Me and myself

Goldilocks' eyes immediately lit up. So there really was hope. She still had a chance to return to where she belonged; she could still continue searching for her parents. Unconsciously, Goldilocks touched the key on her necklace. This key was the last item they had left for her before they mysteriously vanished a year ago. Although she didn't know its purpose, she always kept it with her as motivation to find her parents again.

"But it’s very risky. If it doesn't succeed, you might be stuck here forever. You might even face consequences worse than being trapped. Do you dare?" This time, Lunogus's voice was slightly hesitant.

Contrary to Lunogus's concern, Goldilocks nodded vigorously. For a (self-proclaimed) adventurer like her, facing risks had always been a part of her life. Furthermore, she would rather take a risk for a chance to escape than accept staying in this land forever.

Noticing Goldilocks' confidence and determination, Lunogus appreciated it. He gave a nod and continued:

"To leave here, you must climb down the magic beanstalk. To have a magic beanstalk, you must plant it. And to plant it, you must have a seed. And there is only one power that holds those seeds, and that is..." He hesitated for a moment. "The Royal Family."

Hmm, the royal family? Could it be... he means stealing the bean from them and then planting it? But if I get caught... ouch... Is this the 'risk' he was talking about? Goldilocks gaped in shock.

"Rest assured, you won't be able to steal that seed. The seeds of the magic beanstalk are guarded very strictly; not even a fly could slip through. Anyone who dares to approach the restricted area will be punished."

Huh? If I can't steal it, how am I supposed to get it? What does this guy mean? Goldilocks was confused.

"I have another plan," Lunogus said. Goldilocks immediately perked up her ears to listen.

"What is it, Uncle?"

"The Emperor has a son, Prince Asterios Solaris. And he... likes humans very much."

Oh, this was the first time Goldilocks had heard of a giant having an interest in humans. How interesting; she wanted to see the prince with her own eyes once. But what did the Emperor's son have to do with Lunogus's plan?

"And I want you to... infiltrate the royal palace and stay there quietly until you meet the prince."

"Huh?!!" Did Goldilocks hear that right? Infiltrate the vast royal palace and live there until she met the prince? This seemed too difficult; she wasn't sure she could do it.

"Calm down, it’s not so hard that it's impossible. With your size, you can easily bypass all the guards and servants in the palace without being noticed."

Goldilocks breathed a sigh of relief. That was reassuring then; she just had to be careful, even if moving around might be a bit tiring.

"However, there is only one person you must be careful of. That is the Emperor."

Goldilocks was disappointed again. After all, nothing in this life was easy.

"The Emperor is famous for being hot-tempered, strict, fastidious, and irritable even over the smallest things. In particular, the Emperor hates 'mice' (intruders) the most. Therefore, he often pays attention to small details and frequently inspects the objects and property in the palace. If he discovers anything unusual, he will immediately order an inspection. And if he truly finds a 'mouse,' he will fly into a furious rage."

Goldilocks was terrified. The Emperor of this empire was truly scary. Even a small mistake could leave untold consequences; she feared people like that the most. At the same time, Goldilocks was surprised. Who was this giant, Lunogus, that he knew so much about the Emperor? Even back in her old home, she knew almost nothing about the leaders of her own kingdom.

"So, be careful; just don't do anything too obvious," Lunogus warned her.

"Once you meet the prince, ask him to get a seed of the magic beanstalk for you. After that, leave the royal palace, find a secluded empty plot of land, avoid the eyes of the royal guards, and plant it. After a short while, it will grow tall, and then you will be able to go home." Lunogus concluded.

So to summarize, Lunogus's plan was: Goldilocks would infiltrate the royal palace for a period of time until she could meet and talk to the prince. Then, she would ask the prince to get a seed for her, plant that seed, and return to the world below.

It sounded simple, but both Lunogus and Goldilocks knew it was very difficult and high-risk. If Goldilocks were discovered, especially by the Emperor, everything would end. She would be punished for the crime of illegal entry into the palace and, more severely, for the intent to steal a forbidden seed. Not only that, she was just a tiny human; no one would help her in that case. By then, things would certainly be very, very bad.

The two were silent for a while longer. Until Goldilocks spoke.

"Uncle Lunogus, you are so kind. You've helped me so much already; aren't you going to ask for anything in return?"

Even though Goldilocks was young, she knew. Only parents love us unconditionally. Otherwise, kindness from the outside usually comes with a purpose.

