As night completely fell, Sharti took out the small lamp she had brought.
When she inserted the magic stone into the lamp Virena had given her, a soft glow illuminated the surroundings.
‘A campfire would be warm.’
Thanks to the wool blanket Vireta had prepared for her, she wasn’t very cold, though her cheeks were slightly flushed.
With no proper shelter from the wind, Sharti spread the blanket on a relatively clear patch of dirt and sat down, looking up at the sky while exhaling softly.
‘But… how did it come to this?’
Sharti desperately kept her gaze fixed on the night sky, trying not to look down even by mistake.
Unfortunately, tonight the night sky was pitch black without a single star.
Finally, unable to bear her stiffening neck, Sharti lowered her gaze.
“……”
She saw Ren’s face, resting his head on her thigh.
Arms folded, completely still in sleep, Ren’s sleeping face remained expressionless.
Sharti hesitantly reached out and pulled the blanket over his sleeping bag.
‘This is really unnecessary.’
Sharti slowly traced Ren’s sharp features with her eyes.
His resolute determination not to let her suffer as much as himself was all too apparent.
‘But to set such a condition.’
Sharti pressed her lips tightly together.
The condition Ren had set was that she give him a lap pillow while he slept.
[It’s a precaution in case something happens while I’m asleep.]
When she demanded to know what that embarrassing position had to do with anything, Ren calmly answered.
[Even if a stranger appeared and threatened us, Sha, you would try to handle it alone without waking me. So I have no choice but to stay close to prevent you from acting recklessly.]
Sharti was speechless then and now.
It seemed like an extreme exaggeration, but when she imagined the scenario, it was quite plausible.
Given her previous track record, Sharti couldn’t flatly deny it.
[Holding hands while sleeping would also be fine.]
Sharti had contemplated.
She had contemplated very seriously.
And now Sharti reviewed her choice with clouded eyes.
‘Hands are a bit, well…’
A lap pillow merely meant his head resting on her thick robe.
That was far better than holding hands with skin contact.
‘There’s another problem though.’
Since she had spontaneously volunteered to keep watch alone tonight, she would definitely doze off during the day.
And probably while being held by Ren.
Sharti covered her face with both hands.
“……”
When Ren shifted and turned his head to the side, Sharti froze stiffly.
Her stomach muscles tensed instantly.
Sharti quietly lowered her hands and examined Ren’s face.
He seemed deeply asleep, his breathing even.
‘It reminds me of when we were in the cave.’
How had she ended up becoming close enough with Ren to go on treatment trips together?
After hesitating, she lightly tapped his bangs.
‘…You’re too defenseless.’
Did that mean he trusted her that much? Or was it arrogance, believing he could easily subdue someone like her?
Sharti tilted her head and more boldly brushed aside the bangs covering his eyelids.
‘I never thought Tein would have heard the conversation between Virena and me.’
Setting aside the embarrassment, she couldn’t express how terrifying that was.
She had already shown him various weaknesses, but she didn’t want Ren to discover her innermost feelings.
‘That would be like… revealing my entire self.’
Her dark red eyes sank into melancholy as she held a bitter smile.
Just then, the wind blew, slightly pushing Sharti’s robe back.
Though only her face was slightly exposed, she felt as if someone had blown a cold breath onto her face.
Haha. Sharti let out a silent, hollow laugh.
‘You know, Ren. I want to find your weakness too.’
A selfish inner truth she had never confessed to anyone.
The most efficient way to protect one’s secrets and vulnerabilities was to similarly grasp the other person’s weaknesses.
So Sharti wanted Ren’s weakness, if only to protect herself.
‘I’m glad I didn’t tell this to Virena at least.’
Sharti’s bangs swayed gently in the wind.
In the middle of the dark, cold mountain, Sharti watched the sleeping Ren for a long time.
Until dawn, she concealed her restless heart and held her breath in the predawn stillness.
The next day, Sharti and Ren climbed the mountain again early in the morning.
To conserve Ren’s energy, they had agreed that Sharti would walk as much as possible during the morning.
“The fog seems to be getting thicker.”
