Chapter 5 - Kaho

On the way back to the Village Chief house, Kiro's in deep thought, he was thinking of a way to fool the old chief Geoffrey.

"Haah~ It is no good no matter how hard I try every scenario that pop-up inside my head only has the same outcome. I guess it would go better, to tell the truth."

What Kiro meant for telling the truth is to explain why he looks so tattered and why he was bathed with blood. While he was walking his way to the village chief's house, Kiro didn't know that he made such a tremendous commotion.

He was walking on the street bathed with blood. There will be a lot of curious folks that would want to know what happened to him. At first, the commotion outside startled the adult from different households.

However, as if a sudden realization came to them, the adults from the village couldn't help to shake their heads.

The thing is, Kiro didn't know the values from this world differ from his former world.

The resident from this village was already used to seeing bloodshed, so they weren't that disturbed after seeing Kiro bathed with blood. More like reminiscing from the past.

They too used to hunt for their livelihood or have a wild experience from killing a game at their young ages. Seeing Kiro bathed with scarlet blood, they all thought the same thing that he went overboard and splashed the blood all over his body.

If Kiro knew what they were thinking, he wouldn't know whether to laugh or cry from such a wonderful misunderstanding.

"Mom, what is wrong with that tomato, big brother? Why is he all red?" a child looked at Kiro with bewilderment.

"Pfft, silly child, what do you mean by tomato big brother? Come here and help me clean the dishes. Don't be disturbed by that tomato, big brother."

The Mother couldn't help but release a burst of soft laughter after hearing her child calling Kiro as tomato big brother.

Kiro, who is in deep thought, didn't know that he earned another weird nickname.

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Finally, Kiro arrives at the entrance of the village chief's house.

He was so nervous he felt like he was back in the days from being a mischievous child afraid of getting scolded by his parents.

Then he gathered all of his courage as he knocked on the door.

*𝐾𝑛𝑜𝑐𝑘 * 𝐾𝑛𝑜𝑐𝑘 *

Behind the entrance was chief Geoffrey staring at Kiro, who was bathed with blood as if he already expected it to happen. He wasn't that surprised, confirming he is still fully intact with no missing limbs. Chief Geoffrey finally let a deep sigh.

"Haaa—child come inside and rest your body; just look at yourself. You're covered with blood, clean yourself first we'll discuss later. I prepared two warm basins of water inside your room."

Kiro was left dumbfounded after hearing those words. He didn't know what to say.

Seeing chief Geoffrey wasn't scolding him but rather being mindful of his wellbeing.

He couldn't help to recollect the warmth of his parents. Kiro couldn't help to give a slight warm smile subconsciously.

Kiro not to be able to withstand the urge to recollect the feeling of the warmth of his family. Reminiscing the same feeling he felt when interacting with his parents, Kiro absentmindedly bloomed an amiable smile.

Staring at the stern expression of the village chief Kiro could only nod in agreement as he went inside his room.

It was not like chief Geoffrey would know that Kiro will encounter some danger. He just prepared from the particular scenarios. He Informed the village guard and hunter that if Kiro didn't return in time, they would do a search hunt. Because their last discussion was about the rare greasy grass and chief Geoffrey knew Kiro, who was blinded with greed.

He already warned him but didn't put it in any heed, so he could only help Kiro on the sideline. Then he prepared distinct amenities from a specific scenario.

Chief Geoffrey even made herbal medicine just in case Kiro went back being injured, and he did not forget to prepare lukewarm of water for Kiro to wash if he came back to the village fine.

With his rich experience in life, Chief Geoffrey knew the appropriate way, how to deal with this kind of event, more efficiently.

As he observed Kiro's facial expression changing from nervousness to bewilderment, and finally. A warm smile that Kiro gave, didn't miss from the Old Chief's sharp eyes.

Watching his disappearing back, Chief Geoffrey couldn't help to give a helpless sigh.

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After washing the blood from his body, Kiro heard knocking sounds.

After scrubbing the dirt and blood throughout his body, using the two-barrel

*𝐾𝑛𝑜𝑐𝑘, 𝐾𝑛𝑜𝑐𝑘*

"Kiro, there are some old clothes here. It wasn't fancy as the one you wear, but it was clean. I will just leave it here, at the entrance of the room."

"Okay, thank you, chief Geoffrey."

After hearing Kiro's voice of appreciation, old chief Geoffrey walks out of the hallway.

When he was done changing, Kiro walks out of the room and searches for Village Chief Geoffrey.

Walking inside the living room, Kiro saw Chief Geoffrey spacing out on the rocking chair.

"Ahem." He gives a slight cough, awakening chief Geoffrey from his absent-mindedness.

"Oh, you're done cleaning yourself, Mm... That clothes looked good on you." Chief Geoffrey said after seeing Kiro with that look. He couldn't help reminiscing from the shadow of the past.

Seeing the lonely figure in front of him, Kiro couldn't help to feel a tinge of bitterness swelling up inside his heart. Not knowing what to do, he could only ask a question.

