Setting a trap

This time John spent whole night planning. He tried to find a way that will help them get food without getting caught. After thinking about it for many hours and creating many plans that could be able to help them escape from their current situation. He imagined many different scenarios and was about to give up when an idea struck him.

'Why do I only think about defending? I'm sure, part of our enemies entered the wilderness to catch Leo, Arthur and Elizabeth. It's a perfect moment to counter-attack!'

After everyone woke up and John decided about the details of his plan he approached Thomas.

"Thomas, I have something I need to ask you. I created the safest plan that we can use now but if you won't cooperate we won't be able to execute it."

"What's the plan?"

"We won't stay here and defend, I'm sure they are blocking every source of food we can get in this town. Our only way to escape this situation is to lure them out of the bakery and take care of a few of them quickly. Then buy big supplies with all of our money. Our tactic is simple but I need to know whether you can kill again, Thomas, without you I won't be able to do it."

Hearing about what he needed to do Thomas started to avoid eye contact and lowered his head.

"Listen, Thomas, I can't change your opinion about killing people but there was one wise elder in my village who said that killing one man makes you a murderer, killing millions of men makes you a conqueror and killing everyone makes you a God. I understand that you don't understand it so I will ask you a question instead. Which great hero doesn't have a pile of bodies below him? Once you stepped on this road there is no turning back. I was thinking about it these past few days. If I'm already a murderer then the only way to change it is to become a conqueror. Don't tell me you don't yearn for power or don't want to become a great hero in the future? Since we already started we can't go back now Thomas! We can share this burden! So, what do you think? If it will make you feel better you can treat it as me ordering you to kill them, I can take responsibility for this."

"Alright, we will do it your way then. But do you think I can become a hero in the future?"

"Of course! Believe me, with my help, nothing is impossible!"

Hearing how certain John was Thomas's eyes started shining from excitement.

'As long as we are alive we surely will achieve something big, I'm certain of it.'

John reassured himself in his head before thinking about how perfect his performance now was.

'Even though what I said is true my speech sounded like killing is something normal. Maybe in my previous world what I said would be considered as wrong but here this whole thing about becoming a God is real. As for how it will affect Thomas. I hope that he can break the barrier that restricts him from killing.'

"Alright, now we will talk about the plan. We will do it like this. First, Clara will sneak to the bakery behaving like she wants to buy food without anyone noticing.Then she will search for anyone who looks suspicious and will turn around, then run to where we are already hiding. We will stay behind two walls where no one will see us. After making sure all of our enemies are already inside our trap. We will kill the two who enters last at the beginning. I think that there will be at most five of them defending one shop. With taking out two of them, it will be three against three. Of course, Clara doesn't need to fight with us, this will be our job. Any ideas on how to improve this plan?"

Both Clara and Thomas shook their heads, just as John was ready to say that they will now start it, Emma had something to say.

"I have an idea of how to improve your plan! Let me help you!"

"Haha, Emma, you don't need to worry about things like this, maybe we will take you with us when you're older."

"But I'm already four! I'm as old as you, John!"

What she said made John slightly stunned.

'Right, I'm still four in this world. I already forgot about it. I should start to care about it more or else others might get suspicious about the way he spoke since he forgot about his current identity.'

"Tell me, do you want to help us sooner?"

"Yes!Yes! What do I need to do?"

"You need to train!"

"Train?"

"Yeah! You and Clara need to start exercising, you don't want to become baggage right, Emma?"

"Of course not!"

Hearing how John called her, this little girl showed a determined expression.

"How can I train?"

"It's simple, now, let me show you! Since you are so eager, then we will change our schedule a little! First, we will take care of you and then execute our plan. But first, you need to promise me one thing."

"What is it?"

"You can do what you want in this room but unless there is danger, don't leave it, and please stay quiet. Do you agree?"

"Alright!"

"So now we will start your training? First, lay on your back..."

John started explaining a bunch of exercises to Emma after which he reminded her once again about the deal they made.

'It's good that Emma already started her training. Thanks to beginning this soon, her abilities will be better than most of her peers. Now I can only hope that she won't be bored by this too soon. Next, I need to persuade Clara. But how can I do it? Maybe I should ask Thomas for help? She seems to try and keep as far away as possible from me. It's a must for her to start because when the spring comes, I will need every pair of hands that can help me defend from the wrath of the bandits. I'm sure they will return then. Now that I think about it, I'm curious how Leo is doing?'

...

"Aaah! It's so big! Leo! Come here and help us or we will die here! There is a giant animal here."

Elizabeth was screaming frightened by the size of the creature that was currently walking in her direction. Hearing how his subordinate screams, Leo was following the voice, but before he got there, he heard a scream that sounded like it came straight from the depths of hell. He started to run even faster after hearing this and what he saw almost made him pee his pants. Before his eyes, Elizabeth was torn apart by a bear, who was staying in the pool of her blood. Seeing this scene, Leo finally understood something.

'Isn't it the same as in the city? Here, only strong survive by preying on the weak. Everywhere is the same. Everything works the same. Humans aren't that different from beasts.'

After this situation, Leo became a mage able to mimic the animals he encountered.