*** MC's POV ***
"Monsters! The monsters are coming!"
I climbed the tallest house in the village and shouted as loud as I could.
Heck, I even used mana to make my voice travel far and wide. So if even this didn't work, I could only wish for the best for the villagers while I go and stall the hordes.
Fortunately, what I feared most didn't happen, as the villagers came out from their houses and workplaces one by one to gather around me.
"Everyone, listen up!"
Then, the people who had been whispering to each other stopped what they were doing and focused on me.
"A horde of skeletons are coming! So all of you need to evacuate, now!"
I could see their surprise, so I thought they had believed what I said and would obediently escape.
However–
"Why are you still here…?"
No one leaves.
But why? The situation was urgent. A horde of skeletons was different from a horde of goblins, not only in terms of strength but also in quantity. Skeletons were at least one grade stronger than goblins, and even that depended on the being who raised them.
'A necromancer… No, considering Bianca's letter, was it the Black Dragon?'
It would be fine if we were dealing with a normal necromancer.
If that's the case, then the skeletons would probably be at the level of hobgoblins, whose entire bodies were clad in protective mana. They might even be able to use weapons like swords, but I think I can deal with them if it's just that much.
But what if they were skeletons raised by a Black Dragon?
'Then I'm screwed.'
Let alone winning, I'm not even sure I can stall for time.
By then, it would be too late to inform the villagers about the danger they're in and have them evacuate.
Even if they ran away by then, it would be too late.
'Because ordinary humans can't run away from skeletons.'
Unlimited stamina. The lack of need for sleeping, eating, and drinking.
It's obvious which side would get slaughtered first.
What if the humans fight back?
'That would be worse.'
Normal weapons wouldn't be able to damage monsters who protected their body with mana.
It's one thing if the monsters let down their guard like the hobgoblin I fought in the past, but...
'Skeletons don't even have brains in the first place, let alone unstable emotions to take advantage of.'
And from what I've seen so far, no one in this village could put up a proper fight.
So the best thing they can do now is to evacuate from this place.
'But what are they doing?'
Why is everyone looking at everyone else as if not sure what to do?
"Raon."
Then, an older man walked closer to me.
"Village chief…"
Although he was quite old, the village chief still looked healthy enough to run with the villagers.
It must be because he had been living a hard life in the village.
If you are an adult man, then you either need to plow the field all day, walk in the forest all day to hunt or forage for food or work in your craft all day to feed your family.
'He's healthy, but… Just in case.'
I jumped down from the building so that he didn't have to look up and strain his neck.
"Young hero…"
The village chief said with difficulty.
"We want to believe you, but without any proof to back your words, it's…"
"Proof, is it?"
The only proof I have is the information that I see with my vision skills.
But it's not like the villagers can use similar skills, right?
'So let's use a simpler solution.'
In my previous world, people used to say this: "I'll believe it when I see it."
But since there are too many things in the world that cannot be seen, some of these people realize it too late and get slapped hard by life.
'Fortunately, the villagers have it better.'
Why? Because a horde of skeletons are things that can be seen.
So, isn't it enough to just let them see the hordes with their own eyes?
After all, the skeletons are already moving as we speak.
"I can prove it."
I said with confidence.
"Yes? How?"
"You'll believe it when you see it."
"What– Whoa!"
I slung the village chief on my left shoulder as if I were carrying a bag of rice.
"W-wait, what's the meaning of this?"
"It takes too long to explain. Ah, I'll take one other person with me, okay?
"Whoa!"
I slung another man on my right shoulder. It was Uncle Dao, who just happened to be the closest person to us.
Some people look surprised to see a 10-year-old carrying an adult on each shoulder.
But after all of my training, doing this much is easy.
I spoke to the two men as I tightened my hold.
"Grit your teeth and don't bite your tongue."
"Huh?"
[Extreme Mirage Footwork]
""Gyaaaaah…!""
Both men screamed as I rushed towards the horde.
***
"Do you believe me now?"
Both men nodded repeatedly with pale faces as we stood above the tallest tree, overlooking the skeleton hordes.
Were they trembling because of the skeletons or because of how high we were?
Either way, since we were done with what we needed to do, I began to carry them back and run to the village.
'Still, it's unfortunate.'
I was hoping to find the mastermind who raised the skeletons and kill them if I could.
However, due to the sheer number of skeletons—so many that my entire vision was full of whites—I couldn't locate them and gave up.
'From the looks of it, it's not the black dragon.'
The skeletons are just that, skeletons.
There are no special characteristics of any kind other than the fact that they're all holding sharp weapons made from animal bones.
'But what's with that number?'
The quantity of skeletons is too large for a normal necromancer to raise.
So, I must be dealing with someone stronger here.
'A necromancer who possessed a gift related to raising skeletons… Or maybe…'
As I was thinking of the other possibilities, we arrived in the village.
Fortunately, not much time had passed since we left, so most of the villagers were still gathered together, waiting for the news.
I put both men down and told them.
"Chief, uncle, you know how urgent the situation is, right?"
They nodded.
"Good. Now please take the villagers and evacuate."
"What about you?"
The chief asked. Uncle Dao took a step back as if he didn't want to cut in, but he still looked worried at me.
'They must have already guessed what my answer is.'
I turned my gaze toward the distance where the skeletons would be.
"I will hold them back."
"Yes? No, no, come with us. It's too dangerous there."
The chief pleads.
"It can't be helped. Someone needs to do it."
And besides, I have something important to tell my teacher.
'Bianca…'
I hope I'm not too late.
"So leave this place to me and go first!"
Both of them gave up and
wished me luck before starting to evacuate with the villagers.
'Now then.'
It's time to hunt some skeletons.