Lunogus just looked at the little girl for a moment. He sighed.

"I don't need anything... Besides, what could you give me, kid?"

Goldilocks was startled. That was true; what could she possibly give him? Money, food, a valuable asset, some kind of miracle... She had none of those things, or at least not enough for a giant like him. How embarrassing.

Lunogus shook his head. "You don't need to give me anything."

No, Goldilocks wouldn't accept that. She pouted, almost on the verge of crying again. But this time it wasn't out of sadness, but rather being moved by Lunogus's selfless kindness and a deep disappointment in herself for not being able to repay him.

Lunogus noticed Goldilocks' expression. He sighed wearily again. Hey, don't tell me I have to comfort this silly kid one more time. This was the third time he had seen this child cry. The first was when they first met, she cried out of fear. The second was just a moment ago. And the third... fine. How many more times did Lunogus have to comfort this little one? What a crybaby, he commented to himself.

Goldilocks suddenly grabbed his index finger with both hands.

"I will definitely repay you, Uncle." Her sparkling, tear-filled eyes were full of determination.

"Give it a rest, kid. Stop acting up."

"No!" Goldilocks still held Lunogus's finger tightly.

Despite Goldilocks' stubbornness, Lunogus didn't have the heart to pull his finger away; he just let her hold it tight. Although Lunogus always looked tired, he was always a patient and calm person, especially toward children. It felt as if he had experience.

"Listen, kid, we are leaving today."

"Huh? Where to?"

"To the palace, did you forget?"

Oh, it was the first step of the plan. Goldilocks had been forgetful again.

"Leaving so early...?"

"Little one, I am not allowed to enter or leave the palace at night."

Oh, right, she thought. Wait a minute, since when can a night watchman like him go in and out of the palace? Would the Emperor really let an outsider enter his residence so easily? That sounds absurd. This guy has many suspicious points.

Ignoring that, Lunogus seemed to want to set off right now.

"The trip to the palace will be quite far. If we leave early, we will arrive early. Avoid being late, because the later it gets, the busier the palace becomes and the harder it is to infiltrate."

Goldilocks scratched her head, signaling her understanding. Though she still wondered how a guy who looked like a street dweller like him could get into the royal palace—or perhaps he also chose to infiltrate illegally.

"What do you think?"

"Okay." Fine, I'll leave that matter for later.

Without waiting for Goldilocks to prepare, he slowly withdrew his finger from her grasp. Oh, she had forgotten she was still holding his finger tightly. He left the kitchen for a while, and when he returned, the girl saw him wearing the cloak he had worn last night when he found her. Next, he immediately and gently picked up Goldilocks, who was still sitting on the table, with his right hand, enveloping her with his large but warm fingers. Unlike the previous times, this time he took the initiative instead of patiently waiting for her to climb onto his hand. But Goldilocks didn't complain; she had chosen to trust him long ago.

He carried her toward the back of the house. Behind Lunogus's house was a large yard, with a small pond on the right and even a vegetable garden in the distance. Truly, this guy not only knew how to cook but also knew how to grow vegetables.

But most notably, in the middle of the yard was a stable. Inside was a deep black horse with a prominent, long, silky mane. Seeing its master, it let out an eager neigh.

With the gentle morning light shining down and the birds chirping, this place truly would be an ideal and peaceful backyard if it weren't in the world of giants.

"A giant black horse! How interesting, I wonder if it will eat me?" Goldilocks whispered to herself innocently.

"It only eats grass, kid."

Goldilocks jumped in surprise. She forgot that Lunogus had strangely sharp ears. Perhaps she should practice keeping her mouth shut when she was with this guy.

Lunogus approached and opened the stable door. The horse walked out obediently; it seemed to love its master very much.

"Goldie, can you stand on my shoulder? I need to work for a bit."

Oh, did she have to leave Lunogus's warm hand now? How sad.

But Goldilocks still agreed. He lifted her up to his broad shoulder. Having climbed onto his shoulder, she immediately grabbed onto his long, sparse black hair. Although she had a good sense of balance at heights, she had never climbed onto the shoulder of a giant-a real living creature. It was like having to stay still on a moving tower.

Once she was settled on his shoulder, though her hands still clutched his hair, he began to work. Goldilocks watched Lunogus intently as he saddled the horse. Step by step, placing the saddle on its back, adjusting the straps, Lunogus did everything meticulously and skillfully. He looked very professional.

