As she followed Bireta, Sharti heard about what happened while she was asleep.

First, the battle that started at midnight left no trace by dawn.

“The ruffians who tried to raid the village were all gathered in one place.”

Only one of them was left alive. And that too with only the tongue intact.

The rest were cleanly separated, heads from bodies.

Though the Crofl mercenary group had strong individual free spirits and was quite moderate, they did not cultivate mercy towards enemies.

“And just now, we sent them all to their employer.”

The wandering mercenaries, including the assassins, were all swallowed up and disappeared in the teleportation magic circle spread by the mage members.

If lucky, they would have been transported right in front of Margrave Darhan Bridend. Of course, someone as vile as Darhan Bridend wouldn’t have hired them directly, so they probably arrived in front of the Margrave’s agent.

“And as soon as morning broke, the village chief gathered the residents and informed them of the situation.”

The battle that took place overnight raised awareness of the crisis.

The villagers engraved new vigilance in their hearts as they faced the village’s secrets, dangers, and new changes.

“Since the tower master owns this mountain, and the mercenary group is in charge of protecting the village, the burden has become much lighter.”

In reality, it had become much safer than most noble territories.

Jokingly, it seemed like they wouldn’t lose even in a territory war.

“Of course, as the village’s existence becomes known externally, the checks focused here will be no joke.”

The secret that the tower master who first owned the mountain bordering the country actually had a village containing a huge lump of mana wouldn’t last long.

“Well, for a while, even those noble bastards will be cautious.”

Who would want to engage in an all-out war with the magic tower? Unless they resort to behind-the-scenes maneuvers.

“So I’m thinking of expanding this village in the meantime.”

The village chief, magic tower, and mercenary group had already coordinated. They negotiated to create a large magic workshop in the village.

It would be an exclusive workshop for Karoon’s mercenary group and a resource workshop for the mages belonging to the magic tower.

Of course, they planned to open the village and accept individual orders from mages and mercenaries as well.

‘Grandmother is really amazing.’

It was a perfect coexistence where no one lost out.

Sharti, who had actually caused all this but stepped back, was just grateful to Bireta.

“Soon, a representative from the magic tower will come as the tower master’s deputy and village manager. I’ve already talked with the village chief, but that person probably won’t object either. So think about what you want to receive, Sha.”

“…?”

As Sharti stopped walking, Bireta smiled kindly and patted Sharti’s hand.

“Everything started from you, Sha. Of course, you should receive a proper reward.”

Sharti quickly shook her head, saying it was nonsense.

She fidgeted her hands to write a note, but Bireta wouldn’t let go.

“Sha, you shouldn’t lower the value yourself just because you showed kindness for purely ethical reasons. Unconditional favor will only be seen as an excuse easy to exploit in the end.”

“…”

“When you intervene in someone’s life, you should receive a reward equal to the weight you prepared for.”

The courage gathered, the hope shared, were not things that could be priced. But they weren’t easy or natural either.

The heart to help people was that noble.

“…”

Sharti kept chewing her lips and slowly nodded.

Bireta let go of her hand, looking satisfied.

“That mutt is probably working hard for a similar reason.”

“…?”

Sharti followed Bireta again.

The place Bireta arrived at with the curious Sharti was the outskirts of the village.

Spectators had gathered in the open space on the outskirts.

“Wooahhh-!”

“Ow!!”

“Hey, catch him!!”

All sorts of bizarre shouts echoed, and the open space was boiling with heat reminiscent of a training ground.

Mercenary swordsmen, breathing heavily and shrugging their shoulders, leaped towards the one standing in the center of the open space.

‘Wh-what…!’

Sharti covered her mouth in shock.

The opponent the mercenaries were all rushing towards was Ren.

Wearing a tattered robe and holding a single dagger, Ren moved, barely avoiding the blades flying towards him.

“Huh, huh?”

