Battlefield First Aid

Sophie stared blankly at her stats for a while, but ultimately couldn't make a decision. She'd just have to take it one step at a time; it wasn't like the time had come yet.

However, she absolutely had to use the ten skill experience points she gained from leveling up her militia rank immediately. After all, every little bit of strength counted in such a dangerous environment. Of course, learning swordsmanship or combat skills seemed like a good idea. Any normal person would choose that. But Sophie hesitated for a moment before thinking of something else.

So, as the data faded from her retina, she looked up at the others. She noticed that these young militiamen were still immersed in their previous excitement. She blinked slightly, then her face immediately turned serious.

This was not a good sign.

She signaled for Romane to help her sit up a bit, then raised her voice and asked, "Hey, do you guys think you're safe now?"

Her voice wasn't loud, but it made everyone present freeze. The surroundings instantly became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Sophie's influence was still strong. These young militiamen hadn't forgotten who had guided them to victory not long ago. Come to think of it, wasn't the dire warning this young person had given them not long ago becoming a reality? They suddenly realized that it really wasn't time to celebrate. To be dancing around when they were at the mercy of others felt rather strange.

So, everyone stopped in unison and turned their gaze towards her. Sophie was very weak, but she possessed a demeanor that could lead them to victory.

Everyone thought so—

Even Freya let out a soft sigh. This was supposed to be her responsibility, but she had lost control of her emotions just like her teammates, momentarily forgetting the responsibility she, as captain, should bear.

Thinking of this, the girl with the long ponytail couldn't help but show a look of self-reproach.

"Bandage your wounds, clean up the battlefield, and think about what you learned during training. You don't need me to remind you, do you?" Sophie also sighed. These hotheads were even greener than rookies. Fortunately, their physical condition was much better than ordinary NPCs. Of course, that was only compared to NPCs; compared to players, they were nothing. A hero template was a hero template. Thinking about those initial stats and growth—forget it, it was better not to think about it.

Sophie couldn't help but rub her forehead.

And at her reminder, Bucci's young militiamen sprang into action. Those who were injured indeed needed to stop the bleeding and be cleaned up. The bone-like swords and armor could also be salvaged, especially the chainmail, which offered much better protection than their leather armor.

Under Sophie's guidance, others extinguished the bonfires, which made her want to laugh and cry. Lighting a bonfire behind enemy lines—she really didn't know what these guys were thinking.

Freya, standing nearby, had wanted to see if there was anything she could help with. After all, Sophie wasn't familiar with them, was she? But the girl with the long ponytail quickly realized that it wasn't necessary at all. No matter how she looked at it, the young man named Brando had considered things much more thoroughly than she had.

She couldn't help but fiddle with her long ponytail, a hint of confusion in her heart: Were Brags and Bucci so different as militiamen?

Freya had never thought that people from the city could be that much stronger than them. But now, in front of Sophie, she couldn't help but feel a bit dejected.

How could this be?

In contrast, Miss Romanee had fewer worries. She had already excitedly joined the others in sorting through the spoils of war. It seemed this future merchant girl was interested in that.

However, Sophie noticed that the brat named Little Finis had run over to the unconscious Josen alone. He looked up and asked everyone, "What about Josen?"

This question made everyone freeze.

For a moment, an unusual silence spread among them.

Indeed, they were all young people from the same village, familiar with each other, and considered good friends. Josen was the most timid among them, but they hadn't expected him to do something like this.

Although he was forced into it, this act, akin to betrayal, still hurt them. It was as if a simple world had cracked open, and distrust between people was born this way.

Even Freya didn't know how to face this lack of interpersonal connection. She wanted to protect every companion, but Josen had not only hurt others but also deeply hurt himself.

Even if the ponytail girl wanted to speak, she wasn't confident she could convince the others.

If she spoke up, the harmonious relationship between friends would likely cease to exist.

Everyone harbored the same thought. After all, they were just simple young people, with both weakness and integrity. They hesitated, instinctively casting their gazes towards the only outsider present.

Sophie.

Their protagonist couldn't help but sigh.

"Miss Freya?" he then asked Freya.

"I, I don't know..."

"Then bandage him. We don't even know if the bleeding will stop. He might die before sunrise," Sophie sighed. He found it strange that he could be so calm. Hadn't he also seen a dead person for the first time?

Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief. This was an order from Sophie, and they just needed to execute it.

This was a form of avoidance, but people sometimes needed to rely on avoidance.

Meanwhile, Sophie beckoned Freya over. The ponytail girl blinked slightly, looking at him strangely.

"You know first aid, right, Miss Freya?" Sophie asked.

"Just call me Freya," Freya nodded. "I've learned a little. I learned from Captain Maden."

