Xiadam decided to cook a hearty pot of soup for everyone, as a response to that invocation of the Nameless Hero’s blessing.
Thank you all for believing in yourselves.
It made her feel that her thirty years of preventing war were finally being rewarded.
However, Xiadam also knew that some warriors had a rather twisted faith in her.
For example, ordinary commoners believed in her because she brought them peace and spared them from the ravages of war.
Their faith in the Nameless Hero was straightforward and positive.
But some adventurers and warriors revered her for her strength.
At their core, they worshipped power—they truly admired that rebellious Dragon Knight who dared defy the Kingdom.
Such ruthless types would often shout, “May the Nameless Hero bless us,” and then immediately charge into a berserk blood rage, slaughtering their enemies without mercy.
Xiadam felt this was a bit too extreme.
This was not the vision of peace she desired.
The four-person Pioneer team slept straight through until noon.
Xiadam went out and caught a few big fish, then simmered a delicious fish soup.
That wasn’t all—Sheffield went out for a bit.
Soon after, she returned carrying a Wolf King three times larger than an ordinary starving wolf.
“Ah!” The Priestess in the four-person team was the first to wake up.
When she saw the Wolf King’s corpse, she immediately let out a terrified scream.
With that scream, the other three knights woke up at once, leaping to their feet and drawing their swords.
“Good reaction,” Xiadam commented sharply.
“What happened?”
“What’s going on?”
“Is it the Wolf King?”
The three knights quickly scanned the area and also spotted the Demon Wolf King, but it was already lifeless.
Everyone was shocked, but soon came to terms with it.
There was no need to ask what had happened, was there?
In their hearts, their admiration for the Magician overflowed like a never-ending river.
“Magician,” the middle-aged knight wanted to say something.
“No need, everyone sit down. Here are some bowls and chopsticks, get ready to eat,” Xiadam interrupted him.
“Oh, oh, oh, oh.” The four-person team obediently sat around the fire.
Sheffield also came over to eat, proudly pulling out her own special wooden bowl, scooping up a huge helping of fish soup, and sitting beside them to eat heartily without a shred of courtesy.
The others finally got a close look at the Magician’s Elf companion—silver hair, bronzed skin, golden eyes, pointed ears, so many striking features.
“Magician, may I ask if this young lady is a Dark Elf?” the middle-aged knight inquired.
“Yes, she’s a Dark Elf, and my apprentice,” Xiadam replied.
She was still struggling with how to give Sheffield an identity.
Since they’d given her one, she’d just accept it for Sheffield.
After all, most people couldn’t tell the difference between an Elf and a Dark Elf anyway—probably only heard of them in legends.
Only the true Elven Tribe would know they were lying.
“Ka ka ka!” Sheffield ate by herself, completely ignoring everyone, with not a trace of manners.
After finishing her meal, she went back for another large helping, then returned to the small wooden house to feed the Fat Crocodile Turtle.
Although she always talked about getting rid of the Little Black Dragon, in the end she still took care of it.
Sheffield dragged the perpetually sleeping little fat dragon out, forcibly pried open its mouth, and stuffed fish inside like feeding a pig—very rough.
But the little fat dragon didn’t seem to mind.
It just kept eating and swallowing, and even looked like it wasn’t full.
It seemed Ancient Dragons were never satisfied, their appetites huge.
But in reality, Ancient Dragons could survive without eating at all—eating was just for the taste.
But perhaps because of that, the less they had, the more they craved.
Fortunately, Xiadam had anticipated Sheffield’s appetite and cooked a huge pot of thick fish soup.
She had sacrificed flavor for quantity, adding lots of big fish—nothing but meat, almost no broth.
The knight team had been eating dry rations all this time, and even had no time to eat while being chased by wolf packs.
If they dared stop to eat, they’d become wolf food themselves.
“Magician, how long have you been living in seclusion here?” the middle-aged Knight Captain asked.
“Over a year,” Xiadam fibbed.
That was a lie—in reality, it had been less than three months since they’d turned into girls.
“Magician, what do you think of this place?” the Knight Captain asked again.
“Beautiful scenery, abundant water, pleasant climate, plenty of food and timber. If there’s a flaw… it’s that there are too many monsters,” Xiadam answered.
Hearing this, the Knight Captain suddenly put down his wooden bowl and solemnly knelt on one knee to salute Xiadam.
Seeing their leader do this, the two young knights and the Priestess also knelt on one knee.
“Magician, we are Lord Lavini’s Pioneers. We’ve built a Pioneer Camp at the edge of the forest, but progress has been extremely difficult, and the camp is constantly attacked by monsters. Many of our brothers have fallen during this time, and in the end only the four of us are left, fighting desperately to open a path. I know my request is excessive, but I hope we can open a road between our camp and your Manor,” the Knight Captain pleaded.
“That is indeed an excessive request. If I agree, my secluded cottage will basically become part of your territory,” Xiadam said with a light laugh.
“We have no intention of seizing your house, Magician!” The Knight Captain lowered his head even further.
“How many women and children are in your camp?” Xiadam asked.
“There are ten women and six children. Plus some old guards who stayed behind, we have twenty-six people in total,” the Knight Captain answered clearly.
“Let’s go back,” Xiadam said, downing her fish soup in one gulp and standing up.
“Magician?” The Knight Captain looked up in shock.
“I’ve already finished my seclusion and was planning to leave soon. I was just worrying about what to do with this little home. Since you need it, I’ll leave it to you from now on. Whether you use it as a relay station or a camp, it doesn’t matter,” Xiadam said with an air of mystery, hands behind her back.
“We have nothing to repay you with, Magician,” the Knight Captain was moved to tears.
“If you have any Grimoires you don’t need, just give them to me.”
“I’ll be sure to request your reward from Lord Lavini when I return.”
“Everyone, hurry and eat. Once we’re full, we’ll set out while it’s still daylight.”
Xiadam had already picked up her white tree-branch staff and kept urging them, seeming even more anxious than the Pioneers themselves.
“Sheffield, you stay here. I’ll go to the camp with them,” Xiadam said.
“……”
Sheffield hesitated to speak.
Xiadam shot her a look, hinting that someone needed to stay behind to keep the little fat dragon company.
The Pioneer team slurped up all the remaining fish soup, fully restoring their spirits and strength, ready to depart.
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