CLIP-CLOP-CLIP-CLOP-CLIP-CLOP.
The overseer from the mountain awoke to find himself laying in the middle of an unfamiliar road. His body was still aching from the mob justice he had been served, and his head still had steaming lumps, but his body was whole.
Visibly relieved, he pushed to feet with a nasty grin and vowed his revenge. He couldn’t contain the joy he felt at the thought of what the Mhaledictus would do to the Beastfolk village once they got wind of what had transpired.
CLIP-CLOP-CLIP-CLOP- CLIP-CLOP.
The man was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn’t notice the arrival of a carriage.
“Well, look what we’ve got here,” said the coachman with a mischievous grin. “Free merchandise.”
In response to the ridiculous declaration, a group of slave traders exited the carriage with their equipment. Their expressions were jaded as they stalked their newly acquired prey with a confidence that hinted at years of experience in the field.
The former overseer took a cowardly step back, his face growing pale at the sight of the cuffs and fetters. Each rattle of the chains made his heart skip a beat. “I-I work for the Mhaledictus! They’re the most powerful organization in the western hemisphere! If you mess with me, you mess with them! And don’t think that the guilds will be enough to protect you from their wrath!”
The man regurgitated the same line he had used on Daisuke and the others, but the threat fell on deaf ears. He squealed like a pig as his battered and bruised form was engulfed in the shadows of the encroaching men.
Just until a few minutes ago, he was among them—a predator perceiving the world from their perspective—but, at the flip of a coin, the roles were now revered. Now he was prey; now he would have to endure the pain and suffering he had inflicted on countless people without remorse. Now, in an ironic and tragic twist of gate, he had become a slave.
***
Much to the astonishment of Daisuke, Whindel, and the others, Elmridge village came into clear view from a considerable distance away, indicating the current inactivity of the barrier. This discovery left them perplexed, especially considering Timartha’s steadfast commitment to maintaining the village’s concealment at all times.
Filled with concern for the villagers’ safety, a palpable sense of urgency propelled the group forward. As they approached the mound-shaped houses, they noted the path leading into the village was littered with the charred, smoking remains of numerous demons, painting a grim picture of recent events.
Beyond the carnage, a tiny wolf pup could be seen laying on its back in the grass that hadn’t been scorched by fire. The canine was receiving the royal treatment from the children—being fanned, hand-fed, and indulged with belly rubs, a privilege usually reserved for dignitaries and kings.
This spectacle left the approaching group dumbfounded. Against the backdrop of widespread destruction, a man, his face pale and panicked, shouted, “It’s the Demon King! He’s holding our children hostage!”
The mere mention of such a formidable and sinister figure sent the group spiraling into a comical, hopeless frenzy.
“Oh, that’s actually—”
Daisuke, trying to dispel the misunderstanding, couldn’t get a word in before Whindel intervened. “We can’t possibly ask you to do any more for us,” the man insisted, sporting a bitter yet grateful smile. “Men!” he bellowed to the group, “Prepare for combat! While we were in chains, our people defended our home alone! Now is our chance to atone for that disgrace!”
Despite Elena, Rexar, and Milo’s attempts to quell the misunderstanding that had engulfed their kin, the flames of confusion had grown so large they were practically visible, adding a touch of absurdity to the dire situation.
The group erupted in battle cries as their enthusiasm grew. However, when Zephyr began charging toward them with exuberance, their bravado swiftly crumbled, and their confident roars morphed into timid squeals of fear.
A hushed silence descended over the group as the pup affectionately leaped into Daisuke’s arms. Overwhelmed by a sense of shame, Rexar, Milo, and Elena strolled away, leaving the disheartened group behind.
“…”
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“…”
Whindel hesitantly extended his arm. “W-Why didn’t you tell us the wolf was an ally?”
The careless warriors, caught in a moment of reflection on their oversight, were swiftly interrupted by the entire village surging forward to welcome them. Weeping wives, husbands, children, and other relatives threw themselves into the embrace of their loved ones, overcoming the fear that they might never see them again.
Daisuke observed the heartfelt reunion with a warm smile. For the first time in a while, he felt that his existence clearly held meaning; that his actions had positively impacted the lives of others—unfortunate folk like him who were shunned and cast aside by the rest of the world.
“Big Brother! You’re back!”
While April joyfully competed with Zephyr for affection, Timartha and the others greeted Daisuke and the trio with heartfelt smiles.
“Welcome back, everyone,” said Mia. “We were all worried.”
“I wasn’t worried,” admitted Aldric while sticking out his unimpressive chest. “I knew you’d all come back safely, especially since Haxks was there!”
“I’m happy you all came back in one piece,” Sylvia breathed a sigh of relief. “Did you all manage to accomplish what you set out to do?”
“Uh, for the most part,” replied Daisuke.
