The Chieftains did not answer.

Instead, they turned their backs and entered the large hut. It seemed they were quite angry.

Grak, who had been watching the Chieftains’ retreating figures, turned his back.

He uttered only one word in this direction.

“Go.”

He nodded.

On one side, Boil wiped tears from his eyes with his sleeve and carried his Father on his back.

His carefree expression was nowhere to be found.

Rael ran. The passing Orcs merely stood there and watched. There were many of them.

The Chieftains said they would pursue them in an hour.

Before that, I wasn’t sure if I could escape far enough.

It was definitely not a distance to the Village. At least I hoped not to get caught.

He had received generous compensation, but his heart was heavy.

“We’ll have to fight the Orcs again, won’t we?”

“You don’t need to feel guilty.”

Hansen said as he ran.

“If it weren’t for you, the Village would have been destroyed long ago. You saved it. You can be proud.”

“But…”

He lowered his head. He was depressed.

There was silence for a while.

The party entered the Mine Shaft. Once they passed the Mine, the Village wasn’t far.

However, a sound slowly reverberating through the ground was heard. It was a change caused by the Orcs’ footsteps.

Rael forced himself to run. It was hard, but he had to run.

Then, Hansen spoke up.

“The Village where I lived was similar. Many Orcs came down.”

“Were you from The North?”

Hansen nodded.

“But it was destroyed. Our situation was even better than this. But… the dying Orcs suddenly became strong. All their wounds healed, and they suddenly grew half again in size, and even Spear-knives didn’t penetrate their skin.”

It was a terrifying thing.

“I fled to the central region. If I stayed in The North, the damned memory of the Village being destroyed would appear in my dreams every day.”

“Why were you trying to go to The North?”

For Hansen, The North was a place that brought back nightmares. There was no reason for him to take the Trade Caravan.

“I heard rumors that the Village where I lived had been rebuilt.”

That’s a relief.

“But war broke out in The North. I… I thought I had to die there, even if it meant death.”

His words trailed off.

Just then, Grak looked back.

“Have they already followed us?”

The party stopped.

Boil was on the verge of dying from exhaustion. It was because he had been carrying Corpse and running. Rael’s situation was similar. At least Hansen was in better condition.

“Rael.”

Hansen held out a necklace. It was a strangely shaped necklace. It was egg-shaped, red, and covered in eye-like protrusions.

“There’s a fortress city called Trevin in the northwestern region of the North. Can you go there?”

“What about Hansen?”

“…”

“Hansen!”

He didn’t answer.

Instead, he mumbled.

“The village where I lived was trampled by orcs. I became a mercenary to eat and to kill. I’m sick of orcs.”

“…”

“But I have no strength.”

Hansen turned his head. It was in Grak’s direction.

“Can I trust you?”

“Of course, humans.”

Rael was fidgeting.

“Hansen. What are you talking about?”

“This is as far as I go, you damn brat.”

“We can all escape together.”

“No, we can’t. So go first.”

“Why are you suddenly like this?!”

“Well. Maybe it’s my time to die.”

“Time to die?”

“I’ve lived my whole life chasing only profit. I’ve done a lot of dirty deeds. Then it suddenly occurred to me. Is this right?”

“Ev-everyone’s like that.”

“Maybe. But it’s an adult’s job to cover for a kid’s mistake. You’re not going to take responsibility for it.”

“Nonsense…”

Suddenly, a tremendous pain washed over him, and his consciousness blurred.

Grak, who had knocked Rael unconscious, tucked the boy under his arm.

“Thanks. The kid’s whining was hard to handle.”

“If you do something you don’t usually do, you’ll die, Human.”

“I know what I’m doing.”

“Is that so?”

“I ask a favor.”

“To the Orcs you dislike so much?”

“Yes.”

Hansen looked at the support holding up the Wall. The Passage was shaking wildly as the Orcs charged.

“Do you have any axes left?”

Hansen snatched the axe that flew his way.

“Thanks.”

“Farewell, Human.”

Hansen watched the retreating figures of the Orcs.

More precisely, he looked at Rael, who was slumped under Grak’s arm.

Hansen turned his head in the opposite direction.

“Oh dear, are they coming?”

He swung the axe. With a thud, the axe blade embedded itself in the support. He pulled it out and struck again.

As this continued for a while, something appeared from the Passage. It was the Orcs who had chased after them late. They stopped.

Because a strange sound was repeatedly heard. Far away, a man was seen swinging an axe.

The Orcs had no idea what was happening. But as they slowly approached, they let out a monstrous scream. The man was trying to break the support with an axe. Every time he swung the axe, the cloth shook.

