I Tried To Be Her Loyal Sword

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181 Episode. Side Story 2

“How long are you planning to stay like that? Aren’t you hungry?”

Karasho asked with concern. As she stirred the pot, the savory smell of stew wafted throughout the cave. The aroma of food reminded me of my forgotten hunger, but I curled up further without revealing it.

“Answer me. Why did you help?”

I asked, trying to glare as intensely as I could.

There were two of them. Moreover, both were stronger than me. If they attacked, I had no means to defend myself.

‘I heard there was an illegal slave market outside the capital not long ago. Are they slave traders? Or human traffickers?’

In my mind, the worst-case scenarios unfolded based on the current situation. I tightened my grip on the hilt of my sword, on high alert.

‘I came for a monster subjugation request, but didn’t the village chief go alone into the woods to carry it out? I rushed over thinking it might be dangerous. If I was any later, it could have been a disaster. Luckily, I made it in time.’

While Karasho explained why they had come here, she didn’t mention why she helped me. She just quickly subdued Debela and brought me into this cave.

As soon as we arrived, I escaped from Karasho’s embrace and fled to a corner. The boy looked at me as if I were pathetic, completely ignoring my presence, while Karasho, even though she could easily restrain me, continued to offer me food without closing the distance.

‘…… It’s tough.’

Exhausted, I lowered my head. I knew I was being rude to my lifesaver. Still, I hesitated to abandon my guard and approach to express my gratitude.

“What’s your name?”

Karasho, who had been gazing at me quietly, finally asked. Her slightly lower voice was warm. I was used to indifference and coldness, but not this kind of warmth, so I flinched yet responded as if enchanted.

“•••••• Mir.”

“Okay, Mir. If you don’t want to come here, can I come to you instead?”

The woman politely asked without encroaching on the distance I created, even though she was someone with the strength to enforce her will upon me. As I hesitated, the icy boy shot me a sidelong glance with a smirk.

“Why don’t you just leave him? Let him starve to death over there.”

‘That bastard, really…’

Feeling a slight heat rise to my head, I glared at the boy. His cold violet eyes lazily regarded me.

Karasho’s companion, Zigmund, was unrealistically beautiful. He looked more like a spirit than a human.

And it seemed he made it his mission to speak in an irritating manner that justified his looks.

“Just leave him. You saved him already, so that’s enough. Taking him with you will just be a burden.”

“You shouldn’t say that. He’s dirty and messed up.”

Even though he was the one who saved me, I wanted to counter him, but I could not develop any fondness for him. Biting my anger back, I reminded myself that challenging him would only lead to my own ruin.

“Zigmund. Didn’t I tell you not to speak like that to people?”

Karasho reprimanded him sternly. Zigmund fell silent. Although he seemed like a cold-blooded person living alone, from what I observed, he often listened to Karasho’s words. Karasho turned back to me.

“So, are you okay? Can I come closer?”

Nervously biting my lip, I eventually nodded slightly after a bit of contemplation. Even though I was wary of them, I couldn’t be so heartless as to refuse such a polite offer. Karasho, smiling brightly as if delighted, cautiously approached and sat beside me as if reaching out to a small animal.

“Aren’t you cold?”

“…… I’m fine.”

Light questions and answers exchanged between us. Although I asserted that I was fine, Karasho took off her cloak and draped it over me. Her cloak smelled pleasantly warm, like sunlight.

“I asked why I saved you.”

Who decided that black was an ominous color? Her black eyes absorbed every bit of light, sparkling like they held the essence of the entire world.

I was enchanted as I stared into those eyes, and she flashed me a wide smile, displaying her white teeth. Her laughter contained both childlike innocence and compassionate warmth.

“Does one need a reason to live? One lives simply because they are alive, and as they live, they search for reasons—so there’s no need for a reason to save someone.”

A large hand, careful yet kind, gently patted my head. Although her hand was calloused and scarred, it felt only soft to me.

“So, you don’t need to be wary of kindness without reason. The fact that you survived is enough for me to receive my reward.”

Her words were a complete denial of the world I had built over thirteen years.

I couldn’t comprehend it. I had values constructed over the years, and how could those change in an instant? Until now, I had never believed in the existence of kindness without reason. To me, Karasho’s words sounded utterly like a whimsy.

I shut my mouth tightly. I felt that if I opened it even a little, rebellious retorts would spill out. Here, I was undeniably the weak one, and I had to avoid provoking them. Although I didn’t voice it, my mind was already filled with rebellious thoughts.

“Hahaha! You don’t believe my words, do you?”

Did my expression give that away? Karasho laughed loudly at me.

“Fine then. Don’t believe me. Keep doubting until the end. Suspect my kindness and check its value. I’d gladly accept that too.”

The corners of her eyes crinkled.

“But once we safely leave here, will you at least believe a little? I mean my sincerity.”

No slave trader or trafficker would speak like this. They could easily restrain me and take me away.

Even though I still did not believe in kindness without reason, I had no choice but to acknowledge that she was not harboring ulterior motives.

“Suspicion should come only when you’re full. Now, how about a bowl? You saw how I made it, so you know it isn’t poisoned.”

Karasho scooped a bowl of stew and handed it to me.

I swallowed. I prided myself on being fairly patient, yet in the face of hunger, my caution began to waver. Karasho, laughing at my floundering state, firmly placed the bowl into my hands. The warmth from the hot bowl transmitted its comforting heat.

“Maybe it’s worth trying to trust once.”

She whispered softly. I let out a slow sigh.

Maybe, she really is a good person.

“What are you doing, like a little mouse?”

I was quietly packing my things when a soft voice startled me, nearly making me drop my bundle. I quickly turned my head to see Zigmund, who had seemed as still as the dead just moments ago, now leaning against the cave wall and watching me.

