YGGDRASIL GM

After a while of walking in silence, Nfirea finally mustered the courage to speak. "You're… incredibly strong," he said, his voice tinged with awe. "You're like an Adamantite-ranked adventurer—no, maybe even stronger."

Kaeltharion chuckled, his smirk widening. "Is that so? Well, I suppose I've put in the work."

Nfirea hesitated for a moment before asking, "How… how did you get so strong? Is there a secret to it?"

Kaeltharion glanced at the boy, his yellow eyes glinting with amusement. "So, you want to become strong, huh?"

Nfirea nodded eagerly, his eyes filled with determination. "Yes! I want to be able to protect the people I care about. I don't want to always rely on others."

Kaeltharion stopped walking, his expression turning serious. Nfirea quickly pulled the carriage to a halt, his heart racing as he realized he was about to receive the secret to unimaginable power. Sweat dripped down his forehead as he waited, his mind buzzing with anticipation.

"Alright," Kaeltharion said, his tone grave. "But you need to focus carefully on what I'm about to say. This isn't something you can half-heartedly commit to. Are you ready?"

Nfirea nodded vigorously, his hands gripping the reins tightly. "I'm ready!"

Kaeltharion took a deep breath, his expression solemn. "First, it's important you stick to an intense training regimen. Listen carefully, Nfirea. You have to keep doing it no matter how difficult it gets. Every. Single. Day. No excuses."

Nfirea leaned forward, hanging on every word.

"100 SITUPS, 100 PUSHUPS, AND THEN A 10-KILOMETER RUN AND 100 squats, 100 TIER 1 SPELLS, 100 BASIC MARTIAL ART MOVES, AND 100 SWORD SLASHES. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY."

Nfirea's eyes widened, but he didn't interrupt.

Kaeltharion continued, his voice steady. "Never use cooling magic in the summer or heating magic in the winter. And of course, make sure you eat three meals a day. A banana in the morning is fine."

"In the beginning," Kaeltharion said, his tone growing more intense, "you'll wish you were dead. You might start thinking, 'What's the harm of taking a day off?' But you can't. Even when my arms started making weird clicking noises, I kept doing pushups. Even when my legs felt like they couldn't move, I kept doing squats. Even if I was spitting blood, I never stopped. I toughed it out and endure the pain."

Nfirea's face paled slightly, but he nodded, his resolve hardening.

"A year and a half later," Kaeltharion said, his voice dropping to a near whisper, "I started to notice a difference. My hair turned white, and I become stronger. In other words, you need to train like hell to the point where your hair turns white. That's the only way to become truly strong."

Nfirea stared at Kaeltharion, his mind racing as he processed the information. After a moment, he bowed his head deeply, his voice filled with gratitude. "THANK YOU! I promise I'll never tell anyone this secret!"

Kaeltharion laughed to himself, thinking, Did he actually believe me? Aloud, he said, "I'm sure you won't. Let's get moving."

As they approached Carne Village, Nfirea suddenly noticed something unusual. The village, which had once been a small, open settlement, was now surrounded by tall, sturdy walls under construction. His eyes widened in surprise. "Something's wrong… Why are there walls being built around the village?"

Kaeltharion glanced at the walls, his yellow eyes narrowing slightly. He didn't say anything, but his mind was already piecing things together. Momonga. This has to be his doing

As they got closer to the walls, a group of goblins suddenly emerged, surrounding them with swords, arrows, and shields at the ready. One of the goblins, who seemed to be the leader, stepped forward and demanded in a loud, gruff voice, "Who are you?"

Nfirea froze, his face pale. "G-goblins?!" he stammered, clearly shocked by the sight of armed, organized goblins.

Kaeltharion, however, remained calm. He studied the goblins closely, noting their equipment and disciplined formation. These look like the ones you could summon in Yggdrasil. Momonga is definitely behind this.

The goblin leader repeated his demand, his tone growing more aggressive. "Stop and identify yourselves, or we will attack!"

Kaeltharion raised his hands slightly, showing he meant no harm. "We're here to deliver medicines to the villagers. We mean no harm."

Before the situation could escalate further, a girl's voice called out from the village side of the walls. "What's wrong, Mr. Goblin?"

The goblin leader turned and bowed slightly. "Ms. Enri, these travelers claim to be delivering medicines. We're verifying their intentions."

Nfirea's eyes lit up as he recognized the girl. "Enri!" he called out, his voice filled with relief and excitement.

The girl, Enri, looked over and her face broke into a wide smile. "Nfirea!" She turned to the goblin leader. "Let them in. He's a friend."

The goblins immediately lowered their weapons and stepped aside, allowing Kaeltharion and Nfirea to pass. The villagers were busy with their daily tasks, but there was a sense of order and security that hadn't been there before.

