RTTFW CH 3.6

Ent’s arm trembled as he lifted Ion. His strength was barely enough to bear Ion’s weight, which grew heavier day by day. But what did it matter? He was so adorable and precious.

“Did you sleep well, Ion?”
”A-ong.”

Seeing Ion’s wide, round eyes staring back at him, Ent’s heart began to swell. The fur was soft and luxurious, and just how beautiful was its appearance?

“Can I give you a kiss, Ion?”
”A-ong?”

“Hold on, Lord Ent…”

Before Ent could even hear Izel’s words, his lips landed with a soft peck on Ion’s nose. The still-warm, moist texture of that nose sent Ent’s mood soaring sky-high.

“Ah, a-ong!”
“Ah…”

Of course, Ion visibly panicked, struggled, and broke free from Ent’s grasp, dashing straight to Paladin. Left empty-handed in an instant, Ent felt a pang of disappointment, not understanding why. Paladin, unaware that Ion had run to him because he was the easiest target among the three, chuckled foolishly, “Seems Ion rather likes me.”

“Paladin did carry Ion around the most… I, Izel?”

Behind Ent, who shrugged his shoulders as if resigned, a spine-chilling gaze landed. Facing Izel, whose expression was three times more terrifying than usual, Ent instinctively flinched.

“… It’s nothing.”

His face clearly showed it was anything but nothing, but Ent gave an awkward smile as he watched Izel instantly revert to his usual emotionless expression.

Asking why would be impossible – Izel was simply too intimidating.

The plan for Sharo Village was simple. On the first day, they would gather necessities like potions, weapons, and food, then take about a week of comfortable rest. Weapons, for instance, might take several days to forge once commissioned, so they needed to move quickly on the first day.

‘Nothing bad will happen, right?’

After all, it was just a matter of wandering around the market everyone else visited, buying supplies, and getting weapons forged. Ent was hoping the week in Sharo Village would pass peacefully.

“Hey there! You lot from the top floor, right?”

Just as Paladin, Ion, Izel, and Ent were about to leave the inn, someone grabbed them right from the start. It was Samantha, the owner of the inn and restaurant.

“Yes, that’s us.”

As Izel stepped ahead of Ent, Samantha asked them to wait a moment, then approached the counter and retrieved something brown.

“What is this?”
“A robe. A robe.”

When Samantha handed two plain brown robes to Paladin, who was at the front, Ent tilted his head in confusion. What on earth were these robes for?

“Why these…?”
“Special guests, aren’t you? You’re renting the entire top floor and staying for a whole week. You ordered enough food yesterday to break the table legs, didn’t you? Consider it service.”
“That’s not the point. Is there really a need to use robes?”

At Izel’s words, Samantha shook her head with a knowing smile. She had decades of experience running this inn. That silver-haired, noble-looking fellow was clearly a nobleman. The expressionless green-haired man was likely of similar rank or slightly below. And the burly man with the dog? Just a street thug tagging along.

“You’re so naive. That noble in the middle and this guest over here stand out far too much. If you just let them walk around looking like that, trouble will find you even in peaceful times.”

“Ah…”
“It’s a service I’m offering for the guests staying at my inn, so just take it.”

The phrase ‘trouble will come’ flashed through Ent’s mind. Before Izel and Paladin could say anything, Ent reached out and snatched the robe.

“Thank you very much.”
“Mhm, you’re welcome.”

Ent had seen countless times in the fantasy novels he’d read over the years how ignoring a stranger’s advice led to trouble. Come to think of it, Samantha was right, even if he hadn’t realized it himself. With that vibrant hair color, and how handsome Izel was. Ent nodded and let Izel help him put the robe on.

“But boss. Why only two? Why not give me one too?”
“Hey, big guy. You don’t need something like this robe.”

Paladin’s words made Samantha chuckle as she replied. For one thing, he didn’t have the kind of striking looks like those two. Besides, who would pick a fight with someone built like that? In fact, his intimidating appearance actually helped protect those around him.

