Ren lay quietly on the bed, one hand resting over his head.
His eyes remained fixed on the ceiling.
“Miharu’s eyes… they look so much like Aoi’s…”
He closed his eyes for a brief moment.
“And that light…”
“I still haven’t figured out what it was.”
Ren let out a long sigh.
“It’s strange that I’m remembering these things now…”
He continued staring at the ceiling in silence.
“I had almost forgotten about that strange light…”
Ren closed his eyes, ready to fall asleep.
But before sleep could take him—
“Aaaah! Who are you?!”
A scream echoed through the hallway.
Ren’s eyes snapped open.
He jumped out of bed and rushed to the door.
The moment he stepped outside, he found Mirelya standing in front of her own room, one hand still on the doorknob.
The two stared at each other in alarm.
“Y-You heard that too?” Ren asked.
Mirelya nodded quickly.
“It came from Garrick’s room!”
Without wasting another second, they ran down the hallway and stopped in front of his door.
Ren grabbed the doorknob and threw it open.
Both of them froze.
Their eyes widened.
Garrick was lying face down on the bed while Tessa sat on top of him, pressing both palms firmly against his back.
As soon as she noticed them, she smiled calmly.
“Oh? Were you two curious?”
She continued massaging Garrick’s back.
“I’m easing his pain with my special massage.”
Garrick stretched one arm desperately toward the doorway.
“H-Help me!”
“Get her off me!”
Tessa let out a small giggle.
“You two are my favorite customers.”
“You deserve special treatment.”
Ren and Mirelya exchanged a glance.
Then they both burst into laughter.
“Hahaha…”
Garrick’s face twisted in desperation.
“Stop smiling over there!”
“Hurry up!”
“Get her off me!”
At the other end of the hallway, a door slowly cracked open.
Lysera peeked out, showing only half of her face as she observed the scene.
Her gaze shifted from Ren to Mirelya before settling on Garrick’s room.
“What were you two doing over there?”
Then she looked directly at Ren.
“Hm, Ren?”
Ren and Mirelya looked at each other for a moment.
Without saying a word, they slowly closed the door.
Even from the other side, Garrick’s cries could still be heard.
“Nooo!”
“Don’t leave me here!”
As they walked back down the hallway, Mirelya couldn’t stop laughing.
“Well…”
She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.
“At least I finally got to see Garrick embarrassed today.”
“Hahaha!”
Ren smiled as well.
“Yeah…”
“At least Garrick’s going to feel bet—”
His voice suddenly trailed off.
Without realizing it, his eyes had drifted back to Mirelya.
She was wearing nothing but a sheer nightgown.
Though simple, it revealed the outline of her figure far more clearly than usual.
Ren swallowed hard.
A cold bead of sweat ran down his forehead.
Mirelya noticed where he was looking but kept walking as if nothing had happened.
Without turning around, she asked,
“Where are you looking, Ren?”
Ren snapped his gaze away so quickly he nearly twisted his neck.
“M-Me?”
He pointed straight ahead.
“I’m looking at the lobby, of course!”
He let out an awkward laugh.
“I didn’t know you could see so clearly from up here…”
Even as he tried to play it off, his eyes wandered back to Mirelya once more.
She had stopped walking.
Standing sideways, she looked at him with a serious expression.
Ren let out a quiet sigh.
“Look, Mirelya…”
“About what happened earlier… I…”
She continued staring at him, completely confused.
“What happened earlier?”
Tilting her head slightly, she asked,
“Earlier… when?”
Ren blinked several times.
“Uh…”
He discreetly pointed toward the room.
“A little while ago, Mirelya.”
He scratched the back of his neck.
“Y-You know…”
Her expression grew even more puzzled.
“What happened a little while ago, Ren?”
She thought for a few seconds.
“Are you talking about Garrick?”
Then her eyes suddenly widened.
“Ah!”
She clasped her hands in front of her chest.
“Was it because I stepped on your foot?”
She gave him a small bow.
“I’m really sorry about that!”
Ren stood there in complete silence.
His brows slowly furrowed.
After a few seconds, he asked,
“You’re…”
“…you’re joking, right?”
Mirelya blinked.
“Huh?”
Ren took a deep breath.
“You don’t remember coming into my room?”
Her expression changed instantly.
She frowned as well.
“What?”
“Your room?”
She shook her head.
“Ren… I never went in there.”
Ren slowly opened his mouth to answer.
But no words came out.
“What…?”
