Chapter 21: Resolve and a New Departure

Holding Rowena tightly in his arms, Ed turned to face the guards in the post and the sister who had come from the orphanage.

“I sincerely apologize for the trouble we’ve caused.”

He bowed his head first.

Then, without hesitation, he declared his decision.

“Please allow me to take responsibility for this child… for Rowena.”

The guards and the sister looked slightly surprised.

The sister gazed at Rowena with concern.

“But… this child is an orphan, and the guard unit has already—”

“I understand. However…”

Ed tightened his arms around Rowena.

“She wants to stay with me. And… I cannot leave her behind.”

The choice to leave her at the orphanage had not been the best one—for her, or for him.

The moment he decided to protect her from the drake in that forest, perhaps he had already bound himself to her.

“So I will take her with me on my journey.”

The sister still looked uneasy, but after seeing the resolve in Ed’s eyes, she said nothing further.

“I truly apologize for the trouble. And… thank you.”

He offered his thanks again to the guards and took Rowena’s hand.

“Rowena.”

He spoke gently to her as she continued to hiccup from crying.

“I won’t leave you again. I won’t leave you at the orphanage.”

He looked directly into her eyes as he said it clearly.

“From now on, we’ll always be together.”

The moment she heard those words, Rowena’s tear-streaked face changed instantly.

A radiant smile bloomed upon her face—brighter than any he had ever seen.

Seeing that smile, warmth spread deep within Ed’s chest.

Perhaps every hardship—the battle in the forest, the fight with bandits, even the painful farewell at the orphanage—had led to this moment.

The young guard gave Rowena a small wave in farewell.

Rowena waved back energetically with her little hand.

Leaving the gates of Norest behind them, Ed and Rowena began walking toward the inn.

Rowena gripped Ed’s hand tightly, her steps light and almost bouncing.

What kind of journey awaited them now?

It would undoubtedly be nothing like the solitary journey he had known.

There would be more danger.

More hardships, surely.

But perhaps that wasn’t so bad.

Not if her smile was by his side.

He still had no idea what lay ahead.

He had not decided where to go or what to do.

But one thing was certain.

This journey was no longer his alone.

A few days later—

Ed received his newly ordered leather armor from the armory in Norest.

He shed his worn-out gear and dressed in the newly crafted set.

The leather was still stiff, but the way it fit his body felt reassuring.

Beside him, Rowena gazed happily at her own arm.

Matching Ed’s new armor, the armorer had crafted a small leather bracer that fit Rowena’s slender arm perfectly.

Its design resembled the leather bracers Ed wore to protect his forearms.

It was a modest matching piece.

For Rowena, it was more than simple protection—it was a symbol of her bond with Ed.

She stroked it again and again as if it were a treasure.

Preparations for their new journey were complete.

The money from the drake’s tail would cover their expenses for the time being.

Now then, what next?

Where would be a good place to gather information?

Suddenly, he remembered what the adventurers from the Black Dagger had told him before entering the forest.

Norest had a large Adventurers’ Guild.

The Adventurers’ Guild.

A place where all kinds of requests gathered.

It might be the perfect place to obtain information and plan their next steps.

And if he registered, it would serve as identification.

That would surely be useful when entering other cities.

All right. Let’s go.

With his new armor—and Rowena wearing her small leather bracer—Ed headed toward the Adventurers’ Guild of Norest.

The guild building was even larger and sturdier than the inn.

Inside, it was crowded with people who appeared to be adventurers.

Papers that looked like request notices covered the walls.

It was a lively, bustling place.

Ed stepped up to the reception counter and addressed the guild staff.

“Excuse me, I’d like to register as an adventurer.”

The staff member looked over his equipment with practiced eyes and nodded.

“Certainly. For one person?”

Her gaze shifted to Rowena standing beside him.

“No, for two.”

Ed answered without hesitation.

The staff member blinked in surprise but quickly returned to her professional smile.

“For the child as well?”

“Yes. She’ll be registering too.”

Rowena puffed out her small chest proudly upon hearing his words.