As Ren said, the density of the fog increased with each mountain they crossed.
Although the fog limited visibility, thanks to Ren’s sense of direction and Sharti’s memorized terrain, they didn’t get lost.
“We should hold hands just in case.”
Ren approached Sharti’s side as he spoke.
Sharti nodded and placed the edge of her robe in his outstretched hand.
“……”
Ren followed Sharti with a slightly dejected expression.
After walking in silence for a while, Sharti began to feel yawns coming on.
The cool mist of the foggy mountains felt strangely cozy, gradually making her drowsy.
‘I’m sleepy.’
Sharti rubbed her heavy eyelids vigorously.
When Sharti’s head repeatedly bobbed up and down, Ren gently tugged on the edge of her robe.
“How about we rest for a bit before continuing?”
“Do you know that’s the fifth time you’ve said that?”
He had uncannily sensed her drowsiness and suggested breaks.
Feeling embarrassed, Sharti rubbed her cold nose tip and glanced at Ren.
‘If I keep showing this side of me, he definitely won’t let me keep watch tonight.’
She couldn’t keep appearing unreliable to Ren.
Trying to quickly pull herself together, Sharti stretched energetically.
“The mountain geography is quite complex here, so it’s better to get through it as quickly as possible.”
That way, even if she dozed off while being held by Ren, they wouldn’t lose their direction.
‘No, why am I thinking about dozing off in his arms?’
What careless thoughts for just one night without sleep.
Sharti slapped both her cheeks hard.
“…Sha?”
“Instead of resting, could you keep talking to me? That might help with the cold and sleepiness.”
“That’s a good idea.”
Pleased with this most moderate solution, Ren nodded readily.
Sharti focused on the stinging pain in her cheeks and quickened her pace.
But Ren didn’t speak for a while.
He simply walked beside Sharti in silence, cutting through the fog.
This gave her an unexpected sense of security that made Sharti’s cheeks tingle.
“Isn’t there anything you want to ask?”
“I was thinking.”
Keeping his gaze forward, Ren carefully chose his words.
“Wondering how much I could ask.”
At Ren’s meaningful comment, Sharti momentarily hesitated.
Sharti discreetly pulled out a map from her bag.
It was to be used as a shield in case of difficult questions.
“Come to think of it, there’s something strange.”
Ren glanced at the map Sharti was examining.
“I’ve looked at various maps to memorize the route, but there were no maps marking the village we’re heading to. The Great Empire of Neweiton requires all mountain villages, big or small, to be marked for smooth evacuation during emergencies like wartime.”
Additionally, there were many maps that recorded detailed information about village populations.
It was a necessary procedure and measure in the process of occupying various lands during long wars.
“I’ve examined all the places you’ve visited for treatment trips, Sha, but there’s no village with as little record or information as that one.”
“……”
Sharti looked at Ren with curious eyes.
‘Unexpectedly meticulous and sharp.’
It was too awkward to gloss over, so Sharti carefully chose her words.
Sharti handed the map to Ren and pointed directly at the spot where Ashu’s village was located.
“It’s called the Hidden Village. I call it that because it doesn’t exist on maps or in records.”
The village’s existence was known, but by tacit agreement, it was not officially registered, hence called the ‘Hidden Village.’
Some historians claimed the nickname came from rebel factions or embers of defeated nations gathering there, but it was quite the opposite.
Rather, it was secretly ‘hidden’ under the sanction of the Empire, specifically the Neweiton Imperial Family.
“…How peculiar that you found such a place.”
Ren seemed puzzled that she was entangled with such a suspicious village but didn’t appear particularly interested in the Hidden Village itself.
“I didn’t seek it out intentionally.”
It was winter, and on a snowy day, she had slipped and rolled down, then looking for a place to rest, she had stumbled upon it by chance.
“Hmm, may I continue asking? When did you start making treatment trips? It seems you’ve traveled quite far distances.”
“Ah, it hasn’t been that long. About two years, I think.”
There was nothing better than treatment trips for honing one’s skills.
Since villages, regardless of size, were prone to gossip, Sharti mainly visited elderly people living alone or those who required utmost confidentiality.