Feng heaved a cool smile and shook his head. “I gotta admit, you kids are as tough as nails. And you were right about him,” Feng gestured at Zephyr. “He’s a monster, just like you.”
Daisuke laughed awkwardly, wondering if the man’s words were a compliment or venom.
“These are all the mana crystals left behind by the demons,” said one of the elder’s aides as she rested a sizable sack on the ground. “Zephyr is the one who defeated them, so it’s only fitting that you claim them.”
Astonished, Rexar, Elena, and Milo sighed at the glimmering crystals within the open sack.
Daisuke, more focused on understanding the situation than personal gain, inquired, “Why did you lower the barrier?”
Timartha, her staff always in hand, opened one eye. “As Feng mentioned, the wolf proved highly effective against the demons. So we collectively decided to deactivate the barrier to draw out and eliminate all the remaining demons lurking in the forest.”
“So lowering the barrier essentially made it easier for the demons to track and find the village,” Milo explained.
“Like moths to a flame,” Rexar added.
“…That was a risky gamble,” Elena chimed in. “But I’m relieved it all worked out in the end.”
Daisuke wasn’t quite sure how to feel about Zephyr being regarded as a mere tool, or a means to an end in his absence. But all’s well that ends well, I guess.
***
“…So that’s what happened,” Timartha said slowly once Daisuke had finished rehashing the events that transpired in the mountain. “To think such a vile operation was taking place so close to Elmridge Village.”
“Which is once again the result of our passive nature,” challenged Sylvia, her eyes cold and daring as she held her grandmother’s gaze.
The woman could only lower her head contemplatively at the blatant allegation, and while Daisuke sympathized with her, he couldn’t quite find the right words to say.
“Tch!” Feng clicked his tongue, peeved by one particular fact. “It’s great that those two bastards croaked in the end, but I can’t help but feel that they got off way too easy.”
A muscle tensed in Rexar’s jaw, then he cast an accusing gaze toward Milo who lowered his head repentantly. Elena caught a glimpse of the sour exchange, but she felt as though it was a problem that could only be solved by the both of them.
Mia glanced up from where she sat, gauging Daisuke’s expression. “So, in the end we didn’t learn anything about the demons or the Mhaledictus.”
An almost tangible discomfort settled over the group, easing only when Daisuke injected a glimmer of hope.
“About the demons… your guesses are as good as mine, but I’m positive I’ll learn about them if I continue traveling. As for the Mhaledictus… I may have a lead… I just need to confirm it.”
Elena inadvertently stole a glance at Rexar, fearing the look she would garner from him, but she mustered the courage to speak her mind. “Haxks… I know you mean well, and I’m sure everyone is more than grateful for all you’ve done… but to pick a fight with the Mhaledictus—”
“It’s personal,” interjected Daisuke, his perfectly sculpted mask momentarily crushed beneath the weight of his disdain. “Zephyr and I have a bone to pick with a few of their guys.”
For a moment, the room fell into a silence so thick it seemed to echo with a blend of emotions—anger, fear, frustration, doubt, guilt. However, in the face of Daisuke’s unwavering conviction, no one dared to voice criticism or speak.
“Big Brother! Mia!” April called out joyfully, her exuberance cutting through the tension as she, Aldric, and Zephyr burst into the mound-like abode. “The celebrations are about to start! Let’s go! What’re you waiting for?!”
“Kyuu~”
“We can’t have a party without our guests of honor!” cheered Aldric with an obnoxiously wide grin. “Haxks, com’on already—let’s go!”
“Whoa~” Daisuke exclaimed with a laugh as they both pulled him to his feet. “Alright, alright, hold your horses, I’m going!”
“Celebration?” Timartha asked with a confused frown. “But where did we get the food and—”
Daisuke tousled his hair embarrassingly. “It… kinda may have been my idea,” he admitted shamefully. “So I volunteered to provide all the food we need.”
Timartha sighed.
Sylvia chuckled. “So much for doing far too much already.”
Elena giggled at the thought of that.
Suddenly, Whindel was the next uninvited guest to storm into the already congested house. “Sorry to interrupt your stuffy meeting, but the morale of the villagers is more important right now.”
Timartha sighed again, but louder.
With his large, callused hand, Whindel grabbed Daisuke by the hood of his cloak and began dragging him outside like a rag doll. “Aldric, what took you so long? You’ve failed at your first task! It looks like I’ll need to up the difficulty of your training!”
“Y-Yes, master!” he saluted sternly.
“When did they develop a student-master relationship?” Mia leaned in to ask Elena who raised her shoulders in bewilderment.
April skipped innocently behind Whindel and Aldric while Zephyr hitched a ride on Daisuke’s head.
“Don’t think this will be enough to cushion the blow,” Feng whispered briefly to Daisuke before walking away.
Daisuke laughed awkwardly.