After old chief calmed down, he raised his head, stared at unmoving Lorian and asked coldly.

- Why are you still here?

He frowned as he found Lorian unfamiliar.

- I'm not with them.

Lorian answered calmly.

- Why did you stay behind?

The old man stood up as he further inquired, his gaze deep and profound.

Elise stood by side, staring between his grandpa and Lorian with a nervous expression.

- I might help.

Lorian chose his words.

Old Chief shook his head in response.

- It's useless. Us alone can't change anything. We can only...migrate the whole village.

He mumbled the last part to himself with his head lowered.

- Grandpa...

Elise paled upon hearing this. To abandon their land, which was established by blood and sweat of their ancestors, kept alive by their hard work...to abandon the place they were born, grew up in was painful. Where would they go? How many would die in jaws of beasts? Won't beasts find a group of helpless humans appetizing? Their survival chances were very, very low, but waiting here would also mean death.

- You're wrong. I want to see the number of able men, their expertize and skills. We can make traps and barricades. If there are troops to deploy, items to use and tactics to utilize, what is there to be afraid of? Is there even need of these half-hearted, half-baked soldiers? This is your land and yours to protect.

Lorian stated calmly, but his words shook the old man's soul. That's right! Why did they not think of this before? But time after time, they grew to be afraid of the beast tides, they grew to fawn on the soldiers, they got used to being protected. Soldiers would rather make friends of them and come here to rest in other seasons when they could relax and be treated like kings. But this year they were unlucky...

Old Chief was not a fool. Every year, the kingdom only sent trash soldiers. Their village was small and population low, barely reaching thousand. If only their village was worth more in the kingdom's eyes...the treatment would be different.

'That's right. Who can protect our homes and loved ones except for us? I, we were cowards, unable to face the truth. When did it all start?'

The old man reminisced the past and started trembling. He remembered. Decades ago they actively trained the younger generation for them to grow as backbones of the village...but after that year...his son died along with many others. The scars of the past have not healed.

'Now, would the power of village be enough to prevail over this disaster? How many will die? Are they ready to face the reality? Haha, this old man can see once again. This burden of leading the village is for me to bear, as I am the chief!'

The old chief seemed to have gained enlightenment as a multitude of expressions flashed by his face. In the end, he straightened his back and asked in a deep voice.

- What do you need? As long as your request isn't excessive and you help us get over this catastrophe, we will definitely fulfill it.

Lorian sneered in his heart. Though the old chief's words seemed submissive and sincere, he left too much room for discussion for himself. Crafty old fox, indeed. However, Lorian wasn't planning on requesting anything excessive in the first place.

- Well, bring out your treasures. I'll choose from them, but if your treasures are too disappointing, I'll leave.

Old chief's eyes flashed as he nodded and wordlessly entered his shack.

Realizing she was left behind with a stranger, Elise panicked, bowed her head and followed her grandpa in hurry.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

The duo didn't come out for a long time, to the point where Lorian grew impatient and started having thoughts of leaving.

Just then, the wooden door of the shack was opened and chief walked out with several items in his hands.

After appraising the items, Lorian shook with anger. All the items were insignificant. The old chief had already been inspired with his suggestion and found no more use for him. This was indirectly indicating he was no longer needed anymore.

Lorian narrowed his eyes and spat.

- Do you think you can get through this without my help?

Old man sneered in his mind.

'Here's experienced old me and there's this little arrogant youngster. Why would I need your ideas anymore?'

The chief retained innocent, indifferent and somewhat cold attitude as he answered.

- These are my most precious treasures. If they aren't to your liking, then I'm afraid there's nothing else I can offer.

'Ungrateful bastard!'

Lorian cursed in his mind, but there was nothing else he could do.

'Haha, I guess it was too much to ask for the scenario like saving the village and everyone worshipping me while gaining treasures. I was an idiot.'

Lorian couldn't help but make a reference, though he was not expecting that. He turned back and was about to get out of this damned village when the shack door was once again opened. Elise came out as she carried something with great difficulty. Seeing Lorian about to leave, she yelled.

