Chapter 8
I really didn’t want to see fire again.
Even though the monster’s body hadn’t caught fire yet, Ren’s breathing started to grow shallow.
It wasn’t the monster in front of her that filled her mind—it was the memory of teammates and coaches screaming for their lives.
She had wanted to save them, but there was nothing she could do. The guilt of surviving alone was something she could never forget.
Sensing something was wrong, Rix glanced at her and said,
“Then step back a little. It’s dangerous.”
Ren immediately nodded. She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms.
Rix pulled away and took a match from his coat.
The moment he struck the tiny flame with a click, Ren felt as though molten lava was rushing through her veins.
That small sound dragged her back into a shooting range filled with exploding gunpowder and screams.
The past swallowed her whole in the flames.
Ren clutched her chest.
Then she heard a voice screaming by her ear, “Sooji! Please save me!”
She couldn’t remember who it was—maybe a teammate.
It didn’t matter. She had been the only one who walked out alive. Everyone must have screamed for her to save them.
She had tried everything to save them, and in the end, she too had been burned.
A firefighter had dragged her out of the shooting range.
It felt like a fireball was lodged in her chest, crushing her lungs.
Her head spun.
Even as she repeated to herself, “This is different now,” the little spark overwhelmed her like a tidal wave.
The match fell without hesitation onto the monster.
When Rix lit and threw two more matches, the monster’s blood flared like oil, and the flames intensified.
The heat from the fire was suffocating.
The burning monster smelled like trash on fire.
She gagged.
Twisting her body, she covered her mouth and nose.
She retched dryly, but nothing came up, making it even worse.
“Then let’s go… Wait, what’s wrong?”
Rix approached and placed a hand on Ren’s shoulder.
Startled, she slapped his hand away. It felt like something disgusting had touched her.
Beyond a confused Rix, she saw the monster now a single large flame.
And in its shape—faces of the coaches and teammates who never made it out of the range.
“…I’m fine—!”
Rix’s voice faded away.
Unable to bear the heat, Ren collapsed.
When she opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was an ornate ceiling.
Before she could even process the pattern, a sharp headache stabbed at her.
It felt like wearing a crown of thorns, each spike digging deeper into her skull.
No blood, but the pressure was so intense that she couldn’t help but scream.
“Aaaaah!”
She curled up like a child, clutching her head and rolling around.
No matter how much she rolled, she didn’t fall off the enormous bed.
Then someone called out.
“Saintess! Lady Ren!”
The unfamiliar name lodged in her ears.
Right. This isn’t Korea.
I’m not Min Soo-ji.
Only then did her mind clear.
Ren sprawled out on the bed, breathing heavily.
Her vision turned white.
As she blinked, tears that had welled up spilled down her cheeks.
She didn’t even know why she was crying.
“Saintess, are you okay?”
It was Fernandez’s voice.
She turned toward the voice to find him holding her hands tightly, on the verge of tears.
He really had been worried about her.
A warm feeling bloomed inside her. Ren nodded silently.
Fernandez let out a sigh of relief and lowered his head. Finally, thick tears rolled down his cheeks.
As her senses returned, Ren still gripped her throbbing head and slowly sat up.
The room was much more luxurious than the one she had stayed in before. And over by the window, backlit by the sun, stood a now-familiar redhead in a black uniform.
Rix watched her from the windowsill. His expression was grim—like someone who had seen something deeply unpleasant.
Ren moistened her dry throat and managed to speak.
“This is…”
“My palace,” he replied.
She coughed a few times, and Fernandez rushed to get her water.
It wasn’t necessary, but she couldn’t refuse his innocent gaze, so she took a sip.
The water tasted strange. When she frowned, Rix spoke first.
“There’s medicine in it. It’ll give your body a temporary boost.”
“…Thank you.”
Some kind of vitamin, perhaps? Whatever it was, she appreciated the gesture.
“What happened to me?”
“The prince came out of the forest carrying you unconscious!”
Though she asked Rix, Fernandez answered instead.
Even just remembering it made him shiver with fear.
Rix approached slowly and added,
“You fainted suddenly.”
That made sense.
Ren’s last memory was of the flames. She must’ve passed out after recognizing her coach and teammates in the burning monsters.
