Ren’s head went blank since Sharati couldn’t breathe properly and struggled for air. It felt as if his mind had turned completely white, like a blank piece of paper. Ren, with cold hands, grabbed Sharati, unconsciously thinking he had to somehow make her breathe.

“I really……”

Only when Sharati, barely catching her breath, trembled and calmed down in his arms did Ren finally catch his breath properly. In fact, even the memory of that moment was quite faint.
It was just that Sharati wasn’t in her right mind due to worries, anxiety, self-loathing, and anger. And even now, things weren’t much different.

Ren struggled belatedly with the overwhelming regret and self-reproach.

“Ren-.”

Sharati recovered faster than Ren.

“Now, let’s go home.”

…!

Ren raised his head abruptly.

Sharati, still with flushed cheeks, looked into Ren’s eyes. It could be seen as evasion rather than recovery, but to move forward, one needed time to gain momentum.

“There’s something I want to say to you.”

It had been a sentiment she wanted to convey to him all along, and she wanted to exchange deeper feelings quickly. However, she didn’t want to confess in a messy way, swept away by the atmosphere.

“So, Ren, get ready.”

So that he could handle it if I answered.

Whispering the rest quietly, Sharati courageously took Ren’s hand. As she took his hand first, Ren’s stiff expression quickly softened.

Holding Sharati’s left hand adorned with the silver ring, Ren glanced at her and murmured softly.

“Sha, I haven’t answered yet.”

“Huh?”

“Did you kiss?”

Sharati looked at Ren with a slightly puzzled expression.

Ren’s awkward jealousy was persistent.

“…You’re asking even though you know?”

Ren chuckled silently.

As expected, Sharati was quick-witted.

“Please consider the feelings of a slave who is anxious about losing her master.”

“You seem to be getting bolder.”

Ren didn’t deny it.

He liked Sharati, wanted to make her laugh, and found ways to get closer, so his personality changed.

It was a desperate effort to become her taste in order to be loved.

“When are you leaving?”

“I’ll tell Grandma first and try to leave as soon as possible, maybe tomorrow… huh?”

Sharati looked up blankly. White snowflakes were falling from the sky.

Ah!

Surprised as the cold snow touched her nose, Sharati instinctively looked for her hood to cover her face. Ren, finding the hood together, shook the hand he held with her.

“Isn’t it okay for a little snow to fall?”

…Sharati awkwardly fidgeted with her hands.

“How does my face look right now? Is it really a different face?”

“It’s not a completely different face because of the face recognition interference magic tool. Instead, facial features look less distinct, and it appears blurry overall.”

“Then, for passersby or even during conversations, it won’t be easily remembered.”

Not having a specific facial structure was an advantage.

Feeling relieved, Sharati smiled widely at Ren.

“…Thank you, Ren.”

Since Ren would also see her as blurry, Sharati laughed freely, though feeling embarrassed.

Under the first snow, Sharati moved forward, feeling a refreshing sense of liberation and the warmth of Ren’s embrace all the way to her heart.
Following her light footsteps, Ren looked up at the snowfalling sky, contemplating the joy of being with Sharati. The turquoise eyes, hoping that the ‘firsts’ with Sharati would continue to increase, slowly deepened.

“…Ready to handle it.”

Muttering to himself, Ren deliberately ignored the anxiety that had followed him throughout the day.

It seemed that before leaving, he needed to meet Matapju once again to properly sort out this anxiety.

Gwendhil…

He would throw away the letters that kept lingering in his mind.

Ren walked, holding onto the faint warmth of Sharati.

As the sky darkened, the falling snow began to accumulate.

Matapju couldn’t go to bed until the early dawn.

To be precise, all the sorcerers under Matap were staying up all night.

“So, are you saying, Matapju-nim, that the forbidden magic was used in this village’s Illusion Grass?”

“No. The forbidden magic was used in this Poison Grass’s venom.”

Matapju spread the news of forbidden magic throughout Matap, sharing all the information revealed with the help of Sharati.

“How can poison be fused with magic? Is that possible?”

“Well, it’s forbidden magic. In fact, this crimson Poison Grass reacts not only to mana but also to our magic power.”

Sorcerers with strong investigative minds each threw out their hypotheses and speculations without reservation.

Their common opinion was one.

“It’s dangerous, really.”

How come there are so many hidden weapons in a hidden village?

“What about the antidote? Have you tried using it?”

In response to Butapju’s question, Shukadi nodded.

“When used directly on the venom, the effect was minimal, but there was one clear reaction.”

“Oh.”

Matapju, who had been holding his chin with a pensive expression, smirked.

“When I sprinkled the antidote on the remnants of the curse at the Haubsan Cliff, it showed a fierce resistance.”

The power of a mere potion couldn’t purify forbidden magic. However, it had the power to push the curse away.

As clear evidence, there was Leo deltwen Gwenhill, whom Sharati had revived.

“Well, for now, we need to find a way to overcome the forbidden magic.”

“Since time is passing as if the village were taken away, we need to use it beneficially.”

“Yes!”

The sorcerers blinked their eyes, getting up from their seats.

After dispersing to their respective workshops, Butapju approached Matapju.

“The female doctor says she’ll leave tomorrow.”

“Oh, really?”

“Will you just let her go like that?”

Butapju sighed. He had thought that he would repay her someday, but in the end, he had received even greater help.

Matapju rolled the bottle of the antidote that Sharati had made and nodded.

“Instead of repaying, I’ll give her a gift.”

The gift was the giver’s heart.

The next day, Matapju secretly cast a spell on her, as a gift.

The gift was the giver’s heart.