Village Conditions

The small village was dead silent. Snow clung to the rooftops, but it wasn't the cold that made the air so heavy-it was fear.

The moment Isro and Shiori stepped past the weathered gate, curtains shifted in every house. Faces peeked from cracked windows, eyes filled with dread before vanishing as though even looking too long would bring misfortune. The streets were empty, abandoned carts half-buried in snow, the faint smell of burned wood lingering.

"Something's wrong here..." Shiori said, her crimson eyes narrowing as she scanned the village. "The people... it's like they're hiding from us.”

Isro notices silently, his gaze moving across the ruined homes. Walls bore claw marks, roofs had collapsed under neglect, and the silence was so heavy it almost pressed on their chests. He took a step forward, but before he could say anything more-

"...Savior!”

The silence was broken by a weak but familiar voice. Three young girls ran forward from one of the small streets, their steps quick, but their faces lit up when they saw him.

They were the same three he had saved during the trial. Mio, Ruby, and Karl. Their eyes shimmered with relief as they stopped in front of him, cheeks flushed from the cold.

"You came..." Ruby said softly, her voice breaking with emotion. "Savior... why are you here? This village... It's dangerous. You shouldn't have come."

Isro looked at them with a faint smile, his usual calm expression unmoving. "I came to see whether you were safe. That was my promise, wasn't it?”

Mio's lips trembled. She bowed deeply, clutching the hem of her ragged cloak. "We are safe only because of you. But... if others see you here, you'll be in danger too."

Shiori, who had been standing beside him quietly, tilted her head. Her crimson aura flickered faintly as she crossed her arms. "Danger from what? These villagers look terrified... but not of us. Something else is haunting them.”

Karl faked a smile, her small hands shaking as she pointed toward the northern hills. “ Many monsters come to that side and kill many villagers. That monster comes every night to haunt.”

Shiori's gaze darkened. "So that's why they're hiding.”

Isro remained silent for a moment, his black eyes reflecting the flickering torchlight from a nearby post. Then, slowly, he asked, "And the three of you? How have you survived?"

Ruby clenched her fists, determination shining in her eyes despite her trembling voice. "We... We work together. We stay inside during attack, hide food, and help the others when we can. But... we can't hold on much longer.”

Shiori softened slightly, her earlier suspicion fading. She glanced at Isro, her voice quieter now. "So... what will you do?"

Isro crouched slightly so his eyes met theirs. His voice was calm, but beneath that calmness lay steel. "I told you before-I don't act without reason. But if those monsters come again,then I'll deal with them.”

The girls' eyes widened, hope flickering across their fearful faces for the first time in weeks.

Shiori, watching him, exhaled softly and gave a small smirk. "You really can't help yourself, can you? Always stepping into trouble."

Isro glanced at her. "It's not trouble. It's a responsibility."

For a moment, the tension in the air loosened.

The girls' smiles quickly faded when Ruby spoke again, her voice heavy with worry.

"...Lord, this village... it's in a terrible state. Many people are sick-disease spreads from house to house. Every night monsters come from the forest and drag people away. Fear keeps us locked inside. You once gave us an item... the one that summoned the golems. For a while, they protected us. But a week ago, the monsters destroyed them. Without the golems, our survival chances are... almost none."

Her eyes glistened with desperation. Then she dropped to her knees in front of Isro, her hands trembling.

"I beg you, please... save this village. Anything you ask, we will give. Any wish, we will fulfill."

Mio and Karl followed her lead, kneeling

Isro stood still, his black eyes quietly scanning his surroundings. The cold wind blew down the ruined street, rattling broken shutters. The houses around him were shells of what they once were-windows cracked, doors splintered, walls half-collapsed. Smoke stains blackened the roofs, proof of fires long past. Everywhere he looked, he saw misery.

Through broken windows, pale faces peeked out. Children are too weak to cry.

Elderly coughing in the shadows. The smell of decay and sickness clung to the air, mixed with damp wood and the faint iron scent of blood.

