Chapter 2

A Full-Time Healer Gradually Grows Stronger

(1)

Reto, who lives in the village of Benuda, is an herbalist.

When one hears the term "herbalist," it usually evokes the image of a 3D job that involves climbing mountains and searching forests every day. However, when the term "30-year veteran" is added, the perception changes.

Even if someone has spent their entire life cleaning in one place, if they have accumulated about 30 years of experience, no one can ignore their expertise in that area.

If a 30-year veteran herbalist has settled in Benuda, the village closest to the "Outskirts Forest," and has lived there until now, the story is even more different.

All the village's income comes from the Outskirts Forest. The 30-year veteran herbalist knows the forest better than anyone and brings in a lot of income, benefiting the village.

No one could ignore his influence, and he had long since risen to a position of equal power with the village chief.

Three years ago, on a day when the sky turned red far beyond the Outskirts Forest.

An outsider visited the village, and Reto's acceptance of his settlement meant that no one in the village would overturn his decision.

Except for the village chief.

"Hey, Reto. Where did that guy go?"

"……?"

The herbalist Reto tilted his head in confusion at the strange words from the village chief's voice.

He had never seen the old man search for "that guy" in the past three years. It was a deliberate act due to his dissatisfaction with Reto's decision.

"Are you deaf? Why aren't you responding? I'm talking about Messi."

"I've never seen the village chief look for Messi before. Is this related to the people behind you?"

Without looking up from the herbs he was processing, Reto knew that many people had gathered behind the village chief.

Being able to navigate the forest like his own front yard means he has an exceptional ability to sense hidden dangers. Reto's extraordinary hearing was one of them.

"They are distinguished guests from afar. They wish to enter the forest."

Only then did Reto raise his head and carefully examine the group.

Swords, iron armor, shields, bows, cloaks, noble warhorses, a dignified presence, and well-trained bodies.

They were knights.

"Greetings, knights. I am Reto, the herbalist who represents the village of Benuda. I am grateful for your visit to this small village."

If he didn't know who they were, it would be different, but even after estimating their identity, he couldn't afford to be disrespectful.

The sound of hooves and grunts approaching was unlikely, but the appearance of real knights in a remote village is like a bolt from the blue.

There are two types of knights in this era.

Well-mannered bandits, or genuine knights. Reto hoped these were the latter.

"I am Knight Ramon. Formalities are over. Don't drag it out. Can you help us achieve our purpose?"

Seeing that he didn't draw his sword first, they were the latter.

Or, rather, closer to the latter. Reto felt a bit relieved.

"…You said you want to enter the forest. Are you talking about the 'Outskirts Forest'?"

"Would we look for a guide to go to that forest? We want to go to the 'Forest of Resentment' beyond it. The village chief told us that someone from there has come here, right?"

"Someone from there? Ah…"

Reto was momentarily confused. He had never thought of Messi, the young man he now considered family, in such a way. It was an unfamiliar term.

"MESSI is out hunting. He should return before sunset."

"Messi? Is that the name of the outsider? Heh. It's a very common name, fitting for an outsider."

From behind the knight, someone's laughter could be heard. Although no one joined in, everyone's lips curled up.

It wouldn't be strange if the mockery continued immediately, but the silence indicated the knights' discipline and order.

Except for one person…

"Then let's wait here. It doesn't seem like there's much time left until sunset. And there are injured people. If you know about herbs, you can help. Can you take a look?"

"Of course."

While gathering herbs effective for injuries, Reto fell into thought.

'Forest of Resentment…'

Deep within the forest region.

A dangerous area beyond the Outskirts Forest.

It has been 30 years since the loggers gave up on developing that area and retreated.

And the villagers were left behind as if abandoned.

Originally, the roots of Benuda Village were criminals, gypsies, wandering peddlers, low-level mercenaries, and prostitutes who were brought to provide food, clothing, and entertainment for the loggers.

That's how Benuda Village was formed.

The abandoned people resented the loggers, the country, and the unknown forest.

The forest, which firmly rejected human development, soon became known as the "Forest of Resentment."

'They want to enter such a place? What's their purpose? Why would they go into a forest that even loggers gave up on?'

Actually, their purpose was none of Reto's concern. If they wanted to become a well-trained suicide squad, it wasn't his place to stop them.

However, he couldn't just stand by and let them take one of his family members like a water ghost.

"You, cheer up. It's rare for important guests to come and bring vitality to the village. Why are you making such a face?"

"Are these the people you called, Chief?"

"Me? Are you crazy?"

"I thought you might be."

At Reto's tone, the chief clicked his tongue and leaned close to whisper.

"Just hand over Messi. I don't know why they want to enter the Forest of Resentment, but they asked for a guide as soon as they arrived."

"Why not just pretend you don't know and say no one approaches there? You usually do well, but why not this time…"

"At this age, I can tell by looking at people's eyes. These are people who will do anything to achieve their purpose. If I had said that, they would have drawn their swords and started interrogating the entire village.

