Year 1812, Imperial Era.
Northan City, part of the Tur Raya Kingdom.
Three hours after the incident in Lixy Forest.
Ren stepped into a large four-story building. From the outside, a symbol of two crossed swords was visible, accompanied by the words Twin Blades Adventurer Guild. The place served as a central hub where adventurers gathered and interacted.
Arma followed behind Ren. At some point after their encounter in Lixy Forest, the child had begun trailing him—silent, observing, showing no clear purpose.
When they arrived at the reception desk, they were greeted by a blonde-haired woman with blue eyes. She wore western-style service attire, complete with a headband.
"Ah, Ren! You're back earlier than usual this time!" she greeted cheerfully.
Ren paused for a moment. His gaze shifted toward Arma, who stood directly behind him.
"A girl?" she continued, slightly surprised. "Is she the child you rescued from Lixy Forest?"
"No," Ren replied shortly. "Quite the opposite, Mira. They're the one who saved me from a Wulfaz Alpha—one that was strangely far stronger than usual."
His words immediately drew attention. Not only did Mira fall silent, but other receptionists and several nearby adventurers also paused, unconsciously listening in.
Ren's reputation within the Adventurer Guild was known to be excellent. He was recognized as a skilled and experienced adventurer. If it were merely a matter of facing Wulfaz, it would have been impossible for him to lose—even if it were an Alpha.
"Seriously? Isn't Ren strong?"
"I'm not sure… but look at his clothes. They're a mess, torn, and stained with blood."
"So you're saying the monster he faced really was that powerful?"
"Hmph." An adventurer snorted. "Do you really believe that? I'm sure he's just making excuses. Besides, who would believe that the child he brought with him could defeat a monster that even he couldn't handle?"
Behind them, the adventurers began to argue. Some raised their voices in disagreement, while others simply crossed their arms with doubtful expressions. Some believed the story, others thought Ren was merely seeking attention.
Unlike them, Mira's reaction was calm. She looked at Ren for a moment, then gave a small nod.
"I understand," she said as she turned away from the reception desk. "I'll call the Guild Master immediately. You can wait in the lounge."
She moved quickly, then paused for a moment.
"Clara, please accompany them while I'm gone."
"Understood," Clara replied shortly.
Mira then left the hall. Clara promptly gestured with her hand, guiding Ren and Arma away from the crowd, which was still filled with whispers.
However, before they could walk too far, a voice stopped Ren in his tracks.
"Yo, Lewin."
A middle-aged man stood casually, one hand tucked into the pocket of his coat. His gaze quickly swept over Ren's condition, pausing briefly at his injured shoulder.
"You doing alright?" he continued lightly. "That Wulfaz tore up your shoulder, didn't it? You're pretty lucky to get help with a wound that bad."
Ren stopped. His shoulder stiffened slightly.
"Yuran," he replied shortly. "What do you want?"
"Hahaha, relax." Yuran gave a small smile, seemingly unaffected. "I believe what you said."
His gaze shifted—brief, but sharp—toward Arma.
"About that child," he said quietly. "I noticed them the moment they stepped into the guild."
Yuran narrowed his eyes. The smile on his face faded.
"They're dangerous. Their strength doesn't match that fragile appearance at all."
Ren fell silent. His chest felt tight.
He hadn't expected Yuran to realize it so quickly.
Yuran was one of the upper-class adventurers—Rank A. Some even said his abilities exceeded that rank. Though he was known for his unpleasant personality and habit of looking down on others, there was one thing that could not be denied.
Yuran was respected.
And his judgment rarely missed.
Ren said nothing.
Yuran was not wrong—that was a fact.
Since their encounter in Lixy Forest, Ren had already realized it. Arma's strength was clearly disproportionate to their appearance. Yet Ren had never intended to ask for the reason. He knew there were things that were not his to know. That was personal territory—and Ren respected it.
On the other hand, Arma showed no reaction.
They stood still, silent without a sound. Their expression remained flat as before, as if the conversation unfolding before them held no meaning at all.
Then—
"Sir Yuran," Clara interjected in a controlled tone, stepping half a step forward. "We have business to attend to. Could you postpone this conversation?"
Yuran cast her a brief glance. A moment later, a faint smile appeared on his face. He turned away without further comment, as if the exchange moments ago had never happened.
Clara let out a small breath, then turned toward Ren and Arma.
"You two can wait in this room," she said. "I'll call a medic to check on your condition."
Without waiting for a reply, Clara turned and walked away, leaving Ren and Arma alone in the room.
….
Ren lay on a long couch, wide enough to support his entire body.
His head rested back, his breathing slow. Fatigue showed on his face—not from his wounds, but from the strain on his mind. The events of the day felt strange, difficult to piece together into a single conclusion.
A Wulfaz Alpha far stronger than it should have been.
