Chapter 141: Reward him
Gustav stood there, staring at the giant beast, which was proving far too difficult to move in one piece. So, it had been decided to dissect it first and then transport it away from the village in parts.
Burning something of that size could cause the flames to spread uncontrollably. And with the limited number of warriors and horses available, moving it whole was simply not an option.
Because of that, the chief’s house had been declared off-limits to everyone. After all, the sight of a massive beast being cut into fragments was not something most people could stomach. On top of that, there was also the risk of toxins being released into the air during the process. So, everyone had been instructed to keep their distance and avoid the area for a few days.
Gustav was among those standing near the barricade, simply watching in silence, unable to look away.
The sheer size of the creature sent a chill down his spine. Even in his prime, he had never faced anything remotely close to something this massive.
He was a great hunter, a man who had taken down two bears at the same time and walked away without a scratch. However... this was on an entirely different level.
A sense of pride slowly welled up in his chest.
Luke... the same boy who once couldn’t step outside without feeling dizzy under the sun, the same one who couldn’t even shout at full strength... had achieved something like this.
Gustav couldn’t quite put this feeling into words.
"You have surpassed every expectation, Luke."
....
Since it was dangerous to remain anywhere near the creature, given that it was a magical beast, the Chief, his family, and all the guests had been shifted to a different house.
Baldon had a separate house that was usually used only for storage. But once the need arose, it was cleaned within hours, and the basic necessities were arranged so people could rest comfortably.
"How are you feeling now?" he heard from his left as his mate, Roxanne, entered the room with a pot in her hand.
"I can’t really tell unless I try to stand," he replied, attempting to move his ankle, only to wince in pain almost immediately.
The left side of his face was scorched, and numerous scars ran across his body. But the worst of the damage had been dealt to his ankle. He could barely walk without someone supporting him.
"Well, the medic did say it would take a few days before you could even use crutches," she said, sitting down beside him on a low stand as she dipped a piece of cloth into the warm water.
She then gently brought it to his bruised shoulder.
He let out a quiet sigh and asked, "How is Thea?" His younger mate had fainted the moment she saw the monster and hadn’t woken up since.
"Still sleeping. The medic said she’s fine and should wake up soon," Roxanne replied flatly.
It had been the first time she had witnessed something so massive. The same went for her daughter as well. However, neither of them had reacted as dramatically as that woman.
Roxanne couldn’t help but feel that Thea was just using it as an excuse to steal a few extra hours of sleep.
"Hmm. The sleeping spell must have affected her. Anyway, what about Rhea? She got injured too." In the morning, while supporting her father, her leg had been scratched by one of the fallen monster’s claws.
"It wasn’t even much of an injury. She’s already outside, helping the servants prepare the meal."
Baldon nodded in understanding. His gaze then drifted toward the window as he asked, "Did I just hear Claw’s voice?"
Roxanne nodded. "Yes, he’s outside, talking with his soldiers."
"...Why isn’t he resting?"
Roxanne let out a soft sigh. "I asked him the same thing, but he said he felt fine and wanted to meet the one who helped him."
Baldon froze for a brief moment before his body slowly relaxed. "Luke..." he breathed, "...I know that until my very last breath, I won’t forget that boy."
He had saved the village. Baldon’s life. Their future.
There had been far too many things at stake. Every single factor had been working against Baldon today. He was injured, his family had been in danger, and Claw had been on the verge of death.
And yet, amidst all of that, there had been one person standing between him and his doom.
Luke.
"That boy is special... someone who can change the fate of a battle. Someone whose value is far greater than anyone has realized until now. He is the savior of the village... someone who did what I was supposed to do."
Roxanne didn’t respond to that immediately, but when she had heard about what Luke did, she hadn’t been entirely surprised.
Somewhere deep down, she had always felt that Luke was an exceptional warrior, someone who could find a way out of any situation, no matter how dire.
However, just because she had expected it didn’t mean she wasn’t impressed.
A mere eighteen-year-old boy had saved hundreds of lives and taken down a beast of that magnitude.
It was a feat worthy of being remembered and passed down through generations.
"Roxanne, this time, you should approach him with the offer of a reward. He grew shy when I asked, but he seems to get along well with you. So you ask him what he wants in return for everything he has done for us."
Baldon knew he could never truly repay what Luke had done. But perhaps offering something in return would ease the weight on his conscience, even if only a little.
Roxanne hummed softly in surprise. "I remember you told me to stay away from that boy."
She hadn’t just been told, she had been threatened. That was why she hadn’t stepped out of the house since that day, and certainly hadn’t tried to meet Luke.
If they had been caught again, she knew Baldon would have taken it seriously and might have even tried to harm Luke.
"Yes, because I didn’t know what kind of person he was back then," Baldon replied. "But now I do. He is a great warrior, and more importantly, a man with a kind heart. So you have my permission. Approach him yourself and ask what exactly he wants in return for the kindness he has shown us."
Roxanne had a feeling...a feeling that whatever Luke would ask her, she wouldn’t be able to tell her mate about it. Her instincts told her that his request would be something that could remain only between them
She instinctively rubbed her thighs together and pursed her lips.
She hadn’t forgotten that sensation she felt back in the forest...the way he touched her body and made a mess out of her...she remembered every bit of it.
’I wonder what he will ask...’ Her face grew hot as she looked forward to her meeting with the young man.
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