From afar, the sound of sparrows singing could be heard. Zion was so sound asleep that no one could tell if anyone carried him.
After checking my outfit. I went outside.
Today, the forest was still deeply affected by the depths of winter. As the chilly wind blew in, my body shivered with fear.
'Since I was born, how wonderful it would have been if I had been born in the West.'
I sniffled in resentment toward the cold north.
The ice magic I possessed wasn't very valuable in the north, where ice and snow were everywhere.
But as a mixed-breed, I couldn't take the child to another place. What more could a low-status mongrel want?
"Ugh, it's cold."
Even if you were born and raised in the north, the cold was still cold. It was even more so because I had an ambiguous body, neither perfect nor human.
I was complaining about not just resentment, but something tugged at my clothes. Rachel, clutching the hem of my clothes, was looking up at me.
I knelt down and opened Rachel's cloak as I gave her. Rachel, who was staring at me, blinked and asked.
"Benefactor."
"...Just call me sister."
"Then, benefactor sister. Where are we headed now?"
For a moment, worry flashed across Rachel's face. I gestured at the basket hanging on my arm and said.
"I'm going to sell this."
"But why am I going with you?"
"Yeah. I thought you should check on your health, too."
"Why did you cover your face, sister?"
"Yeah, I get a bit cold."
"Then why did you cover my face?"
"Hmm. I'm worried you'll catch a cold, too. You never know."
It really felt like a conversation between Red Riding Hood and a wolf. I tried to sit up, muddying off convincingly.
Before heading into the forest, I carefully checked to make sure my face was well covered.
That's it. After finishing the inspection, I reached out my hand to Rachel.
"Come on. Hold this sister's hand."
"..."
Rachel, who had been quietly watching the outstretched hand, carefully folded her own hand over mine.
"Let's go."
Rachel, her cheeks flushed silently, nodded. I came down from the forest, feeling the warmth that was passed down through my hands.
***
The place we headed to was the square. Well, to be precise, it's a quietly secluded corner of the square. It was a secret place known only to those who knew about it. I mainly sold herbs there.
"V?"
"You're here?"
"You came early today?"
"Yeah, I got some pretty good stuff today."
A familiar face looked at me and pretended to know. I made up a rough voice and waved my hand.
So many people looked down on me as a woman if I didn't do this, so there was nothing I could do.
After a quick greeting. I removed the cloth that had been covering my basket. When he saw the faint but red-tipped herb, the passerby's face brightened noticeably.
Fireweed was a medicinal herb that could be easily lit.
Because it is a rare herb that is hard to find in the cold northern regions, it was often traded at very high prices.
Actually, I planned to keep it hidden a bit longer, then gather regulars and sell it like an auction. With one more mouth added, there was nothing I could do.
Damn, my taste is bitter. I couldn't help but swallow my lips.
"How many?"
"10 gold."
"What?"
"Hey, are you going to use it if you're already surprised? 10 gold per card. Even if you buy it as a bundle, you won't get a discount today."
When I spoke in a firm voice, the passerby's face darkened.
No matter how regular I was, I couldn't afford to sell the brazier grass cheaply.
"Well, there are ways to do it cheaply..."
I pretended to be kind, trailing off my words.
"What is it?"
Then the passerby lit up as if he had been waiting. I gestured at Rachel, who had been hiding behind my back, and said.
"Please check on his condition."
"Huh?"
The passerby adjusted his glasses and looked behind me. Rachel shuddered at the stranger's glance and hid even deeper behind me.
"Who is it?"
"My younger sister."
"Younger sister? Why did you bring your younger sister here?"
The passerby smiled faintly and waved to Rachel. It was a pointless interest. I quickly waved my hand.
"Enough, just let me go. You're the doctor."
"Aren't you overusing customer information?"
"Before I tell patients that you're selling the herbs at a higher price, at least give me a consultation."
At my words, the passerby tightly shut his mouth.
This doctor, skilled but without conscience, resold the herbs I had obtained to patients suffering from illness at high prices.
I wanted to sell it directly by intercepting it in the middle, but even if I knew more people, it wouldn't be good.
Operating with only a small group of customers was also beneficial for my personal health. That made it easier to keep secrets.
It was all because of this that I took the risk of bringing Rachel out myself. It was too risky to see a doctor.
Transparent skin, hair as black as ebony, and red eyes. And on top of that, the heat was scorching.
It was exactly like spreading a rumor that you were personally taking care of a kid who was clearly saying, "Anyone can tell I'm an outsider."
"There's no other way."
The passerby sighed and sat down with his knees bent. When Rachel trembled and flinched, she smiled brightly, as if she wasn't someone to be afraid of.