"Chief Geoffrey, don't you want to know what happened to me inside the Diante Forest?" Kiro said while looking curiously at chief Geoffrey. "Of course, I would like to know, but if you're willing to tell me."

Kiro felt more guilty after hearing Chief Geoffrey but knew telling the truth would only give him more trouble so he could only swallow his guilt.

"Well, it wasn't such a big secret. I was attacked by two goblins because of my negligence, I suffered some light injuries, but as you can see, I am alive and well."

"Mm, that is good hearing you say that you are fine. It is much better than me, assuming that you aren't hurt. So please tell me if something is aching from your body. Even though the Goblin is a weak monster, their detestable means is dangerous." chief Geoffrey said with a concerned tone.

Hearing the chief concerning voice, Kiro felt like his guilt was eating him alive.

"Don't worry chief Geoffrey, I am fine, there wasn't any discomfort from my body, as a matter of fact, I felt I'm healthier than before." He wasn't lying after unlocking the additional feature from his reward. Kiro felt his body become lighter.

"Mm, is that so? Then I am glad to hear that if there's nothing else, I will retire from the bed first." Chief Geoffrey said he was feeling rather tired, not physically but mentally.

Seeing chief Geoffrey was about to leave, Kiro called him out.

"Chief Geoffrey, wait, there's something I would like to ask, It has been bothering me for quite some time now."

"... Okay, say it."

"I would like to know, why did you care so much about me, who is an outsider." He stared straight at the eyes of Chief Geoffrey. Kiro couldn't think of any reason why would the village chief was so nice to him. The way he looked at him was like a grandparent caring for his grandchild.

Chief Geoffrey stared blankly at Kiro for a moment before giving a helpless sigh.

"Haah... I knew it eventually you would ask me such a question. To tell you the truth, I didn't know the answer, perhaps because you remind me, the feeling of having a grandchild or perhaps because you have that black-haired and a pair of black eyes." The chief said while recollecting the past.

"Did you remember I asked you if you are from the east?"

Kiro thought for a moment then nodded from the question at that time he found it weird but didn't voice it out.

"Because the wife of my son was from the Eastern Empire of Avonmore, she too has a pitch-black hair and a pair of black eyes. That is probably one reason I felt a close attachment from you. More so when you said that you are a traveling merchant."

"The wife of my son was a traveling merchant, too."

"One day, a fateful encounter brings the two to get to know each other, perhaps because of the oddity of my son; even though he is bad for almost everything, but only good at one thing with his academics." Chief Geoffrey said while recollecting the past.

"My son caught the heart of beauty."

"After that, the woman named Kaho at every end of the month. She would visit the village; because I could see the woman cares for my son, I didn't stop the two from seeing each other."

"With my silence blessing, the two got married and built their own family while traveling in distinct types of small and big scale kingdoms."

"I was happy for my son, and his wife wasn't only beautiful but smart too… However."

Saying that until this point, Chief Geoffrey both eyes moisten.

"... Perhaps because heaven is jealous of their happiness, who would have thought a tragedy would befall from the two..." Chief Geoffrey halted his words, as he tried to continue.

"It was at that time when they're traveling near the border of the demon and human territories, and they encounter..." He couldn't finish the word he was about to say, as tears started falling like rain from the chief Geoffrey's dried face.

Kiro wasn't that dumb enough for him not to figure out what happened next.

The village chief stabilized his breathing for a moment. Eventually continued to narrate his story.

"... They encounter demons. One of the witnesses said they killed the man on the spot, while they abducted the woman…" Chief Geoffrey choked for a bit before continuing.

"Then one week later, they saw the woman at the center of the plaza at the Town of Limbo."

"They found the woman naked at the center of the plaza while her body was covered with brushes and bite marks. Upon her last breath... They said... They said... The women were mumbling the word 'Kill me, Kill me' repeatedly until she lost her breathing."

He uttered those words with a trembling voice. As if all of his strength slipped away from his body, Chief Geoffrey's aged body stumbled on the hard ground.

"Chief!" Kiro Immediately ran to chief Geoffrey's side, helping him to get up while supporting his back. He couldn't help but curse inside his head. It was such a sensitive topic, yet why didn't he realize there was something wrong given all the clues, yet he was so insensitive to ask.

"I'm fine..." Chief Geoffrey spoke, but when he saw Kiro perplex expression.

"You did nothing wrong. I should even say thank you for helping me to let out those fed up emotions." He was trying to console Kiro when he stared at those self lamenting eyes, it was enough for him to discern that Kiro was thinking.

Following that, the village chief forcefully tried to stand up, as he walked out of the place. Heading straight toward his room.

He was looking at the disappearing figure of Chief Geoffrey, Kiro couldn't explain the pain he was feeling right now.

Perhaps he pitied the person, or it was because after hearing the story, his morals couldn't tolerate such an act.

He was a person who used to live in a peaceful era. Hearing such a heartbreaking story, a tint of hatred subconsciously being born deep inside his heart.

Staring in the direction where the Village Chief left, Kiro finally left the living room and headed back straight to his room.