Chapter 45 | Village Hero!
Chapter 45: 45 | Village Hero!
[Jk: How do you keep a person in suspense?]
The rumors got more exaggerated and they whispered among themselves, pointing at Andrew with expressions ranging from fear to curiosity.
"Isn’t that Andrew?" one player whispered to his companion.
"The guy with the F-Rank talent?" another replied in disbelief. "How is he still alive?"
"How did he kill so many players?" a third asked, his voice filled with awe. "He looks like a demon with all those crimson marks."
"But if you look closely, he really looks quite handsome..." a male player murmured.
"That’s true," her companion agreed, tilting her head. "The crimson marks almost make it seem like he’s a mythic player. It’s quite beautiful, in a dark way."
"Are you sure you two don’t swing that way?" their friend interjected with a weird expression on his face.
"Fucker! Do I look gay to you?"
Rumors spread rapidly as Andrew approached.
Players who had been resting near the village gates scrambled to their feet and backed away, creating a clear path for him. Some clutched their weapons tightly, as if preparing for a fight, but none were brave enough to actually attack.
"Hehe, where does he think he’s going?" a player with a cocky expression sneered, though he made sure to say it quietly enough that Andrew wouldn’t hear. "No village, town, or city will ever let a crimson-marked player enter their midst. He’s wasting his time."
Some players even predicted that the village guards would arrest him the moment he tried to enter. A few hopeful ones moved closer, eager to watch what they assumed would be a satisfying comeuppance for the feared player killer.
However, everyone was stunned by what happened next.
As Andrew approached the towering wooden gates of Beginner Village, the two guards stationed there straightened up immediately. Their eyes went wide with recognition, and then, to everyone’s astonishment, they both bowed deeply.
"Mr. Andrew! You’re finally here!" the first guard said, his voice filled with warmth and respect. His armor creaked as he bent at the waist, a gesture that was typically reserved for nobility or high-ranking officials.
The second guard stepped forward and also bowed. "It’s a great honor to meet our town hero! Thank you for rescuing our children."
Their faces were filled with such obvious gratitude that it seemed completely genuine.
Andrew smiled and nodded at them, keeping his expression humble but he was grinning like a madman in his mind.
’Take that, fuckers!’
The guards immediately opened the heavy wooden gates, to personally welcome him into the village.
The surrounding players were completely dumbfounded. Their mouths hung open, their eyes wide with disbelief.
"How is that possible?" someone whispered.
"The guards actually bowed to him?"
"He killed twenty players and they’re treating him like a hero?"
"Maybe it’s a bug in the system?"
"No way. Look at their expressions. That’s genuine gratitude."
The village was crowded with players looking for quests or handling out quest finger completion.
As Andrew walked through the village gates, a woman selling bread from a small cart waved enthusiastically.
"Thank you, hero! Thank you for bringing my little girl back!"
An old man sitting on a wooden bench near a well struggled to his feet and offered a feeble bow. "Bless you, young man. Bless you and your family for generations to come."
Children who had been playing in the dirt nearby suddenly stopped their game and came running over. A little girl with braided brown hair threw her arms around Andrew’s leg, squeezing him tightly. "You’re the hero who saved us!" she exclaimed, her bright eyes shining with admiration. "Mama said you fought the big scary rats!"
Andrew’s face twitched. ’So you’re one of the little brat that almost ruined everything back at the cave uhn?’
But he smiled outward and ruffled her hair.
Another kid tugged at his trousers.
"You’re really really strong. I want to be a hero like yout!"
Even the animals in the village wagged their tails enthusiastically as he passed
Wherever he went, people treated him like a hero. It was as if he had become a celebrity overnight, and the contrast made the other players fearful along with the crimson cloud above his head.
Many of the players who had followed Andrew to the village gates stood in stunned silence, watching the scene unfold with expressions of complete bewilderment.
They had never seen anything like this before. Crimson-marked players were supposed to be shunned by every NPC settlement in the game. Yet Andrew was walking through Beginner Village as if he owned the place.
"Please come with us to the Village Chief’s residence," an elderly man said, appearing at Andrew’s side.
"The Village Elder has been waiting for you. Everyone has been waiting for you."
Andrew nodded and followed the old man through the winding dirt paths of the village. The buildings here were simple but well-maintained, wooden structures with thatched roofs, small gardens filled with vegetables and herbs, and the occasional stone chimney with lazy curls of smoke rising into the sky.
As they walked, the old man introduced himself. "My name is Thomas. I’m one of the village elders, though I suspect you’ll be meeting all of us soon enough. The entire village has been buzzing since the children returned. You should have seen the celebration when they came through the gates, crying and laughing all at once. It was... it was something I will never forget as long as I live."
Andrew listened quietly as they walked.
Soon, they arrived at the Village Elder’s residence. It was one of the larger buildings in the village, a two-story building.
A large crowd had already gathered there. Many of the rescued children had returned safely, and their families were reunited with them.
When the Village Elder saw Andrew approaching, he immediately stepped forward from the crowd.
He was a tall man, though age had bent his spine slightly. His hair was pure white but his yes were extremely sharp.
The village head took Andrew’s hands in his own, gripping them with surprising strength.
"Thank you for saving my daughter and granddaughter. They are all I have left since my wife passed. And you brought them back to me."
The elder bowed and the other villagers followed suit.
"I am the village head hunter, thank you for rescuing the children."
A massive man with arms like tree trunks and a scarred face, bowed his head respectfully.
"I am the village blacksmith, thanks for your troubles and the timely rescue."
A stout woman with powerful forearms and soot stains on her leather apron, placed her hand over her heart and nodded.
One by one, they all came forward and introduced themselves.
For the first time since arriving in this world, Andrew received the sincere gratitude of an entire village. It was a profound experience that almost tickled Andrew’s heart.
[Ans: I will tell you tomorrow...]