Mansion of the Black Wolf Tribe

  "Lord Abak...... Are you really going to do this? We can still run away......"

  Abak’s confidant spoke reluctantly.

  Only Abak’s eerily calm gaze responded.

  "Run? If I run...... what will happen to our people? What will happen to the tribe?"

  "......"

  "Remember what I’m about to say—this is the last order I issue as King of the Black Wolf Tribe——"

  "In the name of the King of the Black Wolf Tribe, I hereby abdicate the throne of Abak Lali! And......"

  "Permanently expel Abak Lali from the Black Wolf Tribe!"

  "Lord Abak——!!?"

  The confidant stared at Abak in disbelief.

  "Y-You......"

  "I’ve already prepared the official document."

  Abak took out a piece of paper.

  "From this moment on, I am no longer king, nor do I have any ties to the Black Wolf Tribe. The sins I have committed will end with my death here—they will not taint the tribe in any way."

  "Lord Abak......"

  "This is my last order...... No, my request."

  Abak handed the document to his confidant.

  "Will you deliver it to the Federal Council?"

  "......I will."

  The confidant took the document—symbolizing Abak’s resolve to the Council—dazedly.

  "Rest assured......"

  "I will definitely deliver it to the Council!"

  The confidant said firmly.

  "Mm......"

  Abak responded softly.

  At that moment, he seemed to have lost all strength, slumping into his chair and staring blankly at the ceiling.

  "Go...... Once you leave, don’t come back."

  "......Yes!"

  The confidant bowed deeply to him for the last time.

  Then he turned around and left without looking back.

  Under the night sky, as the confidant walked out of the Black Wolf Tribe’s mansion, a room inside burst into flames.

  He turned back, staring quietly at the burning room, lingering for a long time.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  Finally, clutching the document, he disappeared into the night.

  ......

  The day after the Haelinx uprising.

  Hulim and Miko joined the White Cat Tribe’s guards to clear building debris and help rescue the wounded across the city.

  The uprising had inflicted enormous damage on Haelinx. Especially the district where Leonagnus and Sargas had fought—it was completely destroyed and would need to be rebuilt.

  Casualties and homeless people cast a shadow over this once-prosperous city.

  All major organizations in the city—the Seven Days Church, Adventurers' Guild, and various merchant guilds—mobilized. They set up aid stations, issued quests, provided funds, and contributed in countless ways to the relief efforts. Rescue teams from across the Federation were also rushing over.

  "Hulim, we found another group of wounded while clearing the debris—are you free to help?"

  Inside a temporary aid station jointly run by the Church and Adventurers' Guild.

  Miko and several guards carried some wounded into the treatment room on stretchers.

  "No problem. Lay them on the beds, and I’ll cast Healing Magic right away."

  Miko and the others acted immediately, placing the wounded on the empty beds.

  "Heal!"

  Gentle green light particles drifted down from Hulim’s hands, landing on the wounded.

  Their wounds began to heal at a visible rate.

  Before long,

  "Cough...... Cough......"

  The wounded gradually regained consciousness, opening their eyes dazedly and staring at the unfamiliar ceiling.

  "Where...... Where am I...... Right, my home——"

  The wounded tried to sit up excitedly, but Hulim stopped him at once.

  "Please don’t move. Your body is still weak and needs rest."

  "W-Who are you?"

  "Hulim saved you. Please calm down—the Council will help rebuild your home!"

  Miko interjected to explain.

  "I......"

  The wounded looked around the room and understood.

  He bowed deeply to Hulim.

  "Thank you for saving me. I was a bit confused just now......"

  "I understand. Rest well here—I need to help others."

  "Of course. Please go—I won’t trouble you."

  "Mm," Hulim nodded. "Miko, bring in the other wounded."

  Time passed quickly.

  As more debris was cleared, more and more wounded were rescued from across the city.

  In no time, the temporary aid stations became overcrowded.

  "N-No...... I can’t go on......"

  Another Church cleric exhausted their mana, collapsing pale-faced.

  "There are too many people—I can’t keep up with the mana consumption."

  "You’re lucky. I gave out a long time ago."

  Another cleric beside him said with a bitter smile.

  "By the way...... Isn’t that girl way too strong? She hasn’t stopped to rest even once since she got here!"

  At his words, the other resting clerics turned their gaze to Hulim, who was still casting Healing Magic to save the wounded.

  "Yeah, she’s incredible. I’ve rested twice already, and she doesn’t look tired at all. How much mana does she have?"

  "It’s not just her mana—her Healing Magic is powerful too. For the same wounded, she takes less than a third of the time I do! Compared to her, I feel like I’ve wasted all these years!"

  "New supplies of Mana Recovery Potions from the Adventurers' Guild have arrived!"

  At that moment, an adventurer shouted from outside.

  A truck loaded with Mana Recovery Potions arrived under the escort of a group of adventurers.

  "Mana Recovery Potions are here? Great——!"

  "I need to keep going! I can’t lose to a young girl!"

  "That’s right! Let’s go—today we’re giving it our all!"

  "Yeah, how can we be outdone by someone so young? I’ll drink as many Mana Recovery Potions as they have—even if my tongue goes numb!"

  The clerics charged toward the truck full of Mana Recovery Potions with great momentum.

  "Whoa, what’s going on?"

  The adventurers stared dumbfounded as the clerics grabbed the unloaded Mana Recovery Potions directly from the truck.

  "Forget it, let them be......"

  "They’re going to use them anyway."

  The adventurers didn’t bother stopping them, simply making space for the clerics.

  With the Mana Recovery Potions in hand, the clerics threw themselves back into rescuing the wounded—their eyes bloodshot, working frantically like they’d been injected with adrenaline.

  The adventurers and soldiers coming in and out of the temporary aid station stared at the intense "involution" scene, all confused.

  Have clerics become so self-sacrificing and hardworking these days?

  It’s so touching!

  We must fulfill their wishes. I heard many wounded in other aid stations have been waiting in long lines without treatment—let’s send some over here......

  The clerics pushed their bodies to the limit, but the wounded kept pouring in endlessly.

  They had to chug Mana Recovery Potions like drinks, enduring both physical and mental exhaustion, acting as mindless healing machines, casting Healing Magic mechanically.

  At the same time, they repeated the same line over and over:

  "Next!"

  "Next......"