In Doran Village #3

"Who are these guys?" Ryu spoke in a low voice and focused on the voices of two people camping nearby.

"Big brother, what should we do?" Jue asked as he kept Ardian down. Both Jue and Ryu had activated the [Camouflage] skill instantly when they felt the incoming presence,

"Let's hear it for a while…." Ryu replied as he focused his attention on the conversation.

"If Lord's plan works, Hinsmark will become a dungeon hotspot too," the older-looking man dressed as a knight said to the younger one,

"But it would just make the appearance of rowdy adventurers more frequent," the younger one replied with a sigh,

"But it would increase the value of the town, and us residents will sure make money," The older man shrugged and added,

"Either way… we can not do anything. Counting this dungeon, there are 19. more, one of them is bound to become permanent within two years even if we lose a few to stray adventurers,"

"I wonder why the Lord is so critical suddenly…. I honestly want to migrate…."

'So, this is Lord Hati's plan... man, politicians never change even in another world' Ryu had a bitter expression on his face as he kept listening,

The chat trailed off to meaningless chatter, and Ardian, who was holding back for quite a while, finally asked,

"What is happening!? Who are those people?" his voice was loud almost enough to break the effects of [Camouflage] skills, but Ryu hurriedly put his hand over Ardian's mouth, effectively making him shut up,

Once he calmed down, Ryu explained what the two knights were discussing to Ardian and Rafa. Rafa pouted a bit, hearing the stupidity of Lord Hati, but on the other hand,

"I will put an end to this…. Leave me, Jue," Ardian spoke in a low, resolved voice, almost compelling Jue to leave him, but before he could do that, Ryu said in an irritated voice,

"Jue, hold him tighter" hearing this, Jue grabbed Ardian tighter than before, although Ardian looked considerably more muscular than before. Jue was still stronger physically, and Ardian began emitting green mana,

"Why are you stopping me!? When you told me it is good if few die early for the greater good," he asked Ryu, who thought,

'When did I say something this heavy!!?'

"First, I never said this. Second, killing them is like killing civilians. They are not the one doing this… it is Lord Hati," Ryu explained, trying to keep it as simple as possible as he wanted to shout,

'Having a few extra muscles doesn't mean you'll take beef with the world!!' Ardian finally calmed down as he understood what Ryu said was right.

"Big brother…." Jue spoke in a low voice but stopped, and Ryu asked,

"What happened, Jue?"

"I was thinking… what if those 19 dungeons are nearby villages? Won't it be bad… people might be dying there," Jue said with a concerned look as he was imagining villages being run over by stampedes,

"Do not worry, Jue…. We have a map," Ryu said with a smirk to reassure Jue, who thought,

'After all, big brother is kind' meanwhile, Ryu was thinking,

'It is 20 dungeons filled with experience and cores too… I might even give a few away' he was smiling, thinking about how much he could level up, and after waiting a bit for the two knights to leave, the Fusion souls, accompanied by Ardian, went on towards the Doran Village,

*

In Doran village, everyone was filled with a feeling of awe and fascination as they heard Aiena's singing inside the makeshift hut. It seemed like an angel descended on the earth, golden mana emitting from her, making it seem as if there was a halo on her head,

'Hope Ryu and Jue are fine,' she prayed as she kept singing the Miracle song of vitality for the patients. When she started, the effect was relatively low, but as she kept singing and understanding the essence of the song, the restoration of vitality and the relief of people was getting stronger,

so much so that the people who weren't even affected by Fungi came into the makeshift hut to hear Aiena's singing in the serene and pleasant atmosphere. Only one person was in the depths of concern and tension Aiena's mind couldn't help but think,

'I should have gone with Ryu and Jue….'

'What if they are hurt?'

'Rafa sister will save them…. But what if she is hurt?' her mind was full of worries when the door to the makeshift hut finally opened, and everyone's eyes moved in the direction of the door, Aiena who was lost in thoughts and song too moved her gaze hopefully toward the door,

"Who are you?" she questioned as she was met with the appearance of an unfamiliar person dressed in clothes that were torn from various places carrying a wooden sword with leaves and a crystal on it,

"I just rushed ahead of others…. I wanted to see grandmother early," the person replied. Finally, hearing his shrill girl-like voice, Aiena figured out it was Ardian.