The Orcs’ expressions changed.

“The humans are trying to collapse the mine shaft!”

“Humans! Stop the humans!”

The Orcs rushed forward. The leading Orc threw an axe.

Thud.

The axe plunged deep into the man’s forearm. His arm was almost severed.

The Orc’s expression brightened.

It had cut through to the bone. It was a pain so intense that it would be no surprise if he collapsed immediately, let alone thought of moving.

Although he held an axe in his other hand, the pain prevented him from swinging it further.

As proof, Hansen staggered as if about to fall.

That’s it.

It was the moment the Orc thought so.

Life returned to Hansen’s eyes. Instantly steadying himself, he swung his axe.

It was the decisive blow.

The support beam, already cracked as if it would break at any moment, shattered.

The ground shook.

It was an old mine shaft to begin with. Since the support beams were openly destroyed in something that could collapse at any time, what followed was obvious.

It’s collapsing.

The Orcs screamed.

If they didn’t die in battle, they couldn’t go to Warrior’s Hill. That was a fear greater than death.

Amidst it all, only one person,

The sound of one person’s laughter was heard.

Hansen collapsed onto the ground.

“Haha…”

The Orcs were at a loss, like girls staring at a burning house.

“I thought it was right to be buried in my homeland… but things in the world don’t always go as planned.”

Hansen laughed. It was a better end than the mercenaries who died fighting for a paltry sum.

“Well, this isn’t bad either.”

The passage crumbled.

A pile of dirt swallowed the spot where he had stood.

It was the end of an insignificant mercenary.

Rael came to his senses.

First, he looked around. Then he realized that Hansen was gone.

He instinctively knew that he had died.

Tears streamed down his face.

“Don’t be sad, Human. He died nobly.”

“Died?”

“Yes. Even though he was a Human, he might have gone to the Warrior’s Hill.”

“Warrior’s Hill…”

He wondered if he would be happy there. No, he had to be. Only then would he feel at peace. Rael clutched the necklace tightly. It was the strange necklace Hansen had given him.

“Hmm… they’re chasing us again.”

Grak put Rael down. Orcs were coming from behind. They seemed to be those who had circled around the mine.

“Go ahead.”

“Grak?”

“I made a promise to the Human. To protect you all.”

Grak raised his axe. It was battle. Even if they were his own kind, the warriors would surely show no mercy. Because if they did, they wouldn’t be able to go to the Warrior’s Hill. He braced himself.

It was then.

Something appeared from the front.

They were horses.

People were riding on the horses. From their armor, they were knights.

The one at the front seemed to look this way, then said something to the person next to him. It was too quiet to hear.

“Charge!”

But the shout that followed, as they raised their blades, was clearly heard.

“Annihilate the Orcs!”

It was a woman’s voice.

The cavalry charged, cutting down the Orcs.

They couldn’t put up proper resistance. He remembered someone once saying that the most terrifying thing on the Battlefield wasn’t anything else, but those mounted warriors.

Rael slumped to the ground.

His legs gave out. Perhaps from relief, his eyelids gently closed. The fatigue accumulated from running for his life seemed to finally catch up to him.

In his fading consciousness.

He felt the sound of horse hooves shaking the ground and then passed out.

When he woke up, everything was over.

Rael got up and looked around. It was his home.

When he went outside, Amelin was teaching the children. As he approached, Amelin was startled, like a Gnoll.

“Amelin. Have you been well?”

“Rael!”

Amelin embraced him. Rael hugged her back. He felt her warmth.

Feeling the children watching, Amelin quickly pushed him away. She only asked various questions after sending the children back.

Among them was the story of Hansen. When she heard he had died, a shadow fell across her face.

Hansen was someone she had fought alongside and a next-door neighbor in the Village. Although her first impression of him was bad, his death was a sad event for her as well.

This time, Rael asked.

The atmosphere of the Village was bright. He wondered what had happened while the Protagonist was asleep. Amelin said with a smile,

“Let’s talk while we walk.”

Rael walked down the street. The atmosphere he had felt earlier was not a delusion. The Village, which had been gloomy just before he left, was now bustling with life.

“The Knight Order came to the Village.”

“The Knight Order?”

“Yes. They took care of all the Orcs.”

Rael couldn’t believe it even as he listened.

The Orcs tribe was a formidable opponent, even when all the people of the Village combined their strength. Although their numbers had decreased, it didn’t seem like they could win. Especially the Chieftains, who were the strongest Rael had ever seen.

It’s all thanks to Rael.

What did I do?

