The eyes of both Neron and the High Elder were fixed on Jumanji, who was panting with extreme difficulty. Although the healing process had not taken long, the sheer volume of blood he had shed left behind a severe depletion of his vital energy.
Thick beads of sweat poured down his pale face as he bowed his head toward the ground, trying to gather his strength.
Jumanji muttered to himself with a tone of harsh realism, *Bleeding now is far better than bleeding to death in the future.*
A short, heavy silence hung over the place before he continued within the depths of his cold heart, *I have no gratitude for you or your tribe. But since they have deluded themselves into thinking I am "You," so be it; I will help them this time, let it be the first and the last.*
"Spiritual Fellow... are you alright?" Elder Borin asked, his voice a mix of concern and bewilderment as he stared at Jumanji's face, which looked as though the life had been sucked out of it.
Jumanji nodded slowly, trying to regain his composure. He answered in a faint, strained voice, "I will be fine. I just need some time to recover my energy and get some rest."
At that moment, the Spiritual Farm stabilized completely. The pulse of life began to flow through its corners with a strength it hadn't witnessed in ages. Neron felt this transformation in the depths of his being and let out a deep sigh of relief that dissipated years of agony.
Turning toward the Elder, Neron spoke in a commanding tone carrying newfound respect, "Elder Borin, I expect you to provide the utmost care for our Spiritual Fellow. From this moment on, he is the guest of honor for our tribe, and his comfort precedes any other consideration."
The Elder nodded in agreement and said, "I will personally see to the Shepherd."
***
Jumanji and Elder Borin left the "Farm World," returning to reality through the grand doors of the majestic house.
The moment they stepped outside, they were met by the gazes of elders and farmers gathered from every direction. Some eyes glimmered with curiosity, others were consumed by anxiety, waiting for a single word to decide the fate of the tribe hanging in the hands of this pale man.
Jumanji did not utter a word, maintaining his dignified silence and exhausted frame, while Elder Borin took on the task of reassuring the crowds. He gave a confident nod to everyone, which was enough to clear the clouds of worry hanging over their faces.
Upon seeing that signal, the elders' faces brightened, and smiles broke out on countenances that had been nearly ravaged by doubt.
The Flower Elder looked toward Jumanji with deep appreciation and whispered to himself with gratitude, *You actually did it... Our faith in you was not misplaced, Shepherd. You have proven to be greater than all expectations.*
In the midst of the joy, one of the elders said with a wide grin of pure delight, "Isn't it incredible? The healing was faster than the mind could imagine!"
Another elder replied enthusiastically, "And who cares about time or details now? What matters is that the Leader has regained his health."
A third chimed in, supporting them, "You are absolutely right. It doesn't matter how the healing happened or how much effort it took. The important thing is that the grief has lifted, and the tribe has returned to lean on its primary pillar."
Joy spread throughout the area, and news of the recovery traveled like wildfire, though no one knew what illness the Leader had been cured of; it remained a secret.
Meanwhile, Jumanji was led toward the luxurious guest house amidst unprecedented displays of veneration. The moment his body touched the bed, he fell into a deep slumber, not waking until a full night of vital rest had passed.
***
Jumanji opened his eyes slowly. He stood up, checked the spiritual energy within the farm inside his body, then let out a gentle sigh and said to himself, *The immediate danger is gone.*
*My mission in the Carp Fish Tribe is nearing its end, but there is still one last thing I must finish.*
Outside, the signs of joy had moved from the elders' faces to every alley of the village. Now that the Leader was healed and the truth was partially revealed, everyone's perspective had shifted completely.
Bluton stood stunned among his companions, his eyes wide with shock as he repeated, "Is this really true? Was all of that because of the Leader's illness?"
The young girl turned to him with a gaze burning with anger and said sharply, "You fat idiot! Do you realize now why the resources were being delayed? Do you realize the magnitude of the danger that surrounded us all?"
Bluton bowed his head, the words choking in his throat from the sheer embarrassment and shame for what he had been saying previously.
Meanwhile, one of the twins did not miss the chance to add with biting sarcasm, "What a fool... you were grumbling day and night, filling the world with your shouting, while you didn't realize the entire tribe was on the brink of collapse!"
***
Jumanji emerged from the guest house to be greeted by faces overflowing with cheer and welcome, and gazes full of sincere gratitude.
This sudden transformation was not strange; the Leader's healing was of paramount importance to them. Although they did not know the nature of the disease, they had been told it was dangerous and impossible to cure. Yet, the "impossible" had manifested as reality at the hands of this mysterious man.
"The Shepherd"... what a humble name that had come to be whispered around the area with an aura rivaling the titles of kings.
"Welcome, Shepherd!"
"Welcome, Spiritual Fellow... how do you find yourself today?"
"We hope you spent a peaceful night befitting your status."
Expressions of appreciation and veneration followed from every side. Jumanji did nothing more than meet that hospitality with a calm, dignified smile, maintaining his usual mystery.
In the meantime, the Flower Elder pushed his way through the crowd and approached with a bright smile, saying, "We meet again, Shepherd. The Tribe Leader is waiting for you now, along with the entire Council of Elders."
***
Jumanji nodded in eloquent silence; he knew for certain the weight this moment held behind closed doors.
He walked beside the Flower Elder with steady steps until they reached the Council hall. There, Jumanji stood with his customary dignity before the ten elders.
This time, the elders' gazes were filled with unprecedented respect, tinged with deep curiosity. Anyone possessing the ability to heal a Seventh-Rank Farm Fetus must hide secrets beyond their imagination.
