I'm not a Witcher anymore.

Instead of returning to Kawaki Village at the foot of the mountain in one go, the group rested several times along the way. During this time, Sieg's consciousness drifted into the depths of his mind, and the Book of Adventure was opened.

"Milestone Achieved - Siege First: Capture a castle/city/fortress occupied by goblins"

"Gift Arrives: Constitution +2"

Current physical condition: 5→7

Current health: 50/50 → 70/70

As the notification appeared, a warmth completely different from before welled up from his heart.

It lacked the overwhelming, surging sensation of a sudden surge of power. The heat was deeper and more sustained, as if seeping into the depths of the body little by little along the chest, spine, and limbs, quiet yet so solid that it could not be ignored.

The soreness and heaviness that was still pressing on my shoulders, back, waist, and legs was slowly dissipated with each heartbeat.

It didn't disappear abruptly, but gradually receded, like the weariness that had accumulated in the bones finally being firmly held down, no longer rising upwards.

He took a breath of mountain air.

My chest relaxed, and my breathing became much deeper and smoother.

The tightness in his chest and the shallowness in his breath after a series of fierce battles were suppressed with this one breath, and his steps became steady.

That change is still ongoing.

The warmth seeped deeper, restoring order to the body from the inside out.

The deepest parts of the abdominal cavity that are most vulnerable to injury and damage from impacts and heavy blows seem to be supported by an invisible layer of resilience.

There is also a stronger sense of support between the muscles and bones.

It's not that the muscles suddenly bulge, nor is there any exaggerated change in appearance.

Rather, the body itself has become more resilient and able to withstand more strain.

Zig looked down at his hands, his fingers spread open and then slowly closed.

What emanated from his palms and knuckles was no longer just a simple sense of strength, but a deeper, more stable sense of composure. The part of this body most easily depleted had become considerably more robust.

Even after just one tough battle, he could clearly feel that his potential had increased significantly.

The Book of Adventure closed and sank into an endless dark space.

He opened his eyes.

The change brought about by his physical fitness level rising from 5 to 7 was more substantial than he had originally expected.

This is not just stronger.

It is also more stable.

……

When the group brought the five girls back to Hemu Village at the foot of the mountain, the village entrance was quiet for a moment.

It was as if an invisible hand had suddenly gripped the throat of the entire village.

Then all the sounds exploded.

Everyone who recognized their daughter and sisters rushed over.

Some people ran while calling out their names, some cried out halfway through and couldn't speak, and some had their legs give way and knelt on the ground.

Once he actually held the person in his arms, the fear and despair that had been building up for two nights and three days burst forth like a dam breaking. Cries, shouts, footsteps, and chaotic chatter mingled together, making even the open space at the village entrance seem to shake.

Of the five girls, two of them went completely limp upon seeing their family members and had to be helped to stand.

There was another person clinging tightly to Martha, crying so hard their whole body was trembling, as if only now could they believe that she had really come back alive from that hellish place on the mountain.

The elder, accompanied by several elderly villagers, rushed over. Upon seeing this scene, his eyes also reddened.

He first looked at the five girls who had been rescued to make sure they were all alive before turning his gaze to Zig and the others.

The men were covered in blood and dirt, their leather armor stained with mud and soot, and their faces showed signs of exhaustion.

The elder opened his mouth, but his throat felt like it was blocked by something, and he couldn't even say thank you for a moment.

Zig did not wait for the chaos to subside on its own.

"Captain, Elder, now is not the time to relax."

The elder paused for a moment.

Zig continued, "A small number of goblins have escaped from the stronghold. If they recover, given their habits, they might sneak back down the mountain after dark. Therefore, the village must be secured first, and we cannot give them any opportunity to escape."

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd, who were still immersed in reunion and tears, were immediately pulled back to reality, and many people's expressions changed instantly.

"We should immediately mobilize most of the able-bodied men in the village to block the several roads leading down the mountain. There's no need to go into the mountains to search; just guard the roads. If you see any scattered goblins, warn them to prevent them from sneaking into the village."

"Women, children, the elderly, and the weak should all gather in the granary. It's the largest place there, and the walls are the sturdiest. The grain can't afford to be damaged again. Guarding the granary is guarding the lives of the villagers."

"The remaining able-bodied men should guard the granary in layers. Bows, spears, and torches should be prepared. They should take turns at night and are not allowed to wander off or go out alone."

"Captain, we'll rest tonight and head into the mountains tomorrow morning to find those escaped creatures and kill them all."

He wasn't discussing things; instead, he was laying out the most important matters one by one, letting everyone know what to do first.

Valeria listened and nodded without hesitation.

"Let's do it this way."

The elder seemed to wake from a dream, and while repeatedly agreeing, he hurriedly turned around to call for someone.

Valeria did not leave everything to the elders.

She told Zig and the others to take a break, while she stayed behind and, together with the elders, divided the arriving villagers into several groups.

She divided the groups very carefully, not just randomly grouping them together. Instead, she deliberately separated the bold, steady, skilled with bows, and strong individuals, ensuring that no team was too strong on one side and too weak on the other.

After assigning the manpower, she explained the requirements for guarding the intersection to each person.

"Don't stray too far from the intersection. Only guard narrow passages and corners; don't try to climb the mountain recklessly."

"If you see scattered goblins, use arrows and wooden spears to hold them off, maintain your formation, and immediately call for reinforcements. Don't rush in on your own."

"If a large number of them come, defend while retreating, and lead them to open areas and places lit by torches. Visibility is poor at night, so don't get into a fight with them."

The villagers who were still somewhat panicked gradually calmed down as she explained things to them.

Zieg didn't get involved anymore.

After a series of fierce battles, it's time for everyone to take a break.

Lucy first went to check on the girls who had been rescued, and then patted Ravenna's head and shoulders.

After this round of rest, Ravenna's complexion was better than before, and the dull pain and dizziness at the back of her head had subsided considerably, but she had not fully recovered yet.

She knew in her heart that she was not in a good condition to go into the mountains the next day, so she did not try to be brave.

Hill and Lucy stayed in the village.

One person took care of the injured and the five girls who had just been rescued, while the other helped maintain security in the village and gradually calmed down the people who were terrified.