After losing their virginity, Ronan and Elvana had no regrets. The next morning, their routine remained the same, with one difference—Ronan and Elvana talked much more with each other.
Ronan also learned that, since the village was small and had limited resources, they only allowed a certain number of people to live there.
Currently, there were 80 people in the village, and the village chief had set a population limit of 100. With Ronan's arrival, the count had increased to 81, and since five women were pregnant, the population would reach 86 by the following year.
Next year was also the time for Elvana to find a companion and help increase the village's population by having a child. Along with her, three other girls had been selected.
Of course, it wasn't mandatory. If a girl didn't want to, she could choose not to. However, if the village population or gender balance became unstable, childbirth would become a requirement.
Ronan learned a lot about village life and realized that the villagers were kind-hearted. Everyone he met was friendly and welcoming.
The village chief was currently away; otherwise, Zyrris would have introduced Ronan to him first. When the chief returned, Ronan would need to meet him and receive a role within the village.
Whether he chose to stay or leave was entirely up to him. The village wouldn't force him to do anything. If he decided to stay, he could live and eat there without issue, as they hadn't yet reached their population limit. As long as he contributed to the village in some way, no one would have any complaints.
Ronan felt more connected to the village and was grateful that Zyrris had taken him in. He was happy to be surrounded by kind people.
Time passed, and the third day was much like the previous ones—working, chatting with Elvana, eating the food prepared by Noctis, and going out with Zyrris to socialize with the villagers.
That night, he and Elvana had sex again. This time, Ronan was able to move a bit faster than before—not by much, but it was progress, he thought.
The fourth day followed the same routine.
On the fifth day, all the logs had been cut into pieces, marking the completion of their task. It was also the day the village chief was expected to return.
Around noon, Zyrris took Ronan to the village chief's house. Compared to Zyrris's home, the chief's house was much larger and filled with various items.
When they knocked on the door, a beautiful woman answered. Like the other village women, she had a toned, athletic body. However, unlike them, she wasn't wearing a simple silk cloth wrapped around her chest and waist. Instead, she wore a long, sleeveless tunic that covered her from her neck to her knees. Her exposed arms and legs, like the rest of the village women, were covered in fine hair, but somehow, this only enhanced her beauty.
Ronan, now more aware of women after his time with Elvana, couldn't help but glance at her chest warped in tunic. However, he quickly controlled himself as she led them inside.
Inside, a muscular man sat at the center of the room, accompanied by three other men. Unlike the villagers, all four of them wore robes, giving them a distinct presence.
Zyrris stepped forward and spoke, "Chief, this is the boy I found in the mountains. He seems to have lost his memories, but he's strong and has helped me a lot. He has been living with me for the past three days."
The village chief, the muscular man, nodded as he studied Ronan from head to toe. "You don't remember anything?"
"I don't remember anything about myself," Ronan replied respectfully. "But I do have common knowledge and a lot of knowledge about other things."
"Like what?" the chief asked.
"I know how to butcher animals, cook food, use a bow, perform complex mathematics, extract salt from seawater, practice martial arts, and use stealth techniques." Ronan listed a few of his skills, enough to prove his value. He knew how to fight, survive, and even make money if necessary.
"You know how to fight?" the village chief asked.
"Yes. I remember certain combat moves and techniques, though I don't know who I learned them from or why."
One of the three men suddenly spoke up. "You said you know how to make salt?"
Ronan nodded and explained, "Yes. One way I know is the solar evaporation. Collect seawater in large, shallow pits and let the sun evaporate the water over time, leaving behind salt crystals, which should refine to make a refined salt. Another method was boiling seawater in clay or metal pots until all the water evaporated, leaving behind pure salt."
The man nodded in approval. "From the way you speak and the knowledge you have… you must be from a noble family. But at least we can confirm you are not from Monis City."
Another man spoke. "You're also not from Karaj City."
The third man nodded. "And I've never heard of a noble family in Gurdu City having someone like you. So, at the very least, you're not from these three cities."
The village chief turned to Ronan. "These three men—Ordis, Veyrin, and Jalmar—are merchants from Monis City, Karaj City, and Gurdu City. They know all the noble families and their children. If they say you're not from these cities, it's highly likely that you aren't."
Ordis, the merchant from Monis City, added, "Of course, there is still a chance that you are from one of these cities. Perhaps a noble secretly trained you in private."
Ronan nodded in understanding. "I see. Thank you for your insight."
"It's nothing," Veyrin said. "We can't help you beyond that. However… if you're looking for answers, you should travel to Kajrat City. There is an Immortal Sect there, known as the Nine Sutra Immortal Sect. If you join them and become an immortal, you might recover your memories. After all, I do sense spiritual energy from you."
The moment those words were spoken, the entire room fell silent. Everyone turned to look at Ronan in shock.
Ronan himself was stunned. Immortal? Sect? Spiritual energy? None of these terms made sense to him. Can someone explain him?