"No, no, I'm just saying, either way—whether you help me or not—you'll eventually end up as an enemy of the Church," said Alcha.
"..."
"Yeah, you're probably right," he muttered under his breath.
He turned toward Goban. "What do you think, Goban? Should I take him with us?"
Goban fell silent, deep in thought, then asked, "…What do alchemists even do, Master?"
Alcha straightened up slightly, sensing a faint glimmer of hope to redeem himself. Despite the bruises swelling on his head and his aching limbs, his pride as an alchemist burned brightly. He seized the opportunity to explain.
"Master Goban," he started, addressing the towering orc with the best respect he could muster, "alchemists create things—potions, elixirs, weapons of chemical force. Healing salves to save lives and poisons to end them. With the right ingredients and time, I can make tools that could make your tribe stronger than you can imagine."
Goban scratched his chin, his brow furrowing as he thought it over. "Hm... healing is useful... and poisons for enemies are even better." He glanced at Leon. "If he's telling the truth, Master, he could help the tribe grow stronger. But if he's lying—" Goban's expression turned grim as his gaze hardened on Alcha—"he'd better be ready to meet the gods."
Leon smirked faintly, glancing at Alcha, who nervously nodded as if his life depended on it—which it did. Leon gestured to the orcs holding Alcha. "Let him down."
The orcs hesitated but complied, lowering the human to his feet. Alcha stumbled slightly, rubbing his sore arms, but kept his head down in deference.
Leon stepped closer, his sharp eyes locking onto Alcha's. The moment seemed to stretch, tension thick in the air as Leon leaned forward slightly. "One lie, one failure... and I'll personally make you regret it. Am I clear?"
Alcha swallowed hard, nodding rapidly. "Crystal clear, Master. You won't regret this!"
Leon straightened and turned back to Goban. "Then it's settled. He's coming with us. Keep an eye on him—and don't hesitate to remind him what happens to traitors."
Goban smirked, thumping his chest. "Understood, Master. If he steps out of line, we'll deal with him."
"Good," Leon said, his voice carrying finality. "Let's move."
The group began their march once more, the line of goblins, orcs, and their human captive weaving through the darkening forest. Alcha kept close to Goban, glancing nervously at Leon's back. His heart raced, but a flicker of relief sparked within him.
He was alive—for now—and he had a chance to prove himself.
...
[Congratulations on gaining an Alchemist in the Tribe]
[Reward: Superior-Grade Anti-Holy Potion]
'Huh, a potion?' he thought.
Just as he was about to check its description, he noticed the faint outline of his tribe coming into view. 'Well, after days, we're finally back,' he thought, glancing at the scene ahead. Orcs and goblins followed him, with Alcha carried by one of the orcs at the rear.
As they arrived at the entrance, the tribe members—humans Leon had saved from the slave traders—quickly gathered.
But when they saw the entire group of orcs and goblins behind Leon, they gulped in fear.
Only Elys remained calm. Though her expression showed a hint of surprise, she didn't seem fazed by the unusual procession.
Leon raised a hand and waved at them. "Hey, guys, I'm back," he said, then gestured toward Alcha. "And I found this friend on the way here."
Elys's gaze sharpened, her brows furrowing. She pointed at the orcs and goblins behind him. "You… men… what is this?" she muttered, her voice tinged with confusion and a trace of frustration.
Leon scratched the back of his head awkwardly, giving her an apologetic smile. "Uh… yeah, about that…" He motioned toward the group behind him. "They're hobgoblins. They, uh, just evolved. So…"
Elys stared at him, her expression unreadable for a moment before she sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Of course, they evolved," she murmured dryly. "Leave it to you to come back with a whole troop of monsters." She crossed her arms, her tone firm. "And what exactly are you planning to do with them?"
"They're with me now," Leon said simply, glancing back at the group. "They're not a threat. In fact, they might be useful for the tribe."
Elys frowned but didn't argue immediately, studying his face carefully. After a moment, she asked, "And the man? Who is she?"
Leon glanced at Alcha. "An alchemist. A pretty skilled one, from what I can tell. He'll be staying too—he's going to help us."
Elys's expression softened slightly, though her wariness didn't fade entirely. "I see. But the others," she said, motioning to the orcs and goblins, "if they so much as cause a single problem, it's on you."
Leon grinned. "Don't worry. I'll keep them in line."