episode_0022

Escaping the vast palace, I wandered around for a while.

Thud!

After running non-stop for a few minutes, my stamina finally ran out, and my legs felt too heavy to move. The bag, which was as light as a feather, now felt heavy as if carrying a bag of sand, and a sigh mixed with regret escaped me. I ran too recklessly…

I gasped for breath, my chest heaving steeply.

-You were with Logos Steven, right?

-Yes? What does that…

If only I hadn’t heard those words, I wouldn’t be in this predicament…

Where on earth did he go?

Was he kidnapped?

A bitter laugh escaped me. That couldn’t be possible.

It’s absurd to think that someone as strong as Steven could be kidnapped so easily.

And this is the palace.

Even among the heretics, it’s impossible to kidnap someone with such skill without a trace.

“Then where did he go?!”

…Calm down, getting excited only narrows your vision.

I gathered my thoughts again and arrived at the main gate, which I hadn’t checked before.

It’s strange for someone with such poor stamina like me to be searching for someone.

If he’s not here, I should just give up.

I looked around slowly.

Passing one place after another, I quickly scanned my surroundings. Each time, my heart skipped a beat.

The places to check dwindled quickly.

And when I arrived at the last place.

There was no one there.

Anxiety began to creep in.

Even though I knew Steven’s abilities, my heart didn’t calm down and continued to beat rapidly.

“Calm down… it’s okay.”

This only narrows your vision.

I exhaled deeply and thought once again if there was anywhere I hadn’t looked.

But there was no such place.

I had definitely searched everywhere.

From the palace inside to the garden and the entrance.

Then, really…

Anxious thoughts gradually turned into fear.

My eyes continued to tremble.

My mouth dried up, saliva disappearing.

“Should I go look for him?”

“Young master?”

Just before a dangerous thought crossed my mind.

I heard Steven’s voice from the right.

I turned my head and ran towards the source of the voice.

As the distance between me and the place where the voice came from shortened, I could be sure that the owner of the voice was indeed Steven.

I let out a relieved sigh along with a bitter laugh.

“Did you go for a run or something? Why are you outside?”

“I found this little one’s mother and was waiting for her to contact me.”

As Steven finished speaking, the little one, who I hadn’t seen before, appeared behind Steven.

“Ah… then you should at least let me know.”

“I’m sorry. I thought I would be back soon… Were you worried?”

I snorted at Steven, who was smiling annoyingly.

“I don’t know.”

“Understood.”

Steven didn’t say anything, just looked into my eyes silently. He knows.

He probably has a mountain of questions he wants to ask me.

From the moment I arrived here, Steven, the steward who took care of me, knew everything.

Even my birth mother and father.

Even the siblings I grew up with.

Even if I could deceive everyone with the lie that I was secretly training, it wouldn’t work on Steven.

He probably had doubts all along. But he didn’t ask.

Just like when I first arrived here.

Steven just stared at me intently today as well.

“Um… over there…”

The little one hiding behind Steven grabbed his clothes tightly and said, “When is Mom coming?”

“Oh… How long have you been waiting?”

“About 30 minutes have passed.”

“…Did you find her?”

Another 30 minutes passed.

A total of 1 hour.

What could have happened on the way?

Or is it possible for parents to arrive late even after hearing the news that their son is alive?

Judging by the little one’s attire, it was clear that he was of noble descent.

But that made it even more incomprehensible.

Still, hasty decisions are not good.

Judging my actions based on my parents’ impression is not too late.

Whether it’s a good thing or a bad thing.

Well, before thinking about that.

How do I comfort him?

The thought of not having parents by your side makes any child anxious.

“Hey.”

“…Yes?”

“Why are you suddenly being formal now? Just be comfortable like yesterday.”

“…Okay.”

The sound of a sniffle and a cheek that had swollen strangely.

A laugh escaped.

“Why is your cheek swollen like that?”

“I don’t know, I just do it like this whenever my sister cries.”

Although his expression was tense and his words were stiff just a moment ago, seeing him relax so quickly.

Indeed, children are simple.

“Do you like your sister?”

When I changed the topic of conversation, the little one immediately smiled.

