Ren Who Lost His Memory
“Why is Ren sick?”
Having abandoned his stubborn attitude, Temarr asked Ruman for the reason.
“Psychological aftereffects.”
“……”
“When you go through something bad, they say that incident doesn’t fade and keeps resurfacing.”
Right, what do they call this these days?
Ruman, searching his memory, opened his mouth.
“Trauma, was it?”
Ruman stood up from his seat first.
Putting strength into his legs that nearly staggered, he smiled nonchalantly and extended his hand to Temarr.
“Let’s go.”
“Trauma… you say.”
“Oops. I crushed this arm, didn’t I?”
Whether annoyed by Ruman’s teasing, Temarr grabbed Ruman’s hand with his injured arm. He pulled Ruman’s arm with tremendous strength as if yanking all his arm muscles. At this unexpected test of strength, Ruman, who had been smiling, punched his chest with his fist. Though he just punched, it was a Hero’s fist. An ordinary person would have fainted from that fist heavily hammering into their chest, but Temarr was also a Hero. He chuckled and let go of the hand he’d been gripping.
They looked at each other and laughed briefly.
“Ruman.”
Ruman, who had been walking ahead, stopped at Temarr’s call.
Temarr, passing him as if brushing by, said quietly.
“Thank you.”
“Really now.”
Ruman chuckled and followed behind him.
But his smile quickly disappeared.
Because Temarr’s hand, which he’d grabbed when helping him up, was still cold.
Anyway, Heroes were truly tiresome beings.
They didn’t know how to say they were struggling.
Though they were people who couldn’t afford to struggle either.
***
“Are you still fighting?”
Gepetto, who had been making an anxious expression, felt relieved seeing the two return together.
“It seems stable for now. Uh, shall I take a look at that wound?”
Though his face looked terrified, Gepetto couldn’t take his eyes off Temarr’s arm.
Temarr’s eyes took in Gepetto’s disheveled appearance, the small scratches on his body, and the bruises faintly visible between his collar, then he bowed his head. The carriage was fine, but it was obvious Ruman had handled that.
“H-Hero-nim, why are you doing this!?”
“I apologize.”
“Wh-what!? What are you apologizing for….”
“Just accept the apology, Gepetto. You got hurt because of Temarr.”
“But….”
“I’ll compensate you.”
“You’re bringing up compensation before he’s even accepted your apology? You don’t know the proper order of things.”
Ruman clicked his tongue disapprovingly. Gepetto, who had been feeling overwhelmed, finally relaxed his tension after looking between Ruman and Temarr.
Only then did he realize that Temarr was truly sorry, and Ruman was also working to lighten the mood so it wouldn’t get too heavy.
Of course, his shoulder was throbbing and by tomorrow he might be screaming from muscle pain, biting his fist and secretly crying.
But who was Gepetto? Wasn’t he a physician!
He’d seen worse cases at death’s door.
Compared to them, Temarr was mild—though his strength was monstrous—and he was even apologizing so properly.
“Ahem. I understand.”
His words of understanding were sincere.
“I apologize.”
“Still, you mustn’t do that next time.”
Having mustered his courage to speak sternly, Gepetto sneakily glanced at Temarr.
Unlike before, with a clean expression again, Temarr gave a firm answer.
“Never again.”
“Pardon?”
“Such a thing won’t happen again.”
It was a voice like delivering a verdict, so naturally it inspired belief.
But what was this uneasiness?
Gepetto couldn’t stop thinking it felt somehow uncomfortable.
He cleared his throat unnecessarily and changed the topic by saying it had gotten dark.
***
Ugh. What is this… My body won’t move properly.
“Ungh…”
“Are you conscious?!”
Neeeeeigh!
The horse let out a long cry and the carriage stopped abruptly.
“Ren. Are you okay?”
Ruman’s voice feigning composure, and,
“Ren.”
A deeply sunken voice could be heard.
“Ugh.”
It felt like waking up after suffering from a fever.
Ugh. It’s hard to open my eyes.
Why is my body so heavy? Ugh. It’s cold.
When I curled up from the cold wind pushing in from my toes, something thick descended over my body.
“Why is this happening?”
“Ren. Are you alright? Are you conscious?”
I wanted to answer but only groaning sounds came out.
As I fidgeted without speaking, Hyung, Ruman, and Gepetto whispered among themselves.
“Ren. Can you hear my voice? If you can hear me, please wiggle your finger.”
I can hear you! I can hear you perfectly!
I barely managed to twitch my hand.
“He’s not moving. What should we do. We’re still far from the village….”
No! I just moved!
“The place with a priest is far from here. Ruman, how far can you travel?”
“In my current condition…. Is Ren in danger? Feel free to speak honestly.”
