Chapter 10
“…Kuck.”
With a snoring noise, Gabi suddenly woke up.
As soon as she opened her eyes, the warm sunlight coming through the window and the comfort of having had enough sleep made her look up at the ceiling for a moment before quickly raising her upper body.
“What time is it?”
She turned her head to check the clock in her room. It’s already 11:40, just before noon.
“Did I get sick, why did I sleep so much?”
After the rain ritual yesterday that she didn’t even want to think about, she was just planning to take a nap but she slept too much.
When she noticed that Simon hadn’t stopped by yet, Gabi thought that it might not be too late to escape now.
She hurriedly got up from her bed and changed her pajamas into her school uniform.
She left the room and hurried down the stairs without even tidying up her messy hair.
“…Are you up? You must have been very tired.”
When she heard that familiar voice, she nearly fell down but the man grabbed her arm.
“Ha…”
Gabi let out a sigh as she lowered her head to the hand that’s holding her arm. Even without looking at his face, she could clearly tell who it is.
Seeing the teacup on the table in the lobby, Simon must have been waiting for her to come out of her room.
Gabi strongly shook her arm to free herself from Simon’s grasp.
“Gabi-nim!”
Simon smiled as she fixed her body which was about to fall just a moment ago.
While he’s is still caught off guard, Gabi pushed him and immediately ran out of the inn. Simon can’t do anything but to call her name and desperately try to chase her.
‘Why is he so clingy! This guy!’
She didn’t even think about where she was going and just ran aimlessly.
Simon ran after her, trying hard not to lose her.
Gabi, who had turned her head back to watch Simon running behind her, bumped into someone.
“Sorry.”
Gabi was hit hard by the strong force but she didn’t forget to apologize to the other person.
After she bowed down and apologized, she was about to leave but her arm was grabbed again.
“Are you okay?”
Simon, who already caught up to her as he was catching his breath, asked her if she was okay.
Giving up on her escape, Gabi shook off Simon’s hand and touched her arm, where the force of the bump lingered.
When Simon noticed her untidy hair, Simon reached out to fix it. Gabi was surprised about it so she flinched and grabbed his hand.
“Why are you doing this? You want to take advantage of me?”
“You know I won’t.”
Seeing his confident eyes, Gabi let out a sigh.
“Are you going to use me?”
“Oh, no.”
Embarrassed, Simon waved his hand and expressed denial with his whole body.
“Didn’t I told you yesterday that I’m here to persuade you? I’m not forcing you, so please just listen. The decision is still up to Gabi-nim.”
“…All right. I’ll think about it right after hearing it, so don’t follow me anymore.”
Gabi looked at Simon for a moment and then turned around to face him.
Gabi crossed her arms and wriggled her eyebrows, telling him to spill the beans.
Seeing that, Simon smiled slightly and opened his mouth.
“Gabi-nim, is there anything you want to do?”
Simon, who said that he’s here to persuade her, shot out a question. But Gabi patiently listened and thought deeply about it.
Usually, she would say that she wants to be an S-class Hunter or even stronger without any hesitation, but that’s not something she could even dream of right now.
She has to say something that she wants to do in this new world.
“I want to become a very strong person. A very strong one that everyone looks up to.”
Gabi smiled, as if just thinking about it already made her feel good.
“Then you should be the saintess.”
“Is that already persuasion? Simon, I want to be admired as a strong person.”
“I see.”
Gabi looked at Simon while raising her brow.
“A saint is… how should I say this… Isn’t it the kind of person who just sit still, receive an oracle, and cast healing magic?”
That’s how saints are in fantasy novels. Naturally, that became Gabi’s perception of saints.
“No.”
Simon, who heard Gabi’s words, laughed softly and shook his head.
“The saintess takes the lead in fighting. Like Gabi-nim said, there are saints who only cast healing magic but they are very rare.”
“Is that so?”
“If it’s you, I know you’ll be admired as a strong person.”
The biggest reason Gabi rejected the thought of being the saintess and ran away was because she was confused.
She was not yet accustomed to this world she entered after her death. After her arrival, she was suddenly called a saintess, and it was burdensome to force her to do a rain ritual. She had no time to think about anything, that’s why she ran away carelessly.
