As the day completely darkened, Sharti took out the small light she had brought.

When she inserted the magic stone into the light Birena had given her as a gift, a soft glow dimly illuminated the surroundings.

‘It would be warm if we lit a bonfire.’

Thanks to the wool blanket Bireta had packed for her, she wasn’t too cold, but her cheeks were slightly reddened.

With nowhere proper to shelter from the wind, Sharti sat on a dirt patch with sparse grass, spreading the blanket underneath her. She gazed at the sky and let out a small breath.

‘Rather… how did it end up like this?’

Sharti desperately looked up at the night sky, trying not to lower her gaze even by mistake.

Of all days, tonight the night sky was pitch black without a single star.

Eventually, unable to bear her stiff neck any longer, Sharti lowered her gaze.

“……”

She saw Ren’s face, resting his head on her thigh.

Sleeping with his arms crossed, Ren’s sleeping face was quite impassive.

Sharti hesitantly reached out her hand and pulled the blanket over his sleeping bag.

‘He doesn’t have to go this far.’

Sharti slowly traced Ren’s sharp features.

His resolute will to not let her suffer as much was all too apparent.

‘But to set such a condition…’

Sharti pressed her lips tightly together.

The condition Ren had set was to use her lap as a pillow while he slept.

[It’s a way to prepare for anything that might happen while I’m asleep.]

When she had demanded to know what that embarrassing position had to do with anything, Ren had calmly replied.

[Even if a stranger appears and threatens us, Sha, you would try to handle it alone without waking me. So I have no choice but to stay close to prevent you from acting recklessly.]

Sharti was at a loss for words then and now.

It seemed like too much of a leap, but when she imagined the scenario, it was quite plausible.

Given her track record, Sharti couldn’t flatly deny it.

[Holding hands while sleeping would be fine too.]

Sharti had pondered.

She had pondered very seriously.

And Sharti reconsidered her choice with clouded eyes.

‘Hands are a bit…’

Even with the lap pillow, his head was only touching her thick robe.

It was much better than skin-to-skin contact of holding hands.

‘There’s another problem though.’

Since she had impulsively volunteered to keep watch alone at night, she would surely doze off during the day.

And in Ren’s arms, no less.

Sharti covered her face with both hands.

“……”

Just then, Ren stirred and turned his head to the side, causing Sharti to freeze stiffly.

Her stomach tensed momentarily.

Sharti quietly lowered her hands and examined Ren’s face.

He seemed to be in deep sleep, his breathing even.

‘It reminds me of when we were in the cave.’

How did they end up becoming close enough to go on a treatment trip together?

Sharti hesitated before lightly touching his bangs.

‘…You’re too defenseless.’

Did that mean he trusted her that much? Or was it arrogance that he could easily subdue someone like her?

Sharti tilted her head and more boldly brushed aside the bangs covering Ren’s eyelids.

‘I never thought he’d hear the conversation between Tein and Birena.’

Setting aside the embarrassment, it was terrifying.

She had already shown various weaknesses, but she didn’t want Ren to know her inner thoughts too.

‘That really feels like showing all of who I am.’

The crimson eyes holding a bitter smile sank gloomily.

Just then, the wind blew, slightly lifting the back of Sharti’s robe.

Though only her face was slightly exposed, for a moment it felt as if someone had breathed cold air onto her face.

Haha. Sharti let out a silent, hollow laugh.

‘You know, Ren. I want to find your weakness too.’

A selfish true desire she had never confided in anyone.

To protect her own secrets and weaknesses, the most efficient method was to grasp the other person’s weakness in return.

So Sharti wanted Ren’s weakness, if only to protect herself.

‘I’m glad I didn’t reveal this to Birena at least.’

Sharti’s bangs fluttered in the wind.

In the middle of the dark, cold mountain, Sharti watched the sleeping Ren for a long time.

She held her breath in the pre-dawn stillness until daybreak, hiding her restless heart.

The next day, Sharti and Ren set out early to climb the mountain again.

To conserve Ren’s energy, they agreed that Sharti would walk as much as possible in the morning.

“The fog seems to be getting thicker.”

