Two weeks had passed since Elise had stepped into the village with a determination that surprised even Rou. It was currently their break which would last for a month and exactly the right moment for them to start their plans on the village.
Despite Elise's noble upbringing, she adapted quickly to the realities of the struggling settlement. Her presence brought an air of authority, and it wasn't long before the villagers looked to her for guidance.
Elise's strategies were nothing short of genius. She organized the villagers into work teams, each with specific tasks—repairing the damaged infrastructure, planting crops, and setting up a rudimentary defense system. Her ability to inspire cooperation among the people, despite their initial mistrust, was remarkable.
Villager Leader:
[Lady Elise, the crops are growing steadily now, thanks to your irrigation idea.]
Elise nodded, her expression calm but focused.
Elise:
[Good. Make sure to rotate the crops in those plots. It'll keep the soil fertile.]
She turned back to the plans she had sketched out on a piece of parchment, her pen darting across the page. Rou, watching from the side, couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in her work. Her attention to detail and her willingness to get her hands dirty were far removed from the 'villainess' image he once associated with her.
Rou:
(Who would've thought? The 'antagonist' of the game, fixing a village with nothing but her wits. I should've realized it sooner—she's always been stronger than the game ever gave her credit for.)
But while Elise managed the village, Rou focused on securing its borders. With reports of strange creatures lurking in the nearby forests, he decided to take matters into his own hands.
Rou:
[I'll check the perimeter again]
Elise glanced up, her brow furrowed.
Elise:
[Be careful. The last thing we need is for you to get yourself killed out there.]
Rou gave her a smirk, his usual sarcasm creeping into his tone.
Rou:
[Don't worry about me. Worry about your blueprints.]
The forest surrounding the village was dense and eerily quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves. Rou scanned the area, his senses heightened. He didn't need any surprises while he searched for threats.
As he moved deeper into the woods, his thoughts drifted back to Elise.
Rou:
(She's doing all this for a village she doesn't even owe anything to. And here I am, just playing bodyguard. Typical me.)
His musings were interrupted by a low growl. His eyes darted toward the sound, and he readied his stance.
Rou:
(Let's see what kind of monster wants to test me today.)
The hours ticked by as Rou delved deeper into the surrounding forest, the number of monsters he encountered increasing unnervingly. Each fight left him more wary.
A pack of wolf-like creatures leapt from the shadows, their glowing red eyes fixed on him. Rou's blade flashed, cutting through their ranks with practiced precision. When the last one fell, he exhaled, wiping sweat from his brow.
Rou:
[This is the fifth group today… what's going on here?]
Despite clearing a path in every direction, more creatures seemed to emerge as if drawn by something. Rou tightened his grip on his weapon, his gaze scanning the darkened forest.
Rou:
(Monsters aren't this coordinated. It's like… something's pulling them here.)
Suspicion began to creep into his mind, but he brushed it aside for now.
Rou:
[Whatever. If they want to come at me, I'll deal with them.]
With one final sweep of the forest, he dispatched the last wave of beasts. By the time he returned to the village, the sun was dipping below the horizon, casting long shadows over the settlement.
Rou approached Elise.
Rou:
[All clear, (he said, his voice laced with weariness) Though I'll admit, it's getting weird out there. The monster numbers don't make sense.]
Elise turned to face him, her expression unreadable. She studied his face for a moment before speaking.
Elise:
[What do you mean, 'weird'?]
Rou shrugged.
Rou:
[We're not near any major nests or lairs, but they just keep coming. Packs of them, all heading toward the village. It's like they're being herded this way.]
Her gaze shifted to the forest beyond the village as silence fell between them. The faint sounds of the villagers working filled the air.
Elise:
[…Herded, you say?]
Rou nodded.
Rou:
[Yeah. Felt deliberate. And no matter how many I cut down, more showed up. If I didn't know better, I'd say something's out there, sending them toward us.]
Elise's brow furrowed, and she turned back to the map, tracing her fingers over its surface as if searching for answers. After a moment, she straightened, her voice calm but laced with tension.
Elise:
[If what you're saying is true… then this isn't a random attack. Something—or someone—is targeting this village.]
Her words hung in the air, heavy with implication.
Rou:
(If she's right… this just got a whole lot worse.)