Huff… Gasp…

My head was dizzy from lack of breath and my legs were trembling.

Belladonna looked up, gasping for air, leaning on a makeshift staff made of thick branches. The hill still looming ahead seemed insurmountable.

“Bella.”

“Escalion, go on without me. I’m… at my limit now.”

Escalion, who had been looking back at her a step ahead, opened his mouth.

He alternately looked at the already exhausted Belladonna and the path stretching out before them, then spoke.

“Are you serious?”

“Haa… Haa…”

“Bella, we’ve only been walking for 5 minutes. The real incline hasn’t even started yet.”

He stared at his weak wife, still with his mouth open.

“I didn’t realize my wife’s stamina was this poor. I’ll have to bring you here every day from now on. Maybe your stamina will improve bit by bit?”

“I’m surprised at myself too.”

Belladonna lowered her head.

She knew she was physically weak, but didn’t realize her stamina had deteriorated this much.

Perhaps it was because her life force had been greatly worn down due to the constant use of holy power in Astanya.

Between her downcast gaze, Escalion’s large palm suddenly appeared.

“Take it. I’ll be better than that flimsy branch.”

Belladonna tossed aside the branch she had been clutching tightly and firmly grasped Escalion’s hand. He led her hand and started walking again.

“Since it’s the first day, can’t we take it easy?”

“The first day is usually the most important. We need to set goals and standards for how to train going forward.”

“…”

He was not one to be reasoned with.

Belladonna put strength into her thighs, recalling how he consumed an enormous amount of training every day.

It seemed he wouldn’t let her go easily, so she had no choice but to try her best.

“You’re doing well.”

Escalion turned to look at her with a satisfied smile. Belladonna focused only on the path ahead as she moved her legs.

After walking for some time, a wide open space appeared instead of the continuing slope.

Escalion grabbed Belladonna’s waist and sat her down securely on a flat rock.

“Sit here and rest for a bit.”

It felt much more manageable now that she was sitting. Belladonna held out her hand to Escalion as she caught her breath.

“Escalion, please give me some water.”

“Ah, the water…”

Escalion blurted out with an uncharacteristically flustered face. He fumbled at his waist and pulled out a water canteen.

The canteen, which had been heavy and full when they left Griblata Castle, now swayed too lightly in his hand. Belladonna looked at him with an anxious face.

Don’t tell me… He drank it all?

“Bella, um… I drank more water than expected.”

“What?”

“We’ve run out of water, but wait a bit. I know there’s a stream nearby, I’ll be right back.”

As far as she knew, Escalion hadn’t even touched the canteen since they set out. He hadn’t looked tired or out of breath at all on the way here.

Then did I drink all that water myself? Thinking that, she felt somewhat embarrassed.

“Isn’t it still winter? Won’t it be frozen?”

“I’ll go check.”

Escalion said lightly as he turned around. As he was about to walk towards the stream, he paused, turned back and came over.

Huh? Why?

As she blinked with a puzzled look, he pulled out a small sword from his chest and held it out.

“What’s this for?”

“Nothing will probably happen, but just in case something comes out, swing it.”

“Is there something dangerous here?”

“Not that I know of. It’s just for peace of mind. If anything happens, shout right away. Your voice comes out very well now.”

Escalion stroked Belladonna’s hair with a smile, but she looked somewhat uneasy as she gripped the dagger with both hands.

“Come to think of it, there were bears on this mountain last time…”

“That was because those who kidnapped you forcibly woke them up. Bears usually hibernate, so they shouldn’t be wandering around now. Besides, where the bears were found is much higher than here. We won’t even get close to that place today.”

“Still…”

Although Escalion tried to reassure her, she still couldn’t feel at ease.

Perhaps because of all she had been through, she had a feeling that something would pop out from somewhere again today.

“Then do you want to go to the stream together? We might have to climb a bit.”

“I’ll just stay here. Please go ahead.”

The daunting steep climb to the stream Escalion was pointing to was more unpleasant than her uneasy feelings.

Belladonna quickly shook her head.

“Alright. I’ll be back soon.”

The urgent Escalion immediately turned and ran off. Belladonna burst into a small laugh as she watched his figure disappear like the wind.

He looked cute and reassuring as he moved diligently to bring her water.

“Phew…”

As he completely disappeared from view, Belladonna lifted her head to look at the sky and let out a deep breath.

Although it had been so bothersome and she didn’t want to come at first, it actually felt refreshing once she was here.

Is this why people exercise regularly? The slight heat rising in the cold weather made it not too cold, but rather just right.

‘Rustle.’

At that moment, she heard something moving not far from the rock where she was sitting.

I knew it! I knew something would pop out!

