Almond walked toward the tent where the bandits kept the things they had stolen.
He raised his hand and grabbed the arrow stuck in his arm.
"Damn arrow… it's been stuck there since this morning."
Almond took a deep breath and yanked it straight out.
Blood burst from the wound, splattering onto the ground.
He grabbed a roll of bandage from inside the tent and quickly wrapped the wound.
"Alright… I can't let her see me injured like this."
Almond poured everything out of the bag onto the ground and began picking them up again. A few eggs and fruits had already been crushed.
He stared at them, clearly confused.
"Which one belongs to her?"
In the end, Almond gave up trying to figure it out. He simply picked up everything and stuffed it into the bag, not caring whether it belonged to Cashew or not.
"Flour… money… and sleeping clothes."
He picked up each item and put it into the bag.
But before Almond could finish, John slowly stood up.
He picked up an empty wine bottle and quietly walked toward Almond.
Almond sensed the footsteps behind him and quickly turned around… but it was too late.
Crash!
The bottle smashed straight into Almond's head and shattered.
John stood there, laughing in delight.
"You idiot. Go ahead and take it. Either way, we've got another reason to arrest you."
Almond staggered as he tried to stand, blood running down his face.
John pointed straight at him and continued.
"Go on, kill me if you want. The army will arrive tomorrow… and they'll kill you anyway."
He let out a mocking laugh.
"And that girl in the village… I'll enjoy the sweetness of her body while you're being torn apart right next to me."
Hearing that, Almond's anger exploded.
Ignoring the blood still pouring from his wound, he roared.
"Shut up, you piece of trash!"
Almond lunged forward and grabbed John by the face.
"Who gave you permission to insult her?!"
In the next instant, Almond slammed John's head straight into the ground.
The earth cracked beneath them.
John's eyes rolled back as he instantly lost consciousness, foam forming at his mouth.
Almond panted heavily as he staggered to his feet.
"Damn it… my head hurts like hell."
Blood continued to drip down from his head.
Almond turned back to the tent and continued searching.
"I have to hurry… I can't keep her waiting."
He found a thick rope inside the tent.
After that, Almond lifted John onto his shoulder.
At a tree not far away, the other soldiers were also lying there unconscious.
Almond tied all of them together with the rope before quietly leaving.
By the riverside, Cashew was still waiting.
The oil lamp in her hand swayed in the wind. Occasionally, a cold gust blew past, making her shiver slightly.
She looked around, searching for Almond.
"Where is Almond…? Why hasn't he come yet?"
Suddenly, a strange noise behind her made Cashew spin around in surprise.
She raised the lamp toward the sound.
But it was only a small insect crawling through the grass.
Another cold gust of wind passed by, making her shiver again.
"Maybe… I should go back."
Cashew looked around one last time and slowly turned toward the village.
But then she stopped.
She stood there silently for a moment before raising her little finger — the same finger she had hooked with Almond earlier.
"No… Almond promised. He'll definitely come."
Suddenly, a loud splash echoed from the river.
Something large had just fallen into the water.
Cashew quickly turned toward the sound.
The light from her lamp couldn't reach that far, but she could still see a large shadow in the river… slowly moving toward her.
"Who's there? Is that you, Almond?"
But the figure didn't respond. It simply kept moving closer.
When it reached the riverbank, a large hand grabbed the edge as the figure struggled to climb up.
"Who is it? Why aren't you answering?"
Cashew was terrified and almost turned to run.
But she stopped herself.
Taking a deep breath, she shouted toward the darkness.
"Are you a ghost? Then come up here! I'm not afraid of you!"
The large figure finally climbed onto the shore.
It was huge, and it was carrying a large bag.
Step by step, it walked closer, making Cashew so frightened she nearly burst into tears.
Then suddenly, a familiar voice spoke.
"Not a ghost… and not Almond either."
Cashew blinked in confusion.
Almond stepped out of the darkness.
"But your bag."
Almond was completely soaked after climbing out of the river. He raised the bag in his hand.
Then he looked down and realized the bag was dripping wet.
"Ah… I'm sorry. I accidentally soaked it."
He scratched the back of his head and laughed awkwardly.
Cashew happily ran toward him, but when she saw the bag, she suddenly stopped.
"Wait… why is it so big?"
She looked at Almond in confusion and pointed at the bag.
"I didn't lose that many things."
Almond laughed.
"This is compensation for what you had to go through."
Cashew looked slightly puzzled but still took the bag.
However, its weight almost made her fall.
She looked at Almond and smiled.
"Thank you, Almond. I'll return the villagers' stolen things too."
Seeing Cashew smiling at him from such a close distance made Almond suddenly feel shy.
"I–It's nothing."
But when Almond lowered his hand from his head, both of them froze.
His hand was covered in blood.
Blood was still flowing from his head, soaking his hair and dripping onto the ground.
Cashew quickly placed the oil lamp on the ground. The small flame flickered in the wind.
"Almond, you're badly hurt… there's so much blood!"
Almond sat down, allowing Cashew to bandage him.
"I… got hit in the head, so…"
Cashew gently moved his hair aside, then gasped.
"Oh my… it's a long cut!"
She quickly wrapped the wound with bandages.
After finishing, she gently rubbed the spot.
"Does it still hurt, Almond?"
Almond shook his head.
"I'm fine… it's much better now."
His face turned slightly red as he looked away.
Cashew picked up the heavy bag along with the oil lamp.
The bag was so heavy she had to lift it with both hands, placing the lamp on top of it.
"Are you okay, Cashew? Do you want me to carry it for you?"
Cashew shook her head and smiled.
"No. If someone sees you entering the village, it'll be dangerous."
Cashew slowly dragged the heavy bag as she walked back toward the village.
Almond stood behind her, waving goodbye.
But suddenly Cashew turned around and ran back toward him.
"Almond! Take this!"
She handed him her handkerchief.
"Whenever you get hurt, make sure to wipe it clean, okay? Don't let it get infected!"
Cashew smiled and ran off again.
Almond stared at the handkerchief for a moment before gently placing it in his pocket.
"Alright… thank you very much, Cashew!"
Almond shouted after her.
Cashew turned back as well.
"Thank you too, Almond!"
Those words, along with her gentle smile and the small handkerchief in his hand, filled Almond with happiness.
He couldn't help but smile.
"This is amazing…"
Almond looked at the handkerchief in his hand.
"The feeling… of not being treated like a monster."