As Ren said, the density of the fog increased with each mountain they crossed.

Though the fog narrowed their vision, thanks to Ren’s sense of direction and Sharti’s memorized terrain, they didn’t get lost.

“We should hold hands just in case.”

Ren said as he subtly moved closer to Sharti.

Sharti nodded and placed the hem of her robe in his outstretched hand.

“……”

Ren followed Sharti silently with a slightly sulky expression.

As they walked on wordlessly for a while, Sharti began to feel sleepy.

The cool mountain air shrouded in fog felt strangely cozy, gradually making her drowsy.

‘I’m sleepy.’

Sharti rubbed her heavy eyelids vigorously.

As Sharti’s head kept bobbing up and down, Ren gently tugged on her robe.

“Why don’t we take a short break?”

“Do you know that’s the fifth time you’ve said that?”

He had been uncannily perceptive, suggesting breaks even when she hadn’t yawned audibly.

Feeling embarrassed, Sharti rubbed her cold nose tip and glanced at Ren.

‘If I keep showing this side of me, he definitely won’t let me keep watch tonight.’

She couldn’t keep showing Ren her unreliable side.

Hurrying to wake herself up, Sharti stretched vigorously.

“The mountain geography here is quite complex, so it’s better if we get out as quickly as possible.”

That way, even if she dozed off in Ren’s arms, they wouldn’t lose their way.

‘No, why am I thinking about dozing off in his arms?’

What complacent thoughts after just one all-nighter.

Sharti slapped both her cheeks repeatedly.

“…Sha?”

“Instead of resting, could you keep talking to me? I think that would be more effective against the cold and drowsiness.”

“That sounds good.”

Ren nodded eagerly, pleased with the most moderate option.

Sharti focused on the stinging pain in her cheeks as she hurried her steps again.

But Ren didn’t speak for a while.

He simply walked silently beside Sharti as they made their way through the fog.

That unexpectedly gave her a sense of stability, making Sharti’s cheeks tingle.

“Don’t you have anything you want to ask?”

“I was thinking.”

Ren chose his words carefully while staring straight ahead.

“Wondering how much I could ask.”

Sharti hesitated momentarily at Ren’s meaningful words.

She discreetly took out a map from her bag.

It was intended as a shield in case he asked difficult questions.

“Come to think of it, there’s something strange.”

Ren glanced at the map Sharti was looking at.

“I’ve seen several maps to memorize the route, but none of them showed the village we’re heading to. The New Eaton Empire usually marks all mountain villages, big and small, on maps for smooth evacuation in times of crisis like war.”

Moreover, many maps had detailed records of village populations.

It was a necessary procedure and measure in the process of occupying various lands during long wars.

“I’ve looked at all the places you’ve been for treatment trips before, Sha, but there’s no village with as little record or information as that one.”

“……”

Sharti looked at Ren with curious eyes.

‘Unexpectedly meticulous and sharp.’

It was too awkward to gloss over or deny, so Sharti chose her words carefully.

Sharti passed the map to Ren and pointed to the spot where Ashu’s village was located.

“It’s called a hidden village. It’s called that because it doesn’t exist on maps or in records.”

The village’s existence was known, but by tacit agreement, it was not officially registered, hence called a “hidden village.”

Some gossips claimed the nickname came from imperial rebels or remnants of defeated countries gathering there, but it was quite the opposite.

Rather, it was a village “hidden” secretly under the sanction of the empire, namely the New Eaton imperial family.

“…You managed to find such a place.”

Ren seemed puzzled that she was entangled with such a suspicious village, but didn’t appear particularly interested in the hidden village itself.

“I didn’t find it intentionally.”

It was winter, and on a snowy day, she had slipped and rolled, leading her to stumble upon the village while looking for a place to rest briefly.

“Hmm, can I keep asking? When did you start going on treatment trips? It seems you traveled quite far.”

“Ah, it hasn’t been that long. About two years, I guess.”

There was no better way to improve skills than treatment trips.

As villages, big or small, were prone to gossip, Sharti mostly visited elderly people living alone or those who required strict confidentiality for her treatment trips.

