Chapter 134
Chapter 134
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: The Child of the Mountain
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Chapter 134
"Uncle. If I disappeared, would it make things easier for everyone else?"
It was Charlotte, speaking as she let her hand holding the snack droop limply.
Lander stopped walking and looked at Charlotte. He couldn't just let those words pass.
"Why do you think that?"
"Ever since I started hearing Sanka's voice, the sounds around me have become really clear. I can hear them even through walls."
Charlotte stared at him steadily.
"They say I'm dangerous. I heard them say that if they leave me alone, something big will happen."
"Did you tell Sanka about that?"
"No. I didn't. She'd definitely freak out. I know Sanka takes care of me. But it's too much."
"That's how much she cares about you, so don't hate her for it."
"I don't hate her. At first, I was scared, but now I get it. How much Sanka likes me. Sometimes, a really warm scent comes from Sanka. I like that smell."
Lander lowered himself to meet Charlotte's eye level.
"People saying you're dangerous when they look at you isn't because they hate you or dislike you."
He took both her hands in his. He could have brushed it off with a plausible lie. If he thought it was the right thing, he would have deceived her thoroughly.
But Charlotte was a smart child. She might accept it now and move on, but she'd keep mulling it over and eventually realize the truth. That would hurt her.
"Sanka likes you and is trying to protect you. Protecting someone sometimes means hurting others."
"I know. When the dog I was playing with tried to bite me, Dianne protected me. But the dog got hurt."
"Yeah. You understand well. Sanka will do anything to protect you. That's why you're dangerous. The people at the research institute are working to make sure you, Sanka, and others don't get hurt."
"So in the end, I just need to disappear?"
"Charlotte. Is that what you want?"
Charlotte shook her head. She spoke calmly, but the hand he held was trembling.
"I want to see Dad. I want to see Dianne. I want to keep playing with Inebil. I don't want to disappear."
"If that's what you want, a lot of people will help you. Me too."
"So I don't have to die?"
Lander looked down at his own hands. Dry hands. Hands that had driven countless people to death, hands that people had begged to kill them.
That was why he hesitated to stroke the child's cheek and comfort her that everything was okay.
He'd heard that Charlotte had been as attached to the butler as to her dad. That she'd liked Dianne like a mom.
They had been the barrier protecting the child from evil, the adults who would one day push her back into the world.
Even if they deserved blame for their crimes, that didn't change how special they were to Charlotte.
Someday, Charlotte would regain her memories.
She'd learn of her dad's death, hear of the evil deeds committed, and realize who had cut down her family.
When that time came, Charlotte would remember this moment. If she learned that the hand that took her family had stroked her cheek, what would this child feel?
He didn't reach out but just smiled. The hatred and anger Charlotte would someday harbor were justified. It was his burden to bear.
It was familiar, but not easy. What should he say when that time came?
"Uncle."
Charlotte pulled his hand. His hand touched her forehead.
"I can't see Dad again, can I?"
Charlotte, who had been looking at the ground, slowly raised her head. Her young eyes seemed to whisper. As if she already knew everything.
Should he stay silent, or answer? The dilemma didn't last long.
"You knew."
"I told you earlier, right? She brings me sounds. Sometimes not just voices, but other noises too. Scary sounds. Someone screaming, someone shouting. Sounds from somewhere I couldn't tell, but they kept echoing in my ears. Then I realized. Where they came from. They were sounds from my heart."
The trembling grew worse. Lander gripped her hand tightly.
"There was a smell. A really foul smell. People died, and I was in the middle of it. I followed Dad. He looked strange somewhere. And I saw it. Not with my eyes, but with light, with smell. Did Dad... kill people?"
A fierce wind blew. Clothes fluttered, and the windows of nearby buildings rattled noisily.
People walking the street looked up at the sky. They all seemed startled by the sudden strong gust.
"When did you start?"
It was Sanka. Sanka, who had appeared between him and Charlotte, spoke in a voice more anxious than ever.
"My baby. You're not guilty. You can forget it."
"No, I won't forget. I shouldn't."
Sanka's form vanished. Charlotte looked straight at him.
"Dad was kind. He liked playing with me. I loved the books he read to me so much that I read them alone several times."
"Charlotte."
"Why did Dad do that? He told me every day to love people and cherish them. Was it all lies?"
"There were no lies in how he felt about you. He just chose the wrong way."
"I'm scared. As scared of never seeing Dad again as I am of turning out like him."
Saying 'She's just a kid, she doesn't understand' would be wrong, because kids sometimes understand even better.
Lander gently hugged the child trembling in fear. Thinking of the future was one thing, but right now, she looked too fragile to leave alone.
"It won't happen like that. You're a wise child."
