episode_0072

Discussing the future reconstruction of the village and forming a merchant group, we were able to arrive at Eaton Village.

“It’s been a long time, Jazel! Glad to see you looking healthy!” Unlike when they always ate thin porridge made from boiled grains or bread that resembled lumps of flour, the people of Eaton Village, their skin now full of luster and vitality, welcomed me warmly.

“Oh my, I heard things are going well with our Ariel~ You two look so good together~” The villagers, who once struggled to matchmake Killua and Rai, no longer needed to discuss that matter; it seemed to have become a thing of the past after Killua’s wisdom solved the village’s problems.

It seemed the villagers had tried to make Rai leave the village by matching her with Killua.

The fact that a young and capable Rai was wasting away in a declining village with no future had been a great burden on the villagers’ hearts.

But now, with Killua’s wisdom and efforts, the village was overflowing with the possibility of revival, so the villagers no longer felt the need to send Rai away.

“We came to look for a house to live in together~” Ariel affectionately linked arms with me and boldly declared that we had come to find our future newlywed home.

“Please recommend a good house.” I, too, held Ariel’s hand, which had affectionately linked with mine, and showed off our strong relationship as lovers to the villagers as if boasting.

“Ahem… You know young Batton, who lives next to the water purification facility? Tell him to move out immediately.” At our words about looking for a newlywed home, the villagers nodded as if they had expected it and tried to arrange for us the house right next to the water purification facility, the best spot in the village.

“Ahaha. There’s no need to forcibly remove someone from their home~” Laughing off the villagers’ words, which were clearly a mischievous joke, I walked here and there with a few villagers, searching for empty houses remaining in Eaton Village.

While doing so. As we passed near the plaza. We could hear boisterous laughter echoing, unlike usual.

“Oh, right~ A great guest has arrived in our village, why don’t we go and see them?” One of the villagers clapped their hands, as if they had momentarily forgotten due to Ariel’s and my sudden visit, and pointed towards the plaza.

“A great guest?” In a village where food ingredients had become plentiful, there was no longer a need to cook and eat together in the plaza. Thanks to this, the quiet plaza, where villagers used to stroll or small markets were held, had become quite noisy, unlike usual.

“They say he’s a hero chosen by the Goddess.” “A hero?” At the word ‘hero,’ my brow furrowed slightly, as if I were dumbfounded.

Was it a trend these days for anyone and everyone to call themselves a hero? I couldn’t help but feel bewildered yet curious, wondering how strong his self-esteem must be to call himself a hero, and how great he truly was.

“He’s quite a decent person. It wouldn’t be bad to meet him once before leaving, would it?” Seeing my furrowed brow, the villager, realizing that I was recalling the chubby herbalist who had called himself a hero, gave a bitter smile.

“Sure, why not…” Honestly curious about how great he was to call himself a hero, I headed towards the central plaza with Ariel.

And there, we encountered a true hero.

With his tall stature, distinct features that seemed to hold a gentle light, and despite wearing modest leather armor for long journeys, a subtle halo emanating from behind him made even that leather armor feel noble. Furthermore, his glossy black hair, as if spun from black pearls, and dark eyes with a subtle brown tint, further amplified his exotic charm and mystique.

“Hahahat. Hello?” As soon as he spotted us entering the plaza, he offered a polite greeting in a deep, gentle voice that seemed to melt softly into one’s ears.

“Uh… Hello?” “Hello…” At a glance, he felt like a special and superior being, a person directly chosen by a divine entity beyond our comprehension.

“I am Kwon Sanghoon, a hero chosen by the Goddess.” “Kwon… Sanghoon?” It was a type of name I had never heard of, even while leading a merchant group that traveled across the entire continent. Perhaps it was a name given directly by the Goddess who chose him…

“And this is Ermel, my advisor and colleague.” Following this, the hero introduced a small-framed, quiet girl whom I hadn’t even noticed was right beside him, as she was hidden by his halo and presence. She had mysterious purple hair that calmly fell to her shoulders, and her body was wrapped in a purple robe that matched her hair, her presence as faint as a shadow. With half-closed eyes, an expressionless face, and her small mouth tightly shut, she merely nodded as if she couldn’t help it when the hero introduced her, as if she had no interest or concern in the entire world.

