Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Translator : Elizabeth
“I don’t have the confidence to take even her.”
An affectionate voice mixed with resignation overflowed. A scene from an old memory I once experienced firsthand. A person who is more like family than family is in front of my eyes. I stared up at that Mister intently, but for some reason, he turned his head without asking me anything.
“Nor the ability to protect her in this harsh world.” “Tsk, excuses come out so smoothly.”
I couldn’t understand what had happened. Why did Mister take everyone out of the house? Why are the people on the street shouting? Why did Shane and Valen follow those people? Can we not return to the house anymore?
Even though such thoughts circled my head, I kept my mouth shut. It is better not to interrupt when adults are talking. Because Mister taught me that. So I kept my mouth shut firmly like a good child. Even until the last moment Mister left the house.
If I had acted a bit more childishly at that spot. If I had been a child who knew how to speak honestly, asking him not to go. Could I have been with Mister?
The futile questions of childhood soon blurred.
After Mister left. I naturally came to live with Grandpa Gent.
The last few words Mister left when leaving.
—I don’t have the confidence to take even her. —Nor the ability to protect her in this harsh world.
Those words became ‘something I must absolutely obtain while living in this world’ for me at some point. If I had enough money, I could have been with him. Or, if I had the power to protect myself and my surroundings…. I wouldn’t have experienced parting in such a way.
Once, I even resented him, thinking I was abandoned by Mister. However, reaching the present, a few years later, I could fully understand that choice. The Slave Prohibition Act that was newly enacted a few years ago. My friends and I, who were merely products, must have been too heavy a burden for Mister to shoulder alone. With my grown head, I understand it fully, but my simple young heart just couldn't accept it.
While rushing at Grandpa Gent, who was standing half-heartedly, I converted my current emotions into sound and shouted.
“Haa-at!”
Thwack-!
Then, a cheerful and clear hitting sound echoed.
“…Ugh!” “You’re hasty. There’s no need to shout every time.”
Although I rushed at Grandpa with good momentum, what returned was a clean and refreshing counterattack and advice that rang my head. To summarize Grandpa Gent easily, he is an incredibly amazing person. His movements were like the wind, and his strength was just overwhelming. I thought it would feel like that if a dragon from legends shrank to the size of a human without any loss of power. Actually, even when days came where we caught creatures close to dragons, I couldn't beat Grandpa Gent.
As the days with such a Grandpa Gent increased, the title of adventurer attached before my name only grew heavier. Bronze, Silver Blood, Adamant…. Along with the aliases attached every time the rank rose in order, the interest directed at me from the surroundings also increased. Prodigy, Genius, Monster Rookie.
Accordingly, the number of people approaching with goodwill increased, but in my view, all of them were hypocritical. Even though they didn’t extend a hand to me when I was wandering the streets. What are they trying to do, approaching shamelessly now?
“Ah, Miss Haley! This, I bought it from a popular shop a while ago….”
More than any snack you guys bring and offer, one meal from those days is far more precious to me.
“If you are having a hard time, please rely on me anytime!”
More than your flashy and dirty kindness, the clumsy touch thrown carelessly was better.
So I worked hard until I could do everything alone. To the extent that all of me wouldn’t feel like a burden to anyone. Continuously, continuously… until I could feel that way myself.
Around the time the modifier Platinum was attached to me. I, finally, was able to defeat Grandpa Gent.
“Oh my, I can’t handle you now.”
Grandpa Gent, who was practically a symbol of a ‘person with power’ to me. Only after fighting and winning against such a Grandpa could I move with confidence in my skills.
After that, I tried to have the title of the pinnacle. For the unique rank called ‘Ruby’. While thinking of the kind and affectionate Mister who might recall us and come looking someday. If by chance my name became widely known, wouldn’t he return from the distant countryside? Wouldn’t he recall the childish promise of young days and come looking, even for the sake of profit like a merchant?
However, no matter how much I waited, a miracle did not happen. Only endless waiting continued along with the title that felt like a shell.
Eventually, I decided to go find Mister myself.
“Are you really going to try finding that guy…?”
