CHAPTER 21: CH 21: SECOND RESCUE - PART 3

Berry hesitated for a long time, the rope in his hands feeling heavier than it actually was.

Binding someone who had barely survived death felt cruel, but Lucian’s expression did not waver.

"Do it. If she wakes up in panic and injures herself—or worse, me—then neither of us will be able to help her. This way, she won’t hurt herself."

Lucian said firmly. His tone left no room for discussion.

Berry swallowed hard. He did not fully agree, yet Lucian’s words carried the weight of reason.

With a reluctant nod, he tied the rope around the girl’s wrists and ankles. His hands trembled, but he made sure the bindings weren’t too tight.

Lucian watched in silence, eyes cold and calculating. He knew Berry was soft-hearted, too soft for this world.

If left to his own devices, Berry would likely put himself in danger again and again just to protect others. But in this land, sympathy could be fatal.

When the girl finally stirred, her lashes fluttered weakly and her eyes opened. She immediately tried to sit up, only to find herself restrained.

Panic flared in her gaze, and she struggled, pulling against the rope.

Berry stepped forward, raising his hands in a placating gesture.

"Please, don’t move. We’re not going to hurt you. You were frozen half to death when we found you."

But the girl’s expression twisted with fear and hostility. Her hoarse breathing rasped through her throat, and though her body was still frail from the cold, she continued to resist.

Berry’s voice faltered.

"I—I mean it... we’re not your enemies."

Lucian sighed, shaking his head.

"Step aside, Berry. Your words won’t reach her right now."

Reluctantly, Berry stepped back.

Lucian crouched beside the girl, calm as ever. He pulled out a small bundle of dried leaves, lit them, and let the faint smoke curl upward.

As the scent filled the air, the girl recoiled instantly, her eyes flashing with recognition. She remembered the last time—how she had been knocked unconscious by the same smoke.

"No choice."

Lucian murmured, bringing the incense closer. She tried to hold her breath, but her weak body betrayed her.

Soon, her movements slowed, her limbs falling limp. Her eyelids drooped until her gaze became hazy and unfocused.

Lucian leaned closer, his sharp eyes studying her.

"Better. Now, can you listen without trying to claw my face off?"

The girl blinked sluggishly, her lips parting. She tried to speak, but the sound that came out was raw, broken—her throat torn from the cold.

She winced in pain, barely able to push out a rasp.

Berry’s heart twisted at the sight.

He rummaged through his belongings until he pulled out something small—a silver locket with an emblem etched on its surface. He held it out toward the girl carefully.

"Look, I’m from here."

He said softly.

Her eyes focused on the emblem, and her body stiffened. With visible effort, she reached for her own neck.

Her bound hands made the movement awkward, but she eventually pulled out a locket of her own. The same emblem shone faintly in the firelight.

Berry’s breath caught.

"So you’re... from there too?"

For a brief moment, there was a fragile connection between them, a flicker of shared belonging in this cruel wasteland.

But as Berry’s eyes lingered on the emblem, a wave of sorrow washed over him. His voice trembled.

"That place... it’s gone. Beasts destroyed it. The day before I was cast out, the higher-ups said there was nothing left."

The girl froze. Her already weak body shuddered, as if the last thing tying her to life had been severed.

Berry’s chest ached at the sight. He wanted to say something more, to comfort her, but the words lodged in his throat. He knew too well what it was like to lose everything.

Lucian, on the other hand, did not soften. He simply studied her with calm detachment. To him, this was nothing more than an expected outcome.

This world was cruel; destruction was inevitable. Yet, watching the girl’s face pale even further, a faint thought crossed his mind.

—The system said she was important to the protagonist’s future party. If she falls into despair now, she’ll be useless.

Lucian tapped his fingers lightly against his knee. He had no patience for long consolations, but letting her spiral would be a waste.

"You’re alive. That’s all that matters. You can cry later, you can mourn later. For now, you need to survive. Sitting here and giving up won’t bring anyone back."

He said flatly. His words cut through the silence.

The girl’s hazy eyes flickered toward him. His tone was harsh, but there was a strange steadiness in it that anchored her wandering thoughts.

Berry frowned at Lucian’s bluntness, but he couldn’t deny that the words carried a certain weight.

Lucian rose to his feet, brushing off the ash from his hands.

"Berry, keep her fed and make sure she doesn’t get frostbite again. If she resists, use the incense."

Berry hesitated, looking at the bound girl.

"...Isn’t this too cruel?"

"Cruel? Cruel is letting her die because you wanted to play nice. This way, she lives. That’s all that matters."

Lucian tilted his head slightly, his gaze sharp.

Berry had no rebuttal. Deep down, he knew Lucian was right. He clenched his fists, vowing silently to himself once again.

’I’ll help him. No matter what.’

Lucian, however, didn’t notice—or perhaps he didn’t care. His attention had already shifted elsewhere.

This girl was another variable to account for, another piece on the board. Whether she became an ally or a burden would depend on how she endured the days to come.

For now, she was alive. And that was enough.

Lucian turned back toward the furnace, tossing a few more branches into the flames. The crackle of fire filled the silence, pushing back the chill that lingered in the room.

The girl’s half-lidded eyes followed him, suspicion and confusion warring inside them.

She still didn’t understand who he was—or why someone who looked like a child spoke and acted with such calm authority.

Berry noticed her gaze and smiled faintly.

"Don’t worry... you can trust him."

Lucian didn’t look back. His voice was steady, detached. "Trust me or not. It changes nothing. Survival doesn’t wait."