Ruman’s voice was very gentle but sounded like he was interrogating someone.
“No. He’s conscious. Right, Ren? Try a little harder and move your finger. That’s right, that’s right! See! He moved, didn’t he!”
“…I see.”
“It’s faint, but. Does this mean Ren has regained consciousness?”
Yes!! I did it!
…Wait a minute.
It’s not like I’m a baby taking their first steps being praised for doing well, what the heck!
I was momentarily embarrassed.
Ahem. But why am I like this, why is my body so heavy! Did I catch a cold or something? I was suddenly frightened.
“Now, Ren. I’ll pour in some medicine, so swallow slowly, only as much as you can.”
“If it’s difficult, I’ll feed it to you.”
I felt someone carefully sitting down beside me.
Ewww….
It tastes bad.
A bitter taste crept in, dry and scratching my throat.
Ugh. If this had been a situation where I was holding the medicine bowl and drinking it myself, I might have spat it all out.
Even though I forced myself to swallow as much as possible, I could feel it dripping down below my chin.
“A little of the Hero’s power…”
“No! He’ll build resistance. It’s not urgent right now.”
‘Urgent’…? What happened… it can’t be, right?
“Ren? What’s wrong? Ren!”
No, it can’t be.
Someone carefully grasped my hand.
It was a lukewarm yet warm hand.
It was a rough and thick hand, but I didn’t think it was Hyung’s.
Because Hyung’s hands are hot like a furnace! Even in the dead of winter, I could survive without fire just by holding Hyung’s hand.
It was disappointing that it wasn’t Hyung’s hand, but since someone was holding it, I felt somewhat better….
“Ugh… what are you all… doing…?”
Ahem. Cough!
Why is my voice like this! Why is it coming out so cracked? Did I eat something wrong?
Seeing the handsome faces crowded together in front of the narrow carriage seat was quite overwhelming.
Thud!
Ugh!
Trying to avoid the overwhelming faces, I’m going to get a bump on the back of my head!
“Ren! You need to be careful.”
“Ugh… my head…. Why are you all gathered so overwhelmingly?”
When I asked while sneaking glances, they all closed their mouths.
What? Why won’t they answer right away?
Growing anxious, I… carefully examined the inside of the carriage.
Nothing seems… wrong.
Unaware of the piercing stares on me, I scrutinized the carriage floor.
Except for being a bit dirty with more dirt… there was no ‘such’ abnormality I was looking for.
Phewww.
Because I didn’t see any bloodstains!
And my body too… Yeah. It’s the body I know. If I’d had a seizure, I should feel somewhat refreshed, but no, no. My condition is the same, so there’s no need to worry… right?
“Why are you staring so intently? It’s overwhelming?”
“Ren. You….”
Ruman frowned.
As he was about to say something, Hyung grabbed Ruman’s arm.
‘What…?’
“Why? What is it?”
“…Never mind.”
“What is it??”
“Ugh…. Can you move?”
Gepetto asked carefully.
His eyes were clean without any emotion. Seeing Gepetto’s face put me at ease. Hyung and Ruman’s reactions were a bit strange, so I got scared for nothing, but there was no need! Hmph!
“I think I’m okay. Though it aches a bit….”
As the tension released, my body moved like magic.
When I slowly sat up from lying down, Ruman and Hyung supported me from both sides.
What is this overwhelming attention!
The two of them only exchanging glances with each other and not even telling me anything.
Making me feel excluded!!
“That’s enough.”
After grumbling, I habitually stole a glance at Hyung’s expression. Hyung kept his mouth firmly shut and said nothing.
As I looked at him anxiously, Gepetto called me again.
“Now now. Let’s take this medicine!”
“…What is it? Why do I need to take medicine?”
When I looked at him suspiciously, he explained it was just medicine to supplement my health.
“Is it nasty like before?”
When I asked timidly, Gepetto burst into laughter.
“No. This one will be much better.”
When I received the medicine and roughly shoved it into my mouth, he pulled out a candy from his pocket.
Really now, I’m not a child—does he think I’ll be happy getting something like this?
Hmm.
It is sweet though.
I rolled the candy around in my mouth.
“Ugh.”
“What’s wrong?”
“N-no. My cheek is a bit stinging… Ow! It hurts! Why is this happening??”
Ruman brought his face right up close.
But Hyung abruptly turned his head away.
What, why is Hyung doing that again?
“Hmm….”
Ruman let out a serious-sounding hum.
“Did I roll around somewhere? Come to think of it… what was I doing?”
Weren’t we traveling by carriage?
When I tried to recall, I felt a headache. As I pressed down firmly on my head, Gepetto gently grabbed my sleeve and pulled it down.
