LS Chapter 4 (Part 2)

A single regret weighed heavily on the leader. If he hadn’t sent Pashi to the northern battle that day, she wouldn’t have gone missing. She might have become his wife, and Bart—not this pathetic fool—might have been his son. The thought deepened the creases on the leader’s brow as he sighed, lost in memories.

Namta, listening to his father’s sigh, clenched his teeth.
Pashi, Pashi, Pashi! His father always brought her up, berating him while praising a woman long gone. No matter how hard Namta tried, his efforts were never enough.

His eyes burned with envy and hatred as he glared at Bart’s back. This is all because of that bastard. If Bart didn’t exist, Namta wouldn’t be treated like this. He was the leader’s son and the rightful heir to the Mounted Tribe. How dare anyone compare him to a mere warrior? Namta’s eyes glinted with jealousy and rage.

* * *

“Father, may I go to the healer as soon as we arrive at the settlement? The pain is unbearable, and I’ve lost feeling in my leg,” Namta asked, his voice trembling.

“…”

“Also, Father, could you tell Aunt to bring some meat to my hut first? If I ask, she’ll insist I wait my turn. I haven’t eaten in nearly three days, and I have no strength left. Please? If it’s your command, she’ll—”

“You call that a request?” the leader erupted, his voice sharp and furious.

The fact that Namta had fled during the battle and gotten captured was already shameful. That two of the leader’s closest warriors had died saving him only added to the disgrace. If the leader had another son, he would have abandoned Namta long ago. But as the leader of the Mounted Tribe, he couldn’t risk jeopardizing his position without an heir.

And now this useless son was whining about hunger and meat? The leader’s blood boiled at the sheer audacity. He glared at Namta, his disgust palpable, before his gaze shifted to Bart, who was leading the warriors ahead.

“If only I had sent Pashi…”

A single regret weighed heavily on the leader. If he hadn’t sent Pashi to the northern battle that day, she wouldn’t have gone missing. She might have become his wife, and Bart—not this pathetic fool—might have been his son. The thought deepened the creases on the leader’s brow as he sighed, lost in memories.

Namta, listening to his father’s sigh, clenched his teeth.
Pashi, Pashi, Pashi! His father always brought her up, berating him while praising a woman long gone. No matter how hard Namta tried, his efforts were never enough.

His eyes burned with envy and hatred as he glared at Bart’s back. This is all because of that bastard. If Bart didn’t exist, Namta wouldn’t be treated like this. He was the leader’s son and the rightful heir to the Mounted Tribe. How dare anyone compare him to a mere warrior? Namta’s eyes glinted with jealousy and rage.

Booooooom!

The long, loud horn of the Mounted Tribe echoed through the settlement, signaling the warriors’ return.

Yujin, hearing the horn, quickly joined the crowd gathering to greet the returning warriors. He scanned their faces desperately, searching for Bart. They had said many had died—surely Bart was fine, right?

Cheers for the surviving warriors and cries of anguish from the families of the dead blended into a chaotic cacophony. Amidst the noise, Yujin finally spotted Bart.

Thank goodness. He’s alive.
But then his relief turned to worry. Is he injured?

“Excuse me! Please let me through!”

Yujin pushed his way forward, his heart racing as his eyes fell on the cloth tied around Bart’s thigh. Beneath it, a deep sword wound was visible, oozing pus and fluid. His heart sank as Bart moved further away, his back disappearing into the distance.

That night, Yujin sat crouched near Bart’s hut, clutching a water jug, cloth, and a pouch of herbs he had painstakingly gathered. He waited for the settlement to fall silent, for everyone to go to sleep. Warriors might have been used to carrying injuries, but Bart’s wound troubled Yujin deeply. Left untreated, it could lead to serious complications—crippling him or, worse, taking his life.

The tribe’s healer treated all returning warriors, but, as Chi-chi had explained, treatment was given in order of rank. Though Bart was now a direct warrior, Yujin doubted his rank was high enough for immediate attention.

When the night grew quiet and the others were fast asleep, Yujin finally rose and slipped into Bart’s hut. The sound of Bart’s breathing filled the small space, slightly uneven, hinting at the pain he was enduring. As Yujin placed the water jug gently on the ground, a cold, low voice startled him.

“Who’s there?”

“I, um, I’m Yujin… Do you remember me? We met a few times by the valley about a year ago,” Yujin said hesitantly.

