After that fight, I was tired out of my mind. I returned to the village to find my party members trying to remove their bindings in the guest house.
"Oh, you've returned. It took you a while." [Wilharrow]
"I know." [Solace]
I took one of the open chairs and slumped on it.
"Ugh… That almost killed me." [Solace]
"Was it the mace to the head?" [Raon]
"No, but I wouldn't doubt it if someone told me I got brain damage from it." [Solace]
"Brain… damage? What is that?" [Fina]
Crazy how little these people know about the human body. Actually, bodies in general.
"Anyway, can you help Leon take off her chains?" [Wilharrow]
"What about yours?" [Solace]
"I would like that too, but Leon is… well, look for yourself." [Wilharrow]
One look was all I needed. That glutton was gnawing on the chains.
"Hey! That's not food!" [Solace]
I quickly got off the chair and kept her from biting.
"Ow! That's me! Don't bite me!" [Solace]
Thanks to |Temperance| it only felt like a pinch.
("Doing all this while I'm exhausted… This is so annoying! How do I get this off anyways?!") [Solace]
I tried to look for loose ends of the chain, only to find that the chain wasn't tied at all. It was simply wrapped around Leon with some kind of invisible force.
("Maybe I should try pulling it off?") [Solace]
Just standing there thinking wasn't going to do anything, so I grabbed the chains and began pulling them apart.
"Hrngh!" [Solace]
I let out a loud grunt as I put strength into my arms. At first, I couldn't feel any progress. Luckily, it started to open up as I gradually put more power into it.
("Almost there!") [Solace]
Within an instant, the chains snapped. Fragments flew everywhere, including my face.
"Ow." [Solace]
Though it didn't hurt, I seemed to have said that out of reflex.
"You broke it?! Do you know how much work I put into that?!" [Raon]
"Do you know how little I care? It didn't even work on that demon earlier." [Solace]
Raon grit his teeth as there was nothing he could say.
"Ah, by the way. I killed it." [Solace]
"You… what?" [Wilharrow]
Everyone other than the listless Leon stared at me in disbelief.
"I killed the demon. Granted, he came back to life." [Solace]
"He can come back to life?" [Raon]
"It was a skill called uh… |Standing Vow|?" [Solace]
Fina perked up once she heard that.
"That's a unique skill!" [Fina]
"...You know of it?" [Wilharrow]
"I've seen it in the skill encyclopedia. It's a skill that returns the user to life after a fatal blow. The skill has a cooldown of one day." [Fina]
Wilharrow scratched his chin.
"So it's the same type of skill as my |Last Stand|." [Wilharrow]
"Yeah, but he healed slowly. I remember seeing your wounds close at a rapid pace." [Solace]
"Hm. By the way, how did you manage to kill him?" [Wilharrow]
"I was just wondering that." [Raon]
"I got a new skill. It takes like… 80 to 90 percent of my mana though." [Solace]
The cost may be high, but the power behind it is worth it. I finally had something I could call my trump card.
"I'd like to see it someday." [Wilharrow]
"Key word being someday." [Solace]
I wasn't willing to just show it for no reason. That'd be a waste of most of my mana.
"Since you're done untying Leon, how about you come help me?" [Wilharrow]
"Help me first." [Raon]
"...I'll help Fina first." [Solace]
"Eh? I didn't ask, though?" [Fina]
"Don't worry about it." [Solace]
As I shattered the chains with brute strength, there was a knock on the door.
"I'll get it. Fina, can you help them out?" [Solace]
"Of course." [Fina]
I opened the door to find the village elder alongside Elisse greeting me.
"Excuse me, heroes. I've come to ask for another favor." [Elderly Man]
"Sure. What do you need?" [Solace]
"The divine beast ritual is coming up, and I'd like your assistance in procuring fruits and other materials. That is… if it's alright with you brave heroes?" [Elderly Man]
I didn't see a reason to turn it down.
"I'm currently the only one available. …If that's enough manpower." [Solace]
"That is more than enough. I'm sure even one young hero will be worth a hundred men." [Elderly Man]
I don't know why, but it reminded me of when teachers in elementary school would say "Can I get some strong boys to help me lift this?". It was just those kinds of vibes.
"What do I need to do first?" [Solace]
"Follow young Elisse over here. She will help you." [Elderly Man]
I glanced downwards to see the girl's bright smile.
"...Will do." [Solace]