Became a tyrant of defense games - Episode 125
◈ 125. [Side Story] Gold Mine (2)
a few days later.
“Wow, what is this, grandma??”
Junior's eyes widened as he looked at the armfuls of items Jupiter had bought..
From various groceries to snacks, new clothes, dolls and toys. Considering the condition of the house, it was full of items that were hard to find..
Jupiter grinned as he unpacked his luggage..
“My income has increased a bit..”
“…….”
Junior opened his eyes and looked up at his grandmother. Jupiter shouted into her house.
“Guys, come out and see what grandma brought you.!”
The children came out of the house one by one and screamed happily..
Children with missing limbs or burns all over their bodies limped to receive gifts from Jupiter..
“And~ voila!”
Finally, Jupiter smiled and handed something to Junior..
It was several books. Junior's mouth opened slightly..
“You said you wanted to read a book, right? Grandma picked some up..”
“wow! Thanks, grandma! I'll read it carefully!”
Junior, who was smiling brightly while holding a large book in his small arms, slowly erased his smile..
“By the way, grandma.”
“huh?”
“You haven't done anything strange.?”
“…….”
“Where did you get the money to buy something like this? Payday is still far away…….”
The keen sense of a child.
Jupiter was embarrassed for a moment, but then smiled softly..
“Hey, is your grandmother usually a great person? I don't have a penny or two saved as an emergency fund..”
“really?”
“okay. So don't worry about that and enjoy reading the book.!”
Jupiter grinned and patted his stomach..
“Let's make dinner together. Her grandmother is starving to death..”
“……huh!”
The two had a long conversation as they headed to the kitchen together..
“But my grandmother said my cooking was not delicious.?”
“I'm a teacher because I can't cook either. Let's try hard.”
The two stood side by side in the kitchen and prepared dinner with clumsy skills. The sound of children laughing rang out from inside the house..
It was a night of rare abundance..
***
after dinner.
While the children played noisily with dolls and toys, Jupiter lit a cigarette outside the front door..
“Phew…….”
It's been a while since I started smoking cigarettes, and I couldn't quit..
Smoking suppressed my guilt about the smuggling trade I had tried for the first time and my anxiety about the injustice and crime I had committed..
It was then.
“grandma?”
Junior stuck his head out the door. Jupiter was shocked and quickly put out his cigarette..
“Junior? What's happen. The wind is cold so go in quickly.”
“lol. I have something to show her grandma.”
Junior smiled brightly and came to the side, raising his finger upwards..
“Look at this!”
From Junior's fingertips, magical elements rose up, emitting light..
Jupiter's face hardened. Junior smiled brightly..
“From that day on, I was able to move them as I wanted. I guess I have a talent for magic!”
The words of the priest he heard just a few days ago came to Jupiter's mind..
- The magic power is flowing back from the magic scar left in my heart. It's more of a problem because he has talent as a wizard. Because of the scars, he can't handle his magic power..
Junior nodded, not knowing what his grandmother was saying..
“When I grow up, I want to be like my grandmother! Become a great wizard like your grandmother and make a lot of money! To grandma and kids-”
Suddenly.
Junior, who was about to say more, stopped talking..
This is 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, your grandmother can feed you for the rest of your life..”
“but…….”
“Promise me, Junior. promise me Just looking at this old lady, she says she won't learn magic..”
Junior, who was looking at Jupiter's serious face, muttered indifferently..
“But, grandma… … It's hard to raise us.”
“…….”
“I just want to grow up quickly and help my grandmother.…….”
“Because grandma is fine, Junior, you are the only one thinking about yourself. got it?”
Jupiter quietly hugged Junior and patted his back..
“grandma is okay.”
“…….”
“It's okay, don't worry.”
Junior quietly lowered his eyes in his arms..
***
The time of wealth was short. It didn't even last a few months.
The imperial investigators were competent. Jupiter's smuggling trade quickly came to an end..
The decisive factor was administering advanced healing magic to more than ten children in the capital..
It was magic that was too expensive for a demoted soldier to afford..
Detectives who smelled the scent came to the village and began an investigation, and the smugglers arrested at the scene called out Jupiter's name..
The investigation proceeded smoothly, and Jupiter did not plead..
Because it was true that he had committed fraud..
Jupiter eventually had to be discharged in disgrace..
The result of dedicating one's entire life to the military was such a futility..
‘It's a blessing to be self-employed.’
Jupiter chewed the cigarette in his mouth as he took out the luggage left behind at the guard post..
I didn't regret it.
If I hadn't gotten involved in the smuggling trade back then, the children wouldn't have received advanced healing magic, and they might not be in this world by now..
But I was worried about the future..
There is still a lot of money at home, but the source of income has been cut off..
‘Now where do you make money?…….’
Fishing boats were seen coming and going at a dock not far away. It was a time when I thought about whether I should work as a fisherman or something..
“Lord Jupiter!”
When I turned around at the sound of a calling voice, a group of scary-looking men came rushing in..
“welcome to be free.”
Among them, a neatly dressed man grinned..
