Chapter 2

"Hey, Noel! It's time to go home!"

The young man raised his voice loudly while shouldering his catch and looking around. His name was Milt. As usual, he had been hunting from morning until the sun set. The ones who accompanied him on the hunt were his fellow hunter, Fresser, and Noel. Fresser was wiping the sweat off his brow and sitting on a tree stump nearby.

"Aw, already? There are still plenty of game out there. Isn't it a waste?"

From among the trees, an unsatisfied voice echoed down.

"Today's earnings are more than enough. It's not good to be too greedy. Anyway, hurry up and come down."

"Yeah, I got it."

After several bird and rabbit carcasses were carelessly thrown in front of Milt, Noel gracefully jumped down. Each of the animals had been hit perfectly in their vital spots by arrows.

"You're as amazing as always. Your skills are really monstrous."

"But I'm not good with a bow. Once I run out of arrows, I can't fight."

"Considering you finished them off in one shot, that's a bit hard to believe."

Milt couldn't help but be impressed. Even an experienced hunter wouldn't be able to do this every time. For Milt and Fresser, who were still beginners, it was even more impressive.

"Hey, hey, we finally managed to take down a small boar. With this, you'll be the best again, won't you?"

Fresser poked the dead boar. It was small, so it wasn't much of an achievement.

"See, see, isn't it amazing?"

"Yeah, yeah, you're amazing. You're really amazing."

Noel smiled innocently and threw a nut to Fresser, who had been flattering her.

"Thanks, I'll give you one too."

Fresser bit into the nut with a grimace.

"Damn, it's still sour as ever."

Fresser crushed the nut with his teeth, his face contorted. Noel, saying it was hot, started to loosen the collar of her shirt. Milt couldn't help but look away, but Fresser stared with a delighted expression.

(…This guy is really the same as always. Does he even realize she's a girl?)

Feeling annoyed by her lack of self-awareness, Milt threw a towel to cover her chest. Fresser let out a light sigh.

"…You'll catch a cold, so wipe off the sweat. Here."

"Yeah."

After adjusting her collar, Noel started wiping her fiery red hair with the towel. Each time her messy red hair swayed carelessly, Milt couldn't help but be captivated. For some reason, he was drawn to her.

"Thanks, I'll return it. Let's go back and have dinner! Eating well and sleeping well is the first step to happiness, right?"

Noel took out a notebook from her pocket and checked it. It was one of her treasures, the Happiness Notebook. Noel had asked everyone she met how to be happy and written down everything without exception. It seemed that she had drawn lines through the suggestions she decided not to adopt. She seemed to be trying to put them into practice, but it wasn't going well. Each time, she would lament that the world just didn't work out as she hoped.

"That's right. Alright, let's head back. Fresser, let's gather the game."

"Sure. With this much, we'll have a feast today."

"Both of you, do your best."

"You too. Take the string out of that bag."

"Got it."

They tied the bird and rabbit carcasses to a wooden pole. In this mountainous area, crops were hard to grow. The villagers relied on the hunters' game for their daily sustenance. That's why Noel, an outsider, was able to integrate into the village. There was no room to support someone who didn't bring in any profit. Everyone, young and old, lived on the edge.

(I've heard there's a rebellion going on. But that's none of my business.)

He was dissatisfied with the heavy taxes. No matter how hard he worked, things never got better. Most of the harvest was handed over to the village and sold in the nearby town for money, from which taxes were paid to the state. The thought of living like this for the next few decades until his death made him feel despondent. However, he had never considered taking up arms and rising up. He lacked the courage and strength. Complaining with his friends at the village's dilapidated tavern was the most he could do.

Suddenly, this carefree woman appeared in his mundane and depressing life. She wore ill-fitting clothes like a traveling merchant and carried a strange two-pronged spear on her back. She asked with a full smile if she could stay for a while. It was a big deal for the small village. The village chief gathered everyone to discuss how to handle the situation. When they tried to get more details from Noel, she only said she had been abandoned and didn't know much. When asked what she could do, she boasted that she could do anything. The village chief was speechless but eventually decided to let her stay. Noel was around sixteen years old, and since she didn't look bad, the chief planned to sell her if she turned out to be useless. This had happened a few times before, so it wasn't surprising. Those who were sold were usually the children of villagers who couldn't afford to raise them.

However, against everyone's expectations, Noel was allowed to settle in the village. She immediately showed her talent as a hunter. With the old bow and arrows Milt lent her, she hunted a mountain of game. Her skills were on par with the village's best hunter, and it was said that if she continued, she would hunt all the animals in the area. Now, she was a full member of the village of Zoim.

