Chapter 6 – The Path to Growth
The battle was over, but Reinhardt's real work had just begun.
The village was filled with a mix of emotions. Some villagers cheered their victory, their spirits high from their first successful defense. Others wept for the three fallen defenders, mourning their sacrifice. A few simply sat in stunned silence, realizing they had survived.
Reinhardt, however, felt none of the elation.
He had taken lives today. He could still see the faces of the men he had slain, their blood staining his hands. He had felt the warmth leave their bodies, had seen the light fade from their eyes.
And yet, this was only the beginning.
He shook himself out of his thoughts. He couldn't afford to dwell on it. The village needed him.
"Gather the wounded," Reinhardt ordered. "Set up a place to treat them. If anyone has knowledge of medicine or herbs, step forward."
Some villagers hesitated, but then a middle-aged woman with a calm face stepped up. "I know some healing arts, my lord. My grandmother was a healer."
Reinhardt nodded. "Good. Take what you need."
[New Sub-Profession Unlocked: Village Healer]
"The dead deserve proper burials," Reinhardt continued. "And the fallen bandits… strip their bodies for weapons and armor. We'll need everything we can get."
The villagers moved quickly, following his commands. Reinhardt turned to Gerrick, the old village leader.
"You did well today," Reinhardt said, watching as the old man wiped blood from his forehead.
Gerrick gave a dry chuckle. "Can't say I expected to survive the day. You really meant it, huh? That you'd protect us."
Reinhardt nodded. "That was just the first step. Now we need to get stronger."
And then, his system pinged.
[System Update: New Function Unlocked!]
[Evolution System Unlocked]
You can now assign professions to villagers based on their stats and potential.
Villagers with professions can be evolved into stronger versions within their field.
Costs may include EXP, gold, or resources.
Reinhardt's eyes widened. This… this was huge.
He had been worrying about how to train the villagers, how to turn them into something more than just farmers with sticks. But now?
He could help them grow.
Testing the Evolution System
"System, show me the available villagers," Reinhardt thought.
[Displaying Available Villagers]
A semi-transparent list appeared before him, showing every villager's name, basic stats, and potential professions. Most of them were just [Villager – Unassigned Profession], but a few had their talents recognized.
Reinhardt decided to test it out. He tapped on a young hunter named Oswald.
[Villager: Oswald]
Current Profession: Hunter
Available Evolution: Scout (5 EXP) / Ranger (15 EXP)
Potential Growth: Tracking, Stealth, Archery
Reinhardt spent 5 EXP to evolve Oswald into a Scout.
A faint golden glow surrounded the young man, and his posture immediately straightened. His eyes seemed sharper, and he instinctively touched his bow, as if suddenly aware of new knowledge.
Oswald looked at Reinhardt in awe. "My lord… I feel… stronger. Like I know things I didn't before."
"It's because you've grown," Reinhardt said. "You're not just a hunter anymore. You're a scout now. We'll need your eyes to watch over this village."
Oswald nodded firmly, determination burning in his gaze.
[Oswald (Scout) – Tracking Skill Increased!]
Encouraged, Reinhardt moved on to another villager—Edgar, the apprentice blacksmith.
[Villager: Edgar]
Current Profession: Blacksmith Apprentice
Available Evolution: Blacksmith (10 EXP)
Potential Growth: Weapon Crafting, Metalworking
Reinhardt spent 10 EXP, and Edgar immediately felt the change. He flexed his fingers, as if the muscles in his hands had refined themselves.
"My lord, I… I suddenly know how to strengthen iron better," Edgar muttered, staring at his hands in shock. "This is amazing…"
[Edgar (Blacksmith) – Can now forge better quality weapons and armor.]
One by one, Reinhardt upgraded the villagers, either evolving them or assigning them new professions.
A strong farmer became an Agriculturalist, improving crop growth.
A few idle youths with good physical stats were turned into basic soldiers.
A curious girl who loved books was assigned as a Scholar, someone who could one day become an advisor or mage.
The villagers watched in awe and gratitude as Reinhardt unlocked their potential.
Gerrick chuckled, shaking his head. "I don't know what kind of blessing you carry, lad… but you've given these people hope."
Reinhardt exhaled. It was working. This was how he would build his empire.
By the time the day ended, the village was no longer just a ragtag group of survivors. They had trained soldiers, skilled craftsmen, and specialists who could contribute to their growth.
Reinhardt opened his status screen.
[Reinhardt – Level 3]
- EXP: 20/100
- Title: Blooded Lord
- Skills: Leadership (Basic), Combat Proficiency (Basic), Evolution Authority (Unlocked)
- Resources: 15 Gold, 30 Bandit Weapons, 5 Horses
It was a start.
But it wasn't enough.
"We need more food, better defenses, and real housing," Reinhardt muttered. "We also need scouts to watch for future threats."
Gerrick rubbed his chin. "The bandits had a camp nearby. If we strike first, we might be able to take their supplies before another group raids us."
Reinhardt nodded. His first instinct had been to hunker down and fortify, but… maybe a counterattack was the right move.
They weren't just defending a village anymore.
They were laying the foundation for something greater.
And for that, he needed to seize every opportunity.