If it weren’t for you, the village would have been destroyed long before they arrived, wouldn’t it? Boil is also grateful to you.

Boil came?

Rael frowned. He had a history of making advances on Amelin. Didn’t they even duel because of that?

He didn’t do anything strange to me.

Really?

He’s completely different from before. People say he’s a Gnoll. They say the unruly Boil has changed.

That’s a relief.

Boil asked me to visit the protagonist just once when Rael wakes up.

What do you think is the reason?

I don’t know. Maybe he wants you to stay in the village? Since Rael showed them something.

Rael nodded. He had already experienced the protagonist’s magic. He might have heard about the battle in the east.

Having lost his father, it was now up to Boil, the son, to protect what Bairo had built. He desperately needed strength. It was not unreasonable for him to cling to Rael.

Just then, someone approached. It was a knight in armor.

Is that Sir Rael?

Sir?

I heard you’re a mage.

I am a mage.

He was bewildered. The other person was clearly a knight. That meant he was a quasi-noble. Such a person was showing courtesy to the protagonist, who looked much younger.

I am Knight Ratt. Could you please follow me for a moment?

The knight placed his fist over his chest. That seemed to be the knight’s greeting.

“Why?”

The Commander wishes to meet Sir Rael.

He hesitated. Being summoned by a person of high standing brought more worry than anticipation. The nobles the guests at the tavern spoke of were tyrants who extorted and oppressed their subordinates.

It’s nothing bad, so you don’t have to worry.

“Hmm… do I have to go?”

“You only need to show your face. No, once you see their face, you’ll definitely want to go.”

“Their face?”

“Yes. The Commander is an incredibly beautiful person.”

Amelin’s eyes blazed. Seeing her expression change, Ratt realized his mistake.

“The Commander wouldn’t be interested in a young man.”

Only then did Amelin’s expression soften. It was an incredible shift in attitude.

“Let’s go for now.”

“Why?”

“Usually, with people like that, you at least have to show your face. Otherwise, it gets troublesome.”

Rael nodded.

He was also afraid of what might happen if he didn’t go. It was the Knights who had crushed those Orcs.

He walked down Market Street, looking around.

Merchants in the market were shouting, attracting people.

Seeing the village regaining its vitality made him think that Hansen’s death was not in vain. He felt a little more at ease.

On the way, Ratt chattered on.

Looking at his age, he wasn’t that old. He seemed to be around thirty at most. He was still full of vigor.

“I heard from the villagers that Sir Rael’s performance was outstanding. May I ask how old you are?”

“Why do you ask?”

“I’m curious. They say Mages usually maintain their youth, but sometimes their age gets fixed if they research reagents incorrectly. That’s why I asked.”

“As you can see.”

“Huh?”

“I didn’t take any reagents.”

“Haha… you’re joking.”

Ratt didn’t seem to believe him.

“I heard you used Blizzard. If that’s true, then Lord Rael must be a Great Mage. But… you look exactly as you appear.”

“That was just luck.”

Rael said that. He thought they wouldn’t believe him if he said he suddenly got stronger and used it. What he just said was a crude answer, though.

As expected, Ratt didn’t believe him. Instead, he seemed to take it as false modesty.

The villagers praised you. The Eastern Village Chief couldn’t stop praising you. I was surprised by how humble you are.

But it’s true…

He turned his head. Amelin was holding back laughter. He thought he’d have to scold her tonight.

On the way, they passed through the Village Plaza. There were many poles there, with Orcs’ heads hanging from them.

Rael was stunned. That was because some of them were the heads of Chieftains.

Those are…?

They are the corpses of the Chieftains. They were quite difficult to deal with.

Ratt chattered about how he dealt with the Chieftains, but Rael couldn’t hear him.

Usually, a Chieftain-level opponent can be handled by four or five low-ranking Knights, but that one was experienced, so it was a struggle. In the end, it was only after the Commander personally stepped in that his head was cut off.

He looked at the Chieftain’s head. Although only his head remained, the corners of his mouth were slightly turned up.

He didn’t know why. It could be because he met someone stronger than the Protagonist. Or it could be because he went to the Warrior’s Hill.

Anyway, he wasn’t someone whose head should be hanging there like that.

He was an Orc with pride. It just made him a little sad.

Separately, the woman’s skill was incredible.

The Knight seemed much stronger than the Mage. He wondered if it was because there was a regular Knight in between.

It wouldn’t be strange if a regular Knight was equivalent to a low-ranking Mage. An intermediate Knight was comparable to a high-ranking Mage.

He wondered why such a woman was looking for the Protagonist.