Chapter 129

Chapter 101 I Want to Be Like You

The sunlight broke through the clouds.

The verdant trees in the courtyard danced with the spring breeze, singing softly.

The bearded swordsman standing under the tree cast a long shadow.

I stared at his smiling face and recalled our first meeting.

What was Carlos like back then… I can no longer remember.

The only thing I clearly remember is the sharp sword pressed against my neck, and the emotionless eyes in the midst of thunder and lightning that sent shivers down my spine.

“Even though you’re just a monster that crawled out of the abyss…”

He said to me, capable of decapitating me with a single thought.

Back then, he was an invincible force to me who knew nothing.

Time flew by like flowing water, and half a year had passed in the blink of an eye.

Gradually, I became more familiar with the power within me, a power even I feared, which would become increasingly terrifying over time… Even though I am currently suppressing it, using the bare minimum of “devouring” to ensure I don’t lose control—so much so that my desire for food has surpassed the original Peiluo’s obsession with gluttony. Most of the time, it’s not because I’m hungry, but because I want to eat something.

Despite this, the abyss continues to grow at a pace I can see.

I don’t know if one day it will suddenly lose control and turn things into an unimaginable situation, sometimes causing anxiety, yet I dare not tell anyone.

At least… it is still within my control, and as the sun rises and sets, it makes me stronger. Today, I feel that if I wish, I could destroy this prosperous royal city that has stood for thousands of years in an instant.

No one can stop me. Not the holy church knights, the old man in robes, the flying woman, not even Carlos right in front of me.

I roughly understand why the gluttony abyss managed to kill two people even when facing five papal knights and some bishop, a lineup that seemed invincible to me months ago.

At that time, I couldn’t fathom it. But now I have a profound understanding… If five papal knights were to fight me now, and I were to use the chaos of the abyss, I might be able to do that too.

This is also why I fear this power, yet even so…

Even so, I still believe that this bearded swordsman is stronger than me.

He is a true hero, having killed countless abysses and saved countless lives, while I… I couldn’t even save a girl from a village.

He is like the protagonist in those knight stories. Compared to him, I am just a powerless passerby with strength.

“…Little Xier… Little Xier?”

“…Hmm?”

I came back to my senses and realized that Carlos had somehow walked in front of me, waving his right hand in front of my eyes with a puzzled look.

“Why did you suddenly freeze? I called you and you didn’t hear. What, are you mesmerized by my handsome face?”

“…Who would? Disgusting.”

I showed impatience, pushing away his hand, but shifting my gaze to the flower bed far away, not daring to look into his gem-like shining eyes. I harshly said, “Aren’t you leaving? Why haven’t you left yet!”

“I still have something to say to you…”

His voice sounded quite helpless.

“…Kars Spiral Skythsky.”

“…How could you say such a difficult name?!”

I ignored him.

In a slightly surprised tone, he kept his eyes fixed on his toes.

“Am I… really that annoying…”

After a moment of silence, his voice calmed down.

“Why do you ask suddenly?”

“…I always lose my temper. I even slapped your face… And I wasted the sausages you bought the other day…”

Confused and frustrated, I stomped my foot. “Oh, am I being very unreasonable… Will I never be liked?”

“No, I think you’re very cute.”

I frowned a little discontentedly.

“Don’t use ‘cute’ to describe me…”

“Is there anything wrong with being cute?”

“Mmm… If you want to praise me, call me a strong man.”

“…Alright, I think you’re very strong… Ha, I can’t say it, it hurts in my chest.”

Finally, I lifted my head and glared at him fiercely. Seeing him clutching his chest in apparent pain, his poor acting annoyed me. I raised my hand as if to slap him, but stopped halfway and slowly withdrew it, placing it behind my back.

“If you keep this up, I will never talk to you again!”

Carlos quickly raised his hands in surrender.

“Alright, alright. You are very kind, very… beautiful?”

“Can’t you say brave, masculine… something like that?”

“But you… Ah, whatever, you are great! Little Hill, I’m really bad at praising people, especially girls, please forgive me.”

I looked at him somewhat sullenly.

The conversation seemed to have veered off into a strange direction.

Actually, what I really wanted to ask was whether, in your eyes, I count as a human being, or if you… consider me a friend… Forget it, some questions are too hard to ask.

“Alright, let’s not go on any longer, the carriage is waiting for us.” Carlos’s expression turned serious. “Little Hill, there’s something I want to ask you.”

“What is it?” I asked.

“Do you remember when we talked about the Gate of Truth in the City of Winter?”

“Yeah. You mean…”

“That’s right. The Gate of Truth has indeed infiltrated the royal city, and it’s very likely that they are connected with the nobles and the church here. But their purpose remains unclear. I’ve already spoken with Her Majesty, and there were no traces of the grass fruit. It’s not circulating in the market either. I hope you can set aside your prejudice against Her Majesty and cooperate with her to investigate this matter clearly. You know how serious this is.”

I nodded seriously. “Okay, I understand.”

“You must remember, you are a Knight of the Pope, and so is Her Majesty. Both of you are heroes of humanity.”

“I understand. I promise.”

He reached out and patted my head.

“Then I’ll be going.”

“Carlos.”

“Hmm?”

“Will we meet again?”

Carlos rapped me lightly on the head.

“Jinx… Of course we will.”

I stood still on the lawn of the courtyard, gently rubbing my sore head, watching Carlos’s figure get into the carriage. Then, the hooves and wheels stirred up dust, and the carriage drove away from Londor Street.

Only after the carriage was no longer visible did I turn and walk toward the empty mansion.

…Carlos, you said you want to become someone like Sword Saint Ryan. That must be the person you’ve encountered and think is the best, right?

Although my impression of him, apart from being the strongest Knight of the Pope, is mostly from stories, it’s not hard to imagine what kind of person he might be.

It’s nice to have such a mentor in life.

But for me, becoming a Sword Saint seems too distant, and I don’t even know him… If I were to set a goal for myself, it would be more practical to aim for something closer.

I want to be a person like you, upright and honest.