Daisuke and Timartha exchanged smiles, their eyes capturing the heartfelt reconciliation between Milo and Rexar in the distance. With a subtle grace, Timartha lifted her gaze, following the path of the staff she held aloft in her hand.
“Now, if only this staff could weave a tangible barrier… shielding the village from the outside world. It would allow me to safeguard the people and preserve the bonds they’ve forged.”
Suddenly, without warning, Daisuke flicked her forehead. Timartha cried out in pain, dropping her cherished staff to the ground as she clutched her steaming forehead with both hands.
“Y-You brute!” she hissed. “How could you do such a thing to a decrepit old woman! Don’t you have a heart?”
Ignoring her protest with a wan smile, Daisuke turned to lean against the wooden fence again. Then his eyes softened. “…The earliest memories of my life are of the dark, rundown hut that I lived in with my mother. I can still recall every detail: the bats in the roof, the standing mirror against the stained old bathtub, the lopsided table with the single candle we had to use conservatively, and the curtain that separated the front and bedroom door from the dining room and kitchen.”
Timartha lowered her arms, listening attentively.
“Like you, my mother was very overprotective… but now that I think about it, it really was just a nice way to say that she was a coward. I spent many years in isolation due to the fear she instilled in me—no, I was genuinely afraid of the unknowns of the world. That negativity left me without drive or direction.
But when circumstances finally forced me to step out into the world, I immediately understood what I needed to do. I learned the harsh reality that, without power and influence, life would be a living hell.”
Daisuke turned, his gaze locking with the elder’s. “If I hadn’t found the courage to embark on this path, I wouldn’t have met Elena and the others—meaning the village would still likely be bracing for another invasion.”
Timartha’s lips pressed into a line as she pondered his words.
“When we were trapped inside the dungeon, instead of just guiding those three out, I chose to make them stronger instead. Based on my own experiences, I knew they were bound to face more adversities, and I wouldn’t always be there to save them.
My dad used to say, ‘If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. But teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.’”
Daisuke gestured at the staff as Timartha reached down to retrieve it. “This thing merely conceals the village from prying eyes, which isn’t very effective against the demon’s keen sense of smell. It’s not impossible for the village to be attacked again—and in the event that it ever is, everyone needs to build up their strength.
Running away,” he shifted his gaze to Sylvia who had just arrived on the scene, “and hiding,” he reverted his gaze back to the elder, “aren’t the true paths to peace and happiness in this world. I know it’s harsh, but it’s imperative that Elmridge gathers the strength to drive away its enemies.”
***
The next day at noon, the entire village assembled at the front gates, a collective grogginess lingering from the festivities that stretched well into the wee hours of the morning.
Some who were gathered had sagging ears and bushy tails—a visible sign of sleep-deprivation. At the forefront stood the village’s key figures, their bittersweet gazes expressing gratitude for Daisuke’s deeds yet tinged with sadness for his impending departure.
April, the only one seemingly unaware of the gathering’s somber undertone, stood amidst the crowd. Her wide-eyed innocence contrasted with the bittersweet gazes around her. She looked from left to right, her hair swaying with each curious movement, unable to comprehend the weight of the moment.
“Big Brother?” she said questioningly. “Why is everyone gathered here? Did something happen?”
“They’re… here to see me off,” explained Daisuke. “I’m getting ready to leave the village.”
“Oh. Then I’ll get my things,” she said while turning, but Daisuke caught her hand in a gentle grip, the telling gleam in his eyes making her heart tighten. “No… I don’t want that,” she shook her head in denial, her once cheerful expression changing to grief.
Daisuke crouched and rested his hand atop her head, but she swept it away and pouted as tears welled up in her eyes. “No! I don’t want us to be separated again! It’s not fair!”
Noting her distress, Zephyr approached and began rubbing his body against her leg with a whimper, but she ignored him. Mia, Aldric, Sylvia, Feng, the trio, and the elder looked on morosely, but they knew their words wouldn’t be enough to console the little girl.
“April… I know my decision may seem selfish, but your Big Brother’s just trying to keep you and everyone else safe,” said Daisuke, then he began projecting his voice. “It may not seem like it, but I don’t currently have what it takes to keep you and everyone else safe. To properly do that, I need to amass a lot of strength and power. And in the process of doing so, I may not always be able to protect you.”