Finally, the saddling was finished. Lunogus then led the horse to the front yard.

"Ready, kid?" Lunogus asked.

"Mm-hmm," Goldilocks replied, still sitting on his shoulder.

Hearing that, Lunogus slowly climbed onto the horse. It wasn't because it was hard to climb, but because he didn't want to accidentally knock the child off when he used force.

Once seated on the horse, Lunogus glanced down at his shoulder once more. Seeing the child sitting obediently, both hands clutching his hair, he felt reassured enough to take the reins and begin moving down the street.

They set off. Judging by the direction of the sun, it was now 8:00 AM. Finally, Goldilocks could comfortably see this kingdom clearly. Although it was still early, she saw several giants already out at the market. The market sold many things: food, supplies, flowers, gems, weapons, and countless other items. Besides trading, the other giants were busy gossiping with one another. A noisy and bustling market. It seemed no different from the human world. The giant citizens here looked very happy and content. Just as Lunogus said, this was indeed a prosperous empire.

As Lunogus rode along, Goldilocks sometimes caught the eyes of passersby. Each time, she hid behind Lunogus's hair. No matter how kind Lunogus was, she couldn't say that all other giants had good intentions.

They weren't silent the whole way. Goldilocks also learned that the horse Lunogus was riding was named Selene. Every time they passed a prominent location, Lunogus would introduce a bit of information about it to her. For example, Dawn Square, where the empire's major festivals frequently took place. Or the Aethera district, where the noble aristocrats lived. The Caelum River, and so on.

Goldilocks didn't sit still either. She frequently fidgeted with Lunogus's hair. She couldn't let such long, smooth hair go to waste. Lunogus knew what Goldilocks was doing but he didn't care; or rather, he didn't mind, just letting the girl do as she pleased.

Sometimes on rough or jolty stretches of the road, holding onto hair wasn't enough; Goldilocks had to lean in close and cling to Lunogus's neck. Again, Lunogus didn't mind. As long as she sat safely on his shoulder, it was fine.

After nearly an hour, they finally reached the entrance of the palace. Goldilocks felt overwhelmed. Even when they were back in the residential area, she had seen the majestic white palace in the distance. Seeing it up close with her own eyes, though it wasn't "close" by human standards, Goldilocks was deeply shocked by the massive structure. If this were a palace sized for humans, she feared she wouldn't be able to walk through it all in a day, let alone a palace for giants.

Lunogus dismounted and tied Selene to a small tree outside the main palace gate.

"Wait for me here," Lunogus patted the horse's head. "And..."

Lunogus brought his right hand up to his left shoulder once more. "Let's go, Goldie... can't let the guards spot you."

Oh, was she finally getting back into that warm hand? Goldilocks was excited; she didn't hesitate to climb back into his giant hand.

He grasped Goldilocks, his fingers gently curling around her tiny body. Then, he tucked his hand into his cloak, hiding her from the world around them.

Inside Lunogus's dark cloak, Goldilocks felt extremely safe and even warmer than just being in his hand. Because besides the heat from his hand, there was also the warmth from his body. His chest rising and falling, the sound of a steady heartbeat. Yes, she was being pressed against Lunogus's chest. It felt as if she might fall asleep here; it was so comfortable. Lunogus was perhaps the perfect guardian for Goldilocks.

Outside, Lunogus approached the main gate of the palace. There were two giant guards on either side of the gate, guarding strictly.

"Halt! Identify yourself, who are you!?"

One guard barked, his voice booming. His shout startled Goldilocks, waking her from her daze against Lunogus's chest. She was annoyed; this guy really knew how to ruin someone's enjoyment.

Lunogus could feel Goldilocks' startle. He frowned at the guard who had just spoken loudly, glared at him, and said:

"I am Lunogus. I have business to attend to here."

His voice wasn't the usual tired, drawling tone; it was strong, sharp, and full of authority. Even Goldilocks was surprised. Lunogus had never spoken to her with that tone; even when she first met him or when he discussed the plan with her, she had never heard such a terrifying voice.

"Lunogus...?" The guard was confused for a moment, then his eyes widened... "Isn't that the-"

Without waiting for the other to finish, the remaining guard spoke:

"Yes, sir, we will open the gate immediately."

