" The road leading to the base of the mountain is still blocked. Our scouts have ventured through the thick forest, skirting around the large monster inhabitat, risking their life to bring us this info. If we don't do something about that noble, no merchant would ever come here." The hunter explained.
Alastair has gathered people to think about a solution to the problem. Sablethorn's army did run away but it's not like they were defeated. He was the son of the lord of this region, although their village lied at the outskirts of his territory, most of which were barren and unhabituated they still needed supplies from his town.
" There is also the unspoken rule about clearing the excess monsters. Normally the merchants are responsible for the base and some way up the mountain while we are responsible for rest of the trail. If we kept pushing it, it might become something that we would need to expend large manpower to clear. You know how easily those pesky bastards reproduce." Another person raised separate issue.
" What about using the secret trail? There are not many people here and we basically grow our own food. Things that we need won't be that heavy for hunters to carry once few weeks." Someone suggested.
" That's won't do. It's not sustainable. We don't know when that bastard would come back. If those hunters are absent during an all out attack, we won't have enough firepower to repel them. What's the use of supplies when our village gets raided?" A frail looking old man asked rejecting the idea. He can be considered an elder of this village making him expert at everything about their tiny village.
" And where would we even go? It's not like we could visit any Sablethorn territory. We have to make completely different trail through the back of the mountain to nearby port city. Not to mention the monsters there are untouched, didn't you hear about the Henwen that Alastair fought?"
" That's right! Beside there is also a war going on. Who says that ports are still safe? They are the first to fall!"
People began clamoring, everyone had their own opinion about the issue but there were no clear answers. Alastair listened to them fighting like little children. They were so disrespectful probably because Mera was not here. She would have cursed them oblivion for not maintaining proper decorum!
Alastair too didn't have any concrete solutions. He wanted her daughter to be safe and it was best to not come in contact with those despicable nobles so he was leaning toward contacting different dutchy. He could easily clear the monsters with few experienced hunters but they didn't have that type of manpower.
Fortunately he saw the door of the room open and Mera enter with an angry look on her face.
" Shut the fuck up! Can't you guys even wait for me to arrive?" They heard her loud yell which quieted down the room. She had always been headstrong and rash but for some reason she looked especially mad today.
They dared not to provoke her in fear of getting beat up to a pulp. Everyone knew what she was like when she was angry and seeing her furrowed eyebrows and that glint in her eye, they knew something was up.
" Chief..isn't there a rule that outsiders couldn't attend...meeting-"
" Huh?" She glared at him. The poor man nearly fainted seeing her demonic expression. Everyone felt there was definitely something wrong with her today.
" Maybe I should.." Noah tried to slip away. He had already been caught in a misunderstanding, it was best to give her some space to clear her head.
" Don't you dare run, you perverted bastard! Are you so eager to get back to that bitch?" She was ruthless with it. Noah didn't understand why she was being like this, it's not like they were dating or something? Was she actually jealous? he looked at her but brushed off that stupid idea by shaking his head.
" Why so funny? Why are you smiling?"
" Why does it matter to you? I don't like you being so disrespectful while I tried my hardest to explain what really happened." he didn't want to take shit from her. He already had a literal headache, he didn't want a emotional one too!
" Mhmmm..." Felix cleared his throat to let them know of his presence before continuing," Can you get back to bigger issue here? You can have your love quarrel when you are alone. It's unbecoming of a leader."
" L-love?" She turned red from embarrassment. Do people really think they were a couple?
" You are mistaken old man, there is nothing going on between us. She is just crazy, I don't get how this village is still standing." Noah shrugged giving her a smirk.
" You bitch-"
" Esmeralda!"
" Father?" She was shocked to hear Alastair yell at her suddenly.
" We don't have much time left. Everyone sit, I will give you a summary." Alastair felt threaten seeing Mera and Noah get so close. It was his way to change the subject without anyone noticing. He was finding out how tough was it being a father!
Fortunately, when he reported what others had been telling him, the mood inside the room turned somber. If facing hundred knights, that practically injured most of their forces, was hard how would they fare against the wrath of a noble in the future?