I got dressed in a loose dress and wrapped a thick oatmeal-colored scarf around my neck that I had prepared the night before. Then, I put on a navy blue coat.

The scarf was knitted with fuzzy yarn made from wool that looked very much like my hair. I didn’t want to put on something that resembled my hair, but it was just so irresistibly soft.

I checked outside the window with sullen eyes.

The sun was blazing. It was the perfect weather for going down the mountain.

With a red magic backpack strapped over my shoulder, I glanced into the mirror for one final check.

In the mirror, I saw what looked like a corpse that had starved to death.

‘I sure look like a mess.’

Feeling hopeless, I scanned my face.

There were dark circles beneath my eyes and my lips were pale. My face, overall, looked lifeless.

I didn’t want to needlessly worry them.

I went ahead and put some lightly tinted pink lip balm on my lips.

Thankfully, that made me look a little bit more normal.

Out of nowhere, I felt the sudden urge to throw up. I held it back and walked over to the clothes rack.

After throwing on a dark brown robe around my shoulders, I opened the door.

As I expected, Adar was waiting nearby.

As soon as I saw the cup in his hand, I blurted out without so much as a thought.

“I don’t want it.”

“I didn’t even say anything.”

Adar sounded disappointed and held out the cup.

“Since we’re leaving early today, I tried making some green juice. What do you think?”

With a petrified look, I stared at the green stuff inside the glass.

“Let’s head out after you drink this.”

“No.”

If I drank that, I would definitely throw up.

I could already feel my stomach turning, ready to spew out all of its contents. If I drank that green snail poop-colored drink, something bad would surely happen.

I felt queasy from just imagining it. I covered my mouth with my hand.

For some reason, the juice seemed to smell fishy.

I didn’t even want to breathe in the air anywhere around it.

“Hey, you look a little off today...”

Adar, who had been watching me silently, started observing me with a puzzled look. Just then, Almoer opened the door and stepped out into the hallway.

Among the five men, he was the hardest to talk to.

This was because he refused to speak or act on anything he deemed unnecessary.

So, I thought Almoer would obviously walk past me and continue on his way down the stairs.

He silently made his way and stopped just beside me.

“...?”

His straight hair caught my eye.

It was as black as ink.

Like a waterfall made of ink, it flowed straight from top to bottom.

Almoer slowly stretched out his hand and placed it on my forehead.

I wasn’t particularly surprised. Perhaps it was the simple and calm way he carried himself.

Warm heat gently spread across my forehead.

The heat from his hand felt eternal. It seemed to melt away the chills that ran through my body.

Almoer slowly blinked his dark blood-colored eyes and opened his mouth.

“Your body is cold.”

He dropped his hand from my forehead to brush back a strand of hair on my cheek. He tucked it behind my ear.

“Are you feeling unwell?”

“I-I just didn’t g-get enough sleep...”

This is so embarrassing. What am I stuttering for?

I bit my tongue and smiled awkwardly.

Almoer carefully studied my face and then unexpectedly made a thin smile.

“Your condition may worsen if you leave like this. Why don’t you warm yourself up first? Your health is more important right now.”

If any other hero had told me that, I would’ve said they were needlessly worried. But since it was Almoer, I couldn’t fight back.

“I-I’ll do that.”

“I’ll light up the fireplace, then.”

Almoer slightly lowered his head and then walked past me to go downstairs.

I stared on after him for a while and let out the breath I was holding in.

I don’t think I could ever speak casually with him, it seems.

Although he had said it was fine, it felt like a sin to speak to him as I do to the others. He had such an imposing air around him.

It was quite ironic, considering the deep kindness Almoer had at his core.

How could he be both a kind and imposing person?

This wasn’t how I had thought of him in the beginning.

Though he didn’t say much, he would often let me be whenever I wanted to be alone.

I assumed it was a just coincidence, but this has happened more than three times. There was no way I couldn’t notice it.

‘Did he read my mind or something?’

It sure felt like he did.

“Guess you didn’t sleep well?”

That wasn’t much different than the others, however.

I swatted my hand at Adar as though I was chasing away a fly.

I couldn’t even be bothered to reply.

If I had known that I was going to be found out this soon, I wouldn't have even bothered putting on that tinted lip balm.

“Aren’t you treating me too differently than Almoer?”

Adar snickered as though it was hilarious and followed after me.

I let out a big yawn and carried on my way.

“Do you want some honey water?”

Adar offered.

“You can drink that before we leave. Are you sure you’re fine heading out today?”

“Whether I’m fine or not, we have to go today. It looks like the Empire infected you guys with some other kind of poison besides the one corrupting your mana. If you don’t get it treated soon, it could become a serious danger. I have to get those herbs today.”

‘On top of that, I go into heat next week.’

I wanted to swear out loud, but I firmly held myself back.

Then, lifting my chin up, I continued:

“Honey water sounds good.”

“Alright.”

Adar curved his eyes as he smiled and went ahead downstairs.

I trudged on and sat crouched down in the rocking chair by the fireplace.