Nfirea quickly dismounted from the carriage and ran over to Enri, the two of them exchanging warm greetings before disappearing into one of the houses. Kaeltharion hung back, giving them space. As he waited, an old man approached him—one he recognized from his previous visit to the village. The man was followed by a group of villagers carrying baskets of fresh bread, fruits, and other homemade goods. The old man bowed deeply, his voice filled with genuine gratitude.

"Greetings, adventurer Kael," the old man said, his tone respectful and warm. "It is a great honor to see you in our village again. We are here to show you the respect you deserve, as we were unable to properly thank you the last time you saved us. You are a hero to this village, and we owe you more than words can express. Please accept these humble gifts as a token of our gratitude. You are an honored guest here, and we will forever be in your debt."

The villagers behind him nodded in agreement, their faces filled with admiration and relief. One by one, they stepped forward, offering their gifts to Kaeltharion. A young girl handed him a loaf of freshly baked bread, her hands trembling slightly as she bowed. An elderly woman placed a basket of ripe apples at his feet, her eyes glistening with tears. A burly man, likely the village blacksmith, presented him with a finely crafted dagger, its hilt wrapped in leather and its blade gleaming in the sunlight.

Kaeltharion accepted the gifts with a nod, his expression calm but appreciative. "Thank you," he said simply, his deep voice carrying a note of sincerity. "But I was only doing my job. Your safety is reward enough."

The old man shook his head, his voice firm. "No, adventurer Kael. What you did for us was more than just a job. You risked your life to protect us, and for that, we will always be grateful. Please, stay as long as you like. You are always welcome here."

Kaeltharion gave a small, respectful bow in return. "I appreciate your kindness. I'll stay for a while, but I have other duties to attend to soon."

As the villagers dispersed, Kaeltharion turned his attention to the edge of the forest. His sharp senses had picked up on something—or someone—lurking nearby. "I can see you behind the tree," he said, his voice low but carrying. "You might as well reveal yourself."

For a moment, there was silence. Then, from behind one of the trees, a woman stepped into view. She was a striking figure—a brown-skinned beauty with an athletic build and fiery red hair tied into two long braids. She wore a maid uniform with short sleeves and long black gloves, her skirt featuring a long slit on the left side that revealed thigh-high white stockings. Her piercing yellow locked onto Kaeltharion, and a faint smile played on her lips.

Kaeltharion's yellow eyes narrowed slightly as he studied her. Another one of Momonga's people, he thought.

The woman stepped closer, her movements graceful and deliberate. "You have sharp senses," she said, her voice smooth but carrying an edge of danger. "Not many can detect me when I don't wish to be seen."

Kaeltharion smirked. "I'm not like most people. Who are you, and what do you want?"

The woman tilted her head slightly, her smile warm and friendly. "My name is Lupusregina. I live here in the village. It's not often we get visitors like you. What brings you to Carne Village?"

"Just escorting a friend," he said.

Lupusregina nodded, her yellow eyes glinting with curiosity. "That's very kind of you. We're a small village, but we look out for each other. If you need anything while you're here, don't hesitate to ask."

Kaeltharion gave a small nod, his expression unreadable. "I'll keep that in mind."

As Lupusregina turned to leave, Kaeltharion's eyes followed her, locking onto her shapely butt for a moment longer than necessary. His wild, primal instincts screamed at him to act, to indulge in the darker impulses that had always been a part of him. The thought of taking her right then and there crossed his mind, but he quickly reined himself in, his rational mind taking over. No, he thought, shaking his head slightly. That would be a terrible idea. The last thing I need is Momonga greeting the news, 'Adventurer?! Oh, and it's Kael… HE RAPED LUPUSREGINA .????????' Yeah, that's not the kind of second impression I want to make.

Kaeltharion leaned back against a nearby tree, his yellow eyes scanning the village as he continued to muse. Maybe I should start playing the hero more often. Not for the thrill of battle, but for the rewards that come with it. There's something satisfying about earning trust, respect, and maybe even affection. It's a different kind of challenge, but one worth pursuing.

As Kaeltharion stood there, lost in thought, Nfirea approached him, his face filled with gratitude. The young pharmacist bowed deeply, his voice sincere and heartfelt. "Thank you, Kael. For saving the village… and for saving Enri. The girl I love. I don't know how I can ever repay you."

Kaeltharion looked down at the boy, his expression calm but not unkind. "Raise your head," he said, his deep voice carrying a note of authority. "It's the duty of the strong to protect the weak. You don't need to thank me for doing what's right."

Nfirea straightened up, his eyes shining with admiration. "Still, I'm grateful. If there's ever anything I can do for you, please let me know."

Kaeltharion nodded, "Actually, there is. When are we going to collect those herbs you mentioned? I'd rather not waste any more time."

Nfirea's face lit up. "Right away! Follow me."

With that, Nfirea led the way, his steps quick and eager. Kaeltharion followed, his yellow eyes scanning the surroundings as they left the village and headed toward the forest.

As they walked, Kaeltharion couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Playing the hero had its perks, after all. And who knows? Maybe this little adventure would lead to something even more interesting.