“Smile. You are beautiful when you smile.”
Greta’s cheeks flushed a deep shade of red at the young man’s words, the compliment catching her completely off guard. She wasn’t used to hearing such things, especially not from someone like him.
The way he said it, so casually yet sincerely, left her momentarily speechless. She lowered her gaze, suddenly feeling shy and self-conscious, the warmth of the compliment settling in her chest.
She had received compliments before—remarks on her hard work, her kindness, even her looks—but none had made her feel quite like this. It was as if he had seen something in her that she hadn’t even noticed in herself, and that thought both flattered and embarrassed her.
After a moment, she gathered the courage to look back up at him, intending to thank him or say something—anything—to acknowledge the compliment. But when she raised her head, she found that he had already turned his attention back to his meal, his focus now entirely on the food before him, as if the conversation had never happened.
The ease with which he had shifted his attention only added to her confusion. For him, it seemed, the compliment had been nothing more than a simple, honest observation delivered without any expectation of a response. And now, he was back to being the mysterious traveler, with his enigmatic air and his unusual familiar.
Greta stood there for a moment longer, her mind a whirl of thoughts and emotions, before she finally turned away, a small smile playing on her lips despite herself.
His words lingered in her mind, making her feel lighter and more confident, and she couldn’t help but replay them over and over as she went about her tasks.
********
I could feel Vitaliara’s sharp gaze on me as I picked up my fork, her tail flicking with barely concealed irritation.
[You… You did it on purpose, didn’t you?] she accused, her voice echoing in my mind with a mix of exasperation and amusement.
I didn’t bother hiding my smirk as I cut into the roasted meat. “What are you talking about?” I asked innocently, not bothering to look at her.
[You know what I’m talking about,] she shot back, her tone carrying the distinct air of someone who was used to my antics. [Complimenting that girl like that. You enjoyed watching her squirm, didn’t you?]
I chuckled softly, savoring the tender meat as I chewed. “Perhaps. But can you blame me? People are always so honest when they’re caught off guard. It’s fascinating.”
Vitaliara let out a huff, her tiny paws pressing lightly on my shoulder as she leaned closer, her presence warm against my skin. [You’re hopeless, you know that? You could have just let the poor girl be, but no, you had to go and make her blush.]
“She needed it,” I replied, my tone softening slightly. “You saw how tense she was. A little kindness goes a long way, especially for someone who’s been dealing with men like those.”
Vitaliara paused, her irritation fading as she considered my words. [True,] she admitted, her tone more thoughtful now. [But still, you didn’t have to toy with her emotions like that.]
“It wasn’t my intention to toy with her,” I said, pushing my plate slightly to the side as I took a sip of water. “She’s been through a lot, and sometimes a simple compliment can do wonders. Besides…” I glanced at Greta, who was now busy behind the bar, her cheeks still faintly pink. “She deserved to know that she’s more than just a caretaker in this place. She’s stronger than she realizes.”
Vitaliara was silent for a moment, her gaze shifting between Greta and me. [You really mean that, don’t you?]
I nodded, my expression serious. “I do. People like her… they’re the backbone of places like this. They keep things running, even when the world around them is falling apart. It’s easy to overlook that strength, but it’s there.”
I still remember that time when I was in the army. At that time, Clara also got hit a lot, and there were many men who wanted to be with her.
At that time, I knew she had it hard since when she was just a non-awakened woman, she constantly needed to be on alert.
‘Sigh…..’
Then, remembering that somehow made me reminisce about the past. However, it was far, long gone.
In any case, since I knew what kind of hardships people like this girl faced, I decided to give a little help that I couldn’t at that time.
That was it.
[But, why did you enter like that? Everyone looked at you like some sort of monster.]
“That….I just wanted to look cool.”
[Here, I thought…]
“What? You thought what?”
[Nothing.]
“Hehe….It is a man’s romance to do such things, you know.”
Vitaliara tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing as if she were considering something deeply. [You know, Gerald had his share of antics like that, too. I suppose this really is a men’s thing.]
I couldn’t help but chuckle at her comment. “It’s a universal truth,” I said, nodding in agreement. “Every man, given the right situation, would act the same way. There’s something about making an entrance, especially when it means standing up for someone who can’t do it themselves.”
