They were frontier soldiers who had long been visiting the mountainous village to check on security.

The more treacherous the mountains, the better they were for villains to hide, so the villagers welcomed the soldiers’ visits.

The problem was Sharti.

‘Of all times, why now?’

Sharti glanced at the household magic stone in her hand.

‘There’s not much mana left.’

The red magic stone that used to be as big as her face was now only the size of Tein’s palm. It was inevitable as the size decreased with use.

At first, she only planned to buy a mana charger, but now she needed to purchase a magic stone as well. Sharti let out a deep sigh as she recalled the reason for the faster-than-expected depletion of the magic stone.

‘I need to start providing proper meals soon.’

Originally, she could have held out for another week, but circumstances had changed.

Due to the unidentified patient she had taken in, she now had to prepare meals for two instead of one. Until now, she had been feeding the patient invalid food, but given the patient’s rapid wound healing, proper meals would be necessary from now on.

‘I should have bought supplies in advance.’

Unfortunately, it coincided with the time when soldiers were visiting the village.

For Sharti, who avoided people carrying swords due to trauma, it was a case of one misfortune after another.

‘For now, let’s feed soup today.’

Putting her worries aside for the moment, Sharti headed straight to the back of the log cabin.

There, her small vegetable garden that she had tended with great effort came into view.

‘This won’t last much longer either.’

It was already autumn.

And the seasons would change in the blink of an eye, bringing winter.

Food was the most important issue, but Sharti harvested just enough for today. Two carrots and two potatoes.

‘…Should I dig up one more?’

Recalling the patient’s build in the cave, Sharti hesitated before digging up one more potato.

Sharti entered the house and set the vegetables down in the kitchen.

The kitchen was a cramped space at best. A cupboard and a cutting board on the table with a single knife.

‘Let’s hurry.’

She prepared the vegetables and herbs together.

After finely chopping the ingredients, she struck the red magic stone on the table a couple of times.

‘I hope it works, please.’

Fortunately, the patterns on the magic stone became clear and it gradually heated up.

Sharti quickly placed the magic stone under the pot.

‘The heat is weak, but this should be fine.’

As she added herbs to the bland taste, a savory aroma soon filled the air.

Even so, Sharti’s cooking was always more about health than taste.

Just as she was about to lift the pot, it happened.

‘…!’

There was a cracking sound, and finally, the magic stone split in two, having reached the end of its life.

‘…At least it lasted for today.’

Sharti tried to think positively.

Of course, considering the village situation and her financial circumstances, it wasn’t particularly hopeful.

‘Bandages and ointment… and did I pack the spoon too?’

Sharti, having finished her preparations to go out, left the house.

‘I should arrive before it gets cold.’

She wanted to feed him warm soup if possible.

The cave was cool, and since she had only covered him with a thick blanket without clothes, Sharti quickened her steps. She navigated the rough mountain terrain without any real paths, moving with familiarity.

‘…Huh?’

Arriving at her destination, Sharti paused for a moment to survey the area around the cave.

The beast-repelling herbs she had scattered on the ground seemed somewhat unnatural.

‘Was it blown by the wind?’

The traces of the herbs, more disturbed than when she had left the cave, made her uneasy.

Sharti tilted her head as she entered the cave.

‘…Could he have woken up?’

Just in case, she took out a long staff and gripped it as she walked inside.

Drip… Drip… The sound of water droplets falling echoed gently throughout the cave.

“…”

As she moved forward, the tension that had been constricting her breath suddenly dissipated when she saw the man still sound asleep on the bed.

His complexion, which improved day by day, was also noticeable.

Sah. Ssaek. Sah. As she approached the man to check his temperature, she heard steady breathing.

‘…Hmm. Was I being too sensitive?’

Sharti relaxed and put down the long staff. She quietly approached the bed and began to unwrap the bandages.

She checked the man’s abdomen and thigh wounds, which had been the most severe.

‘This area will take a bit more time.’

Recovery was slow due to the deep stab wounds that had nearly been fatal.

Still, with the man’s recovery rate, a week should be sufficient. Sharti felt reassured.

‘One week.’

She planned to stop visiting once he recovered enough to move around by then.

Sharti waved her hand in front of the man’s eyes to check his consciousness.

The man didn’t stir. It was the same even when she touched his body to wrap the bandages.

‘My heart is pounding so much I can hardly stand it.’

Although it was for safe treatment, she felt guilty about continuously keeping him asleep.

Still, it was better than being caught off guard.

Sharti carefully sat on the bed and opened her bag. The mashed carrot and potato soup had cooled to just the right temperature.

Sharti left a written message on the man’s palm out of courtesy before taking out a spoon. She carefully spooned the soup and poured it into the man’s mouth.

Then, due to her awkward posture, she spilled some soup.

‘…Ah!’

It wasn’t easy to feed something to a sleeping person.

‘Excuse me.’

Sharti apologized to the sleeping man as she climbed onto the bed.

Sitting at the head of the bed, she placed the man’s head on her thigh. She had fumbled before, but now it was easier.

[Teacher. You should do it like Birena did for me. It’s called a lap pillow!]

It was Tein’s instruction left to Sharti when she kept spilling soup while trying to feed the man before.

It was an embarrassing and awkward posture, but the patient’s nutrition was important.

