---

The young boy, Colon, remembers Ren as he rides his horse during the attack on the kingdom—how Ren carried him on horseback, smiling brightly. His parents, seeing him, ask: *"Why are you smiling? Do you know that soldier?"*  

Colon: *"Dad, Mom… I want to be a soldier."*  

His parents are stunned. His father smiles and asks: *"What’s with this sudden decision?"*  

Colon: *"I want to be like that soldier. He looked so strong and amazing riding his horse!"*  

His father bursts into laughter while his mother remains bewildered.  

The father, still laughing: *"Hahaha! All boys think like that. Kids just want to look cool. The same thing happened to me when I was young—I wanted to be a soldier too."*  

Colon, angrily: *"I didn’t say I want to join just to look cool! It’s because soldiers save people and act like real men!"*  

Colon recalls Ren’s words to him on their way to the Wisdom Square.  

Colon, eyes shining as he looks at Ren: *"Soldier… why do you risk your life for others?"*  

Ren, with a bright smile: *"That’s a tough question for me. But if I put myself in a soldier’s shoes, I’d say a real man is someone who values innocent lives over his own. Maybe… hahaha… I acted like a true warrior, didn’t I?"*  

Colon laughs: *"Yeah! Hahaha!"*  

Colon’s father: *"A real man, huh…?"*  

His mother watches, not understanding a thing.  

---  

Some time later, the green forest separating Ilfard and Prag comes to an end. Ren and Maria halt their horses at the gates of the Kingdom of Prag.  

Prag’s soldiers greet them: *"Welcome. Are you Ren and Maria from Ilfard?"*  

Ren, pulling out an ID from his coat: *"Yes."*  

The soldier checks it and opens the gate: *"Please, come in."*  

Ren takes back his ID and rides forward with Maria.  

Meanwhile, Zane’s group has already entered the city—their first stop in the land of Sifar. They ride calmly through the wide streets and classical buildings, drawing curious stares from passersby, especially at Zane, who leads in his lavish attire alongside unfamiliar faces.  

Selena approaches Mina, who is lost in thought, staring at the houses.  

Selena, teasingly: *"Mina, where’s your head at? What are you daydreaming about, girl?"*  

Mina snaps back: *"Sorry, I was just admiring these beautiful houses… Wait, why did you call me ‘girl’?"*  

Selena smirks mischievously: *"Oh? So, when our knight Ren catches up, what do you think?"*  

Mina replies firmly, feigning indifference: *"So what? I don’t care who they send. Let it be whoever."*  

She turns away, blushing, thinking: *"Why would you even ask me that?!"*  

Selena sees this and grins.  

At the front of the group, Zane searches for a hotel to wait for Ren. Spotting one to his right, he announces loudly:  

*"This way, everyone! I found a hotel!"*  

They follow him to a three-story hotel with a classic exterior. Dismounting, they leave their horses with the attendant near the entrance stairs. The attendant leads the horses away as the group steps inside, still under the watchful eyes of the public—particularly focused on Zane, Selena, and Mina.  

Inside, Zane heads to the reception desk and requests three rooms. After some discussion, he returns with three keys and explains to his companions, gesturing to the attendant behind him:  

*"I booked three rooms, but weapons aren’t allowed inside. Hand yours over and sign the deposit forms."*  

Everyone complies except Mina, who isn’t carrying a weapon. Once the procedures are done, Zane distributes the keys:  

*"Mina and Selena will take the second-floor room. My group—Lloyd and Kargalan—will be on the first floor. The soldiers, Kon and Mondrian, will have the room across from ours."*  

He turns to Selena: *"Tomorrow, we’ll wait for them at the city’s front gate."*  

Everyone: *"Understood!"*  

---  

Meanwhile, in Ilfard’s prison, Karl returns with Kaputo and Nathan to their cells. He tells the guard: *"Take them back. I won’t interrogate them now."*  

He quickly exits the prison, mounting his white horse. The wind blows through his neck-length hair as he thinks:  

*"Of course… it was obvious. Ren—I’d heard of him even before he became a wanted man. But I completely forgot about the Storm Children. More importantly… will he betray us? ‘Wolf of the West’… I don’t know why he’s called that, nor does anyone know his true strength. He’s the most enigmatic member of the squad. Why is he here? And why didn’t Father stop him from following Zane’s group?"*  

Soon, Karl arrives at the palace. He storms inside, heading straight to his father’s office with urgency and anxiety. He throws the door open without thinking—only to find the king and queen chatting and laughing peacefully, sipping coffee as sunlight streams into the room.  

