CLEAVER OF SIN Chapter 669: Distribution Of Resources

Asher offered a nod, refraining from further words, thereby granting the Village Chief ample opportunity to collect his thoughts without any disruption. The Village Chief then slowly turned his body, facing where Lyra and the hired man stood just outside the dwelling.

"Are they your companions who aided you in battling the kidnappers?" the Village Chief inquired, his voice steady yet tinged with discernible curiosity.

Asher gave a slight shake of his head. "No, they are not my teammates; they are my friends. Their accompaniment is also connected to one of the reasons I am here," Asher articulated, his gaze unwavering from the Village Chief.

"Which is?" the sightless Village Chief prompted, tilting his head minutely as if attempting to better comprehend the underlying meaning of Asher's statement.

"I am aware that your village, along with others, pooled their resources to amass sufficient coins for the mission you posted. Despite this, fewer individuals accepted it because the remuneration was deemed insufficient," Asher commenced, his tone measured.

"I understand this situation will impact the village as a whole, not only in the short term but also in a lasting capacity. The woman with dark hair will contribute various resources that we have procured, while the man possesses the capability to enhance the fertility of farmlands; even barren lands can be rejuvenated into fertile ground once more," Asher elucidated calmly, ensuring his pronouncements were lucid and deliberate.

The Village Chief remained in silence for a period; he did not hastily accept the proposition. It was universally understood what kind of world Crymora was—nothing was bestowed without a price, and benevolence frequently concealed ulterior motives.

"Why are you undertaking this, Asher?" he finally questioned, his tone cautious and inquisitive.

Upon hearing the question, Asher paused briefly, his gaze momentarily lowered before he resumed speaking. "To be entirely truthful, guilt is the impetus. Had I been quicker, more astute, or reacted sooner, I could have saved everyone. However, in the end... I only managed to rescue fifteen individuals," he stated with composure, though the profound weight of his words was unmistakable.

"While these provisions I offer cannot resurrect the departed, they can, at the very least, alleviate the burdens the villagers bear in their everyday existence. After all, from this singular incident, numerous individuals are now orphaned, widowed, or left without a spouse... I hope you will accept them, Village Chief," Asher explained, his voice conveying a quiet yet evident sincerity.

The Village Chief once again stood in quiet contemplation, absorbing every utterance before finally offering his response. "We rarely receive kindness in these parts, Asher, particularly not from outsiders. But on behalf of all the villagers, you have my deepest gratitude," the Village Chief declared, bowing his head, his tone imbued with genuine thankfulness and restrained emotion.

As the Village Chief, he was acutely aware of the hardships his people endured; no one grasped this load more intimately than he did.

"I will collaborate with them to distribute the resources you mentioned," the Village Chief continued, a faint, weary smile gracing his lips. Despite the loss of many villagers, he was not a man lost in fantasy, believing the world consisted solely of pleasantries. He had already anticipated potential casualties even before he and the other Village Chiefs had issued the mission posting.

With that understanding, Asher and the Village Chief exited the latter's residence together. The Village Chief approached Lyra and the hired man, extending a respectful greeting and treating them as individuals deserving of recognition, especially given their association with Asher. Soon thereafter, he summoned an impromptu village assembly, his voice resonating throughout the area as he announced that Asher would be distributing supplies to all in attendance.

At the revelation of this news, the villagers began to converge upon Asher in vast numbers; the pervasive hunger afflicting the land was immense and deeply entrenched. Yet, notwithstanding their desperation, they had persevered, holding onto hope for the safe return of their fellow villagers.

"Form a line, or you shall receive nothing," Lyra's voice cut through the air sharply as she stepped forward, her presence exuding a subtle pressure. She immediately assumed command of the situation, her authority unquestioned. No one dared to disregard her words; after all, they were being offered food and clothing without any charge, and they already comprehended that Lyra's capabilities far surpassed anything they could oppose.

With a mere flick of her wrist, substantial mounds of grain, wheat, flour, and various other foodstuffs materialized upon the ground. A cascade of silver coins promptly followed, and then weapons appeared with soft clinks, accompanied by garments of diverse sizes and styles, along with boots and shoes suited for everyone. Lyra then carefully enveloped each resource pile with an Astra energy barrier, ensuring both neatness and preservation.

Hand in hand with Asher, they commenced the systematic distribution of all goods, guaranteeing impartiality as every individual received an equivalent portion of sustenance, attire, and currency. Mothers, overcome with tears of relief and elation, sank to their knees, profoundly thankful for the ability to nourish their offspring once more. Fathers tightened their grip on their newly acquired weaponry with regenerated resolve, now confident in their capacity to safeguard their kin and to hunt lesser monsters for both profit and nourishment.

Children, in their innocent detachment from the world's harshness, erupted in laughter and frolicked in their new clothes, eagerly donning them and playfully comparing the finery and beauty of their respective outfits. The young girls gravitated towards Lyra, who, with gentle telekinetic manipulation of Astra energy, lifted them into the air, their joyous peals echoing like delicate bells.

Conversely, the boys congregated around Asher, who also elevated them, occasionally perching some on his shoulders and neck. A sincere smile graced his features as he engaged with them, his ever-present composure melting into a display of genuine, unguarded humanity.

Meanwhile, the hired hand found himself enveloped by farmers, whose gazes regarded him as if he were the most magnificent boon they had ever encountered. They enthusiastically guided him across every parcel of land, encompassing even those regions long abandoned as barren and beyond use. Leveraging the hired hand's unique skills, these desolate terrains gradually began to rejuvenate, their once inert soil regaining vitality and promise.

After a considerable interval, Asher was observed suspended in the air adjacent to Lyra and the hired hand. Below them, every woman, man, child, and elder united their voices in profound gratitude, chanting the names of Asher, Lyra, and the hired hand in perfect unison, their exclamations brimming with unfeigned appreciation.

Asher's lips curved into a smile as he gazed upon the scene from above. He held his position for a fleeting moment, as if hesitant to depart, yet he understood the inevitability of his leaving; numerous other hamlets awaited his attention, including the Sand Village.

'May the innocence of these youngsters endure eternally,' he mused internally, though he acknowledged the inherent unreality of such a hope. Even those yet to awaken would inevitably confront the brutal truths of existence, irrespective of whether they stood at the epicentre of conflict like the awakened.

"I trust we shall meet again, Village Chief," Asher declared, after which he ascended into the sky, with Lyra and the hired hand following close in his wake.

Of all those present, the hired hand remained the most nonplussed and astonished; in his estimation, Asher bore no resemblance to the supposed nature of a Wargrave.

And thus, they continued their journey, visiting each village in turn, dispensing provisions equitably to all inhabitants, precisely as they had done in Blackstone Village. By the time their endeavors concluded, the day had steadily drawn to a close, and they made their return to the Wargrave Estate beneath the diminishing hues of the evening sky.

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