◈ 125. [Side Story] Golden Light (2)
a few days later
“Wow, what is all this, Grandma?”
Junior opened his eyes wide as he saw the armful of things Jupiter had bought.
From various groceries to sweets, new clothes to dolls and toys. Considering the circumstances of the house, it was full of things that were hard to see.
Jupiter grinned as he unpacked his pack.
“My income has increased a bit.”
“… … .”
Junior opened his eyes wide and looked up at the grandmother. Jupiter screamed into her house.
“Guys, come out and look at what Grandma bought!”
The children who came out of the house one by one screamed for joy.
Children with missing limbs or with burns all over their bodies limply took gifts from Jupiter.
“And voila!”
Finally, Jupiter gave Junior something with a grin.
It was several books. Junior’s mouth opened slightly.
“Did you say you wanted to read a book? Grandma brought some.”
“wow! thank you, grandma! I’ll read it!”
Junior, who had a big smile while holding a big book in his small arms, eventually erased his smile slowly.
“By the way, Grandma.”
“huh?”
“Have you ever touched something strange?”
“… … .”
“Where did you get the money to buy something like this? Payday is still far away… … .”
What is the keen sense of a young child?
Jupiter was taken aback for a moment, but then smiled softly.
“Hey, is your grandmother usually a great person? It’s not just one or two pennies that I have saved for my emergency fund.”
“really?”
“okay. So don’t worry about that, enjoy reading the book!”
Jupiter grinned and patted his stomach.
“Let’s make dinner together. Her grandmother is starving to death.”
“… … huh!”
Heading to the kitchen together, the two chatted.
“By the way, grandma, did you say my cooking was not good?”
“I’m a teacher because I can’t cook either. Let’s try hard.”
The two stood side by side in the kitchen, clumsily preparing dinner. The sound of children laughing echoed through the house.
It was a night of rare abundance.
***
after dinner.
While the children are dolls and play noisily with their toys, Jupiter lights a cigarette outside the front door.
“Whoa… … .”
I started smoking cigarettes after a long time and couldn’t quit.
Smoking suppressed the guilt over the first smuggling trade and the anxiety over the injustice and crimes committed.
It was then.
“grandma?”
Outside the door, Junior stuck his head out. Frightened, Jupiter quickly shook the cigarette and put it out.
“Junior? What’s happen. The wind is cold, so hurry in.”
“lol. I have something to show her grandmother.”
Junior, who came to the side with a bashful smile, raised his finger.
“Look at this!”
From Junior’s fingertips, elements with magical properties rose up emitting light.
Jupiter’s face hardened. Junior smiled brightly.
“After that day, I was able to move them however I wanted. I must have a talent for magic!”
In Jupiter’s mind, the words of the priest he had heard just a few days ago came to mind.
– Magical power is flowing backwards from the scars of magical power left in the heart. It’s more of a problem because he’s gifted as a wizard. I can’t handle my magic because of the scars.
Unaware of Grandma’s speed, Junior nodded.
“I want to be like Grandma when I grow up! Become a great wizard like Grandma, earn a lot of money! Grandma and the kids-“
snap.
Junior, who was about to say more, stopped talking.
It’s because Jupiter grabbed Junior’s shoulders with a scary face.
“Don’t even think about learning magic.”
“uh? why… … ?”
“Even if you don’t learn that, Grandma can feed you for the rest of your life.”
“but… … .”
“Promise me, Junior. Promise me. Even if you see this old woman, she won’t learn magic.”
Junior, who looked at Jupiter’s serious face bewildered, muttered shyly.
“But, Grandma… … It’s hard raising us.”
“… … .”
“I also want to grow up quickly, so I just want to help my grandmother… … .”
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“Grandma is fine, Junior, you only think of yourself. got it?”
Jupiter quietly hugged Junior and patted him on the back.
“Grandma is fine.”
“… … .”
“It’s okay, don’t worry.”
Junior quietly held him in his arms and lowered his eyes.
***
Wealth was short-lived. I haven’t been in a few months.
The imperial investigators were competent. Jupiter’s smuggling trade was soon stepped on.
It was crucial to administer advanced healing magic to more than 10 children in the capital.
It was too expensive magic for a demoted soldier to afford.
Detectives who smelled it came to the village to investigate, and smugglers arrested at the scene called Jupiter by name.
The investigation was carried out in a flash, and Jupiter did not protest.
Because it was true that he had committed infidelity.
Jupiter was eventually forced to retire in dishonor.
The conclusion of dedicating one’s life to the military was so futile.
‘It’s self-employed.’
Jupiter chewed the cigarette in his mouth as he left the guard post.
I didn’t regret it.
If I hadn’t touched the smuggling trade back then, the children wouldn’t have received advanced healing magic, and they might not be in this world by now.
I was just worried about the future.
There are still a lot of clothes at home, but the source of income has been cut off.
‘Where do you make money now… … .’
I saw fishing boats coming and going to the pier not far away. It was time to think about whether I should be a fisherman or not.
“Sir Jupiter!”
Turning around at the voice calling, a group of tough-looking men came pouring in.
“Welcome to being a free man.”
Among them, a well-dressed man grinned.
It was a man I had seen several times. He was a trading partner he encountered while dabbling in the smuggling trade. Jupiter frowned.
