“If there’s a barrier stantly surrounding the vilge, then how did the demons mao infiltrate?”

  “Well, teically,” Feng began, addressing Daisuke’s question, “it’s not a barrier as much as it is a cealment spell. In other words, we only hide our presence from the world but ’t prevent unwanted intruders.”

  Without a word, Daisuke shifted his gaze to the staff and used the Eye of Verity.

  [Warden’s Embrace]

  [Rank: Rare

  Type: Staff

  Melee Attack Power: 2 | Magical Attack Power: 72~81 | Durability: 21/42 | Accuracy: 37 | Mana Remaining: 32%

  The Warden’s Embrace is a rare staff ed with a mystical orb harvested from the Titanic Hermit Cm. This orb serves both as a reservoir of energy and an amplifier, taining a finite charge in the form of mana.

  The staff possesses a unique cealment spell, allowing the wielder to perfectly cloak themselves or a small area. However, this ability is limited, tied to the remaining energy in the orb. The orb’s energy be replenished by infusing mana into it, but eafusion permaly decreases the staff’s durability by 1 until the orb eventually shatters.

  ?? Int +5

  ?? Mana ption -88%

  ?? Unlocks the ?Seamless Camoufge? skill.

  ditions of Use: Lvl 8+ | Strength 1+ | Stamina 2+ | Intelligence 4]

  [Seamless Camoufge]

  [A spell that empowers the caster to shroud themselves, another individual, or a designated area, rendering them invisible and inaudible to the senses of onlookers. Activation of this spell es a fixed amount of mana, providing a potent veil of cealment.]

  “From what I tell,” decred Daisuke with a fident tohe staff is essentially responsible for the cealment spell. But it looks like the orb is on the verge of running out of energy.”

  “Wait… how did you?”

  Feng looked from the fbbergasted chief to Daisuke with an amused smirk. “Heh. Looks like you’ve undergone quite a transformation sihe st time I saw you.”

  Mia didn’t seem ehrilled about that fact; she got a glimpse of Daisuke’s power and couldn’t help but think about the sacrifices he had to eo attain it.

  “You should hand the staff to Elena,” instructed Daisuke with a anding air. “She has the ability to recharge its power by infusing mana into it—a power you clearly ck as a mage.”

  At the astonishment of the group, Timartha clutched the staff closer, a defensive frown creasing her forehead. “This staff has been a treasured heirloom for many geions; it’s strictly forbidden for ao possess it other than the vilge chief.”

  Daisuke’s frown deepened, yet his distent couldn’t match the e emanating from Sylvia. Before her anger could reach critical mass, Elena stepped forward, wearing ahetic smile as she addressed the elder.

  “Thehe staff,” she suggested passionately. “Simply allow me a moment to touch it so that I i with my mana. The cealment spell is the lifeblood of the vilge; without its power, we all risk perishing at the hands of the demons.”

  The old woman, her wizened visage strained by paranoia, g the orb atop the staff, now a mere echo of its former luster. “Five me,” she apologized, her ra ears sagging with shame. “This staff beloo my te daughter; after losing her, it became not only a means to protect the vilge… but also a way for me to remember her.”

  Daisuke noted as Sylvia ched her fists, struggling to mask the hint of hate in her eyes. But no one else noticed as they were all focused on Elena as she gently rested her fiips on the periwinkle-colored orb and started eling her mana into it.

  “…How many injured are there?”

  While all eyes remained on Elena, Milo broached a topic that everyone seemed to be avoiding. Elena fihe process in time to step bad observe the miserable expressions on everyone’s faces.

  ***

  In a dimly lit mound that acted as a ward, injured Beastfolk y upon beds of straw, their clothes stained with blood. Moans of pain echoed in the fined space, creating an atmosphere of suffering. Families huddled around their wounded loved ones, attempting to provide fort in the midst of despair.

  April covered her ears and buried her fa Mia’s clothes as they were ed by the depressing se.

  It looks like some of the women, children, and elderly weren’t able to find refuge in time, thought Daisuke somberly.

  A youkin with a bandaged arm cried out, “Please, someone make it stop! It hurts so much!”

  o him, an elderly woman whispered through gritted teeth, “I ’t bear it… help me… please.”

  A frightened child, her eyes wide with terror, whimpered, “Mommy, it hurts! I’m scared!”

  Families moved frantically between the injured, words of sod reassurance. A grief-stri father clutched the hand of his unscious son, whispering words of love, “Please hold on a bit longer. We’ll find a way to heal you.”

