The sun hung high above a village. From the plaza could be a loud commotion be heard. Somewhere nearby was a large crowd gathered. In front of it stood Libertas, beside him was Igor who shouted, "Quiet down!"

After the crowd quietened, Igor continued to speak, "As you all can see, in front us is a village! This is maybe your home, but for others, it isn't. They don't have a place to sleep except under the free night sky. As such I would beseech you to accommodate them, at least for a while."

Igor bowed to them, then he turned to the north before he swept his eyes back to the crowd, "His Highness and I will travel to the nearby city, and prepare for the coming journey. You may come with us, or you can walk your own path."

Finally, he took a step back and spun around to see the village, "But for now, for the moment, I would please the demi-human to stay here. I can pledge for you with my name that this isn't discrimination. A large crowd of mostly demi-humans will scare the villagers, and I don't know how they will react at this sight. For safety, please stay put."

Following Igor whispered softly to Libertas, "Your Highness, please lead us to the village now."

Libertas glanced suspiciously at Igor, a couple of time. Anyway, with a faint sigh and a weak head shake, he walked to the village. After a while, the crowd indeed separated, one followed Libertas, the other remained there.

Nearing the village centre, Libertas saw the gathering at the plaza. A crowd of adult villagers surrounded an elder standing on a chair. One of the villagers shouted, and another one immediately yelled out too. As soon as the discussion became too agitated, the elder interfered.

Villager A, "No! I won't stay here!"

Villager B, "Then scram, who cares about you? I ain't a coward, abandoning friends and family. I will stay and fight! Who is with me?!"

Villager A, "Fuck off! Do you want our brothers and sisters dead? Our family and friend, kidnapped, and maybe, already sold as lowly slaves. Do you now really demand us to fight a hopeless struggle? Are you fucking crazy?"

Villager B, "Who is crazy? You are crazy! Your whole family-"

Villager A, "Do want us to be fucking slaves?!"

Villager B, "You-"

At this point, the elder interfered, "Okay, stop it! We understand both points now."

Both villagers started speaking loudly at the same time, "Elder…" but seeing the elder shook his head, they fell silent.

"I will remain here. There is no use of discussing this! Whoever wants to leave, leave before the bandits come again. You are all dismissed."

"Wait!"

A young boy with black unkempt hair whose deep brown eyes gazed at them with insanity. Following behind him was a broad-shouldered man with a brown coarse beard. Despite his rugged appearance, his shivering jasper-coloured eyes revealed his worry. From time to times he glanced at the young boy.

The gathered villagers were all stunned. The reason wasn't the two men but the small crowd behind them! Familiar faces were under them, friends and families who were recently deemed as lost forever. Unknowingly, dust hit countless eyes, forcing them to tears. But the unaffected eyes became frantic, glancing through the crowd, panicking slightly.

Then, suddenly, the two crowds rushed at each other, embracing, searching, or crying. Some found their friends, parents, children, siblings, but others could only despair. Parents cuddled their children, as they cried in their embrace. Brothers hit each other jokingly while sisters laid in each other's hugs. Friends stood far apart but stared deeply into their friend's eyes.

The ones, who noticed that they don't have any friends or family here any more, despaired. Some collapsed to the ground, and out of frustration, they hit it. Even then, when the blood seeped from their fists, they didn't stop. They can't stop, or else the emotions would overwhelm.

The rest didn't lose any friends, family, or didn't even come from this village. They stood awkwardly there as they fidgeted and slowly retreated to the edge.

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After a while, the crowd calmed down. The sobbing ceased and the loud hits against the ground ended. Then, the aged man with the white beard and wrinkled face stepped on the chair. Beside him stood the elder. With a broad smile, he told, "Brothers and Sisters, the bandits, the devils are finally dead!"

The villagers were stunned, shocked, and wondered how it could be possible? How could the devil be dead? The villagers gasped with their mouths wide open, "Chie, Chief, is tha, that true?"

The chief laughed joyfully, "Yeah, or how else do you think we can now be here?"

"Finally free!"

"Yeah!"

"Hahaha!"

"Aaaaa!"

The crowd cheered, laughed, or hysterical shouted. They threw everything in their grasp high towards the sky, and one father even threw his laughing child accidentally up. Luckily, the mother caught the child safely before she hit her husband on the head. Though, even then he laughed as if nothing had ever happened.

