Post-Battle Rewards

Just as Nord left the battlefield, the system's information surfaced in his mind.

[You have achieved victory in battle]

[Our casualties: Amon Hunters (3 wounded)]

[Enemy casualties: Crimson Cavalry Commander (1 killed), Crimson Cavalry (4 killed), Mountain Bandits (13 killed)]

[You have gained 10 Prestige]

[You have gained 63 Silver Thalers]

[You have gained a special item: Heraldic Armor]

[3200 Experience shared among the party]

Nord breathed a sigh of relief. After the battle ended, he hadn't received any system battle report and had initially thought the system lacked this function.

It seemed the trigger conditions hadn't been met. He wasn't sure if it was a matter of time or if the bandits had fled the battlefield. Nord judged the latter more likely—the battle's end time was hard to determine, and in games, victory was also counted once enemies escaped the battlefield. Nord shook his head and stopped overthinking. As long as there were rewards, he could figure out the specifics later.

Nord turned his attention to the system's rewards. In truth, they weren't generous, especially compared to daily and construction quests, which were not only easier but also more rewarding. Perhaps because real combat naturally yielded spoils, the system reduced post-battle rewards. But factoring in the earlier gains, this battle's harvest was considerable.

With no casualties of his own, he had defeated a formidable enemy, secured a resounding victory, and stabilized both military and civilian morale. With these grains and horse meat, returning to the village would allow smoother work—striving to build a socialist mountain hamlet... ahem, a beautiful homeland for the mountain folk.

After this battle, his equipment had also seen a major upgrade. Nord looked at the Heraldic Armor in his inventory with curiosity—it was the only item the system had rewarded after the fight. The armor was black and white, a chainmail covered by a long robe, with the Isaac family crest printed on the chest: a spread-winged eagle staring sharply ahead. The more Nord looked, the more he liked it, but now wasn't the time to bring it out.

He could give Bill's chainmail to Ryman. The Heraldic Armor bore his family crest, so it wasn't suitable for Ryman either. But given Ryman's combat prowess, Nord still needed to equip him as best he could. Bill's gear wasn't bad either.

As for the leather armor, there were eight pieces total: the two Nord and Ryman had swapped out, four captured today, and two left from the system rewards. Nord planned to give his own leather armor to Ryman's younger brother, Reed. The young man was also Nord's herald and had just fought alongside him, killing an enemy—he deserved a reward. As for the remaining nine hunters, only seven pieces of leather armor remained, an awkward situation. He would wait until returning to the village to distribute rewards based on merit.

As for one-handed longswords and wooden shields, they weren't necessities for the hunters. They could be distributed as needed or temporarily awarded to hunters with merits.

After carefully tallying the day's gains in his mind, Nord's face beamed with joy. Even the distant, towering mountains seemed friendlier.

Not just Nord—the others were also whispering among themselves, discussing the battle just fought. The most talked-about was Ryman. Everyone already knew him well; he wasn't just the village's best hunter but also renowned far and wide.

Word had it that he once single-handedly drove back dozens of bandits, making the bandits around Tami Village keep their distance and bringing peace to the settlement. But witnessing Ryman's might firsthand left all the hunters thoroughly impressed. Truly, his reputation was well-deserved—none of his past feats were exaggerated. Ryman was exactly that fierce.

With the danger gone, everyone's steps grew lighter. Bathed in the orange-red sunset, they strolled along the mountain path and finally made it back to Tami Village before dark.

Passing the fields east of the village, their pace quickened. The women and elderly who had been working the land in the morning had already returned home. The surroundings were quiet, but that couldn't dampen the excitement in their hearts.

Even Nord was infected by the mood. Though he had only arrived in Tami Village yesterday, after today's great battle, he felt as if he had already taken the village as his home. Approaching Tami Village, a sense of homecoming joy welled up inside him—the first time Nord had found a sense of belonging in this world, a feeling even the luxurious estates of Beron City had never given him.

At the village entrance, Nord spotted Village Chief Colin standing and peering around, his face etched with anxiety. Seeing everyone return, he let out a long breath, the weight lifting from his heart.

As the group drew closer, Colin noticed the bloodstains on their clothes and the bandaged wounds on Ryman and the others. His expression shifted, and he nervously scanned the ranks. Finding Nord and the others all present, the wrinkles on his face gradually smoothed.

"You were gone so long, I thought something might have gone wrong. Lord Nord, are you injured? Ryman, why didn't you protect Lord Nord properly!"

Ryman opened his mouth, looking a bit aggrieved, but said nothing. He probably felt it was indeed his fault. Nord spoke up to help Ryman out.

"I'm fine, Village Chief Colin. I joined the battle myself. Ryman performed exceptionally today. Without him, we might not have made it back."

"Also, I've appointed Ryman as my Guard Captain. You have no idea how dangerous it was today. It was all thanks to Ryman turning the tide that we achieved such a great victory."

Hearing Nord praise Ryman and appoint him as captain, Colin's face lit up like a blooming flower, a proud smile curling at his lips. He didn't know where to put his hands, muttering, "Thank you, Lord Nord, for your appreciation," and "Ryman will serve you loyally," and the like.

Reed stepped out from the crowd, unwilling to be outdone, and said to his father, "Father, I killed an enemy alongside Lord Nord today, and I'm now Lord Nord's herald!"

Reed puffed up with pride, boasting of his achievements to his father. In the past, Colin would have scolded Reed—compared to Ryman, Reed was far too mischievous. But now, Colin's heart was filled only with relief, happy for both his sons.

"Good child, you've grown up. From now on, learn more from your big brother Ryman. Don't be so naughty anymore, understand?"

"Yes, Father."

Nord interrupted their father-son chat. It wasn't that Nord was heartless, but they had been standing at the village entrance for a while. They could talk more once they were back inside.

"Village Chief Colin, let's head back first. We need to move the grain into the village, and I plan to gather the villagers later for a bonfire party. We'll share the meat from the four horses we brought back today. Tell them to bring plenty of firewood."

"Right, right, let's go back first. What's a bonfire party? I'll gather the villagers right away. We'll hold it in the open space in front of my yard—it's big enough. That's where the village used to hold meetings; it can fit the whole settlement. We have plenty of firewood; Tami Village never runs short of wood."

"A bonfire party is when we light a big fire, gather around it to celebrate, and share food."

"Sounds good. We really should celebrate properly. I'll go call everyone now."

With that, Village Chief Colin turned and left. From the way he walked and his demeanor, he seemed ten years younger.