Rain fell outside the tavern.
A slow.
Gentle.
Endless rain.
The common room was lively.
Adventurers laughed.
Merchants traded stories.
Travelers shared food.
But on the second floor—
One room remained silent.
Lira sat on the floor beside the bed.
Motionless.
The broken pieces of her gauntlets rested beside her.
Bronsthor's gift.
Destroyed.
Kael's memories.
Still gone.
Kensai's words echoed endlessly in her mind.
"I win."
One slash.
That was all it took.
One slash to destroy everything.
A knock came from the door.
"...Lira?"
Shun's voice.
No response.
"...You should eat."
Silence.
"...I'm leaving food outside."
Footsteps faded.
The food remained untouched.
Hours passed.
Another knock.
"...Lira?"
Liren this time.
"...I stole some desserts."
Silence.
"...Okay, technically I borrowed them."
Still nothing.
"...Fine. I stole them."
No response.
Liren sighed.
"...This is depressing."
She left.
Night came.
Then morning.
Then another day.
The door never opened.
Lira barely moved.
She wasn't angry.
That would have been easier.
She was sad.
The kind of sadness that made everything feel heavy.
The kind that made getting out of bed seem impossible.
The strongest warrior in the world couldn't defeat a single feeling.
Outside the room—
Shun crossed her arms.
"...This isn't good."
Liren nodded.
"...I've never seen her like this."
Kael stood nearby.
Listening.
His chest hurt again.
Every time someone mentioned Lira.
Every time he heard her name.
Something inside him ached.
Yet he still didn't know why.
Then footsteps echoed down the hallway.
Eldarin appeared.
Carrying something.
A large covered bowl.
Shun blinked.
"...What's that?"
Eldarin smiled.
"...The solution."
Liren stared.
"...That's food."
"...Correct."
"...Your plan is food?"
"...Yes."
"...That's a terrible plan."
"...Observe."
Eldarin walked toward the door.
Then knocked once.
"Lira."
No response.
"I have ramen."
Silence.
Then—
A tiny sound.
From inside the room.
Everyone froze.
Eldarin smiled.
"...Interesting."
Shun's eyes widened.
"...No way."
Eldarin knocked again.
"Not ordinary ramen."
Another tiny sound.
"I personally traveled three towns away for this ramen."
Silence.
Then—
A very quiet voice.
"...Really?"
Everyone's eyes widened.
Liren nearly fell over.
"...IT'S WORKING?!"
Eldarin raised a hand proudly.
"I understand heroes."
"...You absolutely do not," Shun said.
The door slowly opened.
A tiny crack.
One eye peeked through.
Lira.
Her eyes were red.
She had clearly been crying.
A lot.
Seeing that made the hallway grow quiet.
Even Eldarin's smile softened.
"...You look terrible."
Lira frowned.
"...Thanks."
"...You're welcome."
Silence.
Then Eldarin held up the bowl.
Steam rose into the air.
The smell filled the hallway.
Lira stared.
"...Ramen."
"...Ramen."
"...For me?"
"...For you."
A long pause.
Then—
For the first time in days—
Lira stepped out of her room.
Everyone secretly celebrated.
Eldarin carried the bowl downstairs.
The entire party gathered around a table.
Lira sat quietly.
Still sad.
But present.
Eldarin pushed the bowl toward her.
"...Eat."
Lira slowly took a bite.
Then another.
Then another.
Silence.
Then—
"...Good."
The smallest smile appeared.
Tiny.
Barely noticeable.
But it was there.
Shun relaxed immediately.
Liren nearly cried.
"...She's alive."
"...I was always alive," Lira replied.
"...You know what I mean."
Lira looked down at the ramen.
Steam rose into the air.
For some reason—
It reminded her of older days.
Days before kingdoms.
Before generals.
Before losing.
Before Kael forgot.
"...I lost."
The words finally left her mouth.
The table became quiet.
No one interrupted.
"...I couldn't save him."
Her voice trembled.
"...I couldn't protect Dad's gift."
Another pause.
"...I wasn't strong enough."
Eldarin listened.
Then shook his head.
"...No."
Lira looked up.
"...No?"
The prince smiled.
"...You lost a battle."
His expression became serious.
"...You haven't lost the story."
Silence.
"...What?"
Eldarin pointed at her ramen.
"...You're still here."
Then at Shun.
"...She's still here."
Then at Liren.
"...Unfortunately, she's still here."
"HEY!"
Then finally—
At Kael.
"...And he's still here too."
Kael blinked.
Everyone looked toward him.
For a brief moment—
A strange feeling appeared in his chest.
Warm.
Familiar.
Like he'd sat around a table like this before.
Like he'd laughed with these people before.
Like he belonged here.
The feeling vanished.
But not completely.
Lira noticed.
A tiny flicker.
A tiny crack.
In the wall surrounding his memories.
And for the first time since Kensai defeated her—
Hope returned.
Small.
Fragile.
But real.
Lira took another bite of ramen.
Then another.
And when she finished—
She stood up.
Everyone looked at her.
Her eyes were still red.
But there was determination in them again.
"...Let's get stronger."
Shun grinned.
Liren smiled.
Eldarin laughed.
And somewhere far away—
The Second General of Sloth unknowingly smiled as well.
Because she knew.
The rematch had officially begun.
To Be Continued...