After delivering his "heroic declaration," Qianshuo promptly collapsed again—this time, straight into Heith's white-clad arms.
Even though his injuries had already been healed, his stamina and mental focus had been burned down to the absolute limit. If he could still move, that would be unnatural.
Qianshuo was so exhausted he didn't even have the energy to feel embarrassed. All he wanted was to be held in Heith's warm, gentle embrace and sink into it forever.
Even the familia members who had lost consciousness were dragged away by their hands or feet—bodies battered and scarred—back toward the mansion on the hill.
Beneath the glow of the evening clouds, the warriors' shadows stretched long across the shimmering "sea" of grass. Flowers blooming over the plains swayed softly in the night breeze.
The battle wilds fell under the pale moon.
The grassland itself became silent.
But the sprawling mansion atop the hill—like a palace or temple—was ablaze with light, lively and loud.
The noise came from the first floor's Grand Hall.
In sharp contrast to the day's slaughter, the atmosphere now felt like a feast.
"Bring the meat over here!"
"We're out of booze!"
"I need food to replenish my blood—how am I supposed to fight tomorrow otherwise?!"
Ten long tables were lined up end to end, packed with adventurers devouring dish after dish as it arrived—tearing into meat with their bare appetite, washing it down with strong drink.
This was a war called dinner.
A day that began with battle for Freya Familia ended with a lavish meal.
It was tradition here: everyone who fought in the wilds would gather in the Grand Hall and gorge themselves to restore their strength. After a day like that, without a big meal to close it out, there simply wouldn't be enough energy left for tomorrow.
No matter how much healing magic you received, if you wanted a battered, exhausted body to recover at its root, eating was non-negotiable.
So the men and women in the hall focused entirely on turning food into flesh and blood—while alcohol "soothed" their bodies from the inside.
Meanwhile, Heith and the other healers and apothecaries were running themselves ragged in the kitchen.
Watching this, Qianshuo finally understood why Heith always looked so tired—dark circles under her eyes every day.
Even the post-"baptism" cleanup—up to and including the kind of treatment that brought people back from the brink—was organized and managed by Heith.
Apothecaries ground stamina-boosting herbs. Nearby, a giant cauldron—like something a witch would use—boiled with stewed wild boar. There was even honeyed mead made from goat milk and honey.
Qianshuo, meanwhile, was guided to an empty seat near the front. Heith told him to sit there—Freya had said that in terms of daily life and care, Qianshuo would be handled by her.
The seat he was given belonged to Freya Familia's "First-Tier" members.
Those who sat here were the familia's backbone—mostly Level 3 and Level 4 adventurers.
Above that tier was Hedin and the other top-class adventurers' private dining area upstairs, with a strict hierarchy enforced throughout the mansion.
It was part of how Freya Familia motivated its members: if you wanted better treatment, get stronger. That meant not only gaining the goddess's favor, but also earning a better life.
"Hey, kid."
While Qianshuo waited for food, a voice suddenly called out to him.
Maybe because Heith had been calling him "kid" so often, Qianshuo reflexively assumed it was him being addressed—and turned his head.
A man about one and a half meters tall came into view, radiating the pressure of an upper-tier adventurer.
His features were delicate, almost androgynous, and he looked like a half-blood—born of a prum and a human.
"Hello, senior."
Qianshuo nodded politely.
Seeing that Qianshuo remained calm and respectful—without the arrogance you'd expect from someone receiving the goddess's exclusive favor—the man's inner fire of jealousy cooled slightly.
"Where did you come from? And why does Lady Freya favor you like this?"
The man's name was Paan, and he was blunt by nature—he asked without hesitation.
The moment he spoke, many members of Freya Familia turned their eyes toward Qianshuo.
Paan had voiced what they all wanted to ask… and the jealousy and resentment they were swallowing down.
To the members of Freya Familia, the goddess's favor was the ultimate prize—something they dreamed of. They fought and trained like mad in the battle wilds precisely to win that attention.
Yes, Qianshuo's persistence and swordplay today were impressive—enough to earn acknowledgment.
But his special treatment still stung the eyes. It was hard to understand.
Every one of them had clawed their way up through bloodshed, paying an unimaginable price to stand where they stood now.
