Since it was a stone imbued with the mana of nature, it was expected to be of much higher quality than the mana stones that wizards carried around in droves.

‘The Hujak family seems to be really formidable and large, more than I thought.’

Viscount Bridend.

When I heard the news that Viretta failed in her assassination, I didn’t realize the power of the Newton aristocracy, but now I keenly felt it, and Sharuti shivered.

“Teacher, shall we finish the walk here and go back?”

Ashu tried to take off her outerwear, but Sharuti waved her hand.

His attire was too thin for her to wear Ashu’s clothes.

There was a need to organize thoughts while feeling the chilly wind.

‘Going back like this might worry Ren.’

It bothered her that, unlike at the beginning, she seemed to show only an inadequate appearance to Ren. She wanted to be careful not to show a weak side in front of him, as if it were natural.

“Yes!”

At the immediate refusal, Ashu’s face turned pale.

Sharuti winked at Ashu out of the corner of her eye.

‘What could be on her mind?’

When she thought about it, Ashu must have been frustrated as well.

People with unexplained illnesses and conflicting opinions. Desperation endured in worry and anxiety, and the earnestness of facing rejection and seeking an external opinion.

Having overcome all of that and finally embracing hope today, she must need someone to talk to.

‘I should listen.’

Although it might be challenging to provide refreshing counseling, she could at least listen to her inner thoughts.

As it was getting chilly sitting there, Sharuti stood up for now.

Dizziness and nausea subsided, and she continued the walk with Ashu.

“But I never thought the reason people collapsed was mana addiction. Teacher, didn’t you say there seems to be a huge mana buried in this land where the village was built?”

Ashu cautiously started a conversation while surveying the atmosphere.

“I don’t know much about mana, but my father said so. In the future, we should not close the door to protect the village but open the door to protect this land.”

“Yes. But you helped us, Teacher. And there will be others who will help us, so it won’t be as daunting as before.”

Ashu, faintly smiling, lifted her head and gazed at the sky.

It was a pitch-black night sky with no stars visible, but her eyes beyond the glasses were shining more brightly than usual.

“However, I’ve heard a lot that I’m timid, not very capable in worldly affairs, and not commendable. I wonder if someone like me can be of help.”

Her voice, already weakened, sounded very timid and lacking in confidence.

Sharuti immediately shook her head in rebuttal.

“Uh, uh… Me?”

Ashu alternated between glancing at the note and Sharuti with a surprised expression.

The reddened cheeks of Ashu, which had been pale in the chilly wind, now blazed brightly.

“I’m glad you said that, Teacher.”

Ashu, holding the note, vigorously rubbed her cheeks with her hand.

Ashu soon burst into laughter, seeming genuinely happy with the praise and encouragement. Watching Ashu, who was delighted with compliments and support, Sharuti also felt pleased.

‘Birena emphasized her ideal type so much.’

The man with glasses that Birena emphasized as her ideal type was right in front of her.

Checking Ashu’s whole body without being noticed, Sharuti shook her head alone.

‘Tall, slender, and a smiling person who looks innocent.’

Isn’t it exactly Birena’s ideal type?

While Sharuti was immersed in her unconscious contemplation, Ashu gathered her courage once again.

“In fact, I’m not popular among women, and I often hear that I’m not manly enough…”

Not popular? Sharuti vehemently denied, waving her hands.

As she had not yet met many people in the wide world, her taste evaluation might be limited.

Recalling Birena, Sharuti boosted Ashu’s confidence.

Ashu’s face brightened.

“Really…?”

As Sharuti nodded, Ashu burst into a broad smile.

Finally gaining hope, Ashu’s eyes sparkled.

“Then, can I know Teacher’s ideal type, or rather, the criteria you chose earlier?”

“…?”

Sharuti tilted her head, not because she couldn’t understand, but because she didn’t catch the intention.

“Right, considering it, I’m trying to become someone who can receive favorable impressions from various perspectives!”

Ashu added as if making an excuse.

With the achievement of her goal in sight, Ashu’s entire face turned crimson. Pushed by the enthusiasm emitted by Ashu, Sharuti nodded in bewilderment.

‘Well, I guess. Since the village women all know about it.’

Sharuti, lost in her unconscious contemplation, wondered why Ashu was curious about those choices.

“Uh, based on them, I’m trying to be someone who can be liked in various ways!”

Ashu explained as if justifying herself.

Finally, Sharuti nodded, influenced by Ashu’s fervor.

‘Um, well, since the standards of the village women are known.’
Sharuti wrote the note obediently.

With an excited heart, Ashu, who had been waiting, received the note from Sharuti.

“……?”

Despite its brevity, the note contained a comprehensive meaning.

Ashu blinked her eyes in confusion.

So, perhaps first impressions are not that important.

People unconsciously feel and think a lot about others’ first impressions, so the more intense, the more memorable it might be.

“Ah…”

Reading the consecutive notes, Ashu soon brightened into a radiant smile.

Then, she carefully folded the note and clasped it tightly with both hands.

“Yes, that’s right. I’ll try to become a good person, then.”

“…….”

Her innocent sincerity was clearly conveyed.

The atmosphere unique to a positive, bright person could be felt.

At that moment, Ren, who had bowed his head comparing Ashu to a flower, flashed through her mind.

‘Maybe it’s a difference in completeness.’

In many ways, Ashu was different from Ren.

How did Ashu, who was healthy both physically and mentally, look at Ren, living a mismatched life due to lost memories? What kind of feeling did she get, and what kind of mood was it?

‘…So, that’s why she mentioned jealousy.’

With a belated realization, Sharuti sighed softly.

“Teacher?”

As the chilly wind blew, Sharuti snapped out of her thoughts.

With Sharuti’s expression hidden by the hood, Ashu was unaware of Sharuti’s inner thoughts.

Sharuti looked up at Ashu for a moment and pursed her lips.

“…No.”

“Yes?”

At the sudden and horribly dry voice, Ashu flinched.

Sharuti hesitated for a moment and weakly continued her words.

“I actually hope you are a person with many shortcomings.”

Wishing to be a good person. It wasn’t a lie.

Perhaps the most ordinary and fundamental condition for people to like each other.

But for Sharuti, who was not ordinary and twisted in some way, there had to be different conditions.

“I hope you’re a person who makes me not feel lacking, someone like that.”

Sharuti laughed at the sincerity that bluntly popped out.

Admitting herself to be a person with a sickly mind, she laughed.

And she felt sad.

‘Who would like me in this state?’

Living while concealing such a miserable and twisted appearance.

Her naked and ugly mind shivered in the chilly wind.

Sharuti bit her lips and deeply lowered her head.

“Teacher…?”

Confused, as Ashu was about to take a step forward, Sharuti, as if fleeing, turned away and left her place. Her retreating figure into the darkness signaled the end of the long walk.