Cleaver Of Sin

Chapter 676: The Fifteen Villagers

As Asher walked, he noticed everyone take a couple of steps back whenever he passed, be they classmates or upperclassmen; they all stared at him for a moment, then stopped looking, as though looking at him for too long would make them lose their sight, or perhaps invite an unseen consequence they did not dare risk.

Asher remained unbothered; with his ridiculous intelligence, he had already come to figure out what was happening. After all, people only treated him this way when a rumour was flying around, just like when the rumour about the Wargrave family wiping out the Assassin Guild circulated, spreading unease and exaggeration in equal measure.

Within minutes, Asher arrived at the Healing Department. Stepping in, he walked straight towards the receptionist standing at the front desk, ready to attend to anyone who came, her posture composed and her expression welcoming.

"Good morning, how may I help you today?" the receptionist asked with the same polite smile she gave to everyone whom she met, her tone gentle yet professional.

Asher paused for a moment, then spoke, "I had someone bring fifteen people over here from a mission for healing; they are villagers who are traumatized, malnourished, and physically injured," he replied, trying to give as much information as possible.

The receptionist nodded her head without needing to think as she spoke, "Yes, they are here. We’ve already been informed that someone will come for them within a few days by the Facilitator of the Logistics and Missions Operation Hall."

Asher nodded as he spoke, "Lead the way," his words flat.

The receptionist didn’t speak; she simply stepped away from her desk, another person taking her place, as she led Asher down the hallway. Within a few seconds, they arrived at a white door that was tightly shut, its surface clean and undisturbed.

"They are within," she gestured forward with a bow, then turned and left without waiting for a reply from Asher.

Asher pushed open the door without any sort of hesitation. The moment he entered, his eyes fell upon fifteen people, each of varying ages, five women and ten men; they sat upright on their beds as they conversed, as though they hadn’t just been pulled out from a horrific situation merely three days ago, their voices carrying faint remnants of normalcy.

The moment the fifteen of them heard the door open, their eyes turned towards it; the moment they saw Asher, their conversation ceased immediately as they sat frozen for a brief moment. They didn’t need to think to know who Asher was; they recognised him as the one who had saved them, the figure etched firmly into their memories.

Asher walked forward with calm steps as he asked, with the most polite smile possible, "How are all of you feeling?" trying not to make the atmosphere awkward, his tone deliberately softened.

They ignored his question and immediately bowed as they spoke in unison, "Thank you, benefactor," their voices overlapping as though they had rehearsed it from the very beginning, their gratitude evident and unrestrained.

Asher stood silent for a moment as he didn’t know how to reply, but before he could speak, a woman stepped forward, tears falling from her eyes as she expressed her thanks, "If it wasn’t for you... I wouldn’t have been able to see my son, my husband, my parents... thank you, benefactor," she stated, and before Asher could even do anything, he was pulled into a hug, as he felt the woman’s tears fall upon the shoulder of his clothing, warm and unfiltered.

Asher’s hand rose as he patted the woman’s back as he spoke, "I simply did the best I could, and I’m glad you were able to live through it all," his words gentle, carrying quiet sincerity.

Asher knew they had indeed been traumatised earlier, but the Star Academy had probably already healed their psychological issues and physical injuries. However, just because their mental traumas were eased didn’t mean they had forgotten what they went through; those memories remained vividly within them, which was precisely why they were so deeply grateful to Asher.

’I think this is the first time anyone has hugged me since my transmigration,’ Asher mused to himself, the thought passing through his mind with a subtle sense of unfamiliarity.

He gently pulled the woman away as she wiped her tears, but just as he was done with her, another woman, an older one this time, held his hand as she prayed to the stars for a bright future for their saviour, her voice trembling with emotion. Asher didn’t feel uncomfortable; he simply offered smiles and gave replies with ease, adapting effortlessly.

The men stood with various smiles as they simply watched; unlike the women, they didn’t rush forward hugging and crying, but still, they expressed their gratitude nonetheless, their appreciation quieter yet no less sincere.

"It’s a shame the benefactor couldn’t save everybody," one of the women spoke, her voice low, touched with lingering sorrow.

But the moment those words left her lips, another woman nudged her gently with her elbow as though telling her to drop the topic and not bring it up, her expression subtly reproachful.

One of the men immediately stepped forward and spoke so Asher wouldn’t misunderstand, "It’s not that we blame the benefactor; it’s just that we wish we had all escaped that place together. There is no way we expect a single man to save over five hundred; we are not that ungrateful, benefactor," he explained, his tone earnest.

"It’s fine," Asher replied with a shake of his head, "I understand that she didn’t mean it in the wrong way," his words soft and reassuring.

"I apologise," the woman who had spoken about the dead villagers apologised with a sad expression, her gaze lowered.

"No need to apologise," Asher spoke again with a smile, easing the tension.

If the students who were trying to get away from him since his arrival at the Star Academy were present at this moment, they would doubt that this gentle-speaking and smiling Asher was part of the so-called maniacal Wargrave family, the contrast too stark to ignore.

Although a Wargrave, he was also Ethan; he knew when to smile, when to laugh, when to be compassionate, and at the same time, he knew when to be cold, ruthless, and calculating; they were simply all sides of him. He knew when to be human, and when not to be.

"So, how are your healths?" Asher asked, although he was sure the Healing Department had already done their work, he still asked in case they were unsatisfied about something.

"We are fine; I feel stronger than ever, as though being healed by an awakened individual improved my physique," one of the ten men spoke as he flexed his muscles, a hint of pride in his tone.

Everyone nodded their heads in agreement; they were all good and well, their expressions reflecting relief and renewed vitality.

"I’ve heard tales about the Star Academy, but to think it was this enormous and magnificent," one of the women spoke, her eyes filled with awe.

"Exactly, although we haven’t been able to leave here, we can still see how huge it is from the windows," a man added from the side, his voice carrying quiet amazement.