Jepeto had already been deeply uneasy lately.

He did not know what had happened in the bunker, but he had heard no small number of things through rumor and half-overheard talk. And one night, he had also known that the Heroes had gone into the bunker and only come out at dawn. Seeing the grave looks on their faces after whatever conversation they had, Jepeto realized this was no ordinary matter, and that Ren was involved as well. The next day, Luman had come to him and asked him to accompany them to the capital, telling him to look after Ren.

The strange part was what came after. Perhaps they each needed time to sort through their thoughts, but never mind the moving reunion or catching up on old feelings—they all spent time separately and did not talk. Ren did not seek out Temar, and Temar did not seek out Ren either. Luman came to Ren from time to time and spoke with him, but only about trivial things.

Surely they had far more to say than that.

Also, in Jepeto’s eyes, Luman and Temar looked terribly angry. Jepeto could plainly see the rage boiling in their eyes, and the things they had not managed to swallow down, but they themselves seemed unaware of it. Even though the way Temar and Luman looked at each other was black as charcoal with reproach, accusation, and fury, they did not say a single word about it. It was the same even after several days had passed. Their attitude was as if time had resolved everything on its own. While they had eyes that looked ready to tear each other apart!

But their anger had not gone out.

A little while ago had been the same. Temar approaching Ren while he was sparring, and Luman watching him—those two acted as if nothing was wrong, but Jepeto, watching from the side, had been on pins and needles.

Temar and Luman were clearly angry, but they themselves seemed not to know it.

Whether they were pretending not to know, or truly did not know, Jepeto did not dare judge.

But where was he even supposed to begin pointing out this problem?

Even when Ren had fallen off a cliff and had his heart pierced by Dell Belkerman’s sword, they had only recovered their bodies and hurried on their way. Jepeto had brushed off that bizarre attitude as perhaps something Heroes were simply like, and now he regretted letting it pass.

“Haaah.”

Jepeto let out a pained sigh and clutched his head.

***

“Temar, did you make Ren angry again?”

Luman came over and asked while looking at Ren, who had shaken off Temar’s arm and gone into his own carriage. Temar clenched his teeth and did not answer. Something was boiling inside him. He had only wanted to apologize to Ren. So what had gone wrong again for things to fall apart like this? Ren had looked angry.

“Go see him again later.”

“Forget it.”

“Forget it? What does that mean? You’re going to leave him like that?”

Luman looked incredulous. Geloman, who had been watching, also looked at Temar.

“He doesn’t want to talk. I can’t force him.”

“......So you mean you’re going to wait until Ren comes to you again?”

Luman narrowed his eyes and spoke to him with a sneer. Temar left without answering.

“Temar!”

“Temar has a frustrating side to him.”

Geloman gave a clean assessment. Charles, who had been awkwardly watching their conversation for no reason, seized the opening and fled at once. Luman, staring at Temar’s back, frowned at Geloman’s comment.

“That’s all? He doesn’t know a thing about his own brother.”

“Luman, are you fond of Ren?”

“Why are you asking that?”

“Because it shows. But Luman, it may be troublesome if you behave that way even in the royal castle. There are many people always looking for weaknesses. If ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) you reveal what you cherish, it will become a target.”

“Geloman. I thought that since you were quiet, you knew how to choose your words. Since when did your tongue get so long?”

Luman grabbed Geloman, who was taller than him, by the collar and pulled. Geloman came along without resisting, his blue eyes staring into Luman’s golden ones.

“That is what Giselle told me to pass on.”

One corner of Luman’s mouth tilted up.

“He’s the same as ever. Truly talented at maneuvering from behind the scenes.”

Thud. Luman released the hand gripping his collar.

“I got worked up. Sorry.”

Geloman shrugged. Even that seemed like behavior he had expected, which left Luman feeling strange. Just how far had Giselle predicted?

“Even without Giselle, anyone who saw you would think the same.”

“Think what?”

“That Ren is the Indomitable Hero’s weakness.”

***

Lady Coco was looking out the carriage window. She had sent Erica on an errand to fetch clothes from another luggage carriage.

Hugh, who seemed to have finished speaking with Jepeto, approached the carriage. Coco flung open the door and called him.

“Hugh!”

“My lady.”

“Get in!”

Coco pulled him by the arm. Hugh, awkwardly stepping into the carriage, closed the door and sat at a distance from Coco.

“What did he say?”

“He seemed to know nothing at all. But......”

