Bireta left Sharuti in the care of the detestable dog-like guy and crossed the village. A guest who had arrived in the village through the dazzling pillar of light a while ago stood, capturing the attention of the villagers.

The guest, holding a three-hundred-pace staff, adorned their body with gem-like stones and wore colorful attire.

“You still haven’t cut that hair, Matapju.”

“It’s been a while, Bireta.”

Matapju casually brushed the water-blue, long hair aside as if showing off. The hair, so long that it dragged on the ground, had floating magical effects at the ends, barely not touching the ground.

“What use is a man having such long hair?”

“Haha! Despite what you say, Bireta, it’s to make my appearance even more charming when casting magic.”

Bireta, still looking a bit eccentric, clicked her tongue toward Matapju.

“I talked to Butapju, so why did Matapju come personally? And alone.”

“Well, the decision-maker is me anyway. Did you think I wouldn’t bother looking for Butapju twice, Bireta? Did you think I wouldn’t respond to your contact?”

Bireta’s expression gradually soured as she dealt with Matapju, who, despite his outward appearance of being in his early thirties, was actually similar in age to her. Sitting in the position of Matapju due to significant magical power, he had maintained his youth.

So, Matapju, who only seemed fresh on the surface, didn’t appear particularly attractive to Bireta.

“Oh, . It seems there was a misunderstanding. In our relationship, pushing and pulling seem important, so I was in the process of avoiding.”

Matapju, who chuckled with a somewhat immature mental age, continued.

“By the way, it’s an amazing village.”

As Bireta’s eyes flashed with vitality, Matapju quickly turned his gaze. Matapju’s hand, covered with rings on every finger, lightly swept through the air.

Hwaaat ! Mana in the air, reacting to Matapju’s magical power, sparkled like stardust. Matapju’s mouth corners rose as if about to split.

“If it’s a place like this, I needed to come and see for myself. Otherwise, who would believe it?”

Matapju moved slowly. Bireta walked away from him in silence.

Capturing the attention of the villagers, Matapju headed towards the center of the village.

A delighted smile appeared on Matapju’s face as he arrived at the place where three stone towers were erected.

“Bireta .”

Matapju turned to Bireta, covering his mouth with his hand while laughing. Even so, the torn corners of his mouth were not concealed.

“Is there a reason for this village to exist?”

Just as a gust of wind blew, a mercenary group appeared out of nowhere, wielding weapons with fierce eyes directed at Matapju.

Surrounded by dozens of blades pointed at him, Matapju, with a smirk, said, “It’s not like they’re trying to take it away. It’s just a pure question. Isn’t this impolite?”
When Matapju flicked his finger, the weapons of the mercenary group all turned into water.

Nevertheless, as the vitality of the Crople Mercenary Corps remained unbroken, Matapju immediately raised his hand, extending his palm.

“Bireta, you know, right? It was just a casual remark~.”

Matapju claimed innocence, singing as if humming a tune.

Unnoticed, Karun, the captain of the Crople Mercenary Corps, approached Bireta, gesturing with his eyes. The members slowly withdrew, hiding their presence again. It wasn’t so much a mercenary group as a movement resembling a large-scale assassination squad.

Matapju chuckled, brushing his slightly disheveled hair back.

“This means the village is charming enough, doesn’t it?”

Matapju faced the terrified gazes of the villagers one by one, smiling cheerfully.

The villagers discreetly moved away from Matapju, hiding in fear.

The atmosphere became chilly, making the carefully chosen outfit for the rare outing seem insignificant.

“They don’t know anything.”

Bireta and Karun looked at Matapju disdainfully, pursing their lips.

Matapju lightly flicked his hand, erasing the smile from his face and looked up at the stone towers.

“This village, more precisely, the hidden treasure beneath it, is dangerous, Bireta. I can assert that I’m the only one who can handle it.”

Matapju had already finished measuring the amount of mana underground from the moment he arrived in the village. The hidden treasure underground was mana endlessly generated by nature. It was a treasure that could catch the attention not only of Matapju but even the Emperor of the Empire.

In cold terms, this village needed to be solely owned by Matap for safety. Both the village and its residents had to avoid shedding blood.

“To the point where Matapju asserts.”

Even with Matapju’s advice given without a trace of humor, Bireta only laughed hollowly.

Bireta turned to her side.

“Village Chief, did you hear?”

The village chief and other village officials, who had arrived at some point, nodded resolutely with tense faces.

“As the value has been proven, there will be more who aim for it in the future.”

“Especially our Matap’s presence will be needed even more.”