They bought large quantities of herbs or ointments at once from a doctor they couldn’t easily meet, so it was good money.

“Did you start going on treatment trips as an adult? It doesn’t seem like people would trust a doctor who’s not of age.”

“There weren’t really such restrictions for treatment trips. There’s a strong perception of wandering doctors, you know. More than my age, this appearance was more of an issue for me.”

“I see.”

Reassured by the ordinary questions, Sharti folded the map.

She was starting to yawn again.

Ren, looking deep in thought, spoke up again after a while.

“There’s something else I’m curious about.”

“What is it?”

“What did you mean when you told that person to persuade them not to drive you out of the village?”

Sharti flinched and averted her gaze slightly as she was putting the map back in her bag.

As her steps slowed, Ren stopped walking first.

“It seems you weren’t allowed into the village before. Come to think of it, you were skeptical about the village’s response even though they said they had patients who needed a doctor.”

“It’s something that happens often in villages with a closed atmosphere.”

Sharti brushed it off casually.

But Ren crossed his arms, as if he wouldn’t move until she spoke honestly.

“What kind of treatment did you receive exactly?”

Sharti pressed her lips together with a troubled expression.

The experiences she had in Ashu’s village were not memories she wanted to recall.

[In history, there were witches who looked like you.] [How do we know you haven’t put something in what you’re giving as medicine?!]

People full of suspicion and hostility beyond mere wariness had no hesitation in threatening with blades.

She had even been badly hit by stones they threw, causing her to bleed.

‘That’s when Ashu helped me.’

As a bonus, she received a hefty treatment fee, claiming it was hush money.

As Sharti avoided eye contact, Ren’s gaze grew increasingly cold.

“Sha, I’m following you to a village suspected of having an epidemic. But I don’t want to go to a place that doesn’t even welcome you just because it’s a closed-off village. At the very least, they should respect you and show gratitude for your visit. At least for a doctor dealing with lives, Sha−. Don’t take sacrifice for granted.”

Ren’s stern reaction made Sharti feel reassured but also worried.

For her part, she hoped Ren wouldn’t form prejudices against Ashu’s village.

If he subtly showed signs of distrust, it was clear there would be friction with the people of Ashu’s village.

‘I have no choice.’

She had to convey the facts while omitting as much as possible.

“There was a time when I was mistaken for a witch because the effects of the medicine I made were so good.”

“…A witch?”

“Since it’s a village with no interaction with the outside world, they tend to jump to extreme conclusions. Their personalities and prejudices were quite old-fashioned.”

“……”

Ren looked completely baffled.

Of course, the atmosphere of a hidden village was something one had to experience firsthand to understand.

The chilling, watchful gazes raised goosebumps on one’s skin.

‘I don’t want to remember.’

The feeling of being watched for every move, as if even breathing the same air wasn’t allowed, was indescribable.

‘Still, it was more bearable than the Cryanet Palace.’

Compared to the suffocating space of the Cryanet Palace, where the atmosphere welcomed her existence, or rather her death, Ashu’s village was much better.

Even hostility had different depths and colors.

“Back then, the village chief’s son persuaded the villagers. I just meant I hope he’ll do that again this time. It should be different this time though.”

“For something like that, you seemed to have an ulterior motive.”

“Ulterior motive? How could that be? The villagers are sick and bedridden.”

“That could be an excuse.”

For some reason, Ren kept expressing distrust towards Ashu.

Hadn’t he glanced shyly at Sharti while reporting the seriousness of the situation?

Ren recalled Ashu’s mournful expression, lowering his eyelids as if struggling to overcome sadness. He felt like the word “detestable” might slip out of his mouth.

“They asked for help first, so we’re going. If the matter is resolved or turns out to be nothing serious, we’ll leave right away.”

Sharti shrugged nonchalantly.

Then she moved forward again.

“Aren’t you worried?”

As Ren grumbled about her lack of caution, Sharti laughed lightly.

“I’m not alone, you’re coming with me.”

“……”

“Just in case, I packed some self-defense powder pouches, and if we need to run away, well, I’ll leave that to you. You’re faster at running than me…”

The words she had started to say to reassure Ren became increasingly embarrassing.