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Chapter 93

Ian tilted his chin up. "What?"

"...Nothing sir. This way.” Askel turned away.

He seems curious about what I\'m planning.

Ian followed him, feeling satiated for the first time in a while. The meal was rustic but not bad. Additionally, he had unintentionally learned quite a bit about the village\'s situation. It was a common tale of those who argued to leave their homeland versus those who insisted on defending it. Here, the latter clearly dominated. This was hardly surprising. Not unique to this world, humans often stray far from rational judgments.

"Hmm."

While passing through the square, Charlotte suddenly looked toward the village entrance. About a dozen men were entering the village, ranging from sturdy adults to boys around Askel\'s age.

"The search party has returned. Seems like the search was a waste. They only went hunting."

"Who\'s the great warrior?" Charlotte asked.

Askel pointed to the largest man, draped in a bearskin cloak. "That\'s Valeri. The youngest among the great warriors, strong too. They say he is favored by Karha."

Ian could tell just by looking that Valeri was strong. It was then that Valeri and a few others glanced their way. Several villagers receiving the hunted animals whispered something to them. Their looks were a mix of wariness and mockery.

"Should we go talk to them?" Askel asked.

Ian, receiving Valeri\'s intense gaze nonchalantly, shook his head.

"No need. Just lead us to the inn."

"...Yes." Askel looked back at Ian, puzzled, but soon continued walking.

***

"That one had an arrogant look in his eyes," Charlotte murmured softly.

Ian chuckled. "It seemed similar to your old look."

"Possibly. After all, it\'s the look of someone who has never faced defeat."

"He\'ll learn eventually," said Askel.

As they opened the door to the vacant house, Askel spoke, "I\'d like to teach him a lesson myself. Come on in."

"You? That might take a few years." Charlotte commented as they entered the house.

The interior was already warmed by the stove Ian had asked to be lit earlier. The stiff-looking bed was at the center of the room and a large, round tub was prepared for Ian\'s bath.

"Few years... I\'d prefer it to be sooner than that. It\'s uncertain how many winters the village can withstand."

"Probably not more than twice." Ian added casually, as he began to remove his weapons, including the Sword of Judgment.

Askel\'s brow furrowed. "Just twice? Our village warriors are not that weak, Ian."

"Strength and weakness are relative."

Ian continued as he unbuckled the straps of his breastplate. "If you want to live, you should consider leaving the village yourself. Your old man would probably be happy if you left."

Ian reflected on their dinner conversation. The old man, who had lost his eye in a war against demons, had subtly inquired about their next destination. When Ian had replied that they were going to Travelga, he didn\'t miss the old man\'s brief hesitation.

"I can\'t leave alone."

"Well, figure it out yourself. I\'m going to take a bath first, get it ready."

"...Ah, yes." Askel hurried to act.

He placed a large pot full of snow on the stove and then went out to fetch more snow. The collected snow was dumped into the bathtub.

I was wondering how this would work, and I guess this is the way.

Observing this, Ian turned to look at Charlotte and Thesaya.

"I\'m taking a bath first."

"...So, are you saying we shouldn\'t watch?"

"Do what you want with that. I was asking if you\'re going to bathe too."

"...?! Did you really just ask that?"

"Oh my. You’re a pervert, Ian."

Charlotte and Thesaya responded with surprise and amusement, prompting Ian to narrow his eyes in mild annoyance.

"I wasn\'t suggesting we go in together."

"...I see. Misunderstood."

"I wouldn\'t mind that," Thesaya chimed in with a grin.

Ignoring Thesaya\'s comment, Ian stripped off all his gear except for the thermal wear he wore underneath, feeling significantly lighter. Meanwhile, Askel once again scooped up snow into the pot and placed it on the stove.

"Just one more time should do it."

"I\'ll be in there a while, so keep it coming until I say stop."

"...You really enjoy your baths. Understood."

As Ian gazed at the tub, contemplating the warmth to come, Charlotte spoke up, reflecting on their earlier encounter with the village warriors.

"It seems the warriors of the North pursue different goals than beast warriors."

"Did you think they, like you, wished to die fighting?"

"I thought they were similar. But their struggle is a means for survival and freedom, not for the fight itself."

Askel added more snow to the tub and then shared his thoughts. "Those who fight to die or fight for the sake of fighting, we call them berserkers here in the North."

