Gab left four of the farmers behind to guard the cave and protect the women and child. Before leaving, he handed them a set of low-grade steel swords simple but sturdy.
"These should be enough to defend yourselves if something sneaks in," he said.
For the hunting party, he brought Rudeus, since the young man had hunting experience and knew how to dismantle carcasses. Alongside him came Darius and Garen, the lumberjack brothers, and Baki, one of the stronger farmers.
Gab reached into his subspace and pulled out several swords. They weren't flashy, but their polished edges gleamed under the morning light.
Each man froze, eyes wide.
"These are yours," Gab said, handing them out one by one. "D-rank swords from Earth. Nothing fancy, but reliable."
The young men held the weapons as though they were sacred treasures. Their hands trembled not from fear, but from awe.
On Earth, D-rank swords were trash loot, commonly dropped by low-ranking hobgoblins inside dungeons. Most hunters smelted them down for scrap. But Gabriel had always been practical. He collected them. Hoarded them. And now, in this world, those "scraps" had become priceless.
Here, steel weapons were rare. Expensive. Reserved for nobles and high-ranking knights. To ordinary villagers, such blades were nothing short of legendary.
The brothers swung their swords experimentally, the sound of steel cutting through air crisp and sharp.
"Incredible…" Darius whispered. "This isn't copper or bronze…"
Garen's grip tightened. "We trained with wood all our lives… and now we're holding real swords."
Their eyes shone with determination.
Gab smirked. "Good. Treat them well. A blade like this can decide life or death. From now on, you're not just farmers or lumberjacks. You're hunters."
The boys straightened at his words, excitement burning in their chests. For the first time since their kingdom's fall, they felt something other than despair.
Hope.
Gab shouldered his own weapon and gestured toward the forest.
"Let's move. It's time for your first hunt."
After 30 minutes of walking near the river Gabriel spotted a giant boar sized like a car.
That's a rock boar, be carefully sir that monsters hide was tough and can even resist even arrow heads.
It's fine!
I can handle it.
After thirty minutes of trekking along the riverbank, Gabriel raised his hand, signaling the group to halt.
"There," he whispered.
Not far ahead, a massive boar grazed near the water. Its body was the size of a car, muscles bulging beneath its rocky hide.
Rudeus' eyes widened. "A Rock Boar…! Sir, its hide can even deflect arrowheads. We should"
"It's fine," Gabriel cut him off calmly. "I can handle it."
On Earth, monsters like this were only ranked C-class. He had faced far worse. Even ten of these wouldn't be enough to trouble him.
He drew his sword, the metal singing softly as it left the scabbard. Mana flowed from his core, spreading along the blade until it shimmered faintly.
Darius gasped. "Brother…! That's Aura Blade, isn't it? A Swordmaster's skill!"
Before anyone could blink, Gabriel vanished from sight.
Shhhk!
A single clean strike split the silence. The Rock Boar's head toppled to the ground, its body collapsing with a heavy thud.
The boys froze.
"W-woahhh!" Garen stammered. "He cut through it… like butter!"
"That was terrifying," Baki muttered, sweat running down his forehead.
Gab wiped the blade and sheathed it, as if nothing had happened.
"Move," he ordered. "Butcher it quickly. I'll keep watch."
They scrambled forward, adrenaline fueling their movements. Rudeus, the most experienced hunter among them, took the lead. He cut open the carcass, separating the hide from the meat with careful strokes. Blood poured out, staining the soil.
Garen glanced at Gabriel as he worked. "Sir Gabriel… how did you ever get captured in the first place? With strength like yours?"
Gab didn't answer at first. His eyes stayed fixed on the treeline, scanning for movement. Finally, he spoke in a low voice.
"Me? …I wasn't captured."
And he left it at that.
The boys looked at each other but said nothing more. They were all around his age, yet speaking with him felt like talking to someone far older. His presence carried weight.
Rudeus finished gutting the boar, rinsing the innards in the river to salvage what could still be eaten.
"Careful," Gab warned sharply. "The smell of blood attracts monsters. Work faster."
They hurried. Gab collected the cleaned hide and stored it in his subspace, then swept the meat inside as well until the enormous carcass was gone.
"Sir, what about the head?" Darius asked, pointing at the massive skull lying in the mud.
"Leave it," Gab said flatly. "We've got enough."
Without hesitation, he led them away from the site.
Minutes later, the forest stirred.
A low growl rumbled through the trees. A pack of wolves padded into the clearing, eyes glowing faintly in the shadows. Their noses twitched at the heavy scent of blood.
The alpha stepped forward, jaws snapping before it lunged at the discarded boar's head.
The rest of the pack followed, feeding hungrily.
By then, Gabriel and his group were already gone.
Back in the cave, Gabriel got straight to work.
"Girls, start cooking. Skewer the meat and grill it," he ordered.
While the fire crackled, he dragged the Rock Boar's hide to the corner and began processing it. With steady, practiced hands, he scraped the fat from the skin and burned away the stubborn muscle fibers to prevent rot. Then, with a wave of water magic, he washed it clean. Finally, he hung the hide near the fire, letting the smoke seep in to preserve it.
The cave filled with the rich scent of roasting meat, making the survivors' mouths water.
Gab wiped his hands and turned to the group. "Agatha you're in charge here. Boys, your job is to protect the girls. That's why I gave you swords. If anything happens, fight to the end."
Their faces paled. "But, sir… we're not confident we can"
Gab cut him off with a firm voice. "I trust you. From this moment, all of you are citizens of Lundale, my new country inside the Beast Glades."
The survivors froze. A country? Here?
Gab's tone brooked no argument. "I'll handle the rest. What we need now are supplies nails, cooking utensils, tools to build shelter. I'll buy them in the nearest city."
"Sir, wait"
Before anyone could react, Gab vanished from sight.
He activated Agility Boost, his B-class skill from Earth. His body surged with power, his speed exploding until he tore through the forest like a living arrow. His steps blurred, each stride eating the distance at over 120 miles per hour.
Leaves scattered in his wake. The wind roared in his ears.
Two and a half hours later, the towering walls of Kuzar City rose before him massive stone barriers built to keep the beasts of the Glades at bay. Behind them, the hum of life buzzed: merchants shouting, carts creaking, the smell of food and smoke drifting even beyond the gates.
Gab slowed to a normal pace, straightening his posture. He slung several of his collected swords across his back perfect cover for his identity.
The closer he came, the clearer the long line at the gate became: peasants, travelers, and merchants all waiting their turn to enter.
Finally, it was his turn. A guard stepped forward, hand resting on his spear.
"You. What's your purpose here?"
Gab met his eyes evenly. "I'm a merchant."
The guard's gaze narrowed. "A merchant… without a horse? Without a cart? Sounds fishy."