Chapter 97

The bodies of the three goblins hung from the rafters, swaying slightly. The ropes rubbed against the wooden beams, making a creaking sound. On the hillside next to the village, three rows of newly built graves were being finished, with Butcher holding a charcoal pencil and writing the names of his relatives and friends on the wood, then forcefully planting them in the soft, wet soil.

"What are you going to do next?" Zhao Mai asked, "It's not suitable for a single person to live here."

Butcher didn't look up, checking his writing for errors again and again. Hearing Zhao Mai's words, he wiped his nose with the back of his hand, took a deep breath, and said indifferently, "I can survive anywhere, no need for you to worry."

"I want to hire you," Zhao Mai decided to be straightforward, "You seem very strong, and your axe-wielding skills are impressive. I think I would be much safer with you around."

"Are you some kind of noble or something?"

Zhao Mai shook his head, "I'm not a noble, nor a wealthy merchant. I'm just a young druid who needs help."

"Need help?" Butcher spat on the ground and wiped his mouth, "Everyone in this world needs help except me. I don't have the leisure to care about others' affairs."

"We are going to continue south, getting closer to the goblin-occupied lands," Zhao Mai said, "I don't know what you think, but if I were you, I would definitely continue to seek trouble with the goblins. They are a raiding party, acting on orders to rob. You might not be interested in helping other villages, but what about eliminating the goblins?"

"I can do that."

"Follow me, and you won't have to spend the nights alone in the wild. There will always be someone to watch your back," Zhao Mai said, "I'm a fair and reasonable person, and I won't treat you badly."

"You better keep your promise," Butcher said after some thought, "Otherwise, you won't live to see the trial, I'll cut you down."

The paladins had different opinions about Butcher's joining. Some thought the team should be kept small to complete their mission quickly, while others believed it was a good deed and that as knights, they shouldn't refuse. Zhao Mai thought it was just a matter of marching speed, which could be solved by buying a strong mule or horse at the next town.

So the group made a brief stop in Vato Town, where Zhao Mai bought some equipment for Butcher. Unexpectedly, Butcher was a picky person, especially about his mount. No horse in the town met his standards, so he ended up with a mule, just for transportation.

"Can you ride and fight on horseback?" Zhao Mai looked at Butcher's build. He was taller than average, with large hands, feet, and long legs, but there were no signs of the long-term effects of horseback riding, so it was hard to tell.

Butcher shook his head, either ignoring Zhao Mai or denying his riding skills. In the blacksmith's shop, he saw a large curved blade, a two-handed weapon over a meter long. He picked it up, weighed it, and asked the blacksmith to add a small counterweight to the hilt, then had Zhao Mai buy it.

Only a very strong person could use such a brutal weapon well, and Butcher could wield it with one hand. Zhao Mai watched him swing the blade up and down, cutting a wooden post into five pieces in a few seconds. His technique didn't look like that of a novice farmer or hunter but rather that of a well-trained warrior.

Zhao Mai tried to inquire about his past, but Butcher shook his head and refused to speak. Sometimes, when he was asked too much, he would glare and kick Zhao Mai in the butt. Zhao Mai only fell once, but he dodged the other times.

Vato Town was a place of mixed characters, lacking proper oversight. While it wasn't exactly a den of thieves, it was close. The paladins of Iomedae stood out here, and the holy symbol of the Sword of Light had a silencing effect. From the moment they entered the town, they were watched by everyone but ignored, making them very unwelcome. So, to gather information about the Great Druid and the swamp region, only Zhao Mai and Butcher could do it.

"You mean you want me to stay at the inn while you go out to look for information?" Zhao Mai looked up from his breakfast of blood sausage, fried eggs, and roasted potatoes, his surprise evident. "Is there something I shouldn't know?"

"The place I'm going to isn't suitable for you. You won't like my old friends; you're not the same kind of person," Butcher shook his head firmly.

"Alright, go ahead. When will you be back? We won't stay here long, no more than three days, whether we get information or not."

Butcher's scarred face showed no expression. He thought for a long time, puzzled by Zhao Mai's easy agreement. He couldn't tell if the druid was too naive or too clever, so he simply said, "Hmm, it won't take that long."

He tightened his leather armor, tucked the logging axe into his belt, and picked up the curved blade. Just before leaving, he turned and said to Zhao Mai, "You'd better keep your door locked at night and don't open it for anyone. Trust your hunting dog; it's more reliable than your little tricks."

Without waiting for Zhao Mai's nod, he closed the door. Through the curtains, Zhao Mai could see Butcher's tall figure disappear into the shadows of the alley. The town seemed to swallow everything, whether it was the light of the goddess or a strong man.

Alone again, Butcher felt a familiar sensation. No one was watching his back, and a faint sense of threat brushed against the hairs behind his ears, making his muscles tense again. He thought he would never feel this tension again, that he could be reborn in the valley. Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned, and the gods had deceived him once more.

"I really am a failure," Butcher still harbored resentment. He had been a mercenary, a bodyguard, and a knight, and by chance, even a squire for a while. Though he had no fixed castle or land, he had seen the world and enjoyed luxury. But time and again, he was the one persecuted or blamed, and even those who promoted him only wanted to use him. He found one boss after another but learned only one lesson: a commoner without a noble background would never be truly trusted. Despite his caution, he was no match for the scheming nobles. After losing his armor and being severely injured, he fled to the canyon village, rebuilding his life with prayer and family.

The goblins destroyed his last refuge, and he was tired of being manipulated by fate. They say druids live isolated lives, and perhaps that was what he needed. Temporarily following Mike and receiving the protection of nature might be his last chance to escape his troubles. Besides, from what he had seen, Mike had some clever ideas and handled things fairly, at least to a satisfactory degree.

There was nowhere else to go, and that's how Butcher thought.

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