She began to blush ever so slightly
With an awkward smile, she asked in a quiet voice,
“A-Are you sure…”
She glanced away for a brief moment.
“…you didn’t dream about me?”
Ren took a few steps forward until he was standing right in front of her.
His expression turned serious.
“Mirelya…”
He took a deep breath.
“I’m sorry if I disappointed you…”
“But like I told you…”
“I have my reasons.”
She continued looking at him without understanding a single thing.
Ren lowered his head slightly.
“You’re beautiful…”
“And very attractive.”
He closed his eyes for a moment.
“But I can’t do that.”
His voice grew quieter.
“I just…”
“I still can’t forget Misaki.”
For several seconds, the hallway fell completely silent.
Mirelya stood frozen.
Her face turned bright red.
Her lips slowly parted.
“W-… W-What…?”
She raised one hand to her face.
“W-Why…”
Her body began swaying ever so slightly from side to side as she avoided his gaze.
“W-Why are you saying that, Ren?”
Ren realized he was only making the situation even more awkward.
He scratched his head, completely embarrassed.
“Mirelya…”
“I-I’m going to bed.”
He pointed at her.
“Y-You should go change your pajamas now, okay?”
She blinked several times.
“Change my pajamas?”
At last, the pieces seemed to fall into place.
“What are you talki—”
She lowered her eyes.
The instant she noticed her own sheer nightgown, her face became even redder.
“A-Ah…”
She looked up in complete panic.
“S-See you tomorrow, Ren!”
She hurriedly pointed at him.
“Y-You didn’t see anything!”
BLAAM!
The bedroom door slammed shut with such force that the entire hallway shook.
Ren stared at the closed door for a few seconds.
Then he let out a small sigh.
“Pretending nothing happened isn’t going to solve this, Mirelya…”
A weary smile appeared on his face.
“I really need some sleep.”
Ren returned to his room, blew out the candle, and lay back down on the bed.
The silence lasted only a few seconds.
Then…
From the other side of the hallway…
“Right here… this spot…”
Tessa’s calm voice echoed throughout the inn.
Craack!
“AAAAAAAAAH!!”
Garrick’s desperate scream rang through the entire hallway.
Ren closed his eyes.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
“Good luck, Garrick…”
Not long afterward, lulled by his companion’s occasional screams and Tessa’s calm instructions, he finally drifted off to sleep.
Ren’s body felt incredibly light.
It was as though he were floating through an endless void.
“I guess I was more tired than I thought…”
“Even this hard bed… feels completely weightless.”
Suddenly, a distant voice echoed around him.
“Ren…”
There was a brief pause.
“I miss…”
The voice sounded weak, as though it were fading away.
“…seeing you smile…”
Ren frowned slightly.
“Whose voice is that…?”
Before he realized it, he was slowly being drawn toward it.
The closer he got, the more sounds began to surround him.
Conversations.
Laughter.
The clatter of silverware.
The aroma of freshly cooked food filled the air.
Then, all at once…
He felt someone take his hand.
“W-What is this?!”
His heart immediately began pounding.
“Hah!”
Ren jolted awake, sitting upright in bed as he gasped for breath.
He quickly looked around the room.
A few seconds later, he recognized the tavern room.
The voices were coming from the lobby downstairs.
So was the smell of food.
His heartbeat gradually slowed.
Ren ran a hand across his face and let out a long sigh.
“Man…”
He stared at the floor for a few moments.
“What a strange dream…”
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he got to his feet and walked toward the door.
The moment he opened it—
“Ah!”
A girl nearly bumped into him.
Both of them instinctively jumped back at the same time.
Lysera placed a hand over her chest.
“Ah, Ren! Sorry!”
Ren gave an awkward smile.
“No, I should be the one apologizing. I almost ran into you.”
The two shared a quiet laugh before continuing down the hallway.
When they looked toward the staircase, they saw Garrick heading downstairs toward the tavern’s dining hall.
Ren then glanced down to the first floor and spotted Mirelya already seated at a table, looking completely carefree, as though nothing had happened the night before.
At that moment, a delicious aroma filled the hallway.
Lysera closed her eyes for a moment and smiled.
“That smells amazing…”
Ren took a deep breath and smiled as well.
“It really does.”
He pointed downstairs.
“Let’s go see what Edric made. Hehe.”
The aroma of freshly baked bread and hot coffee filled the inn as Edric served breakfast to everyone.
Ren had just lifted his cup to his lips when he heard a dull sound.
Clink.
