GDTEA Ch 62

Because You’re Too Beautiful

Ren didn’t make prolonged eye contact with Sharti. He looked uncomfortable rather than awkward.

Ren avoided Sharti’s gaze and turned to the mage.

“How long will that spell last?”

“It’ll wear off soon. Facial transformation magic consumes an enormous amount of mana.”

Even after being told the magic would wear off soon, Ren glared at the mage with a displeased expression.

“Ah, I just thought… since you were covering your face, it would make you more comfortable…”

The mage explained with a crestfallen face.

“It was necessary to demonstrate an example.”

The mage who cast the spell on Sharti quickly crouched down and took the patient’s hand.

The mage closed his eyes and quietly began channeling mana.

“The, the spots… they’re disappearing!”

The mage sucked the mana from the patient as if drawing it out.

Gradually, the fluorescent spots lost their light, faded, and disappeared.

As the spots vanished, the patient’s breathing also became easier.

“Ugh, I’m already full even though I only took half.”

The mage who treated the patient waved his hand, showing signs of excessive fullness.

Despite looking exhausted, he was overflowing with vitality from the abundant mana he had absorbed.

“What I just showed you was a safe treatment. From now on, we’ll heal everyone in the village by absorbing the mana from your bodies into us mages.”

“I understand magic is unfamiliar and it’s difficult to trust mages you’ve just met today. I understand your concerns, and we’ll do our best to honestly address your anxieties. From now on, please leave it to us.”

Typically, mages innately enjoyed showing off their knowledge but weren’t particularly kind. Rather than explaining, they tended to boast about the differences between ordinary people and mages.

However, to coexist harmoniously in the village, it was better to create a kind and trustworthy impression.

Unlike the rigid Tower-affiliated mages, the Krofl Mercenary Group’s mages, having experienced the harsh outside world, were well-socialized.

“We’ll be in your care, mage!”

With detailed, eye-level explanations enhanced by visual demonstrations, it was natural for trust and favorability toward the Krofl Mercenary Group to increase.

Sharti, who had been standing by ready to mediate if necessary, breathed a sigh of relief.

‘That’s a relief.’

She felt reassured that they weren’t wasting time with mutual rejection and wariness.

Sharti brushed back her still-unfamiliar black hair.

‘What concerns me most right now is…’

Sharti stole a glance at Ren.

Ren still wouldn’t look at Sharti. With his arms crossed and head turned away, he seemed to be deliberately avoiding eye contact.

She couldn’t dismiss it as just her imagination.

‘…He’s never been like this before.’

Even when she had seizures and fits and talked nonsense, he never avoided her like this.

‘He didn’t avoid me when he saw my real face.’

Instead, at those times, Ren would stare blankly without blinking.

So Sharti couldn’t understand Ren’s refusal to even make eye contact.

‘The magic seems to make me prettier than my original face.’

Sharti glanced again at the haughty face in the mirror.

The magically transformed face was so elegant and beautiful that at first glance, one might believe she was a noble, especially compared to her bare face that hadn’t received proper care.

‘Is it strange…?’

Her mood, which had been excited at the prospect of finally removing her hood and making eye contact, sank instantly.

Being ignored by Ren without knowing the reason didn’t sit well with her.

“Let’s step outside for a moment.”

Just then, Vireta approached and whispered to Sharti.

Since the mercenary mages had started treating patients, there was nothing for Sharti to do now.

As Sharti followed Vireta out of the hut, Ren naturally followed behind.

“You mutt, stand far away and keep watch.”

“……”

Vireta shooed him away with her hand.

Ren slightly raised his eyebrows but moved away with his lips tightly sealed.

As Ren kept his distance and blocked others from approaching, Vireta clicked her tongue.

“That mutt hasn’t changed a bit.”

Still looking displeased, Vireta turned to Sharti.

“This village will be fine now. The negotiations with the village chief went well, so leave it to the mercenary group I brought and get some rest.”

Sharti nodded. Her job was practically finished.

However, Sharti’s heart remained heavy.

She had essentially dumped all the responsibility and burden of her reckless actions onto Vireta.

<Aren’t you angry? I could barely survive on my own, yet I’ve dragged you into something I can’t handle.>

Reading the note, Vireta burst into hearty laughter.

“If you hadn’t called me, then yes, I would have been angry.”

Vireta was indeed dumbfounded when she first heard the news.

