Chapter 7: Your name

Lortisya still remembered clearly—

When she had just escaped from the Calamity Land, lingering fear gnawed at her heart, and she couldn’t shake off the nightmares.

Every night, it was only by leaning against this familiar body, nestling into this shoulder, that she could fall asleep peacefully.

Although after their separation, it took her quite a long time to overcome this dependence.

Yet now, being close to him again, she felt herself instantly and helplessly falling all over again.

—Hmm, as expected, completely kicking a habit like this is nothing but a pipe dream.

“Uh… cough cough, Soldier Captain?”

Hearing the voice, Lortisya reluctantly lifted her head, meeting the bewildered eyes of the mercenary.

She concealed the longing shining in her emerald eyes, trying hard not to seem flustered.

“Sorry, Sir Weiss, I—I wasn’t paying attention…”

“Ah, the one who should apologize is me. I just barged in without a word—”

Weiss masked his embarrassment with a smile.

“But speaking of which, Soldier Captain… you know my name?”

Lortisya’s eyes widened slightly.

Her mind quickly replayed everything from their encounter last night to his waking this morning.

No mention of it had come up in their conversation; she had simply assumed he knew.

Right, how could she not know? It was the most important name in her life—she almost said so.

But seeing the confusion in Weiss’s eyes,

Facing a Soldier Captain who never showed the slightest fear even in hellish battles, he suddenly seemed to be backing down now.

“—Ah, yes, the Identification Plaque, right, the mercenary’s Identification Plaque.”

“Oh.”

Weiss nodded—he had almost forgotten about that.

She probably found it while tidying up their gear.

Mercenaries usually carry plaques so that if they die, their identity can at least be confirmed.

Of course, Weiss had no family or friends in this world to claim his body.

“No need for ‘Sir’ or anything, Soldier Captain. I’m just a mercenary, and you saved my life… just call me Weiss.”

Weiss smiled wryly, leaving the second half of his sentence unsaid.

In truth, he thought the main issue was that a Soldier Captain addressing a lowly mercenary so formally—especially in a strictly hierarchical army—

If overheard by others, it would surely arouse jealousy and be seen as wearing a crown too big for one’s head.

“Weiss…”

Lortisya carefully repeated the name she had said countless times before.

—Sir Weiss… just like before,

Humble, kind, and approachable.

Back when she first called him “Sir Weiss,” he also insisted she drop the “Sir,”

Though his excuse was different then—something about it sounding awkward and making him feel old.

“Well then, in exchange, Weiss, you don’t need to call me Soldier Captain either. Just call me by my name.”

Lortisya gazed intently at the mercenary in front of her.

Caught off guard by her serious tone, Weiss blinked in confusion:

“Lortisya… Miss?”

“‘Miss’ is unnecessary.”

“Lor… tisa?”

“Hmm…”

The girl slightly bowed her head, as if savoring something, though her expression remained unchanged.

Weiss, relying on his seasoned mercenary intuition, found himself utterly at a loss reading the Soldier Captain before him.

After a brief pause, she looked up:

“Tisha… is fine.”

“Tisha…”

Weiss murmured the last two syllables alone.

“No, is that not okay? Strange?”

Hearing Lortisya’s voice, Weiss snapped back to reality.

A smile involuntarily tugged at his lips:

“No, it’s just that I think I called someone else that before… hmm, it’s a name that easily stirs people’s protective instincts.”

—He still remembered!

Lortisya’s heart tightened, her hands unconsciously clutching her clothes tighter, as if something was about to burst uncontrollably from her chest.

“—However,”

Weiss changed the subject, oblivious to the expectant light flickering in those emerald eyes,

“That was in the past. We haven’t seen each other since we parted. I hope that guy is living well somewhere I can’t see.”

“Is that so…”

For a moment, it felt like a bucket of cold water was poured over Lortisya.

But she soon let it go.

Though the separation was just over two years—not long, but not short either—

Since joining the Holy Covenant Kingdom’s Border Army and starting as a regular soldier, she had been through a lot.

She was no longer the helpless refugee who couldn’t survive without others.

Now, she was the Golden Lortisya, the Kingdom’s strongest Soldier Captain,

Not only needing no protection herself, but capable of protecting others from the Ertide.

Compared to the fragile girl who once stirred protective instincts, it was worlds apart.

She had thought that upon reuniting, the most important person would be incredibly happy and proud to see how she’d grown.

With all the lessons and principles he taught her, she had walked step by step to this day—someone worthy of his pride.

Yet, the reality seemed—

She had grown too much.

—He didn’t recognize her at all.

At least, the changes on the outside made it impossible for him to connect the dots.

Even the name meant to serve as a “small hint” was only taken as a coincidence, sparking a faint memory at best.

Lortisya’s feelings twisted in turmoil.

Perhaps the memories she treasured so dearly were just a small footnote among his many experiences?

He remembered, but only as an ordinary event.

Or maybe, after so long, he had a life of his own now—many people and things he cared for, even someone he loved—and perhaps he had already built a happy family…

Her one-sided feelings might weigh too heavily on him, causing trouble.

Sobered by this realization, Lortisya felt a tinge of sadness.

“Um… Tisha?”

Weiss’s sudden voice broke the brief silence.

—After all, once spoken, it did feel a bit too intimate; better to stick to calling her privately.

He hesitated a moment, then continued:

“Sorry to bring this up at a time like this. Thanks to you, I got a second chance yesterday when you saved me from the Soul Devouring Lord. I haven’t had a chance to properly thank you…”

Lortisya silently watched him, her doll-like expression unreadable, giving Weiss no clue about her feelings.

Unsure how to proceed, he forced himself to go on:

“But right now, I have an urgent matter I must attend to. So, I’m sorry, but I have to leave here. Once it’s done, I will definitely come back and repay your kindness. Then, Mercenary Weiss will be at your disposal.”