“…”

Bart didn’t respond. As expected. It didn’t matter, really. Yujin knew he wasn’t someone important enough to leave an impression on others. Raising his hands to show he was unarmed, he continued speaking softly.

“Uh, I noticed earlier that you were badly injured. I know a bit about treating wounds.”

“…”

“The healer will probably come soon, but I thought it’d be better to do some first aid in the meantime. Can I get closer? Look, I brought herbs—they’ll help with your wound.”

Bart’s dark eyes glinted in the shadows. Injured and likely in pain, he was on edge, his usual stoicism giving way to irritability. Yujin moved slowly, carefully gauging Bart’s reaction, making sure not to provoke him.

Half-risen with his sword pointed at Yujin, Bart eventually lowered the blade to the ground and lay back down. Taking this as a silent approval, Yujin approached and examined the wound.

As he suspected, the gash was deep, with pus filling the cavity. Left untreated, it would worsen and could lead to dire consequences.

“The wound is filled with pus. If it’s not drained completely, it’ll get worse,” Yujin explained.

“…”

“Alright, I’m going to drain it. Please bear with me for a moment.”

Yujin cleaned the wound with water and began pressing out the pus. No matter how much he drained, more continued to flow. Bart let out a few low groans but otherwise remained still throughout the process.

Watching Bart endure such pain, Yujin silently marveled. If it were him, he would have screamed the moment anyone touched the wound. Warriors, after all, were a breed apart.

Once the wound was clean, Yujin applied the herbs he had prepared and wrapped Bart’s thigh tightly with a clean cloth. As he tied the knot, his gaze lingered on the wound, and he spoke hesitantly.

“Um… with a wound this deep, you might develop a fever. Plus, the herbs will need to be replaced later. So, I was wondering… if it’s okay with you, could I stay nearby until dawn to keep an eye on you?”

“…”

“If it bothers you, I can leave. Or, um, if you get a fever, you could—”

“Stay.”

“Huh?”

“You can stay.”

“Oh… okay.”

Bart’s response brought an unexpected smile to Yujin’s face, one he tried but failed to suppress. He quietly spread out his supplies next to Bart’s bedding, settling in.

The wound bled through the cloth in no time, staining it red. With the pus removed, it was as if the wound had been reopened entirely. Each time the cloth grew damp, Yujin replaced it with fresh herbs and a clean wrap.

Through the long hours of the night, Yujin tended to Bart, keeping a vigilant watch. As dawn broke and the first light crept into the hut, Yujin finally slipped out, leaving Bart to rest.

* * *

“Hey, Yujin. You’ll get indigestion at this rate.”

“Mind your business.”

With his mouth stuffed full of food, Yujin mumbled a reply, prompting Chi-chi, who had been watching him with a look of pity, to hand him a cup of water and add another comment.

“Why are you acting so out of character? You usually pick at your food like a bird and are the slowest eater here. What’s going on?”

“Nothing. There’s nothing going on.”

Yujin hastily shook his head, gulping down the food in his mouth without even chewing properly, and then began cramming more into his mouth. Moments later, he stood up abruptly.

“Where are you going?”

“Uh, I have something to do. See you later.”

Leaving Chi-chi behind, Yujin exited the settlement and headed toward the mountain behind it.

Earlier at dawn, as he left Bart’s hut, he had asked if he could come back tonight. Bart had replied without much resistance, simply saying, “Do as you like.” Yujin had only asked on a whim, not expecting Bart to agree, and now he was bursting with anticipation.

The reason for his return to Bart’s hut tonight was to grind herbs and check on Bart’s wounds. And somehow, he felt that if things went well, he might be able to stay alone with Bart until his injuries healed.

For that, he needed herbs. While he already had enough for about three days, Yujin wandered the mountain to gather extra supplies, sacrificing even his mealtime just in case.

If I’d known this would happen, I should’ve worked harder to gather more herbs whenever I had the chance.

He sighed softly, scolding his past self, but even this frustration felt like happiness to him.

“Did you feel feverish during the day?”

“No.”

“That’s a relief.”

Yujin examined Bart’s wounds near the brazier, asking about any symptoms he might have experienced during the day. Unlike yesterday, the brazier was lit, and for some reason, being so close to Bart in this warmth made Yujin feel a little self-conscious.

But it felt strange, too. How could he describe this feeling? It was like walking on clouds or rolling through a field of flowers.

