Kenta’s hand gesture as he pointed at Ren and Cedric could not have been more blatant. When the man saw the motion that called sex to mind, the back of his neck heated, and even his face flushed red with rage. The man threw Kenta to the ground and strode toward the cargo bed.

“Kuh-heok!”

“Kenta...!”

Cedric was practically holding Ren. Since their arms and legs were bound, he could not properly carry him on his back or lift him in his arms, so he was barely managing to move while hugging Ren inside his tied arms as if trapping him there. Ren’s face was red as he let out thin, wheezing breaths. The man’s eyes rolled back when he saw them pressed tight together from upper body to lower body.

Cedric looked up in confusion at the heavy footsteps pounding toward them, only to be punched and sent sprawling. The fist, backed by the man’s full weight, was more than enough to knock a young boy backward. Cedric hit the back of his head hard with a thud and lost consciousness on the spot.

“What... are you... ngh...!”

Ren, who had fallen in Cedric’s arms, flinched at the shadow looming over him. But Ren could not move on his own. His body, dulled as if paralyzed by pain, would not obey him properly, and the shock of falling left him unable to grasp what was happening.

When a rough hand grabbed his ankle and dragged him down, Ren bit his lip.

“What... the hell...!”

He barely managed to speak, but his badly hoarse voice came out small.

“You two were sucking each other’s faces off, weren’t you?”

The man’s spit flew onto his face. Only after he was dragged out of the cargo wagon could Ren see the man’s face. In the bright light, the man’s expression was ferocious, as if he might punch Ren at any moment. Only then did Ren look back. Cedric, who had been supporting him, lay sprawled on the floor of the cargo wagon.

What the hell!

“Ah!”

“Look at me! How much sucking did you two do?! What did you do to make your voice go hoarse?! You fucking little shits!”

A brutal grip seized Ren’s face. His head, forcibly turned, hurt. Physiological tears welled in Ren’s eyes.

Because the man was gripping his face so tightly, even moving his lips was difficult. The lips he had bitten to suppress his groans were red, wounded, and swollen. Those swollen lips became, in all sorts of ways, the spark that fed the man’s misunderstanding.

As Ren was lifted, the hair that had been covering his face whipped back. The man, seeing his exposed eyes, stared at him blankly for a moment. Tears from physical pain clung to Ren’s clear eyes.

At the sight of those mysterious blue-green eyes, some of the man’s rage snapped loose. He let out a hollow laugh and thought,

He might be something to look at once he’s washed.

With interest, curiosity, and the remnants of anger mixed on his face, the man unconsciously leaned his face closer to Ren.

Ren’s pupils widened. The man’s face came closer and closer. Eyes blazing with anger, fingers crushing his face. Ren had no choice but to open his mouth. When the man saw his bright red tongue, he tightened his grip even more.

This fucking... what the hell are you doing....

Only then did Ren guess the man’s intention and struggle. But there was no strength in his limp body. He tried to move his head, but his captured neck and face only throbbed with numb pain.

I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you—!

Seeing the sadism in the man’s eyes as he came right up to his face, Ren swore that if anything touched him, he would sever those lips with every bit of strength he had.

“Mister. That child is premium merchandise, so you’re not supposed to touch him.”

Someone’s hand brushed over Ren’s lips.

“Mine.”

The aroused man’s breath slipped through Mine’s fingers and reached Ren. At that disgusting hot breath, Ren’s stomach turned violently. He had eaten nothing, but nausea rose anyway. As Ren gagged emptily, retching, Mine gently stroked his back.

“Fuuuck. Those shits were messing around!”

“Still, you can’t touch the merchandise. You did that last time too, so if you get caught again, it’ll be a serious problem.”

“Goddamn it!”

Bang!

The man burst out in anger, but his fury had already died down. He looked at Ren with reluctant eyes, then released the hand gripping him.

Catching Ren as he staggered, Mine stroked his lips and tilted his head. He seemed to be wondering whether they had really kissed. When Mine found Cedric collapsed in the cargo wagon, he seemed to reach a conclusion and added sweetly,

“I don’t think they were messing around, but it would probably be better ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) to separate them. Let’s transport that child separately.”

“If we’re separating them, shouldn’t we put this one somewhere else?”

“No. This way will be better.”

At Mine’s firm words, the man clicked his tongue. He looked back and forth between Ren, who was glaring at him fiercely, and Cedric, who had fainted.

“Careful. If I hear anything strange one more time, I won’t let it slide.”

Khaak, ptooey!

The man warned them with half-lidded eyes, spat phlegm at Ren’s feet, and turned away.

“Are you all right?”