The memory made her shiver.
Though she had been near searing flames, a chill spread through her bones.
“I caused trouble… I’m sorry.”
Rix didn’t respond. His silence felt like agreement.
Ren extended a hand to Fernandez, who quickly took it. Holding the child’s small hand tightly, she managed to get off the bed.
It was large enough for four people to sleep comfortably.
Her skirt was still singed at the hem. But her shoes were gone.
More accurately—Ren’s shoes were gone.
In their place were shining silver slippers.
Not the ones she had worn through the forest.
They looked expensive. She looked at Rix.
He answered casually.
“They were my mother’s.”
That made her hesitate even more.
As she stood there awkwardly, Rix approached and knelt on one knee to put the shoes on her feet.
“Are you afraid of fire?”
“…Yes.”
He carefully slipped the other shoe on. With Fernandez’s help, she stood.
The shoes, once his mother’s, fit perfectly.
“I’ve prepared a carriage for your return. With my horse as well.”
How should she thank him politely in this situation?
Unsure, she bowed Korean-style.
“Thank you.”
Rix’s expression subtly changed.
“…I’ll send someone soon to teach you how to behave in society. You should learn.”
Guess I did it wrong.
Ren pressed her lips together and gave a small nod.
Before she could exit with Fernandez, Rix called her back.
“Ren?”
The unfamiliar name made her take one more step before stopping.
She really needed to get used to it.
When she turned her head, Rix cleared his throat. Looking out the window, he said,
“About the fire… I’m sorry.”
That surprised her.
The prideful prince had actually apologized?
A smile crept onto her face.
Without even looking at him, she nodded and said,
“It’s okay.”
She left Rix’s room.
When she chuckled softly, Fernandez tilted his head.
“What is it?”
“It’s nothing.”
Ren shook her head.
“It’s huge.”
Her jaw dropped.
Before returning to the temple, Ren had insisted on taking Rix’s horse. Mabel had tried to stop her, but Ren wouldn’t budge.
The horse was so big its back was higher than Ren’s head.
Mabel, who was holding the reins, spoke with concern.
“Are you sure? You said you don’t know how to ride.”
Just fetching the horse had left Mabel a mess. Her hair was tangled, her side bruised, hay stuck to her pants. It wasn’t hard to guess what had happened.
The horse clearly hated being dragged out by Mabel and snorted loudly.
It shook its head, and Mabel’s arm swung like a ragdoll’s.
Ren, watching quietly, said casually,
“Then I’ll learn.”
“It’s not something you pick up that—urk!”
“The saintess will learn quickly.”
Scarlett, who had her hair tied high, cut in smoothly with a smile.
“What’s the horse’s name?”
“Um…”
Mabel and Scarlett looked at each other, both clearly flustered.
Ren asked, half-joking,
“…It doesn’t have one?”
“Haha…”
Mabel laughed awkwardly.
“It’s not that it was mistreated. It was raised with great care. But… no one dared name it…”
Trying her best to defend her lord, Mabel trailed off.
Forget calling Rix cute.
Even the horse snorted in agreement.
“Hmm. What should I call you?”
Ren stroked her chin and unconsciously reached out her hand.
“Ah—!”
Before Mabel could stop her, Ren’s hand touched the horse’s forehead.
She gently stroked its soft fur.
The horse that had refused to behave with Mabel stood quietly before Ren.
Mabel and Scarlett couldn’t believe their eyes.
When Rix first brought the horse, he’d had to subdue it with force and skill. But Ren calmed it with just a single touch.
The temperamental horse, known for being as moody as Rix, now looked at Ren with wide, innocent eyes like it was saying “I’m harmless.”
Seeing her reflection in its big eyes, Ren couldn’t resist and touched her forehead to the horse’s.
The horse stayed perfectly still.
Its docility left Mabel and Scarlett speechless.
“You’re just too cute.”
Ren nuzzled her cheek against the horse’s face. The horse snorted and pawed the ground happily.
As Ren cooed over the horse, saying things like “Good boy, smart one,” Mabel and Scarlett could only blink.
Was this the power of the saintess?
Just how far could her powers purify?
They were beginning to feel awe.
