Chapter 45: The Young Boy's Vengeful Heart

                                    

                                          
The next morning, at dawn, the Last Defender of the Way adventurers stood at the village entrance, with four horses tethered to a locust tree. They were checking their supplies and getting ready to set off.
From the village entrance, a muddy path snaked through the barren gray earth, winding across rolling hills, stretching far into the distance. In the far-off horizon, layered mountains rose and fell, shrouded in wispy clouds.
The bandits who had plundered the village a few days earlier had been tightly bound by the villagers and sent off to a nearby fort where the knights would deal with them.
The bandits had left behind ten fine horses when they raided the village. EeDeChi and the others chose four of the best ones as mounts to save their own strength and speed up their journey.
The village chief and the villagers came to bid them farewell, bringing various farm products like goat's milk, cheese, soybeans, oats, sheep pelts, salted lamb, and eggs, and earnestly requested the four adventurers to accept their parting gifts.
Barrett intended to take everything, but upon seeing EeDeChi's expression, he only accepted three rolls of sheepskin with wool, along with a few bags of goat's milk and cheese. Stella took a box of goat milk honey candy for the twins, and Sean symbolically took a few items.
EeDeChi, however, only took a bag of dried jasmine flowers and goji berries, and a small box of tea leaves grown by the villagers themselves.
Seeing the earnest villagers holding various farm products, the adventurer leader was about to say some parting words when a skinny young boy suddenly emerged from the crowd and dropped to his knees in front of EeDeChi with a thud.
EeDeChi was a bit surprised. The boy, kneeling there, wore a tattered gray cloth outfit, and his red hair was a mess, looking like a bird's nest.
The boy, with a tearful tone, pleaded, "Hero, please teach me your skills and let me join you on your adventures. I can endure hardships!"
"Don't bother the hero!" The village chief limped over and tried to pull the boy away.
With an apologetic look, the village chief said, "I'm terribly sorry, hero. This child's father and brother were conscripted as volunteers and never returned. His mother also died from grief, leaving him an orphan. After seeing your brave deeds, he became very excited."
EeDeChi stopped the chief from dragging the boy away and asked, "What's your name?"
The red-haired boy remained on his knees, "William Scott."
EeDeChi nodded, "That's a good name. Why do you want to learn my skills?"
"I want to avenge my father! I want to avenge my brother! The lord said that my father and brother were killed by a powerful mage, just like the others in the village. 
"You once said that even if it's just a small stone, you should sharpen its edges to make those who dare to trample on you regret it! Whether it's the imperial army or a powerful mage who killed my father and brother, I must avenge them!"
"Do you have any abilities? Do you have any talent for magic?"
"I... don't have any," the red-haired boy's voice grew faint, "but I will practice martial arts and learn Martial Art. I can endure hardships! And I have Innate Talent."
"What kind of Innate Talent?" EeDeChi's interest was piqued.
"It's... the ability to use magical items, any kind of magical item," the boy's originally firm tone grew more uncertain.
A faint laugh spread among the villagers.
Indeed, using magical items wasn't considered a powerful Innate Talent. Many magical items created by mages were designed for ordinary people who couldn't use magic to utilize. 
Moreover, magical items were extremely expensive. How could a poor village boy ever have the chance to use high-tier magical items? Besides, if mages created powerful magical items, they would keep them for themselves, not give them away.
EeDeChi frowned, noncommittal.
She suddenly remembered the rumor that Ainz Ooal Gown was an undead with a skeletal body, perhaps his bony feet weren't bothered by sharp little stones.
"Please let me follow you and teach me your skills. I'm willing to do anything!" The boy's messy red hair drooped even lower.
EeDeChi shook her head, her expression serious. "I'm truly sorry, but my skills weren't learned in this world and I can't pass them on to you. Moreover, the path of revenge is too dangerous for you. My own path is even more perilous, and I can't bring you along. It would only put you in grave danger."
"I'm not afraid of death! Please... Hero..." The red-haired boy looked up, tears welling up in his bright brown eyes.
EeDeChi was silent for a moment, then took out nearly a hundred gold coins from her spatial ring. She put them into a cloth bag and handed it to the red-haired boy. "If the burning desire for revenge drives you forward, take this money and go to a good school in the city. Find a good teacher who can teach you knowledge and skills."
"Please let me follow you."
The red-haired boy didn't take the bulging coin pouch from EeDeChi's hand. Kneeling on the ground, his head bowed even lower.
Barrett initially thought of offering to teach the boy some practical combat skills, but then remembered that the team already had the twin sisters as a burden. They couldn't take on another, so he remained silent.
The life of an adventurer is romantic, but this small romance can't hide the harsh reality of the adventurer's profession, which has one of the highest fatality rates.
"Alright, alright, don't keep the hero from her journey. Do you think you're the only one who's lost family?" The village chief sighed, taking the money pouch from the boy and thanking EeDeChi.
Then, two strong farm women came forward and dragged the stubborn boy up. His hands clung tightly to the ground, leaving two deep claw marks in the soil. Even as he was dragged back into the crowd, he never lifted his head.
EeDeChi let out a barely perceptible sigh and signaled the other three adventurers to set off.
"We might come back in the future." Barrett said to the villagers as he turned on horseback.
Will they come back? It's highly unlikely. 
Barrett said this to prevent the villagers from taking the gold coins EeDeChi gave to William.
Sean and Barrett each carried Kuuderika and Ureirika, the twin sisters, on their backs. 
With four horses carrying six people, the sound of hoofbeats echoed as they journeyed into the distance, embarking on a hazy adventure ahead.