“How long has it been? Six years?”

“Five years.”

“Five years! Wow… five years.”

Just realizing how long it had been, Ravin felt a sense of futility. 

Living recklessly while waiting for the man in front of him, five years had already passed. 

Yet, the pride in having successfully welcomed Lin—no, Mr. Lee—into her cultivated domain was greater.

“Mr. Lee has changed a lot too. I never imagined you would become so muscular and sturdy. Even your voice has become deeper. The only thing that hasn’t changed is that oddly gentle face.”

“Really? I didn’t notice. I’ve just been focusing on earning my daily bread.”

“Come on, you’ve become quite something.”

As Ravin tried to continue the conversation cheerfully, she realized there were many eyes around. 

Although the Thieves’ Guild was a hub of information, Lin’s information was top secret. 

Ravin didn’t like the idea of anyone else knowing about Lin besides her.

“Standing here is a bit awkward, let’s go to my office.”

“You have an office?”

“It might not be much, but I am the head of the Thieves’ Guild, after all.”

As Ravin proudly walked ahead, Lucy, who was following him, grumbled to Lin.

“Lin, why does she call you Mr. Lee?”

“Shh.”

Lin urgently raised a finger to his lips and whispered so Ravin couldn’t hear.

“There are very few people who know my real name.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, being a commoner with a surname and not telling my first name, they just call me Mr. Lee.”

“I see.”

Taking this opportunity, Lucy asked more questions.

“So… how many people know your real name?”

“Hmm, three people?”

“One is me, who are the other two?”

“Uh…”

Should he tell her? 

Hesitating, thinking it might cause trouble, Lucy’s eyebrows shot up.

“Are they women?”

Women. 

He could just say yes, but he was reluctant to answer.

Lin felt a moment of hesitation, thinking that one of them had no interest in him from the start and the first one had long forgotten about him. 

“It’s been so long, they’ve probably forgotten. You’re the only one who’s been curious about my name.”

“Then I’m the only one who knows?”

“…Yes.”

“I’m happy.”

Lucy gently stroked the back of Lin’s hand with her thumb.

“I’m the only one who knows you.”

As Lucy leaned closer, about to rest her head on Lin’s shoulder, Ravin interrupted them cheerfully.

“Here we are, my office!”

Despite glaring, it was hidden by the hood, so Ravin didn’t see it. 

The so-called office had no desk, only a simple bed and a few backless wooden chairs.

“Make yourselves comfortable.”

As Ravin gestured for them to sit, he noticed the two holding hands and paused. 

Seeing Ravin’s reaction, Lin tried to subtly pull his hand away, but Lucy intertwined their fingers more tightly. 

Naturally, Ravin didn’t like that.

“So, you turned down my offer and ended up as a porter for the hero party?”

Deciding to irritate Lucy, since she didn’t know who she was, Ravin brought up old stories that only ahe and Lin knew, and the uncomfortable topic of the Demon King’s subjugation.

“And you weren’t even treated properly there.”

Lucy’s whole body shuddered. 

How did she know? 

She didn’t realize that Ravin had been skilled enough to be considered the last candidate for the hero party.

“What was with that ridiculous mask? Did the hero and the party members hate looking at your face?”

What if that was the real reason? 

How would Ravin react?

“…Was it true?”

“Well.”

“Unbelievable. No one in the gutter treated you like that. You were one of the best talents!”

“That’s not true, don’t praise me too much.”

“Well, whether you’re talented or not is another issue.”

If it was so trivial, why mention it at all? 

Lin was uncomfortable with this topic, not just for Lucy’s sake, but because it wasn’t a good time for him either. 

But Ravin brought up that name with a growl.

“Arsil.”

Hearing an unexpected name, Lucy, who had been sagging, perked up her ears.

If she was going to criticize those times, she should address the whole hero party. 

Why was she singling out the saint?

“Why did she join in tormenting you?”

“That’s…”

Because I deliberately hid it. 

But Ravin didn’t give Lin a chance to explain.