- Sir, please wait.

Lorian turned around and grinned inwardly while the chief's expression turned ugly.

- Elise, go back to your room, there's no need for that, we don't need him anymore.

Elise glared at his grandpa fiercely with puffed cheeks, appearing more cute than intimidating and continued dragging the item, ignoring the old man.

The poor chief couldn't find it in himself to further displease his dear granddaughter, the only one he had left.

'Why are you so stubborn you brat?! I clearly warned you, but you... Ah, it's my fault, I've spoiled you too much.'

Old chief grumbled in his heart but made no further moves.

Elise approached Lorian with great difficulty, while lightly panting, light perspiration glistening on her forehead under the dying light. Lorian couldn't help but take a second look at her.

Elise was in the prime of her life, emanating youthful charisma and innocence. Her looks were enchanting with long, slim legs, fair, tender skin, and a pretty face. Her glossy, long, blonde hair reached down her waist. The 16-17-year-old girl was wearing a simple white dress, giving her etherial feeling like a fairy.

Upon approaching him she bowed her head and said crisply.

- Sir, please help us save the village.

Lorian grinned as he appraised the sword Elise had been dragging.

Fanar's legacy (Low-grade artifact) + 3 Physical attack power

- I accept.

Lorian took the sword in his hands unceremoniously. He felt his whole body experience sudden power-up, but this feeling was coming from this sword and seemed foreign to his body. He was sure he would lose this feeling if he let go of the sword.

The sword was almost 3 foot long, looking like any other sword forged from steel, but it gave very solid and threatening feeling. The hilt had a comfortable grip. The weight of the sword was 20-30% more than the sword Lorian was currently using, despite looking a bit smaller than it. The hilt was bronze and had intricate patterns carved on it. The scabbard was a bit rusted, but still functioning.

Lorian really wasn't expecting this poor village to have something like that. This was a top-level low-grade artifact.

- Stinky brat, it's getting late, you can go rest now, I'll deal with the rest.

Old chief sighed and instructed Elise.

- Grandpa, you can't bully him okay?

Elise smiled naughtily and turned to Lorian with a mischievous smile, her eyes resembling crescents.

- You can't run off with the treasure, okay?

Lorian was left speechless and blushed a bit, unaccustomed to the company of the beautiful girl.

- Well, I promise.

Elise giggled.

- A man should keep to their promises, good night.

Saying this, she skipped away to the shack, secretly showing her small pink tongue to her grandpa, who had black lines showing on his face.

The atmosphere turned stifling as Lorian was left alone with the unfriendly grandpa.

- Humph, I hope you make yourself useful when the time comes.

The chief commented unfriendlily as he walked out of the gates.

- Follow me, you're not going to spend the night on the field, right?

Lorian was left with no choice, but to follow him. From the old man's attitude, it was obvious that he was still not reconciled with his presence and wasn't really expecting much from him. In short, he was being looked down upon, which made him uncomfortable, so he retorted in revenge.

- I'd rather spend the night with your beautiful granddaughter.

The chief gave him a fierce stare and commented.

- In that case, you'll be spending the following night in the soil, 3 inches below the earth.

Lorian received goosebumps from old man's come back and decided to keep quiet.

Old man obviously knew he was merely joking and was displeased with his ungratefulness, so he didn't take him seriously. In fact, he found the youngster more pleasing to the eyes as he showed his courage by provoking him. He wasn't afraid he would run off with the treasure as he gave her beautiful granddaughter promise as a man.

'Let's see what you've got, young man.'

The duo walked in silence and though none of them found each other's company pleasing, they had tacit-understanding between each other.

The old man settled him down in an old couple's house. Lorian didn't complain. The sun had already gone down, but he wasn't sleepy yet.

He grabbed his new sword and tried to familiarize himself with it. After making sure he was safe, he lied down on the mattress and silently chanted instances. He was ready to challenge the normal mode of the first floor once again.