Seeing the old table creak from side to side, she could guess the weight of the sword.

Thanks to that, her prized repair tool was crushed underneath it.

Sel frowned deeply as she looked up at him.

It was the first time she had seen his face clearly under the bright sunlight.

With black hair, narrow eyes, an unnecessarily high nose, and thick, greedy-looking lips, he had the perfect appearance of a weasel.

Given his build, he looked like just the type to be the boss of a gang of thugs.

‘That weasel-like guy… even his actions are just like…’

Sel swallowed her frustration as she looked at the sword Lavi had placed on the table.

The way he spoke casually, without even remembering who she was, but acting familiar, was amusing.

Seeing the sword equipped with the finest magic mechanisms, he seemed to be a noble from some big town.

Sel had no desire to get entangled with such a man.

She had repaid his help with help in return; their connection was settled.

“I can’t fix it. Take it back.”

Lavi raised his eyebrow, seemingly taken aback by Sel’s response.

“Fifty rubles. How about it?”

Sel’s clear eyes quivered slightly. Fifty rubles. That was an amount she could only earn after working for nearly half a year.

Was he really giving that large sum as a repair fee?

The tool in her hand dropped onto the table.

“No response? Need more?”

‘Well, that sword wasn’t something just anyone could fix.’ Muttering to himself, the man put on the jacket hanging by the bed. Casually, he reached into his pocket, pulled out a bill, and placed it on the table.

A single fifty-ruble bill.

Sel, seeing such a large amount in cash for the first time, held her breath.

“Haa… haa.” Her breathing, caught in her chest, wouldn’t release.

“Th-this… is this… really…?”

Lavi, watching Sel’s hazy gaze, seemed to understand at a glance what kind of life this young boy had led.

Looking around the small shack, barely the size of half his bathroom, with broken shelves and stale bread neatly arranged, Lavi began to speak slowly.

“No, that’s a down payment. Whether you can repair it or not, you can take that money first. If you can repair the sword, I’ll pay double — one hundred rubles.”

*Cough.* At the mention of one hundred rubles, Sel, who had been holding her breath, coughed it out.

‘Was this a dream or reality?’ She might have been suspicious of someone else, but Sel knew from a long-ago encounter that he wasn’t the type to pull scams…

Lavi extended a hand to Sel, who was coughing repeatedly.

After calming her cough, Sel looked puzzled.

She only stared down at his extended hand.

“A handshake. You’ve never done one?”

Sel remained silent. Lavi sighed and grabbed her right hand.

Sel’s pupils widened in an instant.

However, no major emotional change was visible through her mask.

Shaking their clasped hands up and down, Lavi explained, “A handshake is a greeting. It’s a sign that our contract is valid. A thank-you for saving me.”

Lavi pulled her hand, leading her towards the door.

Though the grip didn’t feel particularly strong, Sel’s body seemed to float lightly as she was pulled along.

“Excuse me, what do you think you’re doing?”

“Well… want to grab some food?”

“What?”

Sel, resisting by dragging her heels, looked utterly bewildered.

Offering a repair job and now a meal, all at once. This guy was definitely a little off.

Sel tried her best to turn down his meal invitation.

However, his odd friendliness was unusually persistent.

“I have a refined palate. Let’s eat some meat. You bled, so you need to replenish. Sadly, I don’t like stale bread.”

Lavi glanced at the stale bread on the shelf, crinkling his nose playfully.

Sel furrowed her brow. Stale bread? She hadn’t intended to offer him food anyway, but he seemed to be under some strange misconception.

“Then go buy it in town.”

“That’s the plan.”

“Let go of my hand.”

“Hmm, but I thought we were going together?”

“Why would I do that?”

“Because you helped me? And you could use some meat on those bones.”

Lavi patted Sel’s thin waist, shaking his head. Sel’s side was so narrow it felt like it could be held in one hand.

“I have no reason to accept anything from you. I’m not going to town.”

Sel had only repaid a favor from the past and didn’t want to feel indebted by accepting a meal. She shook her head.

“Oh, you’re going.”

Lavi cupped his hands around his mouth, whistling toward the dark forest. Suddenly, the tall pine trees started swaying, and the ground shook.

Thud, thud, thud. Something was coming toward them at incredible speed.

Whatever it was, it seemed to be running on four legs, but it was bigger and bulkier than a regular horse, with fierce-looking claws spreading out from its limbs.

Feeling alarmed, Sel stepped back, her hand instinctively moving toward her pistol.

“Haha, you’re not seriously thinking of shooting my horse, are you? Come on, grab my hand.”