Belladonna swallowed hard as she clutched the small sword tightly with both hands, trembling.

She inwardly blamed the careless Escalion as she shifted her gaze towards where the sound came from.

What is it! What?!

I’m a brave person, so it would be better if you just pass by without coming out!

“…”

However, even after some time passed, whatever was rustling and moving did not readily reveal itself. It seemed to be thoroughly wary of Belladonna as well.

Belladonna felt cold sweat running down her back as she kept glancing in the direction Escalion had disappeared.

Escalion! Come back quickly! There’s something unidentified over there!

At that moment, the bushes that had stopped moving began to shake violently. Belladonna felt like she was about to cry as she gripped the short sword tightly.

Whoosh! Something round and white revealed itself from outside the bushes.

Belladonna, who had been staring intently in that direction, could only freeze in place.

“Kyuu?”

“Kyaa…!”

So cute!! Belladonna bit her lower lip hard as she raised her shoulders.

A white, round, and very soft-looking baby bear was sticking its face out from between the bushes, looking at Belladonna.

She wanted to go and hug it right away, but she couldn’t let her guard down.

If there’s a baby bear, there must be a mother bear! If there were bears nearby, that was dangerous in its own way.

Bears… tear people apart!

“…”

But no matter how long she waited, there was no further movement.

Belladonna watched as the baby bear came completely out of the bushes, toddling around and rolling about.

Aah, it’s too cute!

After making sure there was no mother bear looking after the baby bear nearby, Belladonna finally hopped down from the rock.

She crouched down in front of the baby bear, which was playing by touching round pebbles on the ground with its front paws.

“Why are you alone? Where are your mom and dad?”

“Kang!”

“Strange… They wouldn’t leave such a young baby alone…”

Seeing the young baby wandering alone, she worried that something might have happened to its parents.

If Escalion was right, they shouldn’t have woken up from hibernation yet. Were there bad people hunting again, deliberately waking up the bears?

Belladonna picked up a branch scattered nearby and waved it in front of the baby bear.

The baby bear, distracted by the wildly moving branch, stretched out both paws trying to grab it.

But since it couldn’t balance perfectly yet, it soon fell over and tumbled.

“You’re really cute.”

Belladonna laughed softly as she helped the baby bear up. As she grabbed the bear, which was warmer and softer than expected, a subtle sense of déjà vu passed through her.

Huh? What is this…?

“…”

It felt strangely familiar for some reason.

But there’s no way I could have encountered a baby bear before, right? What is this familiar feeling?

Belladonna stared at the baby bear quietly. No matter how she looked at it, it felt familiar.

“Have I met you before?”

“Kyup!”

“That can’t be, right? But what is this familiar feeling…”

The baby bear stared up at the muttering Belladonna for a while, then soon turned around. It seemed to want to go back to where it had been.

“Are you going back? Be careful! Especially watch out for traps!”

…Wait, traps?

Belladonna herself was startled by the words she had thoughtlessly uttered. Traps? Why did such a thought come naturally?

Wait… It seems like something similar happened before…

While she was lost in thought, the baby bear, showing its round tail to her as it waddled away, jumped into the bushes and disappeared.

Belladonna felt somewhat regretful as she looked at where the bear had vanished.

“Is it gone?”

The baby bear is so cold-hearted… Disappearing without even looking back.

“Bella?”

As she was blankly staring at the bushes where the bear had disappeared, Escalion’s voice was heard from behind.

When she turned her head, she saw him looking at her quizzically as she crouched on the ground, holding a now-full water canteen.

“What are you doing sitting here?”

“Ah, there was a baby bear here until just now.”

“…You say there was a bear?”

Escalion’s expression hardened as he heard Belladonna’s casual remark. He asked again with a serious face.

“Really? You saw a bear?”

Why are you like this…?

Belladonna blinked her eyes, feeling uneasy for no reason, then slowly nodded.

Escalion, bringing a hand to his mouth in thought, approached Belladonna.

He put his hands under her arms to lift her up, then picked her up and carefully sat her back on the rock.

He met Belladonna’s now-elevated gaze and spoke. His face was anxious and bewildered.

“Are you sure there was only a baby bear? Baby bears don’t wander alone. They move with their parents.”

“There weren’t any when I saw it.”

“Ha…”

Hearing her words, Escalion lowered his head deeply and let out a low sigh. Belladonna put her hand on his shoulder and asked.

“What’s wrong?”

“If there really was a bear that came this far, not only did I bring my wife to such a dangerous place, but I also became a terrible husband who left her alone.”

“What? That’s not…”

Escalion still didn’t lift his lowered head. Soon, a miserable voice returned.

“Wait a moment. Right now I feel like beating myself to death for being so careless.”