Murky's brow furrowed upon receiving the news, his determination evident in his expression.
"So, that guy isn't much of a threat," he murmured quietly, his voice filled with a mix of confidence and uncertainty.
"I could still take him out. Even though I'm not sure about any rewards for this mission, if it means gaining acceptance from this village and progressing in this world, then it signifies my advancement to the next stages," he contemplated.
"Maybe I can even defeat someone at the third stage, which is just an average level for a Draugr warrior."
Lost in his thoughts, his gaze shifted towards the three innocent children standing before him.
Their presence only solidified his resolve to end that guy's life if he managed to survive the colossal dragon wave, an unprecedented event due to his taming of Snow White.
As he observed the trio of young children, Murky's mind wandered back to the hardships he had endured in his past life.
Once his family discovered that he lacked the mutated gene, they treated him as nothing more than a dog, commanding him and allowing others to do the same. Regardless of his background, his family dismissed his grievances and displayed little concern for his well-being.
Their actions seemed to revel in his suffering, finding pleasure in the beatings and humiliations he endured.
Now, as he looked at these three kids, Murky couldn't help but draw parallels to his own past.
Based on his knowledge, at their age, they had likely lost any chance of becoming Draugr warriors.
According to tradition, young Draugrkins would display signs of their warrior potential by the age of seven.
Failure to do so would result in a fate like this—slavery.
Reduced to the status of slaves, their lives held no value, becoming mere playthings for the villagers.
However, Murky knew that these little girls still had a few more years until they reached the age of fourteen, when they would be subjected to the cruelties of adult Draugrkins and forced to bear children.
So, why were they here, caught up in this dangerous situation?
"What's wrong with him? Is he not right in the head, or is this all part of his plan?"
Murky muttered to himself, questioning the motives behind that guy's control over the three children. .
"Could he be someone important, like an elder's son? Or is he simply neglectful? How does he have the power to summon them here and protect this wine hut?"
Thoughts raced through Murky's mind as he considered these possibilities.
"If he's just negligent, maybe I can find it in me to forgive him. But if he's someone influential, someone who exploits his power to witness the suffering of these children, or worse, has a plan to lure dragons here and expose these innocent girls to harm,"
Murky's eyes flashed with a crimson light, his anger intensifying. He clenched his fist and declared,
"Then he deserves to die!"
Murky clenched his fist, frightening the three children in front of him.
He doesn't care if he manages to survive this massive dragon wave; once I found him alive, I will be the one to end his life.
In an instant, a voice from the system resonated in Murky's ear, interrupting his thoughts.
Ding!
[ The nightmare senses that the player StupidLove has a strong desire to harm one of the villagers in this Draugrkins village.
[ Warning: The player StupidLove wants to integrate into this world by joining the village, but currently lacks the authority to cause trouble. Any disruptive behavior may result in the player StupidLove losing all progress towards integration. ]
Hearing this, frustration surged through Murky.
The system seemed to be protecting that awful player, whoever they were. But could he really blame them?
Maybe they planned to take advantage of these innocent children in some way, seizing a perfect opportunity.
Murky chose to stay silent, focusing on the frightened little girls before hTheir fear was evident, and he felt sympathy for them.
"Tell me," Murky began, his voice calm yet commanding.
"Which one of you can herd a group of small dragons?"
Though they were just children, Murky knew that some of them had taken on responsibilities or received training from their mothers, who came from other tribes.
These preparations aimed to ensure their survival once they reached an age where they would no longer be shielded by the innocence of childhood, much like the hero in his own story.
The two little girls exchanged glances, eventually settling their gazes on the shy boy who kept his eyes fixed on the ground. Murky realized that he had found his ally for this mission.
"How many small dragons can you handle, and what kinds are they?" he asked, his tone demanding.
Then, looking at the two girls, he added with a touch of menace, "I'll make sure all three of you survive, but I won't waste my energy. So, you better tell me the truth about your small dragon-handling skills!"
Murky knew he couldn't afford to coddle these children; time was running out.
"I-I can handle all of them," the boy stuttered, his voice quivering with fear.
The two little girls offered him comfort, holding onto his trembling form.
Murky observed them for a moment before giving his command.
"Very well," he said firmly.
"Come with me."
With that, he turned around, ready to leave. But just as he was about to go, a voice called out, stopping him in his tracks. "Wait!"
Murky turned around, narrowing his eyes as he tried to understand why they interrupted him.
"What's the matter?" he asked, sounding annoyed. The oldest girl avoided eye contact, clearly uncertain. She seemed sorry for interrupting.
Murky grew more irritated and pressed, "What is it now!?"
The little girl gasped, her body shaking uncontrollably. Gathering her courage, she spoke with a shaky voice.
"A-Are you really going to protect us?"
Her question hung in the air, and Murky looked at her, his gaze steady.
"Of course I will," he replied, determination flickering in his eyes. The little girl's eyes filled with hope.
"And what about the man who made us stay here and guard the wine?" she asked. Murky briefly froze, his mind grappling with the possibilities. 'Can I get rid of that man?' he silently pondered, feeling the weight of his decision.
Understanding that the system wouldn't give him permission, Murky felt frustrated. However, he knew that the lack of authority was the main obstacle. Once he had the necessary authority, he would be free to act.
"I can definitely protect you," he reassured the little girl, annoyance evident in his voice. "Let's not waste time with unnecessary questions. Just follow my lead."
Upon hearing Murky's response, the oldest girl exchanged a look with the other two children, silently showing their agreement. With a nod, they expressed their trust in him.
Together, they followed behind Murky as they left the wine house.
Meanwhile, as Murky led the group, his mind wandered, troubled by a nagging feeling in his gut. Guilt started to seep in.
"I lied," he whispered to himself, barely audible.
Doubt crept in, questioning his determination to take a life.
He considered that if the man turned out to be foolish, he might spare him. But if the man proved to be a terrible tyrant, enjoying his power or plotting to use the children as bait for dragons and causing chaos, then Murky pledged to do whatever it took to eliminate him, no matter how much time it might take.
As they moved forward, Murky's thoughts raced with conflicting emotions.
The weight of his decision weighed heavily on him, the seriousness of his potential actions sinking deep into his soul.