The large golden gates swung open. Lunogus stepped inside. Thus, in an easy and quick manner, they were able to enter the royal palace. Goldilocks still had that nagging question: who exactly was Lunogus that just saying his name made the guards open the door for him? This man's identity was truly far from ordinary.

Lunogus was moving across the main courtyard of the palace. This was a vast area of land. Many green trees were planted for decoration, the courtyard was paved with high-quality square stones, and in the center was a fountain cast in marble. Meanwhile, Goldilocks, inside the cloak, continued to enjoy her paradise; she was almost about to drool.

A long while later, Goldilocks was brought out. Oh come on, I was still savoring it. Sigh, it was time to accept why she was here.

"Hey kid, listen carefully."

Goldilocks returned to her serious state, her eyes burning with resolve.

They were in a deserted place, not inside the palace nor in the main courtyard. They were actually in a hidden corner of the palace. This place could easily avoid the eyes of the guards.

Lunogus was standing before a wall of the palace building, still holding Goldilocks. But the noteworthy point was that at the bottom of the wall, there was a very small crack, but just big enough for Goldilocks to squeeze through.

"Listen, kid, this is the only place I know where you can enter safely," Lunogus said again in his usual quiet voice.

Setting aside the question of how he knew there was a crack here, Goldilocks felt nostalgic and sad. Was she really going to have to say goodbye to Lunogus now to enter a place full of such danger?

Lunogus slowly knelt down, placing the girl on the ground in front of the crack. She didn't want to leave his hand, but she had to gradually accept it; to leave this world, she had to do this.

"You must be careful. Under no circumstances should you let anyone discover you, especially the Emperor. Only the prince is allowed to see you." Lunogus reminded her one last time.

Goldilocks turned back to look at Lunogus. He was still looking at her with his dark purple eyes. They were sharp eyes, but she could easily see the tenderness within them.

"I can't stay here long, kid, the guards will start to get suspicious," Lunogus said.

"Thank you so much, Uncle Lunogus!" Goldilocks suddenly blurted out, her voice choked. She used her sleeve to wipe away the tears.

Lunogus sighed. "Alright, don't cry anymore. Go on."

Goldilocks hesitated for a moment, then turned her head toward the crack. She secretly wished that Lunogus were a human; she and he could have become great friends down there. It was just a pity that couldn't happen. Goldilocks took one last deep breath; immediately after, she ran into the wall and disappeared completely.

Seeing the child run inside, Lunogus sighed. But it wasn't a sigh of weariness; it was one of relief. A fleeting smile crossed his lips, but it was quickly extinguished. He stood up, turned his back, and walked away for the last time.

"Stay safe, Goldie."

-End of Chapter 4-

A/N: It's so sad that we have to say goodbye to Lunogus for now. Maybe we might meet him again in the future.

Next

"Hm? Where did it go?"

Goldilocks could not find her belongings. She suddenly remembered everything that had happened yesterday. From finding a strange tree, entering the land of the giants, being trapped here, to meeting a night watchman and following him to a shelter.

Goldilocks startled and looked around herself. The little girl realized she was on a vast and soft field of white fabric, or more precisely, a gigantic bed. Besides that, she was covered with a handkerchief as a blanket. She was inside a gigantic room, fully furnished with items such as a window with curtains, a wardrobe in the corner of the room, and a drawer cabinet beside the bed with an oil lamp placed on top of it.

So Goldilocks understood. After falling asleep, she had been brought here by Lunogus. He gently placed her on the bed and covered her with a blanket so she could sleep. Indeed, he had kept his word.

"Then where is Lunogus?" the little girl wondered, and also her bag. Perhaps those were the two most important things to her at the moment, yet now both had disappeared. From confusion it turned into worry. Could it be that he had taken her bag? Inside were many personal items important to her. What intention could he possibly have with it?

Click.

At that moment, the door of the room was suddenly opened, immediately pulling Goldilocks out of her thoughts. The little girl shifted her attention to the door that had just been opened.

"Hm. Just as I thought. Good morning, Goldie."

Of course, it was none other than Lunogus who opened the door. But this time, under the blazing sunlight, she could see him clearly.

He was no longer wearing the cloak from last night. Instead, he was wearing an ordinary white tunic, thanks to which the little girl could see that he had a muscular and healthy build. His long black hair had been tied neatly back, though it was still somewhat messy. The dark trousers were still the same. Did this giant never sleep? Even so, it did not overshadow his sharp dark purple eyes that were staring straight at her.

