Expressing My Gratitude Through Saving

One day remaining before the Wave of Calamity...

As I revisited the shop, an unexpected confrontation awaited me, featuring the shop owner himself flanked by two familiar women.

"How dare you kiss my precious daughter, brat!" the shop owner bellowed, his fury palpable as he gripped a pitchfork.

Beside him, the friend of the girl I had rescued attempted to pacify his rage by offering a consoling pat on the shoulder. "Now now, dear, he saved our daughter. We should be thankful."

Unbelievably, the shop owner didn't even glance at his wife's direction. It left me pondering - their daughter?

"Daughter?" I quirked my head in puzzlement.

"That's correct. Thanks to you, my daughter's life was spared," the woman said, lowering her head in gratitude. Her youthful appearance had led me to erroneously assume she was just her friend... Just how did this guy just scored a beauty?

Almost as though my inner musings had been broadcasted, the shop owner plunged his pitchfork into the earth and shot me a fierce glare. Come on, dude. No need to get all worked up. I'm not here to run off with your daughter or anything.

Summoning a composed demeanor, I redirected my attention toward the shop owner's wife. "No worries. I'm just glad I could be of assistance," I stated, emulating the typical comportment of a hero.

The shop owner squinted doubtfully at me, his eyes narrowing as he examined my face. Observing his uncertainty, his wife picked up a glass of water from the table and offered it to him. "Take this, Christopher. Have a sip and collect your thoughts for a moment."

However, Christopher's gaze remained fixed on me. He accepted the glass from his wife's outstretched hand, though he didn't break his stare as he brought it to his lips and drank in silence.

Christopher's name triggered a sense of familiarity in my mind. I feel like I've encountered it somewhere in the novel before, but where...? Ah, yes!

After recalling the events that junior encountered throughout his journey, as described in the novel, I finally recollected the identities of the two individuals before me.

The elf standing here was Christopher, while his wife, the friend of the woman I had saved earlier, was Emily.

In the pages of the novel, junior formed a strong bond with Christopher. The couple had shown remarkable kindness towards him. When they learned about junior's predicament, their empathy moved him deeply. I distinctly recalled the scene where a young junior had tearfully expressed his emotions upon hearing their understanding response.

A day following their heart-to-heart, the trio ventured out for a day of shopping. During their outing, they unexpectedly encountered the former Commander of the leading squadron that Christopher had served in before retiring.

Christopher's past was that of a soldier, but driven by his profound affection for Emily, he had chosen to leave the military and become a shop owner.

Setting aside those details, a pivotal incident occurred upon meeting the commander. Due to a twist of fate, Christopher was unintentionally wounded by one of the thieves. Thankfully, a nearby healer managed to save him.

However, due to the precise location of the wound and its impact on a vital nerve, he temporarily lost his ability to walk. His mobility would be restored through the intervention of a Priest's healing magic.

Junior and Emily diligently cared for him once they returned home. The commander accompanied them as well.

After a span of several days, junior embarked on his journey once more.

This should have been the conclusion, a happy resolution, right?

But alas, fate had other plans.

A few months later, when junior revisited Christopher and his wife, he stumbled upon a heartbreaking scene. To his shock, Emily and the commander were sharing a bed at the same inn as him...

Yes, Christopher had been betrayed, subjected to what's often referred to as NTR.

Junior attempted to confide in Christopher, but the response he received was unexpected.

"I know..."

Christopher's reply left him bewildered, and not just him, but even the readers. The outburst from many reached the author's ears, yet that was not the crux of the matter.

It was during this visit that junior learned of Emily and the Christopher's breakup, which had occurred after he discovered her infidelity.

What compounded the pain was the revelation that their illicit activities had transpired within their OWN bedroom.

In response, junior confronted the commander, unleashing a torrent of violence upon him. The assault culminated in the junior's imprisonment after nearly ending the commander's life. Junior's once-illustrious title of Hero held no sway against the prince Maximus.

Just as the execution loomed, Hero Julius intervened, preventing the final blow. Post-scolding from Saint Seraphina, junior left to visit Christopher, only to find him suspended from the ceiling.

Christopher had taken his own life.

The news of his friend's suicide sent junior into a whirlwind of emotions. He resolved to uncover the truth, delving into the circumstances that unfolded during his few month absence. It was then that he unraveled a painful tale: the commander had exploited Emily's dire financial circumstances, coercing her into unspeakable acts — to be his s*x slave.

Driven by her unwavering love for Christopher, she had reluctantly agreed to the commander's twisted terms.

As Christopher's health gradually improved thanks to the Priest, Emily mustered the courage to reveal the truth. The revelation struck Christopher with profound devastation, leading to days of unending tears.

Overwhelmed by guilt and unable to bear Christopher's pain, Emily chose to end their relationship. Though Christopher pleaded with her to stay, Emily's decision was unwavering.

Her motivation was clear — she couldn't bear witnessing his suffering any longer because of her.

With their relationship severed, Emily continued to serve the commander as his "slave" due to their contract until junior implored Seraphina and Hero Julius to intervene and curb the commander's transgressions.

In the end, despite their determined endeavors, Emily's life too culminated in tragedy.

The couple, entwined by their affection, perpetually never found the happiness they yearned for. This held true even for their daughter, who came to learn of the heart-wrenching details through a letter from junior.

It's quite sad, isn't it? Upon reading this part, I found myself restraining the inclination to take legal action — or in other word, sue the author for the distressing fate he or she imposed on the couple.

Reflecting upon all of these thoughts, I released a heavy sigh infused with a tinge of disdain.

Considering their instrumental role in aiding junior's mental recovery, it seemed only fitting for me to reciprocate the gesture, right?

Thirty minutes slipped away, and the barrage of questions from Christopher eventually concluded peacefully without him resorting in violent thanks to his wife being around.

Clearing his throat, Christopher retrieved a small bag brimming with monster crystals and extended it toward me. "Consider this your payment for rescuing my daughter. There's no need for you to cover the cost, and... well, thank you." His gaze seemed a touch diverted, likely due to a sense of bashfulness.

Responding with an authentically warm smile, I accepted the bag with both hands and expressed my gratitude... I promise that I'll make sure to save you guys from that ending.

With the required crystals procured, I retraced my steps to my personal training spot nestled within the depths of the forest.