The blue-white light continued to circulate through Mike’s body, wave after wave, never breaking its rhythm.
Time slipped by unnoticed.
Hour after hour, Mike remained still, fully immersed in the Aurora Sword Art. Each cycle refined him further—strengthening his muscles, hardening his bones, widening his mana channels. Thin strands of dark mist slowly seeped out of his pores, the impurities expelled by the cold, purifying energy.
Unbeknownst to him, footsteps stopped outside his door.
Elina stood there, holding a small tray of food in her hands. She hesitated for a moment before quietly pushing the door open just enough to peer inside.
Mike was sitting cross-legged on the bed, eyes closed, his body faintly glowing with blue-white light. Frosty air curled around him, forming wisps that vanished as quickly as they appeared.
"He’s training..." she murmured.
Her gaze lingered on him for a moment longer.
"But he’s already so much stronger... so why?" she whispered softly as she placed the plate gently to the side.
Her fingers slowly curled into a fist.
"...This is why," she muttered. "Despite having an A-rank class, I’m not strong. I’ve been lazy."
With renewed determination, she turned and returned to her room.
There, she sat down and began to meditate.
A gentle green glow bloomed around her body as nature mana began to circulate, flowing in calm, steady cycles. The air itself seemed to respond, leaves outside rustling softly as if answering her call.
From the hallway, her father paused and watched quietly.
Seeing the resolve on his daughter’s face, the village chief smiled.
Then, without a word, he turned and left her to her training.
The night passed in silence.
As dawn broke, the first rays of sunlight slipped through the window.
Mike’s eyes snapped open.
He inhaled deeply—then exhaled.
A thick breath of dark, foul air poured from his mouth, dispersing into the room before fading away completely. His body felt lighter, sturdier, and far more responsive than before.
He slowly stood up, clenching his fist.
Crack.
Power rippled through his muscles with effortless control.
"...Good," Mike said softly.
He glanced toward the table and finally noticed the covered tray of food. For a brief moment, he paused—then a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Mike then looked at his status screen.
[ Name: Mike Vester ]
[ Race: Human ]
[ Class: Tamer of Miracles ]
[Potential: SSS]
[ Level: 1 ]
[ EXP: 0/100 ]
[ Strength: 5.3 ]
[ Agility: 3.4 ]
[ Constitution: 4.2 ]
[ Intelligence: 15.5 ]
[ Attribute Points: 0 ]
[ Skills: Miracle Taming, Pack Resonance, Bloodline Refining]
[Talent: Infinite SSS Gacha
Weekly Talent : Beast Overlord ]
"All of my stats have increased by two points, huh..." Mike smiled as he looked at the changes before closing the screen.
Stretching lightly, he stood up and stepped out of the room.
In the hall, he found the Village Chief overseeing a long table covered with food. Several villagers were helping, carrying trays and arranging dishes. The table was massive, completely filled with savory-looking meals that gave off rich, mouthwatering aromas.
"You’re awake," the Village Chief said as he noticed Mike.
Mike nodded.
"Since you saved the village," the chief continued with a warm smile, "we prepared a banquet in your honor."
He gestured toward the table and led Mike forward.
Mike smiled and bowed his head slightly. "Thank you."
The Village Chief chuckled. "A little of everything we have."
He pointed one by one. "Roasted boar seasoned with mountain herbs, river fish grilled with salt and citrus leaves, mushroom stew harvested from the eastern forest, and fresh bread baked at dawn."
Villagers nearby beamed with pride as they listened.
"It’s not much compared to the city," the chief said modestly, "but it’s the best our village can offer."
"It’s more than enough," Mike replied honestly.
At that moment, Elina entered the hall. She had changed into simple traveling clothes, her brown hair tied neatly behind her, red eyes calmer than before. When she saw Mike, she hesitated for a second—then gave a small bow.
"Good morning," she said quietly.
"Morning," Mike replied, surprised by the steadiness in her voice.
The Village Chief clapped his hands lightly. "Come, eat first. Strength is built on a full stomach."
The villagers took their seats one by one, laughter slowly filling the hall as food was passed around. Wooden bowls clinked, mugs were raised, and the earlier tension that had weighed on the village seemed to melt away.
As Mike ate, he was honestly impressed. The boar meat was tender and rich, the herbs giving it a deep, earthy flavor. The grilled river fish was simple but perfectly cooked, and the mushroom stew carried a warmth that settled deep in his stomach.
"It’s really good," Mike said sincerely.
Several villagers laughed, clearly pleased.
"Eat more, eat more!" an older woman insisted, piling extra food onto his plate.
Elina sat a little distance away at first, eating quietly. But as the mood grew lighter, she began to relax. A smile—small but genuine—appeared on her face when someone cracked a joke about how the goblins ran "faster than rabbits with their tails on fire."
Soon, someone brought out a simple instrument—something like a wooden flute—and began to play a cheerful tune. Another villager followed with a hand drum, tapping out a lively rhythm.
The music grew louder.
Laughter turned into clapping.
A few younger villagers stood up and began to dance, spinning and stomping in time with the beat.
Before Mike could react, two villagers grabbed his arms.
"Come on, hero!" one of them laughed. "You can’t just sit there!"
"Wait—hey—!" Mike protested, but they were already pulling him up.
The hall erupted in cheers as he was dragged into the center. Someone shoved a mug into his hand, another clapped him on the back, and before he knew it, he was awkwardly trying to follow the steps.
His movements were stiff at first—but then he laughed.
Elina watched from the side, eyes wide at first... then she laughed too, covering her mouth as she stood and slowly joined in. Her steps were hesitant, but the villagers welcomed her immediately, spinning her into the circle.
The Village Chief watched it all with moist eyes, a quiet smile on his face.