“Nice to meet you. I am Jazel… and this is.” “My name is Ariel. Nice to meet you.” In response to the introductions of Hero Kwon Sanghoon and his colleague Ermel, Ariel and I also took turns introducing ourselves.

The hero’s eyes, as he looked back at us, sparkled with interest and curiosity.

“Status open.” “…?”

“Ah~ It’s nothing much. It’s an ability… no, one of the blessings the Goddess gave me.” Kwon Sanghoon smiled warmly, raised his fingers, and began to ‘fumble’ in the air. His movements were as if he was manipulating something visible only to his own eyes. Quietly gazing as if concentrating on something in the empty air, he then let out an exclamation of interest.

“Merchant Lv. 3… Someone with such incredible talent was wasting away in a small village like this.”

“Sanghoon… refrain from meta-commentary.” When he spoke words we couldn’t understand, Ermel, who had been quiet, suddenly narrowed her eyes and poked the hero’s side with her elbow.

As if this happened often, the hero let out a small laugh, caressed his side where Ermel had poked him, and said, “It’s fine, it’s fine. This much is okay, isn’t it?”

“What… what does that mean?” Unable to understand the conversation between the two, I interjected, asking what the hero had said.

Ermel was still glaring at him, but the hero ignored her gaze, looked at me, and answered my question. “Through the Goddess’s blessing, I have a bit of an eye for recognizing people’s talents. Jazel-nim has Merchant Lv. 3. This is incredible talent.”

As soon as we met face-to-face for the first time, I couldn’t help but be surprised by the compliment that I had talent. My current appearance was simply that of one of the villagers; only the fact that the conspicuously beautiful Ariel was by my side was a little special. Nevertheless, I couldn’t deny that his keen eye, which had discerned my talent as a merchant, had truly received the Goddess’s blessing.

“So… what exactly does Merchant Lv. 3 mean?” Ariel, who smiled brightly as if she herself had been complimented when I received praise, hugged my arm even more tightly and demanded a detailed explanation of the talent the hero had discerned in me.

The hero then opened his mouth, still wearing a calm, likable smile.

“Lv. 1 is enough to gain fame in a small village, Lv. 2 is enough to gain renown in a big city, and Lv. 3, I’d say, is enough to leave a mark across the entire continent.”

“Wow~ Jazel! Did you hear that? That’s incredible talent~! I told you Jazel is someone special~” Ariel hugged me as if her own talent had been recognized.

Upon hearing directly with my own ears about the talent I possessed, an undeniable bright smile couldn’t help but spread across my lips. As the hero said, my merchant group, which I had led before my downfall, was famous enough to travel across the entire continent. I could feel that his keen eye for discerning people’s talents was by no means a lie.

“And there’s an unusual talent… What is this? I can’t read it…” But was that not the only talent I possessed? At his meaningful muttering, Ariel and I looked at his mouth with eyes full of anticipation.

However, the hero tapped something visible only to himself with his hand, as if something wasn’t clearly visible. Then, the small girl, Ermel, who was beside him, offered advice.

“You can’t know a person’s hidden talents if they haven’t been experienced yet or haven’t manifested in front of you.”

“Oh… really? Well… it’s probably nothing, right?” As if he had no great interest, the hero turned his gaze from me to Ariel, who was clinging to my side.

“Then that lady over there… Status open.” Just as he had done with me, he mumbled strange words I couldn’t understand while looking at Ariel. Then, just as before, as if something visible only to his eyes floated in the air, he carefully gazed into the air.

“Found it! A Mage of Magic Lv. 3!!” Following that, he shouted in a voice filled with joy.