Garrick had accidentally let his cup fall onto the table.
Ren raised an eyebrow.
“What happened?”
Garrick looked down at his hand, slowly opening and closing his fingers.
“My fingers… they suddenly went numb.”
Mirelya answered almost immediately.
“Ah…”
“The poison.”
Lysera’s expression turned serious.
“We need to hurry.”
Garrick took a deep breath before forcing a small smile.
“Thank you…”
“…once again…”
“…for coming with me.”
Ren smiled.
“That’s what friends are for, man.”
Garrick returned the smile.
“Besides…”
“I don’t really have anywhere else to go anyway.”
For a few seconds, everyone fell silent.
Then they all burst into laughter.
“Hahaha!”
Ren glanced at Mirelya somewhat awkwardly.
Meanwhile, Tessa continued walking between the tables, serving the other customers as if nothing had happened.
The moment Garrick noticed her, he immediately looked away, feeling a cold sweat run down his forehead.
Mirelya caught it.
A mischievous grin spread across her face.
“So, Garrick…”
She leaned a little closer.
“Was her massage really that good?”
“Hehe…”
Garrick answered almost in a whisper.
“S-Shut up, Mirelya…”
Lysera tilted her head.
“Massage?”
Mirelya didn’t miss the chance.
“Last night we caught Tessa giving him a back massage.”
Ren let out a quiet chuckle.
“Hehe.”
Garrick covered his face with one hand.
“Ah…”
“You really didn’t have to bring that up.”
He sighed.
“Let’s just eat and get going.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Ren replied, still laughing.
After breakfast, everyone was already outside the inn when Garrick suddenly stopped.
“Wait.”
He slipped a hand into his pocket.
“I forgot something in my room.”
Mirelya crossed her arms.
“That’s fine.”
“We’ll wait here.”
Garrick hurried back inside the inn.
As he climbed the stairs, he thought to himself,
“My pendant… I’m sure I had it with me.”
“She must’ve taken it off during the massage.”
When he entered the room, he found Tessa making the bed.
She smiled as soon as she saw him.
“Oh, Garrick.”
She held up a small golden pendant.
“Your pendant was with me.”
“Here.”
Garrick carefully accepted it.
“Thank you for keeping it safe.”
Tessa smiled.
“I put it away while I was giving you your massage.”
She tilted her head slightly.
“So…”
“How’s your lower back?”
Garrick’s eyes widened.
He stood completely still for several seconds.
“H-How…”
“…did you know?”
Tessa let out a soft laugh.
“Edric used to suffer from lower back pain too.”
She subtly pointed toward him.
“The way you walked was almost exactly the same.”
She smiled once more.
“Does it still hurt?”
Garrick placed a hand on his lower back.
Only then did he realize…
The pain was completely gone.
A genuine smile spread across his face.
“No.”
He gave her a small bow.
“It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
“Thank you, Tessa.”
She smiled with satisfaction.
Then she turned Garrick around and gently began pushing him toward the door.
“I’m still not finished cleaning this room.”
She gave him another light push.
“Now go on.”
Her smile became even warmer.
“Come back as soon as you can.”
“I want to see all of you again, okay?”
Garrick closed his eyes as he walked down the hallway.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
“Understood…”
“Heh.”
The moment Garrick stepped outside the inn, Ren noticed it immediately.
“Huh…”
“Why do you look so happy?”
Before Garrick could answer, Mirelya spoke with a grin.
“I bet he kissed Tessa.”
Lysera covered her mouth with one hand.
“A-A kiss?”
Garrick nearly tripped.
“W-What?! That’s not it at all!”
He quickly walked ahead of the group.
“Damn it…”
“Let’s just get to Leon’s carriage.”
Ren and the others had only been gone from the tavern for a few minutes when one of the customers raised a hand.
“Excuse me, miss.”
Tessa immediately turned toward him and smiled politely.
“H-Hello! My name is Tessa. Is everything alright? Did Edric take care of you?”
The man, wrapped from head to toe in a thick cloak with his eyes hidden beneath the hood, replied calmly,
“I just wanted to pay for my coffee.”
He slowly stood up.
Keeping his eyes fixed on the floor, he walked toward Tessa while slipping one hand into his pocket.
The moment he drew close, Tessa instinctively raised one arm in front of herself, taking a defensive stance.
The man stopped before her and began pulling something out of his pocket.
“Why do I have such a bad feeling about this…?”
Tessa’s thoughts were cut short when the man revealed nothing more than a single silver coin and held it out to her.