Arma—with an unclear identity.
All of it slowly eroded his calm. Ren did not know what was truly happening.
More than anything, one question continued to trouble him.
Why was Arma following him?
From the forest, to the city, and now into this room—the child remained at his side. Ren tried to find an answer on his own, yet none of them made sense.
Just as his eyelids were about to close—
"Ren."
The voice came suddenly.
Ren jolted, his eyes snapping open. He turned toward Arma.
"How do you know that?"
The question made Ren fall silent. His heart began to race.
"W—what?" Ren frowned. "Know what? I don't understand what you mean."
He waited.
But Arma fell silent once more. There was no explanation. No continuation.
The silence hung between them, making the question feel even heavier. Until now, Arma had almost never spoken—never asked, never explained anything. Yet now, a single brief sentence had only left more confusion behind.
Ren let out a breath, then sat up slightly.
"I don't know what you truly want," he said quietly. "Arma… what do you expect from me?"
Ren's gaze fixed on them.
"If it's an answer you're looking for, I don't even understand what you're asking."
The room fell silent again. From beyond the door, faint footsteps could be heard approaching.
Moments later, the door opened. Clara entered with a man in a white robe.
"I've brought a medic," she said as she closed the door behind them.
The medic immediately approached Ren. His hands moved slowly, carefully examining Ren's condition. At a glance, the wound on his shoulder appeared fine—neatly sealed, leaving almost no trace behind.
However, the longer he examined it, the more his expression changed.
This was not healing.
The wounds were indeed closed, but they had not recovered. The bleeding had stopped, the pain had vanished—as if they had merely been suppressed, not fully healed.
"This…" the medic murmured softly.
He paused for a moment, then lifted his gaze.
"Your injuries are severe," he continued. "Not only on your right and left shoulders. Nearly your entire body is covered in wounds. The most critical damage is on both shoulders."
Ren did not respond. His gaze was empty, his thoughts still submerged in questions left unanswered.
"It's practically a miracle that you're still conscious," the medic said again. "And even able to return to the city in a condition like this."
He shook his head lightly. "These wounds are sealed with remarkable precision. Not a single drop of blood has leaked out."
Clara, watching from a short distance, swallowed. Her face looked pale, yet she tried to remain calm.
In the corner of the room, Arma sat quietly. Their gaze was fixed on Ren and the medic, their expression still flat—as if all of this were nothing more than something ordinary.
"I'll begin healing magic immediately," the medic finally said.
Ren only gave a faint nod. His body felt heavy, his consciousness struggling to remain awake.
A blue light slowly filled the room. A gentle glow, dotted with white specks resembling starlight, danced through the air.
Little by little, the remaining wounds on Ren's body vanished. His skin returned to its original state—solid, unmarked, as if nothing had ever happened.
After the examination was complete, the medic advised Ren to rest. Clara listened and simply nodded, committing it to memory.
On the other side, the medic attempted to examine Arma as well.
However, each time he approached, Arma stepped back half a step—the movement smooth and swift, like a cat unwilling to be touched. There was no open refusal, only a constant distance being maintained.
The medic eventually gave up.
From his observation, Arma had not suffered even the slightest injury. Their body was intact, their breathing steady—more than enough to explain how they had moved so freely and remained untouched throughout the battle.
Not long after, the medic took his leave and exited the room.
Once everything was done, Clara left as well. She informed Mira and the Guild Master that Ren needed time to rest.
Silence returned.
Ren, exhausted from the start, finally fell into a deep sleep. His breathing was steady, his body completely relaxed.
Arma stood still for a moment, then stepped closer. They looked down at Ren's face from close range—too close to be mere observation. As if there was something within Ren that only they could see.
At that moment—
A voice echoed within Arma's mind.
Cold. Absolute. Leaving no room for refusal.
"Find that human. Protect them. Watch over them. And eliminate all threats."
The command repeated, pressing relentlessly against their consciousness.
The pressure was overwhelming.
Arma's body weakened. They staggered, then collapsed beside Ren, losing consciousness—as if their mind could no longer bear the weight.
Everything slowly faded into darkness.
Silence.
Stillness.
Cold.
Then—
"Big brother!"
A cheerful voice shattered the darkness.
"Hehehe, look! I made a flower wreath for you, Big brother!"
A girl stood before him, smiling brightly.
Ren Lewin.
The girl's older brother.
"Big brother? What's wrong?"
The girl tilted her head, her smile still radiant.
"Don't you like my gift?"
Ren fell silent for a moment.
"N—no," he replied softly. "I was just surprised, Rin."
Slowly, his feelings settled. Gentle. Calm. He drifted into a simple happiness shared with his younger sister.
Amid a garden filled with blooming flowers, they gazed at the setting sun together. Warm.
A warmth he had not felt in a very long time.