"Haa!"
The woman jolted awake, her eyes widening as she stared up at the night sky, glittering with countless stars. The cold night air brushed against her sore skin, but as her consciousness slowly returned, so did her awareness.
"I… I'm still alive?!" Her voice trembled, still struggling to grasp the reality that she had managed to escape the nightmare inside the dungeon.
Her ears picked up the soft crackling of burning firewood, offering a small warmth against the night's chill. Slowly, she turned her head to the side—
And there he was.
A man with dark blue-tinted hair sat near the campfire, his expression neutral yet focused. His left arm was exposed, revealing a fresh wound that he was carefully bandaging.
Around him, a small tent, a large bag, a resting horse, and—
Two long, black objects she had never seen before, lying neatly beside his belongings.
"Strange metal rods… or maybe, weapons?"
Before she could think further, the man turned to her.
"Oh, you're awake?" he said casually, his deep voice more of a statement than a question.
She blinked in confusion, trying to piece together her fragmented memories.
She recalled the dungeon's collapse, the Basilisk, and the overwhelming despair as her body neared its limit.
And yet, now—she was here. Alive.
"Did… did you save me?" she asked, her voice still weak.
The man finished tying off his bandage with practiced ease before glancing at her briefly, then returning his gaze to the fire.
"Well… more like I just happened to find you along the way," he replied flatly. "You were lucky you didn't get buried alive in there."
The woman fell silent, realizing just how narrow her escape had been.
"I… really was lucky, huh?" she murmured, half-speaking to herself.
Ren didn't reply. Instead, he reached for a water pouch and tossed it toward her.
"Drink. You need fluids after losing that much blood."
She stared at him for a moment before accepting the pouch without hesitation. Her throat was dry, and the moment the first drop touched her lips, she realized just how desperately thirsty she was.
As she drank, her gaze remained fixed on Ren, the stranger who had saved her life.
There was something about him—something unfamiliar.
His face was unlike any she had seen before. His eyes were sharp, his expression unreadable, and his demeanor eerily calm, even after what must have been a life-or-death battle.
"Fuuuh… That's done," Ren muttered, finishing the last of his bandages. He rolled his sleeve back down before meeting her gaze.
"By the way, I found you alone in that cave. What happened? Were you attacked by the Basilisk too?"
The moment he mentioned the monster, the woman tensed.
"Ah! That's right… I have to report this to the guild!"
(I won't let my comrades' sacrifice be in vain!) she thought, clenching her fists tightly.
But just as she tried to stand, Ren let out a short sigh and raised a hand, stopping her.
"No need," he said nonchalantly. "The Basilisk is already dead."
"Eh?"
She froze, staring at him in disbelief.
"Y-you're joking, right?" Her voice wavered, as if hoping this was some kind of cruel joke.
Ren simply shrugged. "No. Remember the dungeon collapse? That was my doing."
"Then—"
"Yeah. The Basilisk was buried along with it."
The woman remained speechless, her brain struggling to process the information.
Defeating a Basilisk… alone?
That was a high-rank monster, something even an entire party of veteran adventurers would struggle against.
And yet, the man in front of her spoke as if it was nothing.
"...How… did you kill it by yourself?"
Under the flickering glow of the campfire, Ren's eyes gleamed for a split second.
"That's a secret," he replied casually before returning to checking his equipment.
She continued to stare at him, curiosity now mingling with suspicion.
The night passed uneventfully.
After making sure she had eaten enough, Ren simply lay down and fell asleep without another word. His body was exhausted from the battle, and though he was used to situations like this, there was no reason to push himself further.
Meanwhile, the woman sitting across from the fire remained awake, occasionally sneaking glances at the man who had saved her.
(Who is he? How did he kill a Basilisk alone? And… what kind of weapon did he use?)
But despite the flood of questions in her mind, exhaustion weighed heavily on her body. Eventually, she decided to rest as well, knowing they would start their journey back in the morning.
Though she was grateful for surviving, the loss still haunted her.
The Basilisk that had slaughtered her entire party might be dead, but the wounds it left behind—those wouldn't heal so easily.
At dawn, as the sun slowly crept over the horizon, Ren was already preparing to leave.
Standing beside his horse, he tightened the straps securing his large bag. His supplies were neatly packed, ready for the journey back to the city.
It was then that the woman hesitantly approached him.
"Umm… Thank you," she said softly.
Ren didn't turn immediately, merely letting out a short breath before replying in his usual indifferent tone.
"You're welcome. Now hurry up and wash your face before we go."
She blinked at his blunt response but eventually nodded. "I already did… Ah, um…"
Her eyes flickered downward for a moment, as if gathering the courage to say something.
Ren, after ensuring his gear was secure, finally turned to face her.
"What?"
She took a deep breath, then looked him straight in the eye.
"Ehh… We haven't introduced ourselves yet, have we? Oh, right! My name's Wendy! What's yours?"
Ren paused for a moment.
Giving out his real name probably wasn't the best idea.
While Wendy seemed kind and without ill intent, she was still a stranger. There was no harm in being cautious.
After a brief thought, he settled on a different name.
"Strom. You can call me that."
Wendy blinked a few times, then gave a small smile.
"Strom, huh? Alright! I'll remember it!"
Ren simply gave a slight nod before mounting his horse.
Today, they would leave this place behind.