Chapter 26

When Rio and the others returned, the village was already in an uproar.

The village chief noticed Rio and the others and called out to Remi’s father.

"Vald and the others, who were on guard behind the mountain, spotted something that looked like a fiend. We’re holding a strategy meeting, so please join us."

"…We’ve also confirmed it."

At Remi’s father’s words, the village chief seemed somewhat pleased. He must have expected more detailed information since Remi’s father, a hunter with keen eyesight, had witnessed it.

"Did Rio and the others see it too?"

"We all saw it."

"Then, I want to cross-check the testimonies. Come with me."

Led by the village chief, they gathered at his house. Those present were Vald and the others from the guard team, Caril, who was the liaison to the Adventurer Guild, and Rio and the others.

Vald and the others' testimony, like Rio's, was about a large ape walking through the forest on the other side of the mountain. The appearance matched what Rio and the others had seen.

However, a problem arose.

"Are the time and location accurate?"

Vald, with a stern face, confirmed, and Remi’s father nodded quietly.

Vald and Rio’s groups had witnessed the same type of creature walking in different locations almost simultaneously.

The village chief, drawing circles on a simple map with ink, looked grim.

"There might be two of them."

"…More than that."

At Remi’s father’s words, the village chief and the others turned their gaze to him.

Prompted to continue, Remi’s father explained in a low voice.

"There were traces of a large animal that had eaten Fraug berries."

"Fraug berries? That poison. How does that connect to the possibility of more than three?"

The village chief and Vald’s questions were answered by Caril, an adventurer who made a living hunting fiends.

"Poisons that were effective on animals before they became fiends remain effective. Fraug berries are a universal poison for the animals in this area. If they were eaten, it suggests that the animals came from elsewhere. The evidence that they are the large fiends is a bit weak, but we should consider the worst-case scenario—there’s a possibility that an entire group has been fiendified."

At the worst-case scenario, everyone fell silent.

The possibility that a large fiend, which already causes a commotion, could be part of a group. At least, with two confirmed, it couldn’t be ruled out.

Vald asked Caril.

"Is it even possible for an entire group to be fiendified?"

"It’s known that fiends are more likely to appear in groups led by a fiend. The longer the leader has been a fiend, the higher the ratio."

"…Is this connected to last year’s fiend commotion?"

"If the fiend we were searching for has been fiendified since before we noticed its existence, it’s not impossible. Especially if it has been fiendified since last autumn."

Vald, with a bitter expression, couldn’t rule out the possibility of an entire group being fiendified.

"If they were eating Fraug berries, it means an unknown animal from the depths has been fiendified. The problem is the size of the group and the countermeasures. Caril, do you have any idea what the original animal might be?"

"Can’t say for sure without seeing it. …But there is one possibility."

"Anything is good. We need information."

Prompted by the village chief, Caril, glancing at Rio and the others, sighed and answered.

"…Humans."

A group, large, ape-like, and bipedal.

Remi’s father glared sharply at Caril.

"…Eating Fraug berries?"

"Humans can detoxify. Even if a kid eats rat poison containing Fraug berries, they can be saved with emergency treatment. Powdered Pizznuts can detoxify them."

Because of their intelligence, they can consume poison.

The village chief hurriedly denied.

"Wait! I haven’t heard of anyone going missing in the area."

"Unfortunately, we have an example right here."

Caril pointed to Shiraha, who was standing nonchalantly next to Rio.

A girl who had not been reported missing and whose identity was still unknown.

"Also, there’s the possibility that bandits or mountain bandits have come. In any case, if they are humanoid, we should assume they will use weapons."

"That’s practically a war."

Vald scratched his head and muttered.

The number of enemies is unknown. Their physique is better than ours. They could be using magic due to fiendification.

While we have the village as a defensive stronghold, it’s not well-prepared. Against animals, it might be different, but against humans, it’s no different.

There are many women and children, and only Rakudoi and Caril are trained in martial arts. Caril, with one arm, is not a significant fighting force. While there are students at Rakudoi’s dojo, the overall defensive power is not high.

Caril advised the village chief.

"We should evacuate to the town."

Considering the difference in fighting power, it was a logical conclusion, but the village chief shook his head with a pained expression.

"It’s impossible. We can’t sustain our lives."

The village, being on the frontier, doesn’t have much in reserves. While this village is relatively wealthy, evacuating to the town would require a significant amount of money.

If it were just a day or two, it wouldn’t be a problem.

However, gathering forces and conducting a sweep operation against an unknown number of large fiends would take more than a day or two.

At the very least, a month, and possibly indefinitely. They would need to be prepared to abandon the village.

"…Yeah, it’s impossible. But we should still consider evacuation as an emergency measure. I’ll contact the town. I’ll use my connections with the Adventurer Guild to arrange for a vanguard to be sent within a few days. We don’t know when the knights will arrive."

Caril stood up to do his job, knowing that time was of the essence, and left the strategy meeting to the village chief and the others.

The village chief called out to Caril as he left the room.

"Call Rakudoi."

"Got it. I’ll let him know."

After Caril left, the village chief brought out a map of the village.

It showed the locations of each house, fields, stone walls, and the log barriers that separated the main road, as well as the surrounding terrain. This detailed map was created for days like today, and only the lord and the town’s Adventurer Guild had maps of the same precision.

The village chief looked around at everyone.

"From this moment on, the village will enter a state of strict alert until reinforcements from Lord Rosiz arrive. All women and children will be mobilized to fortify the village."