Zephyr took his time in giving a response to the sorcerer. He never had interacted with people from this world before besides Arlette who was far from a normal citizen. He felt his hands become sweaty as he clenched the scythe. Taking a breath, he activated his Enhanced Focus skill and all of his worries vanished in an instant.
"My carriage was attacked by monsters. We made it alive but the driver…" Zephyr trailed his words with a distressing shake of his head. "He didn't make it. We also lost our belongings."
The scholar lifted his fedora and narrowed his eyes. "I'm sorry for your loss." He looked sincere with his words. "It doesn't give you the excuse to stand in admiration of these parasites. These people are the lowest of them all. Scums who can't even whore out their wives and families to earn a living."
His sincere expression of regret turned into a passionate hate speech. He spat out fiery insults with the smile of a demon.
"What exactly did they do?" Zephyr asked. "If you don't mind me asking."
"Call me Drake, you handsome and lovely couple." The scholar with messy silver hair smacked his lips. "Assault, theft, embezzlement, robbery. There is no end to their offenses. That being said, stupid assholes. Get your ass out here and get your weekly supplies."
The villagers' faces brightened as they diligently formed a queue. Zephyr didn't expect Drake to turn gears so fast. One moment, he abused the living hell out of these people, and the next moment, he distributed food like a saint.
"Nah, nah. Don't misunderstand my actions." Drake waved his hands. "This kindness is forced. I want to set them all on fire, then let them suffer for as long as the Goddess Hecate allows. These good-for-nothings still have one purpose—this town's defense."
Drake's disturbing grin left no room for misunderstanding. If the town came under attack, the people would buy time for the real townsfolk with their bodies. As literal meat-shields. They also had nowhere to go, as the dangerous forest was filled with monsters. It was not the cruelest fate.
Sherine tugged at his sleeve. "Can we go? I don't feel comfortable here."
The unfamiliar faces seemed to pierce her with their eyes. She had hardly ever been around anyone other than her parents, and being the center of attention in a crowd of strangers made her feel at once petrified and exposed.
"It seems your girlfriend is afraid of me and my men," Drake said with a dry chuckle. "A woman as beautiful as flowers rarely steps foot into our stranded town. Do not be alarmed, however, for they are not wild beasts. They will remain restrained as long as they're unprovoked."
Zephyr didn't bother correcting his mistake. Fewer people would bother them if they thought Sherine was taken. "Can you tell us the way to the inn?"
The Soul Keeper House would limit his immersion in this world. It'd also make him suspicious if he vanished randomly. An inn room was necessary to avoid many troubles.
"Eric, guide this beautiful couple to the Fiora's inn."
A warrior in full armor and helmet stepped out of the crowd. "Yes, Captain."
Drake extended his hand with a friendly smile, golden eyes flickering like a beast. Zephyr met Drake's handshake, and a strange energy whizzed past him. It was Drake's mana.
"May you thrive in the everlasting grace of Mother Hecate."
Zephyr momentarily froze. "May you thrive in the everlasting grace of Mother Hecate."
The experience of many RPGs came to help him in a pinch. He still wasn't sure how correct his response was; he left that to luck.
Drake put on his fedora. "I shall not hold you anymore. Please, have the time of your life in the Gallowind Town. Contact the Hunter Society's branch if you feel like putting your blade to use. They could use a capable fighter."
"The Hunter Society? Ah, sure."
The name caught his interest. He left with Sherine, hand in hand, following Eric's guidance.
Drake gazed at their backs.
'He failed in Theranhad Kingdom's greeting. He is too frail to be from the land of Martial God. He has good manners; he cannot be from the extremist empire.'
The scythe in his hand seemed like a high-quality weapon. He could be the surviving member of one of those dozens of destroyed kingdoms and clans.
"Dwayne, handle the rest. I'll go scouting."
Drake tapped his feet to activate the unique skill of his boots. He took to the sky and flew over the forest. He spotted no fools roaming the yellow zone of the forest.
'Did the Prince of Sloth pull back his minions?'
Drake scratched his head in confusion. The Prince of Sloth had his minions infiltrate the Great Forest of Selanai to surround the Gallowind Town.
Drake lowered the altitude and waved through the trees. A river soon appeared in his vision, dividing the yellow and red zones. The main boundary was the border of firekeeper stones.
"Looks clear."
After Drake left, the sand near the firekeeper stones turned red and bubbled. The red puddle swirled, and from its depths, a figure emerged. Her hair was the color of fresh blood, her eyes a piercing crimson. She threw back her bloody hair, revealing razor-sharp fangs as her lips curved into a malicious smile. The overlord that once brought terror to the land had returned with a vengeance.
Her eyes narrowed on the perimeter of the fire keeper stones—the last barrier between the army of Brood Queen and the Gallowind Town.
"O kind goddess, mark my words. Thy divine protection shall be extinguished. Thee shall despair on the night I feast upon thy children."
She took a little step over the boundary and leapt over the river. A minion of Prince of Sloth, also known as the Brood-type fool, jumped at her. She gently swung her hand and a red ray shot out. A head flew in the air.
"Conquer and flourish."
She snapped her finger. The gushing blood from the beheaded neck enveloped the corpse. The monster was yanked on its feet by an unknown force. It walked up to its head and put it back on his neck.
An immortal soldier was born.
The woman raised her gaze to the mysterious tower looming over the town and grinned ear to ear. "Be kind and perish."