Rael looked at the Mark. He didn’t think such a cut would serve that purpose. But since it was Grak’s word, he decided to believe it.

Grak had shown himself to be a trustworthy Orc in a short time. There was no reason for him to lie.

Rael pulled down his sleeve and then looked at the Shaman.

Feeling his gaze, the Shaman flinched.

“Why are you looking at me, humans?”

“I was wondering if you had anything.”

Grak didn’t care about not getting a reward. But the Shaman was different. He tried to kill the Protagonist. If it hadn’t been for the Shaman, they might have been able to make peace smoothly and return.

He didn’t like the idea of letting the Shaman live, and he liked the idea of just letting him go even less.

The Shaman pondered for a moment, then pulled something out from his pocket. It was a small glass bottle. It was a bottle that would hold something like a Potion.

But it wasn’t a Potion. The color was different. It was black, not red.

The Shaman spoke.

“It’s the Elixir of Enhancement.”

“Elixir?”

“It’s a recipe passed down through generations of Shamans in our tribe. I spent nearly twenty years and managed to make just one. I’ll give you this as payment for my life.”

“What’s the proof it’s not poison?”

“I won’t deny that I tried to kill you. But I only did my best from my perspective. I have at least some conscience.”

“…”

The Shaman added that he could even make an Oath to the gods if Rael wanted. There was sincerity in his words. Rael accepted the Elixir.

“Normally, I would never give this away. It’s an incredible Elixir that can help one surpass their current level. I want to apologize to you by handing this over.”

Rael nodded. But as he listened to the Shaman’s words, a question arose.

“If it’s such an Elixir, why didn’t you drink it sooner?”

If it could raise his level, he should have drunk it long ago. He was curious about the reason for leaving it untouched.

“Because the side effects are severe.”

“Side effects?”

“If you drink that Elixir, there’s a low chance you’ll reach a higher level. But the probability of settling into that level is less than one in ten. If you fail to succeed within the time limit, tremendous repercussions will follow.”

“Repercussions, you mean…”

“You could become a cripple.”

“A cripple…”

“You lose your mana. That’s why people don’t drink it unless it’s to take an opponent with them as a companion in death. I originally intended to follow the Chieftains, drink it, and die with the enemy, but… I ended up surviving.”

The Shaman said with a bitter expression.

Rael swallowed hard. He understood why the Shaman, despite making such a valuable Elixir, hadn’t drunk it.

“Human. You won’t need to drink that. You are being watched over by a god.”

“By a god?”

The Shaman said that was why it tried to kill Rael.

It seemed that it was indeed a Blessing. He wondered if the Ice Spear incident was also a Blessing. If so, Rael had received two Blessings already.

“Those who receive a Blessing are no different from the chosen. Among them, for a Human to receive a Blessing holds great significance.”

“Why is that?”

“Each race has its own god, but Humans don’t really have a god who looks after them well. It’s difficult for such Humans to catch the eye of a god. Therefore, its meaning is even greater.”

After saying that, the Shaman turned his back. Grak placed a hand on his shoulder.

“If fate allows, we shall meet again, Human child.”

“…”

Rael waved his hand. The Shaman sat in the Coachman’s seat and shook the donkey’s reins. Grak sat in the Cart. The two Orcs slowly moved away.

He returned along that path.

On the way back, he dug up some Herbs. He thought the guard might get suspicious if he had nothing in his hands.

He felt good. The Elixir and the Mark. The gifts the two Orcs left him were not trivial. He wouldn’t need to use them right away, but they were given as repayment for saving his life. He thought they would come in handy someday.

Before that, what the Shaman had told him was also good.

The Blessing was not ordinary.

He wondered which god had bestowed it. Surely it wasn’t the god of Warriors.

He decided he needed to learn more about the gods.

The Orcs tried to do what the gods liked.

Because that was the way to receive a Blessing.

Rael wanted to know what the god who bestowed the Blessing on the Protagonist liked. He thought he could become stronger that way.

The Knights were planning to stay for a few more days.

During that time, Rael decided to rest comfortably.

The battle in the Village had allowed him to break through to a new level, but it had also left him mentally exhausted.

Just walking and looking at the scenery of the Village made him feel better.

There was something about people smiling brightly that soothed his heart. He saw children running. Rael smiled.

Seeing that reminded him of what the female Knight had said.

She had said she wanted to end the war in the North. He imagined the North would be similar to this Village.

It was terrible.

There would be places trampled, like the Village where Hansen lived.

That shouldn’t happen. The female Knight was right. But he wasn’t sure if the Protagonist stepping forward would be of much help.

Perhaps he was scared.

He had talked big without knowing anything. Because of that, Hansen had died in his place. He had to go to the Anti-Castle.

At the same time, he felt he had to live diligently for Hansen’s sake. Hansen would want that too.

Rael suddenly stopped walking.

Far in the distance, Orcs’ bodies were piled up.

People carelessly threw firewood, lit it, and then each watched it. Some were shedding tears.

The war left deep wounds in the hearts of the Villagers.

But they would overcome it.

As always. This was a ritual to heal the wounds. Some would change greatly because of this.

He wondered how Boil had changed.

Rael headed to his house. It was easy to find. There was only one house in the Village that was close to a Mansion.

A gang was guarding the main gate.