The chief continued, after the crowd quietened again, "Outside of our village, now, are others who suffered like us. They were with us in captivity, freed like us but without a home like us. But we aren't cold-blooded enough to let the distressed souls suffer alone in the cold of the night, or are we?"

United, the whole crowd shouted, "No, we aren't"

"Then, let us go out and welcome them sincerely!"

Like a flood, the crowd swept out of village gate and rushed to the demi-humans. Preparing themselves to welcome the distressed souls with open arms. At least this was planned, but sadly not done. The moment they saw the distressed souls, the demi-humans, they froze, stunned by the sight of demi-humans.

Though, the few who knew the distressed souls were demi-humans pushed the others forward until they met the demi-humans. However, the supposed 'open arms to welcome the distressed souls' turned into a 'cramped arms to stiffly welcome the distressed souls'. Nevertheless, it was indeed a welcome for the demi-humans.

Finally, Libertas sighed in relief, after the last demi-human was settled down with a roof above his or her head. He stretched tiredly, even if he hadn't done much, except interacting with the various folks. Though it was demanding, it was fun too, and it seemed to have helped to calm his inner turmoil.

"Igor, let us set out now!"

"Yes, Your Highness!"

"Hey, hey, wait! Where are you going without me?"

Judas suddenly popped up behind Libertas. Then the nose was pushed against Libertas. With a sharp hissing, he questioned Libertas, "Didn't you said you want me to accompany you?"

"Ahahaha, did I?"

"Yes, you did!"

Petro who stood behind Judas then affirmed again, "Yes. You definitely have said that!"

Libertas sighed and raised his hands, "Stop it. You have won, I lost. Just come with me."

Just as they took a step towards the gate, two demons, Succubi, ran from behind towards them. On their face were a lecherous smile and a small blush. They licked their lips and yelled, "Hey, Handsome, don't run away! We will be gentle!"

Seeing them, Judas and Petro cursed simultaneous, "Fuck! Don't chase us!"

Judas waved at Libertas as he prepared to flee again, "Sorry, can't accompany you."

But as soon as Petro and Judas rushed away, they instantly hit soft fur, which luckily cushioned their following impact against the iron-hard muscles. After seeing the two crash against the ground, the succubi pounced down at them like hungry predators.

After shortly glancing at the four on the ground, one of the two monkey-men spoke, "We would like to follow you into the city."

Similarly glanced Libertas at the four before he absently replied, "Oh, yes. No problem but could you two help to keep them apart?"

Silently, one took the succubi by the neck and lifted them high. The succubi grumbled while they glared at the monkey-man. The other didn't grab the Incubus and Petro by the nape but by the foot to raise them. Then they hurried Libertas, "Let us go quickly now!"

But the moment he wanted to say, "Alright" a little girl's voice shrilled through the air, "Ferox! Ferus! Where are you? Ferus! Ferox!"

The two monkey-men quickly exchanged glances, before they decided to go into the other direction and to hurry the others once again, "Hurry, we need to go now!"

Unfortunately, it was too late. Barely after they took a step, the girl happily chirped in front of them, "Ferus, Ferox, I found you!"

Her mole, under the left side of her mouth, raised slightly, she grinned triumphantly. The long fiery red feather tail wavered with each hop she jumped towards them. In contrast to her joy was the despondent beast-men. Stiffly they released their hands, letting the four fall to the ground again. Then they kneeled, or else they won't be able to see straight into her eyes. They had no intention to look down at the little girl.

They spoke seriously, "Lamia, let us play another round of 'Hide and Seek', okay?"

"Really? But this time I want to hide!"

"Alright, go hide. We will seek you."

She happily shouted, "Yay!" and rushed away.

After seeing that Lamia was out of reach and wouldn't hear them any more, the monkey-men turned to the others, "Hurry up, or else-"

They gaze wandered to the four at the ground. The clothes were half torn, and lipsticks placated the face of Judas and Petro. The succubi were out of breath, and their revealing clothes loosely hung on their skin.

One of the monkey-men spoke to the four, as the other grabbed Libertas and Igor, "Please keep your act of indecency at home!"

Then, they rushed away. Judas and Petro glanced at each other, dumbfounded. The succubi laughed lecherously, "Thanks, monkey brothers! We will keep that in mind!"

Though, they were left stunned as Judas and Petro vigorously chased after the monkey-men. They shouted, "Hey, don't leave us alone with them!"

"Handsome, you can't leave us like this! Take responsibility for us!"

Similarly, the succubi chased after their prey.