‘He mentioned learning… It doesn’t look like a regular sparring.’

The mercenaries continuously attacked Ren, fueled by their arrogance.

Sharti, momentarily terrified by the unexpected scene, observed Ren with mixed emotions.

‘Even if you forget your mind, your body remembers.’

Even to an ordinary person who knew nothing about swordsmanship, Ren seemed extraordinary.

All the spectators marveled, and by their gaze alone, it was evident that he was indeed exceptional with a sword.

‘When we first met in the cave, he was holding a sword.’

The sword he hadn’t explained yet remained buried in the ground.

At that moment, the knight inspectors, who had been rushing continuously, stopped in unison and took a collective breath. The moment of surprise at Ren’s skill, which deviated from expectations, gradually faded.

The glances exchanged among the knight members changed noticeably, and they adjusted their swords before immediately attacking Ren.

“Tsk, tsk. Against that dog.”
Bireta clicked her tongue, pointing out the incompetence of the mercenary knights. Simultaneously with Bireta’s acerbic comment, blades sliced through Ren’s hood and robe. Sharti, startled, shivered.

“……!”

In his confusion, Ren hurriedly covered his eyes, and in that moment of hesitation, three blades each found its way to his neck. Ren, without hesitation, dropped his dagger, a sign of surrender. The mercenary knights regained their composure and lowered their swords.

Sporadic applause echoed in the surroundings.

“Thanks for the lesson.”

As Ren bowed slightly, the mercenary knights shrugged their shoulders with awkward expressions.

“Is he really a beginner? Why is he so good?”

“Yeah, at first, I thought he just had quick reflexes. Oh! Maybe he’s testing us for real?”

“…….”

“But why does he keep covering his eyes? Well, is he avoiding the sunlight? Is he not injured?”

The onlookers approached Ren, admiring.

Surrounded by the mercenary group, Ren silently received their praise.

Sharti couldn’t get close to Ren and just gazed at him in silence.

‘A sense of belonging…’

Sharti recalled what Ren mentioned about a sense of belonging.

He said he had never tried it or felt it, but in reality, maybe he simply forgot. In the memory he was trying to abandon, a vague sense of belonging might be included.

In the lively atmosphere, Ren didn’t seem out of place. He was natural and fit right in.

“Bireta, why is that dog over there quietly trembling and not mingling?”

Bireta chuckled dryly.

“He wants to show himself to his master.”

“…?”

“He says it’s okay not to have memories.”

This was what Ren said when he visited Bireta early in the morning.

[Even without memories, I can live as ‘Ren’ without any problems. Although everything may be challenging because it’s all new, even if I have to live hiding my face, I am not afraid or anxious.] [As long as I have Sharti, I will do my best to be helpful in any way, make up for my shortcomings, and there is nothing I won’t do to stay by her side.] [To make it possible for my master to handle me, I will become a presence sharing Sharti’s burden. To achieve that…]

“I’ll start with learning for now.”

Ren decided to learn knowledge, experience, camaraderie, and understand the world.

That was why he first bowed to the mercenary group and sought to learn.

“…….”

Sharti was speechless.

Ren found his own way to cleanly shake off the lingering regrets about lost memories to prove that he could. Now, it was only Sharti who remained attached to his memories.

‘I am…’

Bireta nudged Sharti’s back slightly and said, “So, hide that dog now.”

Pushed unexpectedly, Sharti hesitated for a moment. Then, gradually gaining speed, she ran towards Ren.

“Ren!”
Unconsciously calling him, even though Ren covered his eyes, he reflexively turned his head towards Sharti. As Sharti passed through the mercenaries, she quickly rummaged through her bag and pulled out an extra cloak, covering Ren’s face.

Sharti, standing in front of Ren, took a small gasp.

Her hand, closing the clasp of the cloak, trembled.

“Sha.”

From within the cloak, Ren, smiling with his eyes, met Sharti’s gaze.

When Sharti touched his sweaty bangs, Ren willingly closed his eyes and accepted her touch.

A tingling sensation ran through Sharti’s chest.

The heartbeat that had only run for a moment could still be felt at his fingertips.

“If I become more skilled with the sword, there won’t be worries in close combat or ranged battles.”

“…….”

Ren, with his eyes still closed, drew soft lines on his lips.

“So, you can rest assured and sleep peacefully, Sharti.”

It was a promise to always protect her by conveying the sincerity without any protective magic.

When Sharti’s lips quivered with the promise, filled with wholehearted feelings.

“With just dagger skills like this, I’m curious about how I would handle a longsword.”

Captain Karun of the mercenary group approached confidently.

As the sunlight cast shadows on Karun’s face, Sharti shuddered and trembled her shoulders.

In response, Ren quickly hid Sharti behind him, protecting her.

“Young man, you don’t seem too tired, but how about trying a longsword?”

In response to Karun’s gesture, a nearby knight pulled a sword from his waist and offered it to Ren.

Despite Ren’s large build, Karun was not to be taken lightly. Moreover, a long scar running vertically over his left eye and his experience made Karun appear even more formidable.

“…….”

Sharti, holding Ren’s arm, inadvertently tensed her stomach.

‘How did he know I haven’t eaten? Did I make a growling sound, perhaps?’

Although it was still before breakfast, her stomach clock did not ring.

In fact, Ren needed an excuse to escape from the curious mercenary group with Sharti, hence the need for an excuse.

“Ah, the doctor is before his meal. Hey, guys! Bring something to eat for the teacher!”

“Here you go, teacher.”

At Karun’s hearty call, the members of the mercenary group reluctantly brought out some food.

In an instant, Sharti’s arms were full of breakfast.

Sharti’s face turned slightly red.

‘Looks like other people heard too!’

Feeling embarrassed, Sharti lowered her head deeply.

On the other hand, Ren seemed quite satisfied when Sharti quickly filled her stomach.

In embarrassment, Sharti pulled Ren’s sleeve slightly. When Ren bent down, Sharti, glancing around, brought a candy-sized red fruit to his lips.

“It might hurt a bit, but eat it.”

“…….”
As Ren’s mouth slowly opened, the fruit slipped inside.

Tasting the sweetness spreading in his mouth, Ren grinned.

“I have no intention of becoming a patient again, so you don’t need to worry, Master.”

After saying that, Ren also fed a red fruit to Sharti.

Ren, who had been squirming with a small mouth, finally turned his gaze away and straightened up.

“Youth is good.”

Karun showed a satisfied smile.

Blushing at the teasing atmosphere around her, Sharti, holding a handful of food, fled back to Viretta.

Ren, who returned with an indifferent expression, didn’t take his eyes off Sharti’s retreating figure.

Karun stroked his beard.

“It’s not always a good ending when you pick up a sword for a woman.”

“…….”

Ren squinted his eyes and faced Karun.

At Karun’s gesture, the mercenary members who had gathered around Ren moved away. Instead of the mercenary knights who had practiced with Ren, Karun drew a greatsword that was carried on his back.

“A sword used to cut people ultimately teaches you how to cut relationships with people, young man.”

Ren didn’t hesitate to draw his sword.

“I’m not learning to cut. I’m learning to protect.”

His turquoise eyes shone with determination.