As Sharti said, she wasn’t angry with her.

She was simply heartbroken that this poor child was constantly entangled in such difficult situations, cursing the cruel fate that kept befalling her.

“I heard from the village chief. You persuaded him by telling your story?”

Instead of saying, ‘You didn’t need to do that,’ ‘It was unnecessary meddling,’ or ‘There was no need to take such a difficult path in other people’s lives,’ Vireta simply stroked Sharti’s head.

“I’m much happier seeing you asking for my help and making an effort, rather than struggling alone silently while trying to be independent.”

Her touch, conveying affection, was incredibly tender.

“Of course, I wish my children could stay safely in my arms, but…”

Vireta slightly frowned, her face wrinkled.

Vireta somewhat selfishly wished for all her grandchildren, including Sharti, to grow up a bit selfishly. She wanted them to abandon the harsh world and live quietly in comfort. She didn’t want to burden children who were already suffering enough from their own pain.

“I suppose you were never meant to be just my light.”

But she knew all of that was selfish.

The children Vireta had cared for and nurtured were warmer and brighter lights than anyone else, and she couldn’t possibly keep that light confined only to herself.

‘Grandmother…’

Lowering her gaze at Vireta’s affectionate look, Sharti bit her lip.

Though she had prepared herself to be scolded, deep down she had been hoping.

‘That grandmother might understand and support my decision.’

It was trust in Vireta, who had saved, fed, bathed, and sheltered a girl who wasn’t even related to her by blood without showing any annoyance. It was also Sharti’s own way of being a little spoiled.

Sharti clenched her fists and raised her head.

“Once the hidden village is revealed to the world, it will attract attention.”

“Indeed it will.”

Even when Sharti suddenly spoke in a dreadful voice, Vireta answered without surprise or hesitation.

Reassured by the casual response, Sharti gave a bitter smile.

‘Virena is still cautious about it.’

Perhaps it was the difference in life experience.

Sharti cleared her throat a little and spoke again.

“‘That’ noble who was targeting this village won’t sit still. Mercenaries alone won’t be enough, Grandmother.”

“True. That bastard will try to cover up the secrets of this place and not let it be taken away.”

The head of the House of Bridend with the scorpion emblem wouldn’t be intimidated or retreat because of mere mercenaries.

He would mobilize all the power he had accumulated to reclaim what he considered his.

Recalling the past, Vireta pulled up one corner of her mouth with a murderous aura.

“Don’t worry. I have no intention of being helplessly victimized.”

She had already tipped off the village chief.

Boom-! Just then, a massive pillar of light appeared at the village entrance and flashed brightly.

“Those slowpokes came quite quickly, huh”

As the village atmosphere grew rowdy, Vireta withdrew her hand and turned around.

“Neweiton didn’t become this powerful solely through the Empire’s strength.”

Vireta muttered while patting her waist.

The factor that had led the Neweiton Empire to victory in every war was their overwhelming military power. This was possible because the Magic Tower, which had formed an alliance with the Neweiton Empire, spared no effort in providing assistance and support.

However, after the Great War ended, the nobles of the Neweiton Empire ungratefully began to check the Magic Tower’s power. It was due to their greed to solidify their own authority.

“It’s fortunate that the Magic Tower’s interests align with ours at a time like this.”

The Magic Tower wasn’t particularly interested in power. The Magic Tower, which always remained detached from worldly affairs, found it most bothersome to get involved in complex matters.

But this time was different. As they say, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Like an experienced mercenary, Vireta hid her satisfying inner thoughts and turned to Sharti.

“I should go before those fellows start crawling all over the ground.”

She needed to intervene before the Magic Tower mages forgot their reputation and made a bad first impression on the villagers with their unseemly behavior.

“I’ll see you later.”

As Vireta was leaving Sharti, she gestured to Ren.

Thinking she might have something to say, Ren slightly raised his eyebrows and bent his upper body subtly.

Thwack-!

“If you’re a mutt, act like one, you rascal.”

“…!”

“Don’t upset your master.”

“……”

Unable to retort, Ren glared at Vireta with defiant eyes. However, with his forehead turning red and swollen, he only looked ridiculous.

Vireta clicked her tongue and left.

“Are you okay?”

Since the flick had been quite loud, Sharti immediately approached Ren.

