"If you could have taken more of uncle's stubbornness, it would have been better, rather than his self-boosting remarks. Now go!"

"I will come back later."

While leaving the man alone, Levis was unaware, of the silent sigh that seemed to take a year-worth of time, from the man's overall impression, as he appeared emotionally drained and fatigued, while watching the boy leave.

However, as he was exiting the village Chief's tent while thinking of looking for the Hunter, Healer, brother Ni sister Mi, he unexpectedly crashed into some soft material, as the very moment he looked up to see who it was that he had collided with, his eyes bulged and twitched, as the natural instinct to run off was awaken, at the smiling face that was looking down at him.

“Where do you think you are going?”

Though, as his body was turning to leave, a hand clutched to his arm, stopping him in his track, as he was made to be guided by the hand, to sit down, and attend to a torrent of words, that were akin to endless drops of rain, crashing down onto him.

“You need to behave, and you need to show respect. Do not put yourself in trouble, and do not give others, problems by your own doings. Do not forget to eat, and sleep correctly. And do not corrupt your morals, by playing with every lass you meet. Do you hear me?”

“Yes, I hear you, I hear you! Is that all, aunty?”

“Obviously not, as you need to understand, that you can not—.”

As the woman continue to state, what he could, and what he could not do for his journey, Levis felt his eyelids grow heavy, as a sense of drowsiness, was accumulating over his mind, as he was beginning to doze off, at the river of words, made by the woman in front of him.

“Wake up! Are my pieces of advice, so boring, that you will fall asleep?”

“No, no, I am listening, I am listening.”

“As I was saying, do not go towards troubles, and also, do not search for them, but you should not—.”

Although it was strenuous, from the endeavor to stay completely focused, Levis persisted with the woman's long list of what not to do and what to do.

“Alright, this is all I have to say. With this, you should be safe, once you are out into the world.”

“Eh! Ahh, yes, yes, now I feel more confident than ever. Thank you, aunty, this was good for me, to know-, all of this--, now I have to go---, to go to–-, Hunter—, and the kids, yes, now I have to go, see you later.”

“Do not forget, to reach for me later, as I have prepared some clothes and a bag for you to— take, haaa–, impatient boy.”

“You want to say brat? He was sleeping thru most of your rambling.”

“Sister Healer, you think I do not notice, and did you say “rambling”!”

[Huuu, the aunty, took quite the time, I should find Hunter and the other brats.]

“Levis!!!”

While having walked away quite some distance from where he had been tortured, by the aunty tyrant, the high-pitched voice of a young girl called for him, as at his back, the ever group of three, that was composed by the young girl, who was always at the lead of the group, the somewhat tall but chubby boy, and a young boy that seemed to have been left his toddler years at his back, were now looking at Levis with aspecting expressions at him.

“Alright, you can run, and I will catch you all, after this, you can hide, and I will find you all, we will play a test of strength, and I will beat you all.”

“Arrogant!!! Who do you think you are? Now let me see if you can do it as you say.”

“This---? Can you do it, Levis?”

“Big brother Levis, is talking big!?”

“Run. One, two, three, four—, nine, ten, you are mine!”

While giving them ten breaths of time, to run away from him, the chase of the trio lasted for an extremely short period of time, as his speed was far faster, than what any of the kids could put up to. The same predicament was discovered as well in their hiding game and the test of strength, as Levis, seemed to be a tower of unparallel conviction and power.

“I win!!! With this, I, Levis Ato, am the greatest man, above you all.”

“It is not possible, what—, who are you? How can the powerless Levis, beat us like this.”

“How are you so strong and fast?”

“Huff-puff, big brother, huff-is-puff fast!”

[The infallible great man, who uses his energy, of a rank 4 cultivator against normal children.]

[This counts too, as it is my own strength.]

“Now you finally get to know, how great I truly am. As now I will leave the village, with you all to think, over my peerless might and charisma, since your past of doubting me, has become the bridge that has crumbled your reality. Now, I will take my departure.”

Although, as he ended his words of grandeur and took several steps away from the kids, he stopped himself still, as he turned towards them, while putting a smile on his face, as he seemed to forget all the lofty air, from a moment ago.