  In a er, a mother wept over the lifeless body of her kin, overwhelmed by loss. “No, no, not you,” she sobbed, her grief eg through the dwelling.

  Daisuke passed a gnce over all the Beastfolk as they grappled with misfortuheir stomachs protesting with hunger, a cruel reminder of the dual hardships they faced. And he could pletely rete.

  In the real world, every day was a struggle to make ends meet and he was always mentally exhausted. Every month his ndlord was at his door, verbally shing out at him about his overdue rent.

  And when he wasn’t being threateo be thrown out onto the street, he remembered stantly living in fear of the loan sharks’ fury. He didn’t know when they would storm into his home or work and ruthlessly break every bone in his body.

  He was justified in his terror, for the gruesome event did occur, albeit with only one bone broken instead of all of them. However, the overall trauma of the experience remained unged.

  Even after being trapped in the game, and as retly as a week ago, he found himself haunted by nightmares of the ordeal. A persistent sense of being watched and pursued by an unfathomable presence weighed heavily on his mind. Yet, he reized that these feelings could be attributed to the ay and paranoia stemming from the traumatic experience.

  But the Beastkin’s pursuers were undoubtedly real; they were a race that was despised and unwanted by the rest of the world. Their only value was being hunted for sport or being sold into svery—and even those who mao secure legitimate jobs were disrespected and abused beyond measure.

  Daisuke more or less knew what he was getting himself into by borrowing money from a shady anization, but demihumans as a race did absolutely nothing to deserve such a miserable fate. It was detestable.

  “…Milo,” instructed Daisuke tellingly.

  “Way ahead of you.”

  “Wait,” Feng intervened as the healer stepped forward. “The reason we didn’t ask for your aid is because we know you’re only able to heal just one person before running out of mana.”

  “And deg who that one person is would stir turmoil among the people,” added Timartha.

  “Just be quiet and watch,” asserted Daisuke.

  Mia looked on in anticipation, and April pulled back her head to peek.

  Milo unfurled his arms and closed his eyes, an intation f on his lips. “O divine one, source of eternal light, let your healing grace desd like gentle rain. In your benevolence, weave the threads of restoration, banishing affli with the whispered breath of rejuvenation. Area Heal!”

  At his solemn prayer, a warm, golden light cascaded from above, apanied by the resonant tolling of enting bells. Shimmerihers desded like leaves in a gentle wind, transf the somber atmosphere. The pained groans of those gripped by grief and agony ged into gasps of astonishment and wonder as their wounds began to heal.

  Families looked on in a mixture of surprise and glee, their expressions shifting from despair to hopeful disbelief. Yet, amidst the awe, Daisuke, Elena, and Rexar maintaiheir posure knowing full well what their rade was capable of. As the others stood dumbfouheir collective gaze verged on Milo, who scratched his cheek with an embarrassed smile.

  While a crowd of grateful Beastfolk surrounded and praised him wholeheartedly, Timartha approached Daisuke and bowed. “Thank you,” she said early, tears pooling in her eyes. “It’s thanks to your tutege that these kids have bee such promising individuals. Like Milo, you’ve bee a part of our family; we are eternally in your debt.”

  Surmising the gist of the situation, all the Beastfolk followed suit and deeply bowed their heads in gratitude.

  “There’s o thank me,” remarked Daisuke while sheepishly tousling the back of his head. “Their growth is mostly a result of the love and itment they have for their home and people.”

  Elena and Milo blushed, while Rexar’s nose was growing even longer and pointer.

  “That reminds me,” said Daisuke while looking doril, then he shifted his gaze to Timartha. “You mentiohat Milo and I are the only humans in the vilge… but what about April?”

  The woman’s eyes widened in surprise, then she passed an uain gnce across the others before holding Daisuke’s curious gaze anew. “I… I’m ly sure how to say this, but April is… not human. She’s actually a fairy.”

  The Beastfolk in the background gasped in astonishment.

  “A fairy?” excimed Daisuke as he gnced down at the little girl again, trying to decipher the truth of it. “But she looks pletely human to me.”

  Before he could activate the Eye of Verity—

  “It’s because she’s only half fairy,” Sylvia crified, wary of Daisuke’s response. “As she gets a bit older, her powers will slowly start to ma.”

  “Big Brother,” April squeaked, her rge round eyes gleaming with a sea of emotions. “Do you… hate me now?”