CH 21
The prosthetic arm
Its not sothing good for Miss to stare at it like that.
But, its Winstons hand. Why is that so bad?
Seeing it for the first ti, I thought it was amazing, but I never thought it was scary.
I turned my eyes from his hand and began to eat my soup again.
However, his gaze that followed from the side did not leave. At the gaze that didnt leave even when I finished my soup, I turned my head.
Why are you staring at like that?
Miss, dont you find this hand gross?
Its not gross.
Thats unexpected. Usually, young children say they dont like to see this hand.
I couldnt help but look at him with worry due to Winstons vain smile.
Because Im not a child.
..is that so?
Yes. I dont find it gross because Im not a child.
But even grown-up adults get disgusted seeing my hand.
At his words, I replied raising my eyebrows,
Thats because theyre rude.
yes. Youre right. They gave that look without even hearing why I was wearing a prosthetic arm.
Thats an.
if Miss doesnt mind, may I explain to you what caused to wear a prosthetic arm?
Suddenly?
When I opened my eyes wide, Winston raised the glasses he was wearing. The smiling eyes over the round glasses looked good.
I didnt know his reason, but I dont think he was soone who talked nonsense, so I nodded.
It may be a little scary, but-
I said no.
At my imdiate reply, Winston laughed as if he was happy to hear it.
Then he folded up his sleeves and showed the prosthetic arm attached to his wrist.
A long ti ago. Shall we start from the story when I first t the Guild Master? The guild master was still in her position of the successor, and I was a petty thief.
The story was older than I thought, and it sounds like a dark story.
Is it okay to listen?
It must be a very personal story, and that, to a kid he had seen for the first ti
But the thought quickly faded away.
At that ti, Mrs Chloe was taking a test to beco the next Guild Master. The test that asked her to find her most precious thing in the capital.
An interest suddenly arose in those words. As my eyes glistened, Winston burst into a small laugh as if he thought it was funny.
When I tilted my head, he covered his mouth and started talking again, saying it was nothing.
I robbed the Guild Masters wallet.
really?
Yes. After that, I was chased and got caught in vain.
At that ti, did Mom have the ability to be a smoke mage?
Winston shook his head at my question.
Of course. Since, I ran to death trying to avoid the smoke.
thats amazing.
I knew better than anyone that my mothers ability was amazing because I watched her abilities right in front of .
Im sure even in the past her ability was sothing amazing.
I dont think he was a simple petty thief.
At my suspicious gaze, he burst out laughing again.
You are looking at with the sa gaze the Guild Master made. She looked at like that and then she said,
What?
Are you b*stard really just a petty thief?
As expected, what I saw yesterday wasnt a lie.
Co to think of it, even Moms rough mouth suits her.
And then she forced around to pay for it.
Winston sighed quietly, saying it was hard.
She also said, if I knew how hard it was to make money, I wouldnt do this again. She dragged around and made work hard.
And?
She gave all the money in that wallet as a monthly salary. Then cheered on to live a new life.
He laughed out loud, saying it was thrilling, then he ca to his senses and coughed.
But, the head of the security forces, who learned of the facts, concluded that I had stolen the money and dragged away. He said he would cut off the thiefs wrist.
..
I naturally frowned upon hearing those words.
Is that why his hands were like that?
Seeing my face, he shook his head, saying that wasnt the case.
It was because the leader was surrounded by scandals at that ti, so he tried to make the right prey and escape from it.
Winstons expression changed from mont to mont and beca more imrsed.
so?
When he was about to drag into the middle of the square and cut off my wrist, the Guild Master ca up and told him that the money was my reasonably paid salary.
I didnt understand.
Mom was with him, so what exactly happened to his hand?
Winstons face darkened a little after finishing his words.
But he didnt believe it. He said that the foreign girl was fearless and drove Guild Master as mine accomplice.
Mom is probably not a foreigner.
It had been a long ti since she ca back from abroad, so there was no way to prove it right away.
Even I, who was listening to the situation which I didnt even see, beca frustrated.
When I hit my chest, he continued to fill the empty glass of water, telling to calm down.
That wasnt enough, so he made fun of the Guild Master. He said sothing vulgar with his dirty mouth. At the square where so many people gathered.
As if recalling that day, Winston pressed his chest lightly.
And then the Guild Master said, If he really did it, you can cut my wrist yourself.
What nonsense
Theres no such sophistry!
Unfortunately, he didnt listen to the Guild Master but rather got angry that she confronted him.