“Do you know where the Hunter is?”

Armed with the information on Hunter's location, Levis took towards the exit of the camp, but as he was just about to leave, one young man and a young woman were just entering thru the main entrance, holding each other's hands, as he was leaving.

“Levis?”-“Little Levis!?”

“Brothern Ni, sister Mi.”

“Where are you going?”

“I am going to see the Hunter.”

“Father?”

“We just came back from uncle's working spot, if you are going to see him, just go right once you leave the camp, he is close to the forest, and you will see him immediately.”

“Thank you! And—, congratulation, on the engagement. I do not have anything to give you as I will leave, but I will give you something once I will retur—? Brother Ni !?”

Yet, as he was talking, the young man put his hand forward, as a sign for him to stop.

“No need for you to give us anything, I have already received sufficient gifts from you. No need to worry about anything of sorts.”

However, from the face and attitude of the young man, it was not possible to understand if he was speaking truthfully or if he had other motives.

“Aha, you heard your brother. Though if you learn to carve like old uncle Ato, maybe you can bring us two carved birds if you return.”

For a second, as the young woman mention his closest relative, Levis stayed silent and contemplative for a short moment, as after the brief pause, he nodded his head towards them, while leaving the couple behind.

“Why were you so stubborn against any gift from little Levis?”

“You do not want to know. And we better proceed towards mother.”

“Alright, as you say, stubborn head.”

However, not long after Levis exited the camp and proceeded towards the forest, he spotted the Hunter, that was in the process of skinning two rabbits while using the trees as his workspace to extend the skins.

But as Levis spotted the man, he himself was spotted, as the Hunter, was starting to stare at him, while he was approaching slowly, as they begin to squint their eyes, to one another, whilst a very strange tension was building in the air, between the two them.

“Levis.”

“Hunter.”

“---.”

“You finally came to me, all alone.”

“And so what?”

“I told you what would happen, if those damnable berries, were exactly what I thought they were.”

“Aha, unfortunately, you will not be able.”

“Realy? What, have you grown a pair, now that you are a cultivator?”

“---.”

“---It does not matter, if you think you can, then come at me---, you brat!”

While putting the knife away, the big man, with arms that were filled with scars, turned towards the boy as he took an offensive and defensive stance, with opened arms and legs, as he was ready at any time, for the boy's imminent assault.

At the same moment, Levis dropped his posture, as he initiated a fast spring, headed for the man.

However, as Hunter was about to receive the boy, the man was surprised at his speed and moves, which seemed to have a bit of thought and mindset into it. Nevertheless, as he was in his range, and his own hands were almost ready to catch the boy, when, to his surprise, the boy proceeded with an even faster speed, avoiding his grasp, while moving to his left and towards his back, while grinning, in a mischievous way.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

“Hunter, I come to defeat you, and take the title of the grea—a-aa-A! What are you doing!?”

Yet, as Levis was delivering his line of premature success, a hand took him by the collar of his neck, dragging him back, and into the air, as he was brought face to face with the man, that seemed to be extremely angry and at the same time condescending looking, while he was grinning back, as to taunt him.

“I told you that you will get a beating, I have yet to cool my anger about those damned berries. Now it is the time, for your retribution.”

“No wait, what are you doing?”

“Slap”

“Eh? You brat what is this? Do you have a metal pan protecting your bottom?”

“Aha-aha, if you think you can accomplish anything, you are wrong. I have already prepared myself in advance.”

“Is that so?”

“AHA! You can only surrender, no-who–oo-ooo, wait, wait for a momeenntttttt!!!”

Nevertheless, after his taunts, the man was visibly irritated, as he took a firm grip over the boy and began to whirl him around as though he was nothing more than a small toy in his hand. In the end, Levis was thrown into the sky, for four or so meters, while also spinning and rotating, making him extremely disorientated and nauseous, as he was wobbling on his feet, once caught and put onto the ground.

“Now, you should know who is the big man.”

“You should first fight me like a man---, whoa-aa.”