Coco had looked disappointed at Hugh’s words that he seemed not to know, but at what followed, she immediately swallowed.

“But what?”

“His expression was strange. It seemed as though he suspected something.”

“Haa. Either way, that means he doesn’t know. Wait, you said he seemed to suspect something?”

Her violet eyes narrowed. Then did that mean Ren had shown signs of being unwell while they traveled?

Coco sank into thought.

Coco had spoken a great deal with Hugh about Ren. Though it had taken her a little while to mention the accident related to Dell Belkerman. Only as they left the castle had Coco finally managed to bring it up, and she had been forced to feel that horrible sensation again as she remembered Ren throwing himself off the cliff back then. It felt as though the terror that Ren might die came rushing back over her.

But Hugh’s words had pushed that terror away and filled her with worry.

“He had the face of someone prepared to die.”

“That resolve was not something he decided on in the moment. It was as if resignation, fear, and even death had all been settled in his mind long before...... I suppose I should call it composure.”

Hugh’s words were sharp, and they planted the roots of suspicion deep in Coco’s heart.

Coco knew about Ren’s illness. But she had thought that illness was nothing serious. It was only an illness treated with herbs. She had thought it was a simple ailment, the kind old people or maids who worked too much complained of. His pride and stubbornness in trying so hard to hide it had merely irritated and angered her. Had Kirky not also failed to find any other illness in Ren? So Coco was concerned about Ren’s body and wanted to show him to a physician, but she was not seriously worried.

But after hearing Hugh’s words that day, Coco had somehow become uneasy, so she had ordered him to observe Ren.

Immediately afterward, Seton had come and voiced his guess that Ren might be suffering from a serious illness. He had even suggested that, if they met Ren in the capital, they should have him examined by a mage. Since even Kirky, a high-ranking priest, had not noticed it, he meant they should call a mage instead.

Coco had been terribly shocked then. She herself had realized Ren was ill after seeing his herbs, but if even cautious Seton suspected it, then could Ren’s illness have deep roots?

“Let’s dig into that physician traveling with Ren.”

In the end, Coco gave Hugh another order. Ren might resent her if he found out, but to Coco, it was a choice she had no choice but to make. She had not directly informed anyone of his illness, so Coco thought it would be fine. In truth, she had not even brought up the first letter of the word “illness,” but Hugh had said something piercing, and Seton had also said something was strange. In any case, that was the situation, so it was not quite breaking her promise.

“Aaah. My head hurts! Why is he such a headache? If he’s sick, he can just say he’s sick and what illness it is!”

Coco muttered irritably. Her eyes reddened. It was surely nothing serious, and yet, somehow, she felt uneasy.

“It’s nothing major, right?”

Hugh nodded firmly to comfort her. But worry had settled in his gray eyes as well.

“Watch Jepeto too. I need to know what Ren’s illness is now.”

Coco’s violet eyes flashed.

A night passed.

Ren skipped both his meal and his medicine and shut himself inside the carriage. But now that they had arrived in Kelato Territory, he could not stay inside the carriage forever.

It was time to say goodbye.

The lord of Kelato welcomed them and held a grand party. He appeared to be sincerely welcoming the royal officials who must have been exhausted from their hard journey and mission. However, the only ones who took that appearance at face value were the commoners who had been captured as slaves.

“Young Count Peruan!”

“It has been a long time.”

“This way, please. The count will be so proud!”

“Hahaha.”

However, the welcome directed at Peruan seemed sincere. Peruan left Tom with separate instructions to prepare Ren’s medicinal tea, then followed the lord inside. He had something to discuss with him.

Lady Coco did not enter the lord’s castle. She merely emphasized that he was an extremely unpleasant man who made her feel disgusting, and told Ren not even to look at him. Her farewell with him took place before they entered the castle.

“Ren. I’ll come to the capital soon, so wait quietly!”

Coco left only one forceful remark behind. Ever since hearing Temar’s apology, Ren had not been able to recover his spirits. Ren had also stopped his sparring practice with Geloman. He only waved toward Coco’s back as she shouted that, and toward Hugh, Seton, and Kirky as they looked at him.

“Aah, Lord Ren! Just when I thought we would finally get to talk, we’re parting like this! But I heard we’ll be able to meet in the capital, so I’ll set my regrets aside! Ah, Heroes, that el...... mmph!”

Kirky, who had been helping treat the elf, was dragged away with Hugh’s hand clamped over his mouth.

Ren smiled a little at the sight, then entered the lord’s castle with the Heroes.