"...How are you feeling?"

"Witt, I'm okay. Could you... help me up?" Kaelxi pleaded softly.

"I can't get up on my own."

Witt thought Kaelxi's current attitude was unbearably humble. He even felt a trace of pity for her.

After all, she was just a greedy little Elf girl who'd gone astray.

Witt squatted down and helped Kaelxi sit on a rock.

The morning air was still chilly. Kaelxi's clothes were torn with several holes, and she'd lost her shoes. Sitting on the cold stone, her body shivered uncontrollably.

Witt saw this and asked, "Are you cold?"

Kaelxi shivered and nodded.

Witt took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders.

Kaelxi tightened the coat, still warm from Witt's body heat, and gradually stopped trembling.

"If you were cold, why didn't you just say so?"

"...Because I was afraid you'd find me annoying..."

"...I don't want you to hate me..." Kaelxi looked up, her emerald-green eyes filled with sorrow.

Witt stared into her eyes, silently repeating: "She's a con artist. She's faking pity."

"She's a con artist. She's faking pity."

After calming himself, Witt asked again, "Do you still hurt anywhere?"

A bruise lingered on Kaelxi's temple. Forcing a faint smile on her pale face, she said, "It doesn't hurt. I'm a Rogue; I'm not that fragile."

Witt knew she was putting on a brave front. "You can tell the truth. I won't be annoyed."

"I hurt so much... everywhere. I thought I was going to die just now." Only after hearing Witt wouldn't mind did Kaelxi speak honestly.

"Then why didn't you fight back? You're a Blackiron Rank Rogue—you shouldn't lose to a goblin." Witt was genuinely puzzled.

Kaelxi could easily handle even five goblins.

"Because I promised you I wouldn't use my Rogue abilities anymore."

"From now on, I'm just an ordinary Elf girl."

"I'll wash your clothes and cook for you. I'll stay with you forever."

"Witt..."

"Can you... take me with you?"

Kaelxi gazed at Witt, her eyes sparkling with hope. The slender girl's face was pale, but her lips remained vividly red, making her even more pitiable.

Witt's heart wavered. This wasn't the love-at-first-sight feeling from their first meeting. It was something new—a sense of mission and responsibility from being entrusted with her life. And happiness.

"Is this a confession?"

Witt silently chanted again: "She's a con artist. She's faking pity."

"She's a con artist. She's faking pity."

"She's a con artist. She's faking pity."

He repeated it far more times than before to calm down.

He forced a cold gaze at Kaelxi, watching the flame of hope in her eyes slowly extinguish under his ruthlessness.

Only disappointment remained in the Elf's eyes. She lightly pursed her lips. "I understand..."

"People like me really don't deserve forgiveness..."

"Thank you for the coat, Witt."

Kaelxi removed the coat and handed it back.

Witt silently repeated: "She's a con artist. She's faking pity."

Wearing tattered clothes, barefoot and limping, Kaelxi walked toward Cesecity.

Cesecity, with dark clouds churning overhead, seemed like a monster ready to swallow her petite figure.

Witt tried to support her, but Kaelxi refused.

Witt silently repeated: "She's a con artist. She's faking pity."

The distance between them grew. Suddenly, Kaelxi stopped, turned, and faced Witt.

"Witt, there's one thing I forgot to tell you."

"I'd planned to dress up beautifully today."

"Even if you didn't take me with you, I wanted to leave you with the best memory."

Witt silently repeated: "She's a con artist. She's faking pity."

Kaelxi brushed dust off her skirt, barely restoring the dirt-stained dress to a shade that could hardly be called white.

Looking down, she said, "Witt, this is the dress I wore when we first met."

"But it's not beautiful anymore." Kaelxi sighed.

"I'm sorry I couldn't show you my beautiful self."

Witt stayed silent.

"When you return to Cesecity someday... will you visit me?" Kaelxi's voice suddenly lifted, filled with fantasy.

Witt spoke coldly, "I won't be coming back."

"I see..." Her voice grew softer.

"Then... please..." Her words choked up.

"When you eat bread later..."

"Sobbing... just... just remember me... a little..."

"Witt... sobbing..."

"Please don't... sob... forget... me..."

Kaelxi's tears burst forth. She covered her face and ran, ignoring her injuries and the stones cutting her bare feet.

Badly hurt, she ran slowly but resolutely.

Perhaps something deeper pained her heart.

Watching Kaelxi's fading figure, Witt repeated in his mind:

"She's a con artist. She's faking pity."

"She's a con artist. She's faking pity."

"She's a con artist... not at all!"

She was just a pitiful girl he'd abandoned. When he'd promised to protect her for life, she'd probably believed him.

No matter how she'd tried to please him, he'd been so cruel. She must have been heartbroken long ago.

All for your ridiculous prejudice and so-called dignity?

Yes, she deceived you. But hadn't she reflected? Apologized? Made amends?

Hadn't she suffered enough? Most of it was because of you. You coward—you're a disgrace to the Moonlight Family!

You're despicable!

Witt cursed himself fiercely. He finally understood.

He wanted to chase after Kaelxi, but her figure had vanished.

......

Morning mist still hung in the forest. Just as Kaelxi was about to cross through it back to Cesecity, strong arms wrapped tightly around her shoulders from behind.

Witt pulled her into his embrace and kissed her soft lips, their mouths pressed together.

At the forest's edge, water mist swirled like a dream.

"I've come to take you away, Kaelxi."

"Witt..." Kaelxi gazed at his determined eyes with complex emotions.

You really are...

as gullible as ever...

(End of Volume One)