Jonn descended the stairs from the village council chamber, emerging into the first floor of their current warehouse. Metal bars gleamed in nearby compartments, flanked by large crates stuffed with food provisions.

The warehouse had grown cramped with prosperity. Tools and weapons lined the walls, leaving barely enough space for single-file passage through the narrow aisles. Two people could hardly walk abreast through the congested storage area.

The village’s growth was undeniable, evident both within and beyond the walled perimeter.

Yet Jonn released a weighted sigh, his gaze sweeping across his surroundings while his mind lingered on the presentation he’d just delivered to the village councilors.

Behind him, the council chamber remained unusually silent, gripped by an almost unprecedented tension. He had detailed his recent journey to Littlewood, sharing his observations not only of the town itself but of the forces on the borders of the Barren Hills of Deepshadow.

Unlike Sarre and Petyr—battle-hardened warriors with inherent skepticism and heightened awareness of their surroundings—the village councilors harbored simpler hopes: growth, freedom from hunger, and peaceful existence. While they acknowledged certain dangers, like the fake mage who had threatened their village, they didn’t think things could be as bad as they had been between Yeoman Ferry and Count Javis Riverash.

The villagers needed time to process Jonn’s revelations.

Jonn concluded his presentation to the village and departed, leaving his people to contemplate the information independently. He refrained from suggesting immediate changes or dictating their next steps. Pausing briefly, he then made his way out, the wooden steps groaning under his footfalls.

Asher, perched atop his observation tower, caught sight of Jonn leaving the Council building. “Elder,” he called out, waving to catch the man’s attention. “Might I have a word?”

Jonn halted beside the metal staircase leading to the tower’s summit. Asher swiftly descended to greet him.

“What’s on your mind?” the white-haired youth inquired, his gaze meeting Asher’s.

The blond guard, wasting no time on pleasantries, dove straight into the matter at hand. “Did Petyr and Sarre inform you about our discovery outside the village a few days ago?”

Jonn’s brow furrowed at the question. In truth, Petyr, and Sarre hadn’t had the opportunity to share this information. Upon reuniting with Jonn, they had immediately returned to the village, their minds preoccupied with the looming threat of nearby conflict. Subsequently, they, along with the other villagers, had been engrossed in Jonn’s detailed account of recent events.

In his narrative, Jonn had carefully omitted certain details. He made no mention of his break-in at the Riverash Family estate, nor did he disclose the deaths of two mages or the theft of three mages’ possessions on that fateful day. Instead, he portrayed himself as merely facilitating the already brewing confrontation between Javis and Ferry, claiming to have observed the events from a safe distance.

“No, they haven’t had the chance to tell me anything about that,” he replied, his voice tinged with interest. “What exactly did you find?”

“We discovered some corpses close to the village,” Asher reported, his face etched with concern. “They bore the same insignia as Yeoman Ferry’s men. And from the looks of it, they were mauled by beasts.” The mere thought of dealing with such creatures sent a shiver down Asher’s spine.

What else could have left such a gruesome scene? One victim’s skull had been completely crushed!

The blond guard continued, his voice hushed, “We didn’t witness the attack. We simply stumbled upon the site—remnants of a small, destroyed camp and the men’s remains.” He paused, his brow furrowing. “Oddly enough, we noticed fresh horses in the village that very same day.”

Jonn’s eyes narrowed as he absorbed this information. Initially, worry crept into his mind, but Asher’s last observation steered his thoughts toward a potential explanation for this mysterious incident.

“How many nights ago did this occur?” Jonn asked, seeking to confirm his growing suspicion.

“It must have been about five days ago,” Asher replied.

That timeline aligns perfectly with the alert I received about the increase in village animals following Annabelle’s advancement, Jonn mused silently.

He always received mission updates when his progress increased or decreased, but also when a mission’s completion requirements changed. Coincidentally, on the day Annabelle advanced, he’d been notified of an increase of four animals for the village.

“How many new animals appeared that day?” Jonn asked, his voice neutral.

Asher’s eyebrows raised slightly at the question. “Four, Elder.”

Jonn’s expression brightened as understanding dawned on him.

So that’s what happened… These beasts are truly fascinating creatures. It seems Annabelle has been safeguarding the village in my absence.

With two light pats on Asher’s shoulder, Jonn reassured him, “I’ll look into it, but there’s no need for concern.”

Asher remained rooted to the spot, watching Jonn’s retreating figure. Despite Jonn’s words, worry still gnawed at him. Jonn was indeed a skilled warrior and capable leader, but his assurance alone couldn’t dispel Asher’s doubts and apprehensions. Nevertheless, he couldn’t afford to let his fear of the nearby beasts overwhelm him. With a resigned sigh, he returned to his observation post.

Jonn made his way toward the animal area, passing villagers engaged in various tasks. Children scurried about, delivering messages and minor items, while elders offered guidance to younger members while they return from jobs beyond the village or working in the construction zones on the western side of the walled area.

The animal enclosure was relatively quiet, with only two of the shift’s animal caretakers currently at work. One pushed a half-full wheelbarrow, while the other wielded a shovel, diligently collecting animal droppings.

These droppings were daily contributions to the village compost heap, a vital source of fertilizer for the greenhouse crops that sustained their community.

Jonn glanced toward the two young workers, acknowledging them with a nod and a warm smile. In this moment, he allowed himself to focus on the present, temporarily setting aside the complex problems that couldn’t be immediately resolved.

One of the aspects Jonn cherished most about his village was the ability to find solace in work or study. Here, he could immerse himself in tasks without the constant worry of espionage, information gathering, or impending conflict that plagued the outside world.

He loved the life he had cultivated in this close-knit community.

Dedicating himself to improving his home, pursuing knowledge, and witnessing the hopeful gleam in his people’s eyes served as an inexhaustible wellspring of motivation for Jonn.

