At the first rooster''s crow, the vige began to awaken. Soft sunlight peeked over the vige, casting a warm glow on the streets. Doors opened one by one as vigers stepped out, stretching and breathing in the fresh morning air.


    "Good morning, Mary!" a woman called out, a bright smile on her face.


    "Morning, Helen! Isn''t it a lovely day?" Mary replied, her eyes shining with joy.


    Children ran along the paths,ughter echoing as they yed. Farmers headed to the fields, tools in hand and spirits high. The cksmith stoked his forge, humming a cheerful tune. Everywhere, there were smiles and greetings.


    "Did you sleep well?" a man asked his neighbor.


    "Better than ever, knowing we''re safe," the neighbor answered, nodding gratefully.


    The memory of yesterday''s danger had been reced by relief and gratitude. The vigers went about their tasks with a renewed energy, thankful for the hero who had saved them.


    In a quiet room close to the center of the vige, Dragun sat cross-legged on the wooden floor. His eyes were closed, his hands resting on his knees. He focused on gathering mana from the surroundings, but the energy was thin and scarce.


    He opened one eye and frowned. "The mana here is so little," he muttered to himself. "At this rate, it''ll take forever to recover."


    He closed his eye again, trying to concentrate. The faint traces of mana trickled toward him, but it wasn''t enough. However, he might be able to use the organs harvested from the dead monsters to his advantage and restore his mana faster.


    As he tried to find peace within himself and focus more on his meditation, amotion started outside the house he was staying and soon he heard loud knocks.


    Dragun sighed deeply. "Can''t a man meditate in peace?" he grumbled.


    He stood up and walked over to the door. As he opened it, he was greeted with the sight of ten women, each holding a trayden with food ranging from steamy hot soups, breads to delicious and greasy chicken!


    "Good morning, Lord Dragun," the eldest woman said, bowing her head slightly. "We''ve brought you breakfast."


    "We wanted to thank you for saving our lives and our children," another added, her eyes filled with gratitude.


    Dragun blinked in surprise. "There''s no need to thank me," he said, a small smile tugging at his lips.


    "Please ept our gratitude," a younger woman insisted. "It''s the least we can do."


    He looked at the array of dishes and chuckled softly. "Very well. Please,e in."


    The women entered the room, carefully cing the trays on the table. They moved gracefully, arranging the food neatly.


    "We hope you enjoy the meal," one of them said shyly.


    "I''m sure I will," Dragun replied warmly. "Thank you all."


    They exchanged pleased smiles.


    "If you need anything else, don''t hesitate to ask," the eldest woman said.


    "I appreciate your kindness," he responded.


    The women bowed slightly before leaving the room, closing the door gently behind them.


    Now alone, Dragun sat down at the table. The feast before him was impressive. He picked up a piece of warm bread and took a bite.


    "Delicious," he murmured.


    As he ate, he couldn''t help but feel a warmth in his chest. It had been a long time since anyone had shown him such kindness.


    Just as he was savoring a bowl of hearty stew, there was another knock at the door.


    "Who could it be now?" he wondered aloud.


    "Lord Dragun, may we speak with you?" a voice called from outside.


    Recognizing it as one of the soldiers, he stood up and opened the door.


    Three soldiers stood there, looking a bit uneasy.


    "Good morning," Dragun greeted them.


    "Good morning, sir," the first soldier replied. "We wanted to apologize for how we treated you yesterday."


    "We didn''t recognize you and were disrespectful," another added, his eyes downcast. He is the talkative ofst night.


    Dragun waved a hand dismissively. "It''s already forgotten. You were protecting your vige."


    They looked up, relief evident on their faces.


    "Thank you, sir. We also wanted to offer our help, if you need anything."


    He considered their offer. "Actually, yes. I already told you about my ns to gather organs of the monsters I killedst night, I will need your assistance."


    "We''d be d to help." Though the soldiers were pretty confused why he needed such materials, they still agreed.


    It was the least they could do to apologize and appreciate him for saving their lives and their loved ones.


    "Good. Meet me at the vige square after breakfast," Dragun instructed.


    "Yes, sir," they agreed.


    Before they turned to leave, Dragun gestured toward the table. "Have you eaten yet?"


