Walking alongside Bireta, Sharti heard about what had happened while she was asleep.
Firstly, the battle that began at midnight left no trace by the time morning came.
“All the bandits who tried to attack the village were gathered in one place.”
Only one among them had survived, and even he was kept alive with only his tongue intact.
The members of the Kroph Mercenary Group, despite their independent and somewhat reasonable personalities, did not cultivate mercy toward their enemies.
“And just a while ago, they were all sent to their employer.”
Assassins and wandering mercenaries, including an unfortunate soul, vanished through the teleportation magic circle created by the wizards.
If luck were on their side, they would have ended up right in front of Lord Dalthan Bridend. Of course, it was highly unlikely that such a villainous character directly hired them.
“And as soon as the morning dawned, the village chief gathered the residents and informed them of the situation.”
The overnight battle had triggered a sense of crisis.
The villagers, each facing the village’s secrets, dangers, and new changes, engraved a new sense of vigilance in their hearts.
“Since Lord Matap has ownership of this mountain, and the protection of the village is entrusted to the mercenary group, the burden has significantly decreased.”
In reality, it became much safer than most noble territories.
Even joking about a territorial war would likely result in defeat.
“Of course, as the existence of the village becomes known externally, the pressure on this place will be considerable.”
The secret that this was not just a mountain owned by Lord Matap, but a village containing a giant mana cluster, wouldn’t remain hidden for much longer.
“Well, for a while, the noble folks will probably tread carefully.”
Who would bear the brunt of a full-scale confrontation with Matap? Unless they plotted in secret.
“So, during this time, we plan to expand the village.”
The village chief, Matap, and the mercenary group had already settled their negotiations. They had agreed to establish a large magic workshop in the village.
For the exclusive use of Karun’s mercenary group and the wizards affiliated with Matap, it was a generous resource workshop.
Of course, they planned to open the village and accept individual spells from both wizards and mercenaries.
‘Grandma is truly amazing.’
It was a perfect coexistence where no one suffered any losses.
Sharti, who had been behind the scenes, merely expressed her gratitude to Bireta.
“Soon, the representative and manager appointed by Lord Matap will come as a delegate for the Matap. The village chief has already finished the discussion with them. The manager probably won’t object either. So, think about what you want to receive, Sharti.”
“…?”
When Sharti stopped walking, Bireta smiled kindly and took Sharti’s hand, patting it.
“Everything started with you, Sharti. Naturally, you should receive a fair reward.”
Sharti shook her head incredulously, but Bireta didn’t let go, even as Sharti fumbled to write a note.
“Shah, just because you’ve shown kindness for a single ethical reason doesn’t mean you should lower its value. Unconditional kindness will ultimately be seen as a convenient role for exploitation.”
“…….”
“When you intervene in someone’s life, you should receive a reward equal to the weight of the commitment you made.”
The gathered courage, shared hope, and something that could be valued were not quantifiable. However, that didn’t make it natural or easy.
The desire to help others was noble in itself.
“…….”
Sharti nodded slowly after contorting her lips in contemplation. Bireta, satisfied, let go of her hand.
“The reason that dog works hard is probably similar.”
“…?”
Sharti followed behind Bireta again.
With Sharti’s curiosity in tow, Bireta arrived at the outskirts of the village.
In the open square at the outskirts, onlookers had gathered.
“Wowwww!”
“Ugh!!”
“Hey, catch him!”
Various strange sounds reverberated through the square, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a battlefield.
Sharti, anticipating something unusual, covered her mouth.
As the mercenary inspectors energetically leaped towards a certain person in the square, Sharti gasped. It was Ren.
Wearing tattered robes and wielding a single dagger, Ren skillfully avoided the oncoming blades with precarious movements.
“Uh, huh?”
At the moment of deviation, Ren adjusted his body to match the mercenaries’ speed and, in turn, struck down with his dagger at the neck of one of the mercenaries.
“Ugh!”
“Hey, you again! Getting hit again?!”
Mercenaries who had received a beating under the dagger’s hilt shouted at each other with flushed faces.
Thinking her eardrums might burst, Sharti covered her ears.
“Hey! It would end if you just take off that hood! What are you doing!”
“Did the kid attach it with magic?! Why won’t it come off?!”
The mercenary inspectors were in disarray every time they clashed with Ren.
In contrast, Ren’s robe was merely torn.
After Being Cheated On, She Picked Up a Treasure (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The husband I married on a whim had been secretly in love with me for a long time.
On the day when Jun Shao finally obtained the imperial decree for her marriage, Lan Qu, the person she had admired for six years, defied the decree and ran away.
Her gentleness and devotion, her promise of a lifetime together, were all disregarded by him. Instead, he dreamed of entering the palace to serve the Emperor’s sister as a sixth-rank attendant.
News of this incident spread throughout the capital, and the alleys in front of and behind the Lan mansion were crowded with people who came to watch the commotion.
Jun Shao should have been embarrassed and angry.
But someone stepped in to protect her dignity.
The figure was in a miserable state, yet still possessed an undeniable elegance and handsomeness.
The young lord struggled to climb the wall of the Lan mansion and shouted to her, “If he won’t marry you, I will!”
So, Jun Shao took advantage of the situation and married the person.
She thought the young lord did it to save the Lan family from the crime of defying the imperial decree, but never imagined that from beginning to end, what he coveted was her.
*
After the wedding, Jun Shao felt like she was living in a dream.
Her Wife-master was as beautiful as a fairy in a painting, skilled in the six arts, well-versed in poetry and literature, capable of being gentle and attentive, and also grand and dignified. Most importantly, she was the only one in his heart and eyes.
Jun Shao didn’t know how Lan Shiwu, as a illegitimate son without a father and blessed with beauty, had managed to preserve his purity, recklessly escape, and use his last ounce of strength to ruin his own reputation, all because of his love for her, just to stand before her.
She could only see him gazing at her with eyes full of love, and when she bestowed a name upon him, his eyes shone like stars.
“You have come to me like a weary bird perching on a branch. I shall call you A Qi.”
