After Gwen's hit, the Alpha couldn't get up. It seemed he was dead. The pack of wolves, having lost their leader, looked toward her, ready to pounce.
Gwen turned her head toward them with a ferocious smile. She didn't realize it, but her body was already releasing what the Chinese would call killing intent.
The entire pack froze at her gaze, apparently scared of her. After a tense pause, the entire pack let out a resonant howl in unison before retreating into the forest.
Unfortunately for them, Gwen wasn't intimidated or prepared to let them go. If they attacked the village in the future and caused casualties, it would be her responsibility.
"Let them go, Gwen."
She stopped and looked at Naca, who had told her to let them go, confusion evident on her face. She asked, "Why? Isn't it better to eliminate them while we can?"
The two women who had been hiding before came out. It wasn't Naca who replied to her but Luna. She said, "In fact, it's better to let them go."
"It's not out of pity but for the good of the village. The wolves are the rulers of this forest, in a way. If you eliminate them, a new ruler would appear, which may be harder for the village to deal with than the wolf pack."
Naca added, "Besides, you've already asserted your dominance. They won't return anytime soon. Wolves respect power, and you've shown them yours. The pack will think twice before threatening the village again."
"Didn't you see the mission request? It was to drive out or eliminate the pack of wolves. Eliminating them is only the last solution. Plus, we could stay in the village for three days. If they attack again, we can eliminate them then."
Gwen sighed. She didn't like the idea of letting her enemies go and coming back stronger, but she understood their reasoning.
Every action you take has consequences, she thought. She could make a choice, but she had already intervened in the karma of this village.
She said, "Okay, let's go back to the village first. We should ask their opinion to be clear about what they want."
The group started walking back toward the village, less tense and more relaxed. After all, it was only Gwen who fought, and even she was still in good condition.
As for the villagers waiting, they couldn't help but think that the Fairy Tail members hadn't found the wolves' pack—the forest wasn't burned, after all.
When the village chief saw them return, especially without any signs of a fight, he greeted them, saying, "You're already back? It seems the wolves' pack is hiding deep in the forest."
Gwen raised an eyebrow at the village chief's remark but kept her composure. Thinking about the misinformation, her tone was calm yet carried a subtle edge: "No, we found them. The Alpha is dead, and the pack has been driven off. They won't trouble you for a while."
The village chief and the few others with him were shocked. They didn't doubt her because Fairy Tail was known for its credibility.
The truth was they knew about the Alpha wolf—or monster wolf, if it could be called that. But considering the rest of the pack consisted of normal wolves, they simply described it as a pack of wolves.
They considered that not every guild would tolerate such misinformation, especially if it caused casualties. Only Fairy Tail would have let it slide.
Luna and Naca didn't think much of it, but as someone who had watched the anime and seen the expression on the old man's face, Gwen had already understood everything.
In the anime, if you don't consider the damage caused, Fairy Tail had been taken advantage of too many times. Many missions they accepted weren't worth the rewards and were full of misinformation.
Gwen crossed her arms, staring down the village chief. Her tone was steady but carried an undertone of authority. "Chief, let's not play games. You knew about the Alpha and chose to omit that detail. Care to explain why?"
The chief shifted uneasily, his gaze flicking between the Fairy Tail members. "We... we didn't mean any harm. It's just that if we mentioned the Alpha, no one would take the job, or the price would go up beyond what we can afford. We thought Fairy Tail... well, your guild is known for helping people regardless of the reward."
That was what made Gwen angry. Missions like this always caused problems. She couldn't help but think of the case of the Strauss siblings later.
Although part of the tragedy was due to Mirajane's arrogance, it was also because of the lack of correct information.
Good people are always taken advantage of until they're dead, she thought angrily. Narrowing her eyes, she said, "True, Fairy Tail values helping people, but that doesn't mean we're here to be deceived."
"Do you understand how dangerous this could've been if someone less prepared had taken this job? You're lucky none of us were hurt."
Luna stepped forward, placing a hand on Gwen's shoulder to calm her. "Gwen, we've already resolved the situation. Let's focus on ensuring the village is safe moving forward."
The village chief bowed his head deeply. "You're right, and I apologize. We were desperate, but it wasn't right. Thank you for handling this so skillfully."
Gwen didn't look entirely appeased but took a deep breath, letting Luna's words ground her. She glanced at Naca, who gave a slight nod, silently agreeing with her stance but urging her to stand down for now.
At the same time, she couldn't help but think of the Marvel world. If she started playing the hero, would she also encounter things like this? People like Jameson criticizing her, the public always wanting more, the government making things harder?
She thought about the Civil War—not the movie version, but the comics. At least Stark and Captain America looked like their movie counterparts, but others, like the Fantastic Four and some events, were like in the comics.
The Civil War in the comics wasn't a joke. It caused immense damage—Thor's death, the Stamford incident, which resulted in countless deaths and sparked the Superhuman Registration Act.
Gwen knew that idealism in the Marvel world often came at a steep cost. Heroes were celebrated one moment and vilified the next. She had already made up her mind: she must create a ruthless reputation that would make anyone think twice before provoking her.
"Let's head back to the guild after we secure the village," Gwen finally said, her voice firmer now, as if she'd resolved something internally. "We've done what we can here."
The village chief quickly interjected, "Please, let us properly compensate you. We may not have much, but we'll provide what we can."
Gwen waved him off dismissively. "Just give us the normal rewards for the mission. As for the rest, keep it and use it to reinforce your defenses or invest in something that'll make the village safer. Just make sure this doesn't happen again."
END OF THE CHAPTER
Well, let's finally wrap up this boring trip and arc. Next up is the return to the Marvel world and the introduction of the new member. Who do you think Dane recommended? Here's a hint: it's a somewhat popular character among fans of the Gothic style.