With his newly acquired Epic-tier treasure, Raizel stepped out of the Village Chief's house, the old man following respectfully behind him.
"Sir Mage, should I send someone to assist you with your tour of the village?" the Village Chief offered.
"Yes, please do. That would be really helpful," Raizel replied with a sigh of relief.
At his request, an attendant from the Village Chief's household stepped forward and began leading the way.
"Honorable Sir, where would you like to go? Or would you prefer to explore the village freely?" the attendant asked respectfully, glancing back.
Raizel, not wanting to waste time, answered without hesitation. "Take me to the herb gatherers' place. I have some business there."
The attendant, though slightly confused, didn't question his request.
"As you wish, sire," he responded, continuing ahead.
After walking for about five minutes, they approached a gathering of villagers—a group of herb gatherers and hunters, all geared with weapons and supplies, preparing to venture out.
As soon as they noticed Raizel's striking appearance, a wave of hushed murmurs spread through the crowd.
Some swallowed hard, taken aback by his new intimidating yet elegant look. But once they recognized him, their awe turned into admiration rather than fear.
"Sir Mage… is that really you?" one of the men blurted out. His eyes widened in genuine appreciation. "You look… incredibly handsome and commanding in that outfit!"
Others, including a few good-looking women, glanced at Raizel with fascination and admiration.
Though his height—around 5 feet 8 inches—was average for the village, his flowing snow-white hair and unusually fair complexion made him stand out even among them.
To the young girls, he was a figure of yearning—the kind of man they had only imagined in fleeting dreams. Even a few older women stole second glances, their eyes carrying a hint of unspoken intent.
A single thought lingered in many minds:
A Mage's seed is right before our eyes.
To bear the child of a mage was a dream far beyond reach for most village women. But the weight of hesitation, social fear, and unspoken taboos held them back from voicing their desires.
Instead, some tried to subtly enhance their charm, their movements growing more sensual, their gazes lingering longer than necessary. Even the young girls cast him similar looks, their intentions obvious.
Raizel let out a wry smile, amused by the silent struggle.
If he were to choose, he would obviously prefer an older woman because his mental age was closer to theirs.
But such relationships weren't on his mind right now.
Raizel finally spoke, his tone gentle yet curious.
"Are you all heading into the forest to gather herbs?"
"Yes, Sir Mage," a woman nodded enthusiastically, her eyes shimmering with excitement.
"I see…" Raizel rubbed his chin, appearing deep in thought. "Do you need some help from me, perhaps?"
The suggestion caused a stir among the group.
"Who would dare ask for your help?" one of the guards muttered, his voice laced with unease. The very thought of a mage assisting them was intimidating.
Raizel chuckled, waving off the hesitation. "No worries. I'm actually in the mood to explore the wilderness today." His tone was casual, but there was a hint of playful generosity behind it.
"Really?" a beautiful woman cooed, hope flickering in her gaze.
"Of course," Raizel smirked, his crimson eyes gleaming. "How could I ignore the safety of such beautiful flowers?"
His words made a few women blush, while the men exchanged knowing glances.
The male leader of the group stepped forward, bowing his head slightly.
"Then, would you please accompany us, Sir Mage? We would feel much safer with your presence… if it's not too much to ask."
[ New Optional Quest received. ]
[ Quest: Safely Escort the Herb gatherers of Green Leaf Village ]
[ Rewards: 3,000 EXP ]
[ Penalties: -30 Reputation Points ]
[ Time Limit: None ]
--
'3,000 EXP? Not bad…' Raizel smirked inwardly, satisfied with the gain.
Outwardly, he gave a firm nod. "Yes, I'll accompany you."
His assurance sent a wave of relief through the group. Both the hunters and the herb gatherers visibly relaxed, their worries easing. With a mage in their midst, their safety had increased significantly.
With everything settled, the group of ten—a mix of men and women—finally set out toward Lockwood Forest.
Raizel walked at the front, keeping pace with two experienced hunters, while three more covered the rear, ensuring their safety.
As they reached the forest's entrance, a familiar, well-trodden path leading inside, Raizel took out his Steel Sword from his inventory.
The action stunned the others.
Their Eyes widened in shock and awe as they watched him summon a weapon out of thin air.
To them, it was nothing short of incredible magic—an ability far beyond their reach. They had no access to magic, no system inventory, nothing that allowed them to simply pull out weapons at will.
Their murmurs of astonishment filled the air, but Raizel ignored them.
With Steel Sword in hand, his playful attitude vanished.
His gaze sharpened, and his body tensed, shifting into battle ready posture.
"Whoosh!"
A shadowy wolf lunged at them, its hungry eyes gleaming, muscles tensed for the kill.
"Slice!"
Raizel moved in an instant.
His sword flashed, reflecting the faint sunlight filtering through the trees.
With one swift motion, enhanced by his new equipment's agility, he sliced clean through the wolf's neck, severing its head in a single, fluid strike.
Blood sprayed onto the forest floor. The lifeless body collapsed before it even had the chance to register its death.
"A-Amazing!"
"So fast!"
The hunters murmured in awe, their eyes wide with shock. The efficiency of his speed, power, and precision left them speechless.
To Raizel, it was nothing because it was just a level 7 creature.
But to the others, this wolf could have been a deadly challenge if faced alone.
He barely spared the corpse a glance.
"Let's continue," Raizel said casually, as if nothing had happened.
The two men beside him swallowed hard, exchanging uneasy glances before nodding.
"Y-Yes… let's gather the herbs and return soon."
With that, the group pressed forward, following their map deeper into the heart of Lockwood Forest.
But as they ventured further, one thought lingered in the air:
More powerful monsters were waiting for them ahead.