He was an ugly adult.
I couldnt hold back my anger and started to fu.
Otherwise, he threatened to cut off Guild Master wrist first. The feeling that ca to at that mont was I didnt want to see that happen to her.
no way.
I realized a lot during the ti I spent with her.
Winston closed his eyes and smiled sincerely.
She was the one who gave hope to live a new life. I didnt want to see her treated like that anymore.
Winston had a relieved smile.
So I cut my wrists myself.
Winstons story was over.
There must have been other ways
Back then, I just didnt want to get her involved with my karma.
He said so, cleaning up the empty dishes.
However, he did not stop talking.
When everyone was shouting, covering their eyes, swearing, the Guild Master punched the head of the security force in the face.
with her fists?
And then a security guard ca running from far away. The man who ca to know the identity of Guild Master was running to stop him at that mont.
I cant believe he appeared after everything was over.
This world was not friendly to him.
Nevertheless, he smiled rrily.
Doesnt Winston feel frustrated about losing the wrist?
Is it because it happened a long ti ago that his injustice died down?
No, If it were I wouldnt be able to let that go easily.
So what the hell is it?
The Guild master brought a doctor and a priest from the capital city to treat .
If it was Mom, she probably brought all the doctors and priests and put them in line to heal his wrist.
But Im sure Winstons wrist wasnt healed.
Even so, my wrist could not be restored. To soone like , she handed a prosthetic hand and apologized. Even though it wasnt her fault.
He brought a little pudding and put it in front of . There was no awkwardness in all the actions of opening the lid kindly as if he was asking to eat it for dessert.
And she took to the rchants group and said, I was the most precious treasure to her in the capital.
oh
Suddenly the way this is flowing
I couldnt understand it, so when I looked at him with surprised eyes, he laughed.
Because soone you can trust to have next to you will always be a great treasure to you.
then did Mom pass the test?
She passed her test. She hired since then, and its been 15 years since I started working as her secretary.
Oh, that prosthetic arm wasnt an embarrassing and shaful flaw for Winston.
It was the beginning of the life that he chose for himself. Thats why it wasnt unfair.
It was our first ti to et today, but I wanted to tell you this in person. Just in case you might be wondering?
He winked playfully.
So I dont feel sorry for you nor for the scars on your legs.
Winstons voice was solemn.
But it didnt hurt .
Because it was sothing Miss chose herself, and thats why you are here. This mont itself has beco the life you tried to make.
While talking like that, he stared anxiously at the untouched pudding. It mightve been an unkind word for a child, but I rather liked it.
It seed like he was saying that he respects .
Winston.
I think I can get along with Winston.
Oh, I thought so, but I guess were on the sa page.
Winston took the pudding out of my hand with a friendly smile. Then he scooped it himself and brought it to my mouth.
Then shall we start our relationship with this pudding?
why did the story go there?
Im just offering you the al the young master prepared. Please help carry out all my duties.
If you say that here, I have no choice but to accept it.
With no choice left, I opened my mouth, and as if he was giving a bird feed, he put the floating pudding in my mouth.
You seem to like sweets. The lunch snack is cocoa.
As I was staring at the finished pudding bowl, I heard those words and my face was filled with disgust.
Ugh
Im sure I was told your favorite snack is cocoa thats why I should take good care of it. Am I wrong?
Looking at him, who smiled mischievously saying that master Ricarda mistook, I nodded.
Ricarda is the most confident when it cos to cocoa. I hate it because its too sweet.
And why couldnt Miss say that to him directly?
Because he looked so excited when he made it
As I heaved a sigh, he slowly turned his head away. Then suddenly, he trembled, and after a while, he turned to face again.
?
For a mont, I thought Id sneeze. Now, uh. thats fine.
Youre going to be okay, right?
I was going to ask him because he was still shaking, but he was faster to speak up.
Youve finished your al now. Is there sowhere you want to go?
Can I go anywhere?
Theres no place you cant go here.
Then I want to go to a little prison in the woods.
Winston hesitated at my words and asked again with a serious look.
Would you like to go there? Really?
Yes. Really. Id like to et that child.
Winston, without hesitation, turned around and pulled sothing out of the corner of the closet.
It was a wheelchair with a bunch of unknown devices.
Thats strange. Im sure Ive got it ready for you to use right away, but theres no sign of use.
Youve all deceived .
I heard it would take a long ti to build my wheelchair.
Why is my wheelchair coming out of there?
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