Carlisle sat on a chair in the restaurant, his gaze fixed on Natsuki Subaru, who was standing by the counter.
She was chatting animatedly with the restaurant owner, a bright smile on her face, occasionally gesturing with her hands, looking exceptionally lively.
However, his heart was filled with conflict and contemplation.
He recalled the recent scene, the young girl's bright eyes looking at him with anticipation, her hands unconsciously clasped in front of her chest, her voice pleading: "Can I help? I might know how to find that person."
Her voice was soft, yet full of sincerity and determination.
Logically, involving an ordinary young girl in his mission was clearly not a wise decision; he should have unhesitatingly refused her request, and even settled her in a safe place, far from all possible dangers.
But when he saw the dependence and expectation hidden deep in the girl's eyes, Carlisle found himself unable to easily say no.
Her gaze conveyed loneliness and unease, as if silently pleading: "Please don't abandon me."
This emotion was all too familiar to Carlisle, he himself had experienced that kind of helplessness and confusion.
"She might be from Earth, like me, or perhaps she just transmigrated..." Carlisle mused silently.
He knew that if he simply sent her off to work somewhere, she might be safe, but that feeling of loneliness and helplessness might stay with her for a very long time.
His gaze fell on the girl again.
She was smiling and waving goodbye to the owner, her face beaming with satisfaction and happiness, and Carlisle's heart gradually found its answer.
"How was it? Did you find out anything?" Carlisle asked as they walked out of the restaurant together.
Natsuki Subaru proudly curved her lips, her hands on her hips, her face full of confident smiles, "Hmph, don't worry, the owner, because he has a daughter about my age, told me a lot of useful things, and perhaps in that place, we can find the target of Carlisle's mission."
The girl blinked, a hint of mystery in her tone, "Hey, Carlisle, where is the slum in this place?"
"Slum?" Carlisle was startled, his brows slightly furrowing, and after a moment of thought, he murmured, "Could it be..."
"Exactly!" the girl excitedly interrupted him.
"If you're looking for lost or stolen things, you definitely have to go straight to the source.
Although I don't know who Carlisle is looking for, I noticed, Carlisle, that your tone is very respectful every time you mention that person.
That person must have lost something very valuable.
The owner told me that outside the city, there's a giant old man who runs a fence."
Her eyes sparkled, her voice full of triumph, "A fence run by a giant, huh? Years of RPG gaming experience tell me that's the mission target!"
Carlisle couldn't help but let out a wry smile when he heard this: "Why would the owner know all this?"
The girl playfully blinked and teased, "Knight~ Don't underestimate the intelligence network of the common people! They are the 'underground encyclopedia' of this city!"
Carlisle was amused by her words, "Haha, you got me there, then..."
"I want to go too!"
Carlisle was taken aback for a moment, then showed a hint of difficulty, "Eh? But, well, I won't abandon you, I promise you, I will come to pick you up immediately after I find that person."
Disappointment flashed in the girl's eyes, but she quickly regained her resolve.
She looked up, her gaze fixed on Carlisle, her voice carrying a hint of pleading: "I won't be a burden! And, I might be able to help! Besides, didn't you say you would protect me?"
Carlisle gazed at the pleading girl before him, her hands tightly clasped in front of her chest, as if trying to suppress her inner unease and anticipation.
Her eyes showed dependence, like a lost traveler grasping the only light in the darkness.
Carlisle's heart trembled slightly, and he suddenly realized that he had become her reliance in this Another World.
He was silent for a moment, countless images flashing through his mind, his figure wielding a sword in the snow, the days and nights of fighting desperately against the Witch Cult, magical beasts, and various bandits on the battlefield.
All his efforts to grow stronger, weren't precisely so that he could, like now, unhesitatingly extend a helping hand and protect those in need?
"Do I not even have the confidence to protect a young girl?" he asked himself, then gently shook his head, a faint smile playing on his lips.
No, of course he did.
Having understood, Carlisle slowly knelt on one knee before the girl, his movements graceful and solemn, his pristine Knight's uniform shimmering in the afterglow of the setting sun, golden patterns glowing softly in the twilight, as if stars adorned his shoulders.
His actions were meticulous, every detail revealing the dignity and honor of a Knight.
The afterglow of the setting sun cast a long, solemn shadow over him.
The young man lowered his head, his right hand on his chest, his left hand gently resting on the hilt of his sword, performing a standard Knight's salute.
His voice was deep and powerful, with an unquestionable firmness: "Please accompany me.
I swear by my sword and the name of the stars, whether ahead lies an abyss or a storm, I will protect you with my life."
The girl stared at him, her pupils slightly dilated, as if time had stopped at that moment.
Her cheeks visibly flushed, spreading from her earlobes all the way to her neck, and even the top of her head seemed to emit a faint steam, as if scalded by the sudden words.
Her lips parted slightly, but she couldn't utter a complete sentence for a long time, only stammering, "No... no... that's not right, what... what kind of confession-like move is this? Haha, oh no, that... don't think I'll fall for that..."
The girl's eyes darted around frantically, as if searching for a corner to hide in.
Her voice grew softer and softer, eventually becoming almost a whisper, with a hint of panic and shyness: "These lines... they're too unfair... and so formal..."
Carlisle looked at her flustered expression, a hint of a smile in his eyes.
He cleared his throat softly, trying to ease her embarrassment, but the girl, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, suddenly took a step back, waving her hands wildly in front of her chest: "Wait! I, I'm not the kind of person who gets easily moved! Although you are indeed handsome, and that pose just now was very cool, but... but..."
Her voice grew weaker and weaker, eventually becoming almost inaudible, leaving only the lingering blush on her cheeks and the faintly visible "steam" above her head.
Carlisle couldn't help but chuckle softly, a hint of teasing in his tone: "I'm just fulfilling my duties as a Knight, you don't have to be so nervous."
"Du-duties?!" The girl's voice suddenly rose a few octaves, as if something had been pricked, but then she realized her impropriety and quickly lowered her head, her voice as thin as a mosquito's buzz, "Um... anyway, thank you... but I won't be so easily conquered!"
There was a hint of stubbornness in her tone, but the blush on her face betrayed her feelings.
Carlisle looked at her, shy yet pretending to be calm, and couldn't help but smile.
He nodded gently, his tone mild: "Understood.
However, my vow will not change."
The girl's face grew even redder, and the "steam" above her head seemed to thicken a bit.
She lowered her head, her fingers nervously intertwining, her voice so faint it was almost inaudible: "Seriously... Another World is a bit too exciting, isn't it...?"
...
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