"Hey, why are you so good at hunting? Do you have any secrets? Any tips for finding hidden animals?"

"No, not really. I just kind of know. I can tell where they're hiding and where to shoot to take them down. Isn't that amazing?"

"Yeah, yeah, you're really amazing. Now, get moving."

"Ah, it must be a natural talent. I'm so jealous. If I could marry you, I'd never have to worry about food, right?"

"Maybe?"

"Definitely. No doubt about it."

When Fresser teased her, Noel looked confused. Fresser continued.

"…Hey, what about that talk from the other day? Have you thought about it?"

"You mean when you said you wanted to marry me?"

"Yeah, that's right. I told you to think about it seriously. So, what do you think? I'm being serious, you know."

Fresser asked with a serious expression he rarely showed. Noel was the most popular girl in the village among the men. She was young, good-looking, and an excellent hunter. If he could marry her, he would have a significant status in the village. However, this woman lacked the "femininity" that was expected of a girl her age.

"Hmm, I appreciate your feelings, but I'll pass."

"Why?!"

"Because, even if we get married, we might not be happy, right? The village aunties said so. They complained that it was all bad things."

She took out her Happiness Notebook and checked it. When Fresser peeked, he saw that the item about getting married had a line through it.

"Don't listen to those bitter old hags. Don't worry, I'll definitely make you happy!"

Fresser pleaded desperately. It was hard to tell if he was genuinely in love or had chosen her by process of elimination among the village girls.

"I don't understand what it means to like someone. I don't even want to live with you right now. So, I'll pass for now."

Noel laughed but clearly rejected him.

(This is just the kind of woman she is. She's really strange. I have no idea what she's thinking.)

Usually, she was a carefree and cheerful woman, but sometimes her expression would change. Occasionally, a dark side would show through her cheerful demeanor, especially on rainy days. On rainy nights, Noel would become unusually gloomy, to the point where it was hesitant to speak to her.

Once, on a night of heavy rain, a drunk and violent man tried to assault Noel. He had a criminal record but no one dared to report him to the village chief for fear of retaliation. Emboldened by this, he finally tried to make a move on Noel. But this time, he had picked the wrong target.

The next morning, the man was found half-dead in the village square. He looked like he had experienced something truly terrifying and never approached Noel again. His eyes were those of a terrified dog. He was eventually expelled from the village, and no one knew where he was now.

Fresser, perhaps remembering this incident, didn't say anything more. Milt felt a pang of disgust at his own relief.

On their way back to the village from the mountains, they were stopped by a tall young man holding a hoe. He was known as the lanky Craft, a quiet young man who made a living from farming.

"Hey, everyone!"

"What is it, Craft? Standing around here won't get you any food."

Fresser teased him, patting his back. Despite their different personalities, they seemed to get along well and were often seen hanging out together.

"It's not that. The village is noisy. Something must have happened."

"We'll know as soon as we get back."

"But what if it's bandits?"

Bandits raiding the village wasn't uncommon. If they were given money, they usually left without causing harm. If the village was small, they might be ambushed and stripped of everything. Living together was also a form of self-defense.

"Indeed, it's noisy. Hmm, is it a festival? Festivals are fun, right?"

Noel said something carefree.

"There's no way they'd have a festival at this time of year."

"Festivals are fun. They're lively, and there's lots of food. It's fun to play drums and flutes. I practiced, so next time I'll be better—"

"…We don't have time for your nonsense. Look, there's smoke rising!"

"Hey, really!?"

Fresser and Craft's faces turned pale. Smoke was indeed rising from the direction of Zoim village.

Bandits who set fires were rare in this area because it would destroy their source of income. This suggested that outsiders had crossed into their territory.

"What do we do? Hey, Fresser, should we run?"

"Are you kidding me! I can't abandon my family and run, you idiot!"

Fresser slapped Craft on the head. Milt, of course, agreed. He had no intention of abandoning his family. He was determined to go, even if it meant going alone.

"Alright, let's head back quickly. I hope we can reason with them."

"Noel, are you coming back too? If they're violent bandits, you might get killed."

"Don't worry. I'll kill anyone who gets in my way. If I don't, something terrible will happen."

Noel held her two-pronged spear in her right hand and smiled cheerfully. Craft was speechless, unable to believe it. That was understandable. Hunters and farmers had no chance against a group of bandits. —Under normal circumstances.

(This idiot, does she really intend to fight? Doesn't she understand that humans are different from animals?)

Humans, unlike animals, have brains. It's not like a regular hunt. Milt had never killed a person, but he understood that much. Moreover, while Noel's archery skills were reliable, he had never seen her use a spear. She always carried it on her back but never used it for hunting.

