Cascarser turned his head in alarm. As an eighth-level trainee knight, he was no weakling. Yet the owner of that hand had infused vindictive energy into his body with effortless ease. The sheer disparity in strength was unmistakable.
He almost sprang to his feet.
But when he turned, he saw a young man with long brown hair, dressed in a pure white robe, smiling at him. His eyes curved into crescent moons, giving him an air of warmth and kindness.
More importantly—
This person was an undisputed powerhouse.
An official-level existence.
"My apologies for my rudeness, but may I ask for your name...?"
Cascarser asked cautiously, feeling the gentle yet undeniable aura of power radiating from the young man.
The youth chuckled and casually patted Cascarser's shoulder.
Then—
In an instant, his figure blurred like a gust of wind, reappearing effortlessly in the seat opposite him.
"I'm just a traveler from Rock Rabbit Creek," he said in a lighthearted tone.
"I happened to pass through this city and noticed the disaster unfolding, so I wanted to learn more about the situation."
Cascarser remained tense.
But the young man clasped his hands together and offered a reassuring smile.
"You seem troubled. If you don't mind, tell me what's weighing on you."
"This… I wouldn't dare trouble an esteemed individual like yourself."
Cascarser hesitated.
Then a realization struck him.
Perhaps this formidable stranger could provide some form of assistance to Dolez City, which was teetering on the brink of catastrophe.
After a moment of silence, he nodded.
"Since you have the time… then allow me to explain."
Thus, the knight commander recounted his recent struggles to Conkey Nino, the stranger he had just met.
As he spoke, he unconsciously grabbed another bottle of ale, taking deep swigs in a futile attempt to suppress his frustration.
At this point, Cascarser had no choice but to admit—
He was completely powerless.
When he finished, Conkey Nino rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought.
After a long silence, he sighed and spoke with a hint of helplessness.
"Mr. Knight, I am merely a ranger with some skills. Though I have lived for 465 years, I am by no means a great sage of wisdom."
"I can't solve this problem outright."
"But perhaps I can offer you some insight from my own experiences."
Conkey Nino straightened his posture.
His gaze sharpened as he looked directly at Cascarser.
His voice became serious.
"First… you must understand that not everything is your burden to bear."
"There are things beyond your control. While it is painful to see others suffer, you cannot blame yourself for every injustice."
"Second… those indifferent people are not devoid of kindness."
"They simply lack the power to act on it."
"It is not that they refuse to save others—it is that they are unable to."
"Third… tolerance is not weakness."
"It is a virtue."
"A form of kindness."
"A manifestation of beauty."
"It is both a mindset and a strength."
Conkey Nino smiled gently.
"Now… do you feel a little better?"
Cascarser, who had been drowning in despair, suddenly felt something shift in his heart.
Just a little.
But enough to breathe again.
Outside Dolez City
Dusk fell over the desolate wasteland.
The refugees had been struggling for two days without shelter, left at the mercy of the cold winds.
Though the plague had yet to fully break out in the area, the specter of hunger loomed over them—
A silent executioner waiting for its victims.
Just as the final rays of sunlight painted the horizon in blood-red hues, three figures wearing gray robes appeared within the refugee camp.
Behind them followed a carriage loaded with sacks of grain.
"Miss, please reconsider. If you go through with this, then…"
"What?"
"I'll offend the nobles?"
The voice that responded was cold and resolute.
"So what?"
"Are we supposed to just stand by and watch these people be devoured by those demons?"
The speaker stepped forward.
Under the hood of her robe, a delicate yet striking face was revealed.
Her arched brows carried the sharpness of a warrior, and every movement radiated a heroic spirit.
This woman was Luo Taran.
The newly ascended leader of the Minohorn Consortium.
The old butler beside her sighed heavily, worry written all over his face.
"My lady… even if you refuse to cooperate with the noble factions, must you go so far as to make enemies of them all?"
Ever since that mysterious mage had exposed the nobles' schemes, Luo Taran had become far more independent.
She was no longer easily swayed by the opinions of her retainers.
The old butler glanced toward the silent knight Mundo.
Seeing that even he had chosen not to intervene, the old man understood.
There was no stopping her.
With another sigh, he followed.
The refugees huddled around scattered campfires immediately grew wary as the strangers approached.
In recent days, rogue elements had begun looting what little food remained.
The desperate refugees had no choice but to stay constantly vigilant.
A woman holding a frail child quickly pulled a rag over her baby's face, as though trying to shield it from danger.
Luo Taran looked around.
She saw gaunt faces.
Hollow eyes filled with suspicion.
A deep sorrow rose in her chest.
Without hesitation, she reached into her bag, pulled out dry rations, and handed them to an elderly man.
"Eat quickly."
"And make sure to share."
Her voice was soft.
Yet firm.
The man accepted the food with trembling hands, tears glistening in his eyes.
The sight of food immediately drew a group of children.
They rushed forward like starving birds.
"Big sister, you're so pretty! Please, can I have some too?"
"Beautiful sister! My little sister is too weak to move—she needs food!"
"Liar! I saw your sister go into a tent with a guard yesterday!"
"You—you're making things up!"
The children nearly started fighting.
Luo Taran quickly pulled out more food and distributed it evenly.
Only then did the chaos subside.
"What crime have these children committed… to suffer like this?"
Luo Taran clenched her fists.
Her heart felt heavy.
Just as she turned to leave—
A cold sensation crawled up her spine.
It felt like spider legs skittering across her skin.
A gaze.
Watching her.
Suppressing the nausea rising in her stomach, she forced herself to turn around.
In the shadows—
Half hidden in the darkness—
A man in a gray-red robe stood silently watching her.
On his chest gleamed the emblem of a spider.
His eyes crawled across her body with disgusting greed, without the slightest restraint.
Fear coiled in Luo Taran's stomach like a venomous serpent.
Her legs felt heavy, frozen in place.
Before she could react—
A firm hand gripped her shoulder.
"Miss."
"We should leave."
"Let's distribute the food before nightfall."
Mundo stepped forward.
His tall figure moved in front of her, blocking that revolting gaze.
Only then did Luo Taran manage to breathe again.
She quickly turned and followed him.
Behind them—
In the dying light—
The man in the shadows remained perfectly still.
His presence lingered like a dark stain upon the land.