Sitting by the fire dressed in the thick clothes I had put on, my body finally relaxed. I felt my blood flow.

It seems I’ve been having poor blood circulation lately.

My fingers that were beginning to feel numb relaxed as well.

I watched the dancing sparks of the fire. My eyes were on the verge of closing.

Warmth, peaceful silence, and an endless darkness crept into my mind.

It was everything I had wanted last night.

The memories and voices that had been tormenting my mind were now deathly quiet and calm.

I was starting to nod off for a brief moment when a smooth white minx blanket covered me.

My mind was already half asleep. I looked up in a daze.

I could see clear, ocean-colored hair. It looked as though it would spill out into a blue cascading waterfall if I were to touch it.

Snoa carefully observed me with transparent and delicate eyes as he wrapped me in the blanket.

You don’t need to do that.

I’m going to get up soon.

I had to speak those words aloud, yet my mouth wouldn’t open.

Eventually, my consciousness slipped away.

When I came to, the sun was already out.

I flailed around like a fish suddenly pulled out of water as I woke up.

“AHH!”

I screamed out loud. Of all things, I had been sleeping in a rocking chair.

Halik was sitting on the sofa, building a house of cards. He looked up wide-eyed in surprise.

I cleared my throat and picked up the heavy minx blanket that had fallen to the ground.

“How are you feeling?”

He asked as he approached me.

“Fine. What time is it?”

“1 o’clock.”

“Oh, 1 o’clock...”

I stopped nodding and turned stiff.

‘1 o’clock? As in, afternoon? It’s past lunchtime?’

“Wh-why...?”

“Huh?”

“WHY DIDN’T YOU WAKE ME UP?!”

I screamed out loud and grabbed Halik by the collar.

He bent forward and grinned with the most innocent-looking face.

“You were sleeping so soundly. Look at you; you look fine now. That's a relief!”

“Where’s Adar?! Call him this instant. We have to leave before the sun sets!”

“Alright, alright. Calm down.”

He said without any hint of urgency in his voice. He pulled my hands that were holding him by the collar down away from him.

“ADAR!”

Hearing Halik’s booming voice, Adar came downstairs.

I glared at him with piercing eyes.

“Are you all ready?”

“Somewhat. Don’t worry too much. I’m good at moving in the dark.”

Hearing Adar’s carefree response, I became frustrated.

It wasn’t just the darkness and the cold that we had to watch out for in the mountains.

Monsters came out at night.

I rummaged through my magic backpack and took out a cloak.

It was a cheap makeshift cloak that I had patched up using a fur blanket last night.

I handed it over to Adar. He held out the tattered cloak in front of him and inspected it as though it was some strange object he had never seen before.

“Wear it.”

“A blanket?”

“It’s a cloak.”

“It is?”

I imitated him word for word.

“It is?”

I dare you to say it again.

I gave him a look of pure burning rage and glared at him. Adar swallowed hard, seeing the frightening face that I had made.

I alternated my gaze between the cloak and Adar, strongly urging him to wear it.

He reluctantly wrapped the cloak around his shoulders.

Satisfied, I snorted and again rummaged through my magic backpack.

I found a jack knife that I had recently bought. The blade on it was quite sharp. I tossed it over to Adar.

This was what was most convenient about him.

He caught whatever I threw in whatever way I had thrown it at him.

“What’s this?”

“For self-defense. I thought it’d be a good idea to take at least one with us while we're out.”

Opening the jack-knife, Adar held up the blade under the light and nodded.

“Thanks.”

I closed the bag and walked towards the front door.

I rummaged through the shoe storage and found crampons made of a strong alloy. I used them from time to time.

I wrapped the crampons around my shoes and then threw an extra pair to Adar.

Since it was winter, and the snow had yet to melt, it could be slippery.

After firmly clasping the crampons on, I opened the door. Bitter cold air entered my lungs.

I turned back to see if Adar was ready and almost slipped instead.

“Come back safely!”

Snoa, Chellus, Halik, and Almoer were huddled together, watching me.

Halik waved his hand as he said goodbye.

Suddenly, the inside of my throat tickled.

I cleared my throat and pulled down my hat.

I hid my red ears deep inside the inner lining of it.

When I turned around and started walking, I heard Adar’s footsteps following closely behind.

‘If we move quickly, we can get to the village before the sun sets.’

Most teleportation scrolls only had coordinates for well-known, big cities. This meant we’d have to use a carriage to get back.

Even once we got to the village, we'd still have to hurry.

As I pushed away a branch from a large bush, I wondered if I had brought enough money with me.

I spotted some big Saphegias that were planted in the ground along the way.

This was my personal trail that I had been maintaining for quite some time.

‘I’m going to heal them as fast as possible so that I can get them to leave.’

The heroes' words of goodbye kept lingering in my mind.

Nothing good would come out of staying with a group such as them.

This was especially the case for me since I had sworn to live independently all by myself.

‘What if they won’t let me go?’

Pfft. I let out a small giggle. That was absurd. I couldn’t even believe I would think such a thing.