"What happened to you? How can this happen?" her curiosity and concern as a healer overtook her mind as she questioned Ardian, who replied,

"I am fine. This is nothing…. That Murderer… I mean, Ryu and others are reaching. I will talk to my grandmother now," he went towards his grandmother's bed, and Aiena moved toward the gates,

"We are back, Aiena" Ryu smiled as he saw Aiena waiting for them at the door,

"I didn't get to beat the boss…. Ardian… he hogged the boss," Jue complained, and Rafa hugged Aiena from behind as she spoke,

"I am hungry…."

And Aiena looked around everyone, making them stand side by side, ensuring they weren't hurt, and Ryu thought.

'I still can't get used to it… it tickles' he put his hand on his chest as he felt it ache from receiving concern. Even though he had a lot of people who were concerned for his well-being in this life, he felt like this every once in a while as he remembers his last life,

"Is there something wrong, Ryu!?" Aiena pulled his hand, concerned, and Ryu just laughed,

"There is nothing wrong, Aiena" Aiena tilted her head, confused but didn't think much as she listened to Jue complain about how he missed the chance to kill the dungeon boss again, but he also talked about fighting with monsters he felt like a child back from school telling what he did in school to his mom,

The villagers came to thank and congratulate Ryu, and afterward, Tien asked what concerned him,

"What happened to Ardian? I mean, it hasn't even been a day?"

'In all honesty, I am as confused as you….' Ryu thought and just shrugged as he replied,

"Better ask the person himself. "

Ardian was having a chat with his grandmother, who was looking healthier now,

"You look like grandfather Ardian…" his grandmother said with a nostalgic gaze, and Ardian replied,

"I met her grandmother… I met the Goddess, and she talked with me," Ardian replied, and his grandmother patted his head as she replied,

"I always knew you had it in you… you know, Grandfather too talked with plants, I was always confused as a little girl, and when little, you did the same; it felt like grandfather, and I switched places…. I longed to see you like this Ardian… you look just like Grandfather's story, the halo…" she spoke till here and coughed.

"This isn't all, Grandmother. I still have something to show you…." Ardian said and called out to Aiena as his grandmother looked confused,

Ardian and Aiena talked for a while, and finally, Aiena nodded, smiling,

'Just what are they talking about this happily?' Ryu thought as he moved near them, and Ardian explained his plan to him. He looked toward Ardian's grandmother and asked,

"Is it really possible?" he was skeptical, but Ardian nodded, and Ryu wondered,

'Just what is the extent of his abilities now..' As he gave a thumbs up of approval,

"let's do it then."

The makeshift hut was covered in noises as patients were checked one final time. Ardian was now able to remove fungi infection with a skill that boosted the healing process, and after half an hour, finally, everyone was standing in the village's center where once a healthy tree used to stand, even the patients, along with Ardian's grandmother who just got healed were standing there,

And Ardian, stood in the middle with [Mistilteinn] sword held in his hands, looked around once to ensure everyone's attention was on him.

'This is in respect of your sacrifice Pine' he thought as he announced,

"I, Ardian Drasil, the young kid who once used to roam in this village…" he paused a bit to make sure everyone was paying attention and continued,

"I went through an ordeal in the dungeon and received a full blessing from the Goddess of Bounty and Harvest," everyone began murmuring as they all knew what it meant. Ardian felt a bit nervous and gulped down as he thought,

'Not now, this is the most important part…' he thought as he announced,

"There was a fantastic pine in the forest…. Who gave up its life so the Village and forest could live once again…. this sword is a token of its resolve. "

No one could relate with Ardian as they hadn't ever talked with or heard of plants which would commit suicide, but then something happened that shocked everyone and brought smiles to those whose farms were destroyed.

"[Wave of Nourishment]!!" Ardian shouted as he let the sword slip from his grip. The sword went right into the ground, and soon a green circle began expanding from the place where the sword was buried. The circle kept expanding. The plants infected with fungi or those starving and the seeds that hadn't germinated felt the life and Nourishment being injected into them. Everyone's mouths were agape,

The Village, filled with bare orchards and dried plants, was turning green and beautiful right before their eyes; the fields that were spoiled due to Fungi went back to being healthy, and some even became healthier than before. It was a miracle for villagers who were contemplating how they would give tax to Lord,

Everyone's eyes were looking in one direction. It didn't take long for people to celebrate and praise the birth of the new Holy knight of the Goddess of bounty and harvest.

But their saviour himself was looking towards the person with Blue oceanic hairs and crimson ruby-like eyes

-to be continued