Saito and Yuki arrived at the entrance of Sandalia village only to be stopped by a young soldier in his teens. He pointed the spear in his hand at the two as he asked in a serious tone.
"State your business in our village!"
"The two of us are here to rest for the night. The two of us came from the capital and we're on our way to the town on Randel. But when we saw the large number of soldiers outside the city then we went to this village to resupply for our journey."
The man then looked at the two and after a few seconds he let's out a sigh and he said.
"Is that so? The war between the monarch and Anti-monarch fraction has escalated this far huh? I'm afraid to tell you this but all the inn's are fully booked and I don't that's it's safe to leave the village at this time. So why not stay at my place for the night."
Saito then handed the soldier a small pouch and when the soldier opened it a few gold coins were inside. The man showed a panicking expression on his face as he timidly said as he returned the pouch to Saito.
"B-But this is too much, This is worth more than my yearly salary. I can't possibly take this much money and I'm not asking you to pay me. I'm doing this out of good will."
Saito then returned the pouch to the soldier and he said while showing a cheerful smile on his face.
"Please accept it. I'm sure that it will be useful one day."
"B-But...."
Then Saito putted the pouch filled with gold coins on the soldier's breast pockets as he said in a serious tone.
"But in return don't tell anyone about us."
The soldier then nodded while shaking in fear as he realized that this man will kill him if he refuses. Saito then patted the head of the soldier and he said to Yuki in a cheerful tone.
"Shall we go?"
"Nn."
Yuki nodded and the two of them followed the soldier into a small wooden cabin. The soldier looked at the two while showing a depressed look on his face as he said to the two.
"I know it's not much but this is my humble home."
Afterwards the three of them entered the house and they were greeted by a girl who had short red that was about fourteen years old.
"Welcome father and who are these people?"
"They're our guest. They will stay here for the night since it's dangerous to continue their journey as monsters lurk around the forest during the night."
"Is that so?"
Saito asked the soldier and the soldier looked at him with a surprised look as he said.
"You didn't know? This village is surrounded by monsters who are always active during night time. People tend to avoid leaving the village during the night aside from the mercenaries that sometimes visited."
While showing a cheerful smile on his face Saito then kneels down and patted the young girl's head and he asked her.
"What's your name little miss?"
The girl showed a bright smile on her face as she replied to Saito's question.
"I'm Alice and this is my father Luis. Mister what's your name?"
"I'm Saito and this is Yuki. The two of us came from the capital and were staying here for the night since it's dangerous to continue our journey."
Saito then tapped Luis in the shoulder and he told him.
"Can I have a word with you on the other room?"
"Sure."
Yuki then smiled at Alice and she said to the little girl.
"Hi Alice-chan. I'm Yuki and I'm pleased to meet you."
"Th-The same here."
Yuki then grabbed Alice's hand and she said.
"Can we have a little chat in your room?"
"Nn."
Alice nodded and she took Yuki's hand and the two of them went upstairs. Meanwhile Saito sat down on the sofa while facing Luis as he asked him in a serious tone.
"What's really going on here? I'm sure that the problem isn't only about the monsters that lurk on the cover of night. Because if the monsters threaten the safety of the village then the lord's army will be forced to move to subjugate the threat."
Luis let's out a sigh and he said to Saito in a serious tone.
"The lord of this village can't send soldiers to anywhere due to the siege on the town of Randel. Now we can't expect the lord's soldier's to help us so those who can fight took up arms and patrolled during the night. There were some casualties on our side but we somehow managed to push back the monsters. But if this keeps up then the whole village will collapse."
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Saito then placed his hand on the hilt of the katana on his waist as he said to Luis confidently.
"I'll exterminate the monsters for you. How many are there? A hundred or two?"
Luis looked at Saito with a serious look on his face as he said.
"There are five thousand monsters. And the species of those monsters are orcs. I doubt that you can take on that many monsters all by yourself no matter how skilled you are."
"That's true.... I suggest that you evacuate the village. If you go to the fortress on Rarsia forest then I'm sure that the soldiers there will protect you until the monsters have been subjugated."
Saito then looked at the window and said in a serious tone.
"Tell the village chief to gather all the provisions of the village and prepare to depart to the fortress on Rarsia forest."
Meanwhile on the second floor of the house Yuki and Alice were sitting down on the bed and Yuki asked Alice with a smile on her face.
"So what do you want to be when you grow up Alice-chan?"
"I want to be a knight like my mother. A knight who protect's the princess."
After hearing her words Yuki patted her head and she said in a cheerful tone.
"I'm sure that your dream will come true. I'm sure that the princess will be happy to have someone like you to protect her."
Alice then grabbed Yuki's hands and she said cheerfully.
"Are you sure Yuki-chan?"
Yuki nodded and Alice showed a bright smile on her face as she hugged Yuki tightly. Then after a few moments the two heard someone knocking on the door and then a voice asked.
"Yuki-chan are you inside here? can I have a word with you?"
"S-Sure please come in."
Saito then opened the door and he said to Yuki with a serious look on his face.
"I'm going to stall the monsters while the villagers evacuates to the fortress."
Saito then turned to Alice and he asked cheerfully.
"Can I ask Alice-san to leave the room for a few minutes. I have something really important to discuss with her."
Alice nodded and quicly left the room. Then Saito sat down on the floor in a sieza and he said to Yuki while having a serious look on his face.
"I might not come back after this so please leave the village along with the villagers. The number of enemies are five thousand. I doubt that even with my skills that I can beat the enemies. So I'm asking you to leave the village tomorrow along with the villagers. Don't worry I already asked Luis-dono to protect you in-case something happens."
Yuki then slapped Saito's face as she said in a really angry tone.
"Are you telling me to abandon you?! Do you think that I'll only be dead weight if I come along with you?! I may be inexperienced in battles like you but I want to protect my people! Saito-kun I'm sure that you don't expect much from me but I'll do my best for the people of this village."
Saito then wiped of the blood the spilled from his face and he said to Yuki as he patted her head.
"I'm sorry but I can't let you fight. I don't want to repeat my pass mistake. So please I'm begging you please don't make me repeat my past mistakes."
With a sincere smile on his face Saito then patted Yuki's head once more and he told her.
"I lost my best friend when she said that she'll fight alongside me. She knew that she could die in that battle but she still fought. She was stabbed when one of my enemies was about to stab me with his katana. But she pushed me aside and got stabbed herself. I don't want to make the same mistake so please go back to the fortress."
Yuki then nodded and she said while having a serious look on her face.
"Got it. Since there's no way that you'll allow me to join you then there's only one option we have left."
With a wicked smile on her face Yuki then said.
"We'll lead the monsters to the town of Randel. And we'll wait for both of their forces to be severly weakened and then our forces will deal the finishing blow on both forces."