April sniffled, clumsily using the back of her small hands to wipe away her tears. But like a leaking faucet, the stream just kept on flowing uncontrollably.
As heartbroken and dissatisfied as she was, April was no fool. Other kids her age could hardly distinguish fantasy from reality, but she grew up in the slums; she understood that life wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies. Street smarts and sharp observational skills were a recipe for survival.
The world was harsh and unforgiving, and those who were poor and underprivileged were always caught between a rock and a hard place. If you couldn’t roll with the punches, you’d just be knocked down and trampled.
The reality that her big brother couldn’t prevent his mother’s death, nor could he shield them from being forcibly taken away by slave traders, highlighted his imperfections and the challenges he still faced.
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Without a word, April nodded, her head hung dejectedly.
“I have something for you,” Daisuke whispered, lifting his clenched fist.
April looked up in time to witness as a ring fell and dangled from his finger, connected by a delicate string. For a moment, she found herself captivated by the russet-colored gemstone that closely mirrored the hue of her own hair.
“It’s an invisibility ring,” Daisuke informed in a soft undertone as he gently placed it around her neck. “Should anything ever happen to the village and you’re left alone, use it to escape to the nearest town.”
April traced her finger along the smooth silver band of the accessory, her eyes gleaming in awe.
“Once you’re in a town,” Daisuke continued, “find the guild and give my name to the clerk; she should be able to contact me remotely and I’ll come running to get you.”
April nodded exuberantly. She was particularly excited that her brother was willing to drop everything and ‘run to her’.
“Are you ready for your other gift?”
“There’s more?” she beamed, her eyes widening endearingly.
Daisuke chuckled and stroked her head. When he retrieved his hand, it was suddenly clutching a stuffed bear—a parlor trick that was made possible by his digital inventory.
“M-Mr. Honeykins?!” exclaimed April as she clutched the toy. Unlike her previous stuffed bear, this one had a lighter brown complexion and it wore a small top hat and a monocle. “But… he looks a bit different.”
“That’s right,” responded Daisuke. “While you both were apart, Mr. Honeykins decided to go to medical school. He spent so much time studying indoors that he got a bit lighter.”
Aldric snickered. “Mr. Honeykins,” he said mockingly, only to be karate-chopped in the head by Mia.
Daisuke stood and passed a glance over the people he was happy to call his friends. “Elena, Rexar, Milo, and Feng… you four are the only true combatants in the village and the sole defenders of the people. You guys are strong, so don’t become complacent—continue building your strength, and consider training the kids,” he said as he looked to April, Mia, and Aldric.
“M-May I also take part in this training?” asked Whindel hesitantly as he approached. “I can’t stand idly by and allow myself to be protected by children.”
All the men who were kidnapped and committed to manual labor stepped forward in agreement, their eyes burning with patriotism and a desperate need for redemption.
“The more the merrier I say,” replied Feng with a cool smile.
Everyone else nodded.
Milo took a step toward Daisuke and politely bowed. “Thank you for everything. I’ll work hard to live up to your expectations.”
Rexar was the next to approach. He outstretched his arm, resting his fist on Daisuke’s chest. “I would’ve long surpassed you by the time we meet again. Ensure you don’t kick the bucket before we get the chance to face off against—”
April kicked him in the shin. “Shut up! Big Brother’s not going to die!”
“AHHH!” Rexar cried out, hopping around comically and rubbing his leg as if it were on fire.
Elena giggled, then she sheepishly approached and pressed a light kiss to Daisuke’s cheek. “We’ll take good care of April. Just be sure to come back to us safely, okay.”
April’s cheeks inflated like a balloon at the sight of that, and Daisuke smiled awkwardly in response. When he stooped down and allowed her to kiss his other cheek to cool the fires of her jealousy, Elena’s own cheeks swelled up like a pufferfish and everyone laughed.
Sylvia, Timartha, and Feng acknowledged Daisuke with a nod. Inclined towards a more reserved demeanor in public gatherings, each of them had individually taken Daisuke aside earlier and expressed their heartfelt gratitude for all he had done.
