"Grandpa! Stop it! He''s the one who saved me! There''s nothing wrong with him! He''s completely Human!"


    ''Grandpa? I thought she said that she was an orphan... What the hell happened in here?


    Trisakti thought as he heard what Olivia said.


    "I know that, Olivia! I know! And I thank him for saving you, but... But it''s my job to protect every single one of our villagers, and you already heard what the Healers said, this guy is dangerous... I understand why you''re trying to defend him, but do you even know his name? Or where he came from?!"


    "..."


    At those words from The Village chief, Olivia fell silent, then slowly turned her head toward Trisakti.


    "*Ukhum*  What''s your name again?"


    "..."


    "..."


    With Olivia''s words, the entire room fell silent, not completely silent, because the ghosts who heard Olivia''s words laughed as hard as they could; even the Genderuwo, who usually appeared composed, had to cover his mouth to hold back his laughter.


    ''... Fuck! Of all the times, why did you have to ask that now... I''m doomed''


    *BANG!*


    The village chief slammed his fist onto the table, his face filled with frustration.


    "See?! He’s a complete stranger! You don’t even know his name, Olivia!"


    Olivia flinched at the Village chief''s outburst, someone who she''d already considered her own Grandfather, her face turning red, not from fear, but from sheer embarrassment.


    Trisakti, on the other hand, was mentally screaming.


    ''Seriously, Olivia?! You couldn’t have asked this earlier?!''


    Meanwhile, his ghostly companions were absolutely losing it.


    "Kekeke~ Oh man, this is gold!"


    Tuyul cackled, clutching his stomach.


    "He saved your life, and you didn''t even bother to ask his name? Hahaha~!"


    Kuntilanak giggled.


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    Even Genderuwo, usually composed, had his shoulders shaking as he struggled to contain his laughter.


    Trisakti rubbed his face, exhaling sharply. Before he said.


    "... Alright, alright! My name is Trisakti, okay? Can we move past that now?"


    With that word, Olivia coughed awkwardly.


    "R-Right… Trisakti… I totally knew that… I just... I just pretend I don''t know... Yes! It''s Trisakti"


    *Slap*


    Hearing this, Trisakti could only slap his forehead, speaking silently.


    "... It''s already too late, Olivia... Too damn late!"


    While The village chief narrowed his eyes, clearly not convinced by this. But he would not press on that matter, didn''t want to embarrass Olivia any further, and chose to Ask Trisakti instead.


    "... And where are you from, Trisakti?"


    Trisakti hesitated. Should he tell the truth? That he was from another world? Yeah, no. That’d just make things worse.


    "Uh… Far away"


    Trisakti answers vaguely.


    But hearing that, The village chief sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose.


    "That’s not an answer I want"


    Trisakti crossed his arms.


    "Well, it’s the only one I’ve got"


    The tension in the room thickened. Olivia looked between the two, unsure of what to do.


    Then, suddenly, The village chief spoke again, his voice softer but still firm.


    "Look, boy. You saved my granddaughter, and for that, I’m grateful. But the healers said something’s wrong with you. Your soul is twisted. If you’re a danger to this village, I can’t let you stay"


    After that word came out from The village chief''s mouth, Olivia stepped forward. Said.


    "Grandpa, he’s not dangerous! If he was, wouldn’t he have done something by now?"


    While Trisakti, who heard this, could only raise an eyebrow. Thought.


    ''Wow. She’s really standing up for me, huh?''


    But The village chief ignored Olivia''s remark and keep stared at Trisakti for a long moment before sighing again. Then said.


    "Fine. Then prove it."


    Trisakti blinked.


    "Prove it? How?"


    The old man leaned back, crossing his arms.


    "There’s been a wraith problem at the forest’s edge. You probably already know that, right?


    Trisakti nodded, waiting for the Village chief to finish his sentence.


    "Then... If you’re truly harmless, then go with the adventurers tomorrow and deal with it... Only after that would I believe that you are truly harmless to this village and... For our Olivia, how does it sound?"


    "Grandpa!"


    Olivia said in protest, Trisakti, however, smirked.


    "Alright. That works for me"


    If fighting wraiths was the price for proving he wasn’t a monster, then fine.


    Besides… He had some questions of his own about those wraiths.


    After that, They talked about some other things, but mostly about Trisakti; although Olivia occasionally objected to the Village Head''s decision, Trisakti insisted on doing it.


    That''s it. A few hours passed, and without realizing it, the day was starting to get evening; Trisakti and Olivia said goodbye to the Village Head and then decided to look around the village while walking home to Olivia''s house.


    --------


    "Trisakti, can I ask something?"


    Olivia asked as the two of them walked around the village.


    Trisakti hummed, turning his gaze from the scenery of the village to Olivia.


    "... What is that?"


    "... If it''s not bothering you, can I ask where you exactly come from? Like City, village or maybe... Home?"


    Trisakti fell silent; the Ghosts also fell silent; they knew how Trisakti lived from the moment they met him until now, and the only answers about how Trisakti''s life was...


    Lonely, Ostracized, humiliated, and disregarded, his life was far from good, so for the first time, the Ghosts fell silent.


    "Huh~ Some difficult questions you ask there... Hm~ Where I come from, huh?"


    Trisakti said, taking a deep breath and closing his eyes before looking away from Olivia. His eyes look at something far away; there''s a sadness in his eyes, longing, and hatred, but no regrets.


    Seeing Trisakti like this, Olivia was about to open her mouth, but before she could say anything, Trisakti spoke.


    "... If you ask where I came from, my answers will be the same... It''s somewhere far away... Far, far away from here... About home... Hmm~ I don''t know if I have a place I could call home... But it''s okay for me, I''m alive it all matters for me"


    Trisakti said, taking another deep breath, then looking at Olivia, with an unusual smile on his face, which even made the ghosts surprised to see him. Trisakti said.


    "... Someone like you was rare for me... Someone who will defend me... Thinking about it again, I don''t regret my decision to run towards you that time... And if the same thing happens to you again, believe me, I will do the same thing, so..."


    With those words, Olivia suddenly blushed; she looked into the depths of Trisakti''s Eyes; there were no lies there; there was only sincerity.


    "S-So...?"


    Olivia asked hesitantly; her heartbeat was beating crazily as if she really wanted to hear what Trisakti had to say next, and Trisakti did not betray her hopes, with Trisakti opening his mouth.


    "So... If possible, could you become my ho- Ouch!"


    However, Trisakti''s words were stopped by a branch that flew and hit his head, causing Trisakti to groan in pain while rubbing the part of his head that hurt.


    And at the same time, a childish voice was heard from behind them, in the direction where the branch came from.


    "... You monster, stay away from big sis Olivia!!"


    ....


    ...


    ..


    .