On the way back, Catherine's face was full of smiles.
This time, Joey walked ahead of Catherine. Although he was still carrying supplies, he walked briskly and didn't feel the weight at all.
"Big brother!"
Even from a distance, Joey heard that young girl's voice again.
The blonde little girl was still standing by the notice board, but it was unclear whether she was waiting for Joey to change his mind or hoping that another "holy knight" would come to the village.
"Is it still there?"
Joey approached and greeted the little girl. Catherine, standing behind him, was a little surprised, wondering when Joey had met the little girl.
"I've been waiting for you! I knew that big brother, the paladin, would help me!"
The little girl smiled brightly, and it was then that Joey noticed that she was losing two of her front teeth.
"Of course, that's what happens when you're a paladin!"
Joey smiled and said to the girl, while turning to wink at Catherine.
When Catherine heard that Joey was a paladin, she almost couldn't help but laugh, but when she saw him wink at her and glanced at the little girl's innocent eyes, she suppressed her laughter.
"Come on, let's go to the hotel for a while!"
Joey hadn't met anyone else in the village yet, so he planned to bring the little girl to the inn. Perhaps she could tell him something when he asked them some questions.
She probably doesn't know much, but what she says is definitely not a lie.
"good!"
The little girl was very excited and agreed without any hesitation.
When she heard Joey's invitation, she wanted to take Joey's hand, but found that Joey's hands were full of supplies.
"Go to that older sister and show her the way!"
Not wanting the little girl's hand to slip away, Joey glanced in Catherine's direction and gestured for her to come and take her hand.
Catherine's expression was somewhat subtle, perhaps because she had never had the experience of interacting with a little girl as an older sister.
The little girl didn't seem sad when she saw that Catherine didn't come over. Instead, she walked straight to Catherine's side and held the four fingers of Catherine's right hand with her left hand.
Catherine looked down at the blonde little girl, and their eyes met as the girl looked up.
She smiled, a genuine smile of happiness.
At that moment, her right thumb also gently pressed on the back of the little girl's hand.
The three of them walked towards the hotel, a scene somewhat resembling a family of three returning home after shopping at a supermarket.
What's your name?
Catherine, who was walking behind, asked the little girl a question.
"My name is Catherine, that's the name my father gave me!"
The little girl answered Catherine happily; it seemed she liked the name very much.
"Oh, it's little Catherine! The one next to you is big Catherine!"
Upon hearing the little girl's name, Joey, who was walking ahead, turned around with a smile and said something.
Looking at this little Catherine, it was as if she were seeing herself as a child.
The hotel is just ahead.
The old woman was also standing outside the hotel, sweeping fallen leaves in front of the door with a broom.
"Grandma Mary Sue!"
Little Catherine called out loudly to the old woman who was sweeping the floor and waved her right hand at her.
The old woman stopped what she was doing, looked up and saw little Catherine, and of course, big Catherine and Joey beside her.
Her joy was palpable.
"Come in quickly! Come in quickly!"
The old woman leaned the broom against the doorway, called out to Joey and the others twice, and then went inside.
When Joey and the others came in, the table was already full of snacks and other food.
Joey didn't stand on ceremony anymore; his purpose in returning was clear.
He sat down at the table and handed a pastry to little Catherine.
"My name is Joey Brown, and this is my wife, Kathleen!"
Anyway, it's nice to just vent, and it's a fool not to take advantage of a good deal, so he continued to refer to Catherine as his wife.
Fortunately, Catherine seemed to be in a good mood and didn't hold it against him. Instead, she played around with little Catherine.
"My boat has been stolen, and I can't leave for the time being. I believe the petty thief who stole the boat is the same person you posted a reward notice for!"
"So I've decided to accept your bounty, consider it a short-term job!"
Joey read aloud the bounty notice he had seen on the bulletin board, and Mary Sue, the old woman, listened quietly the whole time, nodding repeatedly.
"Before I ask for any other clues, there's one more thing I must say first!"
Joey sat up straight, adopting a very serious expression, and asked the Mary Sue old woman, "This bounty poster doesn't specify the details of the reward; I need to confirm it!"
Good deeds should be done, but good deeds that come with rewards shouldn't be done for the sake of fame and not for profit. That's not Joey's style.
Although Catherine rolled her eyes at him for his words, Joey simply ignored her. After all, he was the one who did the work, so why should he care about her opinion?
This is the fruit of his own labor, and he doesn't have any hero complex, so there's nothing wrong with that.
"Of course, of course!"
Grandma Mary Sue didn't refute Joey's words at all; on the contrary, she thought it was perfectly reasonable.
"Six months ago, the villagers pooled together 10 gold coins, but as more and more people went missing, the remaining villagers saved every penny and managed to scrape together another 10 gold coins. The reward is now 20 gold coins!"
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