Thinking about it again, it was funny. The giants she had seen since yesterday did not resemble the ones described in the legends that adults used to spread about giants. They were only described as ugly, evil, green skinned monsters with sharp fangs, very wealthy and arrogant. They liked to eat humans and attack small villages, robbing and destroying them.

Looking back at the giant before her, Lunogus did not carry any of those traits at all. He was not evil, not arrogant, and not wealthy compared to ordinary standards. Speaking of which, she had not seen him smile even once, not even a fleeting smile. Perhaps he was just someone tiredly struggling with his job, or simply his personality was like that.

"Hm? Aren't you awake yet, kid? Why are you just staring there...? If you are not awake, then go back to sleep. It is still early."

"Oh no!" Goldilocks immediately broke out of her daze. "I am awake, sir!"

"Don't call me sir. I have a name. Just call me by my name." Lunogus sighed.

"Uh." Goldilocks was bewildered. "Yes, Uncle Lunogus."

"Good. You are sensible. Now..." He stepped closer to the bed. Once again, he bent down, extending his huge hand in front of the little girl. "Let us go have breakfast. I still have many things to talk to you about."

This time, she did not hesitate like last night. Goldilocks voluntarily climbed onto his hand. By now she could choose to trust this giant.

Lunogus noticed that the little girl trusted him. He also felt more relieved in his heart. However, that was not enough. He still had too many things to ask. He still did not know anything about her other than her name, Goldilocks.

He gently carried the little girl along to the kitchen. Goldilocks smiled lightly. It seemed this place was not bad at all as she had thought. At least she was having a good start. Meeting a kind giant, giving her temporary free food and lodging, his gestures toward her were all very gentle.

Ah, but wait. What did he just call her earlier? Goldie? Until now only her parents had called her by that name. Was this guy trying to get close to her? Was that too fast? Besides, she still did not clearly understand what purpose his kindness toward her had. She needed to be cautious again.

Goldilocks' suspicious and foolish nature was still the same. Meanwhile, to Lunogus, he called her that simply because he thought children liked being called by cute nicknames, so he could make the little girl feel more welcomed. Sadly, it unintentionally backfired. Perhaps he should relearn how to communicate, especially with someone so small like that.

In just a short time, they had reached the kitchen. Goldilocks saw that this house was smaller than the other giant houses she had seen on the street yesterday. But in return, it looked rather cozy and simple, helping her feel safer inside such a huge house.

The aroma of food from the kitchen spread out. Goldilocks could smell meat, onions, and many other flavors. The little girl felt as if she was returning to the moment of being at home, beside her parents once again. Oh. This guy looks like that yet knows how to cook?

He gently placed her on the dining table. A wooden table towering high compared to the floor below. It looked frighteningly high. Lunogus took out a super tiny bowl and ladled from the fragrant pot of soup into that bowl. The super tiny bowl was actually the head of a mixing spoon but had lost its handle. Really?

He carefully brought the bowl of soup to the little girl, slowly placing it in front of her.

"Don't worry. I already cut the meat and vegetables into small pieces for you."

What? Cut small? Really? This guy was too considerate already. In her whole life, aside from her parents, even the bear family had not surprised her as much as this giant's thoughtfulness. It felt as though he had met many humans before so he understood clearly like this.

Goldilocks stared at the steaming and delicious bowl of soup in front of her. Even though she was still just a child, naive and foolish, she had still been taught basic manners by her parents. Right now she was feeling awkward before his thoughtfulness.

"What is it? Is there any problem with the bowl of soup?" Lunogus cleared his throat.

"Sir, aren't you going to eat anything?"

"It is Lunogus." He corrected.

"Uncle Lunogus, aren't you going to eat?"

"I ate early this morning."

"You woke up that early?"

"I did not sleep."

Right. What was she even expecting from this guy?

"Eat, kid. The soup is about to turn cold."

Under Lunogus' urging, Goldilocks finally agreed to pick up the bowl of soup. She drank it all in one gulp. She was very hungry. Since last night until now she had not eaten anything. After just a few seconds, the bowl of soup was empty without even a drop left. She licked her lips.

"This bowl of soup is so delicious."

Although it was praise full of sincerity, Lunogus' face did not change expression at all. A truly cold face. Goldilocks wondered. Just how bad was this guy's life, or were all giants like this?

"Good. You are willing to eat."

