"Did he come back to life, too? Was it the same way I did? Is something wrong in this region? Should I confirm if Zack can also come back to life? If it's true—No, calm down, Nolan…"
Nolan took a deep breath as he thought and looked more closely at the hooded boy. He could even see the arrow hole in the back of his hood!
Not only that, the boy acted normally, following the Vice-Captain's orders, searching through the corpses of all the Lizardfolk naturally.
"Something abnormal is definitely happening in this region. I need to get out of here before it attracts the attention of the church or even the kingdom."
"We're finished. Why are you still touching me?"
Only then did Nolan realize that he still had both hands on Milla's delicate white arm. His face turned red, and he immediately let go, apologizing.
"I'm sorry, I was so shocked to see the Sacred Unguent that I didn't even notice…"
"Hmph!"
"Your last name is Rivers, right? Are you by any chance a nobleman? Can noblemen carry this kind of valuable item into every battle they participate in?"
Milla pulled a wooden item resembling a musical instrument from the small leather pouch where her supplies were kept. Then she brought it to her mouth and blew hard.
"Feeewww"
A high-pitched sound erupted, making Nolan frown uncomfortably.
"Only nobles in high positions and powerful adventurers can obtain this freely… I, um, let's just say I borrowed it from the family vault."
"As expected of a violent lady of noble origins, judging by the way she put it, she certainly didn't ask if she could take such an item…" Nolan's thoughts wandered as he imagined Milla must be some kind of rebellious young woman fleeing an arranged marriage while joining the army…
Ten minutes after Milla played the strange wooden instrument, a luxurious carriage made of black wood with iron wheels approached the battlefield. The carriage was red and orange, proving it belonged to the Scarmith Kingdom, and bore a symbol vaguely resembling a Bronze Card. The carriage also lacked a driver, but moved as if it did, pulled by a two-headed steed. It had a red mane, muscular legs, and amidst its reddish fur and on the outer parts of its back were several dark red scales.
It was Nolan's first time seeing something that should be a monster, and such a monster was being used merely as a kind of horse? Horses were already rarely seen in this region, but the merchants certainly liked to flaunt their wealth and power by using a monster for such a purpose…
When the carriage door opened, the same merchant Nolan had encountered earlier descended, followed by four ordinary men who bowed to him after some instructions and began sweeping the battlefield, removing everything of value from the bodies of the dead and making various notes.
The merchant Maximus approached Nolan and the Vice-Captain, smiling and greeted them with the Scar Sign:
"Thanks to the Scar, you won and were able to survive! It's incredible that two of the four survivors are rookies in their first battle!"
"Thank you, we won, but we lost many good men, including Captain Sullivan…"
Milla lamented.
"I was lucky…" Nolan added.
"Captain Sullivan was a good man; may he and his men find eternal rest in the Scar."
Maximus lamented, then his eyes turned to Nolan:
"Luck is also a talent, young Ironhill. Leave the tedious work of counting the spoils and funerals to my subordinates. If there's anything among the spoils that the four of you want, just say so, and I'll deduct it from your individual extra reward…"
"A bow and arrows, and if possible, some simple reinforced leather armor!"
The merchant smiled, and Milla looked at Nolan after his quick reply about the spoils. He then added shyly:
"I plan to leave Blackwood Village and become an adventurer, so these items are essential for me…"
"Alright!"
Almost an hour later, Merchant Maximus delivered a bow with several arrows to Nolan, along with a complete set of reinforced leather armor. Milla and Luna took nothing. And the mysterious hooded youth only asked for more daggers and some pieces of reinforced leather.
"The rewards aren't bad, four Lizardfolk survived, and if they don't die from their injuries, they'll fetch a good price at the slave auctions, and although most people left their possessions and riches to their families, there were 5 humans who left everything to you, the total in daily allowances for each of you should be around—"
"When can we collect these additional rewards?"
The hooded youth asked.
"You can go to the nearest town or wait a few weeks in Blackwood Village. So what will it be?"
Suddenly, all 3 survivors looked at Nolan, waiting for him to answer first.
Nolan felt strange; he didn't understand why the four were waiting for his answer. The merchant smiled again at this, while his eyes once more wandered over the dark red scarf and the gray leather glove made of various scraps.
"I'll collect mine in the next town!"
"Me too!"
"In the next town!"
"I'll get some in the next town too!"
Nolan looked suspiciously at everyone again before turning and walking back towards Blackwood Village. The other three soon followed him. Nolan found their behavior suspicious, but thought it was just a coincidence; after all, none of them lived in Blackwood Village.
Before Nolan left the battlefield, he witnessed something incredible happen.
The feathered merchant approached the pile of bloodied weapons and armor and made everything disappear completely. He then placed purple iron collars around the necks of the four surviving Lizardfolk and stuffed them all into the elegant carriage along with his servants, leaving only one behind. Then, his feathered cloak released a transparent green energy, and he flew off into the sky in the opposite direction from Blackwood Village!
"Wow!"
It was the first time Nolan had seen something as unbelievable as a human being flying freely through the skies…