Though he didn’t fully grasp her meaning, Paladin sensed the gist and felt oddly dejected. He stared at his reflection in the wall mirror for a long while, muttering, “I’m pretty handsome, though…”

Sharo Village was more developed than Ent had imagined. The street echoed with the blacksmith hammering weapons and the fruit shop owner calling out to customers. Delicious street food was sold at the lined-up stalls, and people slightly older than Ent laughed and chatted on the terrace of a neat-looking café.

“It’s bustling!”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
“Ah, young master! Seafood skewers! I’ll be right back!”
“Uh, yeah…”

The most excited one was none other than Paladin. Paladin seemed to really enjoy the food here. Moreover, Kerban’s coastal location meant trade was highly developed, and with many residents engaged in fishing, there were plenty of dishes featuring fresh seafood.

While it was awkward that Paladin kept buying food for him too, Ent used the excuse of not being hungry and had Izel eat it instead. Actually, Ent felt particularly good today and had already eaten a fruit skewer since morning, so he wasn’t very hungry.

‘Paladin is really cute.’

Ent couldn’t help but laugh seeing Paladin come back laden with seafood skewers in both hands. Izel gently teased Paladin, saying, “Didn’t Lord Ent say he wasn’t hungry?”

‘He’s just like an uncle.’

He’d never met an uncle before, but if he had, wouldn’t he be just like Paladin? The long scar above Paladin’s forehead certainly didn’t make him look ordinary, yet Ent had felt more at ease around Paladin than others from the very first moment he saw him.

His father, Count Evant, possessed a youthful appearance for his age and an intimidating charisma, giving him a different aura compared to Paladin, who was around the same age.

“Young master, should we try to save some money?”
“No. If it’s something you want to eat, eat it all.”

Ent pulled his robe tighter, deliberately hiding his smiling face. His cheeks stuffed full of shrimp as he chewed looked undeniably delighted. Ion, seemingly uncomfortable nestled in Izel’s arms, went over to Paladin, who was busy eating, and tugged at his trouser leg.

During the time Park Jaeyoon was living as Ent Harbilta, Ent had heard from Izel that he had at least behaved somewhat properly in front of Paladen. Of course, as the family’s coachman and young master, the two rarely crossed paths. It was more that if they happened to meet, he would stop screaming and behave himself.

‘That must be why Paladin volunteered to come on this journey.’

After hearing Izel’s words, Ent finally felt a weight lift from his heart. He could only know what Park Jaeyoon had felt back then by asking him directly, but the man himself was already dead and gone from this world. Still, Ent could roughly guess.

“… Paladin has black hair and black eyes.”

On the journey they had traveled, on a night when he had sat by the campfire, relying on its warmth, lost in thought. Listening to the sound of Paladin’s snoring as he slept early, Ent realized that fact. He even thought it was a bit funny. Hadn’t he himself felt more at ease with Paladin than with others when he first saw him?

‘Come to think of it, he was six years old.’

Ent had transferred into Park Jaeyoon’s body when he was eight, but Park Jaeyoon’s body was still only six at the time. A child not yet in elementary school. A peaceful, mischievous child who grew up in the love of his family, shuttling between kindergarten and home.

‘Who did you see in Paladin?’

Father? Mother? Perhaps it was Jinyoon, his older brother. Or maybe it was some other family member Ent never met while living as Jaeyoon.

Whoever it was, Ent could understand him. That must have been why. Rather than resent Park Jaeyoon, Ent Harbilta set out on a journey to confront Omb, the God of Time who had created this situation.

“Ent, your pace is slowing.”
“Ah, yes.”

His pace slowed as useless thoughts weighed him down. At Izel’s light rebuke, Ent quickened his step.

To be so lost in thought over a pain that had already passed – perhaps it was a quiet sorrow, born from the fact that Ent’s life hadn’t been happy enough to compensate for his sacrifices.

To Ent, the lingering remnants of his past misfortune felt like an unquenchable sea spray, constantly splashing into his life.