As he observed the horse and cattle droppings scattered about, Jonn noticed subtle differences in them without even needing to invoke his Celestial Magnifying Glass.

There’s a higher concentration of mana in the animal waste… I’ll need to investigate how this enriched manure interacts with our crops later. It’ll take some time before all our compost comprises this enhanced fertilizer, but I should be able to detect some changes already.

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He strode past the two men working and spotted the animals near the water reservoir.

Close to the reservoir, Lance stood watch as Roulf single-handedly operated the gears responsible for the village’s piped water system. The animal’s efforts provided the power to pump water up to the village’s elevated reservoir.

Although Roulf remained at level 1, his physical attributes had noticeably improved. Even without employing his magnifying glass, Jonn could discern the animal’s more developed musculature compared to just a few weeks prior.

It seems bulls truly are blessed with extraordinary physical potential. Any physical activity they engage in seems to magically enhance their development.

A smile played across Jonn’s lips as he heard the eager moos of cows approaching from behind, where he had been observing Roulf.

The ground trembled beneath the thunderous footsteps of Mimosa and Luna, accompanied by several horses, all racing towards him with a shared purpose.

Those shameless animals…

Jonn couldn’t help but chuckle as he caught sight of their eyes, alight with hunger for Aether Tears. Among the familiar faces, he noticed the village’s new equine additions.

Without hesitation, Jonn summoned the eight mana crystals he had brought for the village animals. He distributed four to the newcomers, allowing them to acquire their mana cores, while reserving the rest for other deserving ones.

Before he could decide on the allocation of the remaining crystals, movement from the chicken coop caught his eye. Annabelle emerged, making a beeline towards him with surprising speed.

For a moment, Jonn disregarded the larger animals surrounding him, his attention captivated by the hen leading the village’s avian contingent in his direction. Annabelle had undergone a noticeable transformation; while not intimidating, she was markedly larger than her feathered companions, outstripping even the roosters in size.

The white and yellow-feathered hen’s gait was remarkably swift, and there was an unmistakable sparkle in her eyes that rendered her particularly striking.

Annabelle

Level 2 (28.2%)

Health: 210/210

Mana: 282/282

Stamina: 189/189

[Attributes]

Strength 11.9 Agility 18.5 Dexterity 6 Constitution 21 Endurance 18.9 Intelligence 28.2 Wisdom 25.1 Charisma 5 Luck 8 [Relationship] +4,000 (Worship)

“Annabelle, you were responsible for dispatching those intruders on our land, weren’t you?” Jonn inquired. “Who else participated in that operation?”

The hen shook her head and extended one of her wings, gesturing towards Roulf.

As I suspected. That guy truly possesses the strength to crush a skull.

“Why did you take action against them without alerting the village?” Jonn pressed, his tone a mix of curiosity and concern.

“Annabelle and Roulf are beasts. The village doesn’t know that. Beasts are evil.”

A childish voice echoed in Jonn’s mind, causing him to stumble backward reflexively. “Can you speak?” he exclaimed, astonishment clear in his voice.

Previously, he had never heard any of his animals communicate verbally. He could understand Ice and some of the other animals through their behavior or the connection between them. But that was more akin to comprehending the animals’ emotions rather than hearing logically connected words.

“Annabelle can’t speak, but she can express her thoughts using mana,” the voice in Jonn’s mind explained.

“Oh? Why doesn’t Ice do that?”

“Annabelle doesn’t know, master.”

In that instant, Jonn’s eyes widened as a sudden realization struck him.

That’s it! That’s why I need the village animals for the [Exotic Animals] quest!

“Annabelle, can you understand other animals?” Jonn asked, eager to confirm his theory.

“Annabelle can,” the hen replied, tilting her head to the left, intrigued by her master’s animated tone.

As her master was exuding a funny smell, she sensed that this was a good thing and just waited to hear more from him.

“Perfect! You’ll be my translator!” Jonn scooped Annabelle off the ground and hoisted her into the air like a hard-won trophy.

The village animals watched the scene unfold with curiosity, respectfully backing away as they witnessed Annabelle’s impromptu coronation as the village’s premier animal. She had already established herself as the strongest and most seasoned beast in the area, but this gesture from the master of the great Eternal Village himself solidified her status in their eyes.

Annabelle was now, without question, the village’s protector and their grand master’s champion!

Even Ice observed this spectacle, a twinge of jealousy momentarily flashing through him. However, he quickly acknowledged that Annabelle had rightfully earned this position. Not only had she fought valiantly for the village, but the hen radiating power and sovereignty also provided valuable eggs to the village each morning. How could he, a mere brute force, compare to her multifaceted contributions? His master’s judgment was sound; Annabelle deserved her place at the pinnacle.

One by one, the animals bowed their heads as Jonn’s laughter rang out, Annabelle still held aloft. Each creature present paid homage to this momentous occasion.

Though caught off guard by this sudden recognition, Annabelle embraced her master’s trust wholeheartedly.

“Annabelle will do her utmost not to disappoint you, master!” she vowed, her tiny heart fluttering with pride. Her eyes shimmered with a soft blue light as the mana within her body surged, infusing the new eggs forming inside her.

Jonn remained oblivious to the profound impact of his actions on the animal hierarchy. Nevertheless, he felt no concern about their peculiar behavior. His animals were, after all, weird. Gently placing Annabelle back on the ground, he showed the Celestial Magnifying Glass, ready to embark on his intended task.

Before distributing the four remaining mana crystals, he resolved to thoroughly assess each animal’s condition. His goal was to give these precious crystals upon those closest to ascending to level 2.

It’s time to expand our population of Annabelle-caliber beasts! Perhaps this will lead to the emergence of other gifted animals in our village!