She blinked in surprise, accepted the coin, and replied somewhat embarrassed,
“I-I’ll go get your change.”
Without even raising his head, the man walked past her.
“Don’t worry about it. Keep the change.”
“Thank you for the coffee.”
Without waiting for a reply, he left the tavern.
Tessa relaxed her shoulders and returned to her normal posture, staring at the door for a few moments.
“That man was really strange…”
Outside, the cloaked man walked through a deserted street before disappearing into a narrow alley.
The next instant, he leaped effortlessly onto the rooftop of a nearby building.
As he landed, his cloak shifted for just a moment, revealing a pair of crimson-red eyes.
Without wasting another second, he dashed across the rooftops.
A faint smile spread across his face.
“I’ve finally found you…”
“…Hero.”
A few minutes later, they arrived in front of the Lion Guild.
A carriage bearing the guild’s emblem was already waiting.
Leon stood beside it with his arms crossed.
The moment he saw them, he spoke.
“You’re finally here.”
He pointed toward the carriage.
“Get in. If you haven’t eaten yet, you can eat something on the way.”
Mirelya placed her hands on her hips.
“Wow…”
“Good morning to you too, Leon.”
Leon blinked several times.
“Ah…”
He scratched the back of his head.
“Good morning.”
“My apologies.”
Then he pointed at the carriage once again.
“Now get moving.”
Lysera let out a quiet laugh.
“Pfft…”
Everyone climbed aboard.
Soon afterward, the carriage left Valtheris, bearing the seal of the Lion Guild.
As soon as they passed through the city gates, Ren looked over at Garrick.
“So…”
“What was it that you forgot back there?”
Garrick reached into his pocket and pulled out a small pendant.
“This.”
He quietly examined it for a few seconds.
“My mother gave it to me.”
Ren looked at the pendant.
“It’s nice.”
Then he casually asked,
“Does your family live in the kingdom?”
So did Mirelya’s.
After several seconds of silence, he finally answered,
“My family…”
“…is gone.”
At that moment, Ren froze.
A memory surfaced in his mind.
Dressed entirely in black…
He stood before two gravestones.
Tears slowly streamed down his face.
With a trembling voice, he whispered,
“I-I came to replace the flowers…”
“Dad…”
“Mom…”
The memory faded.
Ren took a deep breath.
“My condolences.”
Lysera lowered her head.
“I…”
“I’m so sorry…”
Garrick continued staring at the pendant.
“Lysera…”
She raised her eyes to meet his.
“I know I was an idiot to you.”
He took a deep breath.
“But your class…”
His expression grew heavy.
“My family was killed by the Crimson Veil.”
Mirelya and Lysera’s eyes widened at the same time.
“Garrick!”
Mirelya spoke quickly.
“You didn’t have to tell us that…”
He gave her a faint smile.
“It’s alright.”
Then he bowed his head toward Lysera.
“My sincerest apologies.”
Silence filled the carriage.
After a few moments, Lysera answered, completely flustered.
“P-Please raise your head…”
She waved her hands nervously.
“I-I’m not angry with you.”
Ren smiled.
“Man…”
“You’re way too serious.”
“Hehe.”
Garrick smiled as well.
“If we’re going to travel together…”
“…we need to trust each other.”
Mirelya nodded.
“That’s true…”
The carriage continued along the road.
Meanwhile…
Meanwhile…
Inside the Royal Palace of Altherion, in the capital of one of the human kingdoms.
The king’s secretary bowed respectfully.
“Your Majesty.”
“We have information regarding the fugitive.”
At the far end of the grand hall, seated upon a throne adorned with gold and precious gemstones, sat King Altherion Dren.
He slowly opened his eyes.
“Where is she?”
“We’ve received word that she’s heading toward the Kingdom of Drakthar, Lord.”
Altherion Dren frowned.
“Ah…”
“So she’s hiding in that kingdom of beasts…”
A scornful smile appeared on his face.
“I never imagined you would sink so low.”
The secretary kept his head lowered.
“What are your orders, Lord Altherion Dren?”
The king slowly rose to his feet.
“Capture her.”
His gaze turned cold.
“Even if she’s hiding in that place.”
The secretary bowed once more.
“Understood.”
“I’ll send a few mercenaries.”
Altherion Dren looked slightly impressed.
“Ah… them?”
“That may be a good idea.”
“After all, if we sent soldiers from the kingdom, they’d become suspicious immediately.”
