Chapter 86: Each One's Role
The forest's spirit medicine was certain to unlock a whole new world. The problem was that right now, I was the only one who could harvest it. You had to master the Elven Sword to obtain it.
At present, the only candidates I could teach the Elven Sword to were humans. Orcs struggled with it due to their physiology, and the Wind Tribe favored spears, making it tricky for them too. Their body types were the issue. Fighting as centaurs, the Elven Sword just didn't fit. Helena might manage it somehow, but I doubted it.
The most promising were Si-yeon and Go Yeon-ju. Seon-woo was a bow specialist, so swordplay wasn't his forte. In fact, from a human standpoint, the Elven Sword suited women better than men. It emphasized precise thrusts for lethal wounds over power-heavy slashes.
But on second thought, that was just my bias. With separate Strength and Agility stats, it might not matter at all.
"Who knows. Anyway, if I teach Si-yeon, she'll handle spreading it to the others."
Si-yeon had exceptional sword talent. Her blacksmith image had taken hold lately, but she outshone me by far. She'd been the school kendo rep, after all.
Nyaang!
Thwack!
Lost in idle thoughts, I took a paw to the back of the head from Hoya. Quit wasting time and train, the message was clear. Under Ho-sensei's strict guidance, I farmed spirit medicine diligently.
Today, I harvested exactly 50 spirit fruits. I stopped right at that neat number. Hoya said the spot would always be there. When I asked if it might vanish someday, she admitted it eventually would. Our Hoya must've feasted her fill before pointing it out.
From the 50, I kept 10 and divided the rest—10 each to Si-yeon, Seon-woo, Go Yeon-ju, and Helena. Somehow, our group of five had become the Shihu Guardians. The Pink member beamed with joy, while Helena teared up. She seemed to view her status like some lowly slave.
"Wanted or not, Helena, you're a Siho Territory citizen now. No need to get so emotional over this."
"But this is incredibly rare... even for someone like me."
Helena knew what spirit medicine was.
"You're a valuable citizen to me. Just take it."
"Thank you."
She was profoundly moved by my words. Meanwhile, Si-yeon had already gulped hers down.
"Ooh, power surging!"
In a ridiculous turn, Si-yeon's 10 fruits boosted her Strength by 100. Go Yeon-ju gained Strength 40, Agility 40, Stamina 20. Seon-woo went all-in on Agility. Helena's Intelligence and Spirit rose by 50 each. For me, Strength and Agility each went up 50—perfect, since those were my toughest stats to raise.
"Now I'll teach you how to harvest this spirit medicine yourselves. Listen up."
"Yes!"
They focused intently, so I instructed all four in the Elven Sword.
Seon-woo paused mid-practice. "The key is thrusting, right?"
"Exactly."
"Then wouldn't a bow suit me better?"
"Huh? Maybe. Go test it out. I'll show you the spot. But safety first—don't chase dozens at once like I did."
"Obviously."
Hoya sharing the field probably meant for me to level them up. There was a gap between me and the other four—my level and stats were highest. But the Shihu Guardians would operate across multiple fronts, so this was Hoya's way of building them up.
"Um... so Pink's locked in for me?"
Go Yeon-ju asked, soaked in sweat.
"Don't want it? You're free to bow out."
"N-no! I'm thrilled! Haha."
She actually enjoyed this. Some odd pride in Pink.
"Then I'm White?" Helena chimed in.
That was Si-yeon's call too. Was Si-yeon the real leader here?
"Yep, Helena's White. Your armor's nearly done—just hang tight."
Helena nodded at Si-yeon's words.
"In that case, I'll teach magic to the members."
Go Yeon-ju lit up. As the physically weakest, magic appealed to her.
"Perfect. I'll scout other areas."
"Sure."
"Oh, and officially: you're all appointed to the Shihu Guardians. Think of yourselves as the elite defense squad."
"Wow!"
Si-yeon was the most excited, naturally.
"I'll be captain for now. Vice-captain..."
"Si-yeon'd be best," Seon-woo suggested.
I nodded. I'd pegged Seon-woo, but he was yielding to her.
"Si-yeon as vice then. Seon-woo, form the Ranger Knights. Make 'em independent."
"Got it! Leave it to me."
Seon-woo's bow passion ran deep, and he had the talent. Plus, from Go Yeon-ju's gate, there were five archer prospects—two women, three men—who'd picked up archery at some idol sports fest as a hobby. Seon-woo was drilling them properly now. I crafted their composite bows. My woodworking had leveled up, yielding seriously potent ones. Minotaur horns were plentiful, no issues there.
"Good luck, everyone. I'll tour the territory."
"Yeah."
I visited my parents first. Dad handled ingredients for the feed company, so he was the feed expert.
"Planted Shine Muscat and Ruby Roman grapes?"
"Yep, Village Head did. Top quality."
"Grapes aren't feed material."
"Not for feed. For folks to eat. Orcs love 'em. Wind Tribe drools too."
Shine Muscat and Ruby Roman were Japanese breeds. Japan botched trademarks here, so no blocks or royalties even if we grew them. World treaties require registering new varieties within six years abroad for royalties, but Japan skipped it for these. Village Head smuggled them to our territory.
"Let me check 'em out."
Both fell under grapes, inheriting our territory's fat-decomposition effect. Shine Muscat added vitality; Ruby Roman restored brain cells.
Brain cell recovery. Seemed minor, but crucial. Regular intake could fend off dementia.
"This is huge. Village Head, the effects..."
I explained, and tears welled in his eyes.
"What's wrong?"
"My wife's got early dementia, few months back. Crisis averted."
I knew her—hadn't realized. Must've been mild.
"You wouldn't know, Si-woo, but dementia's a heartbreaking disease."
I nodded. No cases around me yet, but dramas painted the picture: friends laughing, then blank stare in their own complex. "Where's my home?" Chilling, even secondhand. Made me dread it for my parents someday. Ruby Roman was a beacon of hope.
"You manage this, Village Head."
"You bet! I'll wipe dementia off the map."
His vigor was heartening.
"And Si-woo—no, Grand Lord."
"Keep it casual."
"Alright?"
"Yeah."
"Well, y'see."
He hesitated.
"Spit it out."
"Could our families move into the territory? They're itchin' to."
I nodded. Citizens' families? Of course.
"Go ahead. But good character required. Trouble means deportation—even later."
"Naturally! I'll warn 'em: one bad apple, whole family's out!"
No joke—I'd enforce it. But no need to pile on if he was handling it.
"You manage migration then. Houses, schools too."
"Family's got a teacher. We're set."
"I'll meet the teacher."
"Thanks, son."
World was shifting fast. Smart for citizens and kin to nest here early. Territory was vast—Seoul district-scale. Expand more, and cities were feasible. Felt like the System wanted gate-to-Earth migrations. No clue why, but I'd prep.
Stepping out confirmed my hunch wasn't far off.