Mine examined Ren’s cheek where the man had gripped him so hard. Seeing that it had swollen red, it seemed likely to bruise. With an apologetic expression, Mine offered a comfort that was not much of a comfort, saying that man was stupidly strong.

“Let go...”

“Hm?”

“I said... let go....”

His throat cracked dryly. Only now did his startled heart begin pounding. His cheek where the man had grabbed him hurt, and so did his shoulder where the man had clamped down on him.

“Were you scared?”

“I said let go...!”

Smack! Ren struck Mine’s hand away. Then he glared at him.

The servants came and began dragging the unconscious Cedric down.

“Where... are you... taking Cedric....”

Phlegm and hoarseness scraped between the words. When Ren coughed and choked, Mine patted his back.

The man yelled as he dragged the children ahead, then snapped at Mine to wrap it up and come quickly. Mine smiled back with his good-natured face, then looked at Ren.

“You’ve already gotten close with the other children?”

“I asked where you’re taking him. Can’t you hear me...?”

His throat stung, and speaking was hard enough to kill him, yet Mine had a talent for making him repeat himself several times. He had been sunk in an endless gloom from the sense of betrayal, but that had only lasted a moment. It was not that he was not angry, but he felt calm. That was probably because Ren had already decided he would beat Mine senseless the first chance he got.

Right now, Cedric mattered more than private revenge.

Mine looked briefly surprised when he met those frozen green eyes, then smiled softly.

“The destination is the same, so don’t worry. He’ll simply be transported separately in a nicer wagon. There won’t be anything for you to worry about.”

“.......”

“So there’s no need to make that face, Ren.”

For an instant, he sounded far too kind.

Anyone listening would think he was really worried.

This man is genuinely rotten. Rotten by nature!

Ren clenched his teeth and shook off Mine’s arm.

“Don’t be stubborn. You’re in no state to walk alone right now. Hm? Ren.”

“Don’t... say... my name... hah....”

Maybe it was because of the sudden stress, but though he had thought it was bearable, his body toppled over. Feeling his consciousness plunge toward the ground, Ren fainted just like that.

Mine caught his collapsing body without difficulty and lifted Ren into his arms.

An unconscious person’s weight was usually far heavier than expected, but even so, Ren was remarkably light. Feeling the slender bones in his arms, Mine began walking.

There was no regret or apology on his face.

Only a shallow sort of concern.

***

The time it took to return to Tempesto Village felt like eons.

As he climbed Mount Geroa again, Temar drew his energy up to its limit. A streak of blood flowed from the corner of his mouth. But things did not go the way he wanted. The vitality of the energy coursing taut through his body had already fallen. It was because of the battle with Geloman. Even if not for that... his body was wearing down.

Temar. Do not push yourself.

Geloman’s message reached him. When Heroes were close enough, they could send messages to one another. At the advice ringing inside his head, Temar clenched his teeth.

No, he had to push himself.

If it meant reaching Ren even a little faster.

‘Brother. Brother. Brother!’

He felt as if he could hear Ren calling.

The higher he climbed the mountain, the closer he came to Tempesto Village, the clearer Ren’s voice seemed to become. If he did not see Ren right now, he felt as if he would go mad. He did not know where this anxiety came from. He had never felt unease this severe before.

He was simply worried about the younger brother he had left behind, simply unable to stop thinking of him.

Or had Temar merely put a lid over every emotion until now and pretended not to know?

Even so, was this level of anxiety not strange?

This was almost like... a premonition.

At the imagination that squeezed his chest tight, Temar’s breath suddenly stopped.

Because he halted so abruptly, his horse let out a loud cry and kicked high into the air as if to throw him off. Temar stiffened completely, letting the cloudy snow-mixed dust and the snow falling in clumps hit him.

There’s no way.

Temar thought he had no idea what he was thinking.

Temar. What are you doing?

The ground seemed to rumble and speak to him.

The earth pushed him gently. The horse gradually calmed again, and strength returned to Temar’s hand gripping the reins.

All he had to do was go and confirm it.

Whether Ren was all right.

He was surely all right.

Ren had always been that way. Always waiting for Temar in the same place.

When he went back, Ren would surely greet him with a happy face, saying, “Brother!” Maybe he would be a little sulky, maybe angry. That was fine. He would apologize. Sincerely. This time, he would tell him that he had come back to him. And....

And then he suddenly remembered Ren’s gift.

The leather shoes inside the sack Luman had brought him.

The gift he had refused because he had thought he did not deserve it, because he was not an honorable Hero and could not accept it.

Temar thought he had to say that too.

That he was not an honorable Hero. That he was not the kind of person Ren wished for, but as his brother... he dared to want to accept that gift.