After saying that, he took out a handkerchief, gently wiping away the remaining drops of soup on the little girl's face. Even with the enormous size of the cloth and his finger, he was still careful not to use strong force so as not to make her uncomfortable.

"Are you still hungry? I can get more soup."

"No."

"Good. Then we move to the main part."

Huh. What is the main part? Just when Goldilocks had only begun to wonder, Lunogus immediately took something out from his pocket.

"This is your bag." He dropped her bag onto the table.

Goldilocks was startled. She widened her eyes. That was right, her bag, the most important thing to her. Why just today could she forget so many important things like that? Since coming up to this land her mind had become more and more absent minded. Goldilocks quickly picked up the bag, checking the items inside. Fortunately, he had not taken any of her belongings.

"I apologize for taking your bag without permission. I only wanted to check whether there were any dangerous items inside." Lunogus scratched his head a little.

Did Goldilocks hear wrong? This giant had just apologized to her? Although it was true that he was at fault in this matter, she had not even thanked him once before. This guy was too kind beyond normal. Besides, checking dangerous items? What harm could she possibly cause to a giant dozen of times her size?

"Do not misunderstand. I only checked for items dangerous to a child." Lunogus quickly defended himself.

Now that made sense.

"Goldie, how old are you? Where are your parents?"

Now these were the real questions. Lunogus wanted to know more information about this little girl.

"I am eight years old, and my parents... I am looking for them." Goldilocks lowered her head, a sad expression appearing on her face.

"Looking? Why is that? Did they abandon you?" Lunogus frowned.

"No. No, it is not like that. They suddenly disappeared after I returned from playing in the forest. That is all I heard from the villagers."

"Hm. So now you are searching for your parents by yourself? No adult accompanying you?"

"Mm."

"And then one day, you found a magic beanstalk?" Lunogus suddenly asked, even though he already knew the answer.

Goldilocks was startled. How did he know? Could it be that he had information about the magic beanstalk? Goldilocks became more excited. If so, he might have a way to help her return to the ground.

Lunogus sighed.

"For a human to reach this land, it must be by climbing the magic beanstalk. And the way to return, of course, is to climb down."

"Then why could the magic beanstalk suddenly disappear like that?" She asked.

"Hm. This matter is much more complicated. How should I explain it for a child to understand?"

Goldilocks tilted her head to the left in confusion. It's just a tree, what is complicated about a tree?

"Have you ever heard other humans describe us as monsters who kidnap and eat people?"

His voice became frighteningly serious, causing Goldilocks to be terrified. She hugged her bag tightly by reflex. Why did he suddenly bring this up? What does he intend with the girl by mentioning it? The girl trembled violently. Hey… don’t tell me…

"Let me tell you. This story truly happened one thousand years ago. The main cause was that the magic beanstalk led them to the world below, destroying and causing disasters to that small peaceful world. But since Emperor Augustus Solvaris ascended the throne five hundred years ago, invading the lower world to cause chaos became a capital crime. Along with that, anyone involved in trading and eating humans, would be executed immediately."

Goldilocks let out a sigh of relief, but she still listened carefully.

"Since then, the emperor issued an order to uproot all magic beanstalks, cutting off all contact with that world. Anyone who discovered an un uprooted beanstalk would be richly rewarded. However, even after five hundred years, all efforts of the royal family still could not completely eradicate the magic beanstalks. And the curious ones are countless."

Lunogus sighed again. Clearly, those curious ones were implying someone. But little Goldilocks did not seem very smart, she was still tilting her head in confusion.

Goldilocks finally understood in shock. The magic beanstalk could not have disappeared on its own. So everything had the intervention of the royal family. So her being accidentally trapped here was her fault. She had been too careless. It was truly terrible. Why did everything turn out like this? Goldilocks felt extremely wronged.

As people say.

Curiosity killed the cat.

"I am very sorry about this. I should have caught you and brought you back to your world the moment I saw your figure."

"It is not your fault". Goldilocks lowered her face, almost about to cry. From a journey to find her parents and become a talented adventurer like her father, it had turned into a journey of survival in a huge and terrifying world like this. She should have listened to what adults said. Spending nearly a whole day climbing to a dangerous place. She was truly foolish. Truly upset.

Suddenly, Goldilocks felt something gently brushing across her cheek. She looked up. Lunogus was using his enormous thumb to wipe away the tears that had rolled down her cheeks. Yes, Goldilocks had cried, and even she herself had not realized it.