Standing in front of Ren, instead of reaching for his forehead, Sharti abruptly pulled off his hood. Then she leaned her face close to his.

“…!”

Caught off guard and unable to avoid Sharti’s approach, Ren froze. Studying Ren’s startled expression, Sharti leaned her upper body toward him even more.

“I’m, uh, not okay.”

Since it wasn’t her real face, she became bolder, and her actions became unrestrained.

Sharti decided to directly question Ren.

“Why are you avoiding me?”

“I never…”

“See? Even now you can’t look me in the eyes.”

At the sharp observation, Ren sighed and brushed his bangs back.

Unable to honestly share his thoughts, his face looked complicated, which made Sharti narrow her eyes suspiciously.

“…Is it because of my face?”

“That’s…”

Ren avoided her gaze with a troubled expression. She was right.

As her question was answered so easily, Sharti nodded her head.

“Is it because the face is too beautiful that you’re flustered? I heard some people can’t make eye contact when they see a face they really like.”

“…Beautiful?”

“Ah, I’m not teasing you. I’m saying I understand. Even I think this face is pretty.”

Mistaking Ren’s incredulous expression as an attempt to hide embarrassment, Sharti even sympathized by saying it was okay.

As Ren tried to speak again, Sharti smiled faintly and rubbed the hem of her robe.

“It would have been a shame to hide such a face.”

“What do you mean?”

Sharti smiled awkwardly and scratched her cheek with her index finger.

“I’m embarrassed to show others my original face, but this face isn’t one that should be hidden under a hood.”

“Why would you be…!”

Just as Ren flared up, about to protest:

The magic began to fade from the top of Sharti’s head, as if the color was being stripped away.

Her black hair slowly returned to wheat-colored, and her sharp eye corners drooped downward. Her overall impression transformed into something gentler.

“If it makes you uncomfortable, I’ll put my hood back on. The mage said the spell would wear off soon anyway.”

“……”

Ren’s thoughts seemed to freeze as he blankly stared at Sharti’s face as the magic wore off.

“…Ren?”

Ren had that vacant expression she had seen before.

As Ren suddenly stiffened after taking a sharp breath, Sharti looked at him with concern.

‘Earlier he kept avoiding my eyes, but why is he staring like that again?’

Ren still couldn’t take his eyes off Sharti.

Then suddenly, she realized Ren’s expression and gaze were familiar.

Just as Sharti was about to check her hair color, a strong wind blew.

“…!”

She saw her wheat-colored hair fluttering in the wind.

As Sharti shrank back in surprise, Ren also came to his senses.

“Sha-.”

Ren quickly covered Sharti’s face and put her hood back on.

Then he checked their surroundings.

“Fortunately, there’s no one else around.”

Worried about the cold wind, Ren carefully wrapped her robe tightly.

Seeing Sharti touch and check her face as the magic wore off, Ren smiled bitterly.

“It wasn’t that I was avoiding you.”

“…?”

Sharti reflexively tried to look up but hesitated.

Seeing this, Ren gently rubbed the edge of her hood.

“I didn’t want to remember it.”

“What do you mean?”

Tension made Sharti switch to formal speech.

Ren chuckled.

“I didn’t like seeing a magically decorated face superimposed on Sha’s face, which I’ve only seen a few times.”

“……”

“I wanted to remember only the face I know, the face I like.”

“…!”

When Sharti suddenly looked up, Ren gently bumped his forehead against hers.

This time, it was Sharti who froze after taking a sharp breath.

Regardless, Ren closed his eyes and wore a faint smile.

“So in the end, I’m the one who’s left with regret.”

Sharti clutched her hands tightly.

Her heart started behaving strangely.

“Because it’s always covered by this hood and I can’t see it every time.”

Following Ren’s low voice heard from close by, her heart responded and began beating out of rhythm. Ren’s emotions, thoughts, and feelings, which she had vaguely sensed before, were becoming clearer.

Ren stepped back from Sharti, who couldn’t regain her composure after the sudden confession. Then he tilted his head toward Sharti and smiled playfully.

“Just so you don’t misunderstand again, let me clarify: the face I find beautiful is the one hidden under the hood right now.”

“…!”

The wind blew.

A strong wind passed by Ren, who was smiling with a face that seemed both carefree and tense.

His black-brown hair swaying in different directions and his teal eyes filled with bright light were imprinted in Sharti’s eyes.

Her heart began to beat painfully.