And after learning that Hedin had become Qianshuo's teacher—and that Hedin's guidance today had been unusually attentive—it became even harder to swallow.
When Hedin trained them, he was usually brutal and straightforward—he didn't care whether they "understood" anything, only that they survived and learned through battle.
But in Qianshuo's training today, Hedin had guided him step by step, deliberately raising him, teaching him, shaping him.
That contrast was pure fuel for jealousy.
Even if Qianshuo's talent exceeded common sense, resentment was inevitable.
A Level 6 adventurer's personal instruction—given under Freya's command—was something every member found difficult to comprehend.
Of course, none of them would ever question the goddess's decision. Their loyalty to Freya was absolute; everything she decided was correct.
So what remained was simple:
They were unconvinced.
They wanted to know what made this "brat" special.
What could make Lady Freya cherish him so deeply.
What could make Hedin teach him with such care.
Qianshuo felt the weight of all those eyes as Paan spoke.
He understood: being valued so highly by Lady Freya was bound to make him the center of attention.
Heith had told him long ago—members here grew stronger and fought partly for the goddess's favor.
So controversy around a newcomer like him was inevitable.
At that moment, Hedin's figure appeared quietly at the top of the staircase, watching in silence—waiting to see how Qianshuo would respond.
Because Qianshuo's position in Freya Familia was delicate.
The goddess's favor he received far exceeded everyone else's.
And that kind of treatment had never existed here before.
But Qianshuo didn't panic at all. He answered in a humble, steady tone.
"From the Far East. As for why Lady Freya values me so highly… perhaps she saw my stubborn devotion to swordsmanship."
"But I understand one thing—this is the opportunity Lady Freya has given me. All I can do is throw everything I have into living up to it, and achieving what she expects."
"Just like all of you seniors—I will offer everything to the goddess. Only then can I avoid betraying her expectations."
His voice was calm, but it carried weight—ringing in everyone's ears.
He said nothing about Imitation Sword Technique, and nothing about his earlier desperate struggle for survival.
Instead, he struck the very core of Freya Familia's shared creed:
Only strength and effort were the foundation of survival in this familia.
The hall fell quiet—momentarily stunned.
Even Paan froze.
They hadn't expected a child to answer like this.
He hadn't been intoxicated by the goddess's favor.
He hadn't become arrogant.
He was painfully aware—clear-headed, disciplined.
Better than those who became conceited after receiving only a scrap of approval.
From the staircase above, Hedin turned and left.
But the flicker in his eyes made it obvious:
He was satisfied with that answer.
Around the tables, the gazes fixed on Qianshuo shifted.
The probing, jealousy, and resentment didn't vanish—but now there was surprise mixed in.
Even Paan, who had originally wanted to "teach Qianshuo a lesson," fell silent.
The answer had been too perfect.
And more importantly—
It had felt sincere.
His eyes held no impurities—only a boy's honesty. Everyone could see it.
Just then, Heith—swaying like a snake from exhaustion—brought food to the table.
As pork and mead were set down, she smiled and glanced at Paan.
Clearly, even from the kitchen, she'd heard Qianshuo's reply.
No wonder Lady Freya cares about this kid so much…
Once you actually talk to him, it's impossible not to like him.
Heith chuckled and patted Paan on the shoulder.
"Now you've got nothing to say, right, Paan? To Lady Freya, this kid is special."
"Kid."
"Heith-jie."
"Here—and that too—it's all yours. Eat. If it's not enough, there's more."
"Heith-jie… isn't this a bit much…?"
Qianshuo stared at the spread in front of him: two plates piled with meat, plus seafood and shellfish, and all kinds of recovery-boosting ingredients. He was genuinely taken aback.
"It's not too much. Hurry up and eat. Once I'm done, I'll come sit with you."
"And if I come over and you're still not eating… I'll feed you myself."
Heith patted his head and gave him a wicked grin.
The moment he heard the second half, Qianshuo didn't dare delay—he immediately began eating like a storm.
Wait—does she seriously think I'm a little kid? Feeding me by hand?
But considering Heith's personality…
She absolutely would do it.
To avoid dying of embarrassment, Qianshuo went all in—shoveling food down without restraint.
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