Chapter 272
Chapter 272. The Beginning of the Village
――In the western outskirts of Evaroti.
Thin cooking smoke wafts in the crimson sky. A small stronghold resembling a little fortress, bathed in the colors of sunset.
“Ryan Village.” The first village of the Evaroti Autonomous District, a monumental milestone.
Named after the soldier who perished in battle against the Asurabear. From now on, as more villages and outposts arise in the district, they will continue to be named after such brave souls.
“Alright, closing the gates! Anyone left outside? No one, right?!”
Gushinus, a male soldier of the human race, shouted loudly. His playful tone made the remaining soldiers burst into laughter.
Several of them worked together to operate the winch, slowly closing the raised gate. The surrounding moat and earth walls had a height difference of nearly 4 meters, making it unlikely for half-hearted magical beasts to get in.
Although Ryan Village had been repurposed from an abandoned settlement, it was well-structured as a stronghold. All thanks to the soldiers and workers who toiled with sweat for its construction. However, considering it as a defensive structure, it lacked any magical defenses, so it wouldn’t be useful in a war—
“Well, we’ve at least made it look the part.”
Climbing up to the watchtower, Gushinus surveyed the sunset-dyed plains and smirked. He was a man suited for a cynical grin, with his spiky black hair and sharp, hooked nose reminiscent of a crow.
And he was not just any soldier—he was one of the few who, after being invited to a rehearsal by Tafuman, had become an unlikely late-blooming hero.
He never imagined he would awaken to a holy attribute, so his usual aloof demeanor fell away, replaced by an unexpected fluster.
But now he was satisfied. He had gained the power to protect everyone. The holy radiance had been bestowed upon him—
(I must protect this village somehow…)
For now, he kept his awakening regarding the holy attribute a secret. However, with the anticipated attacks from magical beasts, they decided that high-ranking fighters should remain on standby, prompting secret discussions among Tafuman and those who had awakened their holy attributes—eventually agreeing that Gushinus would stay behind for the time being.
(Well, it’s better to volunteer for this sort of thing now; it’ll make things easier later on.)
Gushinus chuckled to himself.
Looking at him leaning casually against the watchtower, the others around him sighed, “What’s with that mischievous smile?”
At first glance, Gushinus appeared cynical and prone to arrogance, but those close to him understood that it often masked a shyness and a caring nature.
…That said, they wouldn’t voice their annoyance at his somewhat pretentious behavior.
“Everyone! Dinner is ready!”
A young beastman boy wearing oversized soldier’s clothing ran around to announce.
He was still young enough to be called a child. With an elongated face and tan fur, his large, round eyes were adorable, making him look like a child even to humans. He was a newcomer who had just recently joined the soldier ranks—adorable in appearance, yet showcasing toughness rivaling that of any adult. He was currently in training to become a Sword Saint, promising a bright future.
“Alright, we worked hard today, so let’s eat to our hearts’ content!”
“Let’s celebrate the completion of the village!”
“You idiot, we already did that!”
As Gushinus leapt down from the watchtower, he laughed while ruffling the boy’s hair.
They didn’t have a proper dining hall yet, so they set up a large pot in the square to serve a hodgepodge soup. More supplies were expected to arrive in the next day or two, so there was no need to worry about food.
“Oh, this is quite the feast!”
Gushinus grinned, stirring the soup with a wooden spoon.
It seems the cook had gone all out, throwing in generous chunks of bacon. Meat! After a stretch of hard labor, this was a delightful surprise.
“This might just be the most lavish meal we’ve had in a year…”
“Last year was horrific…”
A familiar former military soldier nodded, nostalgic yet somber. Before the Evaroti siege began, their winter supplies had been truly tragic… without needing to say a word, Gushinus understood that all too well.
“Well, this is a life we managed to scrape together. We should enjoy the moment.”
Not wanting the mood to darken, he snorted and took a sip of the soup.
The remaining group of a few dozen soldiers gathered in the square, sitting in a circle, happily enjoying their meal as they soaked their hard bread in the soup.
(I could really use some booze right about now.)
Gazing at the square illuminated by the campfire, Gushinus squinted.
It was sad to note that they had no thin ale to substitute for drinking water, whether it was “thanks to” or “because of” the well. Well, they couldn’t afford to get drunk and make noise anyway; they had to keep a lookout for magical beasts until morning…
“Ouch! So good!”
The young beastman boy, tail wagging excitedly from his soldier’s outfit, was happily devouring his meal.
――But.
“…Huh?”
Suddenly, the boy’s face stiffened, and he twitched his nose.
“――――”
The other beastmen also halted their chatter, collectively sniffing the air.
“What’s wrong, magical beast?”
Finishing the last of his soup, Gushinus stood up and asked.
“Probably… but it’s a smell I don’t recognize.”
“It smells like old blood… It can’t be anything good.”
“My fur is standing on end; what is this?”
The beastmen spoke up, their voices laced with unease.
Gushinus ran to the watchtower.
Straining his eyes against the fading light of dusk, he surveyed the once-agricultural flatland that stretched endlessly before him.
“Can you see anything?”
The beastman boy peeked beside him, curious.
“…………”
Gushinus remained silent.
In the distance, he saw it—
A shadow moving smoothly toward them, gliding effortlessly.
“…………”
The young beastman’s night vision wasn’t great. However, his face grew increasingly tense as the beastly scent intensified.
“This is bad.”
Pointing to gauge the distance, Gushinus muttered. His previously spiky hair stood even more on end.
The shadow of that magical beast—despite still being at a distance, it was alarmingly clear.
The underbrush they had just passed—wasn’t it supposed to be much shorter than that?
――Huge. Simply huge.
“Everyone, prepare for combat!!”
At Gushinus’s command, the square buzzed with urgency. The young beastman gasped in surprise and leapt from the watchtower, sprinting toward everyone.
(I’m glad we completed the moat and earth walls…)
Fighting that giant in an open field was no laughing matter… wiping the sweat from his brow while watching the boy’s back, Gushinus looked back only to find—
“……?”
The form of the magical beast had vanished.
――No,
A shadow flickered.
The star-dotted sky began darkening—
“……What?”
Reflected in Gushinus’s widened eyes was the belly of a magical beast, its bat-like wings spread wide, soaring leisurely through the sky.
With a heavy thud, earth trembled.
“――Gwoooooollllll!!!”
Leaping effortlessly over the moat and earthen walls, the magical beast landed squarely in the center of the village.
The Manticore let out a deafening roar, crushing the ramshackle homes beneath its feet.
