Chapter 33
George’s eyes widened as he checked the paper.
“The Duke said you’ve been working very hard lately, Sir George. He told me to make sure I passed that on.”
The gift Valentin gave George was a voucher that allowed him to use a high-end weapon shop in the busy district for free.
Of course, the knights of House Berenice could have their weapons maintained for free by the skilled blacksmiths belonging to the ducal family.
However, unless it was urgent, they often had to wait their turn.
There were simply too many weapons and pieces of equipment to manage.
So the knights sometimes entrusted their weapons to a shop located in Carton, but the prices there were quite expensive.
‘How did he know it was about time for George to get his sword maintained?’
George, unable to close his open mouth, bowed his head deeply—as if Valentin were standing right in front of him.
‘The voucher is nice, but he must be even more touched that the Duke knows the condition of his sword so well.’
I suddenly remembered Valentin pressing down on my palm, saying he would personally trim my nails. Flustered, I quickly said goodbye.
“Th-then I’ll see you the day after tomorrow!”
George tried to persuade me to take a carriage, but I firmly went my own way.
There was somewhere I needed to visit secretly.
First, to prevent the unfortunate event of someone fainting at the sight of a beast, I put on a large dark blue robe.
In my pocket was a temporary ID, just in case someone questioned my identity.
‘Perfect.’
Patting my full stomach in satisfaction, I hummed to myself. Then, as if in a movie scene, a small bird fluttered down and blocked my path.
“Chirp, chirp!”
It was a sparrow—one you could commonly see on the road.
Its legs looked so thin they might snap if touched. I’d better step aside for it.
As I tried to walk around its surprisingly tiny body, the sparrow flapped its wings and circled around me.
‘W-what?’
Afraid I might accidentally step on it, I kept shifting my steps wherever it moved. Before I knew it, I was turning in circles.
The sparrow, having failed to achieve anything, suddenly shrieked as if frustrated.
“Chirp!!”
The sound carried both urgency and irritation. I stopped in my tracks.
“You want me to follow you?”
Though I hesitated at its bold request for help, I ended up following it.
The sparrow led me farther and farther away from the village, then suddenly flew deep into a dense forest.
“Hey, bird, could you at least tell me where we’re going?”
The Teller estate was located in the western part of Berenice. It wasn’t exactly safe—it had even been attacked by monsters before.
So if my guess was right, this must be the edge of the Rattlenta Forest.
‘Did we really come all the way in here?’
While I was thinking hard, a sharp gust of wind brushed past my ear.
“Sparrow…?”
At some point, the sparrow had disappeared.
All around me were tall, tightly packed trees and the fading light of sunset filtering through them.
Honestly, it was a little scary.
“If a ghost shows up, I’m running right away—ugh!”
I quickly covered my mouth.
Wasn’t that a flag? One of those famous death flags where what you say comes true?
Cursing my loose tongue, I sharpened my senses. If the sparrow didn’t return, I planned to head back immediately.
But before I could take a step, a disturbing sound pierced my ears—like multiple legs moving at once. A truly chilling sound.
Clenching my teeth, I strained my ears.
Gathering the last bit of conscience about the sparrow, I turned my head—
—and saw a giant spider with multiple eyes and legs charging toward me.
“I just want to die.”
Honestly, I would have preferred some strange, unfamiliar monster.
The black body larger than mine and its red eyes made me genuinely want to faint.
‘…Right. Judging by appearance is very wrong. Let’s just quietly leave the forest.’
I turned to go—but then I saw a small figure standing right in front of the spider.
A very small girl.
‘Of all times!’
Without thinking, I instinctively threw a punch at the spider—already imagining myself washing my hands over and over before going to sleep.
Crunch.
The shell around the spider crumpled, and sticky slime burst out. The disgusting sensation made goosebumps rise from my fingertips.
It didn’t even fly away from my punch. It stuck there, twitching its legs. I almost wanted to lose consciousness on the spot.
Perhaps my hesitant blow wasn’t enough, because the spider quickly shot out a bundle of silk.
“Eek!”
I screamed and reflexively grabbed the thread flying toward me, spinning it around.
The thread was incredibly tough and strong. As the spider kept producing more silk, it was lifted into the air, flailing its legs helplessly.
With unfocused eyes, I released the web toward the deeper part of the forest where no one was around. The spider shot across the sky like a cannonball and disappeared far away.