The moment the trajectory went off, Ren twisted his body to match the mercenaries’ speed and then struck down on the mercenary’s nape with the dagger.

“Ugh!”

“Damn it! Getting caught again? Again?!”

The mercenaries who got hit hard with the base of the dagger shouted at each other with heated faces.

Sharti covered her ears, feeling like her eardrums might fall off.

“Hey! If we just take off that hood, it’s over! What are you doing?!”

“Is it glued on with magic?! Why won’t it come off?!”

The mercenary swordsmen became more tattered every time they clashed with Ren.

In contrast, Ren only had his robe torn.

‘Didn’t he say it was learning…? It doesn’t really look like sparring.’

The mercenaries just kept rushing towards Ren, looking increasingly agitated.

After being nervous for a moment because it wasn’t the scene she had imagined, Sharti watched Ren with complicated feelings.

‘The head might forget, but the body remembers.’

Even to the eyes of an ordinary person who knew nothing about swordsmanship, Ren looked extraordinary.

As evident from all the spectators admiring and looking at Ren, he definitely seemed to have a talent for swords.

‘When I first met him in the cave, he was holding a sword too.’

His sword, which she still hadn’t given back to him, was still buried in the ground.

At that moment, the mercenary knights all stopped at once and caught their breath. The looks of surprise at Ren’s skills exceeding expectations gradually disappeared.

The knights exchanged glances, their aura clearly changing as they regrasped their swords and immediately attacked Ren.

“Tsk tsk. Against a mutt.”

Bireta clicked her tongue, pointing out the mercenary knights’ pitifulness.

Along with Bireta’s displeased remark, the sword blades cut Ren’s hood and robe.

Sharti flinched in shock.

“…!”

A flustered Ren hurriedly covered his eyes, and in that moment of hesitation, three sword blades touched his neck. Ren dropped his dagger without hesitation, signaling surrender.

The mercenary knights also withdrew their momentum and lowered their swords.

Scattered applause followed from around.

“Thank you for the lesson.”

As Ren bowed deeply, the mercenary knights shrugged with embarrassed faces.

“Is he really a beginner? How is he so good?”

“I know. At first, I thought he was just quick to react. Ah! Maybe he was gauging our skills before getting serious?”

“…”

“But why does he keep covering his eyes? What, are you avoiding sunlight? You’re not hurt, are you?”

The watching mercenaries approached Ren and expressed admiration.

Surrounded by the mercenary group, Ren silently listened to the praise.

Sharti could only stare blankly, unable to approach Ren.

‘Sense of belonging…’

She recalled the sense of belonging Ren had spoken of.

He said he had never had or felt a sense of belonging, but perhaps he had just forgotten it. Could that vague sense of belonging being conveyed now be included in those memories Ren was trying to give up?

Amidst the bustling atmosphere, Ren didn’t seem out of place. He fit in naturally and quite well.

“Sha, do you know why that mutt is pretending to be docile there when he doesn’t fit in?”

Bireta laughed dryly.

“He wants to show his master.”

“…?”

“That it’s okay even without memories.”

It was what Ren had said when he came to see Bireta early in the morning.

[Even without memories, I have no problem living as ‘Ren’. Though everything may be difficult as it’s all new, even if I have to live with my face covered, I’m neither afraid nor anxious.] [As long as Sha is there, I will try to be helpful in any way, strive to fill in my shortcomings, and do anything to stay by her side.] [To be someone who can share Sha’s burden so that my master can handle me, I…]

“He said he’ll start with learning first.”

Ren decided to learn knowledge, learn experiences, learn socializing, and learn about the world.

That was the reason he first approached the mercenary group and asked for learning.

“…”

Sharti was speechless.

Ren had found his own way to show Sharti his firm conviction that he had cleanly shaken off any lingering attachment to his lost memories.

Now, Sharti was really the only one obsessing over his memories.

‘I…’

Bireta gently pushed Sharti’s back and said,

“So go hide that mutt now.”

