Clean-up after the battle turned out to be far easier than any of us expected.
Except for Daisy, who had returned with several nasty cuts and bruises from sprinting through the forest to flank the shaman, not a single person suffered serious injury or worse. The defenders were tired, filthy, and sore, but alive.
The worst wound belonged to a woman who'd been struck in the forehead by a rock thrown by a panicked goblin. It had left a shallow gash that bled dramatically but wasn't life-threatening. Claire pressed a glowing hand to the wound and murmured a prayer, closing it within seconds. The woman thanked her with teary eyes before returning to the group helping gather the fallen.
Once I'd checked on Daisy and confirmed she was in no danger, I joined the patrols moving along the wall. Together, we began collecting the goblin corpses scattered across the field.
I'd gotten used to the sensation of absorbing objects into my inventory by now, but it still drew attention. Dozens of volunteers stopped to watch as I walked up to a body, placed a hand over it, and watched it vanish in a ripple of light. Murmurs spread among them, some in awe, others whispering about how convenient it must be.
By agreement with Mayor Chrone, one-third of the recovered materials were mine to keep. Between my inventory's automatic disassembly feature and the steel knife I'd crafted for field dressing, I ended up with a tidy collection: magic stones, goblin hides, scraps of crude weaponry, and piles of monster bones. The knife's enchantment even granted me a small bonus to material yield, five percent more than expected. A small victory, but a satisfying one.
I discovered something else while experimenting with the remains. Goblin meat, while toxic and useless as food, could be processed with animal bones into a surprisingly effective all-purpose fertilizer.
As for the shaman's corpse and belongings, those went to Daisy, fair and square. She had risked her life to kill the creature, and nobody disputed her claim. Among her spoils was a dark green magic stone the size of a fist, pulsing faintly with leftover mana. According to Ria's estimation, it was worth around eight gold coins: a year's worth of income for Daisy's team.
After everything was tallied, I received my share of the payment as well. My purse was suddenly heavy, and my worries about money were gone for the foreseeable future.
Feeling grateful, I donated a gold coin to the chapel that had given me shelter when I first arrived. "Not everyone gets to start like I did," I told Claire, who accepted the coin with a warm smile. "If someone else shows up lost and broke like me, use this to help them."
She nodded. "You have a good heart, Abel. Try not to lose it in the city."
That evening, while reviewing my notifications, I discovered that I had leveled up.
[Name: Abel]
[Race: Primordial Human]
[Level: 2 – 25/1000 XP]
[Strength: +1]
[Speed: +1]
[Stamina: +1]
[Magic: +1]
[Perks: Well Built I], [Prospector I], [Marksman I]
The new perk, [Marksman I], granted a basic understanding of all ranged weapons, improving both accuracy and reload efficiency. After spending so many hours behind a crossbow, it felt like the system was simply acknowledging what I had already earned through practice.
Still, those mysterious +1s to my attributes intrigued me.
The following days passed in calm routine. Repairs were made to the wall, goblin gear was melted down for scrap, and the villagers held a small celebration to honor the victory. Songs, laughter, and ale flowed freely. It was the first time since arriving here that I saw the people genuinely relaxed.
For me, though, the sense of restlessness grew. My stay at the tavern had stretched close to two weeks, and I could feel the next stage of my journey calling.
I'd learned much here, about crafting, about this world, and about myself, but the world beyond the village still waited.
The nearby city, according to Claire, lay three days away by carriage. It housed a labyrinth: an underground dungeon said to contain rare materials, powerful monsters, and treasures beyond measure.
For a craftsman and merchant like me, it sounded like paradise.
A city full of adventurers meant a constant demand for gear, potions, and repairs. With my production skills, low material costs, and an efficient workflow, I could sell better-quality items at lower prices and still turn a healthy profit. From there, I could use the gold to fund even greater projects: or simply to experience everything the city had to offer.
When I informed everyone of my plan to leave in two weeks, the reactions were mixed.
Daisy and Josey were pragmatic, offering well-wishes and promises to meet again if fate allowed.
Belle smiled sadly but nodded in understanding. "If that's where your path leads, I won't stop you," she said. "When the time comes, I will come find you."
Ria, however, didn't take it as easily. Her eyes shimmered when I told her, and before I knew it, tears rolled down her cheeks.
"I thought you'd stay longer," she whispered. "At least… long enough for me to catch up."
I didn't know what to say to that. What had started as a casual encounter during the resource trip had clearly meant more to her than I'd realized.
I promised that before I left, I'd spend one full day with each of them, Belle and Ria, so we could part on good terms.
That final day came sooner than I expected.
In the morning, Belle took me on a walk around the village. She showed me her favorite childhood spots, the old well behind the tavern, the apple tree she used to climb, and the riverside clearing where she'd learned to swim. Her laughter was warm and wistful.
In the afternoon, Ria and I visited the flower fields near the beekeepers' hives. We bought wine, fresh bread, and cheese from the market and had lunch among the blossoms. She teased me, made me promise to write if I could, and for a few hours, we forgot about everything else.
By the time evening fell, I returned to the inn feeling content, and heavy-hearted.
Ria followed close behind me. As I stepped into the tavern, she quietly closed the door and locked it. Belle was already waiting by the stove, a playful smile tugging at her lips.
"Did you two enjoy your little date?" she asked, setting down a pot. "Don't make that face, Abel. Did you really think either of us would let you go without spending one last evening together?"
My brain stuttered between confusion and realization. The rational part of me knew this was a trap of affection. The other part, the primal one, was already celebrating.
It seemed that Belle and Ria had made their own plans for how to send me off.
And as the door closed behind us, I had a feeling this would be a night I'd never forget.