Chapter 70: Honor and Aspirations

  The r fmes "whooshed" as they burned.

  Gradually, the bodies were engulfed, and the family members nearby couldn't hold back their sobs.

  The hot glow of the fire reddehe faces of everyone around.

  Ange, with a solemn expression, called out in a low, far-reag voice:

  "Hajira... Freil... Kuko... Rasnin... They are true heroes."

  "They fought bravely to protect Bay Vilge, to protect others."

  "Until their final moments, they ook a step back!"

  "By order of the lord, we will build a hero's tomb in the ter of the vilge and y them to rest there."

  "Furthermore, we will record this battle in Bay Vilge's history, doting everyone's efforts and their sacrifices!"

  "Our desdants will look up to them as examples..."

  "At the same time, the families of the fallen will receive a oime pensation of 5 gold s and perma lease rights to 20 acres of nd."

  "Each family will also receive 10 silver s per month for living expenses."

  "Children who have not yet e of age will receive focused training ierritory until they reach adulthood."

  "..."

  Ange's voice wasn't particurly loud, but with the aid of a voice amplification spell, it reached everyone's ears clearly.

  Hearing about the unpreted "Hero’s Cemetery," the eyes of every soldier present brightened, and their hearts filled with pride and a sense of honor.

  Many who had embarked oh of a professional did so to improve their lives, to ge their fate.

  But almost all of them aspired to have their names remembered, to leave a sting legacy.

  Now, Bay Vilge and their lord had fulfilled this deep desire, and every soldier felt a surge of awe and exhiration.

  The families of the fallen looked equally incredulous.

  Old Vilge Chief Field, who had taken out a cigarette but never lit it, opened his mouth slightly, sighed, and blinked hard to hold back his tears, as past memories filled his mind.

  "pensation? What pensation? Sacrifig for the heril Empire is your honor!"

  "Fighting for the lord is your duty..."

  "Sob... my son..."

  "Didn't you say you'd bring him back?"

  "The vilge belongs to the lord, why go to such lengths? Just take care of yourself, isn’t that enough?"

  "Don't go, it's too dangerous..."

  "Just go and die, don’t e back!"

  "Grandpa Vilge Chief... where did my father go?"

  "..."

  Old Vilge Chief Field, who had lohrough mes, and enemies, couldn’t see through the heril Empire or the cold-hearted lords. Nor could he uand those praised as "Great Ohe Grand Arists!

  They always stood high above, never deigning to look down at the people struggling with survival ah.

  They had world-shattering powers, yet they couldn’t even rid the nd of kobolds and murlocs.

  They could lift a city into the sky, yet the tools used by oners were still nothing more than sticks tied to wood.

  Matthew, the new lord, had shown airely different attitude and vision. Would he be able to maintain this?

  "He will! We won’t let him down!"

  g his teeth, Old Field silently observed the murmuring crowd, clearly sensing their thoughts.

  They were moved!

  Thhly moved!

  Not far away, curious adventurers exged gnces, astonished by the se before them.

  "Even the honor-bound Lodran Empire doesn't offer such generous pensatiht?"

  "Not just the Lodran Empire, even the wealthiest human empire in the South, Falsico, hasn’t done anything like this..."

  "What do you think? When our adventuring days are over, should we move to Bay Vilge?"

  "Who knows how long this will st? Maybe it’s all a scam..."

  "I think it’s genuine. I've never seen peasants in aory work with such drive!"

  "It’s pletely different; this lord is far more than most."

  "I think joining Bay Vilge wouldn’t be a bad idea right now..."

  "Cough, cough, let’s not think too far ahead. We’ve just about scouted the outskirts of the Gloomy Forest, and it’s almost time to start hunting."

  "The quests in this territory are strange—how could they make all the gathered information public?"

  "Isn’t that great? It helps us avoid danger and leads to greater rewards."

  "Yeah, you found that whole patoonlight Flowers the other day, thanks to the map!"

  "But it's iing how they only collect mature materials and even use magic to check if new seeds have been pnted?"

  "Right, if you don’t repnt, there’s a heavy penalty. I saw one unlucky guy pay the price..."

  "That way, the resources are replenished tinuously, and everyone bes!"

  "I’ve never had such a rexed adventure..."

  "Who hasn’t?"

  "..."

  The adventurers eagerly joihe versation, with much of the discussion revolving around Matthew's unpreted kindness as a lord.

  In their eyes, Matthew’s as were simply a result of his benevolent nature.

  Meanwhile, these clever and bold adventurers, having scouted the area i days, had already discovered signs of isoted trolls.

  They were pnning to cooperate and attempt some hunts in the ing days.

  After all, even though colboration might reduce their earnings, it greatly improved their safety.

  Yet they still harbored doubts about the high bounty on trolls.

  What if the lord didn’t pay?

  pared to the adventurers, the temporary residents of Bay Vilge had a different perspective.

  "Tom, let’s give it a shot tomorrow. If we pass the test and bee reserve soldiers, we won’t have to worry about making a living."

  Labor and plentiful food had helped the once sy Jifan finally look healthier.

  Across from him, Tom, who was busy eating, obediently nodded.

  Since childhood, Jifan had always been the one making decisions. All Tom had to do was follow along—Jifan would never lead him astray.

  Little Jixiang, however, widened her eyes. She seemed to have more s, askiantly:

  "Brother, will it be dangerous?"

  Chewing his bck bread carefully and mixing it with fish soup before swallowing, Jifan thought about the information he had gathered i days. With a firm tone, he replied:

  "What job isn’t dangerous? Even farming in the wildnds be deadly—some poor soul nearly buro death, but the guards saved him just in time."

  "In the past, we didn’t have the ce to wield power. Now that we have this opportunity, we must seize it!"

  Little Jixiang bit her lip. Though far more mature than most her age, she recalled the fearful days when their lives hung by a thread, and she nodded in agreement:

  "You're right, brother. I’ve heard from my cssmates in Bay Vilge that the territory will be dug a test soon."

  "If you have a talent fic, there’s a good ce you’ll be selected for professional training in the academy."

  "Those with exceptional talent might even be personally taken in as the lord’s apprentice..."

  Seeing the little girl mutter to herself, her once gaunt face slowly regaining the softness of childhood, Jifan silently nodded, feeling a glimmer of hope as he enced her:

  "We’ll work hard and see if luck favors us this time…"

  AnnouA big thank you to [Brown] for joining my Patreon! Your support means a lot to meFAL