“Since the heat around your wound is gone compared to yesterday, I don’t think we need to worry about it festering anymore,” Yujin said with relief.

“Really?” Bart replied.

“Yeah, but you still shouldn’t overexert yourself for a while. Running is obviously out of the question, and even walking should be done cautiously.”

“Alright.”

“…Hey, Bart. So, uh, I heard from people today that the warriors are supposed to rest for at least ten more days. Is that true?”

“Probably.”

Yujin swallowed nervously, replaying the words he had rehearsed all afternoon in his mind. He didn’t understand why he was going to such lengths for someone who barely even remembered him. But he wanted to do it anyway.

He didn’t know why he liked Bart so much or why he clung to him this way. He didn’t have an answer to that.

He just liked Bart. Being near him gave Yujin a sense of peace. Sure, he could come up with reasons if he wanted to. Bart had saved him when he was ready to die, shared food with him when he was starving, and had been his first kiss. There were plenty of reasons. But above all those reasons, Bart himself was what mattered most to Yujin.

“About your wound… I need to replace the herbs daily and, uh, there’s a chance you might suddenly develop a fever.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah, so, um… if it’s alright with you, I was wondering if I could come by every night until the rest period ends?”

“…”

Yujin glanced at Bart’s face, watching his lips part slightly. Fearing a refusal, Yujin hurried to add more.

“I swear I won’t bother you.”

“You want to come here every night?”

“…Even if it’s every night, I’d just stop by briefly to replace the herbs and check your wound.”

After finally saying the words he had practiced all day, Yujin felt a slight sense of relief wash over him. To hide his nervousness, he busied himself tidying up the cloth he had used the day before while waiting for Bart’s response.

Though Yujin knew that from tomorrow, a healer would likely take over Bart’s care, leaving no real need for his assistance, he still held onto a faint hope. Even with such a flimsy excuse, he wanted to stay by Bart’s side.

“If it’s too much of a bother, I could just bring herbs from time to time. If you feel like you need to replace them, you could do it yourself. Would that be okay?” Yujin suggested.

Since coming to live among the Mounted Tribe, the first thing Yujin had learned was how to give things up. The second was how to survive by accepting his circumstances and extending his days in this world.

Life had been hard. With no expectations for the future, giving up had never been difficult for him. That’s why he had chosen to die—until Bart saved him. From that day on, Bart had occupied Yujin’s thoughts. Despite knowing there was no connection between them and no opportunity to get closer, Yujin found himself unable to let go.

Even now, it was the same. Afraid of being rejected, he kept leaving room for possibilities. It felt pathetic and foolish.

If coming every day was too much, he’d settle for the rest period alone. If visiting during the rest period was impossible, he’d be content with seeing Bart occasionally. If even that was denied, he’d ensure Bart didn’t forget his face by visiting once every season—just to see him.

His own persistence was so ridiculous that he almost laughed at himself.

“That’s not a bad idea. Come until the rest period ends.”

Bart’s calm reply broke through Yujin’s overthinking, startling him. Yujin had been agonizing over what excuse he might use if Bart rejected even occasional visits, but now that Bart had agreed, joy overtook him.

“Really? Thank you,” Yujin said, grinning widely, unable to hide his delight.

Bart’s deep, unreadable gaze lingered on Yujin’s face as he smiled.

That night, Yujin stayed at Bart’s hut until dawn once again. Unlike the previous night, there was a subtle change—Yujin occasionally initiated conversation with Bart. Though Bart didn’t say much in return, he would sometimes nod, showing that he was listening.

And for Yujin, that was more than enough. He was genuinely happy.

* * *

The day’s work had been exhausting, but it had also been delightful. Time seemed to flow with happiness. Despite the scolding he endured and the physical strain, Yujin’s steps always felt light. Knowing what awaited him at the end of the day made every moment precious, and he eagerly looked forward to tomorrow.

As the rhythmic sound of breathing filled the shared hut, signaling that everyone else was asleep, Yujin quietly rose from his spot. Grabbing his herb pouch, he slipped out of the hut.

Under the greeting of white stars sprawled across the black sky, Yujin made his way toward Bart’s hut.

The cool night air felt pleasant. The sound of his footsteps crunching on the dirt was oddly comforting. In the distance, the soft red glow emanating from Bart’s hut caught his eye, and a quiet smile crept onto Yujin’s face as he entered.

“Bart, I’m here.”

“…”

“How’s the wound?”