Though as Levis was caught and put on the ground, he was swaying like an extremely drunken man, while he fell face first on the grass, as he could not maintain his balance on his feet.

“But I am fighting like a man, it is you who are nothing but a runt, and can not really fight like a man. Still, this cultivation stuff, has made me slightly stronger than before, maybe next time I will launch you over the trees.”

“Gweee. Gwee. Gwe.”

In the time that the man was commenting on his new gained strength, Levis was trying his best as to not hurl out his early meal,

“Aha-hah, it appears, you could not stomach my move. Now we can say, that we are even.”

“Haaa—, all I see here is two immature kids, not any of the so-called men”

“Ugh, what are you doing here?”

“What “ugh”, is this how you react to your wife, you animal in human skin! And you pup, what are you doing challenging this bear?”

In the midst of all, the middle age woman who Levis was referring to as “Aunty Healer”, broke between them, while appearing out of nowhere, as she immediately took a verbal stab at their behavior, which was less than of a human and more resembling that of wild beasts.

“Now to your feet, and jump a few times, so you can rid yourself of the unbalance that you are experiencing."

“Ye-es!”

“And you, get back to your work”

“Yes, yes! Why you came and ruined my fun, when am I going to play with this fool, if he leaves tomorrow!”

“What?”

“Nothing, I said nothing!”

“Levis, if you are done, come to me, I will look at you one last time before you leave.”

“Eh, what!? Aunty, there is no need for that. You can see I am all good. A-a, you know I need to see, the village chief, maybe another time— wait, no.”

“Come here, and take off your clothes, now!”

“A wait-! Not here!! Hunter, help me!!!”

“Hmpf!”

However, while asking for help, the man scoffed and opened his hand widely, as though trying to say, “deal with it yourself”."

However, after his clothes were taken from him, he was truly the picture of a trembling puppy, as he was examined by the woman, who was as uncaring, of place and time, as Levis had known her, from the time when she had been working with his grandma. At this moment, however, some of the villagers and guards were looking at them, in a strange way, from afar. This caused the shy Levis, that was covering his crouch, to look at the ground, as the idea of taking his cloth and jumping at full strength behind the trees was floating in his head.

“No injuries-!? Hmmm, you seem to have grown in height and body mass--, though, just slightly---, you look healthier than ever, no problem, you are good to go.”

“Then, can I?”

“Put your clothes on, and when you come back here, you can bring some knowledge concerning medicine from the places you visit.”

“Yes, yes, medicine, I will bring something useful when I will return, now I have to go–, go–to see the village chief, see you later!”

As he did not want to stay near the crazy woman, which might make him strip naked in front of the whole camp to see, he took his clothes and run off, like a scared pup.

“Aaa, you made him go even faster, but still, you really have no mercy on him.”

“What mercy? Is not he “the biggest man in the village”, if he does not conquer this shyness, how can he even make such a claim? When just from standing naked, he becomes like that, so how can he call himself anything that is on the level of true boldness and fearlessness.”

“You, sure are the one cre—.”

“Haaa!?”

“Cute, you sure are cute, yes, that's what I was going to say.”

However, as Levis could still hear their words, his eyelids twitch as he was about to curse, at the crazy woman, for trying to guide him, using such an out-of-mind method.

[She is definitely out of her mind, why did grandma even accept her, as the one to be imparted the knowledge of a healer, I still do not understand.]

[That is obvious, kid. This woman is definitely not rational as the rest, and how can you be if you are going, into the profession of taking care of other people? That alone requires a mad mindset, to begin with. Because, if you are already insane, you will not have the issue of breaking mentally later, which is a plus in this sort of profession.]

[What does that even mean? Grandma was not mad!]

[That is hard to know, as those who are the most insane will show nothing on the outside, just like you.]

[Me? Now that I think she is more like you two.]

[What did you just say!?]

While running towards the camp from Hunter and Healer, they saw the strange scene of the boy suddenly stopping motionless, for several moments and beginning his dash once more.

