Troublesome Enemy

The Casonar Village is located on the southern side of the Harisan Empire's territory. Maze-like jungles and lush forests entrapped the village inside making it tougher for enemies to invade head-on.

Due to this, the village was isolated from the outside and only the knights and merchants passed by here to either rest or cross to the stronghold. There's a stronghold just 50 miles away and this village has the nearest route to go there.

If a knight takes the main route, the distance is twice as much. For a hurrying knight, time is a diamond.

However, due to these bizarre disappearances, nobody even wanted to take a stroll here at night. In Hans' viewpoint, the guards at the village entrance surely have massive balls to take the security tasks knowing the possibility of dying tonight.

"Anyways, the villagers seemed afraid of something." Hans mumbled while looking around the village.

He's not sure yet but their fears certainly have stemmed from something other than bandits and thieves. This village has guards, even if there's a robbery occurrence, this shouldn't be enough for everyone to be frightened.

Of course, nothing could be verified as he only based it on his initial investigation.

The village chief looked suspicious but his strength is too weak to even match an ordinary adult human. Hans was confident of this information but there was this nagging feeling that the village chief might be more than what meets the eye.

To confirm his doubts, Hans strolled around the village, occasionally inquiring about Gerd's traits and personality and his attitude towards them. Fortunately, some villagers didn't seem to hate Hans and were just wary.

"The village chief is nice to us."

"He gives food to everyone."

"I think the village chief is kind. He gave me a piece of bread yesterday."

Of course, there was also a mixed response.

"Selfish."

"He's not that bad but he's not that good either."

"The village chief will take drastic measures so we can live. Please understand that without him, many of us could have starved to death by now."

Everyone seemed to trust Gerd despite having a little bit of hate for not allocating food evenly. But Hans was more eager in finding out why they trusted him so much. They were even afraid of enraging the village chief.

"He's our leader. He once saved us from misery so we treat him with respect."

Respect. They were given to those worthy of being respected.

However, Hans' eyes rolled at the villager's response. That old fart seemed like a creepy uncle in a horror movie.

But then again, you can't judge a book by its cover. The village chief should have earned this respect due to some extreme methods that everyone recognized.

Maybe, he killed the bandits or retrieved the lost items from thieves. Many reasons rippled in his mind. The possibility is endless.

As his mind delved deeper into his thoughts, a droplet of water trickled on his cheek before being followed by another one.

Tap—, tap—

Up to now, the sky was changing and clouds occasionally blinked as lightning rumbled inside.

Tap—, tap—

Hans hurriedly rushed across the meadow but the droplets of water still splattered on his body. The tapping on the window and roofs signaled that a heavy storm was coming.

The unpleasant moisture of the soil assaulted his nose. His face scrunched.

Covering his nose, he murmured, "This is troublesome."

If not for the mission, Hans would really like to take a nap. However, he couldn't let his guard down as the attacker might strike anytime tonight.

But for some reason, the rain feels like humming a melody in his ears, buzzing like angry bees. It made him a little exhausted and his eyelids were seemingly heavy.

He felt lightheaded. It's as if he might fall asleep at any time. The rain seemed normal as he couldn't sense any trace of danger in it. As such, Hans eventually decided.

'I guess I should take a rest.' Hans thought.

With this thought in mind, Hans didn't hesitate and rushed back to his temporary house. The raindrops drizzled on his head, then throughout his body until his clothes were drenched in water.

The house is simple, having one floor mat and a sheet for body cover. Hans didn't need those and he immediately fell to the floor in extreme tiredness. His vision was spinning and three surroundings gradually turned blurry.

[Hans, are you alright? Is this normal?]

Lying on the cold floor, Hans hoarsely answered, "Yeah, I think I'm just tired. The rain wasn't a skill, don't worry but… but my head is really…"

At that moment, Hans's eyelids closed and his vision fell into the darkness. His consciousness seemingly closed off and Plundy's voice didn't reach his head.

[Hans! Hans! HANS!!!]

Plundy yelled. However, no matter how loud he screamed, Hans did not show any response.

He fell asleep and his guard was clearly exposed.

.........

The night grew deeper.

The rain poured in and aggressively pounded the fragile roofs.

Inside a house, just a little larger than others, Gerd kept the food in his bunker before leaving his house. With a rain cover in his hand, he walked towards the area where the outsider temporarily stayed.

Tap—, tap—

As he reached the house where Hans was currently staying, Gerd searched the area. Determining no other person other than him, he knocked on Hans' door.

Knock—, knock—

"Are you awake?"

There was no answer. He called out a few more times but the same thing happened.

'He's asleep.'

Guessing that Hans was asleep, a nefarious grin appeared on his lips.

'Just as planned.'

Hence, without permission, he took out his duplicate key, opened the door lock, and stepped inside the house. The door creaked as he slammed it back shut.

The outsider apparently didn't take out any valuable things as the house was still empty. The room was shrouded in darkness but the village chief could still see the outsider sleeping soundly on the cold floor.

Gerd broke out in a stifled laughter.

"Hehehe~."

Immediately, he approached Hans, crouched, and reached for the storage bag hanging from his belt. Gerd did not have enough. He also picked Hans' two swords.