As the villagers waved and shouted words of gratitude and farewell, Daisuke began to depart, only to pause abruptly.
“Oh, that reminds me.”
With a casual wave of his hand, the substantial pile of mana crystals, metal ores, and assorted materials looted from the mountain manifested on a large red carpet.
Stunned gasps rippled through the onlookers as the unexpected display unfolded. While everyone was still reeling from shock, Daisuke activated the Eye of Verity to assess the grade of the crystals, only to be suddenly assaulted by the dark and malevolent energy it exuded.
For a moment, his expression crumpled, and his stance faltered under the weight of the sensation. It was akin to being in a small, confined space that was gradually being filled with carbon dioxide and shrinking in size—a frighteningly suffocating and traumatic experience.
How then did people incorporate mana crystals into their homes without experiencing any measure of discomfort? Given the brutal ordeal he just endured, Daisuke pondered whether extended exposure to mana crystals might pose some form of medical harm to the body.
“Haxks, are you alright?” Elena inquired on behalf of everyone who noticed his peculiar behavior. “You look a bit pale.”
Daisuke raised his hand as he took a moment to find his breath. “I’m fine,” he replied with a reassuring smile, “I guess I’ve just been overexerting my abilities a bit.”
“In that case,” Mia suggested, “wouldn’t it be better if you rested a bit more before you left?”
April clutched Mr. Honeykins worrisomely, but her embrace loosened a tad when Daisuke began stroking her hair tenderly, all traces of his previous discomfort gone. “A tempting offer, but the durability of the Warden’s Staff won’t last forever; I need to leave so that I can start figuring out a solution.”
Feng approached the glittering horde of riches and plucked a single gold nugget from the heap to inspect. “Care to explain why you just dumped thousands of gold worth of materials at our feet?”
“It’s yours,” Daisuke simply said.
In the midst of astonished whispers and the cocked ears of her kin, Elena gently parted her lips to speak. “Huh? But we couldn’t… you’re the one who saved our village.”
“She’s right,” Timartha chimed in. “We’re a poor village; we couldn’t offer you anything for all you’ve done for us. Surely you wouldn’t make us any more indebted to you than we already are.”
Frustrated, Daisuke shifted his attention to Feng and Sylvia, whom he considered more transparent and down-to-earth than anyone else. “Use this gold to build yourselves a proper village,” he declared robustly. “Leave no expense spared in constructing a sturdy wall around it. If you’re looking for a way to repay me, then ensure your well-being and take care of Mia and April until I return.”
“Consider it done,” Feng responded with an equally determined expression.
“Ehhh?” Everyone burst out in chorus, their collective surprise resonating through the gathered assembly.
“One more thing,” said Daisuke.
Timartha sighed and shook her head in a mixture of exasperation and fondness as their determined savior bestowed upon Feng the Jet-black Boots and Garment he had received from Keith. Not stopping there, Rexar, Elena, and Milo, in addition to Feng, were also each gifted with a Perseverance Ring.
“Just some added protection,” Daisuke explained, his voice carrying a weight of sincerity. “You only get one barrier, so make it count. By the way,” he said while waving around the map he had found in the mountain. “I’ll be keeping this.”
They all took a moment to admire the rings, their eyes lingering on the subtle glint of resilience. Then they lifted their gazes to thank Daisuke, who had already set forth on his journey. An unspoken sadness settled over them as they watched his figure gradually disappearing from view.
“Kyuu~”
April’s touch was tender as she reached down, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears as she caressed the whimpering Zephyr. “I’ll miss you too,” she murmured softly, her voice filled with heartfelt emotion.
Mia’s smile radiated warmth as she winked at the pup, her affection for him evident in the curve of her lips. “Look after Haxks for me,” she said, her voice tender and sincere. “Ensure you both come back to us safely.”
“Arf!” Zephyr’s bark echoed with reassurance, carrying a promise of loyalty as he dashed off.
“Sell those mana crystals as soon as you can,” were the last words Daisuke imparted onto the Beastfolk of Elmridge Village before he vanished from both sight and sound.
DING!
[The quest «Demonic Consequences» has been completed!]
[23,700 Experience Points have been acquired.]
[Affinity with the village folk is now 100%.]
[Level Up!]