Shiori's expression softened as she took in the same scene. She had been skeptical before, but now her crimson eyes glimmered with pity.

Isro closed his eyes briefly, then exhaled a slow breath. "Fine. We'll help.”

Isro closed his eyes briefly, then exhaled a slow breath. "Fine. We'll help."

The three girls gasped in relief, tears filling their eyes.

Shiori turned to him, tilting her head. "You... you really agreed that easily? Saving an entire village isn't a small task."

Isro looked at her. "I didn't say it will be easy. But if we ignore them, this place will vanish within weeks."

Shiori crossed her arms. "So, what's your plan?"

"First," Isro said calmly, "gather everyone with disease into the center of the village."

The three girls blinked in surprise. "The center...?”

Isro said. "Call them. Every sick villager. Every weak one. Bring them all."

The girls exchanged uncertain looks, but Mio stood up first. "We'll do it." They hurried away, knocking on doors, calling names. Slowly, villagers began to emerge from hiding. Some limped on crutches, others carried their sick children on their backs.

As the crowd grew, whispers spread.

"Why are they gathering us?"

"Are those outsiders... helping?"

"Can they really save us?"

Shiori leaned close to him, lowering her voice. "Tell me honestly-what exactly are you planning to do?"

Isro's expression remained unreadable, but his words carried weight. "My character is a dragnoid. The system gives me an ability tied to dragon blood.”

Her eyes widened slightly. "...You mean?"

He nodded. "Dragon blood can heal. If I spill even a drop, it spreads like a blessing."

Shiori blinked in surprise, then gave a faint smile. "Hmph. Your character is really full of secrets."

Finally, nearly the entire village had gathered. Sick villagers sat or lay on the ground, coughing weakly. Mothers held children too pale to stand. Old men trembled with fever. Fear lingered in their eyes, but hope flickered faintly as they looked toward the strange black-haired boy who stood in the middle.

Isro stepped forward. "Stay calm," he said simply.

Then, without hesitation, he drew a small dagger and sliced his palm. Shiori flinched slightly at the sight of blood, but Isro's expression didn't change.

A single drop of dark crimson blood fell onto the frozen ground.

Light burst the moment it touched the ground. Every villager was swallowed up in the golden glow as it spread outward in waves. The light was soft and warm, but it was too much. After coughing once, the ill people's chests cleared. The pale's color returned. Fever went away, and weak limbs became stronger. As their vitality returned, even the elderly straightened their backs and their wrinkles softened.

The glow lasted several long moments, then slowly faded back into the winter air.

A hush fell over the village. The villagers stared at themselves, touching their healed skin, standing up without pain.

"I... I can walk again..." one man cried, tears streaming down his face.

"My child... she's breathing normally..." a mother whispered, clutching her daughter.

"We're... healed. Completely healed!"

The silence broke into cries of joy and relief.

The three girls ran forward and dropped to their knees once again, bowing deeply until their foreheads touched the snow.

"Thank you!" Mio cried.

"Thank you, Lord! Thank you!" Ruby echoed, her voice breaking with emotion. Karl choked back sobs. "You've given us life again...!”

Shiori stepped forward, her eyes wide with amazement. She had seen magic heal wounds, but never on such a scale. She looked at Isro, her expression softening despite herself. "...You really have become a god-like entity for the Village.”

Isro looked over at the villagers, his face calm but his words firm. "Stand up. You're no longer sick. From now on, you will live without fear of dying from weakness. But monsters will still come. And I..." His eyes narrowed. "I will protect you from that danger."

The villagers fell silent, his promise striking deep. Many bowed again, tears flowing freely.

Shiori, standing beside him, gave a small smile. "Looks like you just made yourself responsible for an entire village."

Isro looked at her, unfazed and slowly said. “ Let's see what happens in the future.”

The villagers cheered again, voices rising into the night. For the first time in months, hope returned to their broken homes. But beneath that hope, Shiori and Isro both knew-saving the village had only opened the path to even greater challenges.