“Did you come to make fun of someone being cut?”
“Please. I’m not stupid enough to offend the wizard.”
The man who came and stood in front of Jupiter immediately brought up a business.
“I’ll be honest and tell you. Lord Jupiter, don’t you want to become a mercenary?”
“what? mercenary?”
“yes. That mercenary who will fight anyone for money.”
A look of displeasure crossed Jupiter’s face.
“This thunderbolt Jupiter, do something like a mercenary now… … Is that sound?”
“It’s not about being a mercenary, but it’s a situation where you have to become a hunting dog that the mercenary brings with you.”
The man chuckled and laughed.
“You need a lot of money, right?”
“… … .”
“I don’t know what kind of charity you’re doing… … Raising more than 10 children alone in a world where even raising two kids can break your back.”
“… … .”
“Isn’t that why you’ve taken your hands off the dirty work here? You did smuggling, but can’t you just work as a mercenary?”
The man pulled out a small box from his bosom. When the box was opened, several luxurious cigars were contained.
“If you’re as skilled as Lord Jupiter, you’ll be able to make a fortune as a mercenary.”
“… … .”
“Come with us.”
The hesitation did not last long.
Jupiter reached out and took the cigar. The man laughed, cut off the end of his cigar, and lit it with a match.
***
“The priest will often come to take care of you.”
The night I accepted scouting as a mercenary.
Jupiter gathered the children together and explained how they were to live.
The priest, the attending physician, decided to visit often, and he also asked his neighbors.
The guards, who were subordinates, also readily promised to take care of the children.
Since the amount the employer paid in advance was quite large, it was all passed on to them as gratuities.
The remaining amount was given to Junior.
“It will be about half a year’s living expenses. You have to save it.”
“… … .”
“Junior. Since you are the eldest, you have to take care of your younger siblings.”
“… … huh.”
“Grandma will make a lot of money and come back soon.”
Jupiter made eye contact with the children one by one and exchanged greetings. Junior squeezed the bag of money in her hand.
That night.
Junior cautiously approached Jupiter, who was sitting on a chair outside the front door smoking a cigarette.
“grandma.”
“huh? What are you doing not sleeping?”
“Read this.”
In Junior’s hand was a children’s book he had bought a few days ago.
Jupiter laughed and lifted Junior onto the chair with a hissing sound.
Then, holding her granddaughter in her arms, she slowly read a storybook to her.
Junior dug into Jupiter’s arms.
“Grandma, how far are you going?”
About halfway through the book, Junior suddenly asked. Jupiter answered nonchalantly.
“well. He says he’s going west. There must be another country at war over there.”
“Can’t I go and stay with you?”
“… … .”
“I’m scared without my grandmother.”
Jupiter patted his granddaughter’s hair slowly.
“I’ll make a lot of money, so I’ll be back soon. You don’t have to be afraid.”
Even Junior knew. That her grandmother had to leave.
But the fear was unavoidable. Junior pressed her face into Jupiter’s arms.
“… … I often have scary dreams these days.”
“nightmare?”
“huh. Grandma too?”
“then. Her grandmother also dreams often.”
Patting her granddaughter on the back, Jupiter smiled.
“But today will not be a nightmare, I will have good dreams.”
On top of an old creaking chair, bathed in the sea breeze, Junior slowly fell asleep.
Jupiter whispered in her granddaughter’s ear.
“Sleep well, sweetheart.”
***
Since then, Jupiter has wandered all over the continent in search of war.
The income as a mercenary was not as good as expected. Wars were frequent, but mostly lulled.
Eventually, Jupiter was not only a mercenary, but also had to dabble in all kinds of dirty work.
The honor he had kept as a soldier was useless in the face of his grandchildren’s livelihood right away.
By scrapping, selling, and throwing away a lifelong reputation, Jupiter built a new one.
A fallen soldier who is crazy about money.
A goldmine who will do anything for money.
Junior was an innocent and tender child, but as he took responsibility for his younger siblings’ lives, he became tougher and more tenacious.
Most of the neighbors Grandma asked for help didn’t help Junior.
Rather, they threatened or harmed them by giving them money.
Junior had to be strong. She had to be cunning and tough.
The magic that my grandmother told me not to learn had to be mastered in order to protect my younger siblings.
Above all, she knew. that her own talent lies in magic.
no, that’s all there is.
In the blink of an eye, 10 years have passed.
As much as Jupiter and his grandchildren grew apart, so did their minds.
Except for the occasional letter exchange, exchanges between them gradually dwindled.
Still, Jupiter sent the money and Junior wrote a letter.
Junior has become a complete adult.
And as a wizard, exactly what happened that day 15 years ago.
What did Jupiter do? I completely understand.
Jupiter suddenly became an old man with gray hair.
Jupiter became afraid of his granddaughter. She reaped and raised them, but in fact, she left those children with indelible scars.
***
today.
Imperial Southern Front. Fortress City Crossroads.
The inn room where Junior stays.
“… … .”
“… … .”
Jupiter and Junior stared at each other quietly.
There was no gaze between the kind grandmother and granddaughter that they shared 10 years ago.
Instead, fear, awkwardness, and vague love-hate remained in their eyes.
“… … .”
After staring at her granddaughter covered in the blood she vomited in silence for a long time, Jupiter spat out.
“… … Are you eating?”