Jumanji felt the shift in the atmosphere around him. Although he stood in the exact same spot he had occupied before as a mere stranger, the air today was charged with awe and recognition rather than suspicion and doubt.
Even Leader Neron, who had regained much of his overwhelming presence and charisma, was eyeing him with a smile that carried a frank admission of his superiority.
Neron thought to himself that this "doctor" was not just a skilled farmer, but a strange phenomenon the likes of which he had never encountered. His method of treatment, his speed of response, and the techniques he used all belonged to a school of spiritual medicine his eyes had never beheld in all his years of ascension.
***
Neron broke the majestic silence, his tone settled on a ring of dignity and sincere gratitude:
"Spiritual Fellow... Shepherd, how can I express my thanks? You were the hand that pulled our tribe from the edge of the abyss when help was scarce. The healing of the 'Farm Fetus' is not just a passing favor; it is the revival of the spirit of the entire Carp Fish Tribe."
Neron paused for a moment, his gaze roaming over his ten elders who nodded their heads in support, then continued: "Words of praise do not do justice to one who shed his blood for us. Therefore, we—the Council of Elders and the Leader—have decided that you shall not leave this hall without carrying what befits your high status as our savior."
"Ask for whatever you wish; whether it be rare resources, spiritual secrets, or even a permanent position that places you among the elders. You are welcome in this tribe."
The air in the hall was still, everyone waiting for the words to come from Jumanji's mouth. Neron watched the strange man's reaction closely, wondering what was going on in his mind.
To Jumanji, all those promises and eloquent speeches were merely hollow words that neither nourished nor satisfied hunger. He did not care for false positions or ringing titles.
He raised his hand with a provocative calmness and pointed two fingers before everyone's expectant gazes, saying in a decisive voice, "I want only two things... no third."
"Tell us your desire, Spiritual Fellow, for everything in the tribe's possession is at your disposal," Neron replied with a tone dominated by excitement and curiosity to know what an expert of this level might request.
Jumanji said coldly, "My first request: ten 'Dawn Dew Coral leeches'."
The elders exchanged looks of wonder at this request; despite the weakness of this leech, they had expected a more complex demand. Neron did not hesitate for a moment before answering, "You shall have what you want. Your first request is accepted. What is your second?"
***
A heavy silence fell over the hall as Jumanji continued with his usual calm, "I know for a fact that a 'Spatial Rift' lies within the boundaries of your lands. My second request is permission to enter that place."
Wonder filled the faces of the elders and Leader Neron. The request to enter the "Spatial Rift" was a surprise that had crossed no one's mind. They exchanged silent glances carrying a mix of confusion and anticipation, while Jumanji stood like a mountain, waiting for their decision with unshakeable calm.
Neron sighed deeply, realizing that this man's favor to the Carp Fish Tribe was priceless. To refuse his request now would be seen as ingratitude and stinginess, not to mention their desire to maintain a thread of friendship with him for their future need of his rare expertise.
The Leader cleared his throat and said in a final tone, "Your second request is also accepted, Shepherd. You shall have all facilities from us to enter that place."
Jumanji gave a slight bow and said, "Then, I am grateful to you for this generosity."
Neron replied quickly, "Do not say that, respected Fellow. We are the ones indebted to you. The doors of our tribe are always open to you, and you may stay among us as long as you wish to live. However, I have one last offer I hope you will consider..."
Jumanji looked at him coldly and asked, "And what is it?"
The Leader replied seriously, "We want to appoint you as the official doctor of our village, and an elder of our Council... Will you accept being a pillar of this tribe?"
Jumanji narrowed his eyes as if the weight of the offer required a moment of reflection. Then he said in a resonant voice, "I will need some time to think about this matter. Perhaps my final answer will be on the day I emerge from the Rift. For now, I take my leave."
***
Neither the elders nor the Leader wished to pressure him further, preferring to leave him his own space. They realized with their intuition that a man of his competence and lofty nature is not led by persistence, but by respect and appreciation.
Jumanji left the Council of Elders with a calmness broken only by the village clamor that had begun to escalate. Everyone was preparing for grand celebrations; it was no surprise, as the healing of their leader was a new dawn that dissipated the darkness of the harsh days that had long choked the tribe.
In a corner of the village, inside a bustling restaurant, a boy and a girl sat opposite each other, absorbed in eating their food while serious whispers passed between them.
The girl said in a voice full of wonder, "Healing a Farm Fetus... what an extraordinary thing! I have never heard of anything like this in the records of spiritual medicine."
This girl was the same one Jumanji had met previously, now wearing a luxurious white robe decorated with black edges and the noble symbol of the "Stork." Naturally, she knew of the leech's illness because she had tried to heal it before.
As for her companion, who wore a male version of the same robe and was the boy who had accompanied the Stork Clan envoy on her previous visit, he replied to her with calm wisdom: "The limits of our knowledge do not draw the limits of reality; what we see as impossible may be easy for others. Knowledge is an ocean without shores, and this man has proven that he possesses what the elders lack."
The boy continued as he wiped the corner of his mouth, "We must find this doctor and convince him to join our clan. Having someone of his competence would be a strategic asset of immeasurable value."
The girl nodded in agreement.
The boy added, "We have informed the envoy of all the details, and she is now on her way here with the rest. The time for the 'Rift' to open has approached, and everyone is bracing for that moment."
**End of Chapter**