The secretary nodded before asking,
“And what should I tell our informant?”
A faint smile spread across Altherion Dren’s face as he answered with an arrogant look.
“Just give her the money.”
“Don’t talk to her any more than necessary.”
The secretary gave another respectful bow.
“Yes, my lord.”
Altherion returned to his throne.
His smile disappeared as he stared up at the ceiling.
“You will be judged as a traitor…”
Elsewhere…
A man cloaked in a long black cape slowly descended a series of hills.
His face remained completely hidden.
Only two crimson-red eyes shone beneath his hood.
Ahead of him stood a small, dark castle.
When he reached the entrance, he knocked three times.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
The massive doors slowly creaked open.
He stepped inside.
He walked down a long corridor lit only by candlelight.
Then he passed through a smaller door.
Inside, he found a blue-haired woman with horns protruding from her head, manipulating several metallic cylinders beside the body of a man lying on a table.
As soon as she heard his footsteps, she turned around with a smile.
“Ah.”
“You’re here.”
The man replied,
“You were right, Lythera Veyron.”
She let out a quiet laugh.
“You don’t have to be so formal, Lioren.”
The man lowered his hood.
His fangs became visible.
He glanced at the body lying on the table.
“What are you doing with that corpse?”
Lythera sighed.
“Another dead man found in the surrounding area.”
She examined the body carefully.
“He’s been dead for quite some time.”
She placed a hand over his chest.
“But there isn’t a single puncture wound.”
“And his heart is still intact.”
Lioren crossed his arms.
“That’s the third one you’ve found this month.”
Lythera rested a hand on her chin.
“What has been happening these past few years?”
Lioren answered,
“Could this be the work of humans?”
“They take that story about the goddess Luminarya far too seriously.”
She shook her head.
“I don’t think so.”
“It doesn’t seem like something my kingdom would do either.”
She looked at him.
“What about you?”
Lioren answered immediately.
“No.”
“I have no idea either.”
A faint ironic smile appeared on his face.
“Besides…”
“I don’t need blood all the time.”
Lythera smiled.
“Exactly.”
“If it had been you, there would be puncture marks.”
She fell into thought.
“Then that only leaves the elves…”
“…perhaps?”
Lioren frowned.
“But elves don’t usually take lives like this.”
“At least not without a reason.”
She sighed.
“I don’t have any other theories.”
Lythera watched Lioren for a moment before asking,
“Have you found the person I asked you to look for?”
Lioren tilted his head slightly.
“Ah… the one you called the Hero?”
Lythera nodded.
“This is a unique occurrence.”
“A Hero who wasn’t summoned within Luminarya’s Sacred Territory has the potential to become a serious threat to that tyrant’s kingdom.”
Lioren crossed his arms.
“Well, I didn’t approach him.”
“But I did see him traveling north in a carriage.”
Lythera narrowed her eyes.
“And you came back without bringing him?”
Lioren let out a quiet sigh.
“He wasn’t alone.”
“There was a powerful mage with him…”
“…and a warrior as well.”
Lythera stared at him for several seconds.
Then a teasing smile appeared on her face.
“So a warrior and a mage were enough to scare you, Lioren?”
“Hahaha…”
Lioren shook his head.
“That Hero is strange too.”
“I was watching him from the treetops inside that goblin-infested dungeon…”
“…when I heard roars.”
“And then, moments later, a tremendous crash.”
“The entire forest shook.”
Lythera sighed.
“Come on, Lioren.”
“You should be stronger than they are.”
“Besides, I’m certain you’re agile enough that no human could easily lay a hand on you.”
“Are you absolutely sure there wasn’t anyone else with him?”
Lioren frowned before answering,
“Yes…”
“There was no one else.”
Lioren asked,
“What do you intend to do with him?”
She answered without the slightest hesitation.
“I believe this Hero has the answers we need.”
“Answers about this world.”
Lioren remained silent for a few seconds.
“You want him alive?”
She smiled cheerfully.
“If it won’t be too much trouble for you…”
“Hehe.”
Lioren turned toward the door.
“I’m counting on you, Lythera.”
His expression became serious.
“I need answers.”
Her expression grew serious as well.
“So do I.”
“I’m tired of living in the ignorance my father seems to cherish so much.”
A faint smile appeared on her face.
“I’m counting on you, Lioren.”
“I’m serious this time.”
“I need him alive.”
Without another word, Lioren opened the door.
Before leaving, he murmured quietly,
“I’m tired of this.”