Chapter 20: Encounter

Salty Seeds. 

Chilly Leaves.

Thick Oily Sticks.

Cold Cabbage. 

Long Thorny Radish.

Delicious Frozen Carrot.

…

With sacks of vegetables and spices, as well as sticks that, when ground, turned into oil, the party left the village and headed back to their base. 

Since there were seeds and people, Lan Sol's group couldn't continue their venture, as it would put the villagers' lives in danger. 

Lan Sol and Elyris led the way at the front, while the remaining three brought up the rear and escorted the villagers. 

Thirty women, five middle-aged men, and around twenty children were in the group. There were no young men, as men were considered valuable resources for the village, while women without husbands were seen as a burden. 

Typical sexism. Not that anyone would expect equality in a village in the middle ages. 

Ellie, walking beside Lan Sol, was nervous. It hadn't even been more than ten minutes, and she was already tired. 

She was breathing heavily, and her legs shook as she walked. 

"Are you tired?" Lan Sol asked, concerned. 

"Uh... A-a little," Ellie spoke softly. 

"Do you want a piggyback ride?" Lan Sol asked, ducking down and showing his back. 

"Fwawawa..." She opened her mouth in shock, unable to answer. "I-I shouldn't. Yo-You will get... dirty." 

"What's this all about? I won't get dirty just by carrying you. Don't worry." He flashed her a gentle smile. 

Ellie lowered her gaze, feeling conflicted. "B-But... The villagers said... I... I am very dirty. Everyone feels disgusted just by seeing me." 

"Aww." Before Lan Sol could console her, Elyris patted Ellie's head. "You are so mature for your age." She nodded and looked at her with pity. 

"Don't worry, your older sister is here. If anyone calls you dirty, I'll punch their face!" Elyris formed a fist and showed it to Ellie. 

Ellie didn't know what to say, so she stayed silent. But she felt a bit warmer in her heart. 

"But... They said I will taint whoever I touch." 

"Hah." Lan Sol felt a bit angry at the villagers who called such a little child not only dirty but cursed. 

But considering it was an era where survival was hard, and with little awareness, he couldn't blame them entirely. 

However, now that the villagers were going to join his territory, he was determined to reform their superstitious views. 

"Now, come on. Do you know how strong I am? My subordinates easily eliminated them, right?" 

Ellie nodded earnestly. 

"So, as their leader, I'm stronger than them!" 

"Ohh." Ellie's eyes gleamed upon hearing that. 

"Now, being that strong, do you think a little weak girl like you could taint me?" 

Ellie thought for a moment and shook her head. 

"See? So come on. We'll be late." 

Elyris gave her a little push on the back. Finally, feeling a bit conflicted, Ellie wrapped her hands around Lan Sol's neck and took the ride. 

Lan Sol easily carried the girl on his back. 

'She's so light,' he thought, feeling like she didn't even weigh ten kilograms. 

On his back, Ellie's eyes turned teary as she tightened her grip. Laying her face on his back, she felt a warmth in her heart that she had never felt before. 

Trying her best to hold back her tears, she closed her eyes. The pleasant feeling of being carried and her exhaustion caused her to fall asleep. 

Elyris glanced at her and smiled. 

"She looks so cute," she couldn't help but stare at Ellie's face. "I always wanted a little sister." She giggled and followed Lan Sol. 

______ 

"Mom, I'm hungry." 

"Mom, mom, I'm tired." 

"When will we reach there, mom?" 

The voices of the children echoed from behind. 

It had been an hour since they started walking. With the villagers being ordinary people, their speed was slow, especially with the children. 

It would take at least another hour or two to reach the base. 

"Sssh. We'll reach there eventually. Don't worry." 

"Are you exhausted? Come, I'll carry you." 

"My child, where will we find food for you here? Wait a little while." 

The villagers, timid and scared of Lan Sol's group, didn't dare to ask for anything. 

They followed them, trusting that they had been promised work, food, and warm shelter. Given their strength, the villagers trusted that strong men like them wouldn't lie—since they could easily destroy the village and drag them along if they wanted. 

Listening to the voices of the children and their mothers, Lan Sol decided it was time for a break. 

"Now, now everyone, we will take a break. We'll provide everyone with lunch. But we don't have anyone who knows how to cook. So, will anyone volunteer?" 