Laughing cheerfully, Lavi mounted the creature and extended his hand to Sel.

“This…isn’t a horse, is it?”

“This guy’s got a temper like a beast, sure. So don’t just stand there; grab my hand. He doesn’t like waiting.”

Lavi leaned down and stretched his arm toward Sel.

Glancing warily at the black creature, Sel placed her trembling hand into Lavi’s outstretched one. In an instant, Sel was hoisted up.

With ease, Lavi pulled Sel up by his hand and quickly supported her by her armpit, effortlessly lifting her.

Sel floated like a paper lantern and landed in front of Lavi on the saddle.

Lavi gently set Sel down, careful not to hurt him, then took hold of the reins and spurred the creature forward.

As they moved into a brisk trot, Sel, who had never ridden before, felt her insides shake each time the beast’s back jolted up and down.

With an empty stomach, the jostling made her feel like her stomach acid was about to come up.

“I’m purposely going slow, but it looks like you’re struggling.”

Lavi laughed heartily as he watched Sel hiccuping.

Amidst her tousled, dirty blonde hair, the tips of Sel’s ears had gone white.

Seeing this, Lavi slowed down a bit more. His large hand, gripping the reins, reached down and gently stroked the creature’s neck.

“Limpha, I know you’re eager, but be patient. Our guest here is easily spooked, so let’s go slow today.”

“Limpha?”

“His previous owner called him Limphax, but I shortened it to Limpha. They say he was the prized horse of Luxos II, the one who unified the North.”

“Why would someone like you have such a prized horse…?”

“Obviously, because I’m skilled. Great horses choose their masters, don’t they?”

No sooner had he said that than Limpha leaped over a patch of icy ground.

The sudden movement sent Lavi’s head bumping into the top of Sel’s head.

“Ugh, that smell…! Seriously, you should bathe once in a while. I spent days without a bath as a mercenary, but I was never as filthy as you.”

Lavi wrinkled his nose, complaining with an exaggerated tone.

He’d been tolerating the unpleasant odor from Sel for a while, but getting a noseful of it was another matter.

Sel’s face turned red with embarrassment, but she froze abruptly.

“Hide. Don’t let them see you. You mustn’t be seen.”

The eerie voice that had been silent for some time now clawed into her ears.

Pale, Sel whipped her head toward the direction the voice had come from.

As expected, there was no one there. She clamped her hands over her ears, trying to drown out the voice.

The disturbing whisper faded only when Lavi’s voice reached her.

“Hey, what’s wrong? Did my comment about bathing offend you? Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine. It’s nothing,” Sel replied, though her voice betrayed her unease.

Lavi watched Sel’s head carefully, sensing a flash of fear in the young boy’s expression.

While he could tell that Sel was hiding something, Lavi knew better than to pry. He understood all too well that the bearer of pain should reveal it in their own time.

Riding the beast, they reached town quickly.

Before they dismounted, Lavi suggested that Sel remove her goblin mask.

Lavi was used to creatures like this, but ordinary villagers would likely be terrified if they saw such a mask.

However, Sel responded that she had a sun allergy and refused to take off the mask.

Seeing Sel’s hesitation, Lavi didn’t press further.

He nimbly dismounted first, then lifted Sel down from the creature, setting her on the ground.

Lavi led Sel to an upscale restaurant in the middle of town. As they approached the entrance, Sel hesitated.

“I-I can’t go into a nice place like this…”

“You can. With me.”

Lavi confidently raised his eyebrows, giving Sel’s back a pat and pushing him forward.

Sel, standing stiffly, staggered forward with Lavi’s nudge.

As they reached the entrance, the restaurant manager came out, bowing, then looked up.

His eyes, initially half-moon-shaped with a welcoming smile, widened into full moons when he saw Sel. Shock and disgust filled his expression.

“Sel, this filthy, no-good beggar—”

“Barvin. He’s my guest, not a no-good beggar.”

Lavi’s face held a chilling smile, entirely different from his usual playful expression.

Barvin, startled, bowed hastily and clumsily ushered Lavi and Sel inside.

As they reached a private booth partitioned from the main hall, Barvin kept glancing at Sel, but Lavi, unbothered, kept his arm around Sel’s shoulder as they walked in.

Sel’s shoulder flinched.

Since she was 17, no one had shown her such casual physical contact. Though surprised, she didn’t push Lavi’s hand away.

Warm kindness emanated from his arm.TL Note: If the pronouns used for Sel are for a male, note that they are from the POV of Lavirus or other characters who don’t know her true gender.