Even as it flew, I could still see the afterimage of it struggling midair.
“Ugh…”
More than anything, the sticky liquid running down my right arm made it hard to move.
If I had known I would face such a disaster, I would have taken the carriage George suggested.
‘…No. If I had, that child would have been eaten by the spider monster.’
Just then, I felt a rough touch on my right arm.
Stiff, I slowly lowered my gaze and saw a round head.
The child—too big to be called a toddler, yet too young to be a full-fledged girl—was rubbing my arm with leaves.
The black slime was still stuck between the fine hairs on my arm.
“Spider monster slime causes itching and burning if left too long. It’s best to wipe it off quickly.”
When the leaves didn’t clean it completely, the girl clicked her tongue.
“Tsk.”
‘Tsk…?’
For some reason, I felt like I’d done something wrong.
As I tried to wipe my arm with more leaves, the girl firmly grabbed my arm and pulled me.
Surprised by her strength, I followed her silently to a small puddle.
There were unknown sediments floating in it…
‘Isn’t that even more dangerous?’
When I hesitated, the girl impatiently wet my arm with the water herself.
Not wanting to just stand there, I crouched down and dipped my right arm into the puddle, swishing it around.
I felt like my tolerance was increasing.
“To think you’d send Xantura flying into the sky. I never even thought of that method. You’re really amazing.”
Following her praise, I turned my head and met light green eyes glowing in the dark sunset.
‘Xantura? Is that the giant spider’s name?’
Suddenly, the girl in front of me didn’t seem ordinary.
With her fairy-like appearance, mature tone, courage in not being shocked by me, and even knowing the spider’s name—
‘Are people from the north always this unusual?’
My thoughts didn’t last long. The girl rummaged through her pocket and pulled out a stone.
I stared blankly at the stone suddenly held out to me.
“What is this?”
Was she planning to strike me down like David with a sling?
I reflexively covered my face, but her answer was surprisingly ordinary—and touching.
“It’s a reward for saving me.”
This stone?
…Looking at it closely, it did seem kind of cute.
I tried to understand the child’s desire to give something to her savior. Suddenly, what had seemed like an ordinary roadside stone felt more meaningful.
“It’s very precious. Don’t throw it away or give it to anyone carelessly.”
She spoke firmly with a serious expression.
Even so, she was still adorable. I nodded along.
She also told me to always carry it, since someone might steal something so valuable.
I quickly agreed—because I thought I knew what it was.
This was…
‘A lucky stone, I suppose!’
One of those charm-like stones that supposedly bring good fortune when carried around.
Not that it actually works, but it holds human wishes and hopes.
A very childlike thought.
To protect her innocence, I carefully placed the stone into my pocket.
“Thank you. It’s getting dark, so let’s hurry back to the village. I’ll take you.”
The sky was dimming by the minute. Now that night was coming, it wouldn’t be strange if more monsters appeared.
I prayed that anything was fine—just not spiders or reptile-type monsters.
“If you go straight ahead, you’ll reach the village.”
We arrived at a place where the trees were noticeably shorter and the sky was wide open. But the girl stopped walking.
“You’re not planning to stay here, are you? It’s dangerous.”
“If I wait, my father will come.”
“Here of all places?”
“Yes. Here.”
At her clear look telling me to go, I glanced around.
Just a few more steps, and it would be the village.
But after what almost happened, I felt uneasy leaving her alone.
As I hesitated, the girl put her hands on her hips and gave me a stern look.
Feeling oddly scolded, I finally turned to leave when—
“Wait.”
See? She must be scared to wait alone.
Happily, I turned back. She still had her hands on her hips.
“What is your name?”
Caught off guard, I rolled my eyes once before answering.
“Nathan.”
“Nathan?”
Her eyes widened like a rabbit’s.
Maybe she realized I was that “Nathan” children liked so much.
Understanding her reaction, I calmly asked,
“What’s your name?”
It sounded like it would be something soft and sweet—like cotton candy, peach, or marshmallow.
“Della Shine.”
As expected, her name sounded as sweet as dessert.
But after repeating it once, Della waved both hands, telling me to hurry and go.
Reluctantly, I turned away.
When the large figure of Nathan disappeared, the surroundings grew quiet.
The faint voices of people from afar were blocked by trees and bushes.
Not long after, a large figure emerged from the thick brush.
“Am I your father?”