"Captain Maden? What the heck, that old guy actually taught first aid!" Sophie almost choked.

In the game, the first NPC to teach first aid in the Golan-Elson region was Doctor Borg in Ridenburg. That guy would give a quest asking you to collect 50 bundles of linen, which was utterly infuriating; as a result, many people skipped him and went to Brags, where they only needed to pay ten silver coins to the Temple of Flames.

Although the market price of 50 bundles of linen was not much different from ten silver coins, it was much more troublesome in terms of the process.

This was a secret not yet discovered! Sophie felt a surge of excitement, but before he could be happy for even a moment, he suddenly remembered that he couldn't go back anyway. What was he thinking about?

He immediately felt disappointed and lost interest. "Can you tell me about it?"

Freya took a breath and couldn't help but grit her teeth. She glanced at him. Damn it, didn't this guy say her skills were inferior! But fortunately, the girl wasn't one to hold grudges. She thought for a moment and then asked, "What do you want to know..."

"The techniques and key points."

The ponytail girl didn't answer immediately. Instead, she walked over to him and checked on the girl who had fainted from fright. Romane had run off to sort through the spoils of war with a look of excitement, leaving her here.

But fortunately, she was just stimulated.

She turned back to look at the young man with a pale face, hesitated, and said, "Let me see, your wound."

"No need, I know my own injuries."

"You."

"Alright, what did you learn?" Sophie steered the conversation away.

"Mainly bandaging and hemostasis techniques, as well as wound cleaning."

Sophie's heart stirred. It was like telepathy, not a sound, not words, but he clearly felt a message:

"Freya has taught you 'Battlefield First Aid.' It requires 8 experience points to level up to Level 0. Do you wish to learn?"

He let out a long breath. This was it! Just like in the game. Of course, he wanted to learn. He hadn't expected it to be Battlefield First Aid, what a pleasant surprise!

Battlefield First Aid primarily enhances hemostasis and preventing wound infection. It significantly increases success rates while ignoring environmental factors, exactly what Sophie urgently needed. He remembered that in the game, only the field priests of the Temple of Flames learned Battlefield First Aid, and players from the theological faction were the most likely to acquire this skill. As for other players, they had to grind reputation.

However, it was a big discovery that Maden knew this. He thought to himself as he mentally agreed to the request. But immediately, another message responded:

"No matching profession found for Battlefield First Aid. Which profession should it be classified under?"

This wasn't important, but Sophie casually placed it under the Militia profession. Although Battlefield First Aid was a non-specialty skill for both Militia and commoners, meaning leveling it up would require double the experience—Militia, as a profession, could level up, but commoner, as a basic status, could not.

It was important to know that a skill's level could not exceed the profession itself.

Freya was meticulously explaining the key points of bandaging. However, the spirited young girl quickly noticed that the young man lying on the ground was staring blankly at her, seemingly unresponsive to her words.

She paused for a moment, and a surge of anger rose from the bottom of her heart.

This guy, he's not just finding an excuse to take advantage of me!

The girl clenched her fists, so angry that her long ponytail trembled. This scoundrel, how could he do this? How could you face Romane? That girl has clearly fallen completely for you!

Freya forcefully restrained herself and waved her hand in front of Sophie's face. There was no reaction.

If it weren't for the fact that he was still an injured person, she would have kicked him; however, at that very moment, Sophie's eyes flickered, and clarity returned to them.

He organized his skills, feeling a little satisfied—with first aid, at least the subsequent battles would have sustained combat capability.

A team's recovery ability was a crucial standard for its survival. Experienced players in the game would not overlook this, and Sophie was no exception. This was why he had given up swordsmanship and combat to choose first aid.

However, when he looked up, he saw Freya looking at him with clear displeasure.

"What's wrong?" he couldn't help but be stunned.

"Are you listening?" the girl asked through gritted teeth.

"Of course, I've already learned it," Sophie replied as a matter of course.

"You—" Freya almost choked. "I haven't even finished explaining, and you already know?" She scrutinized him with deep distrust.

"Of course."

Freya choked, about to retort, when she heard someone call from over there, "Big Sis, we can't stop Josen's bleeding, come quickly—"

The ponytail girl instinctively turned her head, only to see Sophie behind her say, "That's perfect, why don't you let me try?"

"You?"

Freya's face showed deep suspicion.

"Help me over."

"You, don't push yourself."

"Then should I have Miss Romanee help you?"

"Dream on! I won't let her get close to you again, you shameless wretch!" Freya refused through gritted teeth, but she still walked over and helped Sophie up.

"What shameless?" Sophie was stunned. Where did this title come from?

"You know yourself."

"Huh?"