Ren didn’t make prolonged eye contact with Sharti. He looked uncomfortable rather than awkward.

Ren turned to look at the mage while avoiding Sharti’s gaze.

“How long does that magic last?”

“It will wear off soon. Face transformation magic consumes an enormous amount of magical power.”

Even after explaining that the magic would wear off soon, Ren glared at the mage with a displeased expression.

“Ah, no, I just thought you’d be more comfortable since you were covering your face…”

The mage explained with a dejected look.

“It was necessary to show you an example.”

The mage who had cast the spell on Sharti quickly crouched down and took the patient’s hand.

The mage closed their eyes and quietly began manipulating mana.

“The, the spots… they’re disappearing!”

The mage sucked in mana from the patient as if drawing it out.

Gradually, the fluorescent spots lost their light, faded, and disappeared.

As the spots vanished, the patient’s breathing also became easier.

“Ugh, I’m already full even though I only took half.”

The mage who had treated the patient waved their hand, showing signs of excessive fullness.

However, despite looking exhausted, they were overflowing with vitality from receiving so much mana.

“What I just showed you was a safe treatment. From now on, we mages will absorb the mana from inside everyone in the village into our bodies to treat them like this.”

“I understand that magic is unfamiliar and it’s difficult to trust mages you’ve just met today. I understand your concerns, and we’ll do our best to sincerely address those anxieties, so please leave it to us from now on.”

Originally, mages innately liked to show off their knowledge but weren’t kind. It was closer to boasting about the difference between ordinary people and mages rather than explaining.

However, to coexist comfortably in the village from now on, wouldn’t it be better to give a kind and trustworthy impression?

Unlike the rigid mages affiliated with the magic tower, the Crofl mercenary mages who had experienced harsh life outside were well-socialized.

“Please take care of us, mages!”

It was natural for trust and favorability towards the Crofl mercenary group to increase when they provided detailed, relatable explanations with visual aids.

Sharti, who had been waiting to act as an intermediary if necessary, breathed a sigh of relief.

‘Thank goodness.’

She was relieved that they weren’t wasting time with mutual rejection and wariness.

Sharti brushed back her still unfamiliar black hair.

‘What I’m most concerned about right now is…’

Sharti turned her eyes to steal a glance at Ren.

Ren still didn’t give Sharti a single glance. With his arms crossed and head turned, he looked like he was deliberately trying not to make eye contact.

She couldn’t dismiss it as just her imagination.

‘…He’s never been like this before.’

He didn’t avoid her like this even when she had seizures and convulsions and spoke nonsense.

‘He didn’t avoid me when he saw my real face.’

Rather, Ren would become dazed, not even blinking at those times.

So Sharti couldn’t understand Ren’s attitude of not even making eye contact.

‘Maybe it’s because of the magic, but I think I look prettier now than my original face.’

Sharti glanced again at the haughty-looking face in the mirror.

The magically changed face was so noble and beautiful at first glance that one might believe she was an aristocrat, compared to her bare face that hadn’t been properly cared for.

‘Is it strange….’

Her mood, which had been excited at the thought of finally being able to take off her hood and make eye contact, sank in an instant.

She didn’t like the situation of being avoided by Ren without knowing the reason.

“Let’s go out for a bit.”

Just then, Bireta approached and whispered to Sharti.

There was nothing for Sharti to do now that the mercenary mages had started attending to the patients.

As Sharti followed Bireta out of the hut, Ren naturally followed behind.

“You mutt, stand far away and keep watch.”

“…”

Bireta waved her hand dismissively.

Ren slightly raised an eyebrow but kept his mouth shut as he made way.

As Ren distanced himself to block people’s approach, Bireta clicked her tongue.

“That mutt hasn’t changed at all.”

Bireta, who was still giving him a disapproving look, turned to Sharti.

“This village will be fine now. The negotiations with the village chief went well, so leave it to the mercenary group I brought from now on and rest.”

Sharti nodded. There was almost nothing left for her to do now.

However, Sharti’s heart was still heavy.

She had essentially left Bireta with all the responsibility and burden for what she had recklessly done.

Bireta burst into hearty laughter as she read the note.

“If you hadn’t called me, then yes, I would have been angry.”

Bireta was also dumbfounded when she first heard the news.

As Sharti said, she wasn’t angry with her.