Vitaliara let out a soft purr, her earlier amusement returning. [I guess I’ll never fully understand it, but as long as you’re not causing too much trouble, I’ll tolerate it.]
I grinned, feeling a sense of camaraderie in our shared moment. “I’ll try not to overdo it,” I promised, though we both knew that was unlikely.
There was something satisfying about those moments, where I could combine a bit of theatrics with a genuine desire to help. It wasn’t just about looking cool; it was about making a statement, about showing strength in a way that words alone couldn’t convey.
With that, I returned to my meal, savoring each bite. It had been far too long since I’d had a proper, cooked meal like this, and I could feel the warmth spreading through me as I ate. The flavors were rich and comforting, a stark contrast to the rations I’d been surviving on for so long.
There was a simple pleasure in this, something grounding about sitting in a warm inn, eating good food, and bantering with Vitaliara.
For a moment, it almost felt like the world outside didn’t exist—that there was no looming danger, no need to keep moving, just the present moment.
As I ate, I glanced around the room, noticing how the tension had eased. The patrons were gradually returning to their conversations, though they still shot the occasional glance my way. But the fear was gone, replaced by a cautious curiosity. It seemed that the old man’s presence had done wonders to calm the atmosphere, and I was grateful for that.
[Enjoying yourself?] Vitaliara asked, her tone light as she sensed my contentment.
“I am,” I admitted, taking another bite of the roasted meat. “It’s been too long since I’ve had a meal like this. I almost forgot what real food tastes like.”
[Then savor it,] she replied, her voice carrying a note of satisfaction. [You’ve earned it.]
I nodded, saying, “That is my intention.” And then continued eating.
As I continued eating, savoring each bite, Vitaliara’s voice cut through my thoughts. [You know, that girl been throwing you some quick glances for a while now. Seems like she really liked you.]
I glanced over at the bar, catching Greta’s gaze just as she quickly looked away, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. A small, amused smile tugged at the corner of my lips. “It’s nothing,” I said, my tone light. “Just a momentary thing. She’ll forget about it soon enough.”
[Will she?] Vitaliara mused, her tone teasing. [Humans have a funny way of holding onto things, especially when it comes to matters of the heart.]
I chuckled softly, shaking my head. “It’s not like that. Besides, you do know my circumstances.”
[Yeah….] Vitaliara didn’t press the matter further, instead shifting to a more serious topic. [But what about those men? How do you plan to deal with them?]
The question brought a chill to my demeanor, and I felt my expression harden. My eyes grew cold as I thought about that guy and his cronies.
“This world is what it is,” I replied quietly, the warmth from earlier fading from my voice. “If I kill them here, another group just like them will take their place. The problem isn’t with individuals like them—it’s with the lack of a governing force in this city.”
I took another bite of food, chewing thoughtfully before continuing. “But that’s changing. The war is finished, and soon, this territory will become more stable. The power vacuum that allowed people like Radgar to thrive will be filled, and order will be restored.”
[And you’re not interested in bullying the weak for no reason,] she added, more a statement than a question.
“Exactly,” I said, smiling at the fact that she knew me well. “I am only interested in strong people.”
I mumbled. “Though that is under the pretense of ‘no reason.'”
[Yeah….If you want to rise in the ranks, you need to be ruthless.]
“What do you think the master would have done?”
[Gerald? He would have killed them, most likely.]
“Really?”
[Yeah…..He was not….not that gentle when he was young, let’s say.]
“I will take that as a compliment.”
[…..]
Vitaliara paused, her curiosity piqued. [Then what do you plan to do now?] she asked, her tone expectant.
I took a final sip of water, savoring the calm before the next step. “What else?” I replied with a slight grin. “I’m going to get a new weapon, of course.”
Vitaliara tilted her head, a hint of skepticism in her voice. [In this small city? How will you find a blacksmith here?]
I couldn’t help but chuckle at her doubt. “How will I find one, huh?” I said, leaning back in my chair with a satisfied smile. “I’ve already met him.”
After all….
There was a reason I came to this city out of all.
———————–
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