The Foreign Race is mostly of the long-lived kind.

But the gods are fair.

So, the long-lived Mutants each have their own defects to varying degrees...

Be it madness, bloodlust, or fear of light...

If humans are the lambs raised by the gods, then Mutants are the hungry wolves eyeing the lambs...

With fewer wolves, the sheep would destroy the grasslands; with more wolves, the sheep would disappear.

'Therefore, the gods need shepherds... and that's why we exist.'

— "Words of the Dawn God" / Chapter on Gods and Believers.

...

"If there were no Mutants or noble Knights, these villages might slowly merge..."

Ogre surveyed the village environment, pondering the differences between village people and town people.

The existence of the borderlands is essentially a result of overpopulation. Rather than saying Demon Beasts invaded humans, it's more reasonable to say humans occupied the living space of Demon Beasts.

'Perhaps it's the presence of the Church that prevents the villages from merging...' Ogre contemplated the relationship between the Church of Dawn and the villages.

He realized that without the protection of the Church of Dawn, those nearby villages and towns might have merged long ago.

Of course, they might also have been flattened by a beast tide or completely transformed during a Mutant plague.

After all, with more people, migration becomes troublesome, and resource management becomes a hassle.

'Still thinking too much—how the weak strive to survive rarely affects the outcome; ultimately, it's the stronger ones who decide the result...'

Ogre believed that many smart people might have thought of these things, but they were ultimately limited by their status and powerless to change anything.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

However, even without these influences, it would still be difficult for villages to cluster together—those with talent and ability are taken away, and few return...

Most people are selfish, and that's understandable.

"I'm sorry, sister, I didn't mean to... Huh? Sister, why haven't I seen you in the village before?"

At this moment, a little girl running around a corner bumped into Ogre; realizing what happened, she rubbed her little head and immediately apologized to Ogre.

Ogre didn't speak, just reached out to rub the girl's forehead, then prepared to leave.

"Sister, why aren't you talking?" The girl seemed a bit familiar and kept asking questions.

Seeing this, Ogre had to stop, took out a notebook and a graphite pencil, and drew a little figure with a crossed-out throat.

Then, after glancing at the somewhat excited girl, Ogre drew a crossed-out musical note beside it, turned it around, and placed it in front of the girl.

"Can't sister talk?"

The girl looked at the drawing, then at the silent Ogre, and immediately understood what was going on.

"Mm..." Ogre nodded.

"That must be uncomfortable..."

The girl imagined herself unable to speak, then shook her head vigorously—she felt it was too miserable, unable to say what she wanted to eat.

"…"

Seeing the girl's expression, Ogre nodded, then shook his head.

"Ah, what does that mean..." The girl asked in confusion.

Ogre didn't answer, instead, he put away the notebook and pencil.

He didn't plan to get entangled with the girl.

Nor did he intend to stay and explain slowly.

Arguing with children is the silliest thing—there are many cruel things far more unbearable than losing one's voice.

But explaining these things is meaningless.

Because when she grows up, there will naturally be many cruel and inescapable things waiting for her.

"Wait, sister." The girl tugged at the corner of Ogre's thick cloak, then took out a piece of candy from her pocket and held it up high: "I don't know what sister has been through—but this is Nia's favorite thing, once you eat it, you're not allowed to feel bad."

Ogre stared at the candy for two seconds, finally stopped, took out the notebook and pencil again, and squatted down.

Flipping to a clean page.

Picking up the pen, Ogre began to draw on it.

This child was worth his pause.

"Sister, are you drawing?" Nia curiously leaned over, and soon recognized the person in the drawing: "Huh? Is this Nia? That's amazing."

Ogre didn't speak, just tore off the page and handed it to Nia, pointing to the candy in her hand.

"For Nia?"

"Mm..."

"Yay, thank you, sister, Nia loves it." The girl happily accepted the drawing from Ogre and then handed the candy to Ogre.

Ogre took the candy he was long tired of and rubbed the girl's head.

"You won't grow tall like that." Although Nia didn't particularly like having her head rubbed, she didn't show any refusal.

For some reason, she really liked this unfamiliar sister.

"Nia!"

At this moment, a somewhat anxious voice came through.

Ogre stood up and turned his head, noticing a relatively young woman approaching.

"It's time for lunch, Nia, you can't just run around like that, be careful of getting caught by werewolves." The woman pulled Nia over, then replaced her expression with an apologetic smile, nodding to Ogre: "Sorry, miss, Nia is a bit mischievous."

"Mom, this sister can't talk..." Nia poked her head out, then waved the drawing in her hand: "Look, this is what sister drew."

"Mm..." Ogre nodded.

Then he pointed to his left shoulder with his right hand and waved to the mother and daughter.

To indicate he didn't mind.

"Sorry, miss, children are ignorant, and they speak without thinking." Nia's mother forced a slightly formal apologetic smile.

Ogre shook his head.

After writing "it's okay" on the notebook, he turned and left.

"Nia... don't play with strangers anymore, it's a good thing this is..."

"I know..."

Although walking away continuously.

But with his keen hearing, Ogre could still hear the mother's teachings to her child.

'Perhaps, the meaning of becoming strong is never about gaining something... but about not losing anymore.'

Ogre put away the notebook and pencil, heading towards Mima's house.

Standing in front of Mima's house, Ogre raised his hand.

"Coming..." With the sound of footsteps, the door opened, and Aunt Mima's voice came through.

"Little Geling, back so soon." Mima said, a bit surprised.

"Come in and sit, I just made some ginger tea..."

Looking at Aunt Mima's usual smile, Ogre took off his scarf.

"Mm..."