Pushed forward hesitantly, Sharti took a step. And her steps gradually quickened as she ran towards Ren.

“Ren!”

When she unconsciously called him, Ren automatically turned his head towards Sharti despite covering his eyes. Passing through the mercenaries while rummaging through her bag, Sharti quickly pulled out a spare cloak and covered Ren’s face first.

Standing in front of Ren, Sharti panted slightly.

Her hands trembled as she fastened the cloak’s clasp.

“Sha-”

Her eyes met Ren’s, smiling under the cloak.

When Sharti put her hand on his sweaty bangs, Ren obediently closed his eyes and received her touch.

Her chest felt ticklish.

The heart that was racing just from running for a moment could be felt even at her fingertips.

“If I become better with the sword, there will be no worry about close combat or ranged combat.”

“…”

Ren’s lips, still with his eyes closed, drew a soft arc.

“So you can sleep comfortably without worry, Sha.”

It was a promise to always be by her side, even without protective magic.

As Sharti’s lips quivered at the promise conveyed with a whole heart, Karoon, the mercenary group leader, approached with big strides.

When deep shadows fell on Karoon’s face as he stood with his back to the sun, Sharti’s shoulders flinched.

Ren quickly hid Sharti behind his back protectively.

“Young man, you don’t seem very tired. Would you like to try holding a longsword?”

At Karoon’s gesture, a nearby mercenary knight pulled out a sword from his waist and held it out to Ren.

Ren was big, but Karoon was no less imposing.

Moreover, the long vertical scar on his left eye and his years of experience made Karoon look even more enormous.

“…”

Ren, who was about to leave with Sharti, sighed and accepted the sword.

He couldn’t refuse since the mercenaries had crossed swords to teach him anyway, regardless of how it turned out.

In any case, he had to try to improve his sociability as well.

“I’ll finish quickly as I need to take care of my master’s meal.”

“…!”

Sharti reflexively clutched her stomach.

‘How did he know I haven’t eaten? Could it be that my stomach growled?’

It was still before breakfast, but her stomach clock hadn’t rung.

In fact, Ren just needed an excuse to take Sharti away from the curious mercenary group.

“Ah, the doctor hasn’t had her meal yet. Boys! Bring some food!”

“Here, have this, doctor.”

At Karoon’s booming call, the mercenary members hurriedly pulled out food.

In an instant, Sharti’s arms were full of breakfast.

Sharti’s face turned bright red.

‘Other people must have heard too!’

Embarrassed, Sharti lowered her head deeply.

On the other hand, Ren seemed quite satisfied that Sharti could quickly fill her stomach.

Sharti lightly pulled on Ren’s sleeve in embarrassment. As Ren bent down, Sharti brought a red fruit berry the size of a candy to his lips, glancing around.

“Don’t get hurt.”

“…”

As Ren’s mouth opened slightly, the fruit berry popped in.

Tasting the sweetness spreading in his mouth, Ren grinned.

“I have no intention of becoming a patient again, so don’t worry, master.”

Then Ren also fed Sharti a red fruit berry.

Ren stared blankly at the small mouth chewing, then finally tore his gaze away and straightened up.

“Youth is good.”

Karoon smiled contentedly.

With the surrounding atmosphere grinning, a red-faced Sharti returned to Bireta, fleeing with her arms full of food.

Ren, who had already returned to a calm expression, didn’t take his eyes off Sharti’s retreating figure.

Karoon stroked his beard.

“It never ends well when you pick up a sword for a woman.”

“…”

Ren frowned and looked at Karoon.

At Karoon’s gesture, the mercenary members gathered around Ren moved away. Instead of the mercenary knights who had sparred with Ren, Karoon drew the greatsword he had been carrying on his back.

“A sword that cuts people eventually cuts relationships too, young man.”

Ren drew his sword without hesitation.

“I’m not learning to cut. It’s to protect.”

His blue-green eyes shone resolutely.