"Hello. What's your name?"
"..."
Rachel curled up and pressed close to me. I patted Rachel's back to reassure her.
"It's okay. He's not a strange person. Maybe."
"Maybe," you say.
The passerby muttered softly, but I shrugged lightly. There was nothing wrong with what I said.
"..."
Rachel cautiously revealed herself, as if her fear had eased a little at my words.
The passerby smiled familiarly and looked at Rachel. Of course, Rachel's face was tightly covered with a mask so her eyes couldn't be seen.
"Hmm...."
A passerby watching Rachel frowned slightly.
"Is her condition really bad?"
I carefully asked, lifting my mask up to under my eyes. He tilted his head in confusion as he was fixing his glasses.
"You said you don't know why she collapsed, right? Besides, she doesn't remember anything."
"Yeah."
"I'm not exactly sure... It seems the aftereffects of trauma are severe."
"Then..."
"But don't worry too much. In cases like this, memories usually come back within a few days. But the problem is..."
He trailed off at the end of his sentence.
"She's so young. What kind of accident was so serious that it made her lose her memory?"
"...You don't have to know"
I hurriedly hid Rachel behind me. I could feel his suspicious gaze directed at me. I shook the basket I was holding proudly.
"That's all for the examination. Hurry up and pick one."
"..."
"Not buying?"
At my urging, the passerby turned toward the basket as if he had no other choice.
Before leaving, he hesitated and looked at me, having bought all the brazier herbs for today's allot.
"V."
"...Why?"
"I've recently heard some strange rumors."
He glanced at Rachel, who was hiding behind me, and continued.
"That kid's body temperature is strangely high. It's rare to find someone in the north with such a high body temperature."
'Crazy. Could it be that I was caught?'
I adjusted my slippery mask again and pretended nothing was wrong.
"She said it was because she had a severe fever a few days ago. Looks like the fever hasn't gone down yet."
"...I'm saying this out of concern just in case."
He spoke in a low voice, as if revealing a secret spell.
"I heard that one child went missing in the South. And that... I heard she's the younger sister of the southern leader."
"...!"
"You know that too, right? Relations between the South and the North."
"Of course I know that! Come on, man, do you really think I wouldn't know that? I'm not a slouch myself, you know? I mean, I'm a wolf, after all."
Instead of the rough tone I had been thrown out of embarrassment, my original voice came out.
'Anyone can see this looks like a kidnapper!'
I felt like crying. Why does everything get so complicated like this!
I pressed my hat down deeper and combed my neck so it wouldn't show.
"Anyway. I don't know what that has to do with me."
".. Be careful. I don't know what they're up to, though."
The passerby who said that disappeared into the distance. I bit my lip as I watched his back.
Ah! I felt like shouting. Why did I have to save it with my own hands!
...I had no choice but to send her back somehow. At this rate, whether it's the original or not, I felt like I would be killed by the dragons.
After screaming inwardly for a long time, I let out a deep sigh. I thought I should send her back, but there was nothing I could do right away.
'Let's go back for now.'
I had sold all the herbs I had earned today and made a considerable amount of money, so today's work ended here.
I turned toward Rachel.
"...Huh?"
Then she quietly blinked.
A faint but warm energy spread widely. It was just a fleeting moment, but I definitely felt it.
But as if nothing had happened, only the chilly northern temperatures touched my body.
'What is this?'
While I was just tilting my head, Rachel turned toward me.
"Benefa sister?"
Rachel tilted her head in confusion, holding a fireweed. It seemed she had snuck it out. When did she get it?
I shook my head as I gazed at the distinctive red leaves of the fireweed.
"No. Maybe I saw something pointless for a moment. Let's hurry back. Is there anything you want to eat?"
At my words, Rachel smiled broadly and said.
"I like anything."
"Hmm. Then let's eat something warm today"
"Warm..."
"Oh, or is there anything you want to eat?"
"Ah, no. I don't have any. Anything is fine."
Rachel looked up at me with a bright smile. My face was reflected in those sparkling red eyes.
Ugh. Maybe because she's the heroine buff, her smile was so adorable, even though she was a child.
'Yeah. Let's think positively.'
Although I am a wolf, it is true that I saved the child.
'If it weren't for me, she might have died.'
And even though I'm a wolf. I protect you like this. Do you really think you should kill me?
'Don't be discouraged. I earned the title of benefactor to the child. Even if I meet that dragon, I might be able to avoid a bad ending.'
I tried to stay as positive as possible and composed myself.
Hmph! Rachel tilted her head as she watched me give her spirit, and followed suit. The child's cheeks were puffed up to perfection.
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