Chapter 38 – Ranger Glady

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“Hmm…”

The perfectly grilled chicken skewer tempts me with its alluring appearance.

Next to it, the large toast on the stall exudes a charm no less captivating.

And that’s not all. Along the winding red-brick streets, numerous food stalls line up, offering everything from freshly squeezed fruit juice to wood-fired pizza.

It’s a day off from hunting. Drawn by the delicious smells, I stepped out of the inn. But there was one problem.

I want to eat everything. My pockets are deep enough that I can afford street food without worry.

The issue is that this small body can’t handle much food.

So, I’m left agonizing over my choices.

My heart leans toward the chicken skewer.

The generous chunks of chicken, grilled to perfection, are generously coated with a sweet sauce.

It’s undeniably tempting. As I lick my lips, the man at the stall asks me, “Would you like one?”

“Ah, no…!”

It’s too early to order. While I want the chicken skewer now, my mind might change halfway through eating.

I shift my gaze from the chicken skewer stall to the large toast stall next to it.

The toast, grilled to a golden brown on the hotplate, topped with fried eggs and a mix of ketchup and mayo, perfectly replicates the toast I used to eat at subway stations.

The familiar taste pulls me in even more. I licked my lips as I stare at the toast.

If Isolin were here, we’d buy one of each and split them. But without her, I have to choose only one.

“Hmm…”

A once-in-a-lifetime decision. I agonize over it.

Should I go for the giant chicken skewer of this world, or the toast with its familiar taste?

As I continue to ponder, I spot a familiar girl bouncing around nearby.

Her long, golden hair shines in the sunlight, and her eyes sparkle with pink heart patterns. The soft-looking girl is dressed boldly.

Her tight shorts reveal her pale thighs, and her open leather jacket exposes her smooth shoulders.

The girl is Glady.

“Glady!”

“Ah…!”

I call out her name without hesitation, and she jumps in surprise. After glancing around, she spots me and her eyes widen.

“Supreme?”

“Hello!”

I needed someone close, and it’s fate that we met. I greet her lightly and gesture for her to come over.

After a moment of hesitation, Glady cautiously approaches, checking my expression.

“What’s going on? Where’s Isolin?”

“Isolin said she had something to do at the Magic Tower.”

As I answer, I buy one giant chicken skewer and a toast. Then, I hand them to Glady.

“Cut this for me.”

“Huh…?”

“Let’s split it. It’s too much for me to eat alone.”

“Oh, I see… So that’s why you called me?”

“Yeah. I wanted both the chicken skewer and the toast, but it’s too much for one person. Do you not like toast or chicken skewers?”

“No, I like them… Thank you for buying them…”

Glady and I move to the central square of Fox Tail and sit by the fountain to share the food.

The giant chicken skewer is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.

The sweet sauce blends perfectly with the rich juices, making every bite a delight.

The toast is equally delicious. Made with higher-quality ingredients than in the real world, its flavor is richer, and the bouncy ham pairs wonderfully with the cheese.

“Mmm…!”

The delicious food makes me so happy that my shoulders start dancing. My short legs, dangling over the fountain, swing back and forth.

It doesn’t take long to finish the toast and chicken skewer.

If I had a bigger body, I could’ve eaten even more of this delicious food.

I lick the sauce off my fingers, trying to soothe my regret.

As I finish eating, I think of Glady. She was in a hurry earlier—where was she going?

I decide to ask her. She’s just finished her chicken skewer and is now munching on the toast.

“Glady?”

“Yes…?”

“Where were you heading earlier?”

“Munch… munch…”

Glady chews and swallows the food in her mouth.

As I’m about to point out the ketchup on her lips, her tongue darts out to lick it off.

“I was working on a quest. It’s about a missing sheep at a farm on the outskirts of Fox Tail…”

“Missing sheep? What’s the recommended level?”

“The recommended level is 17 or higher. I thought I could handle it alone, so I took it.”

“I see… Do you usually do quests like this?”

“Yes, I only pick ones I can clear by myself.”

“For money, right?”

“Of course. I need 2 million gold to buy a house.”

It seems Glady works tirelessly to earn money even on days she doesn’t hunt.

She’s saving up for a house, not to improve her stats. It’s a trait you don’t often see in those who want to leave this world.

I decide to ask her, just in case.

“Glady, do you like this world?”

“Of course.”

There’s no hesitation in her answer. I smile and ask, “More than the real world?”

“To me, this world is already my reality. Here, I don’t get sick, and I can run around freely.”

She doesn’t get sick and can run freely.

It seems Glady wasn’t in good health in the real world. I nod and continue.

“What if… just what if… you had the chance to go back to the real world? What would you do?”

At my question, Glady’s smile fades. Her lips move weakly as she mumbles, “I’d be sad.”

I fall into thought as I look at Glady. Perhaps those who wish to stay in this world and those who want to return to the real world will clash someday.

I grab Glady’s hand and say

“Glady, have you ever told anyone you want to stay in this world?”

“Huh…? No, the only person I’m close to is Isolin…”

That’s good. I nod, envisioning a vague future.

“You did well. People tend to antagonize those who think differently, especially on sensitive topics like this.”

“Really? I’ve seen people fight a lot online over different opinions.”

Now it’s time to get to the point.

I glance around and cautiously ask

“What if… just what if… there was a way to eliminate the option of returning to the real world? What would you do?”

“Huh…?”

“Just what if.”

“Uh…”

Glady tilts her head, chewing on her lip.

I hold her hand tightly and look into her heart-shaped eyes.

“Would there be a reason to do that? Only those who want to return…”

“What if it wasn’t just certain people? What if everyone in this world had to return to the real world?”

Glady frowns at my question.

She swings her short legs back and forth before answering.

“I’d have to stop it.”

“Even if it’s a little… bad?”

“It doesn’t seem like just a little bad…”

Glady’s answer is that she’d do it anyway, even if it’s wrong.

“You’re asking me this… Does that mean you feel the same way, Supreme?”

“I love this world. How could I give up this unknown world with its grand nature, swords, magic, and all the mysterious things that live and breathe here?”

“Oh…”

“I want to protect this world more than anyone.”

“Me too!”

“Then, Glady. When the time comes to protect this world, will you help me?”

“Help you with what?”

“I don’t have a concrete plan yet. I just want to make a promise. If your feelings don’t change, that is.”

I extend my pinky finger to her.

As I wiggle it, she hooks her pinky around mine.

Squeeze—

“You promise?”

“I don’t know what you’re planning to do… but yes.”

We shake our pinky-locked hands up and down.

A faint smile forms on my lips, and an awkward one on Glady’s, when suddenly—

Whoosh—!

A girl in a large pointed hat rushes past the fountain. With her 134 cm height and pink twin tails, there’s only one mage like her in this city.

It’s Isolin.

“Isolin!”

The moment I call her name, she stops in her tracks. Her sparkling eyes dart around before landing on me.

“Ah! Supreme! Glady!”

Whoosh—!

Isolin approaches with a bright smile. I say to her, “Are you busy now?”

“Nope!”

“Then, can you help Glady with her quest?”

“Of course!”

Isolin doesn’t ask about the quest’s conditions or difficulty. She just rolls up her sleeve, ready to help.

The three of us rush toward the farm where the sheep went missing.

Whoosh—!