“Of course! My sister is the best! She’s as strong as a hero!”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah! That’s why I want to be like my sister and practice every day!”

‘But maybe you don’t have to mimic the swollen cheek…’

I smiled inwardly, swallowing those words.

“Then were you also trying to find your sister back then?”

“T-That’s not it…”

“Then why did you come?”

“I went to find a real hero back then!”

“Isn’t your sister a hero?”

“Well… she’s cool, but…”

The little one shook his head back and forth, pondering.

“She’s not a hero…”

Curiosity arose.

To like his sister this much, who could be the person he holds in even higher esteem.

Of course, this child may not even know the word “esteem.”

“Then who is the hero?”

“Obviously, it’s Gumsung Robart Gourick!”

It was a rather trivial answer, but certainly someone children would like.

Good-looking, kind, and strong, with perfect looks to top it off.

To put it bluntly, even if he were to be called the protagonist and hero of this world, it would not be an understatement.

“He’s cool.”

“Yeah… That’s why I wanted to meet him on the way to find my sister…”

“If there’s a chance next time, I’ll let you meet him.”

“Really? Are you friends with the hero?”

The little one’s eyes widened.

“We’re… kind of! Maybe…”

The last words were said with a bit of hesitation.

Fortunately, it seemed that the little one didn’t pay much attention to it.

“Then it’s a promise!”

“Y-Yes.”

The little one looked puzzled.

“But what if you and the hero fight, who will win… Oh! Mom!”

As the little one turned his gaze, a couple came running towards them. Why are they running?

“Khan!”

“Mom!”

Khan’s mother, who was at the front, hugged him tightly. And the man who had been running behind her stood in front of Steven. He must be the dad.

“Excuse me… Is that Steven…”

“Yes.”

“Oh! I’ve heard so much about you! Thank you so much!!”

“No, and it wasn’t me, it was our young master who rescued you, I was just taking care of him.”

Steven’s praise made his shoulders straighten. Hmph!

The man immediately turned his gaze towards me.

“Thank you so much…!”

The man’s expression stiffened.

“Honey, why are you suddenly…”

Even Khan’s mother, who was taken aback by his actions, looked at me and turned pale. This is too much.

No matter how someone’s face looks like this. Sigh…

“Excuse me…”

“I’m sorry!!!”

“Yes?”

The man kneeled down and shouted at me.

“On the way here, the carriage wheel broke down, making Avantche wait!! Please have mercy…!”

I immediately raised my index finger to his level.

“Please lower your voice a bit.”

But it was already too late.

The surrounding gazes were sharp.

‘Ah…my ears are itching again.’

“Ha…well, please take me there quickly.”

Although the conversation with the kid wasn’t over yet, it was the right choice to leave quickly from here.

If I stayed a little longer, I felt like I would be given the nickname of ‘crazy person threatening a kid.’

“Thank you.”

The trembling man held onto my hand. The kid spoke up.

“I still haven’t gotten an answer from my brother, Dad.”

“Shh! Don’t call him brother.”

“Why?”

“Well…he’s a high-ranking person. And don’t ask strange questions.”

“But…my brother said it’s okay…”

“Some things are just not allowed.”

At the father’s scolding, the kid’s cheeks started to puff up again. Pfft!

It’s really funny every time I see it.

“Kid.”

“…What?”

“I asked who would win if I fought him?”

“Um…”

“If I were in my original body, I could win.”

After hearing my answer, Khan smiled at me, and his parents apologized to me once again.

‘This is definitely going to be a problem…’

***

It’s been a week since I received a reward from the king.

During that time, rumors about me spread within the academy, making me briefly famous.

– “Libert received a reward, but what about that guy?”

– “I mean, didn’t he even threaten a kid?”

Of course, it wasn’t my story, but my parents’.

And as expected, the incident from back then had already become a rumor.

The more I tried, the worse the rumors seemed to get.

But there were good things that came out of that incident.

I became friends with Lina Iris.

There was no intention to become close due to a small incident, but after reading her atmosphere.

At that time, pickpocketing was something that didn’t even cross my mind.

One friend and one more rumor.

I think it was a better exchange than I expected.

And now.

“I won, you crazy person!!”

I am fighting with the angry Cardia.