Chapter 55 – Chapter 3: Salvation – 2
When I open my eyes again.
I felt dizzy and vomited.
I didn’t eat anything anyway, so only clear saliva came out.
“Ugh…”
I barely managed to pull myself up by leaning against the wall.
My pants are stained with blood and sticky.
I thought it was blood from my arm, but that wasn’t the case.
It was menstrual blood.
“… Ugh.”
I leaned against the wall and caught my breath.
Even breathing was difficult.
Something to eat. There is nothing to drink.
Weird. This city is full of everything.
I couldn’t even touch it.
“It hurts…”
The merchant’s prophecy was correct.
They said I would be dead within a week.
At that time, why am I dying?
I thought it was funny.
I never thought I would get it right.
“Ritz…”
If I die here, Ritz will die too, right?
Ritz is lying in her hospital bed waiting for me to come back.
But I… What are you doing here now?
I have to do something.
You have to kill the merchant, steal the money and medicine, and send them to Ritz.
Then even if I die, Ritzman can be saved.
I looked to the side.
The knife that stabbed my arm last night was lying there.
She unconsciously tried to stretch out her hand and then retracted her fingers in surprise.
I… Killing people?
You came up with such a gruesome plan without any guilt?
I guess I… I feel crazy.
I don’t think it’s me.
Bichuk.
I went out into the streets.
I lost my direction.
There is no purpose.
I just wanted to walk aimlessly.
Tap!
“Oh… !”
Suddenly, a girl jumped out and hit her.
The child looked back at me once, then ran and disappeared down the alley.
I’m trying to walk forward again.
“You’re a thief!”
A woman pointed at me and screamed.
“… ?”
“Catch the thief!”
The guard who heard the sound came running to me.
With no time to make excuses, she was grabbed by the arms and pinned to the wall.
“Gotcha!”
“Nana… No.”
“What are you talking about! “Is this you, ma’am?”
“Yes! That’s right!”
“No…”
They didn’t want to listen to me.
I don’t even know what I stole, but I was thrown roughly to the floor.
It hurt.
“Arrest. Follow me quietly.”
“I am… I never stole it…”
“Then prove it.”
I was speechless.
You didn’t even help me when I lost my rose saber.
She accuses him of stealing something she never stole and pushes him away.
“How… ?”
“If you have money, there will be no reason to steal, so show me the money.”
“…”
The guard chuckled.
“Of course it can’t happen. Obediently follow me to prison!”
My wrists were handcuffed.
Before I knew it, there were people gathering around.
They swore at me and called me a thief.
How did this happen?
I have no idea.
The guard grabbed his handcuffs and pulled him hard.
… I’m done.
Okay. Prison might be better.
They give you a place to sleep and bread there…
It was a moment when I lowered my head helplessly.
“Now, wait a minute!”
A man suddenly stopped the guard.
“What?”
“This child… No sin, no sin. I will prove it.”
Chin.
And then he put something into the guard’s pocket.
The soldier felt the jingling weight and smiled.
“He’s a good person.”
Crash.
The handcuffs were released.
The guard left as if nothing had happened,
The wife who accused me of being a thief disappeared somewhere else.
My legs became weak, and I sat down.
The man who released me waddled over to me.
“T, Tia. Are you okay?”
I know.
He stutters awkwardly, has a belly like a pig, and smells unpleasant…
This person is kinder than anyone else.
“… Uncle Posao.”
Tears flowed.
“Huh. Black… “Huh!”
I was so happy to see Uncle Posao’s face… I burst out crying.
I continued to cry.
“Tia!”
This hand stroking my back is also soft and warm…
So I cried more.
In this scary city where I thought I was alone and abandoned.
That there is someone who knows me, helps me, and protects me… I was truly grateful.
“Hey, get on my back for now, Tia!”
“Huh… Black…”
It was carried on a large back.
The man’s back was like a cozy bed.
It was big and cozy.
The warm heat healed my bruised heart.
The familiar smell helped me forget my loneliness.
… Because it’s so comfortable.
I fell asleep.
* * *
I opened my eyes to warmth.
What kind of accommodation was it?
I was lying in bed, and Mr. Posao was dozing off next to the bed.
I was wondering what to say.
I just lightly shook the man’s arm with my fingertips.
“Uh, huh?! T, Tia… ?”
The man hurriedly wiped his saliva.
“Woke up? Hehe.”
“Yes.”
“Mo, how are you feeling? Are you okay? It looks like it hurts a lot…”
“…”
“Naaah-! This is not the time! I filled the bathroom with warm water… Blood, you can go take a bath if you need to…”
She headed straight to the bathroom.
Just as the man said, the bathtub was full of warm water.
She took off her clothes and jumped into the water.
A slap.
“Ha…”
It’s warm.
Suddenly it occurred to me that I was dreaming.
Actually, I guess I’m still asleep under the castle wall.
Then I didn’t want to wake up.
I wanted to stay like this for a very long time.
“T, Tia?”
I heard Uncle Posao’s voice from beyond the bathroom.
“Outside, oh, I bought some clothes. Because it’s in the basket… “I would like it if you wore it.”
Swoosh-.
A basket came in through the slightly open door.
After washing my body for a long time, I took the clothes out of the basket and tried them on.
Fortunately, the new clothes fit my body well.