But as Levis returned inside the fence wooden wall of the encampment, he began to play with the trio once more, whilst at the same time, he was visiting the many villagers that he had neglected for some time. Though in his many visits that were either brief or long talks, the sun moved remarkably fast, as before he could end to see all the dozens of villagers, dusk was setting in while the nighttime was reaching fast, to settle over the area.

However, as Levis was missing just one, the last villager, he had to come to one of the tents that was near his own, where a middle-aged man who appeared to have just become an old man, was enjoying his small cup of powerful alcohol, as the scent of it, was coming from him to his surroundings, while at the same time he was looking at the moon that was barely visible, on the horizon to the south-east part of the dusky sky.

“Lil’Levis? Why are you coming to this old man? Are you not leaving the village?”

“Greeting neighbor, Old Man Tea .”

“I see you brat, still mock this old man, like that bastard of your grandpa.”

“No, no, this is the complement, that grandpa has picked for you. Which means it must be held in high regard.”

““High regard” your ass, you brat. Do not forget that you were the one to make me drink the tea of those things, you and that darn old man, I still have to collect my debt with you two. But now there's only you, so you will have to pay a greater debt, as the part of the fool will now fall on you. If you can make it back here before I die, bring me all kinds of good “tea” to drink, understood?”

“I will do that, but why are you drinky tea now?”

“Why do you think? I could not stay with the rest of the old fools to die, whilst here, I could not fight to die a great death. If I just die of old age, that darn old man will laugh at me, for not having an intriguing death.”

“Hmmm, now that you say it neighbor Tea, I have the impression of hearing something similar from him, but I can not remember.”

“Huuu, here!”

“What? I do not need it, tank y–!”

“Drink, because as you are right now, you might be in need of it, for tonight.”

“Tonight?!”

“Just gulp down, a mouthful for me.”

While his eyes were on the full cup, into the old man’s hands, his mind was wavering, as he was not sure if he could take the strong "tea", as he had been tricked a few times by the old village chief to drink, only for him to end up wasted and fall into sleep almost immediately.

“Hmmm, alright! Give it to me!”

“Gulp”-“Gulp”

“That the spirit. Now I will take you to the last banquet you will have with us.”

“A-aa, w-what?! Huuu!”

“Come with me.”

As old man tea rose up to his feet, and took the lead with Levis following him, while he seemed slightly tipsy, from the two gulps of the "tea" that the old man had offered him. However, as they walked toward the part of the tents where the villagers of the Down River Village were usually making their food. The eyes of the boy that were becoming droopy, opened up from the sight of dozens and dozens of villagers that were present, alongside some of the other villagers from the camp and some of the guards that were patrolling the large meeting.

“Hah, you finely come, you brat!”

“Come here, Levis!

“Ehh, w-what i-is this, v-v-village C-chief!”

But to all that understood him, they were aware, that the attention put on him, was a pressure that he could not tolerate all that well, while his slight drunkenness was blown away, by the anxiety that he was feeling, as more than a hundred eyeballs were directed on him.

“Haha, now where is the great man of the Village you runt—, eh! If you want to go again come at if you think you are capable.”

Although the one to answer him was nonother than Hunter, as he was the loudest and more vocal in the entire crowd of people, however, as he was striking Levis where his pride existed, the man was given a glare from the boy, as though he had forgotten, the place and situation he was in, just for a brief moment, as in the next, he was once again lost and distressed.

“Do you want to take another mouth?”

“Y-y-yes.”

“Here.”

“We can begin! As the great man, had his drink, we are to follow him, and begin the banquet!!”

Though as he took the cup of alcohol from Old Man Tea, the village Chief, who still did not have the full glow of health, commence the banquet, while using his action, to start the clamor, of cups, plates, and nonstop chattering of the villagers.

[Why can I not get drunk, and fall asleep?]

[Aha-aha!]

[So much for the great man. He died, by being looked upon.]

[Aah-aha-aha!!]

[In seriousness, your stress, is activating your cells to combat, any kind of state that might put you in a disadvantaged position, you need more than that cup to get yourself drunk.]

[F-f-fuck! Help me!]

[Aah-aha-aha-ahum! Disciple, disciple, unfortunately, I can not, for a great man is always, phuha-, capable of getting out of any kind of situation, phu-aha-aha-ahmm.]

