****(POV)

This whole Eaglevein thing was a mess. Or maybe I should say the City of the Dead now…They all tried to kill that 'simple' baker. Yet they all failed, their failure gave rise to weakness.

I can't believe I thought about assassinating him back then! Using poison against him was dumb already. I'm pretty sure he's unkillable anyway!

Good thing I simply acted my role as his salesgirl for the bakery properly. Otherwise, this could have turned bad for me. Then when the city fell, I somehow managed to escape. At first, I went to what became the City of Freedom, but recently I left.

Many may be blissfully ignorant, but I know perfectly who the man they are convinced is the 'necromancer' is. He is but a regular artist. He once sketched a very questionable pie picture on the bakery front.

He wasn't even hiding the fact; they just didn't believe him. I shiver just thinking about the evil necromancer's revenge should he learn that they have been using his name for so long. Being an assassin, I am very ill-suited to working on my own. For jobs, I used to rely on the assassin's guild, but I don't have contact anymore.

As for the easy-to-get jobs, it's mostly about protecting or fighting sects/other cities. There is rarely a job suited for me…actually, that's false. But there is a thing very important to know for an assassin.

A good way for a client to hide his own involvement in the crime is to kill the assassin he hired under the guise of vengeance. Then it becomes a choice between getting paid or remaining alive. That is why the assassin guild is so vital.

Yeah, I'd rather starve than take too big a risk. Recently I got pretty lucky. Well, there was an opportunity, and I took it. I stumbled upon a group of woodcutters. 24 Traveling woodcutters to be exact.

Initially, I was baffled. Where were they going in such a time of turmoil?! Currently, every power is trying to control everything happening in their territory. But at least I could tag along to travel less conspicuously.

Ironically lone travelers are attracting more attention nowadays. After all, the chances of them being a spy are higher. Let's just say that these woodcutters are also kind-natured people. I don't think they'd tell people that I only joined their group later on.

These guys are very peculiar. We have been journeying a while already. By now I am familiar with their habits. At first, it puzzled me greatly, but apparently, they have a woodcutting mantra.

It goes:

-First, enter the right mindset.

-Second, keep hacking until it becomes second nature.

-Third, ignore the whole world and only concentrate on that one tree in front of you.

-Fourth, keep hacking until you forget even yourself and trees start dropping by themselves.

Honestly, they are the first woodcutters I hear about to have that. It puzzled me initially but then they told me these are the direct teaching of a great hero. Apparently, the man even defeated a king slime! God knows how powerful these creatures are!

I praised them for adapting his teachings to their own discipline. That's when they all gave me that one weird glance. Finally, one explained that he was a legendary lumberjack. I swear this world is going to shit!

Why am I meeting weird individuals lately?! I truly can't picture what a legendary woodcutter would look like. At some point, we see some greenery on the horizon. It turns out to be a small forest.

As soon as we see it, they all start cheering, with huge smiles plastered on their faces.

"I-is a forest that great?!"

"*Sigh* This is an opportunity to train. You know, a human should always try to improve himself every time he is given the opportunity. It may sound simple to you, but to us, it is our life."

I can't help but nod. As we establish camp, I see them take their axes out, enthusiastically. But then they simply leave it near themselves.

"Weren't you guys going to cut some wood?"

"Haha, no. You see we wish to emulate something our mentor has done casually before. This is the reason we are training. He showed us the possibilities."

I can see his gaze lose focus, clearly reminiscing the past. He keeps going.

"We used to only be doing lowly tasks and consider ourselves worthless but then he declared that we have value. He said that no skill is ever worthless. He gave us our pride. No, he simply showed us the way. It is our responsibility to walk it now."

I can't help but wish I could meet that guy. He sounds incredible! I wonder if he has any tips on how to be a good assassin? While's I've been doing that for a while, there is still so much that I ignore.

Before long it is nighttime, the time to slumber. A few are on night watch duty but the night is peaceful. The next morning I wake up refreshed. I can smell the scent of freshly cut wood.

Raising myself up I look at my surroundings and …What?! Did they move me while I was sleeping? This is weird, I recognize the vegetation around me, that didn't change.

But why is…wait…the forest is gone entirely?! How is this possible?! In the distance, I can see stacked wooden logs.

That is when I see my companions coming back. They greet me casually.

"Good morning."

"What do you mean, 'Good Morning'! What happened to the forest?"

"Haha, this is our mentor's specialty, razing everything to the ground!"

I can't help but add dumbfounded "Yes, but what about the logs? You won't just let it here, right?!"

"No, that's exactly what we'll do."

"Why?!"

"Because we can't carry it with us obviously."

"You guys….This is highly illogical!"

"You think? We are woodcutters, not wood carriers. That is our logic and our way of life."

This sounds like an oversimplification! They cut wood because they are woodcutters, they don't even care about the repercussions of their actions! Now I feel like scolding that mentor of theirs!

"Alright shall we….ah? What's that ?!"

I follow his gaze. On the horizon is a group of tough-looking men. Looking at their equipment they are either mercenaries or bandits….no bandits for sure!

What are we supposed to do? There are about 50 of them! They outnumber us and I am probably the only one that can fight! This will be harsh, can I somehow negotiate?!...