“How annoying they should have done this when we log out. They should mourn in their own homes quickly and quietly.” 

Alex’s mind snapped back when she heard a group of young men who passed behind her grumbling. 

She looked at them blankly. 

Did they really feel no emotions when seeing this scene? In a world that feels like reality. How could they disrespect their comrades who recently fought with them on the battlefield? Who gave them the right to insult the dead just because it is a game? 

“It seems that the NPC’s here don’t give any quest. Let’s go and meet with my brother on the road ahead. He said that he found a nice spot to earn a lot of money and level.” She watched as the group of young men left the gate. 

“They are just kids, no need to look at them as if you’re dying to kill them right here. And you can’t change the fact that everyone only treats this as a game.” Ezekiel knows why she’s angry. As a doctor’s son, even he hates those kinds of people the most. 

Alex shook her head. “Haven’t I done something way worst than them? I left those village guards to fend for themselves. If only we hadn’t provoked the goblin shaman that forced him to put the goblins in a berserk state. Or if I stayed on the frontline with everyone would there be lesser casualties?” Alex regretted it. She knew that it was no use thinking about what had already happened since she couldn’t change anything. But it doesn’t mean that she can’t learn from those mistakes and do better in the future. 

“You’ll never know. But I think it was the best thing we could have done. If you think about it, their formation would have been broken if those hobgoblins coupled with those red-skinned hobgoblins fought them. The battlefield would be in chaos if we haven’t slain the hobgoblins.” 

“As for that guy who calls himself Chaos, the damage you see right now is nothing compared to the damage he would do if we fought near the village. Heck, you will not even see a village when you revive if we fought near the village.” Ezekiel thought that the villager was lucky when he found out the damage the explosion dealt with the village. If he hadn’t lured him deep into the woods, then the village would have been a goner.

“Besides we are just doing, what we are good at. I know you more than anyone else, if we really fought normally just like everyone else then you can’t go all out. It is like you are restricted by the people around you. Earlier when I haven’t asked you to cooperate I’m slowing you down right? If you are even having a hard time with me alone, how much more if you protected hundreds.” He doesn’t want to admit it, but he won’t be much of a help with Alex without his healing. He still has a long road ahead before he can be of help. 

“I know, I want to protect everyone it’s just that… It’s the first time someone relying on me. Maybe I have been fighting alone for a long time that protecting someone is something new for me. Seeing the villagers crying for their loved ones made me remember horrible things in the past.” 

Ezekiel gazed at her eyes in silence. He wanted her to continue sharing. Yet, he doesn’t want to see her in pain at the same time.

Alex contemplated for a moment before she let out a sigh. “Let’s go its looks like they are done.” She still doesn’t have the courage to talk about her past. 

She turned her gaze to the burning campfire, then strode towards Lili, the girl selling potions, when she saw her helping the elders. 

Ezekiel looked up at the sky as raindrops fell on his hands, then he followed after her. Right now, she may not be able to talk about her past, but maybe she’ll have the courage to open up more in the future. 

Slowly the weather began to cool down after the downpour extinguished the campfire… 

During this time, Ezekiel told Alex his plan to go to the nearby town to claim their rewards of killing the goblins in the adventurer’s guild. And since it will be a long ride, they need to accompany the villagers. They don’t want to leave, but they don’t have a choice because of the void portals. As the village men forced them to leave the village, the atmosphere was spiritless. 

“Are you guys ready??” The young man coachman of the horse carriage asked the people on the cart.

“Uhuh,” Lili nodded, answering for her group. 

With the rope stick in his hand, the coachman started the carriage. 

The group consists of 5 people, including the coachman with Ezekiel and Alex on the right side. While Lili and her mother are on the left side. Following behind them are four more horse carriages with the same number of people. Most of them are followed by elders and young coachmen as guards since the roads ahead are usually safe to traverse. 

Alex and Ezekiel are the only players accompanying the villagers since many players left the village to explore the game as soon as possible. 

Ezekiel told her that the ride would be 3 hours long so she could take it easy and rest in the cart. Meanwhile, Ezekiel can tell her what he found while she was in the void realm. Lili, who doesn’t understand a thing they were talking about, slept in her mother’s lap. 

The first thing Ezekiel talked about were the titles she received. “You have earned two titles, right??” 

“Uhuh,” Alex answered. She had her eyes closed, listening to him while her head rested on his shoulders. At first, she wanted to complain when Ezekiel lay her head on his shoulders. But she was just too tired to argue, so she complied. 

“Did you know that only those who died from the explosion received the two titles? Those who died received [Village’s Hero] and [??? Chaos] which gives a 40% discount on all transactions with Honey Combed villagers and a 5% skill’s cooldown reduction. But those who didn’t die only received a 30% discount. And worse of all Akkar and his friend who was supposed to die survived.” Ezekiel laughed as he told her of how Hal blamed Akkar for saving him from the explosion. The 5% may look minuscule, but it will make a difference in battle. 

“Huh?? Mine is different.” Alex muttered then showed him the title she received. 

“It must be because you are the one who fought Chaos directly. But that 10% is a great help, does it work when you steal skills??” Alex’s stealing skill is so overpowered, with its only downside being the 24-hour cooldown. 

“I asked Lumiere about it and it works, now I only need 21 hours and 36 minutes,” Alex answered sluggishly. 

“Great! Now check this thing out.” Ezekiel then pulled out a wooden staff from his inventory. 

[Chaos Staff] (Sealed)

* Rank: B 

* Weapon Stats: +3 Intellect, +2 Wisdom 

* Skills: Staff’s Weapon Proficiency (Sealed), Fireball (Sealed), Ice Shard (Sealed)

{Devour} Randomly acquire one skill of the weapon.