If she got involved and was killed, it would be a joke.

"Noel, we don't even know who they are. Absolutely do not get involved. If you die, it's your problem, but you'll drag us and our families down with you."

"Okay, I got it."

"Hey, do you really understand?"

"Yes, I understand."

Noel folded her right hand in front of her chest, a military salute. It was too perfect to be a joke. Her back was straight, and her expression was serious. If she weren't wearing a hunter's outfit, she might have been mistaken for a soldier.

"…Should I do the same?"

"Me too?"

Fresser and Craft tried to mimic the salute, but the difference was obvious.

"Do what you want. Come on, let's hurry back!"

Milt shrugged and started walking towards the village.

When they entered the village, they saw men with red bands on their right arms gathered. There were no signs of looting, and no screams were heard. The largest building in the village, the chief's house, had an unfamiliar flag flying. It was white with two red diagonal stripes, but they couldn't identify it. It was definitely not the flag of the Coinbra army, which governed the area.

When they were spotted by a guard, they were forcibly taken to the other villagers.

"Fresser, you're safe!"

"Yeah, but what's going on here?"

"I have no idea. They suddenly came in with a large group."

Fresser was checking on his mother. Milt searched for his only family member. When their eyes met, they ran to each other.

"Brother!"

"Cail! Did they do anything to you!?"

"No, but I was scared."

"Don't worry, I'm here now."

Milt hugged her, and Cail finally smiled.

"You two look so happy. Hey, can you make a family without getting married?"

Noel, holding her notebook, asked a silly question. She had gotten too close, so Milt gently pushed her away with his right hand.

"Hey, do you understand what's happening? Even with your thick head, you should understand that this is serious, right?"

"Yeah, the village is in trouble because of some strange people."

Noel nodded vigorously.

"If you understand, then stay quiet!"

Milt ignored the fool and observed the men who looked like bandits without being noticed. They had red bands on their right arms and were armed with swords, spears, and even hoes. Their attire was varied and lacked uniformity. A few of them didn't seem to fit the profile of bandits.

"Still, who are these guys? They don't seem like regular bandits."

"They look like a ragtag group. Look, that guy is holding a broom instead of a sword. Is that supposed to be a weapon?"

Noel tried to point, but Milt quickly stopped her.

"Keep your voice down and don't draw attention."

"No one is listening or watching."

"But what if something happens?"

"You're right."

After a while, one of the men stepped forward. He was larger and better equipped than the others, looking more like a skilled mercenary than a bandit. The difference was obvious.

The armed men shouted for silence, and the village fell quiet instantly. The man looked around and began speaking in a loud, resonant voice.

"We are the 'Red Wheel Army,' who have risen up against the tyranny of the Governor of Coinbra, Groll Valdeck, in the name of justice!"

"R-Red Wheel Army…?"

The village chief, bowing low, asked, and Ristig nodded.

"Yes. My name is Ristig, the leader of the Red Wheel Army. The vast amount of blood we have shed is a testament to our comrades, which we wear on our arms. The red wheel on our flag symbolizes our resolve to continue our march until we bring judgment upon those who have plundered and devoured our resources!"

"H-Hmm."

Ristig spoke confidently, while the village chief was completely bewildered. Such matters were irrelevant to this remote village. The only times they involved themselves in politics were when tax collectors visited or young men were conscripted.

Milt remained silent, not wanting to draw attention. Beside him, Noel had her eyes closed. Occasionally, her body would sway, suggesting she might be asleep. He considered waking her but decided it was better to let her be, as she was less likely to cause trouble.

Cail was supporting Noel from behind with both hands. The girl had grown quite fond of this carefree woman.

"Then, what brings you to this desolate village? We have little to offer in the way of hospitality."

"We have no intention of taking from our fellow citizens. That would make us no different from the corrupt officials. Our only demand is that you join the Red Wheel Army. Someone must take action; otherwise, nothing will change. We must take up arms and rise up. This is the time to do so!"

"…So, you want us to take up arms and rebel against the Governor of Coinbra?"

"In simple terms, yes. However, we have no intention of raising our swords against the Emperor or the Empire. Our goal is to eliminate the corrupt officials of Coinbra. Our uprising will not be considered treason!"

The village chief, frowning, asked, and Ristig responded firmly. If they refused, the surrounding forces would likely start looting. Ristig's words were a strong threat: provide either supplies or people, or face the consequences.

However, rebellion was a serious crime. If everyone participated and they were defeated, the outcome would be dire. The village