However, as she listened carefully to Simon’s words, she was instantly captivated.
Simon was still smiling at Gabi, who couldn’t hide her shaken expression.
“There will be no harm to Gabi-nim. If something truly dangerous happens, then I will get you out of it at all cost. So can you please help me for now?”
Simon said, placing his hand on Gabi’s hand.
Gabi, startled by the sudden warmth, looked up at Simon.
He’s calmly trying to convince her.
She was contemplating, after all, it wasn’t a bad offer if she think about.
Although they are not paying her, she can stay in a good room, have three meals a day, and as Simon said, she can fight to her heart’s content.
“His Highness said that he would let me stay at the imperial castle.”
Gabi spilled a story that came to her unconsciously.
Of course, although Arnold recommended it, she has no intention of staying in the imperial palace. She only meant to dare Simon to offer her something better.
Simon seemed to think for a moment, lowering his hands at Gabi’s words.
“But Gabi-nim, no matter how high his status is, you won’t be able to live with him peacefully. Undoubtedly, letting you in will cause bad rumors.”
“Is that how it works?”
“If it’s the church and me, we can safely take care of Gabi.”
Gabi pursed her lips and looked down.
Even if she was able to get some money by accepting quests from Sissi, it was only a pebble amount that it will all be wasted by staying in the inn. So she considered Arnold’s proposal.
However, she never imagined that such rumors would spread.
“Take care of her? Who’s going to take care of who?”
As Simon waits for her answer, she heard a familiar voice from somewhere.
“I greet Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”
As Arnold approached and spoke, Simon put his hand on his chest and bowed to him.
“Your Highness seems to have a lot of time in his hand.”
When Arnold appeared, Gabi wondered why he came here, and Simon seemed to be the thinking the same.
“Are you picking a fight?”
“It can’t be. How dare I be rude to Your Highness?”
Simon’s words didn’t seem to appeal to Arnold, his eyebrows twitched as he crossed his arms.
“I don’t like that attitude, immediately bending on a situation you have no intention of losing.”
Arnold muttered in a way that Gabi and Simon could hear.
Gabi felt tired seeing these two men argue with each other.
Again, how did things get this far?
Didn’t she die to have a good future from ahead? As soon as she came to this world, she was called a saintess and made her dance in front of a crowd.
Gabi felt deeply that it was her fault for not turning down Simon’s offer from the start.
Yeah, at some point, Gabi felt that everything is her fault.
Standing between Arnold, who was frowning, and Simon, who was just smiling, Gabi looked at the two of them.
“Hmm, I will be the saintess. Let’s go back to the church.”
She thought that maybe there would be no harm being the saintess, and Simon even promised that he will take care of her. Moreover, she has no reason to refuse thinking about the three meals provided by the church.
At Gabi’s words, the expressions of the two changed again, just like the other day. Simon’s expression brightened even more, and Arnold’s expression darkened even more.
Arnold opened his eyes wide for a moment, then narrowed his brows and frowned.
“Withdraw that decision right now.”
“Why are you trying so hard to stop me? If you tell me the reason, I might understand it.”
She said as she put her hands on her waist. Arnold closed his mouth tightly and said nothing.
He seemed unwilling to speak.
“Alright.”
Waving her hand, she walked past Arnold.
She gave up on listening. After all, he’s has no intention of telling her anything.
“We will go now, Your Highness.”
Simon bowed politely.
“If I want to quit, I will. Don’t even try to convince me then.”
“Okay, Gabi-nim.”
After bidding their farewell, they turn around to head to the church, but Arnold said something again.
“Gabi, you will regret it. If you feel burdened about living in the imperial palace, then I will buy you a small mansion.”
A home of her own in a world where she has nothing, that caught her attention so she stopped walking.
“Stop this, Your Highness. Think of the situation, the people needs the saintess.”
While she was distracted, Simon refuted at Arnold.
“This bastard… Tsk. Gabi, you should think about this. I’ll keep my words.”
Arnold clicked his tongue at Simon, then turned around and left first.
Gabi, who was stopped by Arnold and also left by him, licked her lips while staring at his back.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
Leaving Arnold’s matters behind, Gabi and Simon returned to the church.
