LIGHTNOVELONLINE
Chapter 207
Noele spent the rest of her day with her parents back at their farm. Nicole baked a delicious meat pie for dinner, and Nolan popped his best bottles of wine. They gathered around and ate and laughed until the sun began to set over the horizon.
When it was dark, Noele stepped out of the house to take a breath of fresh air. She didn’t invite Amelia or the others because she wanted to spend time with just her family. But the blonde girl knew that she still had the responsibility to inform one more person about her departure.
And she didn’t quite know how to break it to him. Unfortunately, she was left with no other choice when she saw his burly figure standing on the dirt path leading up to the house.
“Garron,” Noele whispered his name as she stared at him.
There he was— Garron the Steel Tank. A B-ranked adventurer. But considering his capabilities in combat, he was more than likely equivalent to any A-ranked adventurer. He had grown so much since Noele had met him. And she had grown so much thanks to him too. After all, they helped train each other. They were sparring partners, but more than that, they were partners in combat too. They complemented each others’ strengths and weaknesses throughout many battles. So they had developed quite a close relationship with each other.
Garron had even been staying over at the guest bedroom for the last few months. But she had avoided him for all of today. And she did so with good reason.
She didn’t say another word once she greeted him, watching him slowly walk up to the house. He normally wore quite the fierce face— like he was always scowling wherever he went. But when the blonde girl looked at the expression he wore right now, he simply looked worried.
“Noele…” He took in a deep breath, before glancing back in the direction of Wolfwater. “I heard from the others. You want to leave this town.”
Noele chewed her lower lip as she lowered her gaze. She felt guilty for not telling him about her decision sooner. But it wasn’t that she didn’t want to tell him about it.
“Garron, I’m sorry for not—” she started.
And he shook his head as he smiled at her. “It’s fine. You do not have to apologize to me. It must have been a tough choice for you to make, so I understand why you took so long to tell me.”
“Right.” Noele shifted her feet uncomfortably, knowing that was the reason why she felt so apprehensive right now.
“But—” Garron raised his head, wearing a resolved look on his face. “I want to go with you.”
And there it was. Noele closed her eyes, exhaling quietly as the Steel Tank continued.
“The Sect of the Abyssal Thorns is a dangerous organization, and we both know that they are after you. I understand that you want to protect those you care about by leaving Wolfwater, but then who is going to protect you? I know I may not be that strong just yet, but please— let me help you.”
Garron proffered an open hand, and Noele sighed. She looked up at the man standing before her. And she knew he wouldn’t understand why she was doing this. He couldn’t understand. Just like she couldn’t comprehend it until just a few days ago.
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“You can’t come with me, Garron,” she whispered as she shook her head. “It’s a lot more complicated than you think.”
He blinked, then raised a brow. “What makes it so complicated, Noele?”
“I… I can’t tell you about it,” Noele replied as she thought of all the times the World System manipulated her memories. “But I can’t let you come with me. Not unless…”
The blonde girl didn’t elaborate. She didn’t know how to explain it. She simply stood there in silence, her face shadowed over as the warm light of her house illuminated her from behind.
Garron stepped forward as he spoke resolutely.
“I know you do not want to endanger my life—” he started.
“It’s not just about that, Garron,” Noele cut him off.
And the Steel Tank paused. He narrowed his eyes as he looked the blonde girl up and down. She turned away from him as she gritted her teeth.
“Noele— what is this about then?” Garron asked softly as he approached her from behind.
“I…” The blonde girl took in a deep breath, then shook her head. “I am sorry, but I cannot tell you the reason.” And she meant it literally. Because she couldn’t. Not because she didn’t want to.
But the Steel Tank didn’t know that. He just thought she was acting stubbornly. He opened his mouth, then caught himself. He stared at Noele for a long moment as the two were wrapped in silence.
FInally, Garron strode forward until he was standing in front of the blonde girl. She blinked as she caught a glimpse of his shadow looming over her. When she looked up, she saw a soft gaze staring down at her.
“If you can’t tell me, it’s fine,” he said as he looked into her eyes. “I understand that you must have a good reason for keeping whatever this is to yourself. But I still want to go with you, Noele.”
And that caught the blonde girl off-guard. She stared at him with round eyes as she tried to work her jaw.
“B-but… it’s dangerous,” she managed to muster out.
Garron shook his head. “I do not care if it is dangerous. The life of an adventurer is a dangerous life. I knew what I was getting into when I decided to become an adventurer all those years ago. And when I left Windrip, I did so to explore the world, not to be tied down to one farming town in the middle of the Astrad Kingdom.”
He spoke insistently as Noele could only stare at him, seeing the determination in his gaze. She listened as he placed a hand on his chest.
“I do not need to know why you wish to hunt down the Sect of the Abyssal Thorns. Just let me go with you, so I can help you. This is a selfish request from me, Noele.”
“I…” Noele’s lips quivered when she heard that. Even still, she wanted to reject his request. She didn’t want to bring him along with her. But why? Why didn’t she want Garron to follow her?
And that was when the Noble Spellsword realized she was being selfish— that she didn’t want him to get hurt. But he must have felt the same way. That was why he wanted to come with her. That was why he didn’t want her to leave Wolfwater on her own.
They were both being selfish. But only one of them could get what they wanted. And while Garron was steadfast in his resolve, Noele was… less so. So the blonde girl closed her eyes, mulling over her thoughts for a moment, before relenting.
“...fine,” she acquiesced as she raised her head. “I can’t stop you, Garron. But you must promise me one thing.”
“What is it, Noele?” he asked, tilting his head curiously at her.
“When I tell you the truth, you won’t doubt me. No matter how much you want to refuse to believe in what I have to say, you will listen to me. You will trust me. Even if you don’t want to.”
It was an unfair request to ask. But Noele had to ask it of the Steel Tank. He blinked, staring at her for a second, before he nodded.
“I understand,” Garron finally said. “I will trust you, no matter what.”
“Thank you.” Noele smiled in response.
Perhaps, one day, Garron would be able to find out about the truth. About why Noele was embarking on this quest. If he grew strong enough— if he outgrew the World System. But for now, the blonde girl remained alone in bearing this burden, and setting out for the truth.