As they slowed down, Haruto noticed that this town, like the previous one, seemed empty, but there was something different this time—Sue didn't seem as tense. "Aye boy, get down, will ya? They're hiding, I can smell them."
Without warning, Sue cupped her hands around her mouth and bellowed, "COME ON OUT!!! THE WARLORDS ARE HERE!!!!"
Suddenly, there was movement all around them. Doors creaked open, windows slowly slid up, and people began to gather in the streets. Haruto felt a wave of confusion as he watched the once-deserted town come to life. A slender woman in a white dress emerged from the crowd, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders. Her face was delicate, almost doll-like, with an air of calm authority.
"Greetings, Warlords, and welcome to Moresee. I am Masha, the village chief. I apologize for the rude greeting, but... it's probably best if we speak in private. Please, follow me."
Haruto and Sue exchanged glances, nodding in agreement before following Masha to her hut. The inside of the hut was modest, yet well-kept, with a few simple furnishings. They took seats opposite Masha, noticing the chief's guards standing by the door. Despite their friendly appearance, Haruto could sense that the guards were subtly on edge.
Masha offered them tea, which they accepted, and for a moment, there was silence as she seemed to gather her thoughts. Haruto noticed the way she hesitated, her fingers tracing the rim of her cup as though searching for the right words.
"You're here for the gem," she finally said, her voice steady but with an undercurrent of worry. "But please, tell me—did you pass through the village before this one? Was everyone... okay?"
Sue's eyes narrowed slightly, her instincts telling her there was more to Masha's question than simple curiosity. "Before I answer, Chief... why do you ask such a thing?"
Masha hesitated again, clearly torn about whether to share what she knew. After a brief pause, she seemed to come to a decision. Figuring it was pointless to withhold information, she began to speak.
"A couple of days ago, we were visited by a strange man. At first, we thought he was just a traveler passing through, but... something about him felt wrong, off in a way that made my skin crawl."
Sue leaned forward, her interest piqued. "This man... tell me more about him. What made you feel that way?"
Masha shuddered at the memory, her face paling slightly. "There was something dark about him—an aura, maybe. I don't know. But I could tell he possessed a malevolent energy. He asked about the gem, the one we found. When I mentioned that the Warlords were coming to take possession of it, he became... angry. Then he just left, but what he said before leaving has been haunting me ever since."
Haruto and Sue exchanged glances, both of them fully engrossed in the story now. Haruto couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine, as if they were hearing the beginning of a dark fairy tale. Sue's voice was calm, but there was an edge to it when she spoke. "What did he say?"
Masha bit her lip, her eyes flickering with fear. "He said, 'The Solar Gem may protect this little village of yours... but tell me, do you think the villages around you will be so lucky?' His face... Heaven's, his face... it was full of pure hate and evil."
Sue nodded slowly, piecing together the implications of the stranger's words. "I see now. Well, sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but that little village south of here is no more. We'll look around. Hold on to that gem for now. Boy, come." Sue abruptly stood up and headed for the door, Haruto following closely behind.
As they walked through the village, Haruto could see that Sue was deep in thought. "Miss Sue, isn't it our mission to get this gem? Why did we let her keep it?"
Sue's gaze remained fixed ahead, her voice low and serious. "I want to check some things out first. This whole situation bothers me—the stranger who came for the gem, his knowledge of it, and his threat about the village. And the gem supposedly having protective properties? That's something I've never heard of. We need to dig deeper."
They continued their search, venturing into the outskirts of the village. Sue was meticulous, scanning the area for any signs of a campsite or anything that could offer a clue about the mysterious man. Haruto, however, found his thoughts drifting, wondering about the strange circumstances that seemed to follow him since he'd joined this world.
"Stay sharp, boy!" Sue's sharp command snapped Haruto out of his reverie. "Being a Warlord isn't always about battles and fights. Most of the knowledge people have comes from Warlords who've investigated missions. The world is constantly changing. If we don't stay on top of it, we'll go extinct."
Haruto nodded, the weight of her words settling in his mind. Just when he thought he had a grasp on this world, something new would challenge him.
Suddenly, a deafening explosion echoed through the air.
BOOOOMM!!!!!!
Sue whipped around, her eyes widening as she saw a plume of smoke rising from the village center. "BOY, LET'S GO!!" she shouted, already sprinting back toward the village, her axe at the ready. Haruto didn't hesitate, following as fast as his legs could carry him, his heart pounding in his chest.