They looked like Vigilantes, but they were two men with a somewhat sloppy impression.

When they saw Rael, they were startled, like a Gnoll. And they stepped back a pace. They seemed wary.

Rael stated his business first.

“Boil said he was looking for me.”

“The Village Chief…?”

One of the men hastily went into the Mansion and then shouted for him to follow. Following him, Rael had to enter the Office located inside the Mansion to meet Boil.

Two well-armed Mercenaries stood behind him.

Boil seemed to have inherited his Father’s position. It was as difficult to meet him face-to-face as if he were trying to see a Noble.

“Thank you for coming. I didn’t think you would. Is there a reason?”

“Well, just curiosity.”

“Curiosity?”

“Because people have changed.”

“Indeed, how do I look?”

“You seem a bit more manly.”

“That’s a relief.”

Boil briefly showed a bitter expression.

But that was all. He felt that he had matured mentally.

He had a history of being defeated by the Protagonist. So he had considered the possibility that he might try to harm the Protagonist, but it seemed to be a needless worry.

“I heard you called for me.”

“That’s right.”

“What’s the reason?”

“Stay in this village and lend me your strength.”

“Stay in the village?”

“I’ll give you everything I can. You will enjoy a status equal to mine. The village women will be desperate to be with you, and the men will be desperate to win your favor.”

Boil looked at him. Desperation appeared in his eyes.

Rael was surprised.

He never imagined that Boil, who had lost to the Protagonist in a duel, would cling to the Protagonist like this.

“Why are you making such an offer?”

He wasn’t sure if he was simply hiding his true intentions.

Or if he coveted the Protagonist that much. But he was curious about the reason for holding onto the Protagonist like this. It was a Mage’s unique curiosity.

“My father held his position firmly for a long time. He built up a lot, and it was all given to me. But unlike my father, I am young and lack experience. It’s hard to deal with the elders of the village. There are also many factions who don’t want to follow the words of a novice like me.”

“So you need me?”

“That’s right. If you’re here, I can make everyone shut up. You are an excellent Mage, and you’ve proven it not only in our duel but also in battle.”

Boil bowed his head.

“I need strength. Please, I beg you.”

Rael silently stared at the top of his head. He had no intention of agreeing.

But he was seized by a strange emotion. It was an awe at how much a person could change.

Honestly, his first impression was the worst.

He was nothing more and nothing less than a dog in heat. But he had changed. It was because of his father’s death. Bairo had changed him.

“I’m sorry.”

“Is that so. You did seem like the type to leave.”

He just gave a bitter smile, like before.

“What are you going to do now?”

“I’m going to live properly.”

Boil grinned.

Leaving him behind, I exited the mansion. I had gone there without any particular thought, but I felt much better.

It wasn’t because the protagonist had become someone needed by someone else.

It was because Boil had changed.

He had lost his father, but in return, he had grown up. He had become stronger through someone’s death. Bairo’s death was not in vain.

Thinking that way brought comfort. It was strange, as he didn’t have particularly good feelings for him.

The protagonist also needed to become stronger.

Especially at night, he needed to become stronger. He was still being toyed with.

Amelin was strong. At least at night, she was.

For a few days, Rael understood why mercenaries sought out women after completing a request. Though it was only a short period, his mind had become quite stable.

It was peaceful.

During that time, the army staying in the village conducted conscription.

More people than expected stepped forward.

They were all people who had lost family to the Orcs. Rather than spending the rest of their lives in the village, they burned with a desire for revenge against the Orcs.

Rael watched the scene and observed how the army operated.

It was incredible.

The number of knights themselves was small. Twenty ordinary knights and five junior knights. The one commanding them was a middle-ranked knight. She wasn’t even thirty yet.

But for every knight, there were at least two squires attending to them.

And soldiers who handled miscellaneous tasks.

Merchants and cooks who fed those soldiers.

A blacksmith to manage the tools.

It was truly on the scale of a village on the move.

It suddenly seemed remarkable that the female knight was responsible for them.

She alone was responsible for hundreds of lives. The protagonist struggled even to be responsible for a few lives. It was truly an amazing feat.

They finished their resupply and prepared to depart.

Rael also packed his belongings.

The village was in a festive mood.

They had safely gotten past the orcs, and the army’s stay had meant a considerable amount of money was spent.

So, there was a lively atmosphere.

It was possible they might have been overrun by the orcs and all turned into human meat. It was fortunate that such a thing didn’t happen.

Lord Ratt came to find him.

Rael followed him to the tent and asked the female knight in front of him one last question.

“Are you perhaps also going to a city called Trevin?”

“Trevin?”

“It’s a city in the northwest region.”

“That’s close to our destination. If you wish to go there, we can make it happen.”

“Really?”

“That’s a small matter. But why do you wish to go there, beggar?”

“It was a dying wish of a comrade.”

“Is that so.”

The female knight looked into the distance.

“So, what’s your answer?”

I’ll follow you if you take the person behind me too.

Is the woman a Mage too?

Yes.

There’s nothing to ask for. If she’s a Mage, she’s welcome.

Rael nodded.

However, he added that he wouldn’t become her subordinate.

The female Knight smiled. She seemed to think she could change Rael’s mind before they reached their destination.

Aside from that, it was a fatal smile. His heart pounded madly.

His thigh hurt.