Death Mage with an SS-Rank Talent-Chapter 217

The trio returned to the village, a mere three hours or a bit more after they left.

When the Guard Captain saw them returning that early, he was surprised, but he didn’t question them, and they were granted entry without any delay or questions.

They just risked their lives and saved a lot of lives. So, there was no way that they would not defeat the bandits. If they were here, then there should be a reason for that, which he was sure he would know soon.

Stopping them at the gate at this point would be seen as an offence after what they did for the people. So, he just let them enter the village without any delay.

---

The trio, once they entered the village, found the Old Chief in his house.

The Village Hall was now filled with the rescued villagers from other villages. Not everyone wants a total stranger to live in the same room as them. So, most had to stay at the Village Hall for now.

They may get their own houses as the village builds more houses, or they can share with other villagers as they come to know the rescued ones. It would take time.

When the trio arrived at the Old chief’s house, he was busy counting the resources collected from the slavers.

"Chief, we have returned", Aaron spoke from the door.

The old chief didn’t see them coming, busy with counting the resources and smiling to himself about the gains that the village had just made.

"Oh, young heroes, sorry, I didn’t see you approach. Forgive me, I was immersed too much in checking the resources we collected from those slavers, and everything inside those vehicles", the chief apologised for the lapse of not recognising their presence.

"It’s no worry, chief. You were busy. It was our mistake not to inform you before of our return", Aaron spoke politely.

He can’t exactly blame the old man because they arrived here without anyone informing the old man about their arrival. The captain didn’t think that they would go to the chief directly, and so he didn’t send a message beforehand.

He would have informed the chief when he would have met the old chief sometime later, as he didn’t see that their return was of much significance.

"What can I do for you, young heroes?" the old chief asked, thinking that they were here to ask him something that they might have encountered, and the reason for their early return. After all, they just left less than four years ago. So, for them to return early, there should be a good reason.

Instead of answering the question, Aaron placed a box on the table. Seeing what was about to happen, the girls turned away.

Back in the cave, most of the work was done by Aaron as the girls were busy puking whenever they saw a dead body. He even collected the head when they were not present, but they knew that the box had the bandit leader’s head.

So, when they saw the box, they feared that they would puke again and became suddenly interested in the walls and roof of the house.

"What is this, young hero?" the old man was confused.

He asked what the young heroes were here for, but the young lad placed a box on the table. Is there something inside that the boy wanted to ask him, he wondered, but another question was raised in his head, seeing the sudden change in the behaviour of the other two.

They started acting weird, checking out the wall and the roof, as if they were made of gold.

He couldn’t understand what the young do these days. He was starting to have issues with properly connecting with the young from the village, too. After years of living, he was no longer young and could no longer understand what the young wanted.

"This is the head of the Red Mountain Bandits leader", Aaron said.

As soon as those were spoken, it froze the old man. He couldn’t believe what he just heard.

"Did you...you say that the...leader’s...head is inside?" the chief asked, shocked about the fact and a bit relieved.

"Yes", Aaron confirmed, "The bandits were all cleared. Every bandit, including the leader and all vice-leaders, are all dead. We cleared everyone that was present".

"If there was someone who was not at the base, then they are the only survivors, but with what happened, they won’t be returning here", Aaron assured the old chief.

A big smile appeared on the old chief’s face, "This is great news for everyone. I need to spread the news. Everyone can finally breathe freely, though that might be just for a while".

Aaron stopped the old chief who was about to go out to spread the news, "Old chief, before you announce, you should ask the Chief should check whether we are speaking the truth or not, and after that, there is a signature from you declaring that our mission was completed".

"Yes, what you said is true. Though I believe that you wouldn’t stiff us regarding such a thing, as the Chief of the Village, I have the duties of Chief to be done", the old man apologised.

The old man quickly checked the box and confirmed him to be the Bandit leader, and signed the mission scroll, declaring that the mission was completed.

Without that signature, completing missions like these would be equal to not completing them.

If the mission was a direct mission, such as collecting some cores or herbs, they could be submitted to complete the mission at the mission hall, but clearing bandits or monsters in the area, those missions needed a signature from the issuer of the mission.

So, Aaron completed that part before letting the chief do anything else.

---

That night, the entire village celebrated, as they had never celebrated before.

With the local bandits cleared out, new bandits wouldn’t be appearing in the area for the near future, fearing what could happen to them.

It was quite common for a new bandit group to take place the area where other bandits used to live, but that won’t happen when the old generation was alive, as they should know about what happened to the old bandits, making them fear to settle in that area, fearing teh wrath of whoever destroyed the old bandits in area.

So, for the villagers, no new bandits would pop up for a few years atleast, which was a good thing for celebration, and also because their loved ones were avenged.

The trio joined the celebration, though they didn’t take alcohol, but enjoyed other activities like eating to the full, and dancing with others.

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