Chapter 21 (1/2)

CH 21

“The prosthetic arm…”

“It’s not something good for Miss to stare at it like that.”

“But, it’s Winston’s hand. Why is that so bad?”

Seeing it for the first time, 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 didn’t leave me even when I finished my soup, I turned my head.

“Why are you staring at me like that?”

“Miss, don’t you find this hand gross?”

“It’s not gross.”

“That’s unexpected. Usually, young children say they don’t like to see this hand.”

I couldn’t help but look at him with worry due to Winston’s vain smile.

“Because I’m not a child.”

“…..is that so?”

“Yes. I don’t find it gross because I’m not a child.”

“But even grown-up adults get disgusted seeing my hand.”

At his words, I replied raising my eyebrows,

“That’s because they’re rude.”

“…yes. You’re right. They gave me that look without even hearing why I was wearing a prosthetic arm.”

“That’s mean.”

“…if Miss doesn’t mind, may I explain to you what caused me 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 didn’t know his reason, but I don’t think he was someone who talked nonsense, so I nodded.

“It may be a little scary, but-“

“I said no.”

At my immediate reply, Winston laughed as if he was happy to hear it.

Then he folded up his sleeves and showed me the prosthetic arm attached to his wrist.

“A long time ago. Shall we start from the story when I first met 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 time…

But the thought quickly faded away.

“At that time, Mrs Chloe was taking a test to become 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 Master’s wallet.”

“…really?”

“Yes. After that, I was chased and got caught in vain.”

“… At that time, 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.”

“… that’s amazing.”

I knew better than anyone that my mother’s ability was amazing because I watched her abilities right in front of me.

I’m sure even in the past her ability was something amazing.

‘I don’t think he was a simple petty thief.’

At my suspicious gaze, he burst out laughing again.

“You are looking at me with the same gaze the Guild Master made. She looked at me like that and then she said,”

“What?”

“Are you b*stard really just a petty thief?”

As expected, what I saw yesterday wasn’t a lie.

Come to think of it, even Mom’s rough mouth suits her.

“And then she forced me 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 wouldn’t do this again. She dragged me around and made me work hard.”

“And?”

“She gave me all the money in that wallet as a monthly salary. Then cheered me on to live a new life.”

He laughed out loud, saying it was thrilling, then he came 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 me away. He said he would cut off the thief’s 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 wasn’t the case.

“It was because the leader was surrounded by scandals at that time, so he tried to make me the right prey and escape from it.”

Winston’s expression changed from moment to moment and became more immersed.

“…so?”

“When he was about to drag me into the middle of the square and cut off my wrist, the Guild Master came up and told him that the money was my reasonably paid salary.”

I didn’t understand.

Mom was with him, so what exactly happened to his hand?

Winston’s face darkened a little after finishing his words.

“But he didn’t 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 time since she came back from abroad, so there was no way to prove it right away.”

Even I, who was listening to the situation which I didn’t even see, became frustrated.

When I hit my chest, he continued to fill the empty glass of water, telling me to calm down.

“That wasn’t enough, so he made fun of the Guild Master. He said something 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…”

There’s no such sophistry!

“Unfortunately, he didn’t listen to the Guild Master but rather got angry that she confronted him.”