I, Who Came From the Abyss, Will Save Humanity Again Today - Volume 2 Chapter 88

Chapter 88: Ballad

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A very kind girl… right?

I remember what Madam told me. In the past, I was very mischievous, often running off somewhere without anyone noticing, and when I came back, my hair would be all messy… but now it seems different from what I imagined. I wasn’t going somewhere to cause trouble.

Turning around, I looked at the shop clerk’s pretty face, with that careful and hesitant expression, as if she was worried whether her words would cause me unnecessary trouble, yet couldn’t help but want to say them anyway. I found her quite adorable.

“But later… I don’t know when it started, she never came again… At first I thought she was just too busy… I know there are many rules among nobles, and many things I don’t understand. I was even worried that her working here had been discovered by her family elders, and they wouldn’t allow her to associate with us anymore, or that she might be grounded or something… Then several months passed, and I never saw her again.”

At this point, the young woman’s gaze grew dim.

“…But she really loved eating Osmiru cake. I thought maybe I should deliver some to her. I was a bit scared, but I went anyway… I went to that castle and found out she had disappeared.”

“I don’t know what happened… She didn’t tell me anything, she just suddenly vanished… Could she have been kidnapped by bad people? She lived in such a big castle, her family must have had a lot of wealth, and she was so innocent, surely bad people would target her. I had warned her about this… Could she have… I haven’t seen her for 3 years. Such a good person, why should she encounter such things… I still haven’t been able to deliver the cake to her…”

As the girl spoke these last words, her voice began to tremble uncontrollably, her slightly reddened eyes seeming to tell me that she must have once shared a deep emotional bond with Peylo.

But I could no longer remember such precious things.

Then she smiled.

“Sorry for telling you so much. I just couldn’t help it. You look exactly like her… Do you… do you want some Osmiru cake?”

Looking at her sincere face, I nodded.

“Yes.”

“Alright, please wait a moment.”

The shop clerk turned around and took out a tray of Osmiru cake from the counter, dumping them all into a brown paper bag without even weighing them, then handed it to me.

“Is this enough?”

“Enough. How many gold coins?”

“Gold coins…” Hearing my question, the girl laughed a little. “This is a gift from me, you don’t need to pay.”

I frowned.

“I need to pay. Please weigh them.”

The young woman gently shook her head, her attitude firm.

“No need… Consider it a thank-you gift for listening to me talk so much. Don’t worry, Grandpa won’t scold me.”

I tilted my head and thought for a moment.

“…Alright then.”

I reached out to take the brown paper bag, and when I turned to leave, my gaze unconsciously swept around the shop.

In the warm environment, a rich cream fragrance floated in the air.

On a whole row of chairs arranged in the shop, several people who weren’t really customers were sitting scattered about. Their clothes weren’t particularly fine, even somewhat shabby, and their travel-worn appearance completely clashed with the shop’s refined atmosphere. Moreover, almost none of them bought anything; they were just sitting there resting.

But the shop clerk didn’t drive them away. Perhaps she understood that people who could only sit here alone today probably all had somewhat sad stories.

In a trance, the shop became noisy.

I seemed to see a petite and delicate figure, holding a tray and running back and forth through the crowd, frantically shuttling between tables and the front counter. The hem of her white dress swayed gently with her steps, and her ponytail tied high on her head was tucked under a black checkered beret, with a few strands of unruly hair playfully poking out.

“Hello, this is the dessert you ordered, please enjoy…”

“…One pound of buttermilk to go? Alright, please wait…”

The girl looked quite clumsy, obviously having no experience serving others. Several times she almost dropped the cakes from her tray because she was too hasty, stumbling slightly. But the customers never complained to her. Everyone seemed to know who she was, just watching her with warm, gentle smiles on their faces.

After running around a few times, the girl seemed a bit tired and hid in a corner to wipe the sweat from her forehead. Before she could smooth down the few strands of hair sticking up on her forehead, someone called for her again.

“Miss Peylo, I’d like some water please, thank you.”

“Over here too! Miss Peylo…”

“Coming, coming…”

“Miss Peylo, are you tired?”

The girl stopped and shook her head, giving the person who asked a sweet smile.

“Not tired.”

Then she ran off again with quick steps.

Her figure disappeared in the distance, like a fleeting dream.

The corners of my mouth turned up, and my previously gloomy mood had long since calmed down.

How wonderful. This was the kind of person I used to be.

When I reached the door, I took out a gold coin from the money pouch at my waist and casually placed it on a nearby table.

“I didn’t help out today.”

So I need to pay. She should understand this meaning.

A moment later, I heard the young woman’s somewhat excited voice behind me.

“You… you really are Miss Peylo… wait!”

I stopped in my tracks and turned to look at her slightly trembling pupils.

“I’m leaving now.”

“You… where have you been these 3 years… I… I secretly cried under my blanket, cried several times…”

I tilted my head.

“I’m fine. I’m going to Order City.”

“…Will you come back again? Come back here…”

“Yes, my home is here… I’m going now.”

I waved my little hand at her, stepped out of the shop, crossed the street, and returned to the carriage.

“Why did it take so long?” Carlos was drooping his eyelids, looking rather listless. This was just him asking casually.

I bit my nail and thought for a moment.

“Handling emotional complications.” Then I slapped Carlos on the face. “But that’s none of your business.”

I didn’t use much force, so Carlos certainly didn’t feel pain. He rubbed his cheek.

“At least you didn’t swear this time.”

“None of your damn business.”

“……”

The wheels of the horned carriage began turning again.

I saw the shop clerk chase after us. She stood by the roadside, jumping and waving at me.

“Be careful on the road—!”

That figure swayed unsteadily in the raging wind and snow, hazy and indistinct.

In Winter City, this miracle of the world, there were many people who cared about me and loved me like this.

Even if among them were faces I could no longer remember, even if memories scattered with the wind, even if I was no longer myself.

In the near future, perhaps I could meet them again, perhaps I never could, but I knew they were still living here peacefully, settled and content.

No one should be allowed to destroy such tranquility.

This is my home.

Whether it be the abyss or war, no matter what happens, I will absolutely never allow the situation of the small village to happen again.