All the women raised their hands to volunteer. 

Lan Sol smiled and took out a dozen pieces of meat. Shortly after, they set up a small camp in a relatively large open area. 

The children ran around, and Snaya and Elyris looked after them, since the goblins were unreliable. 

"Pass me, kid! I'll score the goal!" Gol shouted as he ran ahead. 

"No way! I'll score the goal!" A child kicked the hay ball right in front of Gol. 

Gol became angry and chased after the child. If he had used his full speed, he would have easily beaten the child.

But since Lan Sol had ordered them to play as slowly as possible and act like children, they couldn't use their full power.

Swoosh!

Gam slid on the ground and stole the ball.

"Waah!" The other children exclaimed.

"Here I go!"

The goalposts were made of sticks. It wasn't fancy, but it was usable.

Zoom!

The hay ball zoomed forward.

"Hiyaaa!" Gol jumped in front of the ball.

Bam!

The ball hit his face.

"Aaaah!" Gol and the ball parted ways. The ball flew straight towards Gam, while Gol crossed the goalpost.

"Damn!" Gam stopped the ball with his chest and cursed.

"Hehehe… I will never let you win!" Gol smirked as he stood.

The children all stepped aside. They wanted to play together, but seeing the rivalry between the two, they decided to stay back.

Still, they all watched the match with gleaming eyes—it looked like so much fun.

The ball flew across the ground, but not once did it cross the goalposts.

"Waaa! Haaaa!" The children were excited when the ball reached the goal, only to be disappointed when it was blocked.

The kids divided into two teams: Gol's team and Gam's team.

The two teams cheered for their respective players.

Slowly, the children lost their fear and caution towards the goblins, beginning to see them as cool rather than scary.

Lan Sol watched the two with satisfaction. Their natural rivalry and childish behavior had made them popular with the kids.

As for him, he was sitting on the ground. He wasn't the active one, so he was leaning against a tree in the shade, watching everything unfold.

On his lap was Ellie, still sleeping soundly.

Prodigy or not, seeing her cute face and knowing her pitiful past made him feel sympathy.

He also wished to be a brotherly figure to her, as he had grown up in an orphanage, always acting as a brotherly figure to the kids there.

So when he encountered an orphan, his brotherly instincts were activated.

Patting her head, Lan Sol swore to protect her smile and give her a better, happier life than she had before.

"Not bad." It was a pleasant feeling. The sight of women cooking, children laughing, and the peaceful environment around him.

Swoosh!

Suddenly, a figure jumped from the bushes and landed on the ground.

"H-Help... us..." 

A young girl, probably in her mid-teens, crawled toward them, her face filled with fear as she tried to escape from something—or someone. 

Behind her, a boy of similar age followed. 

They were both messy. Their clothes were dirty, their bodies covered in wounds. They were as thin as bamboo and looked so frail that it seemed like a little force could break them apart.

Lan Sol frowned and stood up, gently placing Ellie's head on the ground. 

"Umm~" Ellie squirmed when the comforting warmth from Lan Sol's lap disappeared, and she slowly woke up.

Lan Sol walked over to the duo and checked their status.

---

[Name]: Ria 

[Race]: Native Human 

[Level]: 1 (0/100) 

[Class]: None 

[Current Status]: Malnourished, Hungry, Severely Injured 

[Hunger]: 99

[Talent]: 

Flame Emperor (All fire attack effects doubled, immune to fire attacks, 100% fire resistance, reduces cooldown of fire skills by 30%, and fire attacks heal 5% HP.) 

Molten Fury (Adds a burn effect to all attacks, dealing 10% of the damage over 3 seconds. Stacks 3 times per enemy.)

---

[Name]: Rel 

[Race]: Native Human 

[Level]: 1 (0/100) 

[Class]: None 

[Current Status]: Malnourished, Hungry, Severely Injured, Mute 

[Hunger]: 100

[Talent]: Aqua Sovereign (Water attacks heal 5% HP, can breathe underwater, immune to water attacks, all water attack effects doubled, and reduces cooldown of water skills by 30%.) 

Aqua Shield (When near water sources, forms a shield from water that reduces all damage by 30%. The shield doesn't disappear until there's no water.)