Grandpa Gent naturally tried to stop me, but…. That was a promise to myself that could not be broken no matter what happened.
“Yes, thank you for everything until now.” “Tsk… alright. Think of it as your home and come back anytime.”
Bow, after bowing my head to Grandpa Gent like that, I left on a journey to find only one person aimlessly.
In the midst of that, I was also able to witness the side effects created by the Slave Prohibition Act. The end of the slaves who were not sold in time, confiscated from slave traders, and handed over to convents.
The convents that were originally operated with small donations. No matter how much budget support was given, it was burdensome for the convents to solely handle all the expenses of a market that revolved around individual capital beyond imagination.
Eventually, as a special measure, the convents adopted out the child slaves. They opened a way out by employing adult slaves mainly centered around some nobles who visited the convents, but…. It was adoption and employment in name only; substantially, the form was no different from the slave trader's method. Even so, due to a severe lack of money, the number of former slaves who starved to death or were driven to the streets and fell into illegal work increased greatly, they said.
In the end, it was as if not a single good thing happened.
‘If it was going to be like that anyway, why bother with such a law….’
On some days while constantly moving cities and looking for Mister, such resentment surged up.
‘He wasn’t here either, nor there….’
Days where ink spread on the map amidst resentment. X marks spreading newly on the map at intervals of a few days. Hope was fading day by day. Maybe, perhaps, already. Something bad happened and he isn't in this world anymore?
‘No.’
I shook my head vigorously at the thought that suddenly covered my mind. It was already the 8th day of moving by carriage to a small village called Etel on the outskirts. Since the distance from other villages was so far, even carriages didn't travel often, so the carriage path was overgrown with grass.
Getting off the carriage calmly, I examined the residents gathering one by one due to the rare visitor in turn.
“Hey hey, that…!” “Isn’t that an adventurer?” “What brings them all the way here?”
After a while, the atmosphere at the village entrance becomes chaotic. Being treated as a spectacle is now too familiar. They said it’s rare for a carriage to come to a village like this. Amidst the appreciation, I roll my eyes without expectation.
Black hair like the night sky and black eyes. It was one of the few characteristics of Mister that I remembered clearly from the old memories where only parts were distinct. I scan the residents quickly with my eyes, but naturally, that level of black was not visible.
‘Is he not here either…?’
If I don’t expect, there is no disappointment. With the same appreciation as always, the moment I thought I should wander around inside the village after a while. I whipped my body around at the gaze felt from behind my back.
A face where blurred memories became vivid. Black hair, black eyes. Eyes that were half-open opened wide. It wouldn’t be strange even if a miracle happened. An uncontrollable smile spreads on my face. Already, regardless of my will, my legs were moving. A cautious touch not to miss him anymore. With trembling hands, I carefully held Mister’s wrist and shouted as if receiving compensation for the time until now.
“Found you…!”
My heart beating louder than ever. Thump thump thump, thump thump thump thump. The moment a vibration that felt like I would go crazy covered my body. I opened my eyes just like that in the blurred scene.
“Haa, haa….”
Ragged breath flowed out riding my throat. Chirp chirp, the sound of crickets in the moonlit night tickles my ears. What is reflected in my eyes is an old, unfamiliar ceiling.
‘Where is this…?’
Just as my mind was wandering between reality and dreams. A breathing sound completely different from mine came from below the bed.
‘Ah.’
A short sigh flowed inwardly. The owner of the thick breathing sound was none other than Mister, sleeping on the floor with a cloth roughly laid out. Only then does the mind that had become blurred, drunk on the dream, become clear.
Right, I found Mister, cried, and then fell asleep on the bed…. After chewing over the somewhat hazy dream step by step, I end up noticing that the flow of time was too fast. Why do I notice strange things after waking up from a dream? There was still a foreign sensation around my eyes as if they were wet.
While the beating that woke me from sleep subsides. I pulled the blanket on the bed slightly with my fingers, then stealthily moved to the spot next to where Mister was lying. The floor was cold and hard beyond measure, but right now, it was my own sanctuary that was more reassuring than any bed.