“Estelle, little sister, you have to survive.”
Milly made a painful decision—to give up her own life.
But Estelle took the bag of money.
She only took the bag of milk candy cubes and then fixed her gaze on the female cleric of the Goddess Church with chestnut short hair leaning on her shoulder.
She didn’t understand what Milly meant.
Seeing Estelle hesitate, Milly reached out her hand directly, but how could the cleric’s strength compare to that of a warrior?
Estelle still didn’t take the money.
Finally, Milly took a deep breath and said,
“Take this. Half of it is for you. The other half, after you find a way out, I want you to deliver to the monastery of the Goddess Church in Redwood City. There’s a Gatekeeper Nun there. Just tell her I sent you. She’ll accept it.”
Upon hearing this, Estelle pushed the bag of money back.
She propped herself up with her hands and stood.
Having lost her support, Milly could only lean against the wall and look up.
Her gaze met Estelle’s clear, pale golden eyes.
They stared at each other for two seconds before Milly slowly lowered her head.
Estelle reached out her hand and placed it gently in front of Milly.
Then the girl spoke with a gentle yet firm voice.
“I will get you out.”
“……”
Milly stared blankly at the delicate little hand.
She wanted to grab it but ended up lowering her head again, gritting her teeth.
“My legs can’t move. You go on by yourself.”
“No.”
“Estelle, didn’t you hear me? I said my legs can’t move!”
“I’ll carry you.”
“You… you really are…”
Compared to Milly’s increasingly agitated tone, Estelle’s words were calm.
It was as if they were not facing a life-or-death crisis at all.
Coupled with the girl’s delicate and adorable appearance, it left Milly with a helpless feeling that she couldn’t argue against.
Estelle turned her back and squatted down.
When Milly didn’t cooperate, Estelle lifted her onto her back.
Milly lay prone on the girl’s back, who was noticeably smaller than her.
She opened her mouth, then closed it, then opened it again before finally speaking.
“Don’t waste your strength. Just leave me here.”
“The candy cubes will sustain me for a while, but carrying me will only exhaust you more.”
“Leaving teammates behind to escape alone is common among adventurers. I won’t blame you.”
“Estelle, I’m older than you, like your sister. Can you just listen to me?”
“Why are you so stubborn?”
Estelle selectively ignored Milly’s words and kept moving with her on her back.
This made Milly both angry and helpless, but she couldn’t resist Estelle.
Once Estelle decided on something, she was determined to see it through without considering anything else—a personality unsuited for an adventurer, especially one in a team.
It easily caused conflict within the group.
Milly buried her face in the silver hair and stayed silent for a while before speaking.
“Estelle, little sister, what kind of life did you live before? Why, at such a prime age, did you not attend the Magic Academy, but instead become an adventurer, risking death at any moment? Aren’t you afraid of making your parents worry?”
Estelle’s steps faltered.
This time she surprisingly answered and spoke more than usual.
“I have a mother and a mama. Mother doesn’t care about me, and mama has been gone since I was born. Usually, it’s the maid who takes care of me.”
“???”
Milly was filled with question marks upon hearing that.
But she quickly figured it out.
Wealthy families could have complicated relationships.
Having a mother and a mama was understandable.
She assumed Estelle was from a remarried family.
Mama was her birth mother, and mother was her guardian.
The fact that they could afford maids indicated Estelle’s family was quite well-off.
But even after understanding this, how should the conversation continue?
Milly thought hard and finally blurted out,
“So Estelle really is a Milly?”
Estelle neither confirmed nor denied.
They kept wandering and retracing their steps as if trapped on an endless path.
Milly had lost count of how many times she asked Estelle to put her down and stop carrying her.
But Estelle refused and kept carrying her without pause, searching for any possible exit.
After hearing so much, Milly grew irritated.
She simply rested her head against Estelle’s back, inhaling the faint scent from the girl’s neck and hair, feeling the comfortable warmth radiating from her.
She fully immersed herself in the safety the one-year-old girl provided—a feeling sweeter than the milk candy cubes.
Though Milly was the older sister, being carried by her little sister was too embarrassing.
If anyone knew, it would be humiliating.
Yet, she didn’t want to get down; it was like an addictive potion—she was addicted to clinging to Estelle.
Suddenly, Milly said,
“Estelle, little sister, you’re just like the legendary Sword Saint Enya—kind and full of security. You make me want to stay close to you forever.”
“……”
Estelle froze, standing dazedly in place.
It was as if she understood something, and her delicate, adorable face showed a look of sudden realization.
“Missy, sister, hold me tight!”
“Hmm?”
Milly was caught off guard as Estelle’s hands released her thighs.
Milly had to hook her legs around Estelle’s slender waist and wrap her arms completely around the silver-haired girl’s neck.
Estelle took out that notebook from her bosom.
She looked at a Luminous Stone, reading it.
Milly’s curious eyes were drawn to it and completely captivated by the content of the book.
But before Milly could read much more, Estelle closed the notebook and put it back into the pocket near her chest.
Her small hands stretched back to support Milly’s hips, lifting her slightly higher on her back.
Though Milly didn’t know what Estelle was planning, she cooperated willingly.
Estelle bent down slightly and leaned forward.
As her magic power flowed out, enhancing her body’s abilities…
Estelle ran!
They took the same path, but this time, instead of going through each way, they followed a pattern.
Soon, Milly’s eyes widened in surprise.
She realized they were on a path they hadn’t taken before!
They sprinted all the way to a wide road.
Ahead of them was a half-opened large gate, and a cool breeze blew past.
Milly opened her mouth in shock and couldn’t close it for a long time.
“Can we really get out?”
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