It was a man I had seen several times. It was a business partner he had encountered while dabbling in the smuggling trade. Jupiter frowned..
“Did you come here to make fun of me for getting cut??”
“No way. I'm not stupid enough to offend the wizard..”
The man who came to stand in front of Jupiter immediately took out his business..
“I will tell you without any hesitation. Lord Jupiter, don't you want to become a mercenary??”
“what? mercenary?”
“yes. That mercenary who will fight anyone for money..”
Displeasure flashed across Jupiter's face..
“This thunderous Jupiter, tell me to get rid of the mercenaries now... … Is that what you mean??”
“Rather than being a mercenary's liaison, you must be a hunting dog that the mercenary carries around..”
The man laughed and laughed.
“You need a lot of money?”
“…….”
“I don’t know what kind of charity work you’re doing… … In this world where raising just two kids can make you feel bad, you're raising more than ten kids on your own..”
“…….”
“Isn't that why you got involved in this dirty work? You also did smuggling, so you can't even work as a mercenary??”
The man took out a small box from his arms. When I opened the box, there were several luxurious cigars inside..
“If you are as skilled as Lord Jupiter, you will be able to secure a solid foundation as a mercenary..”
“…….”
“Come with us..”
The hesitation didn't last long.
Jupiter reached out and took the cigar. The man smiled, cut off the end of the 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 to them how they should proceed..
My doctor, a priest, decided to visit me often, and I also asked my neighbors to come visit me often..
The security guards who were subordinates also willingly promised to take care of the children..
Since the employer paid a considerable amount of money in advance, the entire amount was returned to them as a reward..
The remaining amount was given to Junior..
“It will be about half a year's living expenses. Must be used sparingly.”
“…….”
“Junior. Since you are the eldest, you must take care of your younger siblings..”
“……huh.”
“Grandma will make a lot of money and come back soon..”
Jupiter made eye contact with each child and greeted them one by one. Junior clutched the money bag in her hand..
That night.
Junior cautiously approached Jupiter, who was sitting on a chair outside the entrance and smoking a cigarette..
“grandma.”
“huh? What are you doing when you're not sleeping??”
“Please read this.”
In Junior's hand was the children's book I bought him a few days ago..
Jupiter laughed and lifted Junior onto the chair while making a sound..
Then, holding my granddaughter in my arms, I slowly read her a storybook..
Junior snuggled into Jupiter's arms..
“Grandma, how far do you go??”
When I was about halfway through reading the book, Junior suddenly asked. Jupiter answered indifferently.
“well. They say they're going west for now. I guess there's another country at war over there..”
“If I don’t go, I can’t stay with you.?”
“…….”
“I'm scared without my grandmother.”
Jupiter lazily stroked his granddaughter's hair..
“I'll make a lot of money and come back soon. You don't have to be scared.”
Junior also knew. that her grandmother had to leave.
But I couldn't help but be afraid. Junior pressed her face into Jupiter's arms..
“……I've been having scary dreams often these days.”
“nightmare?”
“huh. So does her grandmother?”
“then. Her grandmother often dreams too..”
Jupiter smiled while patting his granddaughter on the back..
“But today won't be a nightmare, I'll have a good dream.”
On a creaky old chair, feeling the sea breeze, Junior slowly fell asleep..
Jupiter whispered softly in his granddaughter's ear..
“Sleep well, baby..”
***
Afterwards, Jupiter wandered across the continent in search of war..
Income as a mercenary was not as good as expected. Wars were frequent, but mostly quiet..
Jupiter soon became not only a mercenary, but also had to do all kinds of dirty work..
The honor I maintained as a soldier was of no use when it came to my grandchildren's livelihood..
By selling and throwing away the reputation he had built up throughout his life, Jupiter built a new reputation..
A corrupt soldier who is crazy about money.
A gold mine who will do anything for money..
Junior was an innocent and delicate child, but as he became responsible for the lives of his younger siblings, he became increasingly strong and stubborn..
Most of the neighbors that the grandmother asked for help did not help Junior..
Rather, he threatened me to give up money or harmed me with a red card..
Junior had to become stronger. She had to become shrewd and harsh..
I had to learn the magic that my grandmother told me not to master in order to protect my younger siblings..
Above all, she herself knew. that her own talent lies in her magic.
No, that's all there is to it..
10 years passed in the blink of an eye.
As Jupiter and his grandchildren grew apart physically, so did their hearts..
Except for the occasional letter, communication between them became less and less frequent..
Still, Jupiter sent money and Junior wrote a letter..
Junior has become a complete adult..
And as a wizard, what exactly 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 raised and raised the children, but in reality she was the ones who left scars on them that she could not erase..
***
today.
Imperial Southern Front. Fortress City Crossroads.
The inn room where Junior stays.
“…….”
“…….”
Jupiter and Junior stared at each other quietly..
10There was no look between the friendly grandmother and granddaughter who shared a year ago..
Instead, fear, awkwardness, and vague love and hate remained in their gazes..
“…….”
Jupiter looked at his granddaughter covered in blood she had vomited in silence for a while, then suddenly blurted out,.
“……Are you eating well??”
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