Smile! (1)

A carriage crashed in the Akinzurou Gorge.

Thud against a rock.

Another thud against the rock below.

Zain, hanging onto the carriage roof, also went thud.

And so, Zain's consciousness faded to black.

How much time had passed?

When Zain opened his eyes again, he braced for terrible pain.

But he felt no pain at all.

Perhaps he was already dead.

It wouldn't be surprising, having fallen from a cliff.

Yet he felt neither regret nor sorrow.

Hadn't he died while doing something shameful?

He had been in pursuit of the rightful owner's daughter after usurping the territory.

If he hadn't sworn an oath of allegiance when joining the Iron Lion Knights, he would have given up and left long ago.

'A pungent smell...'

The smell wafting from a burning altar.

It smelled like a temple.

Looking around, this was a temple of fire and hearth.

Zain unconsciously touched his necklace.