She was just saddened by the pitiful child who always seemed to get caught up in such unfortunate events, cursing the wretched fate.

“I heard from the village chief. You persuaded him by telling your story?”

Instead of saying, ‘You didn’t have to do that,’ ‘It was meddlesome and nosy, just doing the basic duty would have been enough,’ ‘Is there a need to take a difficult path by interfering in others’ lives?’ Bireta stroked Sharti’s head.

“I prefer seeing you like this, asking me for help first and making efforts, rather than trying to be independent while silently struggling alone.”

The touch, which conveyed a sense of pride, was very affectionate.

“Of course, I want my children to stay safely in my arms…”

Bireta slightly frowned her wrinkled face.

Bireta wished for her grandchildren, and even Sharti, to grow up a little selfishly. She hoped they would abandon the harsh world and live quietly hidden in comfort. She didn’t want to burden the children, who were already struggling enough with their own pain, with overwhelming burdens.

“It wasn’t just my light.”

But she knows all of that is greed.

The children Bireta has cared for and nurtured are warmer and brighter lights than anyone else, so she can’t dare to confine that light only to her embrace.

‘Grandmother…’

Sharti bit her lip as she lowered her gaze at Bireta’s affectionate eyes.

Although she had prepared to be scolded, she was actually hoping deep inside.

‘Maybe grandmother would understand and support my decision.’

It was trust in Bireta, who had saved, fed, washed, and sheltered a girl with no blood relation without showing any sign of annoyance, and it was Sharti’s own way of acting spoiled.

Sharti clenched her fists and raised her head.

“When the hidden village is revealed to the world, it will attract attention.”

“I suppose it will.”

Even when she suddenly spoke in a terrible voice, Bireta answered without showing any sign of surprise or aversion.

Reassured by the calm response, Sharti smiled bitterly.

‘Birena is still cautious.’

Perhaps it’s the difference in years of experience.

Sharti cleared her throat a little and opened her mouth again.

“‘That’ nobleman who was targeting this village won’t sit still either. Mercenaries alone won’t be enough, grandmother.”

“Yes. That bastard will try to conceal the secret of this place and not let it be taken away by any means.”

The head of the Bridend Marquis family, with the scorpion emblem, would not be intimidated or back down from mere mercenaries.

He was bound to try to reclaim what he considered his, even if it meant mobilizing all the power he had accumulated so far.

Recalling the past, Bireta raised one corner of her mouth with a murderous aura.

“There’s nothing to worry about. I have no intention of being helplessly victimized.”

She had already given a hint to the village chief.

Kuguugung-. Just then, a huge pillar of light appeared and flashed at the entrance of the village.

“Those heavy-bottomed ones came quite fast.”

Bireta withdrew her hand and turned around as the village atmosphere became noisy.

“Newton didn’t become this powerful solely by the empire’s strength.”

Bireta muttered while patting her waist.

The factor that led the Newton Empire to victory in every war was overwhelming military power. It was possible because the magic tower, which had formed an alliance with the Newton Empire, spared no effort in assistance and support.

However, when the great war ended, the nobles of the Newton Empire ungratefully began to check against the magic tower little by little. It was because of their greed to solidify their power.

“It’s fortunate that our interests align with the magic tower at times like this.”

The magic tower was a group that wasn’t particularly interested in power. The always aloof magic tower found it most troublesome to get involved in complicated worldly affairs.

But this time was different. Isn’t there a saying that the enemy of my enemy is my friend?

Bireta, like the experienced mercenary she was, turned to look at Sharti while hiding her delightful inner thoughts.

“I should go before those bastards start crawling on the ground.”

She needed to stop them before the magic tower forgot their reputation and made a bad first impression on the villagers by showing an unsightly appearance.

“I’ll see you later.”

Bireta, who was leaving Sharti first, gestured to Ren.

Thinking she might have something to say, Ren slightly lowered his upper body with just a raise of his eyebrows.

Tak-!

“If you’re a mutt, act like one, you brat.”

“…!”

“Don’t upset your master’s mood.”

“…”

Ren glared at Bireta with defiant eyes, unable to make any retort. However, it was only pitiful as his forehead was swollen red.

Bireta clicked her tongue and left.

“Are you okay?”

Since the sound of the forehead flick was so loud, Sharti immediately approached Ren.

Standing in front of Ren, Sharti yanked off his hood instead of reaching for his forehead. Then she thrust her face close to his.

