Chapter 2: Responsibility

It was a night path where only the faint moonlight cut through the darkness.

The red-haired adventurer, Fiona, walked ahead in silence.

Behind her followed a small boy, who seemed to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders, and a girl, leaning precariously against him, trembling faintly.

Logan did not let go of Irene’s small hand.

Since he had found her in the wardrobe, she clung to him like a lost baby bird, unwilling to be separated.

Irene, who could only let out occasional sobs and no other sound, made Logan’s heart ache even more.

How long had they walked?

The familiar lights of the village began to appear.

Fiona stopped in front of Logan’s house and gently patted his shoulder.

“Well, we’ve arrived, kid.”

“If… if you ever need help, you can always come find me at the guild.”

“Thank you.. truly.. thank you so much, Ms. Fiona.”

Logan bowed his head, expressing his sincere gratitude.

Fiona gave a small nod, then turned and disappeared into the darkness.

Logan took a deep breath, held Irene’s hand tighter, and knocked on the door of his house.

Creaak—

The door opened to reveal his mother’s face, full of worry.

“Logan! Where have you been to be coming back only now! I was so worried..!”

His mother was about to sigh in relief at Logan’s safe appearance, but she stopped speaking when she noticed Irene, clinging tightly to his side with her head bowed low.

His father, who followed her out, also saw the two children and fell silent, his expression hardening.

A sense of bewilderment mixed with relief was on their faces.

The fact that Logan had brought Irene here in the middle of the night meant only one thing: a terrible tragedy had befallen her family.

It seemed even young Irene vaguely sensed what the adults’ silence meant.

She gripped Logan’s clothes tighter and shrank her small body even more.

Seeing her, Logan’s heart grew more urgent.

He let go of Irene’s hand, ran before his parents, and knelt without hesitation.

“Father, Mother! Please!”

“Logan..?”

“Son, what is this all of a sudden..!”

His parents were flustered by their son’s sudden action.

The pretty and kind girl who always stuck to Logan like a shadow.

The fact that she had lost her parents overnight and become an orphan was incredibly unfortunate and heartbreaking.

However, they couldn’t simply take in a child out of pity alone.

Their circumstances were already difficult, and suddenly adding another mouth to feed was not a matter to be decided lightly.

“Logan.. I understand how you feel, but given our situation…..”

His father began with difficulty, his voice a mixture of pity and practical concern.

“I’ll take full responsibility! I will!”

Logan cried out urgently, his voice trembling with desperation.

“Responsibility? What can you, still so young, possibly do…..”

“I’ll take care of Irene! Whether it’s housework or working outside, I’ll do anything and earn money too! So please.. please, Irene..!”

Tears welled in the boy’s eyes, but within them was an unwavering determination.

His parents sensed something different in their son’s demeanor than usual.

It wasn’t simple stubbornness or a tantrum.

It was the weight of someone who had already decided to shoulder a burden.

“….Logan……”

His mother looked back and forth between her son’s pleading eyes and Irene, who was trembling anxiously beside him, and let out a deep sigh.

She gently grasped her husband’s arm.

“Sigh.. Honey.”

“You.. surely you don’t mean…”

“Couldn’t we just think of it as getting a daughter-in-law early? Huh?”

At his mother’s outlandish yet heartfelt words, Logan’s face brightened for a moment.

“Mother!”

His father was silent for a moment.

“…..”

He looked in turn at his kneeling son, at Irene who still couldn’t lift her head behind him, and at his wife looking at him.

After a long, heavy silence, he finally spoke.

“…Haaah! Alright, I understand. But Logan, you said it yourself. You must… you must take responsibility.”

“Yes! Yes! Thank you so much! Father! Mother!”

Logan was overjoyed, bowing his head repeatedly.

Only then did Irene also express her thanks in a small voice, yet full of sincerity.

“….Th-thank you…..”

And so, from that night on, Irene came to live with Logan in his house.

Logan’s room was not spacious to begin with, but now it felt even more cramped for two children.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Logan gave his bed to Irene.

“I’m fine sleeping on the floor. You sleep here.”

“But Logan…..”

“It’s okay, really. You’re very tired, aren’t you? Just lie down here and rest for a bit. I’ll bring you something to eat.”

As Logan gently laid Irene on the bed, the tears she had been holding back flowed down her cheeks again.

“….Logan…. Really.. sob.. thank you.. so much.. sob…!”

“Don’t cry, Irene. It’s okay. It’ll be okay now. I’m here.”

Logan gently patted Irene’s small, sobbing back.

Her trembling was transmitted clearly through his palm.

He vowed to himself, over and over.

That he would never let her experience such sorrow and fear again.

That the helpless self who had been scared stiff in front of monsters was now dead.

That he would cherish her, who had lost her parents, her home, and was left alone in the world, and become her shield.

For that, he could do anything.

---

From the early dawn of the next day, Logan’s life changed completely from before.

The body of a ten-year-old boy was too frail to endure hard labor, but he gritted his teeth and persevered.

He woke before dawn to draw water from the well and chopped firewood with clumsy axe swings.

He not only ran errands for his parents but also jumped at any work that could earn even a pittance.

His small hands never rested, whether it was pulling weeds around the village, carrying luggage, or helping clean shops.

There was no time to waste.

He cut down on his sleeping hours and ate whatever he could, whenever he could.

Only the thought of protecting Irene.

Only the sense of responsibility to create a better environment for her was the driving force that moved him.

