Ch.65Abandoned and Inescapable NPC (5)

“Owww!! Miss Ira, it huuurts!!!”

“Stupid unnie needs to hurt a bit. Oppa was worried because of you. You can hurt even more.”

“That’s right. Press down a bit harder when wrapping the bandage.”

“Uwaaah!!”

Rey watches Ira, who is diligently moving her tiny arms and hands to wrap the bandage, deliberately causing her pain.

‘If I moan like some pervert right now, I’ll really be abandoned!!!’

It feels too good. Both Ira’s kindness as she wraps the bandage while sweating profusely claiming she’s trying to hurt me, and the actual stinging pain that comes through.

Could the Jack siblings have been born to train me? While genuinely having such unnecessary worries, Rey desperately pretends that her reddening face is due to pain.

And Ragni, who watches this scene with satisfaction, knows.

This crazy woman is actually enjoying this so much that she’s even crossing her legs.

If she knew how much Ira is worrying about her brother because of her, she shouldn’t be acting like this.

But she understands. The sight of Ira cutely moving her arms with effort, pressing down firmly on the bandage saying it should hurt, is a bewitching movement that simultaneously satisfies both maternal love and submission desires.

Of course, she understands, but it’s still not right to act that way.

“Hmm. He’s here.”

When Green Stone, who is sipping alcohol a short distance away and who brought Rey back, speaks, Ira’s eyes, which were focused on wrapping the bandage, suddenly widen.

“Oppa?”

-Creeeeak.

“Ah. Rey, Green Stone was here? I’m glad you’re safe.”

“A-ah, J-Jack…”

“Oppa!! Are you hurt anywhere?!”

“Nope. Ta-da~?”

Jack enters with Gore, spreading his arms dramatically, showing that not only is he uninjured, but he’s barely even dirty as he dusts himself off. As he lowers his posture, Ira runs to him and jumps into his arms.

The bandage that was wrapping Rey’s leg rolls onto the floor, but no one says anything about it.

“Oppa! Oppa!! Earlier, a huge giant!!!”

“Yes, yes. You were scared, weren’t you? Don’t worry. Oppa chased them all away.”

“Huwaang!!!”

Ira finally bursts into tears as Jack comforts her, while Rey looks extremely apologetic, and Green Stone and Ragni watch the two with satisfaction.

A little while later.

“Rey. Go to your room.”

“…Yes.”

“Gore. Eat this. Ragni, go put Ira to bed.”

“Okay.”

“And Green Stone.”

“Hmm?”

After giving instructions to everyone and handing over Ira, who had fallen asleep from crying, to Ragni, Jack immediately stood straight facing him.

“Thank you for saving Rey.”

“Haha! Don’t mention it, we’re not strangers. Besides, it’s a deal, right? You agreed to come to our country, so we’re even.”

When Jack bowed deeply in gratitude, Green Stone genuinely waved his hands saying it was fine.

“So, Green Stone. What proof is the alcohol you’re drinking now?”

“Hmm? It’s 75 proof. Ah, I brought some lower proof ones too, in that cabinet…”

“Pour me a full glass of that.”

“Huh?”

Though finding his words strange, Green Stone thought there would be nothing to it just like last time, so he immediately handed over the alcohol to Jack, who seemed to have made some serious resolution. Jack downed it in one go.

“Whew. Green Stone. Please go back for today. I’ll visit you tomorrow.”

“Hmm? No, if there’s anything, I’ll come. Have a good day.”

Noticing that Jack, who was obviously pretending to be drunk, was trying to send him away, Green Stone immediately got up, said goodbye, and left.

[Master. You’re not…]

“Don’t worry. I just need the strength from the alcohol. I won’t get drunk from drinking knowingly.”

Gore, who was looking at Jack with the magic stone still in his hand, asked worriedly, but Jack naturally walked toward Rey’s room.

The back that Gore saw was that of someone who had made a big decision.

*

“…Hey. Rey.”

“Yes.”

“We told you to run away, to buy time. And you almost died out there?”

“……”

I’m annoyed. What am I to her, what are we to her that she would do such a crazy thing?

According to what Gore told me on the way home, she was completely drained when Green Stone brought her back, and her HP was less than 200 when she arrived.

A person whose HP normally runs in the mid-2000s fought until it dropped below 200? Against those enemies? She must have realized she couldn’t handle it alone after fighting those mid-level demons, those level 170 ones?

I had nothing to say except that I was relieved her limbs and head were intact.

I was too annoyed to think of anything else to say.

“…I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“Jack came back because you were worried about me, right?”

“No. I just stopped by because I left something behind.”

“……”

Me? Worried about you? What kind of self-delusion and narcissism is that?

I just thought running away wouldn’t work, and ‘momentarily’ thought of a way to defeat them.