“Did you make a mistake? The Lin I know wouldn’t inconvenience others. You were her right-hand man since childhood. How could she treat you like that?”

Lin didn’t get a chance to respond as Ravin continued.

“You’re too worked up, Ravin.”

“Can you blame me?”

“I wore the mask and hid my identity from the saint on purpose.”

“Why? If you had revealed who you were, you wouldn’t have been treated like that.”

The mage had asked him the same question once. 

But Ravin, you shouldn’t be asking this. 

You know better.

“If I revealed who I was, the saint would have asked about the fate of the gutter.”

“…And who’s fault is that!”

“Don’t get so worked up, Ravin. You never liked that place.”

“It’s not about liking it. I lost everyone I shared it with!”

Lin felt the same. 

Arsil too. 

The mask wasn’t something he wore by choice, but he was grateful he didn’t have to reveal his identity to the saint at their first meeting. 

It would have been difficult if her spirit was broken at the start of the hero party.

“Everyone died. From those who followed me to those who left with Arsil. Only you and I are left. That’s why I wanted to go with you. But you turned down my offer and look at how you were treated!”

The casual thief who had robbed banks in the financial city was now furious over the poor treatment of his childhood friend.

Lin wasn’t sure if he should feel touched or tell Ravin to let it go.

“Even when you prepared food, they ate it all without you!”

Lucy couldn’t stand it. 

She felt weak all over.

“The elf openly showed disdain!”

“The mage didn’t even acknowledge you!”

“Arsil didn’t heal you even when you were bandaging yourself!”

“The shield-bearer pretended to care but just looked down on you!”

“And the hero was verbally abusive, then fawned over the shield-bearer!”

“Is that how you treat a comrade? Even in the gutter, we didn’t treat the worst of us that way! It’s a betrayal of the promise! Treat a group member with respect!”

Lucy dropped Lin’s hand. 

Those accusations, even a part of what the hero party did, hit her hard. 

She felt exposed and wanted to hide.

Looking down, she saw the faint glow of the red thread she had once tied, feeling disgusted with herself. 

Her former fiancé, who pretended to care only to hurt her, came to mind. 

She hated that past fiercely.

Her eyes stung, but she didn’t deserve to cry. 

She started to understand why Lin kept pushing her away. 

She couldn’t blame him.

Despite feeling she had no right to cry, her vision blurred with tears. 

Then, Lin intervened.

“Betrayal… not many have experienced it like us.”

“Yeah, when two nations decided to destroy the gutter…”

“And no one has experienced it like ‘us.’”

When Lin took her hand again, Lucy almost broke down.

Hold it in.

Don’t let a single tear fall. 

Be grateful he’s holding your hand.

“Us?”

“Yes, us.”

Finally, Lin pulled back her hood, revealing her long, red ponytail, cat-like features, and tear-streaked face.

“Hero Luciena…! How could you be with Lin…”

“They cut off her limbs right after we defeated the Demon King. I had to rescue her.”

On the verge of an outburst, Ravin was stopped by Lin’s firm stance.

“Did your harsh words lead the hero party to betray you?”

“What are you talking about, Ravin?”

Even as she stepped forward, Lin didn’t let go of Lucy’s hand. 

Her warmth was comforting.

“Those people were the hero party.”

“No, they were puppets of the empire. Only me and Lucy were the hero party. We were betrayed by the hero party, not the other way around.”

“…Are you really Lin?”

The conversation circled back.

“You were skinny and weak. Now you’re sturdy, and your voice is deeper… even your demeanor has changed.”

“Not really…”

“No.”

This time, Ravin interrupted.

“During our conversation, no matter the topic, your expression never changed. You seemed calm.”

Ravin stepped closer, almost nose-to-nose with Lin, teeth clenched.

“What happened to you? What pain made you so numb?”

Lucy didn’t understand. 

Lin had always been like this.

“You’re like a doll now.”

That painful comment made Lin squeeze her hand tightly. 

Lucy finally let her tears fall.