The face may be a secret, but the voice is not particularly secretive. It was just self-imposed worry and hidden concerns that showed in the eyes.

Recently, through practice with Ren, the frequency of using her voice had increased. Despite worrying that the children might be scared, she eventually spoke, even lowering her voice when conversing with Ren in the presence of others.

She felt the pain and sadness of her damaged voice gradually fading away.

‘Maybe I don’t need to bring a pen and paper.’

While she would continue to be cautious and worry about others’ reactions, there was an expectation and courage for gradual improvement.
Continuing to be mindful of others’ reactions and worries, there was an expectation and courage for gradual improvement.

“[You don’t cause any harm to them, so why do you insist on lowering yourself and causing wounds?]”

Ren’s single word was painful.

Thinking she had grown accustomed to the wounds from self-reproach, self-blame, and giving up, the moment Ren recognized them, Sharti felt pain after a long time.

Even with additional wounds, the once-numb wounds that she had turned away from were painful again.

I am a precious person too.

I am an ordinary person.

I… am a person who feels pain.

“I am a person who is alive.”

When her voice was taken away by the ordinary fire five years ago, Sharti thought,

The dead do not speak. So, it left behind this horrible voice.

Don’t speak like the dead and live.

Even becoming a doctor couldn’t restore her damaged voice.

The dead could never come back to life.

“I am a person who can speak.”

Although it would take a long time to speak normally, Sharti could speak.

The dead do not speak.

But Sharti did not die. She was a person who lived vividly.

“……I am a person who can change.”

Sharti took a deep breath and then raised her head.

The sky between the alleys was narrow, high, and clear.

‘Up to here. Please only see up to this point.’

Please close your eyes to this extent of change.

Please allow this small happiness to someone who has lived in misery.

“……. ”

Sharti hoped that this prayer had reached the sky.

With a once-organized conscience, Sharti breathed out lightly and slowly left the alley.

She deliberately ignored Ren’s smile that came to mind during the prayer. Now that she was just beginning to find happiness, she couldn’t wish for greater happiness.

Because the end of that happiness might be immeasurable.

That evening, dozens of balloon-shaped magical devices illuminated the sky of the village brightly.

It was a celebration, reminiscent of a noble party, marking the village’s new beginning, although it was a bit early.

Under the vermilion-patterned sky, village residents, Matop-affiliated magicians, and the Crople Mercenary Corps gathered together.

“Matop Lord has not arrived yet, and the paperwork is not finished, but I feel it’s a bit early. However, to convey the meaning of asking for good days together in the future, I have prepared toasts.”

When the village chief raised his glass, Karun also laughed heartily and raised his glass.

“There’s no need for a separate welcoming ceremony.”

“It seems embarrassing to just receive.”

“Why are you saying that, Village Chief? You’re overly humble.”

Karun poured fruit wine into the chief’s empty glass, which he had turned awkwardly.
The Crople Mercenary Corps was enjoying the famous fruit wine from the southern region.

“Yes. Thanks to the village chief’s decisive decision to protect the village, we can coexist like this, right?”

Upon Butabju’s words, the village chief gave a slight smile.

Coexistence. Truly, it was a pleasant resonance.

“Well, I don’t know.”

However, the village chief had a sense of shame.

The village chief saw the evening of the village looking bright for the first time.

The hidden village goes to sleep early in the evening. Dim lanterns can’t even be lit. That’s how they lived. Breathing quietly, spending time in this village where even the sound of breathing had to be done silently.

“I am just a coward.”

Justifying cowardice by calling it rational and not resorting to cowardly threats instead of begging for life in front of the first extended hand.

Karun and Butabju exchanged glances as they watched the village chief’s bitter smile.

“Really cowardly people don’t admit to being cowardly themselves.”

“Yes?”

Karun emptied his glass refreshingly.

“They continue to make excuses until the end. They are cowards who cannot even look back at their own sins.”

Living cowardly in an absurd world is a convenient excuse. Guilt becomes blurred, justifying wrongful choices.

That’s why doing something right, not being cowardly, keeping faith, was truly a difficult thing.

And even after accomplishing that difficult task, the broken hearts could only withstand creating a mere mercenary corps, nothing more to endure the world.

“Everyone makes mistakes. Sometimes they lie, run away. It’s unavoidable for imperfect creations of the gods.”

Butabju gently accepted Karun’s words.

The light of the sky reflected in the fruit wine was truly beautiful. Butabju took a sip of the sweet fruit wine. Mana had permeated the fruit wine in the meantime, giving the illusion of drinking a divine concoction with just one sip.

“The important thing is whether you make an effort to correct the mistakes or not, isn’t it?”

At Matopju’s words, the village chief sighed and drank with the breath.

Even though it felt like his throat was burning with the taste of the precious liquor for the first time, the village chief emptied the glass cleanly.

“Effort…”

The village chief looked at the empty glass thoughtfully and then offered it to Karun and Butabju.

“I have something to ask.”

The village chief remembered a white, slender woman with long milky hair.

Despite trying not to shake, he remembered shoulders that trembled finely and lips that were full of small scars from how much they had bitten.

“I want to repay the benefactor who connected the village, the mercenary corps, and Matop.”

Even if he repays one favor, he has nothing, so he asks for help alone with his own strength.

He was still weak and cowardly.

Still, the village chief never forgot the crimson eyes that didn’t waver.

Looking at the village chief making an effort to change, Karun and Matopju gladly nodded. It was natural to express gratitude and repay the one who created the connection.
“Matopju will willingly support you with strength.”

As per Butabju’s conviction, Matopju decided to willingly provide assistance.

As Matopju, she presented a very generous and kind option.

“If Dr. Sun’s neck or a slave’s head, which one would you choose if you could fix one of them?”