By Zephyria 
After a late lunch, I felt sluggish, and as expected, my condition was deteriorating again.
“Cough, cough.”
I felt chilly, had a cough, and a slight fever. I probably wouldn’t be able to get out of bed all day.
“I think it would be best for me to stay at the mansion for a few days. The sudden improvement in your levels was a bit strange. How are you feeling now?”
At the doctor’s words, I reported my condition very carefully. I told him where it hurt, what it felt like, what was different from usual, and so on. By the time I finished, my throat was hoarse.
“And you need to increase your food intake. You’re not eating liquid food anymore, are you? I’ll mention this separately to Abyss or Sakira.”
“Okay.”
“Let’s wait until your fever goes down and talk again. Rest today. If you feel even a little uncomfortable, don’t hesitate to tell me.”
As soon as the doctor, who had given me strict instructions, disappeared, the cat that had been hiding under the bed came to my side as if it had been waiting. I was worried it would rub against me or act up again, but it was unusually quiet. Was it being considerate because I was sick?
But how long was this cat planning to stay here? If it were an ordinary cat, I wouldn’t be so concerned, but it was a monster, which was the problem.
“Should I tell them…?”
I muttered, tossing and turning, unable to keep it a secret any longer. Then, the cat, which had been curled up quietly, raised its head and looked at me.
—Myaong, myaong, myaong.
“……”
It seemed to be saying something to me again. My eyes felt dry, and my eyelids were heavy every time I blinked. I blinked slowly and gradually drifted off to sleep, when suddenly the cat jumped onto my chest.
Then, it pressed its paw firmly against my lips.
“……”
—Myaong, myaong.
Was it telling me not to say anything? Dumbfounded, I raised my hand and pushed its paw away, saying,
“I can’t keep it a secret forever. You’re not an ordinary cat.”
—Myaaong.
“And I don’t even know what you’re saying…”
That’s when it happened. The cat suddenly turned its head and looked out the window. Wondering if even a bird had come, I also turned my gaze in that direction.
I couldn’t see anything. The cat darted out the window in an instant. Had it seen a mouse or something? I was worried it would be discovered, but I had liked having it next to me because it was warm. It was a shame.
I turned over and lay down. I put my hand on the spot where the cat had been sitting, and I could still feel the warmth.
I fell asleep instantly, as if losing consciousness.
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Even before I was fully awake, I could feel that my whole body was hot. Even my breath felt hot as I panted, and then I heard a familiar voice in my ear.
“Your fever is even higher than before. I don’t think this is going to work. I’ll contact the guild in a few days, so tell them to go back today and reschedule.”
“He says no.”
“What?”
“I already told him that, but he says no.”
“What do you mean, no?”
It was a small voice, but it wasn’t hard to understand what they were saying because it was so quiet. I opened my eyes and slowly sat up, and Abyss and Sakira, who had been whispering, approached me.
“Don’t get up, just lie down.”
The moment I opened my mouth, my throat stung terribly. I coughed dryly for a moment and then asked,
“Who came?”
“Do you remember us talking about Rhino this morning?”
Sakira said, gently pressing my forehead and neck with a handkerchief.
“He didn’t request a meeting, but we just asked if there was such a person, and he came right away.”
“The one who always covers himself up?”
“Yes, he’s waiting downstairs now.”
I felt dizzy and it was hard to keep my eyes open. I felt nauseous, and I didn’t want to meet anyone. But I was bothered by the cat suddenly running away earlier.
Had it sensed its master? It might be a stretch, but it wouldn’t be bad to meet him.
“Bring him in.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m just going to have a quick chat.”
At my words, Abyss immediately left the room. In the meantime, Sakira put a robe over me and tidied my disheveled hair. Soon, there was a knock on the door and it opened.
“Aska, I’ve brought him.”
Suddenly, I coughed dryly again, covered my mouth with my hand, and looked at the entrance. A man in a long robe and hood appeared behind Abyss.
“……”
It was that man.
Even though he was wearing a different robe than when I had met him earlier, I was sure that this man was that man. It wasn’t because they had similar builds. I just knew it with a feeling I couldn’t explain.
“……”
“……”
The man, standing a little distance away, stared at me. I couldn’t see his face well because of the hood, but I felt an intense gaze as if it would pierce through me.
It was Sakira, who had been waiting beside me, who broke the silence.
“He is a noble person under the protection of our merchant group. I cannot give you a detailed explanation, but please show him respect.”
Saying he was a noble person was a roundabout way of saying he was an aristocrat. So he was an aristocrat after all. Was he a bastard or something? Or had his family fallen? I wondered if he was being secretive with me because he had something to hide.
“……”
But even at Sakira’s words, the man didn’t open his mouth.