Hoping the man wouldn’t wake up, Sharti covered his eyes with one hand and diligently fed him the soup.

‘At least this person chews and swallows well while sleeping.’

The man received and swallowed well whatever was given, even while asleep.

‘Without spilling, too.’

She scraped the bowl clean and fed him the last spoonful.

Compared to Tein, who was still clumsy with table manners, the man’s sleeping eating etiquette was quite neat.

Sharti checked on the man quietly resting his head on her thigh.

‘If I could feed him more nutritious food, he would recover faster.’

For instance, meat or fruit.

But that was out of the question.

Whew. A silent sigh escaped her. Having nothing and thus having limited choices always made her feel dejected.

‘Still, I’ve treated the wounds well so that no scars will remain.’

Both internal and external injuries were healing smoothly.

She was trying her best to erase the traces that might bring back terrible experiences, so she had done her duty as a doctor.

“…”

Lost in thought, the man’s features came into clear view.

She had thought his hair was black due to the darkness of the cave, but the man had dark brown hair. His thick eyebrows and well-defined jawline hinted at masculinity.

Despite having been ill and asleep for days, his well-muscled body wasn’t much different from when they first met.

‘What kind of life did he lead to have a body like this?’

Sharti, who had been absentmindedly staring at the tanned, tightly knit abs, quickly snapped back to her senses.

‘Ahem. I should dress him. It’s going to get colder, and a blanket alone won’t be enough.’

But buying men’s clothes posed problems, not just with sizing, but also because the village clothes shop owner was known for chatting up customers.

She had been putting it off until now to avoid drawing unnecessary attention.

‘Should I make it myself….’

There was a separate disposal area in the village where unused fabrics were collected.

It would take a lot of work, but it was the best option at the moment.

‘…Hmm…’

Hesitation seeped into Sharti’s gaze as she looked at the man.

The desire for him to wake up soon. The hope that he would leave in good health. And yet, a feeling that she shouldn’t get too deeply involved with this man.

She was confused about whether the reason for using the sleeping drug was for her own safety or because of a premonition that her peaceful life might be disturbed.

‘…It seems I’ve grown fond of him already.’

Sharti unconsciously fiddled with the man’s hair.

“Teacher!”

“…!”

Startled by Tein’s sudden visit, Sharti instinctively clenched her hand.

Gwaak-. For a moment, the man’s hair was gripped tightly in Sharti’s hand. The man’s body tensed briefly, but Sharti, hurriedly correcting her posture, didn’t notice.

While Sharti was flustering to get off the bed, Tein came running with his short legs. With dirt all over his face and clothes, Tein smiled brightly and held out an herb.

“It’s Dongdocho! It helps maintain body temperature and aids in wound recovery.”

Sharti awkwardly smiled and wrote on Tein’s palm.

Tein beamed with a wide smile.

However, the fact that he had come here alone again was dangerous.

‘If a child climbs the mountain alone, he’ll catch the soldiers’ attention too.’

Sharti put on a slightly stern expression.

Before she could tell him to refrain for a while, the child, excited by the praise, sparkled his eyes.

“I washed it clean with water.”

Praise had to come first for now.

“Medicine should be taken after meals. So I came at mealtime!”

What an excellent disciple and assistant he was.

Sharti kept patting Tein’s face and head.

She put the finely torn Dongdocho into the man’s mouth.

“This patient mister is amazing. Dongdocho is extremely bitter, but there’s no change in his expression.”

For a moment, the corner of the man’s mouth twitched.

“Ah! Seeing his brow furrow, it seems his sense of taste is fortunately intact!”

Tein said brightly.

Meanwhile, Sharti scratched her chin while glancing at the empty bowl. She recalled the herbs she had added to the man’s meals each time. They were all herbs with a musty and chalky taste.

‘But hasn’t he been eating well whatever I give him until now?’

Hmm? Sharti’s gaze quietly turned to the man.

Despite supposedly being asleep from the sleeping drug, the man was chewing the herbs thoroughly and swallowing them well. However, there was no particular reaction even when Tein poked and prodded his arm muscles nearby.

Sharti sought a rational explanation rather than hasty suspicion.

‘He might not have tasted it before due to the fever, and even though recovery is fast, his body wasn’t normal, so he might not have been able to taste.’

Judging from his reaction to the bitter taste just now, his recovery seemed to be progressing well.

“Teacher.”

After confirming that the man had swallowed all the herbs, Tein approached Sharti and held out his palm.

Tein hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“Before the patient mister wakes up, I want to try applying the medicine.”

Fidgeting with his little finger, Tein appealed his wish.

“I’m young, so no one trusts me. Patients feel uneasy. But the patient mister is sleeping. He won’t know even if I treat him. Teacher, I want to treat the patient mister too!”

The treatment now only involved the simple task of applying medicine to the wounds.

For just that basic task, Tein passionately tried to persuade Sharti, clenching his fists tightly.

‘Well, this little genius must have been itching to do something all this time.’

Sharti glanced at the man on the bed and pondered for a moment.

Tein’s face lit up at Sharti’s permission. Covering his mouth with his hand lest the man wake up, the child stomped his feet, not knowing what to do with himself.

‘How cute.’

It was when Tein was excitedly listing the herbs to use on the man.

“…Ugh, mmm…”

“…?”

“Te-Teacher! The patient mister’s firm arm is twitching!”

Suddenly?