They purchased large quantities of herbs or ointments at once from doctors they rarely met, making it quite profitable.
“Did you start treatment trips as an adult? It doesn’t seem like people would trust a doctor who hasn’t reached adulthood.”
“There weren’t really such restrictions for treatment trips. There’s a strong perception of traveling doctors. Above all, for me, this appearance was more of a problem than my age.”
“I see.”
Reassured by the ordinary questions, Sharti folded the map.
Soon, another yawn was threatening to escape.
Ren appeared lost in thought for a while before speaking again.
“I have another question.”
“What is it?”
“What did you mean when you told that man to persuade them not to drive you out of the village?”
Sharti flinched while putting the map back in her bag and quickly averted her gaze.
As her steps slowed, Ren stopped walking first.
“It seems they haven’t let you in before. Come to think of it, you were skeptical about the village’s response despite them having patients who needed a doctor.”
“It’s something that happens occasionally in villages with a closed atmosphere.”
Sharti evaded the question casually.
But Ren crossed his arms, as if refusing to move until she spoke honestly.
“What exactly was the treatment you received?”
Sharti pressed her lips together with a troubled expression.
Her experiences in Ashu’s village weren’t memories she wanted to recall.
[In history, there were witches who looked like you.]
[How do we know what you’re putting in those so-called medicines?!]
People filled with hostility beyond suspicion and caution didn’t hesitate to threaten with blades.
She had once been seriously injured when they threw stones at her.
‘That’s when Ashu helped me.’
Additionally, she had received a substantial treatment fee, which he called hush money.
While Sharti avoided his gaze, Ren’s eyes grew increasingly cold.
“Sha, I’m following you to a village suspected of having an epidemic. But I don’t want to go to a place that doesn’t even welcome you just because it’s a closed village. They should at least respect you and show gratitude for your visit. At the very least, for a doctor dealing with lives, Sha— don’t take sacrifice for granted.”
Sharti felt both reassured and worried by Ren’s firm response.
For her part, she hoped Ren wouldn’t form preconceptions about Ashu’s village.
If he subtly showed distrust, friction with the villagers was inevitable.
‘I have no choice.’
She had to convey the facts while removing as much substance as possible.
“There was a time when I was mistaken for a witch because the effects of my medicines were so good.”
“…A witch?”
“Since it’s a village completely isolated from the outside world, they tend to jump to extreme conclusions. Their personalities and prejudices were quite rigid.”
“……”
Ren looked completely puzzled.
Of course, the atmosphere of the Hidden Village was something one had to experience firsthand.
The chilling surveillance gazes raised goosebumps on the skin.
‘I don’t want to remember.’
The feeling of being watched in everything one did, as if even breathing the same air wasn’t permitted, was indescribable.
‘Still, it was more bearable than the Krianet Palace.’
Compared to the suffocating space of the Krianet Palace, where the atmosphere welcomed her existence, or rather her death, Ashu’s village was far better.
Even hostility had different depths and colors.
“Back then, the village chief’s son persuaded the villagers. I was hoping he would do the same this time. That’s all I meant. But this time should be different.”
“For that kind of reason, he seemed to have ulterior motives.”
“Ulterior motives? How could that be? The villagers are sick and bedridden.”
“That could be an excuse.”
For whatever reason, Ren continued to express distrust toward Ashu.
Hadn’t he glanced shyly at Sharti while reporting the severity of the situation?
Ren recalled Ashu lowering his eyelids and putting on a sorrowful expression as if trying to overcome sadness. He felt like the word “detestable” might escape his lips.
“They asked for help first, so we’re going. If the issue is resolved or turns out to be nothing serious, we’ll leave right away.”
Sharti shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly.
Then she moved forward again.
“Aren’t you worried?”
When Ren grumbled about her lack of caution, Sharti laughed lightly.
“I’m not alone; you’re coming with me.”
“……”
“I’ve brought pouches of self-defense powder just in case, and if we need to escape, well, I’ll leave that to you, Ren. You’re faster at running than I am…”
The words she had started to reassure Ren became increasingly embarrassing as she continued.
