So after I killed that guy, I started pillaging his stuff.

Not really classy, sure, but hey, I'd be remiss if I didn't.

This was of course, before I sent the body to Anubis, so the body arrived butt naked, but I hardly think it matters, since a body is going to be eaten either way, so who cares if it has clothes on.

So what'd I find?

Well first, clothes.

Standard scout clothes, nothing impressive by any means.

The bow, the arrows, a quiver, nothing much.

Oh, and the whole plan about the attack of snowsberry village.

Yeah, that was written down. I can't tell if that's poor memory or if that's pure stupidity. Either way, now I know where I am.

Snowsberry village, it's that place known for its unique berries, and is primarily a elven locale for starting adventurers.

I guess the system wasn't kidding about far out, Snowsberry is on the fringes of the Romana empire, and actually borders a few kingdoms near us.

So the plan.

It mentions a high elf, which automatically sets a lot of bells off. I guess that explains the royal family of elves getting involved.

The royal family is officially acknowledged, but the actual kingdom of elves is not recognized, because no one knows where it is.

The elven royal family has made great efforts to keep it hidden, and one of the few reasons they'll send a carriage with their emblem would be high elves, which are rarely born.

Maybe every few centuries, like high dwarves, but no one's sure, because the royal family is secretive like that, and most of them end up with them.

Of course, officially, high elves don't belong to anyone, but it's pretty much unofficially recognized not to interfere with that business, unless you want the secretive high elf families getting involved.

And speaking of which it's probably the high elf families who are involved with this, because no one else would so blatantly try to sabotage the royal family.

Unfortunately, the nicely laid out plan does not indicate which family is behind this, so its likely the chump here was just a disposable pawn.

Not like it matters, since most of elven politics are hidden from the world.

The only ones I know of are the ones that showed up at the last conference between the Romana empire and the elven kingdom, which was well over 2 centuries ago, so who knows what's changed.

According to this, they're using a machine that utilizes monster cores to encourage natural spawnage of monsters, which when born are born under the influence of the device?

And the device is using an ant magic stone which explains why the majority of the monsters spawning in are bug monsters?

That certainly explains things, and backs up the idea that a noble or someone of great influence is doing this, because with the amount of monsters there's no way some small ant monster magic stone is being used to produce the number of monsters I've seen. Has to be like an A-class probably, maybe B class, and that's not something cheap to use to power a device this long. They might've burn through more than one. Most magic devices don't just use one stone after all.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

And this plan details how a week from now they plan to directly attack snowsberry village, kidnap/kill the high elf, and then burn the village down.

Now I have to help.

Because I'm a noble.

A reincarnated one, sure, but a noble nonetheless.

And as a decent moral being, I can't really blatantly let a whole village of innocent people get killed.

I should probably at least go near the village and watch from afar, to at least view the situation.

Time for a hike!

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So I finally arrive at Snowsberry village, and I'll admit it's not a heartening sight.

The defenses are still decent, and still clearly holding up under the weight of the waves, but the eyes of the people are fogged over like only exhausted people could have.

The plan was obvious here. Start an artificial wave, turn them on the people, ride it out and jump on the weakened people. It makes too much sense, yet there isn't really a solution to it.

I've heard there's a retired A class adventurer hear, and since they're elves, even if it has been a century or 2, he's probably still here.

However, there's no way they wouldn't start a wave if they weren't sure they could clean up.

That's probably why he's not attacking anything either. I'm sure he can see me, but has chosen not to act for now.

Actually, I think I can see him.

He's on top of a guild building, noticeable because it follows the same standard layout all guild buildings have.

Yup, he's looked at me all right. Hasn't attacked me yet either.

Why hasn't the other soldiers shot an arrow at me though? No magic spell or anything?

Because I'm on top of a tree right now.

Most of the monsters have been laying that ground assault all the time, but me? Nah, I'm blending in with the trees.

Not sure why the guild leader isn't ordering for me to shot down. I expected that at the very least.

I also see the two knights I encountered with the little high elf, so that definitely checks out. They're both staring at me, though one of them has sharper eyes than the other. The female knight clearly saw me about the same time the A class did, but the male knight had to follow their gaze.

Though, the fact they even see me is still impressive.

I'm quite a distance away, and I can only see them because I'm using a handheld telescope I looted off that elf dude.

Wonder what they're thinking right now?

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"Is that a turtle with a telescope" muttered Tiel as he looked at the turtle in the tree. Clearly some kind of variant since it's not attacking first, rather it was observing. It was unnerving. It probably got that from killing someone, and that clearly defined the turtle as some form of danger.

Tiel wasn't sure what to make of the two heads. Variant monsters were often unpredictable and hard to deal with.

Lenore squinted. "Huh. This might sound weird, but doesn't that turtle remind you of some-"

"Turtle!" Shouted an excited young voice as Willow teleported next to Lenore, eagerly waiving at the turtle.

Little Willow had become more silent than usual and depressed when the attack began, seemingly aware of how she was involved with this surprise wave, closing herself off from the other kids.

To see her happy again was a sight for sore eyes. Lenore rubbed Willow's head fondly. "Sorry kid, but I don't think mr.turtle will waive at you."

The turtle froze for a minute, before waiving back to the little girl. Hmm.

"Well, if that doesn't confirm that turtle's a variant, than I don't know what does." Commented Sevante watching the turtle. Had this been any other time, he would've recommended shooting the turtle, but with little Willow here, this would be the incorrect move, since that would merely distance her from the family, the illogical choice.

"Huh. Guess that's the turtle willow healed on the way here. Looks like it's evolved since the last time we met."

While Sevante worried about the possible dangers the turtle posed, and Lenore was amused by the child's antics, Willow was just happy to see the turtle she saved.

She couldn't wait to visit him!

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When the little high elf girl waived at him, Earl was a little dumbfounded.

And I waived at her. Would that be an oops moment? If they weren't suspicious before, then they were now!

Huuu, it couldn't be helped The kid reminded me of my distant relatives who used to bring kids along with them. They were just so adorable!

Alright, I'm going to rest up and keep watch. I'm not sure how I can help, but what I do know is that I'll at least try.

I still owe someone a favor and I'll be damned if I don't return it.