* * *
Kaindel glanced at Isa, who was leaning against the door.
Peeking into the room with his shoulders hunched, Isa looked quite endearing.
He probably thought he wasn’t being noticed, but Kaindel had spotted him right from the start.
How would he react if he realized that?
Stifling a laugh, Kaindel lounged on the sofa, casually swinging his foot.
Since the day the Count had hosted the banquet, Isa had been acting like this for days.
For reasons Kaindel couldn’t quite fathom, Isa would approach him, seemingly wanting to say something, only to hesitate and retreat.
He’d quietly wait by Kaindel’s side while he spoke with other comrades or trail behind him during his morning training.
Yet, when Kaindel asked why, Isa would just mumble evasively.
Today, Kaindel was determined to find out the reason.
As he watched Isa fidgeting with his fingers, Kaindel finally tore his gaze away from the decorative map on the table.
At that moment, after much hesitation, Isa raised a clenched fist and knocked on the door—though it was already wide open, rendering the gesture pointless.
“Uh, Kaindel.”
“Yes?”
Kaindel, who had been about to stand, casually sat back down, smiling faintly as if he had only just noticed Isa’s presence.
Isa stared blankly at Kaindel, who brushed back his disheveled hair, then cleared his throat.
He seemed to be sorting through the tangled thoughts in his mind, his slightly flushed face resembling someone who had just finished running.
Finally, after some deliberation, Isa licked his lips nervously and asked in a soft voice,
“Would you… go to the city with me today?”
“To the city?”
Kaindel, trying to guess what Isa might bring up, was caught off guard by the unexpected request.
Based on Isa’s personality, he’d expected him to ask for a lesson in something—perhaps horseback riding, given they’d soon be leaving the Count’s estate.
But the city?
It was out of the blue.
“Why the city all of a sudden? Is there something you need to buy?”
“Not really… It’s just that…”
Isa faltered under Kaindel’s questioning gaze, his silver eyes wavering.
His already flushed face turned as red as a tomato.
“I thought it’d be nice to look around the city with you. They say this area is particularly beautiful.”
“…Ah.”
Kaindel exhaled, scrutinizing Isa, who struggled to finish his sentence.
He had a good idea of what lay behind this sudden suggestion.
So that mention of his birthday earlier—it was about this?
Concluding his thoughts, Kaindel nonchalantly narrowed his eyes.
“Sure. I don’t have anything else to do, anyway.”
“Of course, if you’re busy, we don’t have to go. I’m fine with that.”
“No, I’d like to go out for a change. Let’s go together.”
Isa’s face lit up at Kaindel’s agreement, as if he’d been preparing for the worst.
His head bobbed so vigorously that his hair bounced with the motion.
“Okay! I’ll just go change quickly!”
“Alright.”
Isa added in a hushed tone, “Wait for me at the front door when you’re ready,” before quickly turning away.
It wasn’t as if Kaindel was going to change his mind, yet Isa vanished in a flash.
Watching the silver-haired figure disappear, Kaindel let out a soft chuckle and tapped the map on the table with his fingertips.
“Meeting Sehir will have to wait.”
If Isa hadn’t come to him today, Kaindel had planned to meet Sehir to chart a route to the Behamdon Highlands.
Since he’d already been there once and there were no monsters to deal with, he had intended to find the shortest path.
But a conversation with Sehir could wait for another day.
Kaindel brushed the wrinkles from his trousers and turned to the window.
The weather was nice—a brief outing wouldn’t hurt.
They took a hired carriage to the city to avoid drawing attention.
Though the ride was bumpy and uncomfortable, it was tolerable.
More than anything, Kaindel enjoyed watching Isa, who couldn’t sit still, his excitement palpable even in the cramped space.
Upon arriving, they headed to the plaza.
Unlike the capital, where the streets for nobles and commoners were separate, this city had a single road, bustling with people of all ages—from children whose ages were hard to guess to frail elders.
Amidst the chaotic crowd, Kaindel found himself unusually alert, worried he might lose Isa.
He had never been in such a disorderly situation before.
As he focused on Isa, who was chatting away beside him, a sudden shout pierced the air.
“Ah! A pickpocket! A pickpocket!”
Turning toward the voice, Kaindel saw a young boy clutching a purse and running—straight toward them.
