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"The leader was killed by Lord Shield Hero. Is there really no problem?"
"Didn't Master Shield Hero say that the captain is a spy of the Calamity Wave?"
"But the leader has been in office for more than ten years, so there is no reason to suddenly become a spy?"
"Maybe the leader has been brainwashed or betrayed humanity for some reason."
"Is this really possible?"
The soldiers of the Kingdom Knights were discussing as they rushed to Karn Village. After all, the death of their head was a significant issue, and they were filled with doubts.
"Okay, those important people's affairs are beyond our control. The most important thing now is to resist the wave of disaster. Luta Village is ahead, so get ready for battle!"
One of the soldiers shouted, his tone commanding. He was the deputy head of the regiment, more renowned than the fallen leader. He exuded intelligence and appeared to grasp the situation well.
"Yes!"
The soldiers responded in unison, drawing their weapons and preparing for combat.
As they entered Luta Village, they were surprised by the scene before them. The entire village was not under siege by a large number of monsters as expected; instead, only a small group of monsters was engaged in battle with the villagers and Raphtalia.
The soldiers watched in awe as Raphtalia wielded her long sword with precision, cutting down monsters effortlessly. Yet, something felt amiss. There were no cheers from the villagers. It was expected that when the Knights of the Kingdom arrived, the villagers would rejoice at their rescue. Why did they look at them with such indifference?
The soldiers couldn't understand this apparent disconnect.
"Leave it to us! Don't worry; we are your reinforcements!"
Unable to fathom the villagers' reaction, the deputy head shouted to them.
"Ah~~~ After the crisis, the reinforcements finally came!"
"It's really hard work for you. We appreciate your help in cleaning up the monster corpses."
"Actually, you don't have to. Are you just trying to enhance your own achievements?"
Anyone could see that the villagers were being sarcastic. There was no joy in welcoming the Knights of the Kingdom, and a few even spat on the ground in disdain.
"Sorry for our late arrival, but please allow us to explain that this time we were instructed by Master Shield Hero to assist you, not for our own merit."
Facing the cold stares of the villagers, the deputy head bowed deeply, and the other soldiers followed suit, offering their apologies.
What happened next surprised the Kingdom Knights even more. The villagers' expressions shifted dramatically, transforming into smiles.
"It turns out that Lord Shield Hero asked you to come—what a misunderstanding!"
"Please forget what we just said!"
"Allow me to extend my sincerest apologies!"
The villagers became exceedingly enthusiastic, their demeanor changing like the flipping of a page.
No matter how dull-witted the soldiers were, they quickly realized that the villagers' shift in attitude was directly related to Jason, the Hero of the Shield.
Just before they arrived, something must have transpired. The deputy head scanned the area and noticed the numerous monster corpses strewn across the village and its outskirts.
"That means Master Shield Hero must have defeated a large number of monsters before our arrival."
The deputy head murmured, barely above a whisper, but his voice carried in the quietness. The soldiers behind him heard clearly.
At that moment, they understood why the villagers' attitudes had changed so dramatically upon hearing "Lord Shield Hero". It turned out Jason had just saved Lute Village.
"Indeed... Master Shield Hero is a good person. Perhaps the leader truly was a spy for the Calamity Wave," one soldier murmured.
"Yeah, Lord Shield Hero, who rescued Lute Village, doesn't seem like someone who would lie," another confirmed.
As the soldiers reflected, those who had initially doubted Jason began to choose to believe in him.
In the forest a few kilometers away, the corpses of monsters lay scattered across the ground. The three heroes—Motoyasu, Ren, and Itsuki—led their respective adventurers in a fierce battle against a giant zombie.
This giant zombie was even larger than the zombie captain that had appeared in Lute Village. Standing at over five meters tall, it was a more advanced version known as a zombie general.
The equipment on the zombie general was also more sophisticated. It wielded a machete that was bigger than an adult human, resembling a giant warrior heavily armed for battle.
Kitamura Motoyasu and Ren led the melee adventurers, expertly maneuvering beneath the zombie general, seizing openings to deliver continuous strikes and draw its attention.
Standing behind them, Itsuki held the holy bow in his hands. As he pulled back the bowstring, an energy arrow materialized. When he released it, the arrow shot straight toward the zombie general, landing with a thud.
Clearly, Itsuki was responsible for handling the ranged attacks, coordinating with the ranged adventurers to inflict consistent damage.
It felt reminiscent of a group of experienced online gamers biding their time in a dungeon, battling a challenging boss.
"The SP is almost recovered! Let's go for another salvo!"
"Not a problem!"
"Bring it on!"
Under Itsuki's leadership, everyone unleashed their skills simultaneously.
Suddenly, an array of skills, each glowing in vibrant colors, flew toward the zombie general, creating a dazzling spectacle that filled the battlefield with energy.
Upon closer inspection, this round of attacks knocked out over 800 hit points from the zombie general. However, it still had more than 7,000 points remaining.
"Damn it, this boss has way too much health!" Motoyasu grunted as he dodged another swing from the zombie general's machete.
"It doesn't matter! If we keep this up, taking down the boss is just a matter of time. Everyone, continue to recover SP and prepare for the next wave of attacks!" Itsuki encouraged from behind.
As he mentioned, despite the zombie general's imposing appearance and high health bar, its attacking methods were incredibly predictable. It was slow and didn't pose a significant threat.
As long as they maintained their rhythm of attack, no matter how thick the zombie general's health, they could wear it down little by little.
At that moment, Jason, who had just arrived on the scene, shook his head, watching as they unleashed their skills like fireworks.
"These youngsters are really treating this like an online game. I wonder how long it will actually take to defeat this boss. Sigh... I guess it's time for me to step in."
Although Raphtalia and the King's Knights were engaged in Lute Village, Jason felt unease at the thought of something unexpected happening. Without further hesitation, he burst out of the forest and charged toward the zombie general with determination.
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