    They nced at each other. "Not yet, sir," one admitted.


    "There''s plenty here. Join me," he offered.


    They hesitated. "We wouldn''t want to impose," another said.


    "Nonsense," Dragun insisted. "Sit and eat."


    They smiled gratefully and took seats at the table.


    As they ate, the atmosphere grew more rxed.


    "This soup is excellent," one soldiermented between bites.


    "The women of this vige are wonderful cooks," Dragun agreed.


    Time slowly continued and he enjoyed the meal with the soldiers. He needed them to assist him so he tried to appear likable as best as he could, making jokes andughing with them.


    ---


    On one side of the wall, Dragun and over a hundred soldiers stood, observing the corpses of the monsters in the previous night.


    The bodies of the vampire-toothed chimpanzee and the giant red snakey on the ground, still remarkably fresh.


    Dragun surveyed the field of defeated monsters sprawled along the wall''s edge. More than a hundred grotesque bodiesy motionless, all evidence of his victory from the night before.


    Wasting no time, he pointed at each monster and instructed the soldiers on what to do.


    They drew their des and set to work. Steel met bone as they pried open jaws to extract long, razor-sharp teeth. Horns were sawed off thick skulls, each task requiring strength and precision. ws were detached from massive paws, their edges still sharp enough to cut through armor.


    The soldiers moved efficiently, their hands steady despite the gruesome task. Piles of teeth, horns, and ws steadily grew beside them.


    Meanwhile, Dragun walked among the fallen creatures with a keen eye, searching for the rare few that held monster cores—small, powerful orbs hidden deep within. Out of the hundred beasts, fewer than ten had monster cores.


    He found the first one, a particrlyrge chimpanzee. With a swift cut, he reached into its chest cavity and retrieved a glowing core, warm to the touch.


    He moved on to the next, a giant snake with faintly shimmering scales. Carefully cutting along its belly, he essed the core nestled near its heart.


    Each core had gentle yet vigorous energy flowing through it, vital for mana. Dragun ced them into a pouch at his side, securing these invaluable items.


    The soldiers remained focused on their task. Blood and sweat mixed as theybored under the sun. They avoided damaging the valuable parts, handling them with care despite the urgency. des sliced through sinew and bone, the sounds muffled by the sheer scale of the operation. The air was thick with the scent of iron and earth.


    Dragun finished collecting the tenth core. He stood and nced over the field. The soldiers had made significant progress; most of the monsters had been stripped of their teeth, horns, and ws.


    He observed the heaps of harvested materials, satisfied with their efficiency.


    Without pause, the soldiers began cleaning up. They gathered the extracted parts into sacks, ready for transport. The remains of the monsters were dragged aside, clearing the area. Some soldiers dug trenches to bury the excess, ensuring the site wouldn''t be a breeding ground for disease. Others washed their hands and weapons, the water running red before seeping into the ground.


    Dragun secured the pouch of monster cores, feeling the energy emanating through the fabric. He knew these would elerate his recovery, a necessary step for the challenges ahead. He watched as thest of the materials were packed up, the soldiers showing no signs of fatigue despite the hard work.


    The sun climbed higher, casting harsh light over the scene. The field that had been a battleground now bore the marks of their harvest. The soldiers shouldered the sacks and began moving back toward the vige. Dragun followed, his mind already contemting how to use the monster cores.


    As they returned, the vigers watched with a mix of awe and gratitude. They saw the soldiers carrying the remnants of the creatures that had once terrorized them. Children pointed at the horns and teeth, whispers of amazement spreading through the crowd.


    Reaching the vige square, the soldiers deposited the sacks in an orderly fashion. Dragun parted ways with them, heading toward a quiet area where he could begin absorbing the cores'' energy. The soldiers dispersed, some returning to their posts, others taking a moment to rest.


    In seclusion, Dragun sat and emptied the pouch of cores onto a t stone. The orbs glowed softly, each one a concentrated essence of the monster it came from.


    He closed his eyes and began a silent ritual, drawing the energy from the cores into himself. The power flowed through him, rejuvenating his spirit and replenishing his mana reserves.


    ---


    Meanwhile, in Winterseed, Rowan woke up to a lot of messages popping up, causing him to frown slightly.


    [Your WIFE has...]