When I said that, Setos face turned awkward.

Then he prostrated himself in front of me, having made up his mind.

I didnt even have to compel him to do it. It was something Seto did on his own will.

[Fate, I beg you!Please lend us your power!I know its hard to ignore the bad blood from the past, and I cant do anything about it. But, just this once]

Seto repeatedly flung stones at me back when I left the village. He was the son of the village chief and was also 4 years older than me. He was the focus of the teenagers in the village. That day, its as if a rainstorm had hit me. Filled with despair for not being able to do anything.

By the way, the house I lived in was burnt to ashes by the village adults.

I was exiled for the sake of villages livelihood.

And Seto who was the reason for my exile, is now begging to me. Good grief..how convenient is that?

A guy who once drove this good for nothing out of the village. Hes just showing his power five years ago, and I knew it was something that must have been done. But when I see Seto now. That same power, I no longer saw it in him.

Now, Seto who was on the floor kissing my feet seemed miserable and very different from the past. Also, his head had become somewhat bald, maybe due to the stress of not being able to find a warrior willing to help the village.

[This, how should I say itPlease. Lend us your power. Ill do anything in exchange for that]

Well, I cant reject him now, so better start helping him out. It might be good to return to the village as well.Ill be able to visit my parents grave before I go to Gallia. Besides, I could make use this occasion to feed the Gluttony skill too.and thats it.

Not because I wanted to help you, young baldy.

[Alright. Lets go to the village.]

[Really?!Thank you. Then, well head there early morning tomorrow.]

Having said so, Seto shook his neck. To think this guy is carefree enough to wait till next morning. Is he really worried about the village at all?

[Lets go now.]

[But, its almost sunset. Its dangerous at night. Its also cloudy today. If we travel on foot during the night, well be easy target for monsters.]

[Isnt it alright? Ill be saving a lot of time if the monsters are coming for us.]

Setos face turned pale and his body tremble when I said that.

Ehh!? Did I say something weird? Im just saying that because I thought that that would be an efficient way to hunt.

Adding to that, Greed whom I put my hand on its hilt spoke to me viaMind Reading.

Well I may be biased, and I know that you have hunted a very large amount of goblins, but thats all you are good at. Remember about the fight against the kobolds.

[I know that already.]

My experience in fighting monsters other than goblins is certainly lacking. When fighting goblins, its even possible to yawn while hunting them. I can even proudly call myself a goblin slayer.

But, as what Greed had told me, making the weakest monster as a standard wont do.

Yesterday we just unlocked his second rank form, and we hunted a lot of goblins just to confirm its capability.

Using that, it felt like hunting hundreds was nothing. Well, at least the number of goblins around the capital will be on the low side for a while.

Seto watched me in confusion, since from his point of view, I was talking to myself.

[Ermare we really going now?]

[Yeah, I will go on without turning the light on. I can see just as well in the dark.]

[Alright. Ill go along with Fates plan. It doesnt matter since you are the only warrior that is willing to help.]

Warrior is that how Seto views me as now? Well, maybe of the unemployed warrior kind. Since there were bad guys like those working for Gara, I guess its only fitting.

At sunset, we left the merchant town Tetra. Our destination will be the village at the mountainside west from here.

Before I was driven out, there should have been around 60 people living in that village.

The main agricultural product was medicinal herbs that grew only near a clear stream. So each house could earn their living.

Although they mainly produce medicinal herbs, some of them still fallen ill from time to time. There were also periods where the harvests werent up to expectation.

Following that, it was great that my father hadSpear Masteryskill. The village was on the area where monsters rarely appeared. But during those rare times, my father was the one whod drive them away.

My father had that value. Thats why, other villagers tolerated the existence of his good for nothing child who can only eat.

It did not last forever. My father died of illness, and what was left was the incompetent waste that was me.

I desperately tried to help cultivate herb to help the village, but it didnt go well. I had lost my fathers protection, and even more so was bad at herb cultivating. I was only waiting to get kicked out of the village back then.

Well, nobody knew the significance of theGluttonyskill back then. Thats most likely why the villagers hated me. There was even a rumour, that if I was left alone for too long, Ill bring great misfortune to the village.

Oh well. My relationship with the village wasnt exactly superb.

While reminiscing about the old days, I walked through the grassy mountain path uncaringly.

[Oi, Seto. Dont get left behind, follow through properly.]

[Im sorry.]

Seto doesnt haveNight Visionlike I do, so he had some trouble following me.

I dont have a hobby of holding a guys hand, so hell have to follow on his own.

A hurried voice came from behind me.

[HeyFate. At the bar this morning, you were really strong. Even though you were really weak back then]

[Is that so? I havent eaten all that much lately, so I didnt think it was that strong. Isnt that normal?]

[Huh?]

Seto raised his voice in confusion to my reply. Even if you had that kind of face, I dont really want to tell you.

[Thats not important. Hurry up.]

[Yeah. But can I ask you one thing? I dont think I want to know it after coming this farbut I want to know after all.]

[What is it?]

[Fate, do you still hate us, the villagers]

If I returned to the village, it wouldnt be strange if its for taking revenge. Really coming this far, and only asking now?

Well, he did get the warrior he was searching for, so at last his mind could process other things properly. As expected, those baldness was due to stress and hard work.

We went through the dark in silent for quite a while. After a while, I sighed,

[If I say that I dont, then Ill be lying. Regardless, that was where my parents were buried. I at least want to pay a visit.]

I still hate you. But Ill keep it to myself for the sake of my parents. Thats it.

A virtuous saint would preach on me to forgive others. But its only on certain circumstances, since if the other party didnt change for the better, then itll all be for naught.

Otherwise, I wouldve forgotten it forever. Ive already had enough disgust toward the Burix.

Thats why.I wanted to see first if after five years, the people in that village had changed or not.

Judging from how Seto begged for help at the tavern, I guess they had changed their way for the better somewhat.

After everything had been said and done, Id still go anyways. Perhaps I couldnt just abandon my hometown after all.

There was a nice memory there with my father. It was good even if only a little.

Within the dark road, beyond 4 more hills, the village finally came into view.

I could see small lights leaking out from several houses. Apparently, the monster attacks werent that serious yet.

[Finally we have arrived, lets meet your fatherthe village chief at once]

[Yes, lets go. Im the one who brought you here. So they wont dare saying anything bad about Fate. Ill take care of everything else. Thats why, about the monsters, Ill be counting on you.]

Seto bowed deeply. I realized now that this Seto is no longer the Seto I knew from five years ago.

I just hope that other villagers had also changed like he did.