Asukem steps out of the building and heads towards the elderly man, who appears to be waiting for him. The elderly man inquires about Asukem's identity, asking, "So, demon, what's your name, and what about your friend? What's his name?" Leaning on the balcony railing, Asukem responds to the queries, saying, "I'm Asukem, and my little buddy is Gimp." The elderly man nods and continues, "What happened to your friend that he needed help?" Once again, Asukem replies, "He was protecting me." The elderly man strokes his long beard and asks, "Protecting you from what?" Asukem starts to feel irritated, unsure why the elderly man is bombarding him with many questions. Nevertheless, he answers, "We were attacked by bandits."

The elder pays close attention and inquires, "So, where exactly are you from?" Asukem raises an eyebrow and replies, "I hail from the Town of Kimbra." The elderly man nods, but his surprise is evident when he exclaims, "Wait, Kimbra still exists?" Asukem proudly nods, "Yes, it does. I have played a part in its reconstruction." The elderly man shoots a disapproving look but attempts to conceal it as he inquires, "I understand. What are your future plans then?"

But the old man and asukem were oblivious that a wounded man had entered the village. His injuries consisted of scratches and bite marks, and he was desperately trying to hide his blood. Not just his own blood but also the blood of wolves.

The man's voice erupted, causing him to cough uncontrollably. "Stop interrogating him, high priest Annerdu!" he declared. Annerdu and Asukem turned their heads towards the man, the same man who had bravely protected Asukem from the wolves. Annerdu glared at him with pure animosity before storming off towards the temple-like building, disregarding the injured man. Asukem glanced at both Annerdu and the wounded man, his eyes widening in disbelief as Annerdu callously abandoned the man. Without uttering a word, Asukem swiftly leaped over the railing, sprinted towards the injured man, and guided him to the doctor's location.

As Asukem and the injured man walked into the doctor's office, the doctor looked sternly at the man and angrily muttered, "Bring him to the back." Asukem's expression was shocked; he couldn't believe what he saw, but he followed the doctor's orders and took the wounded man to the back. A few minutes later, the doctor returned with bandages and medicine for Asukem. He disapproved of the injured man before turning to Asukem and saying, "If you're going to treat him, use these." Asukem hesitated for a moment, lost in his thoughts. Nevertheless, he treated the man, wrapping his wounds and applying the medicine. As the doctor was about to leave, he muttered, "Cursed thief."

Asukem stayed close to Gimp as both, Gimp and the injured man recovered from their injuries. Annerdu approached them, almost as if he was monitoring them like they were criminals. Asukem tried to remain cautious whenever the high priest was nearby. The scent of the priest's incense bothered Asukem. Still, despite his unease, the doctor provided them with water and food infused with herbs to counteract the incense.

The doctor took care of Gimp's bandages, cleaning and changing them. However, the doctor neglected the injured man's bandages, so Asukem had to step in and attend to them. It was genuinely awful how the villagers showed more respect to demons rather than to the injured man.

It took three days for the man who had been injected and Gimp to recover from their wounds. Once their bandages were removed, Gimp was back to his cheerful self. The injured man also healed and joined Asukem and Gimp in the room.

Asukem finally had the chance to have a conversation with the man. As they approached each other, the man extended his hand and greeted Asukem and Gimp, saying, "Hey there, I'm Grant Warebane." Asukem firmly shook Grant's hand and replied, "Pleasure to meet you, Grant. I'm Asukem, and thanks for your help." Gimp, who was perched on Asukem's shoulder, couldn't contain his excitement and chimed in, "Hey, I'm Gimp Darkrune!" Asukem and Grant exchanged smiles, and Grant responded, "Great to meet you too, Gimp."

Grant appeared to be a young man, possibly in his twenties. His beard was neatly trimmed, ensuring that the marshy terrain didn't cause any inconvenience. A brown bandana concealed his brown hair, yet his striking grey-blue eyes were still noticeable, adding to his rugged appearance. Around his neck, he sported a green scarf, while his body was clad in a sleeveless studded leather vest in brown. His green pants were marked with mud stains, paired with sturdy boots. Grant's hands were covered with gauntlets, concealing a device beneath them, and he had dagger casings attached to his side.

Annerdu entered the room where Asukem, Gimp, and Grant were staying. Without acknowledging Grant, he addresses Asukem and Gimp, saying, "You two can stay here for as long as you need, but keep in mind that we're a small village with limited resources." Asukem, surprised by Annerdu's impoliteness towards Grant, responds, "Thank you, but we won't be staying for long." Grant's eyes widen in disbelief, and then a sad smile appears as he remarks, "Well, you both seem nice, unlike this ungrateful town." As Grant prepares to leave, Annerdu glares at him and shouts, "Just go, you damn thief!" Grant clicks his tongue but tells Asukem and Gimp, "Maybe we'll cross paths again someday."

Choosing to extend their stay, Asukem and Gimp explored the town and secured a room for the night. They gathered enough provisions and water for their upcoming journey, being mindful to only purchase what they truly needed and not deplete the village's resources. Gimp treated themselves to a new handbag and a book of spells. As they gathered their supplies, they couldn't help but notice the villagers' hostile reaction towards Grant. He was met with pure animosity - people spat at him, gave him disdainful glances, and ignored his attempts to acquire materials. Even children threw mud balls at him, labeling him a monster. Concerned, Gimp approached Grant and inquired about the situation.