SWY 44

Sharhan jerked his head up. Lestel’s profile came into view as he stared outside.

“Lestel, just now…”

“I can’t be sure it was Thunder and Lightning, but it was definitely a horse’s neigh.”

The two of them locked eyes for a moment, then rushed outside at the same time. The snow-covered world was as silent as ever, and not a single living creature was in sight.

‘Did I hear wrong?’

Sharhan inhaled the cold air, disappointed.

Hiiing!

Another neigh rang out, and soon, familiar shapes emerged from the distance. Charging toward them at full speed were unmistakably Thunder and Lightning.

Clinging flat against Thunder’s back was Derry. A smile bloomed across both Sharhan and Lestel’s faces.

“Thunder! Lightning!”

The two horses bounded in delight, their entire bodies expressing the joy of reuniting with their masters. Like dogs, they licked their faces with long tongues and whinnied softly, as if begging for attention.

“You’re alive. Good job. You did well.”

Sharhan grinned as he ran his hand over Lightning’s coat. Though their fur had grown rough from lack of care, they didn’t appear underfed, and there were no visible wounds.

“C-could someone… help me down… please…”

Derry whimpered from where he was still flattened against Thunder’s back. Lestel let out a short laugh and helped him down. Derry’s knees gave way and he collapsed to the ground, trembling.

“You alright?”

Sharhan, barely holding back a smile at Derry’s dazed look, asked softly. Derry managed to lift his head, then suddenly sprang to his feet.

“Lord Sharhan? Wh-when did you wake up? Are you alright?”

“I came to yesterday afternoon. I was really worried when I heard you went out alone to gather medicine and food. I’m glad you made it back safely.”

“I didn’t get much food… but I did bring herbs!”

Derry pointed proudly to Thunder’s saddle. Not just Thunder, but Lightning too was carrying familiar-looking packs, Sharhan and Lestel’s luggage. And more.

“You went to the hunter’s cabin?”

“Yes. I figured the mana stones Lestel gave me would still be there, and since it’s near the forest, I thought I could find herbs. Also, it’s the only place I really knew. Oh–here.”

He took off the bundle on his back and held it out. It was Sharhan’s sword. Sharhan immediately took it and ran his hand over the sheath. It was the sword his father had given him when he entered the Academy. A comrade who had stood with him on many battlefields.

“Thank you.”

Sharhan’s genuine gratitude made Derry scratch the back of his head with a sheepish grin. Then he untied the packs hanging from Thunder’s saddle and began pulling out herbs.

“This one’s called youngweed. Crush it and apply it directly to wounds. Dried glincho helps with strength when boiled into tea. And this here’s called lagune, it’s good for fever and inflammation. These are all common forest herbs, but they’re very effective. Luckily, I found them near the cabin.”

As Derry laid each herb out, he explained their effects. They were exactly what Sharhan needed.

“Thank you. And I’m really glad you came back safely.”

Lestel gave Derry’s shoulder a light tap.

“Y-you were worried about me?”

“Of course. You ran off without even a proper plan. What kind of nerve did you have to go off on your own?”

“I thought it’d be better if you stayed by Lord Sharhan’s side. And… I know more about herbs than you do.”

Lestel, who actually knew nothing about herbs, gave a short cough before speaking again.

“Next time, don’t do anything so reckless. If something had happened to you, I would’ve felt terrible.”

Surprised by the sincerity in his voice, Derry froze for a moment, then his eyes reddened and tears began to fall.

“I… I’m part of the group too. I wanted to pull my own weight.”

He had likely been burdened by guilt and fear, that someone close to Lestel had become one of the moving corpses, and that he himself might be left behind at any moment.

There was a long-standing bond between Lestel and Sharhan, but not with Derry. He was just an outsider who had suddenly joined their journey.

So he had always tried hard to earn their recognition, constantly watching their reactions, doing his part without complaint. Now, feeling like he had finally become a real part of their group, he couldn’t hold back his tears.

‘I want to stay with them until the end.’

He had no hometown to return to. His master and his brothers were dead. Unconsciously, Derry had come to rely on Sharhan and Lestel. He desperately wanted to be accepted as one of them.

He didn’t want to be alone. That’s why, even though he was scared out of his mind yesterday, he had clenched his teeth and run out. On the way to the cabin, he’d wanted to give up several times. He’d almost pissed himself when the walking corpses came close.

‘I’m glad I didn’t give up.’

Lestel and Sharhan silently patted and rubbed Derry’s trembling shoulders. Maybe it was presumptuous to think they fully understood him, but they could feel his heart.

Then Sharhan, unable to stand the cold any longer, spoke up.

