Jackal waited quietly behind the dim log house for Asha to come closer.

When she approached, he pulled something out of his coat.

“What’s this?”

“A dagger. Take it out and see.”

Asha accepted the dagger with both hands.

The steelcolored sheath was engraved with a horse’s head, and sapphire gems were embedded in the eyes.

Asha’s eyes widened as she asked,

“This… looks like a very expensive and valuable dagger. Can I really have it?”

“Yes. It’s very expensive and valuable. It’s a heirloom from my parents.”

At his words, Asha’s eyes widened even more, and she quickly pushed the dagger back into his coat, saying firmly,

“I can’t accept something so precious. Please put it back.”

“Take it. I have plenty of daggers.”

“But this is an invaluable treasure!”

“It’s not that precious. It was always a nuisance, something I just kept because I couldn’t quite throw it away.”

Asha asked incredulously,

“Why? If it were me, I would cherish something my parents gave me…”

“It’s not a gift; it’s more like a heavy duty.”

“A duty?”

Jackal started to say, “A duty to protect the clan,” but just shook his head.

“…There’s something like that. To me, that dagger is suffocating. But it’s light and wellsharpened, so it’ll be good for you. Take it as a graduation present from training. You’ve worked hard, so you’ve earned it.”

Asha swallowed hard and drew the sword from the sheath.

Inside, a silver blade shone, so reflective you could see the pores on her face.

A beautiful sword, like moonlight itself.

Asha exclaimed in admiration, and Jackal glanced at her, then said casually,

“You can use it as a mirror if you really like it.”

At his joking words, Asha laughed again.

In her previous life, she rarely smiled, but since spending time here with the Likans, she found herself laughing at the smallest things.

Seeing her brightened demeanor, Jackal also relaxed.

But then,

“…Huh? But there’s a horse drawn on the sheath, like Shafi?”

He was taken aback by those words.

But Asha, carefully feeling the horse pattern, didn’t notice.

“I really like it. It’s like Shafi is engraved on it.”

Somehow, carrying this sword felt like Shafi would protect her anytime, anywhere.

“I really like it,” Asha said, her face full of emotion.

“Thank you. I’ll treasure it.”

“Yeah. Then I’ll go back.”

Having moved away from the campfire for a moment, Asha felt her body grow cold and rubbed her hands together, breathing on them, as she headed back.

Then, Jackal quickly grabbed her hands as if snatching them away and strode along.

Asha’s cheeks flushed slightly as she felt his thick, warm hand gently wrapping around hers.

When they returned to the campfire, a drunk musician was deeply engrossed in playing a flute.

“It’s starting again. That bard.”

The gang members shook their heads as if they couldn’t stop him, but the musician, undeterred by their reaction, closed his eyes with a flushed face and blew the flute earnestly.

But his skill was topnotch, and Asha was taken aback.

“Musician sir, you know how to play the flute too?”

“Yeah. That guy blows the flute when he’s drunk.”

“That’s a peculiar drinking habit.”

Asha listened, laughing, to the clear and beautiful sound of the flute.

Underneath the starlit night sky, it was a lyrical song that fit perfectly with the rustic village landscape around the campfire.

However, the gang members didn’t seem to like the song, and they yelled angrily.

“Knock it off!”

“You ruined the mood!”

The musician sneakily opened his eyes and mumbled.

“You uncultured brutes who don’t even know the ‘art’ in ‘art’…”

“What? What did you just say?”

The musician closed his eyes again and played a cheerful tune, as if nothing had happened.

The gang members said, “That’s it!” and burst into roars of laughter, tilting their glasses again, joyfully.

A few of them quickly brought various instruments and joined the performance.

As mandolins and ukuleles, and even percussion instruments made from barrels appeared, the music became even richer.

Asha, caught up in the enthusiasm, subtly moved her shoulders to the beat, taptap.

Her movement was so cute that Jackal chuckled from beside her.

Then, Asha, slightly intoxicated, couldn’t resist her excitement and suddenly walked to the center.

Everyone stared in surprise as Asha smiled, raised a hand, bowed gracefully, and greeted them.

“Ladies and Gentlemen. Let me get the party started.”

“Woah!”

The gang members shouted in excitement, lifting their glasses.

“Musician! Play a more exciting tune, quick!”

At someone’s shout, the musician played a lively and bright song with even more vigor.

As Asha began to dance to the beat, everyone was shocked and cheered even louder.

In fact, Asha had acquired various dances while in the palace, and she was as talented in dance as a butterfly.

With the power of the wind added, every time she danced, it was as if a butterfly was gracefully flapping its wings.

The gang members clapped passionately in time.

As Asha spun around, her hair shimmering like gold dust, they were so amazed that they could have swallowed a fly.

Thanks to her, the atmosphere ignited.

Caught off guard by her unexpected appearance, Jackal’s eyes widened as he stared at her, dumbfounded.