I could feel the man’s effort to make it as similar as possible to the style I usually wear.
When I came out wearing stiff clothes, the man complimented me and said I looked good.
Before long, the waiter came in with dinner.
It was salad, apples, hot grilled mero, warm button mushroom soup, and lobster.
I ate like crazy.
The man quietly watched me without even touching me.
By the time I was devouring everything.
A personal doctor came to visit.
He looked at my arm, said he was glad the wound wasn’t deep, and applied his medicine and changed it into a clean bandage.
When you have satisfied your hungry stomach and successfully completed treatment.
It finally dawned on me that this was Uncle Posao’s lodgings.
I looked around.
One clunky bag. Big clothes scattered here and there.
He must have stayed alone, so of course there was only one bed.
And most of all, I could feel the strong body odor remaining on the blanket and pillow.
I see.
Me… You came into your room.
This is the first time, other than Ritz, that I have entered a room where a man lives alone.
Uncle Posao asked.
“Tia. “What happened during this time?”
“Therefore…”
I told him everything that happened after I broke up with him.
The man who listened to the story with a serious expression let out a deep sigh.
“Well, something like that happened…” . “I’m sorry.”
“What does the uncle have to be sorry about?”
“I should have helped Tia… “I’m sorry for just leaving.”
“… No.”
Pulled his knees.
After arriving in Deseo, we said goodbye to each other and said we would each do our own thing from now on.
And as we shook hands, he looked at me with worried eyes.
When I climbed an unknown mountain range with difficulty and when I was sick.
I could tell because the man had that kind of look in his eyes.
… But the man just chose to break up.
I thought I knew the reason.
Because I didn’t like you.
Because she still hasn’t forgiven what happened in the past and tried to maintain an uncomfortable relationship.
Uncle Posao kept his distance out of consideration for me.
Even then.
“Nana… I want to help Tia. The money you need is two or one thousand gold… “You did it, right?”
“Yes.”
“Tia. So, can I be honest?”
The man was looking straight at me.
He nodded slightly and spoke in a serious voice.
“… Actually, I only have this much.”
Uncle Po Sao showed her pockets.
Inside were five 10 gold coins.
For 50 gold… This is the cost of living for about two weeks in Deseo.
Yet, you prepared me that sumptuous meal, called a personal doctor, and even bought me new clothes.
“Mister… Why are you doing this to me? Even though I don’t have much money…”
“Ah, hehe. “That’s-.”
Uncle Po Sao scratched her head.
“T-the money I spend on Tia… Ha, it’s not a waste at all.”
“…”
I quietly buried my chin between her knees.
Really… They are all fools.
“Now, shall we sleep?”
“I’ll sleep on the floor. “This is your room.”
“No-no. Oh, I’ll sleep on the floor. Tia, it still hurts… I’m used to sleeping at the bar and on the floor. Hehe.”
With that, she lay down on the cold bare floor.
He insisted on staying on the floor, saying it was more important for me to get a good rest.
In the end, I ended up taking the bed by myself.
Sreuk.
I covered the blanket all the way.
A comfortable feeling that seeps into your body.
I took a deep breath.
It’s soft, warm, and smells like uncle.
As I was thinking like this, I remembered the time when I slept in a cabin covered in a worn-out coat.
I don’t know if he’s awake right now.
I closed my eyes and whispered sincerely.
“… Thank you.”
There was no reply.
I hesitated as to what more to say.
“Drurrrr-.”
I could hear snoring from under the bed.
“… Hehe.”
I burst out laughing.
What – I hope you’re okay.
There is still a chance to say thank you tomorrow.
“Drurrrr!”
Why?
Today, the sound of my uncle’s snoring didn’t seem so loud.
On the contrary, I felt safer hearing that sound.
The person who protects me… Because I think it’s right next to me.
Tonight, I can sleep without any worries.
* * *
The next morning.
Uncle Posao said as he put on his coat.
“Oh, I think I’ll be late today.”
Originally, he was planning to leave Deseo today.
He said he only stopped by Deseo to discuss a business contract, and that he finished all his personal business as of yesterday.
However, after hearing about my situation, they changed their plan to stay a few more days.
And from now on, I prepared to go out, saying that I would somehow find a way to raise 1,000 gold.
Even though it is cloudy outside the window and heavy rain is pouring.
“You don’t have to push yourself too hard.”
“Sigh, we don’t have time. Ritz needs to get better quickly…”
“Then I will go with you.”
“Naaaaa- Oh, no. Tia is here. Still, Joe, you need to rest some more. The doctor said the same thing.”
“But…”
I grabbed his bandaged arm.
I was told by the doctor not to overexert myself until the wound was fully healed.
Also… Because my period hasn’t ended yet.
As the man said, I thought it would be better to rest quietly now.
“T, it helps me that Tia gets better quickly. Hehe.”
“… Okay.”
“Soo, I paid for room and board. Because the waitress brings all the meals. T-Tia, take a good rest and get your energy up…”
Then, Uncle Posao opened the door.
“Uh, uncle.”
“Huh?”
Without realizing it, I called the man and stopped him.
For some reason, I feel like saying this will ease my worries a little.
I greeted in a low voice.
“… Please be careful.”
The man smiled brightly.
“Uh, huh! Then go, I’ll come back! Hehe!”