Goldilocks froze, widening her eyes. This guy was showing concern for her?

She intended to push his hand away, but how could that be easy? His finger was bigger than her whole body.

"You do not need to pretend to be strong or anything. You are only a child."

Just with only one sentence, Goldilocks completely gave up. She hugged and leaned against his finger. She burst into tears. She never wanted to stay here. This place was truly frightening and unfamiliar to her.

The warm kitchen now only had the sorrowful crying of a little girl.

Lunogus had never been good at comforting others. He did not often interact with other giants, let alone a human. But today things seemed to be going well. The child truly hugged his finger tightly without letting go, just like a little mouse. He stayed silent, letting her be like that until she released his finger, leaving only soft sniffling sounds.

He gently wiped away the remaining tears of Goldilocks. After all, she was only a child, not even ten years old. Lunogus would never allow himself to abandon such a small child. Whether they knew each other or not, whether they were of different species, he would not forgive himself if he harmed a child.

Lunogus patiently waited for the child to calm down. Everything was still not over. He looked far out the window, as if thinking about something.

"Even though it has been banned, currently there are still giants secretly operating human trafficking in black markets, especially at night. My job is not only to keep order on the streets at night, but also to deal with criminals like that."

Goldilocks was startled. Not only a night watchman who guards the people's sleep, he also personally deals with criminals? This guy’s origins are definitely not ordinary.

"Sorry, kid. Those stories just now scared you, did they not?"

Lunogus returned to his usual tone, turning back to look at her, gently brushing her golden hair behind her ear.

Goldilocks shook her head. She was no longer afraid, at least for now. On the contrary, she felt extremely grateful for his actions. Lunogus not only gave her temporary shelter and food, he had indirectly saved her life. If she had not met the night watchman at that time, very likely she would have fallen into the hands of evil giants and then... The child did not dare to imagine further.

They were silent for a while longer. This time, Goldilocks was the one who spoke first, although her voice was still slightly choked.

"Then is there any other way to leave this place?"

-End of Chapter 3-

A/N: There will be illustration for Goldilocks and Lunogus after chapter 3, so you don't need to imagine their appearance anymore :D

Previous

Who was that? Had Goldilocks misheard? Was the panic in her heart making her hallucinate? At least, she hoped so.

“Can you hear me?”

The deep yet commanding voice came again from behind her. Since when had he been following her? If he were a giant, she should have heard the heavy, thundering footsteps from far away. She was done for. Had she accidentally woken someone up? Were they going to capture her alive now? But she did not want to be locked inside an iron cage. She did not want to be thrown into a pot of boiling water. Dark thoughts flashed through the child’s mind.

“That’s the third time I’ve called you,” the voice let out a sigh.

Goldilocks trembled and turned her head back.

In front of her stood a giant. No, she meant a giant even taller than the ones she had seen at the market. He looked like a man in his early forties, with long, messy black hair, sharp dark-violet eyes, a short scar standing out on his lip, a few strands of stubble that seemed not yet shaved, and dark shadows under his eyes. In his hand he held an oil lantern, and his cloak fluttered lightly in the cold night wind. He looked like a wanderer who had not slept for many days. But that did not make him any less terrifying.

Goldilocks was in extreme panic. She did not know whether she should run. Even if she did, he could easily catch up to her in just a few steps. This road had no cracks, no suitable hiding place at all. She was truly at a dead end. Not wanting to anger the giant any further, she only dared to stand still and shut her eyes tightly, waiting for him to come closer and for that giant hand to crush her. Tears continued to stream down even though she tried to hold them back.

But one minute passed, and nothing happened. There was only silence between the two of them and the cawing of crows in the night.

Instead, he simply said, “Calm down. I won’t hurt you.” His voice sounded tired.

Goldilocks slowly opened her eyes. Even though she was only a child, she would not trust him so easily. Since she was small, her parents had taught her never to trust strangers, let alone a giant who looked this frightening.

Seeing that she was still afraid, he continued.

“Listen, little one. I’ve been watching you since this afternoon. If I wanted to, I could have caught you while you were still asleep in that bush.”

What? He had discovered her that early? Then why did he only come to meet her now? Why? Why? Because he wanted her to sleep longer? How polite. Hm? No, that was not right.

He did not want anyone other than himself to discover her.

