I Come From the Abyss to Save Humanity Today - Volume 1 Chapter 25

25. The Girl from Silgaya (Part One)

The sky was just right, and the sun shone brightly.

In a remote, dilapidated village, orderly restoration work was underway. Men bustled about, transporting logs and rocks on carts to the hired craftsmen, who would then process them into usable stone or wooden beams. Women and children were mostly busy with clay or weaving thatch for roofing.

Aside from the occasional sorrowful expression on the villagers’ faces, everything seemed to have returned to the peaceful days of old.

Only the population had noticeably decreased.

On the fields not far from the village, two rows of irregularly shaped steles and crosses stood… Perhaps they could not even be called steles, but merely large rocks erected upright.

They looked hastily made, barely recognizable as a graveyard.

By the village road at the western entrance, a ferocious behemoth curled up, quietly sleeping amidst the ruins of collapsed walls.

At first, it truly frightened the villagers.

“What… what kind of monster is this?”

“Don’t talk nonsense, this is the Dragon God… The Dragon God has manifested.”

Fortunately, the giant beast merely lay there to rest, not having moved from the spot since the villagers found it.

Driven by curiosity, a few young men mustered the courage to approach it. The creature merely lifted its eyelids slightly, its lantern-like pupils sweeping over them before it paid them no more mind.

Gradually, the villagers understood that the beast was friendly and would not harm them. They grew bolder, some even daring to gently touch its snow-white fur.

There were terrible scars upon it.

“The Dragon God must have fought a desperate battle with that monster… It saved us.”

Someone said, only to be slapped on the head by a companion.

“Idiot, it was little Sil who saved us.”

“…Oh, right.”

Soon, they saw the girl, wrapped in the beast’s fur, eyes closed, covered in blood.

Occasionally, the giant beast would lift its massive head to nuzzle the girl, licking her gently as if caring for its own frail child.

“Isn’t that little Sil? Is the Dragon God protecting her?”

“Go quickly, tell Granny Claire that little Sil is here!”

“What’s wrong with her? Is she… asleep?”

“She’s covered in blood… Could she be badly hurt…”

“Don’t talk nonsense! It must be the monster’s blood.”

“But… little Sil isn’t moving at all!”

“Could she be already…”

“If you dare speak another ill word, I’ll sew your mouth shut! Little Sil is our benefactor, I pray for her every day, the gods will protect her.”

“I’m just worried about her.”

“…Look, look, she’s turning over! She’s fine, little Sil is fine! Thank goodness!”

…………

Day and night passed.

At some moment, the girl slowly opened her eyes amidst the warm fuzziness.

“Ugh—”

I was a bit dazed, moving my stiff body.

My eyes felt uncomfortably dry, so I rubbed them vigorously and slapped my cheeks, taking a good while to finally come to my senses.

How long had I slept?

There was still a slight pain in my body, but more than that, it was itchy. There was no longer a feeling of stuffiness in my chest, and my waist and legs seemed to move freely.

Such a terrifying recovery power.

I looked at my dirty body, the bloodstains had dried up, hardening into a dark brown.

I lowered my head to sniff at my dress, frowning deeply.

…Such a strong stench of blood, it reeked.

Big White felt the movement on its body, understanding that I was awake, and its massive head gently nudged me.

Then it pushed me over with its snout.

“Big White, thank you.”

I patted my bottom to stand up, stroking its rough jaw.

“Purr purr.”

Big White let out a soft hum, its bell-like eyes staring deeply at me.

There was a light in them I couldn’t understand.

“…Big White?”

I voiced my question.

The next moment, Big White’s massive body gradually faded.

It was like a severely faded painting on an ancient canvas. It then became transparent, turning into specks of dazzling golden light, and finally disappeared.

“Big White—!”

I called out in panic.

“Don’t worry.” Someone spoke to me.

I turned my head to see the bearded swordsman approaching me.

Now, he had shed his cloak and armor, wearing only a simple black suit, a straw in his mouth, his gray-white hair simply tied at the back of his head, exuding a British gentleman’s demeanor with a hint of roguish charm.

The feeling he gave me was quite different from the previous two encounters. Perhaps because we were no longer adversaries, the intimidating sharpness in his eyes was gone, replaced by a hint of sleepiness.

The only thing that hadn’t changed was the sword at his waist.

“It’s not dead, it’s just returned to its homeland.”

“…Homeland?”

“Yeah.” The bearded swordsman replied nonchalantly, then glanced at me, seeing that I had no intention of ending the conversation, he clicked his tongue impatiently.

“Jeez, how to explain… Many years ago, humans had a dispute with the dragons. But because the gap in strength was too great, a god couldn’t stand it and warned those guys, saying stop fighting, I’ll create a new world for you, called the Land of Dragons. Yeah, that’s it. So your big guy went back there.”

“Really?”

“That’s what the legend says, yeah.”

“You can’t, lie to me.”

I clenched my little fists, somewhat persistent.

The bearded swordsman’s gaze became serious.

“Yeah, I’m not lying, it’s still alive.”

“You swear.”

“…I swear.”

The bearded swordsman raised his hand to swear, looking serious yet somehow unreliable, and then suddenly extended his right hand to me.

“Let’s get reacquainted, my name is Carlos. Silver Flash—Carlos Gonzales.”

“Pfft.”

Sorry, I couldn’t help but laugh.

Silver Flash? What’s that, a nickname? Are people in this world so chuunibyou that they have to report their names along with their nicknames? Do they also have to announce their special moves during a fight like calling out dishes…

I’m somewhat looking forward to it?

“What are you laughing at?”

“No, nothing… You’re not going to, kill me anymore?”

“…What do you think?”

“I don’t want to guess.”

“Guess.”

“…”

As expected, my previous judgment was correct, this man is quite boring. But let it be, I’ll reluctantly give him some face.

“Silvija Rabischmos.”

I extended my small hand for a light handshake.

Then the bearded swordsman, right in front of me, slowly pulled out a pristine white handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the hand that had touched mine. He did this without looking away, his expression indifferent.

“…So dirty.”

Hey, what do you mean by that?!

I quickly looked at my own little hand, covered in dried blood and dust.

Uh… it was a bit dirty.

My face turned red.

“Little Sil…”

“Silvija.” I glared at him.

“Alright, little Sil.”

I was about to get angry when I saw his eyebrows raise, but then he suddenly changed from his previous nonchalance, placing his right fist over his heart and bowing to me in a salute.

“I, Carlos Gonzales, on behalf of the Holy Church, on behalf of the countless citizens of Silgaya you have saved, express our deepest gratitude for all you have done, your sacrifice and dedication, we shall remember in our hearts.”

His demeanor was solemn, his words sincere.

The noon sun turned the dilapidated village a fiery red.

The warm breeze passed over the green grass, stirring up the shimmering light, carrying the curious gazes of passersby, gently brushing my black hair.

Revealing a delicate yet dirty, bewildered little face.

This sudden gesture caught me off guard.

“Uh… rise?”

Is that what I should say, it should be, right?

“What did you say?”

After completing the salute, the bearded swordsman returned to his lazy demeanor.

“…Nothing, I’m hungry.”

I said, touching my stomach.

“Let’s go.”

“What for? What do you want to, do to me?”

I looked at him warily.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

“…Oh.”

“And you’re too dirty.”

“…Oh.”

“A girl should exclaim in surprise at this point, then show a shy expression, learn a little.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Tsk, you’re no fun.”

“…”