Once inside, they settled into an open-air seating area, the sky stretching wide above them. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the towering tree nearby, adding to the quiet serenity of the moment.
The Village Chief leaned forward, his expression sincere.
"Honorable Mage, we truly wish to express our gratitude for saving those girls. I even went to the guest house to thank you personally, but you had… vanished, as if by magic. I assumed you had urgent matters to attend to."
He gave a respectful bow. "Still, let me offer my thanks on behalf of the entire village."
Raizel smiled faintly. "There's no need. We were already planning to hunt the monsters. It was just their luck that they were saved in the process."
The Village Chief sighed, a hint of exhaustion in his eyes.
"You're right, Sir Mage. They were incredibly lucky to have you there. Our village is weak—we can't protect ourselves against the cruel monsters that roam the forest. That's why we hire guards from the nearest city. But to afford them, we must sell our potions in the city, barely scraping by near the wilderness."
He shook his head, his voice carrying a mixture of gratitude and weariness.
"But to encounter esteemed mages like you two in such backward place... it is truly an honor," the Village Chief continued, his voice filled with admiration. "I heard you single-handedly cleared the Green Monster's Den. Is that true?"
Raizel remained calm as he responded, "Not exactly. It wasn't just the two of us."
The old man raised a brow.
"There was a third person, but he left. We weren't exactly companions—just acquaintances crossing paths for a short time."
The Village Chief nodded slowly, taking in the information. "Even so, it's an incredible feat. That den had been a growing threat to us for months. Without you, it might have taken many lives before the city guards could do anything about it."
Raizel simply shrugged, "You're praising myself too much. It was nothing special."
The old man chuckled at his nonchalant attitude. "I see You're different than other Mages outside. There is always a prideful aura around them. But You're so powerful yet so humble."
He sighed, his expression full of praise.
"Sir Mage, I won't waste your time with long speeches. But as a token of our gratitude, we would like to offer you something."
At this, Raizel raised an eyebrow. "An offering?"
The Village Chief nodded. "Yes. We don't have much, but there is something that may be of use to you..."
He gestured for one of his attendants, who quickly stepped away into the house. Moments later, the man returned, carrying a small wooden box, carefully wrapped in cloth.
The Village Chief took the box and placed it on the table between them.
"This is something passed down in our village for generations. But we couldn't open it no matter what," he said mysteriously, looking Raizel directly in the eyes. "I believe it may hold value for a mage like you."
Raizel studied the box with great curiosity.
"What exactly is inside?" he asked, his fingers hovering just above the lid.
The old man smiled faintly. "Why don't you open it and see?"
Raizel placed his hands on the wooden box, ready to open it. But no matter how much force he applied, the lid refused to budge.
He frowned, trying again. Still nothing. It wouldn't open.
Just then, a notification flashed before his eyes:
[ Do you want to open Treasure Box (Epic)? ]
Raizel's eyes widened. An Epic treasure box?!
His heart pounded with excitement. Epic-grade treasures were rarer than rare—this had to contain something extraordinary!
Barely containing his anticipation, he selected [ Yes ].
A surge of energy pulsed from the box, and the lid clicked open on its own.
Another notification appeared:
[ Congratulations! You have obtained NEO. ]
[ NEO: A dense, special fabric that can metamorphose into any type of clothing or armor according to the user's will. ]
[ Natural Defense +30% | Agility +20% ]
Raizel's mouth opened wide. Armor that could change form at will?
He reached inside, pulling out a smooth, silky fabric that shimmered faintly in the light. It was lightweight yet sturdy, and as he ran his fingers over it, he could feel as if it was alive, awaiting its master.
The Village Chief watched him with a knowing smile. "I take it you've found it useful?"
Raizel clenched the fabric slightly, then smirked. "More than useful... this is really important to me."
He had come here expecting nothing more than triggering some quests, yet he had walked away with an Epic-tier treasure.
"Then, this old man is glad." The old man said without amount of greed.
Then under his fascinating eyes, Raizel wrapped the silk around transforming it into a flexible clothes.
Raizel closed his eyes, focusing on NEO in his hands. The fabric felt weightless, yet he could sense its hidden strength.
With a silent command, he willed it to transform.
The fabric rippled, shifting like liquid metal before solidifying into a form-fitting combat attire—a fusion of agility and defense, perfectly suited for a physical fighter, not a mage.
His new attire:
A black combat jacket reinforced with flexible armor plating, providing protection without restricting movement.
A dark crimson undershirt, lightweight yet resilient, woven with the same enchanted fabric.
Fingerless gloves with reinforced knuckles for extra impact.
Slim, durable pants lined with hidden protective layers, offering both agility and defense.
Lightweight combat boots designed for speed and silent movement.
Coupled with snow-white hair and red irises, he appeared like a terrifying hunter, always ready for combat, his presence exuding a silent, lethal grace.
Of course, he could change back into his usual comfortable clothes whenever he wished.
The Village Chief observed him with fascination, his eyes filled with admiration.
"Marvelous, Sir Mage. This old man is truly honored to witness you in such glory. May you become a great man in the future," he said sincerely.
Raizel smirked. "Thank you. But this is just the beginning."