Taking advantage of the fact that the other giants had gone to sleep at night, he personally came to see Goldilocks. To put it plainly, he was protecting her from the other giants. Only now did Goldilocks’ immature mind understand. But who exactly was this man? What was the true purpose behind his kindness?

“Who are you?”

The little girl blurted out. It was only a soft whisper from her mouth. Goldilocks was not even sure an ant could hear what she said, let alone a giant.

“I am Lunogus. The night watchman here.”

What? How sharp were this man’s ears? Her eyes widened. It must have been a coincidence that he wanted to introduce himself, right? No wonder he had been able to detect her so early. She completely gave up resisting.

“Your turn. I can’t keep calling you ‘little one’ forever.”

“M-My name is Goldilocks!” This time she forced her voice louder, even though she knew he could still hear her without it.

“Goldilocks? That sounds more like a nickname than a proper name,” he commented. “Very well, then…”

Lunogus slowly took long strides toward her. Goldilocks instinctively stepped back, her hand gripping her bag tightly. But in just a moment, he was already dangerously close. He bent one knee down and gently placed the lantern beside him.

Now Goldilocks felt trapped, as if cornered against a wall, even though there was no wall around. She could feel the warmth from the lantern beside her, his steady breathing above her head, and the pounding of her heart. A faint rusty scent lingered in the wind. His body completely blocked her view ahead. His face seemed to cover the entire sky. Goldilocks could clearly see the sharp angles of his face, even a tiny mole beneath his left eye.

Her big round blue eyes met his sharp dark-violet eyes that seemed able to see through a person’s soul.

Lunogus observed the child. Goldilocks was as small as a button. She was still just a little girl, with an innocent face and soft round features as cute as a kitten. Lunogus very much wanted to use his index finger to gently stroke the top of her head, but because he did not want to frighten her, he forced that thought away.

They looked at each other like that for a few seconds before he spoke again.

“Human, you are still young. You should not be here. I can provide you with a safe place to sleep for the night if you trust me.”

After saying that, Lunogus extended his large, rough left hand in front of the little girl, patiently waiting for her decision.

Goldilocks noticed that compared to his hand, she was not even as tall as two joints of his fingers. Even if he had no ill intentions, deep inside her mind a warning still rang that he was a giant. He could change his mind whenever he wanted. And when that happened, her fate would be terrible.

Lunogus could see Goldilocks’ hesitation. He had never wanted to force her, never wanted her to be afraid of him. He only wanted this little girl to be safe, nothing more.

“You can refuse if you want.”

Just that one sentence made her eyes widen again. But even without him saying so, she already had her own choice.

Suddenly, Goldilocks grabbed onto his finger and tried to climb onto his massive palm. Seeing that, Lunogus quickly used his other hand to gently push her up. Now Goldilocks was sitting neatly in the palm of a giant she had only met a few minutes ago.

Those large fingers gently curled around her like a shield of flesh. Slowly, Lunogus stood up, lifting her along with him, and began walking on the stone road. One hand carried the child, the other held the lantern.

Goldilocks glanced down. Oh my, it was really high. As an adventurer, she did not allow herself to fear heights. But this was truly dizzying. It felt like standing on top of a moving tower and looking down.

All day long, Goldilocks had struggled to find a comfortable place to rest. And now she finally found one, right in the palm of a giant. She leaned against the cloth, or rather his cloak. His fingers were like a warm blanket in the cold night. Not only that, she could also look at the surrounding neighborhood from above. There were no rumbling footsteps, no loud booming voices of giants. There was only the steady heartbeat, the low gentle voice of the giant night watchman, softly lulling her.

Along the way, Lunogus told her many things about the place they were walking through. This was not just an ordinary kingdom. It was the Aurelian Solis Empire, a rich, prosperous, vast empire even by giant standards. This empire was ruled by an emperor who, to his people, was worshiped like the sun. He had conquered many lands, helping the people live warm and abundant lives. His palace was extremely grand. Even while they were still in the residential district, Lunogus could point for Goldilocks to see the emperor’s palace far in the distance.

Listening to Lunogus’ stories, Goldilocks could not resist her sleepiness. She yawned again and again. Gradually, she fell into a deep sleep once more. Lunogus noticed this and carefully adjusted the position of his hand so she could rest as comfortably as possible.

The giant night watchman and the tiny human child. And so they continued moving along the stone road, but this time there was only the sound of steady breathing.

-End of chapter 2-

A/N: Chapter 3 will be longer I swear

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