With the groceries in hand, Ren left the mall.
To return back to their campsite.
Under the glow of the evening sun, Ren slowly pulled Tom out from the stable and loaded the groceries from a nearby bench onto Tom.
Looking at the horse, Ren began straightening its reins.
After doing so, he hopped back onto the horse.
Then he gently pulled the reins a little, and Tom began moving.
Though his posture remained reluctant.
“There aren’t any clocks inside the mall…
so it’s natural to lose track of time.”
Ren said while breaking a leaf from the lettuce and offering it to Tom.
Tom was quite docile for the rest of the way.
He didn’t make things difficult for Ren.
Instead, he was now allowing Ren to take complete control over him.
“Oh…
so you were hungry.”
With that, Ren broke a few more leaves from the lettuce and fed him.
The journey continued in harmony.
Soon, they returned to their camp.
Kai had almost finished building the bonfire and arranging the pots.
While Ren got down from the horse and carried the groceries over to Kai.
Meanwhile, Elvan held Tom’s reins and pulled him back toward the cart to tie him near it.
Ren continued walking toward Kai, who was placing sticks under a cooking pot.
“What did you buy?”
Kai asked without glancing back.
“Lettuce, potatoes, bread, and a little meat.”
“Well, that should do for tonight,” Kai said.
“Let’s make a mixed stew with everything.”
“You can cook?” Ren asked while unpacking the groceries.
“You taught me how to do it?”
“Me?”
“Let’s say the version of you before amnesia taught me.” This chapter is updated first at g.com.
“Okay.”
“Go and wash these vegetables.”
“Got it.”
“There’s water in there.” Kai pointed toward the cart.
With that, he shifted his attention back to arranging sticks.
“Oh, and grab a lighter on your way.”
“…Fine.”
Ren rummaged through their bags before finding the lighter.
Then he took out a bottle of water and a basin from the storage bag and began cleaning the veggies.
Elvan, who had just tied Tom nearby, walked over to Ren.
“Let me do it.”
“You brought the groceries.
It’s natural to do my part too.”
“…Thanks.”
As the words left his mouth, Ren, who was squatting down, stood up.
On the other hand, Elvan squatted down and began cleaning the ingredients.
Elvan continued cleaning the vegetables, while Ren quietly went and sat on a stone nearby, gazing at the setting sun.
“…Aster.”
As if sensing Ren’s call, the butterfly slowly climbed its way onto his shoulder.
Ren carefully scooped the butterfly into his palm and began observing it.
“…It isn’t ordinary.
An ordinary insect wouldn’t possess such intelligence.”
“So…
what was this creature?”
The white veins on the creature’s wings pulsed under the evening light.
Then it began flapping its wings.
Ren quietly lowered his palm to the ground and placed it on the grass.
The surrounding grass was moving in rhythm with the wind, while the patch on which Aster stood remained still.
“…Is it a type of barrier?”
Ren said while extending his hand down.
Aster slowly climbed back onto his hand, but this time, instead of entering his coat, it entered his left arm’s sleeve.
Ren sensed movement beneath his sleeve.
Within a short time, it stopped.
“Did it settle down?”
With that, Ren tried to take a look, but saw a butterfly tattoo instead of the butterfly on his left arm.
“Aster.”
The tattoo shimmered once before calming down.
“…Seems like…”
“This ability has a limit.”
….
….
Sigh~
Ren laid down with his back on the stone.
Thud.
Something fell from his pocket when he tried to change his position.
A box.
“…Celesia’s gift.”
Ren instinctively reached out and opened it.
A black-colored brooch lay silently inside the box.
It was quite ordinary.
But even being able to afford something this ordinary at an orphanage…
Ren couldn’t help but smile as he traced the brooch in his hand.
“…So that’s why she was staring at my collar.”
Staring at the brooch, he quietly unbuttoned his collar and fixed the brooch near his neck.
“Dinner’s ready,” Kai’s voice rang out behind him.
“Coming.”