Shar-tee, with damp and dragging steps, was making her way back, urging herself through the path. However, the way back to the cave through the pouring rain was endlessly rugged.

Her slender body kept slipping on the mud and frequently tumbled over in the pouring rain.

“Th-that was close.”

Shar-tee gritted her teeth, suppressing the pain in her palm crushed against the rocky surface, and exerted strength in her legs. There was no dry spot, and no part of her body was untouched by the rain.

The umbrella she proudly brought along was no different from a mere leaf amidst the pouring rain.

“Still, I’m fortunate to have found all the ingredients.”

There was no other way to put it. Every time she fell and was swept away, she found the herbs she had been seeking.

Shar-tee laboriously climbed up, recalling the herbs she had carefully tucked into her bosom.

The right leg was a bit sore, but thanks to the times she had been carried by Ren, this level of fatigue was bearable.

Achoo!

Winter rain was bone-chilling. As a result, her robe was frozen stiff while still wet, and every time her cheek touched the hood, she felt a moment of clarity.

“At this rate, both of us might end up getting sick tomorrow.”

Sniffling, Shar-tee keenly felt the heat. The heated stone had been handed over to Ren, who was sleeping, and she had come out.

Rather than cold hands, the warm stone seemed to provide a cozy atmosphere for Ren’s dreams. There was also a hope that he wouldn’t notice her absence.

“He’s probably awake by now.”

Ren had developed immunity to sleeping pills, and she had adjusted the dosage used this time. He might have woken up by the time she arrived at the cave.

“He might come out looking for me in vain, so let’s go back quickly.”

When you thought about it, Ren didn’t listen to Teine more than Shar-tee. Moreover, Ren’s nagging was more severe than Vireta’s. Ren was even one step ahead of Vireta in making her speechless without logical counterarguments.

It was a mystery how Ren, with that personality, decided to imitate a slave.

Thinking of Ren, laughter escaped her.

“Ugh!”

While lost in thought, Shar-tee swayed heavily due to the strong wind.

Fortunately, she managed to grab a nearby tree and didn’t fall over.

Shar-tee cautiously moved forward again, hearing her faint heartbeat.

“I see it!”

Finally, she arrived at the cave, concluding the long and arduous journey.

As she entered the cave, she was liberated from the raindrops beating on her entire body.

“I just want to sit down for a moment.”

The moment she smelled the damp cave air, Shar-tee wanted to immediately take off her heavy robe, but her body was limp, and it was hard to even move a finger.

As Shar-tee sniffled, surveying the inside of the cave, she called out, “Ren?”

Certainly, the stone that she had handed to Ren should be emitting warmth and light. However, in the darkness, no light was visible. It hadn’t been used for a few days, so it shouldn’t be broken or out of power.

Feeling something was odd, Shar-tee took a step forward.

……Hu, uk, hoo……. Uh, ha…… Ergh,
The rough groans echoing throughout the cave sent shivers down her arms.

Shar-tee faltered. She held her breath as much as possible, and when she narrowed her eyes, she saw a figure in the darkness inside the cave.

“……Ren?”

The massive figure lying sprawled on the ground, not curling up, was undoubtedly Ren.

Shar-tee rushed towards him urgently.

“Ugh!”

However, at the same time, Ren swung his arm, startling Shar-tee, who fell backward.

The threatening attack made Shar-tee’s face turn pale.

Shar-tee, without turning her eyes away from Ren, cautiously felt the ground and got up. Instinctively, a signal of danger rang in her mind.

But Shar-tee’s feet did not move.

“Ugh, uhuh……. Ugh, argh…….”

With a squelching sound, Ren writhed in agony, continuously hitting and slamming his body against the ground and the wall, engaging in self-harm.

As if losing his sanity, he was not acting normal.

“Seizure?”

Shar-tee, too, had seizures whenever she saw fire due to her trauma, but she never inflicted wounds on her body as severely as Ren. At most, she screamed, and her body had severe convulsions.

“……Madness.”

The thought of a disorder floated into her mind, and she swallowed dry saliva.

Shar-tee rolled her eyes around, searching for her bag. Even though Ren had seizures, it wasn’t as extreme as inflicting self-harm to this extent. She needed to sprinkle some sleep powder or anesthetic powder to prevent Ren from self-harm.

“Where did I put it?”

Between the damp folds of her hood soaked in rain, a rancid smell of blood wafted.

In her desperation, Shar-tee discovered the bag, and the moment she grabbed it, Ren reacted to the close sound.

Thump!

“Ugh……!”

Droplets of water, whether rain or cold sweat, fell off her chin with a light tap.

Her heart thumped. Shar-tee swallowed her breath with trembling eyes.