The king and queen turn to Karl, who is panting.  

The king, amused: *"I knew you’d come quickly. And I know you’ll ask about him—but first, relax and have some coffee with us."*  

Karl, angrily: *"Are you sure it’s him, Father?! And if so, why didn’t you stop him?!"*  

The king, calmly: *"I told you—rest first."*  

---  

By now, the sun has fully set. Ren and Maria are in the heart of the kingdom, surrounded by shop lights, children’s laughter, and the sounds of horses—a breathtaking atmosphere.  

Maria thinks to herself: *"He hasn’t spoken the whole way. Every time I try to start a conversation, I can’t. What even interests him? Why did the king send me with him? But he seems kind…"*  

She remembers his interaction with the young boy earlier.  

Ren suddenly cuts off her thoughts: *"Hey, daydreamer, let’s rest here. This place looks good."*  

Maria frowns, thinking: *"I take it all back—he’s not kind at all! And ‘daydreamer’?! Seriously?"*  

Maria, suppressing anger: *"Sir Ren, my name is Maria. And yes, let’s rest. I’m tired."*  

Ren, coolly: *"Really? Sorry, Maria. Then let’s go to that restaurant over there."*  

He points to a grand, luxurious restaurant—clearly one of the finest in the area. But Maria doesn’t see his gesture. Instead, she covers her face, looking down in extreme embarrassment, thinking:  

*"The way he said my name… I take it back again—he’s wonderful! I wish I hadn’t told him my name…"*  

Ren sighs: *"Oi, Maria, I called you multiple times. Why aren’t you listening? Maybe I should just call you ‘daydreamer’—it suits you better."*  

Maria, flustered: *"Huh? Oh, sorry! I didn’t hear you. What did you say?"*  

Ren: *"I said let’s go to that restaurant."*  

Maria stares at the restaurant in awe before they enter.  

Maria, hesitantly: *"Isn’t this… fancier than usual?"*  

Ren, indifferent: *"Really? I don’t know. What matters is that the food is clean."*  

Maria, puzzled: *"Clean… food?"*  

Ren, dryly: *"I mean a place that cares about hygiene—clean hands, fresh ingredients, that sort of thing."*  

Maria, teasing: *"Don’t tell me you’re obsessed with cleanliness."*  

Ren: *"Maybe."*  

They enter and sit at a table. After ordering, Maria tries to break the silence.  

Maria: *"So… can we get to know each other better here?"*  

Ren, as aloof as ever: *"Do whatever you want."*  

Maria: *"Alright. I’m Maria, 17, from Ilfard. A Class-A soldier. Pleasure to meet you."*  

Ren, staring at the table: *"Ren Kaguero, 17. One of the ‘Ten Soldiers’—though I don’t know what they do. The king said we’re elites or something. Nice to meet you."*  

Maria, dryly: *"Wow, that was fast. So, any hobbies or dreams?"*  

Ren: *"Not sure. The king appointed me to protect people. I guess that’s my goal."*  

Maria: *"How noble. But you didn’t choose it yourself."*  

Ren: *"What matters is having an official job. Better than everyone calling me ‘Wolf of the West.’"*  

Maria, confused: *"What? ‘Wolf of the West’? What’s that?"*  

Ren: *"Nothing."*  

*(He thinks: "Slipped up. But she really doesn’t know anything—even as a soldier, she didn’t notice I was once wanted.")*  

Ren changes the subject: *"You’re a soldier despite your age—that’s impressive. Why did you join?"*  

Maria: *"Because my father wanted me to. He trained me in sword fighting and hand-to-hand combat. I grew to love battle, so I enlisted."*  

Ren: *"You love fighting?"*  

*(A memory flashes—Ren at age 10, facing another boy (13):*  

*Boy: "I love fighting! Today, I’ll beat you for sure—get ready to lose!"*  

*Ren: "Haven’t you lost your passion after losing every time?")*  

The waiter interrupts, bringing their food.  

Ren: *"Seems like introductions are over."*  

Maria: *"Yeah. Let’s eat."*  

---  

Back at the palace, silence hangs over the dinner table. Karl is stunned by his father’s words, replaying their earlier conversation.  

In the Sifar hotel, Mina and Selena eat in their room. Karl and his two companions do the same in theirs. The other two soldiers dine at a table near the hotel entrance.  

**End of Chapter.**  

---

T.b.c.