a house, and protection.
No wonder it had agreed so readily.
"Mr. Scarecrow, you've really disappointed me."
Of course, Attendant Five couldn't hear the conversation Ethan and the Scarecrow were having through their spiritual connection, so she had no idea they had already reached an agreement.
She was still trying to defend Ethan.
Ethan quickly interrupted.
"It's fine, it's fine now. Attendant Five, I was talking to the Scarecrow. He already apologized to me, and I've forgiven him, so don't worry about it anymore."
["You're lying! I did no such thing!"], the Scarecrow shouted, ["I was clearly condemning you, you shameless..."]
"Really?"
Hearing that, Attendant Five immediately smiled brightly at the Scarecrow.
"Mr. Scarecrow, thank you! I knew you weren't a bad person. Please don't blame Lord Ethan. There are many things he has to consider."
["Sigh..."]
Hearing Attendant Five's words, the Scarecrow's heart softened again.
["Alright, I admit I'm a good person. It's a pity I'll never have you. I just hope you'll be happy with Ethan."]
"Even though I know you like me...", The two of them continued talking past each other, "...but you also know that love doesn't follow reason, and it can't be forced. I know you're a good person, but the only one I've ever liked from the beginning is Lord Ethan. If there's a next life, maybe we'll have a chance to be together then."
["Miss Attendant Five... p-please don't say any more."]
This was the first time the Scarecrow had heard Attendant Five explain that misunderstanding from before.
It was heartbroken.
But...
At the same time, it was grateful.
A knot that had been in its heart for so long had finally come undone.
All this time...
It had always believed Ethan had stolen the woman it loved.
But it turned out...
Attendant Five had probably, maybe, perhaps never liked it at all.
"I never dared tell you before because I was afraid it would hurt you," Naturally, Attendant Five couldn't hear the Scarecrow asking her to stop, so she continued, "But now that I see you and the Doll are so happy together, I can finally stop worrying."
"I actually wanted to go to the garden several times to tell you all this. But every time I saw the Doll sitting on your shoulder, leaning against you and chatting with you, I knew you'd found your own happiness."
"That's wonderful! Mr. Scarecrow, I sincerely wish you all the best!"
["Sob..."]
The Scarecrow was on the verge of tears, but it still pretended to stay strong.
["Ethan... brother, help me tell Attendant Five that I'm grateful to her for finally clearing up the misunderstanding that's been weighing on me all this time."]
["I'm doing well now, and I'm happy. I hope she'll be happy too."]
["That's all."]
After saying that, the Scarecrow turned around and hopped away into the distance.
Ethan shouted after it, "You still haven't told me what happens if someone touches that Strange Idol directly!"
["Sleep paralysis,"] the Scarecrow shouted back as it hopped farther away, ["If your fingers are stained black by the Strange Idol, you'll start experiencing strange incidents similar to sleep paralysis."]
["If your entire hand turns black, you'll encounter much more terrifying supernatural events. You might even start having hallucinations."]
["If the black stain spreads up your whole arm, you'll suffer horrifying supernatural assaults. You may even attract creatures from the Dark World. I don't know the details."]
["But if you still refuse to give up the thing at that point, it'll completely take you over. It'll even invade your heart and brain, and in the end you'll become neither human nor ghost, just like that Ghost Ferryman from before."]
"Got it. Thanks!"
Ethan nodded and waved to the Scarecrow.
Attendant Five watched the Scarecrow hopping farther and farther away, looking puzzled.
"Did I... end up hurting Mr. Scarecrow after all?"
"No," Ethan smiled, "He said thank you for your blessing. But he also said he's a married man now, so it wouldn't be appropriate for him to stay too close to you."
"Phew! I see."
Only then did Attendant Five let out a sigh of relief.
Then, she suddenly bent down and picked up the Strange Idol that had fallen onto the ground for Ethan.