The Frugal Mage

The Minor Healing Potion he had drawn from his system was something he was keeping in case of emergency.

Now, he believed that it was time to be used.

Looking at it, even its glass glowed faintly, giving everyone the impression that it was a high-level potion.

Indeed, unlike the rough herbal concoctions most escorts carried, the one that Rayven had taken out definitely looked a lot better and effective... None of the others asked where it had come from.

In this matter of life and death, questions could wait.

Rayven hurried… He only had one potion, so that would go to Stein.

As for Terra and the other warrior, they had already unwrapped salves, crushed herbs to stop the bleeding, and bound their wounds with bandages.

On the other hand, Rayven uncorked the potion.

He then gently lifted Stein's head and poured the potion between his lips.

The effect was almost immediate.

Stein's breathing steadied, and the bleeding from his worst wounds slowed to a complete halt. The color returned to his face, and the deep gash along his ribs somehow began to knit together as if time itself was being reversed.

'Whoa~'

Gasps escaped from the nearby escorts. No ordinary medicine could have done that.

Even Rayven was quite surprised at the effect of the Minor Healing Potion.

'Did I underestimate it too much because it's called minor?' Rayven thought as he initially thought that it would only stabilize Stein's condition and not completely heal him.

Albert also realized how precious that potion was, but they kept their silence, focusing on their tasks.

Soon, Stein's eyes opened. He was weak, but he was alive…

"Rayven… Albert… you saved us." He said with a hint of both relief and sorrow. Most of his escort warriors died because of this ambush. He couldn't help but regret the decisions he made.

Perhaps, if he hadn't gotten greedy and hunted the two Elite Beasts, this wouldn't have happened.

He tried to rise, but Rayven steadied him.

Stein's eyes swept over the battlefield as he saw the fallen escorts.

His fists clenched as he knew that he had made a bad decision…

"So many gone… They gave their lives so that I could survive."

Albert placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "Don't blame yourself. They chose to protect you. Honor that by living."

But Stein's gaze had already hardened as it landed on the bound figures nearby.

They were the captured attackers, who had pretended to be adventurers.

Mid-battle, he already realized that they weren't just normal adventurers who wanted to trick them by giving up their loot.

Their disguises had been clever, but their coordination and weapons betrayed their true identity…

He looked at Rayven, who seemed more reliable than ever, and shared what he had found out.

"They weren't random brigands… They came for me. This was planned." His expression darkened as he recalled how his men died while he escaped with Terra and others.

"I won't hand them over to the guards. Not yet. They'll pay for every man we lost today."

Albert nodded as he didn't even plan for them to leave this forest at all.

"Wake them."

Just like that, cold water splashed over the unconscious prisoners.

One by one, their eyes opened… There was a hint of confusion before it was replaced by dread as they realized what was about to happen.

Surrounded by several Escort Warriors, with Albert, Rayven, and Stein glaring down at them, escape was no longer an option.

At this time, Stein finally spoke.

"Talk… Who sent you?"

As expected, the captured men said nothing.

They probably knew that they would die anyway. With that in mind, they just showed their final trace of arrogance.

One of them even chuckled, not minding the blood dribbling from the corner of his mouth. "Don't get too happy. Killing us won't change anything. You'll all be joining your dead soon enough."

Another one spat onto the dirt. "We've said what we had to. Nothing."

Stein's face was filled with fury, but before he could raise his sword, Albert stepped forward…

"Then you've chosen."

The escorts, including Stein himself, didn't need to be given any more orders.

Swords flashed, and the captured people fell silent forever.

No one flinched or looked away. This was their fate the moment they were captured.

Rayven quietly watched as he felt a little uncomfortable seeing so many corpses in one place.

'So they were willing to die without speaking… Whoever sent them must be a lot more dangerous than we guessed.

Stein wiped his blade clean as he felt a little better after avenging his lost men…

"This was targeted. Do you have any idea who might be targeting our family?"

Albert's eyes shifted toward Rayven, and though he said nothing, the connection was clear.

The timing, the ambush, the disguises… It all pointed toward one possible enemy.

"The Veltham Family…" Rayven muttered at last.

After thinking about it, Stein nodded in agreement.

Albert gave a bitter laugh. "It seems we've been too passive. They think we're easy picks now that they've lost face in Hesa City. That ends here."

His expression turned serious as he was already planning what to do…

This time, he could no longer risk the lives of his nephews.

"I'll handle this. If the Velthams think they can attack like this unfairly, I'll drag them out. I have the money to make their lives miserable wherever they crawl."

He was serious about this.

Even if they were just starting to recover, he didn't plan to delay his plans at all.

After a few moments, the escort warriors began stripping the corpses.

Though nothing bore the Veltham crest or any incriminating mark, the dead carried some purses with silver coins.

They also collected their weapons, which were clearly the tools of professionals.

All of it was taken.

As for the corpses, they were just left behind since the Feral Beasts would soon arrive and they'll be ones, erasing all traces of these corpses…

Soon, they were able to return to the carriage, and it was only at this time that Stein noticed how Rayven had changed in just a span of a month…

"You… How did you become a mage?"