At that moment, Abyss, who was by the entrance, looked at me. It was a look that seemed to be asking if this was the perpetrator. I quietly looked at Abyss over the man’s shoulder and pondered.
This man was indeed that man, but I felt like I shouldn’t say so. Who would cure my illness if they drew their swords?
Besides, I didn’t even know the identity of that light yet, so I couldn’t suddenly say that this man was a healer. More than anything, I felt awkward explaining the situation. I couldn’t put my finger on the reason, but I just didn’t want to tell anyone.
“Perhaps you can’t speak?”
Sakira asked cautiously, as there had been such rumors. But the man still didn’t answer. He just stood there like a statue, without any gestures or movements.
His appearance seemed less like he couldn’t speak and more like he was refusing to converse altogether. But Sakira didn’t get angry and called a Servant to see if there was anyone who knew sign language.
I sighed inwardly and said,
“Forget sign language, bring paper and a pen. Can you write?”
At my question, the man, who had been like a stone all along, nodded slightly. It was a small movement, but I couldn’t help but be surprised. I hadn’t expected him to answer the question.
Barely hiding my surprise, I put on a blank face and held out my hand to Sakira. With her firm grip, I slowly got out of bed and sat on the sofa.
Soon, paper, a pen, and ink were prepared on the table.
“Sit.”
At my short command, the man sat on the sofa opposite me. I turned to look at Abyss and Sakira, who were standing behind me, and said calmly,
“You two go out for a bit.”
“Excuse me?”
“I have something to say to him privately.”
“……”
Abyss, who had been taken aback at first, frowned at the words that followed.
“Is this the man?”
“We’ll talk about that later, just go out for now.”
“I cannot do that.”
“I don’t want to talk for long because I’m dizzy right now. Go out quickly.”
I deliberately coughed, and Abyss said pleadingly,
“I cannot leave you alone with someone whose identity we do not know.”
“Just stay out for exactly ten minutes and then come back.”
“Could I at least stay?”
Sakira, who had been quiet, asked in an anxious voice. I sighed and rubbed my forehead.
“Everyone get out. Both of you get out.”
“It’s too dangerous.”
“I said get out!”
“Please withdraw your order.”
Abyss repeated the same words like a parrot. I was a little taken aback because he had never been so disobedient before, but then the man standing beside me sighed.
At that sound, all three of our gazes turned to him.
The man suddenly got up from his seat and reached for his waist. Abyss quickly grabbed the hilt of his sword and came in front of me.
But the man didn’t care about that at all and untied his belt, scabbard and all, and placed it on the table. Then, he took out two daggers from his robe and placed them next to it.
The man, having disarmed himself completely, tapped the table with his finger as if telling us to take them.
“……”
“……”
Abyss still didn’t let his guard down and glared at the man. At this rate, it seemed like the two of them would be exchanging glares until dawn, so I pushed Abyss’s back.
“Take them and get out. I’ll scream if something happens.”
If he intended to harm me, those words would be of no use. By the time I screamed, it would already be over. Abyss knew that, which was why he kept resisting.
“Hurry up and get out.”
When I urged him again, Abyss finally pointed to the center of the table and warned,
“Do not cross this line. Do not get up from that sofa until I come back in, just sit there quietly. If you act rudely or touch even a hair on his head, you are dead. Keep that in mind.”
The man showed no reaction to the threat of death. Abyss picked up the weapons on the table and looked back at me several times before being dragged out by Sakira.
We were finally alone, but I was already exhausted. But we only had ten minutes, so I had to start a conversation quickly.
I was about to ask about the identity of the light when the man, as if he had been waiting for it, pulled back the hood he was wearing.
“……”
Spotless white hair fell down along his clothes. When my eyes met his dark brown eyes, I felt as if I had been splashed with cold water in my sleep.
The man got up from the sofa, took off his gloves, came over, and sat next to me without a word. Then, he touched my forehead, cheeks, and neck in order with his bare hands and asked,
“When did you start having a fever?”
“……Earlier?”
“Earlier when? Right after we parted?”
He had been so quiet. It was as if he had been waiting to be left alone to continue the conversation so naturally.
Just having his hand on my neck made me feel like I was tied up with ropes and couldn’t move. But I didn’t like being quiet, so I frowned and asked,
“Why are you speaking informally?”
“Then what, should I use honorifics?”
“Why did you pretend you couldn’t speak?”
“I never did that?”
“Then why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because I had nothing to say.”
He was answering well, but it wasn’t very informative. But all the questions I had asked so far were just stepping stones to ask this one question.
I asked what I was really curious about.
“What’s your name?”
“……”
The man, who had been answering without hesitation as if reading from a book, couldn’t do so this time. He lowered his gaze and moved his lips as if he was about to speak, hesitating for a long time.
“Kyle.”
And finally, as he glanced at me and answered, his eyes were a little redder than before.