Havent woke from his sleep with a powerful sense of suffocation.
Rubbing his eyes and looking down, he saw a long leg pressing against his chest. Looking at Serena, who was sleeping in an utterly ungraceful position beside him, Havent sat up and moved the girl's leg away.
Still asleep, Serena instinctively wriggled a few times. Fully awake after being crushed beneath her, Havent rose and walked over to the fire.
"Eh? When did you wake up?"
Havent looked at Little Lori, who was sitting on a stump warming himself by the fire, and asked in surprise.
After hearing Lori's answer, Havent nodded. He picked up a few pieces of wood and tossed them into the fire, then sat down beside the boy.
"How are you feeling? Is anything bothering you?"
Little Lori hugged his knees and stared blankly into the flames.
"No. Thank you for your concern, Mister Will. If it weren't for you, I might have become a corpse long ago, just like Grandpa Simoya."
Seeing Lori's low spirits, Havent patted the boy's little head.
"Don't think so much. Since you survived, live happily for the sake of those who didn't. I'm sure Mister Simoya wouldn't want you to be so sad. What do you feel like eating?"
Hearing Havent's words, Lori hurriedly stepped forward.
Looking at the little boy, who resembled an abandoned kitten, Havent smiled and rubbed Little Lori's hair.
"Relax, lad. Men of the Northern Frontier are men like eagles. I'll handle the food myself. Soldier, your mission now is to wash your face clean."
Little Lori watched Havent walk over to the fire and begin fiddling with the iron pot. His eyes reddened for a moment, then he quickly wiped them with his sleeve and revealed a fervent expression.
As Havent hummed a tune