"So, what's for dinner?" Riku asked, sitting down to eat.
"Dinner," Lila said, setting it down near the floor table. "Same as yesterday — porridge, roots, and a side of boiled weeds we're pretending are herbs."
"You're spoiling me," Riku said with a grin.
Lila continued, slowly serving the food into the wrong down utensils. "Even though we have planted new crops, it should still take a couple of weeks to come out. After that, we might be able to have some better food."
"What about vegetables?" Riku asked
"We do not have any seeds left. A wandering merchant is expected to visit us soon, he should have some vegetables with him along with seeds. Previously, we did not have anything of value, so we could not trade much with him. But this time, we hope to be able to trade some water for other supplies."
"Fair enough, let us eat. I am sure that whatever you would have made would be very tasty anyway."
Lila rolled her eyes but smiled.
As she poured the tea into rough clay cups, Riku opened his system panel. He had just enough goodwill for a low-tier reward.
[Spend 4 Goodwill Points?]
Reward: Sweet Matcha (2 servings) + Fresh Butter Mochi Buns (2 pcs)
Confirm?
[Yes]
A small satchel shimmered into view on the table.
Lila blinked. "What's that?"
Riku opened it slowly — two perfectly shaped mochi buns, soft and golden, resting on lotus-leaf wrappers. A small ceramic pot of matcha nestled beside them, steam rising lazily from its spout.
The smell was divine — roasted rice, warm butter, and delicate sweetness filled the room.
Riku poured the matcha into two cups.
"Trade you a magic snack for good conversation," he said.
Lila stared at the food, clearly unsure if she was allowed to indulge. Then she picked up the bun and took a bite.
Her eyes widened.
"…By the flame spirits. This is amazing. What is this?"
"Green tea and mochi," Riku said, sipping calmly. "Delicacies from my world. I'll teach you how to make them once I get the right ingredients."
Lila took another bite, her expression softening with joy. "I didn't know food could taste like this. I thought I was happy with plain porridge, but this is…"
"…Tasty?" Riku offered.
Lila gave a soft laugh. "Yeah. Very tasty. The most tasty I have eaten in years."
They sat like that for a while, slowly finishing the food, talking idly about the recent years in the village.
"Don't worry, with water coming in, soon the village should be on track for revival. It is just that I feel a bit uneasy." Lila said.
"What happened? Maybe I can help you."
After a pause, Lila's tone shifted.
"Well, my brother Eren... he left with a few others to hunt in the woods four days ago. They said they'd be back in two." She looked down. "They usually come back on time. Always."
Riku looked at her — the worry wasn't loud, but it was deep.
"They'll return," he said gently. "And if they're in trouble… they'll find a way back. You said he's clever, didn't you?"
She nodded, quietly sipping the last of her tea.
"Thanks. I just… can't help worrying."
"Then I'll help you worry less."
For now, they sat together in the quiet of the inn, bathed in the golden glow of lantern light, as peace held the night still.
Two more days passed.
Each morning, Riku worked alongside the villagers — plowing, planting, guiding. The seeds were starting to take root, green dots slowly rising from brown furrows.
Each evening, he shared dinner with Lila — sometimes porridge, sometimes food he exchanged with the system. Every morning he would gain goodwill points by helping in the farmlands, and in the evening he would spend some of it on his mochi and matcha.
Until the fourth morning.
Riku was headed towards the farm when a wail tore through the village square.
Riku rushed out of the inn to find a crowd forming near the gate.
A battered horse staggered in, and behind it — a cart pulled by villagers. On the cart lay four young adventurers — barely older than teenagers, their armor broken, skin pale, wounds fresh and deep.
One of them — a boy with a broken spear and blood on his chest — made Lila drop to her knees.
"Eren…" she whispered. "No… no, no, no…"
Chief Barou pushed through the crowd, his face paling.
"They made it back," someone sobbed. "But they're dying."
"Oh blessed mother, they had just gone to get some food. How did they sustain such injuries? These wounds do not look to be those of wild animals," another cried. "They were trying to help…"
"Dad, sister..." Eren tried to mutter. "I love you." With that, Eren fainted, seemingly having completed his last wish.
"No..... Brother"
"My son..."
The grief was thick — not just for the pain of the injured, but the truth beneath it. Some other humans had clearly attacked and almost killed these young adventurers.
Slowly, Riku stepped forward.
He saw shattered bones. Deep lacerations. One boy was missing a leg entirely.
And for a brief moment, he thought about using a high-level mass heal spell.
But the system would flare up again.
"These injuries are serious, but nothing that I can't handle. I can even bring them back to life as long as there is a corpse. But how do I escape the attention?"
So instead, he picked up four plain-looking stones and enchanted them with advanced recovery arrays drawn, combining his Healing Saint and Formation master subclasses. Slowly, the ordinary stones started glowing with a light green shine.
The villagers crowded around the village entrance, their faces etched with fear and grief. Lila clung to her brother's limp hand, tears streaming silently down her cheeks. Chief Barou knelt beside Eren, his weathered hands trembling as he brushed dirt from the boy's pale face.
Riku stepped forward, holding the four glowing stones he had infused with formations.
"I know that the time is dire, however, I have something which might help. These are sacred healing stones," he announced, his voice calm but firm. "A wandering monk gifted them to me years ago. They channel the strength of collective faith. The more fervently you pray, the more power they'll unleash."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd. A woman clutching a child whispered, "A monk's blessing…?" Another villager nodded, desperation overriding doubt.
"Place your hands on the stones," Riku instructed, arranging them in a diamond pattern around the injured. "Focus your hearts on their recovery. Trust in the stones—*and each other*."
The villagers obeyed, forming a tight circle. Hands clasped over the stones, their voices rose in unison—a ragged chorus of pleas and prayers. The stones pulsed brighter, emerald light weaving through the air like threads of hope.
One by one, the wounded stirred. The gashed leg knitted itself shut. The shattered arm straightened.
"It's working! Everyone, show your faith." Chief Barou urged everyone urgently. All the villagers started praying with renewed gusto, especially Lila. Her eyes were clenched shut and palms tightly folded, hoping for a miracle.
Slowly, all the wounds on the adventurers were healed. Even the missing arm from one of the adventures came back miraculously. Their breathing returned to normal, but they were still unconscious.
But only Eren still remained stationary, his wounds healed, but no signs of breathing. Lila went forward to get a pulse, but the moment she touched his palm.
"Noo... This can't be"
Tears once again filled the once hopeful face.