But to share it to him without him even asking made genuinely grateful.
He made a slight bow.
"Thank you, Soren. I'm really hungry now after just waking up."
I didn't answer.
Instead.
"You… you knew me?" I asked, slightly surprised.
"Yeah," Ren replied. "You got pretty famous at the base a days ago, right? The one they called The Crazy Soren.
I was there when you… made that mess."
A slight flush of embarrassment rose to me, but I quickly masked it.
"Yeah… that was me. I had a nightmare that time about being sent to a hellish world,after I wake up, that happened."
"I see. So that's what it was," he said.
"Looking at you now, you don't seem crazy at all."
I stayed silent—not because I was offended, but because I did not know how to respond.
But Ren misunderstood his silence. Thinking I didn't want to talk about it anymore, he immediately changed the topic.
"Ah, right. How long have I been unconscious?"
Before Ren woke, Soren already quietly asked the kids how long the injured man had been out.
"You've been out for half a day now, according to those children."
I glanced toward them.
Ren followed my gaze and saw the children sleeping together near the burning campfire.
"You should thank those kids for saving you.
Even knowing how difficult it was for kids like them to bring an injured man along, they still kept their word and carried you here—especially the girl named Masha, who was truly determined to help you.
If it were other members you'd made a deal with, forget about being saved.
They would have left you behind because of your injury and taken your supplies, leaving you to die there alone."
Ren seemed to remember something.
It was them—the ones who accepted his plea.
Back then, he had been desperate, asking everyone he knew at the base for help, only to be rejected.
They claimed there was no space left in the cart, but from their expressions, he knew they were lying.
They probably thought his injury would slow them down.
He nodded.
"Yeah. I will definitely thank them."
The look on Ren's face seem genuine. He can't help but have a good impression on this young man.
"How did you end up like this? What really happened?"
The moment I asked, Ren's expression turned sour—only for a moment—before returning to normal.
"Wait a moment. Let me finish this first,"
he said, pointing at his bowl of food. He wasted no time, eating everything in it.
I didn't disturb him, only watched as I waited.
It didn't take long. He quickly finished, and I handed him a cup of water, which he drank in one gulp.
This guy must have been really hungry.
After setting the empty bowl down, he paused for a moment.
Then his expression suddenly turned serious.
"Those bastards ambushed us."
He told me everything without leaving out a single detail. As I listened, my suspicions were slowly confirmed.
"And that's how I got this serious injury on my leg," he finished.
"So that's what happened…"
Just as I thought—it was the Black Skull Gang.
According to Ren, they had been ambushed and surrounded.
Everything happened too fast. Some of Bloodhook's best fighters were killed before they could even draw their weapons.
They were forced to fight back, but within few more minutes, they realized they were at a disadvantage.
The enemy was prepared and had the numbers.
Soon, the Bloodhook leader and several of their strongest fighters were taken down one by one.
Those Ren and the others who were still resisting realized the situation was already hopeless.
They broke through the encirclement and scattered.
But the Black Skulls chased them down.
Only a few survived.
Ren was one of the lucky ones.
Though one of the pursuers injured his leg in the process.
Driven by his will to live, Ren manage killed the pursuer and dragged himself back toward the base.
That was when he encountered the group of children—the only ones willing to help him.
He was incredibly lucky to survive such a deadly situation.
The injury to his leg was also severe. If it hadn't been treated in time by me, he would've died from blood loss.
If not for the coincidence of me forming a group with the children, no one would've been able to stitch and bandage the wound using my first-aid kit.
The kids don't how to bandage a severed wound.
Those thoughts stayed in my mind.
"I see. Thank you for telling me."
"Ah, no—it's fine. There's no need to thank me at all. I should be the one thanking you all instead for saving me."
I nodded.
"Alright, I'll leave you here for now. It's already midnight, and I need to rest. I have to wake up early tomorrow."
"I think you should rest as well," I added. "It'll help your wound heal faster."
As Soren gave a goodbye gesture—
"Yeah… I think I should. Thank you," Ren said in a low voice, but it still reached Soren's ears.
"Also, the food was delicious."
Hearing the praise, Soren smiled.
That was expected. I was a pretty good cook back on Earth afterall. Even my college friends always told me I should become a chef after graduation.
Morning came quickly. The group woke early because Soren said they were going to catch something near the river.
The children soon realized that Ren had regained consciousness.
Only Masha and Troy immediately went to check on him.
The others stayed back, watching warily.
The true members of the Bloodhook had always mistreated them, only treating them as servants to be ordered around.
Ren himself used to tease them often. Even if it was never physical, as a kid it was enough to make them afraid he would do it again.
But instead, Ren bowed sincerely and expressed his gratitude to Masha and the others.
The sudden gesture made Masha feel awkward, but she still nodded and accepted his thanks.