“Logan.. I’ll help with something too. Because of me, you…”

A few days later, Irene, having regained some strength, spoke cautiously, her expression a mixture of apology and concern.

She could no longer just watch Logan suffer because of her.

“No, Irene. I’m fine. You still need to rest more.”

Logan forced a smile and patted her shoulder.

“But…”

“Irene.”

Logan called her name firmly.

His eyes held concern, along with a clear refusal.

“Ah, alright.. Still, don’t overdo it, Logan…”

“Don’t worry.”

Irene could only nod her head weakly.

Logan thought she still needed time to recover from the horrific shock and sorrow she had experienced.

Seeing her suffer was a greater pain for him.

He would rather suffer twice, or three times as much himself.

But reality was harsh.

No matter how much Logan pushed himself and struggled, the money he earned was barely enough to make ends meet.

Therefore, buying Irene a warm, pretty set of clothes was next to impossible.

‘This won’t do. It’s not nearly enough..!’

Logan’s heart grew increasingly anxious.

He wanted to feed Irene better food, provide her with a more comfortable place to sleep.

He wanted to see her smile brightly again, like before.

But his current self was so powerless.

His firm resolve to protect her felt hollow.

‘Money.. I need more money. And strength too..! Just working like this isn’t enough. There must be some other way.. Ah..!’

Suddenly, a face flashed through his mind.

Fiona.

Perhaps she could help resolve this situation.

Without hesitation, Logan headed straight for the Adventurer’s Guild located on one side of the village.

---

As he stepped into the old but fairly large building, a cacophony of noise, the smell of sweat, and the scent of cheap alcohol assaulted his nose.

Various request forms were haphazardly posted on the walls, and at the tables, rough-looking adventurers were gathered in small groups, talking loudly or drinking.

‘She definitely said she would be here around this time….’

Logan looked around, scanning the interior of the guild.

The adventurers’ gazes focused on the suddenly appeared, shabbily dressed young boy.

Curious glances, or overtly annoyed stares.

It was unusual for a commoner kid, not a noble’s child, to set foot in such a place alone.

“Hey, kid. This isn’t a place for you to come play…”

Just as a large adventurer scowled and was about to approach Logan.

Thump.

Someone strongly gripped that adventurer’s shoulder.

Familiar red hair.

As soon as Logan saw her back, his face lit up and he exclaimed.

“Ms. Fiona!”

Fiona turned around.

She looked slightly surprised to recognize Logan.

“Kid? What brings you here…”

When they parted, she had indeed told him to come find her if he needed help, but she hadn’t expected to meet him again so soon, especially at the Adventurer’s Guild.

Had some trouble arisen?

The monster attack had been completely dealt with, and the village should be safe.

Logan ran up to her and, once again without hesitation, knelt.

“Please.. accept me as your disciple! Please teach me anything!”

“….What did you say?”

Fiona’s eyes widened.

The surrounding adventurers also stared at Logan in disbelief.

Soon, sneers erupted from here and there.

“Kuhahaha! Kid, go home and talk in your sleep!”

“Hey, Fiona! Since when did you start entertaining kids’ pranks?”

“Yeah, even if Fiona is that ‘Red Island’ (TL: Jeokseom, a nickname) famous for being a busybody, do you think a Gold-rank adventurer has time to teach a brat like you?”

The adventurers’ mockery and ridicule pierced Logan’s chest like sharp thorns.

But he did not give up.

He looked only at Fiona and pleaded earnestly once more.

“I’ll do anything! Even menial chores are fine! Please, I need the strength to protect Irene.. the money to properly care for someone precious..!”

Though his voice was pleading, Logan’s eyes did not waver in the slightest.

Within them resided a firm will and seriousness that was hard to believe for a child.

In those eyes, Fiona recalled the boy from a few days ago, desperately shouting his childhood friend’s name inside the ruined hut.

The determination to do anything to protect what was precious.

It carried a weight that was by no means light.

Therefore, Fiona said with a faint smile on her lips.

“…Hmph. Alright. I like those eyes.”

“…Huh?”

“I said alright. I’ll take you as my disciple.”

“Th-thank you! Thank you so much!”

Logan was overcome with emotion and bowed repeatedly.

The surrounding adventurers couldn’t hide their astonishment.

“A-are you crazy! No way!”

“True Sword Fiona (TL: Jingeom Fiona, an epithet) is taking a disciple? And a kid like that?”

“Don’t tell me you have a thing for brats like that, Fiona!”

As the atmosphere grew tumultuous, Fiona glared fiercely and shouted.

“Shut up! You louts! If you have nothing better to do, go drink some more booze!”

At her sharp demeanor, the adventurers coughed awkwardly as if nothing had happened, averted their gazes, or hurriedly returned to their seats.

Watching them, Fiona snorted lightly, then ruffled Logan’s hair and said.

“Let me make this clear, kid. Being an adventurer is no joke. You could actually die. Still… are you going to do it?”

Her words were not an exaggeration in the slightest.

This world was not a game or a novel.

It was not a romantic fantasy, but the harsh reality he lived in.

The profession of an adventurer always lurked with danger and death.

Even a simple monster subjugation request could cost one’s life if things went wrong.

It would be a lie to say he wasn’t afraid.

But in Logan’s heart, there was something greater than that fear.

The desperate need to protect Irene, the earnest desire to give her everything.

Therefore, Logan, without hesitation—

Answered with all his might.

“Yes!”

With a stronger resolve and determination than ever before.

Only for the sun of his small world.

Only for Irene.