Chapter 22: Bloodline

"Victor, when you assassinated that mutated gnoll, did you really not feel any changes in your body?" Master Edwin pursued Victor with keen interest.

The campaign against the gnolls had been a resounding success. All the gnoll bandits lay dead; only a few insignificant goblins and kobolds escaped amidst the chaos. Most importantly, the fierce gnoll leader had been slain by Esrik. The leader's death meant that, for a long time, no gnoll tribe capable of threatening human villages would arise in this territory.

Among the human ranks, three soldiers suffered serious injuries, seven were lightly wounded, and none perished. This outcome allowed Baron Eskri to breathe a sigh of relief; as a newly established lord, he could not afford generous compensation for casualties.

When Baron Eskri tallied the achievements, he was stunned to discover that the seemingly frail young baron had slain seven gnolls with a heavy crossbow, each bolt piercing a vital spot in their heads. Such terrifying archery was rivalled only by knights attuned to the wind element.

And upon seeing the corpse of Broken Tooth, Eskri felt not only shock but also a hint of gratitude. He hadn't expected two berserk leaders among the gnolls. Had this smaller, ferocious gnoll escaped the purge, it might soon have rallied a new tribe. Clearly, Eskri thought, he should recruit more soldiers, though his territory's strained finances gave him a headache.

To thank Victor for removing such a menace, Eskri offered to have his family’