TISND Chapter 55

Chapter 55

In Primrose, Joshua was like a beloved youngest child, someone who everyone felt compelled to look after.

He was the kind of child who caught your eye wherever he went, making you want to take care of him.

Despite being only twelve years old, he seemed like an old soul with the wounds of someone much older.
While his intelligence and maturity often made him admirable, they also made him seem pitiable at times.

Everyone in the guild had their own burdens to bear, so they could easily pick up on the signs.
They noticed the despair and sadness that occasionally flickered in the boy’s eyes.

But when he was with Helena, he seemed a little different.

“You’re eating well,” Helena said with a pleased smile as she looked down at him.

Joshua, feeling shy, mumbled in a small voice, “I was just a bit hungry.”

“Hungry? Don’t tell me you’ve been starving! Does the guild starve their kids?”

Startled, Helena jumped up from her seat. She quickly refilled his stew bowl, which was nearly empty.

“I wasn’t starving… just hungry.”

“Eat up, eat up. You need to eat a lot to grow big and stay healthy.”

Joshua stared at the stew bowl, now overflowing with chunks of meat and vegetables, and clamped his mouth shut.

“Why does it feel like no matter how much I eat, it never seems to end?”

“Hm? Still hungry?”

“No… never mind.”

“Good, keep eating,” Helena said, handing him more bread or slicing up fruit for dessert as he ate.

Though a bit embarrassed, Joshua didn’t seem to dislike her attentiveness and focused on eating diligently.

Watching the two of them, the mercenaries murmured softly among themselves.

“See? I guess it’s always better to have a mom around.”

“He never acted like such a kid when he was with us.”

“Who knew he could even get embarrassed like that?”

When Helena wiped the corners of his mouth with a handkerchief, Joshua mumbled something to her, his face slightly reddening as he smiled sheepishly.

The boy’s happy demeanor made the mercenaries grin in response. Bahen was no exception.

“That’s a nice sight,” he muttered with a sigh.

Someone overheard him. It was Duman, who had known Bahen since before the guild was founded.

“Thinking about your wife, boss?”

“…”

“That woman… she reminds me of your wife. Their personalities are kind of similar.”

“You think so?”

“It’s been four years now, hasn’t it? Since you last saw her.”

“Has it been that long already…”

Bahen’s face softened with a wistful smile as he stared off into the distance.

“Wait, what? A wife? The boss had a wife? When did you get married?” another mercenary asked, wide-eyed.

“Don’t ask, you idiot.”

“Fine, I won’t pry, but still…”

Suppressing a faint smile, Bahen approached Helena.

“Thanks for the meal, Madam—uh, Helena. You’re quite the cook.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

Looking at her nearly empty plate, Bahen commented, “But why didn’t you eat much yourself?”

“I did eat.”

“Huh? That’s what you call eating?”

The way she held her spoon and knife looked a bit uncertain, as if she hadn’t been very hungry.

Bahen shrugged and let it go.

“I feel like I should thank you since it’s been a while since I’ve had such a good meal,” Bahen said with a pleased expression, glancing around the building.

“And thanks for making this place feel more like a home. We’ve never been good at keeping things tidy. We’re a bunch who can barely take care of ourselves, so it’s no surprise.”

He smiled and added, “We’ll try to clean up and live a bit neater from now on. Can’t promise we’ll get it right from the start, though.”

Helena’s face flushed at the unexpected gratitude, but her response was calm and composed despite her embarrassment.

“This was all for Joshua’s sake.”

Her words sounded detached, but anyone could see she was trying hard to hide her shyness.

“I didn’t do it expecting a thank you, so you don’t have to say that.”

The mercenaries couldn’t help but burst out laughing at her reaction.

“Ha! So, you get shy after all, huh?”

“…”

“What’s this? Are you embarrassed because we said thank you? Your face is bright red!”

“It’s not that…” Helena mumbled so softly her voice was barely audible.

“What was that? Can’t hear you!”

“Don’t tease her too much,” Joshua interjected, sealing the deal.