Charlotte\'s expression turned complex, while Thesaya smirked. "Then you\'re definitely a berserker, kitty."

"...It\'s just a difference in values, stupid pointy ears." Askel poured boiling water into the tub, musing aloud. "If they keep resisting here, the village warriors might as well be berserkers. They know there’s an end coming, they can’t be ignorant of that."

"Who knows? Perhaps they will overcome all and give rise to a being as great as Karha." Ian\'s remark drew a skeptical smile from Askel, who then carried the pot outside.

Ian undressed and stepped into the tub. The temperature was perfect. Rubbing his body, the grime of the day began to disperse in the water.

If only I had some soap...

As he thought this, Ian glanced aside. Thesaya was smirking, lying on her stomach on the bed with her chin propped on her arms. Charlotte had turned to sit beside him.

"Your nape is quite tempting, Ian."

So that\'s why they were looking.

"It\'s said the apples you can\'t eat always look redder."

"Interesting saying. It’s just like you."

"There’s also a saying, don’t gaze at a tree you can’t climb. Look away."

Askel returned with a fresh pot and placed it on the stove. Ian leaned back next to the tub, feeling the chill between his bones dissipate.

Askel, watching Ian\'s well-defined muscles and the scars that marked them, suddenly spoke. "I still don’t understand."

"What’s that?" Ian asked without opening his eyes.

"That White Demon. I don’t see why it targets a village with so many warriors."

"There must be a reason."

"Do you have any guesses?"

"Well...." Ian thought back to the game. The reason it was a quest specifically for barbarian warriors was clear. The Mutated Harpy Queen could be a straightforward challenge with the right long-range attacks or a stealth approach.

Which was not so for a barbarian warrior, for whom such tactics were irrelevant. In the game, fighting the queen was not mandatory, likely designed to challenge players to take on fights that were less advantageous. Now, in reality, there would be other reasons.

"Actually, its intentions aren’t what’s important," Askel concluded himself. After a pause, he added, "I keep thinking, maybe I should still go talk to Valeri. Even if he dislikes my decision, he knows that dealing with the beast is a priority."

"No need."

"But..."

"Warriors won’t help."

Askel blinked at Ian\'s next words. "You think little of our village warriors."

"Not because they are weak. If they rush out, the beast will just flee again. It\'s better if they stay behind the palisades. That helps us more."

"So, really, the three of you will handle this?"

"Actually, just the two of us. Charlotte and I are good enough for this job."

The expression on Askel\'s face was one of bewilderment. He had seen the horrors that Ian and his companions could unleash, yet he also knew very well how terrifying the White Demon was.

"How are you... planning to do this?"

Ian opened his eyes slightly and looked over at Thesaya.

"She has a keen sense for magic. She\'ll pinpoint the Harpy\'s hiding spot. That\'s her role finished. And then..."

Ian’s gaze shifted to Charlotte. "Charlotte will engage the undead from one side. Basically, she\'ll be buying time. Since she\'s alone and doesn\'t look strong, the Harpy won’t flee but will likely use its minions to try to hunt her down. In the meantime."

Ian shrugged at Askel. "I’ll quietly approach the beast and start by tearing its wings. After that, I’ll go for the throat."

It was a straightforward plan.

However, to Askel, it seemed filled with unreasonable risks. Charlotte would have to face dozens of undead alone, and Ian would have to confront the enormous monster by himself. If it had been so simple, the village warriors wouldn’t have struggled so much. But Ian\'s demeanor was calm, and so were Charlotte and Thesaya.

"You just watch from beyond the palisade with the other warriors. They’ll see you made the right choice for the village. And for now..." Ian motioned with a nod. "Bring more hot water."

"...Yes, of course."

***

The night arrived and the eyes of the warriors gazing beyond the palisade flickered dimly. Dozens of undead lined the edge of the forest, staring back at them. The nightly tension had even the hardy Northern warriors feeling weary. The dread that these horrible nights might continue indefinitely, or that these creatures could ultimately destroy the village, was causing more and more villagers to lose sleep.

"..."

Valeri, the village’s great warrior, knew too well that anxiety was spreading throughout the village. Despite his calm exterior, he was incessantly revising the geography of the area they planned to search the next day.