[How? I can not cure your anxiety of large crowds in a moment, resolve it by yourself if you want to chase your dream, oh, you great man.]

[Y-you two, are honestly useless when I need you.]

“Levis come here, come here.”

“Aunty!”

“Tsch, you Ato brat, you drank it all I had. Time to see what these fools have prepared. See you later, if you have not dropped down drunk.”

However, in the midst of his anger with the two useless fools in his head, the wife of the chief, was calling for him. Though as he left the cup to the old man, the latter, almost cursed him, as there was nothing left in it.

“Aunty?”

“Here, I filled this backpack for you, there are some clothes from me, some medicine from Healer—,”

“You should know them, you have seen them at Grany Hel, right?”

“Ummm, yes I know them, this is for colds, injuries, and headaches.”

“Good, I see you remember some of them.”

As Levis moved towards the middle-aged woman, who was accompanied by the village Healer, he was shown a backpack, that was slightly similar to the one, he had received from his grandpa, but then lost it in bushes which had changed his life. Regardless, at this moment, a strange feeling was coursing thru him, while he was looking at all the villagers that he had known for his entire life, knowing, that this would be the last moment, for a very long period of time, he could feel like he was at home.

“--- and from my husband a small dagger, though I do not think you will need it, and this hunting knife from Hunter, some mementos, from my Ni and Mi, and some from the three little ones. I will give you some food tomorrow morning. No go and tal—.”

“Aha-aha, you brat, you drank the whole "tea" of the old man, I see, I see. If you can drink like that, come and drink some with me, and we will see who can last longer, aha-hah!”

“Alright if you want to go down, I will bring you down, I do not feel like losing.”

“Since when have you become a strong drinker? Good, good, another challenge, come here if you can do more than just talk big.”

"If that is the case, let this old man come too, as I no longer have anything left to drink."

"You are more than welcomed, old man, as I do not think the brat can hold more than he had already drunk!"

"What? I will put you down and take the title of great with me, come on, Hunter!"

"Bring it on! And you, do you want to come in?"

"Haaaa, I do not think I can get out."

With the challenge given, Hunter brought Levis and then the village Chief, while Old Man Tea come on his own.

As for the following time, Levis unleash himself from any anxiety, as he become more spoken and gutsy, although, unclear if it was from the drink or by himself. Though, unfortunately for him, he could not match any of the men, as at some point he began to puke from the amount that he had drunk, although the under was uncertain, as the final two were the old man and unexpectedly, Healer that had entered in their contest, as she had out matches both hunter and village Chief.

Though, the final farewell banquet did not last for long, as once the majority of the villagers were drunk, they disbanded to their respective tents.

As did Levis and all the others.

While for this last night, he did no more of his training, as he just sleep as he would normally do.

Even so, his sleep was even shorter than what he could experienced in his training session, as before he could understand that he was sleeping, a hand shook his body, waking him up. As village Chief and his wife, had come to wake him, and accompany him outside the camp.

Though once outside, he could see the sea of villagers, young and old, looking at the guards, that were ready to leave at any moment.

However as he was given the backpack, by the wife of the village chief, Hubert came riding his horse, and brought him up, as it was decided by Rowen and old Wan, that he was to look after the boy, during the journey back.

Although once he was close to Rowen, Adrian gave the signal to begin their march into the forest, close to him, he could see Zuger and Square riding a horse each, although still in chains, while they were giving off, the impression of being extremely dangerous criminals.

Yet before, entering the forest, Levis turned his head to see many villagers bowing towards the guards that were leaving, while others were shouting words of farewell or gratitude.

Nonetheless, as he looked at the villagers from his own village, he turned his head back, while holding any tear that could come out from his eyes that were reddening, as he knew that he had to be strong if he wanted to achieve anything from now on, stepping towards places he had only heard of, from old Village Chief, his grandma Hel, his grandpa Ato.

"Now, I will begin to hunt, the ones responsible, for this."

"Eh!? What did you say?"

"Ah---! Nothing, nothing!"