novelraw Chapter 178: When Will You Come Again
Chapter 178: When Will You Come Again
Early the next morning, Ron and Hathaway departed as promised, escorting Level 2 Priest Joseph on his way. The Priest himself made no objections — in fact, he had barely said anything beyond those few initial words. Every syllable he spoke seemed rationed.
George stood on the battlements watching them go, Fila beside him, her expression quietly dejected. Left behind again. The resentment of being a freelance civilian — truly, they were never taken seriously.
"My lord, are we not going to cut lumber today?"
The mercenary Shelt asked, sounding puzzled. Just yesterday they'd been shouting about building a Temple at all costs — and now, without any warning, everyone had simply packed up and left. He was a mercenary player; he didn't understand the finer points of strategy, but this felt remarkably flippant.
They'd also stripped the only heavy crossbow off the wall, and taken most of the arrows and bolts with them — essentially abandoning this camp entirely. Well, if anyone knew how to be flexible, it was Lord-class players.
They could give up as easily as breathing.
"No lumber today. But if I remember correctly, you're a Three-Star Blacksmith? Come with me to mine iron ore. Once we've got about four hundred kilograms, and combined with the charcoal we've been firing, we'll fire up the smelter. I think we should use this time to forge some arrowheads."
George smiled. For reasons he couldn't quite name, once the Level 2 Priest Joseph had departed, he felt remarkably light — as though even the threshold for triggering a Bad End had dropped a notch.
"An excellent idea, my lord!"
Shelt's eyes nearly popped out of his head. 'What a lord,' he thought. 'I'd gladly call you the greatest talent-spotter in any world.'"Mother, you've worked hard. Please make an extra serving at lunch."
"Li Zhengxing — daily camp patrols are yours. Don't let your guard down."
"Understood, my lord!"
The second mercenary accepted his orders. Though George was not currently the Head of Household, he held the legitimate rank of a knight, and the details of decorum could not be neglected.
Shortly after, George and the mercenary Shelt each took a handcart and set off along the already well-developed supply trail toward the Three-Star iron mine.
The path bore no resemblance to the grueling track it had been a year ago. After Leon had spent two months carting stone along it, the road had been leveled and drainage carved to protect it from flooding. With George's and Shelt's attribute levels, they could each complete four round trips a day — meaning the two of them could mine and transport roughly four hundred kilograms of iron ore every single day.
Impressive, to say the least.
For the next several days, George and Shelt fell into a productive rhythm — haul iron ore back, fire the smelter, smelt the iron into steel, forge it into arrowheads.
There wasn't much choice. Ron and Hathaway had left him only thirty precision steel bodkin arrows — his personal combat allotment. Everything else had been taken for the assault on Kakh City.
Since he had time to spare and a rough-around-the-edges blacksmith on hand, why not stock up?
It was worth noting that George wasn't actually short on arrows.
At present, he had three Two-Star armor-piercing sniper arrows, thirty One-Star penetrating arrows, thirty precision steel bodkin arrows, and fifty hardwood arrows.
The first two types were rated items — they could be carried out of this world — and were the product of his own crafting during quiet moments. He'd become a reasonably skilled arrow-maker by now.
But those portable arrows were non-negotiable. He wrapped them in waterproof oilcloth and stored them in his room, untouched. What he carried in the field were the standard-issue bodkin arrows supplied by the household.
One's personal property and household property — those lines had to be kept clear.
Meanwhile, Shelt — competent enough for the heavy lifting if not the finesse — swung his hammer with tireless enthusiasm. His yield rate was appalling, but that only meant burning a bit more charcoal and re-forging the mistakes. Experience was what he lacked, and experience was what he was getting.
At Fila's request, George also went hunting over those days — returning with a Two-Star spotted deer and a One-Star wild boar.
Fila, the lone civilian, seemed unfazed by her situation. She channeled everything into cooking — refining her dishes, steadily improving her Chef Destiny Grid. That, too, was a worthwhile investment.
One day felt like six meals' worth of productivity, and everyone ate their fill.
Full stomachs meant productive work and training sessions.
The mercenary Li Zhengxing had also been seizing every available window to train himself, and George put in several hours a day with him — live sparring sessions on top of the walls.
They used heavy wooden swords carved from One-Star timber: dense, about five kilograms, usable as either a two-hander or a one-hander paired with a wooden shield. Their bouts were fierce and evenly matched.
Their matches typically ran at full intensity for over half an hour, by which point both of their Stamina bars hit empty. They'd each grab a strip of dried venison, eat their fill, and collapse in the tavern for a deep, dreamless sleep.
It was a life so good he wouldn't trade it for a throne.
Time flowed quietly forward. The last day of the month arrived almost before George noticed. Fila had her small travel bundle already packed, ready to leave the moment the family meeting ended.
She was desperate to get to Victor Town — not a moment's desire remained to stay in this camp.
George felt a quiet, understated melancholy settle over him. October was nearly here. He had been in this world exactly eighteen months. Looking back, the small valley was still just as still as it had always been — the creek still ran, the felled trees were already putting out new growth — but the camp itself had given its best years to someone else's purpose.
He had thought he would build it into something like Kakh City.
But time changes everything.
So many mistakes over the past year and a half. Yet in the end, this place had been a kind of home.
The last light of sunset stretched his shadow long across the battlements, and he found himself thinking of Thomas. Of the Penny who used to be. Of Fila, Leon, and Mixi.
Was he getting sentimental in his old age?
He really was.
"Hm?"
