Hearing Austin's words, Devitt's expression became awkward.
"I'll take care of it," Austin hurriedly added.
"Your mission is to protect yourself and your comrades. Where would you find the time to take care of a nomad from another race?" Claremont stood at the side and said seriously.
"I.. ." Austin was at a loss for words. He could not think of what to say.
"Didn't you say that you don't want to go back? Why have you changed your mind now?" Abel took a step forward and asked Gilbert.
"... Actually, I've always wanted to go back." Gilbert was silent for a while and continued, "I want to get back what I deserve."
Abel and Claremont looked at each other and nodded secretly.
Devitt focused his gaze on Gilbert and hinted, "If you want to use us to return to the Gnome Tribe's territory, you have to be mentally prepared to pay the price."
"Got it." Gilbert looked at the ground and nodded. "I'll tell you all the information I know."
"Including the information about the Gnome Tribe?" Claremont confirmed.
"... Yes." After a while, Gilbert nodded.
"Then, Austin, from now on, Guibert will be taken care of by you," Devitt promised Gilbert. "Don't worry, we won't force you to tell us unnecessary information."
"Great!" Austin shouted. He put his hand on Gilbert's shoulder happily.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})"Austin, take Gilbert to the military logistics to get a pair of smaller shoes. Hurry up and don't delay the journey," Claremont instructed.
"Yes!" Austin replied. He bent over, held Gilbert's shoulder and took him out.
"I didn't expect Captain Devitt to agree! I didn't even have the time to say anything," Austin said in high spirits. When he turned around, he saw that Gilbert had his head lowered and was silent, he immediately asked with concern, "What's wrong with you? Are you okay?"
"Nothing." Gilbert stood up straight and shook his head.
"Captain Devitt and the rest are very considerate people. Honestly, they are just kind. They wouldn't have the heart to do anything to hurt you," Austin comforted him. "I'm also very happy to be able to go with you."
Gilbert looked up and saw the dazzling smile on Austin's face. The corners of his mouth also curled up. "Okay."
"Everyone gather!" Abel stood outside the separated camp and shouted in a loud voice.
The scouts, including Gilbert, quickly lined up neatly in front of him.
"Today, we must strive to get out of this flat land. No one can relax," Abel said.
"Yes!" The soldiers replied.
The group officially set off. When Abel led the group, he would usually walk at the front, looking at the map to find a route, not caring much about the soldiers and their discipline behind him. Indeed, under such circumstances, the Elf Soldiers were still traveling quietly. They would not talk to each other. Perhaps it was because of their innate laziness.
However, the Caradia soldiers were not so well-behaved. When they were in a good mood, they would talk to each other. At this time, Austin brought a new guy into the army. Many of the Caradia soldiers could not help but gather around curiously.
"This is the guy that you squashed the other day, right?" One of the soldiers said.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})"I heard from Captain Devitt and the others that this little guy is a Gnome," another soldier added.
The topic of Gilbert became very popular among the soldiers.
"How did you think of bringing him along?" One of Austin's teammates asked.
"Isn't his home near our destination?" Austin casually replied, "This little guy will probably not survive in the wilderness for a few more days. Why can't we send him home on the way?"
"I see." Austin's teammate nodded and then gave Gilbert a friendly smile.
In fact, Austin didn't know why he had to bring this little guy along.
He had thought about it for a long time before coming up with this reason.
With this thought in mind, his gaze naturally shifted to Gilbert.
Even though the people around him were noisy, this little guy still had an indifferent look as if there was nothing to do with him.
However, as the journey got longer, his lips tightened.
"Are you tired?" Austin leaned over and asked.
"Yes." Gilbert squeezed out such a syllable from his throat.
Austin put his hand on Gilbert's arm and suggested, "I'll carry you."
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})Gilbert did not try to be brave anymore. With the strength of Austin's arm, he climbed onto his back and sat down steadily.
Austin looked up at the sky and thought to himself, "after all, he's just a skinny kid. He must be tired after walking for the whole morning."
With a place to rest, Gilbert fell asleep on Austin's back.
"From the back, the two of you look like father and son," a soldier passing by commented to Austin.
"Don't talk nonsense." Austin glared at him. "Have you ever seen such a young man carrying such a big son?"
"Hehe." The soldier smiled and did not say anything else.
Austin lifted his feet and walked forward. He silently thought to himself, "I must find a beautiful wife in the future and give birth to a cute child. Others can envy me."
"Rest for fifteen minutes," Abel ordered.
The soldiers found a lawn and laid down casually.
Austin was worried that his actions would wake Gilbert up, so he stood near the soldiers lying down and chatted with them.
Devitt walked over and said, "Why are you taking care of him so much?"
"Ah," Austin sighed and said, "I don't know. I just feel that he is like a wilful child who has no family and no companions. It's too hard."
"In that case, all the more you shouldn't take care of him in every detail." Devitt shook his head and said, "Falling from complete pain to complete doting will make people more vulnerable to the hardships."
"Is that so?" Austin looked back at Gilbert who was sleeping soundly on his shoulder, he said softly, "Captain Devitt, you are really amazing. I suddenly realized that I only gave him a different extreme environment."
"It's nothing," Devitt continued, "If you choose to be a kind person, it proves that the person who makes the choice is very smart. It's just that this world is so big, and the meaning of kindness is different in different places."
Devitt only hoped that Austin would not spend too much time with Gilbert during this period.