Then they would quickly find out about Messi. Now, tell me. Is it better to cooperate and provide a guide for our safety, or to be forcibly taken and have blood on the sword?"

"An ogre in front, a troll behind."

In this no-win situation, Reto understood the chief's predicament.

However, it was a bit disappointing that everyone in the village knew Messi was out hunting. If everyone had the will, they could have hidden Messi's existence at the right time.

As if reading Reto's thoughts, the chief quickly added,

"Even if you manage to hide Messi, the next target will be you. Even if you don't know the Forest of Resentment, you navigate the Outskirts Forest like your own front yard. I don't like you much, but if I had to choose between you, who has worked hard for this village for 30 years, and a suddenly appearing outsider, I would save you without hesitation."

"…I appreciate your sentiment, but Messi is my family and has other things to do. I can't send my family to certain death."

"Are you crazy? I thought you were just saying it, but you're serious. What can I do, though? The arrow has already left the bow."

As soon as the chief finished speaking, a commotion broke out as if they had been waiting for it. A loud noise came from the group of knights and the mercenaries they had hired.

The chief ran to assess the situation, and Reto quickly gathered the herbs and tools and headed there.

The mercenaries were buzzing around a carriage surrounded by horses, and the knights were chatting a bit away.

Inside the carriage were several injured people, and a woman was shouting while holding one of them.

"Someone, help! Gaston's bleeding won't stop! Bring a healer! Hurry!"

At the woman's cry, a pale, thin man was dragged over by the mercenaries. However, he shook his head vigorously.

"I'm just a healer! How can I treat such a severe injury? You… you know better than anyone! If I use Heal on such a wound, I'll only get complaints!"

"Still, try something. If you don't want to fail. Since you're hired by the knights, you must have a hidden trick, right?"

"Such a ridiculous request… You're mercenaries. Don't you know the side effects of Heal better than anyone? Heal adds willpower to magic to close wounds, not to regenerate like a cleric's miracle!"

"Is that so? You're making it hard to say you want to die. We'll be straightforward like mercenaries. Gaston will die, so you will too."

"Such madness…"

Despite the healer's words, the mercenaries surrounding the carriage were not listening.

The healer stomped his feet, and just as Gaston, the injured man, spat out blood, the mercenaries hesitated to draw their swords.

Because Reto had intervened.

"Stop. The healer is right."

"Who are you?"

"I'm the village herbalist. I'll check the patient's wound, so don't draw your swords."

The mercenaries made way, and Reto and the chief quickly moved to Gaston's side. The woman, looking at Reto examining the wound, asked,

"Can you save him?"

"I'm not a healer, so I don't know. But I do know we need to stop the bleeding first."

Reto took out a hemostatic herb, put it in a mortar, and started grinding it. He quickly applied the ground herb to the wound, but the blood from the abdomen made it difficult to apply properly.

"This doesn't look good. I don't know if his internal organs are damaged."

"Chief, do you have to say that in front of the dying man and his comrades?"

"No, I'm not wrong. Even Messi couldn't save him in this condition. Or could he?"

The woman holding Gaston asked urgently,

"Messi? Who is he?"

"He's a village hunter. He can use Heal."

"Heal? But that's…"

The woman trailed off and glanced at the healer outside the carriage.

"Of course, the healer is right. Using Heal on such a wound would be a death sentence. But Messi's Heal is… different…"

"Exceptional."

The chief finished Reto's unfinished sentence, and hope and curiosity appeared on the woman's face. She shouted,

"Then what are you waiting for! Bring him here immediately!"

"He's out hunting. If you can find him, bring him back."

Reto pointed to the "Outskirts Forest."

While the people living here might treat the Outskirts Forest like their backyard, to outsiders, it is a vast and dense jungle.

Finding one person there is like finding a needle in a desert. The knights weren't waiting for no reason.

The woman, looking at the forest and the dying Gaston, shouted,

"Search the forest and bring back Messi! He's a healer… no, a hunter!"

"How do you plan to find him? Are you going to keep shouting his name in the forest? That will only attract monsters. Are you willing to put the rest of your comrades in danger to save one person?"

In response to Reto's question, the woman declared,

"…The Red Fox Mercenary Group doesn't abandon family!"

The mercenaries echoed her, surprising the villagers who ran out. Reto, unable to refute the answer, nodded.

"Doesn't abandon family… A very admirable mercenary group."

Meanwhile, Ramon, watching the scene in the carriage, was puzzled when he heard the name again.

'Messi…? I thought he was just a hunter, but he can also heal?'

However, the injury was too severe for a simple healing spell. As the manager and problem solver of the group, Ramon already knew the extent of the mercenary's injury.

One of the orcs had thrown a spear as a signal for the attack, and an unlucky mercenary was hit in the abdomen. The armor was sturdy enough to prevent the spear from fully penetrating, but it had torn through and damaged his insides. The amount of blood loss suggested internal injuries.

"Even if he's going to die… Still, the mercenaries will find a guide on their own, so it's not a meaningless act."

He chuckled and shook his head. Something strange caught his eye.

A human with black hair was carrying something and approaching.

The End

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