“…!”

Ren flinched, unable to avoid Sharti’s approach in time. Examining Ren’s flustered expression, Sharti leaned her upper body even closer to him.

“I’m not okay.”

Since it wasn’t her real face, her actions were uninhibited due to increased courage.

Feeling as if she was wearing a mask, Sharti decided to ask Ren directly.

“Why are you avoiding me?”

“I’m not…”

“See. Even now you can’t look me in the eye.”

At the sharp accusation, Ren sighed and brushed his bangs.

Seeing his complicated expression, unable to honestly reveal his inner thoughts, Sharti narrowed her eyes and hummed.

“…Is it because of my face?”

“That’s…”

Ren averted his gaze with a troubled look. It was the correct answer.

As the question was solved so easily, Sharti nodded her head.

“You were surprised because it’s such a pretty face? I heard that sometimes people can’t make eye contact when they see a face they really like.”

“…Pretty?”

“Ah, I’m not teasing you. I mean I understand. Even I think this face is pretty.”

Misunderstanding Ren’s dumbfounded expression as trying to hide embarrassment, Sharti even expressed sympathy, saying it was okay.

As Ren was about to open his mouth again, Sharti smiled faintly and rubbed the hem of her robe.

“It would have been a shame to hide such a face.”

“What do you mean?”

Sharti scratched her cheek with her index finger, smiling awkwardly.

“My original face is embarrassing to show others, but this face isn’t one that needs to be hidden under a hood.”

“Why would your face…!”

Just as Ren was about to retort heatedly, it happened.

The magic began to wear off, starting from the top of Sharti’s head as if the color was peeling away.

Her black hair slowly turned to wheat-colored, and her sharp eye corners drooped downwards. Her overall impression changed to become gentler.

“If it makes you uncomfortable, Ren, I’ll put the hood back on. The magic will wear off soon anyway.”

“…”

Ren’s thoughts stopped, and he blankly took in Sharti’s face as the magic wore off.

“…Ren?”

Ren was wearing the dazed expression he had shown before.

As Ren suddenly stiffened, holding his breath, Sharti looked at him worriedly.

‘He kept avoiding my eyes earlier, but why is he staring like that again?’

Ren still couldn’t take his eyes off Sharti.

Then suddenly, she realized that Ren’s expression and gaze were familiar.

As Sharti belatedly tried to check her hair color, a strong wind blew.

“…!”

She saw wheat-colored hair fluttering in the wind.

As Sharti shrank back in surprise, Ren also came to his senses.

“Sha-.”

Ren quickly covered Sharti’s face and put her hood back on.

Then he checked their surroundings.

“Fortunately, there’s no one around but us.”

Worried that the cold wind might seep in, Ren tightly wrapped her robe.

Watching Sharti touch and check her face where the magic had worn off, Ren smiled bitterly.

“I wasn’t avoiding you.”

“…?”

Sharti reflexively tried to raise her head but stopped.

At that sight, Ren gently rubbed the edge of her hood.

“I didn’t want to remember.”

“What do you mean?”

Sharti spoke formally, seemingly tense.

Ren chuckled.

“I didn’t like seeing a magically decorated face overlaid on your face, which I’ve only seen a few times.”

“…”

“I wanted to remember only the face I know, the face I like.”

“…!”

As Sharti suddenly raised her head, Ren lightly bumped his forehead against hers.

This time, Sharti stiffened, holding her breath.

Regardless, Ren closed his eyes and smiled faintly.

“So I’m the one who’s disappointed.”

Sharti tightly clasped her hands.

Her heart began to act strangely.

“Because I can’t see it every time, hidden under the hood like this.”

Following Ren’s low voice heard from up close, her heart began to react, beating out of sync. The vaguely felt and transmitted emotions, thoughts, and feelings of Ren were becoming clearer.

Ren stepped back from Sharti, who couldn’t come to her senses due to the sudden confession. Then he tilted his head towards Sharti and smiled playfully.

“Just to avoid any strange misunderstandings, let me say that the face I find pretty is the one hidden under the hood right now.”

“…!”

The wind blew.

A strong wind passed by Ren, who was smiling with a face that seemed both carefree and tense.

His dark brown hair swaying this way and that, and his cyan eyes filled with bright light, were imprinted in Sharti’s eyes.

Her heart began to beat painfully.