George's attention snapped to something. He thought he'd heard a sound. Shielding his eyes against the setting sun, he looked south — and saw two carriages approaching slowly, a trail of common folk following behind them: men, women, the elderly, children.
Behind the carriages, a knight rode up on horseback.
Familiar. One of Sir Tuck's attendants.
George jumped down from the wall and went to meet them.
"Good evening, Sir George!"
The attendant swung down from his horse and gave George a respectful nod, then produced an elegant envelope and presented it with both hands.
"Sir George, word of your remarkable feat — rescuing Priest Joseph — has spread throughout the land. The children sing of great George, the Dog Butcher. And upon receiving Priest Joseph's letter, Duke Weir was greatly impressed and has graciously granted you a small town as your domain. Furthermore, Sir Tuck, in gratitude for your generous assistance, has relocated thirty Freeman households from Victor Town to serve as your settlers."
"These are the title deed and the letter of appointment, Sir George. Please keep them safe."
"I look forward to meeting Sir George on the battlefield outside Kakh City — to slay the Witches and the wicked, and let the gods' radiance shine once more upon Kakh City!"
With that, the young attendant gave one final bow, swung himself back into the saddle, and rode away.
And almost at the same moment, a cascade of system notifications washed over George like a flooding tide.
【Although your camp is incomplete — a One-Star Temple was never constructed — you have completed a hidden mission by rescuing Level 2 Priest Joseph, who has recommended you to Duke Weir. You have therefore been granted renewed recognition by the Kingdom. (Note: Normally, constructing a One-Star Temple, inviting a Level 1 Priest, and developing thirty Freeman households signifies divine approval and marks the completion of the Rookie Mission — a process that typically takes two to three years. Your mission storyline has, without question, been accelerated.)】
【The mission storyline that began with your father Anson has now drawn to its close. All Rookies within this mission may now complete their settlement and return. All veteran players may choose to continue the mission or return. The end-of-month settlement and family meeting will no longer be generated this month. The family system's rules no longer have binding force. However, you may still choose whether to continue challenging the Rookie King mission. Friendly reminder: this is your final opportunity to withdraw from the conflict before the fighting begins.】
【Friendly reminder: earning the Rookie King title requires fighting alongside Four-Star players.】
【Friendly reminder: your Household Contribution earned this month is being settled. You will receive 52 gold coins. Your personal assets total 315 gold coins. You are currently ranked 1st on the Rookie List. Other matters have already been settled once; they will not be settled again.】
【Your remaining usable virtual assets: 874 Reputation at Kakh City, 721 Reputation at Victor Town, 3,000 Reputation at the Temple. These will reset to zero when you leave this world. Please settle them when the opportunity arises.】
【You may now give a name to this town — the town where you bled and sweated, where 567 days and nights of memory were woven. In the future, this place may become the cradle of a new Rookie storyline. In the future, it may grow into a city not unlike Kakh City. In the future, the buildings you raised may witness joy and tragedy alike. In the future, the trade routes you carved may be folded into the King's Highway. The future is unwritten. Perhaps one day you will return to this place — to find it transformed beyond recognition.】
【Friendly reminder: from this point on, this town has no further tie to you. This differs from a Three-Star Lord mission. Please understand that this is the standard clearing condition for all Rookie missions.】
【Naming countdown: if no name is chosen within ten minutes, a name will be generated at random.】
—
Whoa.
So — he'd cleared it? Just like that?
In that instant, a tangle of emotions hit George all at once — too much excitement, and underneath it, a bone-deep sadness.
But as he watched group after group of civilians walking through the gate — families, hope written plain across their faces — something in him eased and let go.
He had been worried, truthfully. In two days, he would march with Ron and Hathaway to the decisive battle at Kakh City. This camp would stand empty. He had genuinely fretted — this place was like a child he had raised with his own hands. He had only built part of it, but the feeling didn't care about proportions.
Now he no longer had to dread that the town — the one so many people had built with so much effort — would simply be abandoned. Swallowed by time. Slowly unmade.
The fields he had tilled, someone would farm.
The houses they had slept in, someone would live in.
The paths they had walked, others would walk in their footsteps — an unbroken line, continuing forward.
"Brother, here's your pack!"
Shelt laughed and passed over a bag — free from the threat of a Bad End at last, and now entering the Final Boss phase? For a mercenary player, how fortunate could you get?
George took the pack. Inside were arrows and a few other personal belongings. He could also take a portion of the household's supplies — the arrows he carried, the two Bloodthirsty Spears, and so on.
And then there was Fila's own bulging pack of food, slung heavily on her back. She should have been happy. But her expression was complicated — likely because this reminded her of her own Rookie storyline, years ago.
Everyone only got one Rookie mission. Miss it, and it's gone forever.
"Then let this town be called Zailai Town."
'When will you come again?'
The thought had barely flickered through his mind when the envelope in his hand dissolved into dust, drifting apart like smoke. And in the crowd, George clearly saw a young man who looked exactly like him, holding that envelope, staring in confusion at the gate. Behind the young man walked a woman who looked unmistakably like Hathaway — her belly slightly rounded, visibly with child.
But George had no time to contemplate this mystery. Because two lines of crimson text blazed into existence before his eyes.
【Report to the military camp outside Victor Town within twelve hours. The Final Battle is about to begin.】
【Your identity is no longer George — you are now a common mercenary named Li Wei. As for how the black-robed Witch Mixi will interpret this — that is entirely her problem.】
【Due to sustained consumption of high-quality food, you have accumulated one Free Attribute Point. Maximum HP +10.】