CHAPTER 9: A Silent Hero?

Chapter 9: A Silent Hero?

"Are you the one who untied us?"

One of the women spoke, her voice shaky but hopeful.

I nodded. "Yes."

She hesitated, then asked again.

"Then… you must be the one who killed these men?"

I stood up.

They flinched.

I nodded once more. "Yes."

I practiced this all night in my head. The silent hero type… I think it's working.

Then—

"Thank you!"

They all said it in unison.

I exhaled. "It was no problem."

"If I may ask, how did you get captured?"

One of the women stepped forward.

"There were four men. You've already killed two. The other two went searching for the horses that pulled the wagon. They got spooked by a rat and ran off. Those men entered our village, beat up the men, and took all of us..."

She bowed.

"We sincerely thank you for rescuing us. We can make our way back to our village from here."

I nodded. "Alright."

But—there was still one issue.

The girl.

She still sat in the back of the wagon, silent. Her wounds covered her body, and her ragged clothes barely clung to her.

"Is she not from your village?" I asked.

A woman shook her head.

"Unfortunately, she isn’t. We don’t know where she came from. She wouldn't speak to us. I think… she has no place to return to."

"Then can’t you take her in?"

She hesitated.

"I'm sorry, but we can't. Our village is in shambles. We can’t afford another mouth to feed."

I sighed. "I understand."

And just like that, they were gone.

I climbed onto the back of the wagon, kneeling in front of the girl.

"Hey. My name is Shiro. What’s yours?"

No response.

She just stared ahead—her eyes empty, her body limp.

She looked... lifeless.

Not literally, but… damn. She must be terrified right now. If I were her, I’d feel the same.

Her wounds were deep, her body weak.

Then—I remembered.

"The pond."

It healed my exhaustion before. Maybe… it could heal her wounds too.

But there was a problem—

She can barely move.

"Guess I'll have to do this the old-fashioned way."

I bent down and—

Lifted her into a princess carry.

Her eyes widened, but she didn’t resist.

Then—

I ran.

At full speed, I rushed through the cave, retracing my steps with the markings I had left behind.

Through the dense forest, past the thick trees—

Until finally—

The pond.

I gently placed her next to the water.

"Drink."

She just sat there, staring at her reflection.

Not moving.

Not reacting.

Not drinking.

I frowned.

If she's not going to drink…

Then—I’ll just have to put her in the water.

Without a second thought, I picked her up and stepped into the pond, placing her in the healing water.

The water was deep, so I held onto her, making sure she didn’t sink.

Then—

Her wounds vanished.

Instantly.

Her eyes widened.

She stared at me—shocked.

I repeated, "Drink."

This time—she obeyed.

She lowered her head and drank the water.

Then—

She looked up at me.

Her gray eyes locked onto mine.

Like a puppy pleading for a treat.

I smirked. "You can drink as much as you want."

She nodded and drank more.

A lot more.

She must’ve been so thirsty.

Then—she finally lifted her head.

She stared at me again, her gray eyes so captivating—

And then—

"Thank you."

It was like an RKO out of nowhere.

My heart started beating so hard.