“I’m freezing. Let’s go inside. Not that one, another cabin.”

The one they’d been in still reeked of the villagers who had been trapped inside.

Thankfully, the one furthest to the left was clean. Once they settled in, Sharhan and Lestel unpacked the supplies Derry had brought and looked on in amazement.

“You even brought firewood?”

“There’s nothing to burn in this wasteland. We need to stay warm, boil the glincho, and make soup too. I wouldn’t have thought to bring it if not for Thunder and Lightning.”

Ever thorough, Derry had also taken a kettle, spoons, and bowls from the hunter’s cabin.

“Well done. Where’s Sharhan’s dagger?”

“Here.”

“We’ll heat this in the fire, carve out the festering tissue, then apply the herbs.”

At Lestel’s words, Sharhan let out a soft groan. He knew it had to be done to recover, but it was already painful just thinking about it. Still, he couldn’t show weakness.

“R-right. That should work.”

Lestel, noticing the tremble in his voice, looked back at him and chuckled.

“Scared already? Honey, don’t worry. I’ll make it hurt as little as possible.”

“I-I’m not scared! Not at all!”

“Then why is your voice shaking?”

“It’s because I’m hungry! Let’s eat first.”

After being empty for so long, his stomach had gone numb, but the moment he saw food, it started hurting. The other two were no different. Lestel quickly got the fire going.

In an ordinary wooden hut, this would’ve been unthinkable. But Harun wood was fire-resistant. So even lighting a fire indoors wasn’t a problem.

Though the floor blackened slightly, it didn’t burn. They left the door slightly ajar to let air circulate, that much was bearable.

They filled their stomachs with a soup made from snow, cornmeal, and glincho. Then they boiled just the glincho. After that, Lestel began heating the dagger.

“Shan, you’ll need to take off your clothes. If your clothes are dirty, the wounds might get infected again.”

He wasn’t wrong, but there was a problem.

“I only have this one outfit.”

“Oh, I brought clothes too.”

Derry quickly unwrapped another bundle. Inside were a hunter’s outfit and two robes. He must have taken everything the original owner, the hunter Lyle, had left behind.

“Derry, did you rob the whole hut?”

He meant it as praise. Derry understood and grinned.

“Well done. This one’s clean enough, we’ll tear it into bandages. As for the clothes you’re wearing, scrub them with snow and wear them again.”

The upper half of his outfit was too filthy and full of holes to be worn again. It’d have to be washed, at the very least. The hunter’s shirt would serve as a bandage.

Sharhan nodded and began undressing. Lestel looked at Derry. Catching on, Derry stood up with the herbs.

“I’ll go grind these.”

True to his resourceful nature, he had even brought a smooth stone for grinding herbs. Catching the unspoken signal, he quietly stepped outside.

“You could’ve done it in here.”

“Just get your clothes off. The dagger’s hot enough now.”

“Fine. Damn, this is grim.”

The dagger, now glowing red from the fire, was terrifying just to look at. Sharhan tensed as he undressed. Unfortunately, the worst of his wounds were on his side and thigh, so he had to remove both top and bottom.

Lying down in just his underclothes in front of Lestel made him feel strange. It was probably because of what had happened yesterday. He squirmed, embarrassed, wiggling his toes. Just then, Derry knocked on the door.

“I’ve ground the herbs. After you squeeze out the pus, apply a thick layer to the wounds, and make sure he drinks the geullin tea.”

“You not coming in?”

“I’ll check the other cabins.”

He passed in the bowl of herbs and disappeared.

“It’s going to hurt.”

Lestel pressed a hand to Sharhan’s shoulder to keep him lying down, and then the searing-hot dagger touched the wound.

“Ah, ahh–! Hhh!”

Without hesitation, Lestel cut away the infected tissue. Sharhan trembled all over and tears streamed from his eyes.

“I’ll finish quickly.”

Trying to soothe Sharhan through the pain, Lestel’s hands moved faster. Sharhan nodded. The quicker the better.

“Hh… hhhk!”

His jaw clenched so tightly it jutted forward. He tried to stifle his moans, but it was no use. The pain was so intense he wished he could faint. If only they had strong liquor or numbing powder.

“It’s done.”

Finally, after what felt like forever, Lestel set down the dagger and applied the crushed herbs generously to the wound. Then he tore the hunter’s shirt into strips and bound the wound tightly.

Even after the treatment was done, Sharhan’s body kept trembling. It was only natural, having flesh carved out while fully conscious. Time would dull the pain. Wiping the blood off his hands with snow, Lestel returned and gently wiped the sweat from Sharhan’s brow.

“Do you want to kiss?”