"Are there any differences with that monster aside from the others you saw before?"
'We can't just come to conclusions because of a night of interaction. There are times when deception is at work and people are too proud to think that monsters could also think like them.'
But Juan couldn't possibly give his father-in-law a lecture since that would be disrespectful.
Juan didn't want to add more trouble since Garu had just woken up. He's more prone to irritation at this time.
"All my life I've met with three different kinds of monsters. Battle with them not by brute force, but by strategies and wit our forefathers have left for us."
"Those three monsters have no mind at all and act the same as those animals we hunted and ate as food."
"Although there are some losses along the way, once we find their weakness, the next thing that will happen is quite easy. However, we lack something every time that happens."
"That's why all the monsters we fought till now always escaped at the very last moment. It might be the instinct of their survival kicking in."
"When they saw their weakness being targeted, they would immediately flee. That's why we were not afraid; we don't cower in front of them because we already experienced their horror a few times."
"This shadow monster is vastly different from the others as it won't run away even after it's weakness already been used against it."
"That shadow monster won't be able to do anything to the village at all other than scare the villagers. So instead of spreading panic, it's better to just let the day pass like usual."
"If this is the usual rain, it would have been a help for us since people won't go out at that time. But a storm? Their roofs might get wrecked by those strong winds."
"If, at that time, the shadow monster came, aside from the torches and bonfires getting put out by storm, the villagers might die from shock instead of the sheer horror it exuded."
Indeed, the horror of being stared upon by those beasts.
Even now, Juan could still feel the fear and fright he had back then, like it was just yesterday.
The one on the river made him unable to move. While the one on Woods made him run the fastest marathon in his entire life.
Actually, now that he thought about it.
He should have improved significantly since he can already move and run away by the second time.
Juan nodded as he agreed.
"I'm glad you understand my point. Remember this: monsters are just like animals; they don't know how to think other than following their instinct."
"So when you meet one, don't fight it alone. Remember your first experience, how you escaped one before. Don't move, don't alert it. Wait until it leaves."
"However, if you met one and it started to target you like what you experienced in the forest back then, then run as fast as you could."
"Though you're lucky at that time because the shadow's greatest weakness is the light, it can't pursue you at that time. I don't know about the others, though."
"So remember not to be alone when going into the forest edges, even if it's just gathering some firewood."
"Alright, that's all. My mouth has already dried from all this talking."
The conversation woke Ceth in Juan's embrace since Garu has been talking nonstop just now.
"Time to eat."
The table has already been prepared with dry meat, boiled mutton, and bread in each of their bowls.
"Ceth has woken up, so how about we start the meal?"
The madam has already said it, so naturally, everyone has to follow.
Ceth left Juan's embrace and sat properly on her seat as though nothing had happened.
The meal was good, despite the lack of salt. It warmed their stomachs and woke their dazed minds.
"Thanks for the food."
"I'll be leaving first to inform the village while I still have time. Juan, stay here with Ceth tonight."
After saying that, Garu stood up while taking hold of his hunting tools, just in case.
"Yes father."
Juan agreed. Even he didn't want to risk meeting that shadow monster outside.
"While I'm away, start the bonfire and spread some torches in the house corners. There's no need to worry about the firewood."
"Because there's enough, and it's inside the house—in the kitchen specifically. I leave this to my wife."
The madam nodded, then answered.
"Leave it to me, husband."
"Good. Don't worry, I'll be back immediately."
After giving his wife an assuring look, Garu left the house immediately. Then suddenly, there was a voice outside.
"Big brother! I was just about to look for you. What? You need my help?...I see, alright, I'll help you."
"Let's go!"
...
That was the familiar voice. And the three who remained inside the house knew whose voice it was.
"It's Sir Jura; he must have come to visit and inquire about Garu and about the shadow monster's situation."
Juan spoke after seeing Jura leave with Garu from afar through the door.
"I closed the windows and doors first, Juan. I'm going to start the fire."
The madam spoke, her expression clearly relieved.
"Since Garu is with his younger brother Jura, I can be at ease. At least he won't be alone outside for now."
Ceth's expressionless face yet tense eyes that have been looking at the door as though she can see through and follow her father's figure also calm down after that.
Juan closed the door and window, locking them with what he could see as ropes and sticks around.
The room wasn't dark, though, because there were torches and a bonfire in the fireplace, burning and bringing warmth and light to everyone's faces.
After doing that, Madam and Juan sat back around the table at the same time.
There was really nothing to talk about, so they could only remain quiet as they waited for time to pass by.
'This feels unreal.'
There's always that feeling of unrealism whenever disaster strikes, as though it shouldn't be possible to happen.
Making him wonder if this is even a dream, must be just an imagination caused by his brain.
It would take a few seconds or minutes before an individual could truly accept a reality.
The reason for such unrealness was because the human brain can't imagine how to stop a disaster from happening.
Human thinking during a disaster is always halved because of shock and denial.
Juan was just like that, although it really happened to him and he had already accepted it.
Deep inside his heart, he was still searching for an answer to how he appeared in this world.
How did he regain his youth? What's this monster about? Their terror they exuded whenever he met one.
Meeting this village has made him slowly accept his new life as it is right now.
However, is his heart really in the same thought as his mind?
No.
'Human minds can't accept things they can't control and solve. That's why they desire power, authority, and status.'
'Humans fear the inevitable death; that's why they search for a way to live forever.'
'And I Juan can't escape the fate all humans in the world has left carved in his genes. If something really happened, I wonder what I should do.'
'Hm, it should be. What can I even do? In the end, I don't have the confidence to deal with this kind of problem. All I can do right now is rely on this village and Garu.'
Coward may be the name they may call him. But Juan won't stop running from problems he can't solve immediately.
He would also not stop relying on someone stronger and taller than him when cornered.
"We have nothing to do, huh. It's a little quiet when we're just looking at our hands during this time."
The madam spoke rather timelyly. Juan also kind of dislikes this kind of heavy and silent mood around them.
"Indeed, how about we have some family talk, mother? Let's talk about Ceth's childhood. As a husband, I ought to know more about my wife, right?"
Saying that, Juan saw Ceth look at him with wide eyes as though she had just heard something unbelievable.
And her reaction became even more awesome after seeing her mother just chuckle at hearing that and seeming to agree with Juan's thoughts.
"That's a good idea. After all, knowing your wife more is natural."
"Mother don't."
Ceth tried to stop her mother, but it's already too late.
"I remember when Ceth was..."
...
Outside, the sun has already started setting, yet the sky above is already dark.
Even the surroundings were thought as though it was already night by how dark it was.
"Thankfully, the wind hasn't really picked up its speed yet. We still have time. The torches around the village are still lit and can be use."
Jura softly said while he looked outside the house through the window.
"How's the village's arrangement?"
Garu, standing beside the table, looked at the few hunters around him and asked.
"We already spread the news and have those who were quite far to take shelter from the other families near the center of the village."
The one who spoke is a battle-hardened man with a scar on his face.
"Good job, Weiss." Garu nodded at the scarred face man and then continued.
"We can't engage the shadow monster this time. You should already know why. I already sent the other hunters back to their families."
"The others should also return now before the storm starts to rage and blow our torches out."