Chapter 13

The journey back to their dwelling was surprisingly easy. No lurking monsters or spear-wielding natives obstructed their path. With the dangers subdued, the swamp revealed a serene beauty, and Suji found herself comforted by the setting sun after an exhausting day.

“Kariban,” Rex murmured, gazing at the sunset.

The sky was painted in hues of crimson, the river reflecting golden ripples under the waning sunlight. Amidst the vibrant scenery, the shadowy underbrush and the dark green swamp vegetation lent an eerie contrast. Suji realized that the word “Kariban” likely referred to the strange and hauntingly beautiful landscape before them.

‘It suits him too,’ Suji thought, stealing a glance at Rex.

He appeared as indifferent as ever, his expression revealing no trace of sentiment. Yet, when their eyes met, there was a fleeting flicker in his dark gaze, a spark of interest that lit up the otherwise cold depths. Suji felt her heart flutter. Being noticed, especially by someone as reserved as Rex, felt like a precious affirmation.

Gathering her courage, Suji decided to introduce herself properly.
“I’m Lee Suji,” she said, her voice steady.

Rex’s gaze fixed on her, unblinking.

“Suji,” she repeated, as if to emphasize.

Did he understand? Rex’s continued silence and intense stare unsettled her. Was there something odd about the way she said it? Or perhaps the name carried an unintended meaning in his world?

‘Whatever the reason, staring at me like that feels strange,’ Suji thought, lowering her hand and averting her gaze.

Yet, she couldn’t shake the feeling of his eyes following her, like an unyielding shadow. When she glanced at his reflection in the water, her heart skipped a beat. His expression was deep in thought, as if grappling with a puzzle he couldn’t solve.

What was he thinking? She hoped he might introduce himself in return but quickly dismissed the idea. Expecting anything ordinary from him seemed futile. Rex was anything but ordinary.

Suji’s mind flashed to the horrifying scenes earlier in the day and the destruction he had wrought. The thought sent a shiver down her spine, but she forced herself to think differently.

He had risked himself to save her. In a world filled with monsters and malevolence, his actions were bold and decisive. Without extraordinary strength and determination, no one could have rescued her from the dangers of the swamp.

The memory of him stepping in to protect her remained vivid in her mind. It was a moment she couldn’t forget, no matter how hard she tried.

As the boat drifted to a stop, its hull nudging against the tangled vegetation at the forest’s edge, Rex stepped out first, his movements deliberate.

“Suji,” he murmured the name to himself as they walked through the vine-covered forest.

The name felt strangely familiar, though he was certain he hadn’t encountered it since awakening in his current form. Had it been during his unconscious existence?

Rex’s creation was a marvel of alchemy—his mind and body meticulously crafted through the fusion of mana and human consciousness. The alchemists had hailed him as a breakthrough, the first successful fusion of this kind. Countless attempts before him had failed, leading to mental instability or physical collapse in their test subjects.

Despite being the only success, Rex knew there were gaps in his knowledge of the process. The alchemists had shared details about his construction but remained vague about the origins of his consciousness.

‘They said I existed “from the start,”’ Rex thought, recalling their cryptic words.

He had assumed his consciousness had been salvaged from a deceased individual, tethered to the present through mana. But if that were true, Suji couldn’t possibly be part of his past. She wasn’t from this world.

‘Then why does her name feel so familiar?’

As he mulled over the mystery, they reached their dwelling. Suji let out a sigh of relief at the sight of the worn, humble shelter. It was battered and modest, but it was a safe place to rest—a precious sanctuary after all they had endured.

As they pushed through the mist and entered their dwelling, the sight of the ransacked interior greeted them. Suji quickly set about tidying up the mess left by the natives, her movements brisk yet purposeful. In the process, her eyes fell on the cold remnants of food left in a dish. She picked it up, intending to discard it, but before she could, Rex took the plate from her hands.

“What did you make?”

The aroma was inviting, and it didn’t seem spoiled. Rex glanced at Suji and noticed her hesitation. When she looked toward the pot, realization dawned on him—it was a dish she had prepared using the cracked eggs.

“Is this for me?” he asked, pointing to himself.

Suji hesitated but eventually nodded. Without further thought, Rex scooped up the food with his hand and ate it, seeing no reason to waste a meal in a place where decent food was a rarity.

His soldier-like practicality surprised Suji more than anyone else. She gasped, her face turning pale as the thought of it possibly being spoiled crossed her mind. She quickly grabbed his arm, but it was already too late—he had devoured it all.

“It’s delicious. Well done,” Rex remarked, giving her a rare compliment.

The way he licked his lips and allowed a slight curve of a smile to grace his features sent an odd warmth rushing to Suji’s cheeks. Even the smallest gestures seemed profound when it came to him. As Suji released his arm, Rex suddenly grasped her wrist.

“We need to treat your wounds,” he said.

“W-What?”

When Rex looked at her wrist, Suji waved it off, indicating that she was fine. The pain from the thorn pricks had subsided, and the bleeding had stopped, so she figured the wounds would heal on their own. But as she shook her head, Rex’s brows furrowed.

“Are you used to enduring pain? If so, that’s nothing to be proud of. The more you adapt to it, the stronger the pain you’ll tolerate, and there are plenty of people in this world who’ll exploit that.”

Rex’s words carried the weight of personal experience. As someone forged for battle, pain was a constant companion. He had endured countless injuries, only to face even stronger enemies and greater suffering in return. His superiors had come to expect his endurance, treating even life-threatening wounds as trivial because they could be healed with mana later.

Suji didn’t fully understand his words, but she could sense his displeasure and cautiously extended her hand, allowing him to tend to her. Rex pulled a small leather pouch from his belt and spread it open. Inside was a gray powder that glinted faintly in the light, catching Suji’s curious gaze.

‘What’s that for?’

Her eyes sparkled with intrigue as Rex scooped a handful of the powder and gently sprinkled it over her wrist and ankles. A soft glow emanated from her skin, and the wounds began to close. While not completely healed, the process was undeniably accelerated.

“Magic powder,” Rex explained.

“It’s more effective when refined, but that’s not an option right now.”

“Magic powder?” Suji repeated the unfamiliar term.

Rex nodded. “It probably doesn’t exist in your world,” he said, almost to himself.

He glanced upward at the ceiling, where water dripped steadily through a gap. It was only a light drizzle for now, but in the unpredictable weather of the swamp, heavy rain could fall at any moment. Deciding that the roof needed repairs before it worsened, Rex rose to his feet. At that moment, Suji’s stomach growled audibly.

“I’ll find something to eat,” Rex said, glancing at her reddening face with an amused look.

As he turned to leave, a tug on his sleeve stopped him. Looking back, he saw Suji holding onto his waist hesitantly.