Chapter 30: The Demon Sword's Home
POV Ren:
I stared at the little girl in front of me who was ordering me to be her servant as repayment for taking care of me while I was unconscious.
My lips twitched because I wanted to laugh, but I restrained myself and looked away.
"What if I refuse?" I joked softly.
She leaned forward and said, "If you refuse, I'll tell my grandpa!"
Hearing that, my face turned slightly serious. Was her grandpa the one who brought me here? I looked at the girl again.
"Oh, now where is this grandpa of yours?"
The question made her pause for a moment before answering with a little nervousness. "H-He's gone out..."
My eyebrow slowly lifted, and staring at her for a long time in silence made her even more nervous. She tried to look away.
I leaned my back against the headboard, still staring at the little girl who now looked like a kitten caught stealing fish.
"Gone where?" I asked again, my voice calm but the tone was enough to make the girl, Amy, flinch.
"Uh... to the forest," she answered quickly. "He went to find animals for us to eat..."
I was silent for a moment, tilting my head. "The forest, huh..." Then I looked out the window. The morning light penetrating the gaps between the leaves looked peaceful.
"Humm! He goes every day to look for meat," Amy said, her awkwardness disappearing as quickly as a gentle breeze.
Amy looked at me again, then asked, "So... what is your name?"
Hearing her, I shifted my attention from the window and looked at Amy, "My name is Ren. Ren Ozawa. Nice to meet you, little girl."
Amy pursed her lips, clearly unhappy with the address.
"Don't call me little girl! My name is Amy Eldoria, and I'm already eleven years old!" (She lied) she said loudly.
I held back a smile. "Oh, my apologies, Miss Amy, who is already so mature."
Her cheeks instantly puffed up. "Are you mocking me!?"
I chuckled and whistled softly, "No."
She clenched both her hands as if wanting to hit me, rough breaths escaping her nose, restraining her anger and embarrassment.
"You... You're annoying!" she snapped. "You insolent debtor who won't repay a kindness!" Tears slowly escaped the corner of her eyes.
I raised both my hands quickly, surrendering. "Okay, okay! I give up! Just don't cry!"
"Hmph!" Amy looked away with her arms crossed. "I don't want to forgive someone who likes to tease."
Seeing that, a small smile appeared on my lips. I looked at Amy with a soft smile, tilting my head, I said.
"How about this: you can ask anything from me, except for me being your servant. How does that sound?"
Her ears immediately wiggled upon hearing my words. Amy turned toward me with shining eyes, "Really!?"
'What a quick change of expression,' I said internally, looking at Amy's beaming face.
"Yes, but only once," I replied.
Amy looked at me, the shine in her eyes dimming slightly, but she didn't say anything. She lowered her hands with a sigh and looked away.
"Idiot…" Amy murmured softly.
I slowly shook my head and looked toward the window again. The morning air felt cool. But I suddenly sensed a familiar yet new aura.
'There is someone...' I muttered internally.
I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to focus my concentration, and then—a heavy voice sounded right beside me.
"You're finally awake, lightning brat..."
Amy and I instantly blinked in surprise. We quickly turned toward the source of the voice.
"Grandpa!? You scared me!" Amy snapped, clutching her chest dramatically.
I also looked toward the source of the voice, my eyes widening in disbelief.
"You!... You're the person from back then!?" I said, shocked.
I knew him; he was the person who asked if I was alright after I finished fighting the thieves. That person, Himmel, tilted his head, smirking.
"Oho... You still remember me?"
"Of course, I remember you, old man…" I muttered softly.
Then I remembered something and looked at him, asking curiously. "So, you're the one who saved me from that demon worshipper?"
Himmel shrugged and gave a small nod, "That's right, I'm the one who saved you, kid."
"What about that holy old man?" I asked about Marcus.
"If you mean the holy old man who fought that worshipper with you, he's safe," he replied.
Hearing that, I sighed in relief. Then I looked at him again, "What about the demon worshipper commander?" I asked with a slight fear.
Himmel waved his hand casually, "Relax, I've taken care of that pest—maybe."
I blinked, "What do you mean—" my sentence was cut short by another voice beside us.
"Hmph! You two are ignoring me! Unforgivable!" Amy yelled in frustration.
We both turned toward her. Amy, with puffed-up cheeks like a hamster, looked at us with a betrayed expression. Her grandpa, Himmel, chuckled seeing that.
"Are you angry, my little girl?"
Amy turned her face away in annoyance, "Of course, I'm angry! Hmph!"
Himmel chuckled, "Hehe... My little girl is so cute!"
I watched their interaction. It was exactly like a regular grandfather doting on his granddaughter, but I knew that behind the old man's gentle smile, there was terrifying power.
I decided to interject, "Um... May I ask you a question, old man?"
Now both of them looked at me. Amy with a pout, and Himmel nodding casually.
Then he stood up and sat down on a chair he seemingly produced out of nowhere, crossing his legs. I stared at him with a blank expression for a moment.
"I want to know... what exactly is this place? And why was I brought here?"
Himmel leaned his back against the chair and looked out the window. "This place is my home. I've lived here for fifteen years."
Amy, standing next to her grandpa, raised her hand high, "This is my home, my home!" she said loudly.
Himmel turned to the side, looking at his cheerful but talkative granddaughter, just like her mother. He smiled slightly.
"Oh? Is that so? So, you don't want to go home anymore?" Himmel smirked playfully, "Your mother would be really sad if she knew you said that."
Hearing her grandpa's words, Amy's face paled. She waved both her hands frantically and spoke incoherently.
"I don't!—I mean, I didn't say I didn't want to go home!" Tears welled up in her eyes, which made me laugh.
Himmel also laughed heartily. Amy pouted, and her tears increased. She bit her lower lip hard.
"I... Hik!... I'm going to tell Mom when I get home! Just you wait!... Hik!" she lowered her head, crying.
Seeing her, Himmel's face became a little stern. He gently stroked Amy's head, "Sweetie, I'm sorry, okay?"
"Why should I... Hik..." Amy looked up, staring at Himmel with her wet eyes.
"If you forgive Grandpa, you can buy anything you want later."
Amy stopped crying immediately, her eyes sparkling amidst the leftover tears. "I-Is that true, Grandpa!?"
Himmel nodded, suppressing a laugh. "It's true, but only if you stop crying now."
Amy quickly wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, pretending to be tough. "I wasn't crying! I just got some dust in my eye!" she said in a voice that was still congested.
I covered my mouth, holding back a laugh. "Dust inside a clean house like this?"
"Quiet!" Amy tried to hit my mouth with her tiny fist, but I dodged. "You're mean too!"
Himmel laughed loudly. "Hahaha! Looks like my granddaughter has found her match."
I shrugged casually, smiling. "When your opponent is this talkative, anyone would lose, Old Man."
"Talkative!?" Amy glared at me, but this time she wasn't completely angry—more like a child annoyed at not being taken seriously.
"And Amy, would you go out for a moment? I want to discuss something with this debtor," Himmel said to Amy.
Hearing that, Amy glared at me while smirking. She opened her mouth, mouthing words silently. I watched her lips move playfully.
'Serve you right...' That's what she mouthed before going out with a cheerful smirk.
After the door closed tightly, Himmel turned toward me casually.
"So, let's talk."
.....
[Author's Note]
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