“Helena really is shy, just like the boss said. If you keep teasing her, she might get so embarrassed she’ll run away. You should know when to stop.”

“Hey!” Helena called out in disbelief, glaring at Joshua.

“What? I’m just telling the truth. Am I wrong?”

“…”

Helena couldn’t bring herself to deny it.

—

After the meal, with full stomachs and a clean environment, the mercenaries seemed in much better spirits.

Meanwhile, Helena called out to Joshua.
“Joshua.”

“Yes?”

“Can we talk for a moment?”

There was a brief pause before Joshua nodded.
The two of them moved to the backyard at the back of the guild building.

It was Joshua who broke the silence first.
“Why did you call me? Are you here to tell me to go back, like my father?”

His tone was wary again.
“Let me make it clear—I’m not going back.”

“I didn’t come here to tell you to go back,” Helena replied calmly.

“Then why?”

“I came to scold you.”

Joshua blinked in surprise.
“For what?”

“For what you said to the Duke—that he’s not your real father,” she said bluntly.

“…”

“That really upset him. Don’t ever say something like that again.”

“I know,” Joshua replied, his expression darkening.
“I know I said the wrong thing.”

“Then why didn’t you apologize?”

“Because if I apologize…” Joshua hesitated, then continued, “…he might tell me to come back again.”

Helena sighed deeply at his response.

“You should definitely apologize, okay?” She said firmly.

“…”

After a brief silence, Helena spoke again, quietly.
“This is a nice place.”

“Do you really think so?”

“Yes. Didn’t you say you wanted to come here from the beginning?”

“That’s right. I told my father I wanted to see the world, and after he found out I wasn’t going to the academy, I told him I wanted to learn practical skills under Captain Bahen. He accepted.”

She thought to herself that Joshua must have originally wanted to learn swordsmanship. After all, he had mentioned wanting to learn how to fight.

“How did you meet Bahen?”

“Through my father, by chance. He said they’ve known each other for a long time.”

By now, there was a trace of pride in his voice.
“Being here is much better than the academy. I get to see how the world works, and I can understand what people want.”

“That’s true.”

“Right? The things we learn at the academy are already in my head. What I need is real-world experience, not useless theory.”

“Even swordsmanship?”

Joshua’s mouth closed, as if caught off guard by the question.
“…Yes.”

“Aren’t you pushing yourself a little too hard? You’re still a beginner, right? You haven’t even gotten permission to learn assassination daggers yet.”

“What does it matter? The dagger is the most useful in an emergency. It’s easy to conceal, and it’s great for surprise attacks.”

Helena’s tone became firm as she asked,
“This is what I want to know: why are you learning these techniques?”

“…?”

“I’m asking because, since earlier, you’ve been trying to learn skills that are practical or useful in real life.”

Joshua fell silent at her sharp question.

“So, you’re learning the dagger for a reason? Are you planning to become a mercenary? Didn’t you used to dream of becoming a commander, like the Duke? If your dream has changed, that’s one thing, but…”

“My dream is still to be a commander.”

“Then what’s this about?”

Joshua hesitated, as if struggling to say something difficult. It was clear there was a reason behind it. It wasn’t just curiosity—there was something troubling him deeply.

“Joshua.”

Helena called his name softly.

“Would you mind telling me quietly? You don’t have to tell your family, but could you tell me?”

“I haven’t told my family, so I’m not going to tell you.”

“Isn’t it easier to talk to someone who isn’t family?”

She calmly reassured him.
“Think of it as confiding in me. Talking to a third party might offer another solution you haven’t thought of.”

“…”

“It’s okay, just let it out. I can see you’re carrying all these worries by yourself.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because I’ve been there.”

Helena shrugged playfully. Well, she still was, to some extent.

“It’s a habit of mine. I know how it feels because I’m not one to share my own problems with others easily.”

“…Promise me you won’t tell anyone.”

Finally, after much hesitation, Joshua spoke up.

“Promise me you won’t tell anyone.”

Especially not his father or Jeremy. With an agonized expression, the child finally began to speak.

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