~Chapter 30~
Wasn’t it better to just give me the spare cloak in the first place?
That thought struck me as I watched Karl tightly fasten his own cloak.
‘Why give me the one you were wearing?’
But it was warm, and the scent wasn’t bad, so I couldn’t complain much.
Just as we were about to set off, Karl dug into his bag.
“I have one more thing to give you.”
“It’s new this time, right?”
He pulled something out — and I froze.
“Is… is that a musket bag?”
Instead of answering, Karl handed me the long leather case.
“Can I open it?”
Again, he didn’t reply, but he opened the bag himself.
I was momentarily speechless.
Inside was a musket, its stock engraved with a golden dragon design.
The dragon’s open mouth was finely carved, and the wood grain gave it the weight and dignity of a seasoned heirloom.
Karl gestured for me to try it — not stopping me in the least.
‘Alright then.’
When I lifted it, I was genuinely amazed.
“It’s… so light?”
It rested against my shoulder perfectly — no recoil worries.
“It has a lens on the front sight — you can use it like a magnifying scope.”
What the heck? A zoom scope? In this era?
“It’s enchanted. No need to reload once it’s charged.”
“This is insane.”
A true cheat weapon.
I was too impressed to hide it. Karl grinned, this time with a wide, open smile…
Like a boy.
I was stunned. His expression — it was the first time I’d seen him smile like that.
His lips curved softly, eyes folded into cheerful crescents. That sharp face of his suddenly looked much younger.
It wasn’t winter wind brushing us anymore. It felt like spring.
“……”
I stared until the feel of the trigger jolted me back.
Trying to wipe that smile’s imprint from my mind, I shifted and placed my finger on the trigger.
“Wow.”
Another gasp escaped me — this one from the heart.
Even the trigger was perfect. Smooth, with just enough resistance to avoid accidental discharge.
“You’re really lending me this?”
“Isn’t the musket your specialty?”
Well, yes. I had put on quite the show when we met.
Still, I didn’t expect this level of generosity.
“Where did you even get something like this?”
“Not sure.”
“It’s got a dragon on it. Don’t tell me you stole this from the Duke’s armory?”
I kept caressing the stock and barrel while talking.
At some point, Karl gently stopped my hand.
Fair — it’s a fine weapon. Probably shouldn’t rub it raw.
“Don’t fondle it too much. I’m getting jealous.”
‘Ah. There it is.’
Just when I get used to his nonsense, he hits me with a fresh variation.
Jealous of… me? The gun?
‘No way… right?’
When I looked up again, the spring breeze was gone — replaced by his usual smirking face.
The one that said teasing me was his main hobby.
I sighed.
“What are you even saying.”
“Also… I did say it’s not exactly new.”
“……”
“Want me to take it back?”
Same as when he offered snacks — so petty.
‘No wonder you’re not a main character with that face.’
I muttered internally and hugged the bag protectively.
Karl paused, then said,
“If you keep doing that, I really will want to take it.”
He didn’t mean it. He was smiling again — not like before, but still.
That earlier smile…
‘You weren’t… enchanted, right?’
Close call.
Bess’s familiar voice smacked me back to my senses — like my mom scolding me.
‘Didn’t have a mom in this life or the last, but still.’
I shook my head and slung the musket over my back. It felt like I’d just eaten a warm bowl of soup.
‘Since I got something so amazing, I should say something.’
I’m not the kind of person who just teases or grumbles.
There was no need to force it. As soon as I thought about the musket, a genuine smile came out.
“Karl.”
“For the record, I didn’t steal it—”
“Thank you.”
Pure sincerity.
Just by examining it, anyone could tell how rare it was.
To give something like that to me — it meant he cared.
Karl stared at me for a moment before speaking slowly.
“Didn’t expect you to like it that much.”
“I do.”
“It’s just an old gun lying around at home, but if you like it that much…”
“I love it.”
Who wouldn’t?
‘Seriously though, what kind of monster hunter has this just lying around?’
I looked up at Karl again, hoping to fish out where he got it—
Crack.
A small fracture crossed Karl’s smiling face.
Just for a moment, like a crack on a statue.
“……”
I paused, caught off guard by the strange tension.
A brief, quiet moment.
Later, on the trail.
“It continues this way.”
“Got it.”
Even after several hours of walking, I kept thinking about the crack in Karl’s expression.
And I reflected a little.
‘Did I come off that ungrateful before?’
His face looked like I’d genuinely shocked him.
Like he didn’t expect a “thank you.”
‘The commander made that face too, when I didn’t solve a problem with my fists.’
I meant it. I really was thankful.
‘But… he’s the one always being snarky.’
Why should I feel bad?
He’s the one always teasing and saying dangerous things like it’s nothing.
Just because he flashed a pretty smile once…
“We’ve arrived.”
While I was spiraling in thought, we’d returned to the spot with the chains and footprints.
Karl studied the tracks again, calm as ever.
“Still might’ve been a regular beast.”
“This big? Maybe a bear?”
“Could be a tiger.”
All we need now is Dangun founding a nation. Northern beasts are something else.
But seriously — who ties chains near this kind of creature?
It was hard to see this in a good light.
Walking beside Karl, I asked,
“You think they meant to dispose of them?”
“Probably.”
But why?
“Even if there was a new boss, they’d usually keep the old crew.”
“……”
“Pickpockets and thieves are specialists in their own way.”
Not trying to defend them — but even movies show that stealing a wallet takes skill.
Even Tan had been clumsy.
So they got rid of trained hands… and started over?
“When that happens, it’s usually for two reasons.”
Karl followed the tracks and added:
“One, to destroy the previous power structure.”
“……”
“Two…”
I filled in without thinking:
“Replace them with loyal subordinates?”
“Exactly.”
Same thing happened in the Holy Knights — when a faction lost, their people got demoted and replaced.
It didn’t happen in the 3rd Order, but I’d seen it elsewhere.
And then it hit me.
‘Wasn’t this about the same time the contraband started spreading?’
My brow furrowed.
A new drug — banned by the capital — entered Saint Portou.
At the same time, the backstreets got purged.
If they really threw those adults to the beasts like they didn’t matter—
Then a new force had seized control.
Likely a foreigner.
Someone outside Saint Portou.
