Chapter 71: Help Him

Although deep down I really wanted to help this man, after all, he worked so hard for his daughter, and that fatherly love moved me and reminded me of my own dad.

My dad always supported me unconditionally and gave me the most selfless love, so I really didn't want to see this father go through the pain of losing his daughter.

But I knew that even though I had the desire to help, it wasn't my place to take action.

I couldn't make decisions for Howard based solely on my own wishes, after all, this involved his safety, and I couldn't overstep my bounds.

Maybe my expression gave me away, Howard seemed to sense my desire to help this man. He raised an eyebrow and asked me, "You want to help him?"

I smiled awkwardly and then replied, "Yeah, I really do. He's doing it for his daughter. Parents always have so much love for their kids. Seeing him reminds me of my dad."

In my heart, my dad was the one who loved me the most. He always gave me the best.

Having lost my grandmother last time, I deeply understand the pain of losing a loved one.

Howard looked at me, a hint of a smile in his eyes, and he uttered softly, "If you want to help, then I'll help him."

Hearing that warmed my heart, but I also felt a bit anxious—worried he might be taking this on just because of me. "If you don't want to take it, you can refuse."

I added, not wanting Howard to feel any pressure.

We had just returned from Whispering Willow Village and hadn't even caught our breath before taking on another task. Even if Howard wasn't human, he couldn't handle it.

"It's fine. If you want to help, I'm inu."

Howard could be tough to read—his behavior often felt a bit reckless, and sometimes he came off as a bit carefree. I always approached him with a bit of caution. But when push came to shove, he always showed his dependable side.

Now, we were gearing up for an unknown journey to a remote village, and my heart was filled with anxiety and unease.

Howard said in a relaxed tone, "Don't worry, I've got this."

His words were like a balm, easing some of my anxiety. I took a deep breath and then said to the man, "Could you give us the address? We'll go back to rest tonight and head to the village tomorrow."

The man seemed a bit hesitant after hearing my words.

He urgently suggested, "Can't we go today? I drove here, so we can take my car to the village together."

Seeing his anxious demeanor made me a bit suspicious.

I glanced at Howard, who had a thoughtful look on his face. After a moment, he slowly nodded, "The sooner we go, the sooner we can come back."

I said to the man, "Alright, then we'll go with your car."

The man looked relieved after hearing my response.

"Karena, I'll go with you." Amelia was clearly worried that we agreed too quickly.

I gave her a reassuring smile, "It's really okay. You probably won't be able to help much there, and you just came back from Whispering Willow Village. You must be wiped out and need a good rest. Trust me, Howard can handle this."

Amelia seemed to want to argue further, but Wesley interrupted with his usual sharp tone, "Rushing to help without knowing the full story, be careful not to be taken advantage of. You'll regret it later."

I was used to his harsh and sarcastic attitude.

Facing his mockery, I just rolled my eyes at him and half-jokingly, half-seriously retorted, "Do you think everyone is as cold-hearted and ruthless as you?"

It seemed like he was the only one who bullied me.

"Suit yourself. Good advice can't save those who insist on jumping into the fire. I'm leaving." With that, Wesley left without looking back.

I frowned, glaring at his back, and muttered to myself, "What a weirdo, always speaking in riddles and sarcasm."

Amelia gently tugged at my sleeve, her eyes filled with worry. "Actually, I think Wesley had a point. Are you sure you don't want to reconsider?"

I turned my head and smiled, "It's okay. Howard is more than capable. What could go wrong with him around?"

I had complete faith in Howard's abilities.

"Are you really set on this?" At that moment, Aiden suddenly chimed in, interrupting our conversation.

I nodded, "Yes, if we can help, we should."

Amelia's voice carried a hint of reluctance, "Alright, since you've made up your mind, I'll support you. Just be careful, and if you encounter any trouble, reach out to us right away."

"Hold on a sec." Aiden quickly went upstairs and came back with a small black wooden box.

"This is for you."

I was a bit surprised as I reached out to take it. Opening the box, I found a cross inside, appearing to be made of silver. Each side was smooth and polished, exuding an ancient luster.

I gently picked up the cross, and it glowed faintly in the sunlight, as if it contained some mysterious power.

"Mr. Martinez, what is this?" I couldn't help but ask curiously, touching the cross. It was cool to the touch, smooth and comfortable, as if it had been meticulously polished.

Aiden's gaze lingered on the cross, his eyes filled with emotions I couldn't understand, seemingly full of deep memories. "Take this with you when you go into the village. It might save your life when necessary."

It sounded like a treasure, and I was deeply moved, not knowing what to say.

I carefully placed the cross back in the wooden box, "Thank you, Mr. Martinez. Don't worry, I'll make it back safe."

"Be careful on the road." Aiden just reminded me, keeping it brief.

I nodded and put the wooden box in my pocket.

The man, seeing our earnest conversation, cautiously asked, "Are we ready to head out now?"

"Yeah, let's go."

The man's hometown was a remote village in Suncrest City. It took us three hours to drive there.

During the long journey, I was extremely tired and fell asleep in Howard's arms. When I opened my eyes, I noticed we were still slowly cruising through the city streets. "How much longer until we reach our destination?"