His impassive gaze felt more like looking at an inanimate object than a person. The chilly scent of winter brushed my nose; I couldn’t tell if it was the early morning’s chill or his body odor.

“When we leave, I won’t be a burden. I’m going ahead.”

I replied flatly. Karasho offered to help me with my monster subjugation request and take me to the capital, but I couldn’t impose on her like that. It was better to part ways here.

‘He would be glad.’

Zigmund had looked down on me from the start, so he would likely be glad to part ways now.

I glanced up at him.

Contrary to my expectations, there was no hint of joy on Zigmund’s face. He didn’t look sad either, but—

I thought he would tell me to leave fast, yet he remained silent and simply looked at me with those inscrutable deep eyes.

‘Am I such an insignificant being that I can’t even evoke any reaction?’

Well, it was strange to expect something after just meeting him yesterday. Feeling embarrassed, I cleared my throat and slung my bundle over my shoulder.

“Thank you for yesterday. I won’t forget your kindness.”

I expressed my gratitude plainly.

If I could repay the debt, I would like to, but all I had in my hands now were dust. Feeling like a shameless human, I cast my head down, and when there was no response for a while, I thought maybe that was his way of telling me to leave and began to walk away.

“You foolish boy.”

I froze at the soft voice.

‘Why does he keep picking a fight?’

If he wasn’t my lifesaver, I would have already confronted him. If it weren’t for the knowledge that he brought disaster, I might have wanted to lash back at him, but he continued.

“If it were me, I would cling on and take whatever I could until the end. Is it your bruised pride that’s holding you back?”

His prickly words irritated my temper, but his voice contained genuine curiosity. He was questioning why I wasn’t taking their help.

I let out a sigh-like laugh and met Zigmund’s gaze.

“I don’t want to be a burden to my lifesavers.”

How foolish of me. To let my guard down so easily.

Zigmund blinked slowly, and I straightened my shoulders confidently.

“Just you wait. Someday, I’ll become stronger than you and repay this debt.”

I grinned at him.

“Next time, it will be me saving you.”

Even knowing that this was an encounter without a future, I said so. I wanted to be someone who could save another. If there was a next time, I wanted to be stronger than I was now.

Zigmund’s eyes widened slightly. For the first time since we met, he showed some emotional fluctuation behind his mask.

I stepped out of the cave. The snow covering the plateau sparkled like diamonds under the early morning sunlight.

For the first time, I felt I wanted to promise a future to someone.

Zigmund stared blankly at the untouched snow, where only one set of footprints had been made.

Small footprints that seemed to be half the size of a normal foot; they looked as if a child had taken tiny steps.

Surely, I wasn’t old enough to subjugate monsters all by myself.

“Stop pretending to sleep now.”

Zigmund looked back at his master. His tone remained cocky and cynical, yet it held a subtle warmth when addressing Karasho. Karasho let out a light laugh and slowly opened her eyes, rising.

“How nice for you, Zigmund. Hearing that from such a cute boy.”

“What’s nice about it? It was just a childish remark.”

Zigmund coldly retorted to Karasho’s mischievous words. Still, Karasho chuckled heartily.

Despite his reply, if her student truly disliked it, he wouldn’t have responded at all. This was quite a positive reaction.

“Howl, is it? That man said you’re a mercenary only dedicated to monster subjugation.”

Karasho stroked her chin, her eyes gleaming.

“Now that we’ve settled in the capital, and we’ll be focusing on monster subjugation anyway…”

Having just moved to the capital, Karasho and Zigmund had spent their previous days on the outskirts of the Empire. They would now be active as mercenaries in the capital. Knowing that something would happen whenever Karasho’s eyes sparkled, Zigmund let out a deep sigh.

“You shouldn’t just pick up anything.”

“What do you mean by ‘anything’? Are you underestimating my eyes? Aren’t you the one I took as my disciple? My eye for talent is undeniably sharp!”

Karasho grinned. Her voice was filled with pride and affection. Zigmund momentarily bit his lips.

“……That’s why I distrust your judgment, Master.”

He believed that one of the biggest flaws in Karasho’s otherwise brilliant life was himself.

Karasho should never have picked up Zigmund on that snowy day. She would surely regret it later.

“Zigmund.”

Having understood his thoughts, Karasho called his name softly but firmly. Her slightly raised eyes curved beautifully, and the gentle lines on her lips formed a lovely arc.

“Don’t I always say it? You are a gift to me.”

“I will never regret taking you in.”

Zigmund closed his eyes gently as her hand touched his head. He thought about the moment when this warm hand would slap his cheek in betrayal.

He knew he should feel numb, but even imagining that moment twisted his insides.

Karasho was aware that her disciple still lacked confidence in himself. She also recognized that he doubted her heart.

It would be a lie to say she felt no sorrow about it, but still, it was okay. She could tell him as many times as needed.

“Let’s go. We should finish up here and meet new friends.”

Karasho rose, placing her hands on her hips, gazing at the sunlit snowfield.

It was a pleasant morning.

I briefly reflected on the past.

So, I had received a monster subjugation request and barely survived facing a giant monster, getting saved by people I met for the first time. I didn’t want to be a burden anymore, so I quickly got my payment and returned to the capital. It had only been two days since I visited the mercenary guild.

Though I hadn’t been a mercenary for long, there weren’t many who accepted monster subjugation requests, so I already recognized all the familiar faces.

“Haha! Here we meet again! What an ironic coincidence!”

“……Hah.”

And among the familiar faces, those two were missing.

“It’s great to see you again, Mir!”

I stared at Karasho and Zigmund, who had suddenly appeared before me, my mouth agape.