Rekordak, the most notorious concentration camp in the Northernmost Region, loomed over a land so merciless that even at midday, the air barely rose above freezing.3

“Oh, come on! I already told you, no~!” Reylie protested, stepping in front of Yulie to keep her from leaving the main building.0

Yulie grumbled as she was dragged by the collar, muttering, "I’m telling you, I’m fine. Why are you doing this?"0

“Please. You’re far from fine,” Reylie said, pressing her finger firmly into Yulie’s lower back.0

Yulie’s eyes flew open, and her body gave a sudden, startled flap—a faint reminder of the injury that still clung to her.0

“What do you mean, you’re fine? You look like you’re on death’s doorstep.”0

“… Ahem.”0

Yulie was still in a fragile state; her body bore wounds, and her mana reserves were all but drained.1

“Even so, it’s only right to show—"0

“I said, it’s fine. We don’t even know who saved us. Besides, I already thanked them and threw in some tiger meat as well.”0

Surprisingly, Yulie retained a faint awareness of the sudden attack by the monstrous horde two days earlier. Although she hadn’t been conscious, her body remembered it vividly. Such was the mark of a true master; even battles she had not fought left traces of mana carved deep within her being.0

“Tiger meat?”0

“Yes.” 0

To be fair, I didn’t get a chance to retrieve the tiger’s carcass in the rush to escape, but Deculein probably took care of it, Reylie thought.1

“All right! If you’re set on going outside, let’s take a walk together. Here, put this on—it’s said this tiger pelt can even stop a blade,” Reylie said, settling the coat over Yulie’s shoulders.2

A faint blush...0