They needed to find the White Demon\'s lair soon to quell this unease unless he wanted to abandon the village or step down from his role as champion.

That\'s why he was caught off guard by Askel\'s presence.

"It should be bedtime for you." Valeri spoke coldly, turning to Askel.

Askel, the son of a former great warrior, was like a thorn in Valeri\'s side. A coward who inherited a great warrior’s blood yet seemed intent on abandoning tradition. Yet, he was also an individual Valeri couldn\'t easily dismiss. Askel\'s presence somehow highlighted his own.

Askel responded evenly. "I can\'t sleep."

"Who are those outsiders? Everyone’s whispering that you’ve brought demons."

"They’re beastfolk, not demons. And they’re monster hunters."

"What...?" Valeri\'s expression twisted.

"You really brought outsiders into our village matters?"

"Yes."

Valeri’s brow furrowed deeper at Askel’s calm reply. He thought dismissively of what just three could accomplish. By tomorrow night, Askel might well add “below the belt” to his reputation.

It was then Askel added. "They said not to interfere."

"...?"

"Don’t let any of the village warriors come out. They said if we do, we’ll just mess things up."

"...Did they really say that?"

"Yes."

Do they have a card up their sleeve?

Just as Valeri\'s brow was about to furrow again.

"Ah...?! Look over there...!"

A cry erupted from the side of the palisade. Simultaneously, the undead at the forest\'s edge turned their heads. Valeri and Askel turned without a word.

Crash! Thud!

What they saw was a beastfolk, alone, battling the undead. Wielding a huge battle ax, she was smashing the undead to pieces.

"..."

Watching silently, Valeri\'s eyes narrowed. The beastfolk was brave but didn’t seem as strong as expected. Moreover, undead were swarming from all directions.

"They\'re determined to die."

"That ax looks tempting. Let\'s bet on who gets it if that demon dies."

Warriors had gathered around, murmuring among themselves. With all the undead converging in one area, there was no need to guard the other palisades.

Crack! Snap!

The beastfolk was bravely resisting, but she was gradually being overwhelmed. The number of undead was simply too many. Just before being surrounded, she managed to break through on one side, only to start being chased by the undead.

It looked like she was completely cornered.

"Seems these demons aren\'t really anything special."

"Maybe the stories we heard were exaggerated."

The warriors chuckled one by one. No one was willing to help her; since she had interfered in the village\'s matters on her own, bearing the consequences was her own responsibility.

Valeri, watching the beastfolk, suddenly turned his gaze to Askel. He pretended to be expressionless but was biting his lower lip hard. He was clearly anxious.

Valeri realized that now was the moment to save this supposed demon, which would make Askel\'s decision appear even more foolish, and his own magnanimity stand out.

"...This won\'t do."

Just as he made his decision, an eerie, chilling scream echoed from beyond the forest. It was a scream like none had heard before, sending shivers down their spines.

The snickering of the warriors stopped abruptly.

"...!"

"...?!"

Everyone turned toward the direction of the sound in silence.

Crunch! Crack!

The sounds from beneath the palisade began to change as well.

"What the...?"

"She\'s lost her mind..."

A few warriors sighed as they watched the beastfolk, who, instead of continuing to flee, had charged right into the middle of the undead.

It seemed like a suicidal act, but...

Crunch! Crack!

The undead were simply being smashed and blown apart. They couldn\'t even get close to her anymore. It was as if she was just waiting for that scream to unleash some dramatic change.

"Was she waiting for that...?"

Valeri\'s brow furrowed slowly. Could it really be possible that she was handling all those undead alone while holding back her true power?

Just as Valeri was staring down at Askel...

Screech! Screeeeech!

Another piercing scream echoed from afar. This time, it wasn\'t just a scream.

Whoosh!

Breaking through the dark forest, a massive, white creature surged upward. The monster, flapping its tattered wings vigorously, eventually seemed to falter in its flight.

The creature briefly hovered in the air. The silhouette of a dark-haired outsider became clear on its back. The outsider was holding a sword aloft. The sword, silhouetted against the night sky, reflected the moonlight and shimmered.

Crack!

In the next moment, the sword traced a dazzling arc and struck at the monster’s neck.

Screeeeech!

As the monster released a mind-shattering scream into the night sky, it plummeted back into the darkness of the forest.