When the group returned to the village, they were met by Rob's shocked expression. Their injuries and torn equipment said enough—the mission had failed. Upon hearing about the swarm of over a hundred Rank 10+ Meteors lurking nearby, even Rob's seasoned face went pale.
Everyone collapsed from exhaustion. Anastasia, pale from blood loss, was taken to Rob's home to recover, while the others were placed under the care of villagers. The long campaign had drained both body and spirit, leaving only silence to fill the night.
By the next morning—the ninth day of the search and the tenth of their dispatch training—Connor finally regained his strength. Sitting beneath a tree, he cleaned his chainmail while Kyle's voice echoed in his mind. Something about this whole mission felt wrong—the missing villager, the vanished basket, the hidden nest, and the strange Meteor leader acting only as a guard. Every clue pointed to an unnatural setup.
Connor realized the truth: this dispatch training should end immediately. Six students and one professor could never face an army of Meteors. Yet even as logic screamed to retreat, his instincts refused to yield. Memories of the monstrous Meteor—the one that shattered wind blades and blocked a magic sword without a core crystal—haunted him. Its power surpassed anything he had ever fought, even the Rank 38 spider from before.
Just as he questioned whether to give up, a boy's timid voice called out. A ten-year-old villager ran up, clenching his fists nervously. He introduced himself as Johnny and said he wanted to be just like Connor—the strongest mercenary, skilled enough to complete any request.
Connor couldn't help but smile bitterly. The boy's childish enthusiasm softened his troubled heart. When asked why he wanted to become a mercenary, Johnny's answer was simple and pure—he wanted to make their village rich and strong so that everyone could live happily.
Hearing that, Connor's chest tightened. The boy's love for his small home reminded him of his own past—a time when he failed to protect his people, his comrades, and the place he once called home. That regret was enough. He refused to experience it again.
With newfound resolve, he stood. The hesitation was gone. If he couldn't protect a single village, how could he ever hope to save the world?
He made his decision—the dispatch would continue, and he would defend this village from the Meteors.
Ignoring Kyle's protests in his head, Connor walked toward Rob's house. It was time to gather everyone.
Inside Rob's small bedroom, the entire group assembled. Anastasia was still recovering on the bed while the others stood by. Before Connor could speak, the professor announced the decision—the dispatch training was officially suspended. The group's reactions were mixed; some had expected it, while others were stunned.
The professor explained that the Meteor swarm made it impossible to continue. For safety, everyone would return to the Academy. Evacuation was the only option for the villagers. But Connor's expression darkened. Abandoning them didn't sit right with him.
Anastasia, trembling but determined, questioned why they couldn't ask the Academy for help. The professor's response was harsh but realistic—the Academy's resources were stretched thin, and saving a nameless village held no strategic value.
Connor clenched his fists. If no one would help, then he would stay. When asked why, he spoke quietly but firmly—it wasn't about orders or training anymore. It was about a promise to himself. He couldn't let another village fall while he stood by.
He then told them about Johnny—the boy who dreamed of becoming a mercenary to rebuild his town. His words carried the weight of his past failure, the village he once couldn't save. He didn't want to repeat that mistake.
Finally, he bowed deeply, his voice trembling as he asked his comrades to help him protect this place.
For a moment, silence filled the room. Then, one by one, his companions spoke up. Myael smiled softly, recalling how much the villagers appreciated her help. Lug grumbled but his wagging tail betrayed his true feelings. Lanius simply said he took pride in the villagers' joy. Whipney mentioned the good food. Anastasia, lying weakly on the bed, declared that she couldn't abandon the humans who accepted her true self.
Their words warmed Connor's heart until his eyes grew misty. Even Kyle teased him for crying, but this time, he didn't deny it.
The professor finally spoke, his tone stern yet not condemning. The will to protect was admirable—but they needed a real plan. Connor nodded. He had one.
He raised his hand, gathering blue magic that twisted into a crimson mask adorned with two horns. Gasps filled the room as the air pulsed with power.
Connor's voice was steady as he revealed his final card.
He could borrow the skills and experiences of his future self—the regressor within.