“When did I ever ask you to die for us?”

“…You didn’t.”

“Then, when did I ask you to buy us time?”

“…You didn’t.”

“Then, who asked you to risk your life fighting?”

-Shakes head.

“Then, why did you do it?”

“…I just. I wanted to repay Jack for his kindness…”

“What great debt do you think you owe me?!!”

-Flinch!

When I genuinely shout, she looks at me with round eyes like a startled rabbit.

But even that face annoys me. Why are you doing this?!

“What’s the problem? The only favor you got from me was that night when I saved you from being passed around by those men, and that’s it! No, I didn’t even save you! I just told you they were in it together. Right?!”

“…Th-that’s.”

There’s nothing wrong with what I said. She must know this. But why is she so self-sacrificing for us, for me?!

“…I’m sorry. Really, I just. I like Jack so much… so…”

“Do you just go and die for people you like?!”

“Hiccup!”

Honestly, it’s frustrating. If Ragni says she likes me, I can somehow accept it.

She’s not related to the story anyway, and it’s better for her happiness if she doesn’t become a boss. But you’re different, aren’t you?

You’re bound to leave me someday. So why?!!

[-Occupation: Given Swordsman- Level: 193 Name: Rey Sol. Age: 18.]

Why did you take something from me on your own?

What did I give you?! Why do you think the story progressed on its own and you were given to me, and then!!

(!) [Skill: Cannot Tolerate Injustice. Currently activated. (Target: Caretaker Jack.)]

Even if you leave, even if you confess and leave. Why do you still want to follow someone like me who wouldn’t even try to stop you?

I really don’t understand anymore.

I don’t understand you, who acts crazy about me even though I’m being so harsh to a woman who confesses she likes me.

-Drip.

“…Shit.”

“…Jack? A-are you crying?”

“You’re really a bitch.”

“……”

Rey Sol. She’s not human to begin with. She’s one of the Celestials from the Celestial Realm, our ultimate goal.

She’s an exile from there.

The only reason she fell to earth was because she forcefully intervened in an unsavory incident in the Celestial Realm and took the blame.

As a result, her wings were sealed, her level was cut, and all her abilities were stripped away.

A woman who lost all the abilities a Celestial should have and lost all knowledge about the Celestial Realm.

She moves around thinking she’s from a swordsman family in some small village, not knowing her real home or family.

And she thinks that’s normal.

I still don’t know why she was wandering around in Ponia, how she got fixated on someone like me.

And the reason I need to keep her at a distance.

It’s not just because of that cursed skill [Cannot Tolerate Injustice] that remains with her.

The problem is that having her around means we can’t do the Celestial Realm quest, can’t even enter it.

To take her to the Celestial Realm, we’d need to clear the ep.8 [Forgotten Land of Eight] Celestial Realm story and become Celestial Realm free pass players, which is a bug with her.

So even if this earth becomes dangerous, even if Ira and I reach level 700, we can’t go to the Celestial Realm if she’s with us.

“Why. Why, why are you doing this to me? Really? What did I ever do to you?”

“I-I’m sorry, Jack. D-don’t cry…”

I feel like I’m going crazy. I really feel like I’m losing my mind.

She’s just holding us back, she’s really just a nuisance. I could finally be free of her, could finally abandon her and run away.

Why am I again…

Rey slowly gets up and reaches for my face. As if trying to spread rumors that she’s a woman who wields a sword, her hand, calloused yet strangely soft, gently wipes my face.

“…I’m sorry. Were you worried about me?”

“Crazy woman. I said I wasn’t, didn’t I?”

“…Then, why did you come back, why did you save me?”

“Green Stone saved you, not me.”

“What did you leave behind?”

“Don’t know. Can’t remember.”

“You asked Green Stone to save me in exchange for something, right?”

“Why do you. Always think only what’s good for you?”

“Because you only show me your good side.”

“…I don’t like you.”

“I like you so much.”

Bad woman. Bitch. I think I’m going crazy now. There’s really no way out now.

I reach out too.

When I place my hand on her head, which is just about one head shorter than me, I realize this is the first time I’m patting her head like this.

I’ve even patted Ragni, but this is the first time for her, whom I’ve known longer.

Does she have less hair than Ira? And her hair seems a bit thinner too.

“Huh? Did you just smile?”

“Ha. Go ahead and try to win me over. I won’t lose to you.”

“Hehe. Yes. I’ll try until I die.”

“Don’t die though.”

“Yes. I’ll make sure nothing like this happens again.”

“If it happens again, I won’t even punish you.”

“…That, I really need to be careful about.”

“Pervert.”

“I’m sorry.”

[Title new!: Stop the Cruelty! Caretaker Who Cannot Abandon.]

In the end, I couldn’t run away and had no choice but to pick up what I had left behind.