Instead of answering, he asked Liri, who came in with a tray.

“Where is this?”

“Home. I bought it yesterday. It’s your home now.”

“…What?”

Bought a house. He didn’t know where it was, but if it was a house of this level, it must have cost a considerable amount.

Leane, who always had to change his identity, found it difficult to take on missions due to constraints. Moreover, in his current situation, he couldn’t afford to spend money recklessly. So, he always stayed in cheap inns.

Waking up in such a clean place was truly an unfamiliar experience.

‘Quite a joke.’

Leane dismissed Liri’s claim of buying a house as a joke.

Liri placed a tray with food on a shelf next to the bed.

“I haven’t cooked in a long time, so I’m not sure how it turned out. Try it.”
Leane stared at Liri instead of eating the food. Smiling at the awkward gaze, Liri jokingly asked, “Ah… are you worried I poisoned it?”

“No. If I intended to kill you, I would have done it sooner.”

While there might be a purpose in approaching him, it didn’t seem like she had any intention of killing him.

Leane looked at the food on the tray. It was a stew with plenty of meat and white bread.

Having been trapped in the cave for over a week without coming out, Leane had not had a proper meal for a long time.

“It might not suit your taste, but think about the effort I put into making it.”

Liri offered the words as if considering his difficult situation.

Leane lifted a spoon, scooped up the stew, and put it in his mouth.

…It was delicious.

It was nothing special, just ordinary food, but darn it, it was delicious.

He had eaten countless more exquisite dishes than when he was the successor of Veyetan, but it was tastier than anything he had eaten during that time.

Why? Perhaps because it was a meal after a long time.

Leane silently chewed the food.

Liri watched Leane eat with a smile, silently observing.

Liri was truly faithful to the purpose of ‘taking care of the patient.’

She disinfected his wounds once a day and prepared three meals. There was no sign of reluctance.

Nevertheless, Leane became more confused.

She didn’t seem like a commoner, yet her casual attitude didn’t resemble that of a noble.

Leane once again looked at Liri, who was treating his wounds today.

“Hey.”

“It’s not ‘hey,’ it’s Liri.”

“…Liri.”

Just by calling her name, she looked moved and grabbed one of Leane’s hands with both of hers.

In response to the sudden contact, Leane frowned.

“Let go.”

He brushed her away forcefully, so it was natural for her to feel disappointed or upset.

“Is even this fresh…?”

Liri laughed softly.

‘What’s she thinking?’

Despite that, Leane became even more perplexed.

“But why did you call me?”

“Because I think I’m all better now.”

“What’s all better? You’re still covered in wounds.”

“…”

“Feeling frustrated being cooped up at home? A short walk should be fine.”

Liri behaved as if she were his guardian. Perhaps it felt strange because he had no memories of being protected like this since his mansion burned down and his parents died.

It wasn’t uncomfortable, but being in one place for some reason felt awkward.

Feeling Liri’s persistent gaze, Leane left the house. She followed him closely.

“Where are you going? There’s a low hill nearby; do you want to go there?”

Pretending not to hear Liri’s words, he changed his pace. He felt the gazes of people glancing at him.

Liri naturally caught people’s attention. Whether she pretended not to notice or genuinely didn’t, she followed him without caring.

While doing so, she chattered away tirelessly.

“Now am I an older sister? Leane, try calling me ‘nuna.’ Nuna!”

“…I don’t want to.”

“If you don’t like it, don’t say it.”
Liri’s residence was slightly away from the downtown area of Somnia.

Leane, wearing his hood deep to avoid being recognized by any nobles, stopped at the voice that teased, “Who’s this? I thought you were dead, but you’re perfectly alive?”

At the end of his gaze was a middle-aged man. He was the employer who led him to the cave in the recent request, claiming to be a minor upper-tier commander.

There were many who deliberately sought to eliminate him. Humans were a species that enjoyed trampling those weaker than themselves, reveling in their cruel nature.

However, to avoid unnecessary friction, Leane avoided confrontations. The more he did, the more these people swaggered around, acting like tyrants.

‘Is my presence already so noticeable? It might be a good idea to leave Somnia for a while.’

As he was thinking that, the upper-tier commander collapsed abruptly.

“Surviving crawling out of the cave, quite impressive, huh? But why didn’t you come to collect your reward?”

Chuckling, the man pulled a pouch from his pocket and tossed a gold coin onto the ground.

“There you go, your reward. Pick it up.”

“…”

Leane silently stared down at the gold coin. He felt no emotions. Thoughts like frustration or shame were luxuries to him.

That’s when it happened.

Thud. A small foot ruthlessly stomped on the gold coin.

When Leane raised his head, the usually smiling face of Liri was gone, replaced by the cold expression as she stared at the upper-tier commander.

‘Could she make such a face?’

Soon, Liri turned around and asked him, “Is that jerk the one who put you in the cave?”

Leane didn’t say anything.

When the upper-tier commander, now aware of Liri’s presence, blatantly scanned her with lecherous eyes, Leane tried to protect her, but it was in vain. Liri, who had approached him, spoke while glaring at the upper-tier commander.

“Quiet down. Your breath stinks.”

“What?”

“You’re rotting, and the smell reached all the way here. Don’t you bathe?”

“What nonsense is this, you wench!”

“Ugh. Smells.”

“Shut up!”

The man raised his massive hand. Leane attempted to subdue him, but Liri was faster.

Suddenly, a chill swept in, and the man’s arm froze in place. The upper-tier commander’s two eyes widened.

“…M-Mage?”

“Well, what are you going to do about it?”

Even if the mage was of common birth, they were treated as quasi-nobles. Even a relatively significant upper-tier commander couldn’t ignore a mage.

“I-I didn’t know.”

“Should I let him go?”

“Uh.”

Liri, as if she had the authority to decide, asked casually, “What should we do with this man?”

“Just let him go.”

“Hmm.”

She looked at the upper-tier commander disapprovingly, as if he didn’t suit her taste.

“Live a good life from now on.”
“Yep!”

“Then get lost.”

Crackle!

With a burst of heat, flames shot up. The man’s frozen arm melted in an instant under the effect of the magic.

“He, heeek!”

He hurriedly left the noisy scene.

Leane still looked at Liri, with her chubby face. To think she used elemental magic, was she really a mage?

Come to think of it, the fact that she had pulled him out of the chaotic cave filled with monsters indicated her strength.

But it was none of his concern. He had drawn the line explicitly.

“Don’t step forward. It has nothing to do with you.”

“I just helped because that guy was unlucky. That’s it.”

It was a sophism. When did she ever see the man for the first time and suppress and threaten him, claiming he was unlucky?

However, Liri’s earnest expression as she made such claims was so serious that he couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief.

She was truly a peculiar woman.