“You know, senior.” Ru Hiana paused mid-march and tilted her head to stare at Chi-Woo, who had been following them from behind. “Did something happen?” 

Chi-Woo seemed to be deep in thoughts. He walked with a serious expression and sometimes stopped suddenly to let out a small cry. Then, he would stare at midair and nod. One would liken him to Rodin’s The Thinker, while Ru Hiana saw Chi-Woo as a great sage pondering about the future.

“He’s acting strangely. I was worried that he would go crazy like the cursed ones,” she muttered aloud. She had been deeply troubled before, but now she was relieved. After all, she hadn’t been able to understand Chi-Woo’s behavior—how utterly shocked he had been after the recent incident; it would’ve been understandable if newbies like her and Ru Amuh had responded in this manner, but Chi-Woo was supposed to be an experienced hero who was used to things like mass sacrifice.

‘Is this perhaps his first time?’ If this was his first mission, his reaction would be understandable; she remembered reacting in a similar way in the same situation. However, Ru Hiana dismissed the possibility immediately. Not only was Chi-Woo able to make decisions calmly and coolly, he knew when to push forward more aggressively. There was no way such a skilled leader like Chi-Woo would be a newbie. Anyone would have mocked her for having such thoughts. After thinking deeply about this matter, she reached her own conclusions.

‘He must have kept people’s sacrifices close to his heart despite all the things...