“It’s fine.”

Yujin naturally approached Bart and began untying the cloth wrapped around his thigh to inspect the wound. Carefully, his fingers traced the area around the injury, which was healing well with no signs of trouble.

This was the wound he had treated. A swell of pride filled Yujin’s chest. He knew he needed to replace the herbs and rewrap the wound with a clean cloth, but without realizing it, his hand lingered on Bart’s thigh.

The thick, firm muscles of Bart’s thigh were impressive. His large, solid frame had an odd way of making Yujin feel tense.

Oblivious to Bart’s gaze that had been fixed on his face, Yujin continued to run his fingers over Bart’s thigh for a while. Suddenly realizing what he was doing, he pulled his hand back in a fluster.

Did he see? He must’ve seen.

“I-I was just checking to see how well the wound was healing… It seems to be healing better than I expected. That’s a relief,” Yujin stammered.

“Does it look that way to you?” Bart replied.

“Uh, yeah… it does.”

Expecting annoyance or even anger, Yujin was surprised by the unexpectedly kind response. Gaining a bit of courage, he looked up, only to meet Bart’s gaze. Bart’s expression was unreadable, but his intense stare locked with Yujin’s, freezing him in place.

* * *

Bart’s calm gaze seemed to pierce through Yujin’s thoughts, his eyes glinting as though they could strip away every layer of pretense. Feeling exposed, Yujin quickly dropped his head and busied himself with opening the herb pouch. He placed the prepared herbs on Bart’s wound and secured them with a clean cloth.

“So, Bart, did the healer not come again today?” Yujin asked cautiously.

“They didn’t come,” Bart replied.

Yujin felt a wave of relief. Bart hadn’t mentioned the earlier awkward moment, much less questioned his actions. Yujin had been dreading a confrontational, “What are you doing?” but it never came.

“Still? I thought someone in your position, being a direct warrior, would be treated as a priority,” Yujin said, a hint of frustration in his voice.

“They’ll come eventually,” Bart said indifferently.

“Is it because there are so many injured this time?” Yujin pressed.

“Don’t worry about it. They’ll come when it’s time.”

In truth, Yujin was secretly glad the healer hadn’t come. It justified his visits to Bart’s hut. Still, part of him wished for the healer to examine Bart. While Yujin was confident in his knowledge of herbs, he lacked access to the wider variety of medicinal plants that the Mounted Tribe’s healers regularly received from other tribes.

“It would be better if the healer checked on you,” Yujin said, conflicted.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“But the healer probably has herbs better suited for your recovery than I do.”

“…”

The conversation fell silent again. Bart’s short, clipped replies often left behind a thick, uncomfortable quiet. Yujin, sensing that Bart didn’t want to talk, focused on tending the wound in silence. Almost reflexively, he muttered to himself.

“I need to gather more food.”

“Food? Are you starving?” Bart asked, breaking the silence.

“Huh? No, it’s not for me. I’ve been taking care of an injured jackal. I bring it food now and then,” Yujin explained.

“A jackal?”

So, he doesn’t remember. Not even that. Not even… our kiss.

Yujin felt a pang in his chest at the confirmation. He had hoped, just maybe, Bart would remember. But now that he knew for certain, the sting of disappointment was sharp. Still, he didn’t want to show his feelings to Bart and forced himself to keep his tone light.

“It’s not like other jackals. It’s gentle and tame. It even follows me around. I think it’s because I treated it when it was a pup,” Yujin said with a small smile.

“…”

“Just… keep it a secret, okay? If anyone else finds out, they might hurt it,” Yujin added, lowering his voice.

It was ironic. He’d revealed something he didn’t need to, all for the sake of having a conversation with Bart, only to now ask him to keep it quiet. Yujin berated himself inwardly, embarrassed by his desperation to connect. Even more so, mentioning memories Bart clearly didn’t recall felt like self-inflicted pain. Wanting to escape his own awkwardness, Yujin hurriedly changed the topic.

“The village I used to live in used to send herbs to the Mounted Tribe too. Lots of herbs that were good for recovery. Every year, I used to help my grandmother gather them…”

Yujin unconsciously began talking about the village he used to live in, only to stop as memories of what had happened there surfaced. Now, he was the only one left who knew that place had ever existed. Well, aside from Alma, who was likely living as the wife of an Azure Sky Tribe warrior. But Alma wasn’t someone with whom he could share those memories. It was as if no one else existed.