"I wanted to say it, but I couldn't. I knew everyone was watching out for me. I knew pretending not to know was better. But that's a lie, isn't it? That's not okay, right?"
"Uncle lies a lot too. Countless times. Deceiving isn't honorable. But sometimes you have to lie to protect yourself."
"What should I do from now on? If I say I know everything, how will people treat me? Will they pity me? Or hate me as the child of a murderer? I'm scared."
"Just confessing like this is amazing. If it were me, I wouldn't have had the courage and would have kept pretending. I'd have kept fooling myself and looking away until the unavoidable moment came and I collapsed."
He released Charlotte and looked into her eyes.
"You gathered your courage and faced the fact you wanted to avoid. Uncle knows a few people like that. They all struggled but overcame it in the end. You'll do the same. You're strong and wise."
He gently wiped the tears welling in Charlotte's eyes.
"That doesn't mean you have to suffer alone. Lots of people care about you. It's okay to say you're hurting and lean on them. They'll all welcome it."
Charlotte raised her arm to wipe her eyes.
"Let's go for now. We have somewhere to be today."
She was a tough kid. Lander nodded, straightened his knees, took her hand, and walked again.
They headed to Ariel's house in the Holy City. Having visited before, it was easy to find.
They entered the nobles' residential district. Unlike other areas where buildings were crammed together, the houses here were spaced widely apart.
He made eye contact with the constantly patrolling guards. He pulled out the token Ariel had given him.
Recognizing him as an invited guest, the guards nodded and let them pass.
Walking along the well-paved road, he paused for a moment.
Ariel's house came into view. Ariel was looking down from the second floor. Tacha was out in the yard too.
Even from a distance, hostility radiated toward them. A warrior fiercely emanating the desire to fight.
Charlotte must have felt it too, flinching and hiding behind him.
"It's okay. He's a bit rough, but not scary."
As he reassured her, Charlotte quickly showed curiosity. They walked toward Tacha, who was thumping the ground with his polearm in welcome.
"A small guest. And a great being rarely seen around here as well."
Tacha unfurled the rolled-up flag, raised the polearm above his head, and knelt on one knee.
As Charlotte looked around in bewilderment, the flag drooping to the ground stiffened and rose toward the sky.
"I never thought the child you asked me to watch would be a child of the mountain. Now I can rest easy."
Sanka spread one wing wide and circled around Tacha's body.
"The child of the mountain greets the wind spirit."
"Child of the mountain, you may raise your head. We're on very familiar terms."
A warm breeze blew in place of March's chill wind. It carried Sanka's emotions.
"Here, she'll be safe. I'm content with a child of the mountain by her side."
Sanka said, satisfied.
"Spirit, what does that mean?"
Tacha asked.
"I want you to look after my child."
"Your child..."
Tacha's eyes turned to Charlotte. She shrank her shoulders, intimidated by the vertically slit green eyes.
"I make a living from martial arts and battle. Taking care of a human child..."
"If you grant my request, I'll join you in your calling. Not a bad deal, right? Opportunities like this don't come often."
Tacha stood up. He moved his thick legs and positioned himself in front of Charlotte.
Charlotte, shrouded in his shadow, cautiously raised her head.
"Your name."
Tacha asked. Charlotte glanced at Lander. She seemed scared. He whispered that it was okay.
"Ch-Charlotte."
"I can tolerate anything but crying. A warrior's tears are precious."
"Huh?"
"Let's tour the house first. Little human child."
"I'm not a little human, I'm Charlotte...!"
Before Charlotte could finish, Tacha scooped her up. He placed the rigid, unmoving Charlotte on his shoulder.
Lander saw Tacha's elongated snout twitching. It was definitely a smile. He didn't know how it looked to Charlotte.
"Hold on."
"Huh?"
"You'll hurt quite a bit if you fall."
Tacha moved. The lizard warrior jumped high with a thud and bounded around the house. Charlotte's scream faded into the distance.
"He's energetic. As expected of a child of the mountain."
"I'm a little worried."
"It's fine. He's not the type to hurt Charlotte. And when your head's complicated, running around like that helps, or so they say. A human child I knew did that."
"I agree."
Lander watched Charlotte go from screaming to laughing gleefully.
Tacha climbed the building wall, stood on the roof, and let out a thick roar. Immersed, Charlotte shouted brightly too.
"They'll get along well."
"Yeah."
Sanka murmured softly.
"I thought I'd seen into that child's heart. But it was arrogance. She's stronger than I thought. But on the other hand, she's sad. She grew up too fast."
"The adults around her will take good care of her. So she can whine without holding back."
Sanka spread his wings, stroked his head, and vanished. That was when Ariel came rushing down from the second floor.
"What the hell is that?"
Ariel looked up at the roof with a stunned face. He answered with a smile.
"He's playing with her."
(To be continued in the next episode)