Ignoring him wasn’t an option.
The girl who had shouted was now standing frozen in the distance, her voice trembling as she called out again.
“Pickpocket!” Tears were welling up in her eyes.
She had clearly given up on catching him.
Suppressing a sigh, Kaindel clicked his tongue and grabbed the boy’s arm just as he tried to dart past.
“Let go! Let go of me!”
The boy, startled by Kaindel’s firm grip, blinked in panic, twisting and turning to no avail.
Escaping Kaindel’s grasp was impossible.
Kaindel glanced at the boy, who was swallowing dryly in fear, then took the purse from him.
Releasing the boy, Kaindel watched as he bolted away without looking back.
Turning to the girl, who was now approaching, panting heavily, Kaindel held out the purse.
“Is this yours?”
“…Yes. Thank you.”
The little girl, having received her pouch back, absentmindedly expressed her gratitude but froze when she caught sight of Kaindel’s face under the hood of his robe.
Her brows furrowed slightly, as if struck by a sense of familiarity.
It seemed she was trying to recall something.
Before the girl could piece together his identity, Kaindel wrapped up the conversation.
“Be more careful next time.”
“Y-Yes.”
Dismissed by his words, the girl gave up on identifying him.
Hugging the pouch she had nearly lost, she hurriedly disappeared into the crowd.
As Kaindel watched her retreat, Isa, who had been silently observing the exchange, finally muttered,
“I didn’t think you’d help her. You could’ve revealed yourself as the Hero.”
“…What kind of person do you think I am?” Kaindel asked, his tone dry.
“Self-centered, selfish, and mean,” Isa replied bluntly.
“Ha.”
Self-centered, selfish, and mean.
Kaindel mulled over the harsh description, letting out a hollow laugh.
How long had Isa thought of him this way?
He couldn’t entirely argue against it, given his past actions, but it still felt unjust.
“But that’s why I like you.”
Isa’s lighthearted addition was followed by his gaze drifting elsewhere, stopping abruptly on something.
Kaindel, puzzled by the sudden silence, followed Isa’s line of sight.
It landed on a run-down music box shop, the kind that looked like it might collapse any day.
The shop sold wooden music boxes, and Isa’s eyes were locked on one featuring two men with their arms linked.
Kaindel tilted his head.
“Do you want it?”
“Huh?”
“That music box. You’ve been staring at it for a while. Do you want it or not?”
“…”
Isa finally looked up at Kaindel, hesitating for a few seconds before murmuring,
“I do.”
“Wait here for a moment.”
The instant Isa admitted his desire, Kaindel strode into the music box shop without hesitation.
If Isa wanted it, there was no reason not to buy it for him.
The shop’s interior was just as shabby as its exterior, with the scent of aged wood mingling faintly with wax.
Kaindel scanned the modest space indifferently before approaching the man who appeared to be the shopkeeper.
“How much for that music box?”
“Hmm, the music box? That one’s defective, so it’s not—Wait, are you… the Hero? Is it really you?”
The shopkeeper, who had been seated and painting a music box, adjusted his glasses and gawked.
Unlike the little girl, he immediately recognized Kaindel.
The brush slipped from his hand as he jumped to his feet, hurriedly dusting off his apron.
“Good heavens, the Hero himself in my humble shop! What brings you here?”
“I’m just here to buy that music box. I’d prefer not to cause a scene, so could you keep it quiet?”
“Of course, of course! But that music box is defective. It arrived with a manufacturing flaw. If you’d like, I can offer you a better one instead…”
“I want that one. Is it not for sale?”
“Well, it’s not that I can’t sell it, but… wouldn’t you prefer something better?”
“I don’t need anything better. If you’re not willing to sell it, I’ll leave.”
“No, no! Please, take it! I won’t charge you for it since it’s defective. I hope that’s acceptable.”
“Thank you.”
Kaindel had been prepared to pay for it regardless of its condition since Isa wanted it.
However, the shopkeeper’s reluctance had made him consider leaving empty-handed.
Thankfully, the man changed his mind just in time.
With the music box in hand, Kaindel left the shop, feeling satisfied.
He couldn’t wait to show it to Isa.
But as his pace quickened in anticipation, his steps suddenly faltered.
“Isa?”
The spot where Isa had been standing moments ago was now completely empty.
* * *