"Hmm… looks like it'll fetch some money. Good, good. This young man has many good things."

After inspecting them, Gerd put them inside the storage bag.

With the items he pillaged, this should be enough to sustain his living till he died.

Hans was still asleep despite all of it. The village chief pulled a short sword behind him, held it with his palms, and aimed it at Hans' heart, hoping to kill him instantly.

No matter how high Hans' defenses are, in front of this weapon, it's nothing. Although Gerd himself doesn't have any extraordinary powers, with this weapon in hand, he fears no one.

"Young man, you might be regretting coming here but what a pity, you can only regret it in hell."

Putting all of his strength into his arms, Gerd brought down the shortsword.

"Hehehehe~, checkmate."

Only…

"I wouldn't be sure about that."

A deep voice sounded behind him. Gerd's pupils widened.

'What!?'

He was about to turn his head when suddenly, he felt a sharp blade poking at his nape. However, even without looking, he could tell it was a man's voice.

"Tell me, are you the cause of the disappearances of the knights?"

"W-what are you talking about? I don't understand."

"Still playing games with me? Fine, then why do you have a weapon in your hand? Are you planning to kill?"

"N-no, this is a misunderstanding. I-I.."

"Where are the other knights? Did you kill them like this too?"

"I-I…no, I didn't! He…"

At that moment, the village chief's eyes bugged out. He clutched his chest as a piercing pain ached inside his lungs.

He couldn't breathe.

"Haaah, haah."

His nose began to bleed and his eyes gradually turned white. Foams escaped from his mouth and the awful stench of something like human shit entered the man's nose.

"H-help!! Kuuuuk!"

The village chief turned his head and asked for help but the man remained wary and indifferent.

Thud—

The village chief fell to the ground and his face planted on the ground. After struggling for a few minutes, his life eventually faded leaving a pale lifeless body behind.

His blood had stopped pouring out and what was left was a pool of blood.

Rumble—

Blue lightning rumbled outside. The eerie silence pervaded the surroundings before the man's face was exposed by the lightning's brilliant flashes.

It was Hans.

He crouched and inspected the village chief's body from head to toes.

After finding nothing but his storage bags, he frowned, "So he's not the final boss."

[Seems like it. Fortunately, I managed to wake you up or you'll be dead by now.]

"Well…"

Hans wasn't unreasonable enough to not give his savior gratitude.

"Thanks." Hans smiled genuinely.

[It's weird to hear it but uhmm anyways, what's the plan now?]

Hearing Plundy's question, Hans stood up and buckled his two swords back to his belt. He stared at the window but the raindrops splashing on its surface made it hard to see outside.

"I'll wait for the true enemy. He seemed to be testing me."

The rain didn't contain anything in it but the moisture of the ground seemed to contain traces of hallucinogenic properties. Going outside would be risky without a nasal cover.

This is why he deduced that the enemy is not only dangerous but also intelligent and cunning.

Even with his perception, he couldn't detect any signs of suspicious people and this made him uneasy.

"Since his plan failed, he'll strike again."

Probably, the enemy will go for a more deadly attempt. Fighting someone who uses his brain is more dangerous than a warrior whose head is full of muscles.

Hans glanced at the village chief before covering his nose with black cloth. Staying inside the house has no merit anymore and only by meeting the enemy head-on will he have a chance to meet him.

As for the tricks up the enemy's sleeve, he'll gladly wait for it.

In a cloud of smoke, Hans' figure gradually faded.

.......

Inside an underground bunker.

A man covered in a gray-colored robe was sitting on the ground while flicking a coin back and forth into the air. As the coin landed on his palm, the man stopped.

"It failed huh?" He frowned before shrugging his shoulders. "...but I already anticipated this."

The village chief is always useless just like every other village. Fortunately, he always has a backup plan every time his plan fails.

"Last time, it's a royal knight but this time it's a Duke? I don't get what this empire is thinking, sending another weakling to me."

The man stood up and his body wriggled as he walked towards where his staff was currently at.

As he reached for his weapon, he smirked, "Well, keep them coming. The more the better."

Every time someone goes into this village, the empire will only increase its power. Thanks to them, they created a monster they hadn't expected— which is him.

"Oh, he went out?" The man raised his eyebrow.

The Duke seemed much more cautious and intelligent than he thought. His nose is covered. Meaning, he already found out the secrets of the ground.

At that moment, a malicious grin formed on his lips.

"He might be a better toy than I thought. A perfect toy for my collection."

As the light flashed on a nearby table, several small wooden sculptures appeared. They were sculpted knights but in the man's eyes, they were just toys.

"Haha~, let's see how you will respond to my next move."

...….

Under the dark shade of the night, Hans traveled from shadows to shadows. His mobility increased and he could move secretly without anyone noticing.

But for some reason, he felt as if someone was watching him. That shouldn't be possible unless he's as powerful as an SSS-rank.

However, that's also unlikely because he still needs to use underhanded tactics like this.

"Uwaaaaahhh!!! Uwaaaahh!!"

His thoughts were interrupted when a child's cry entered his ears. Bewildered, Hans followed the source of the noise and arrived in the middle of the streets.

"Uwaaaaah!!!"

As soon as he stared in a certain direction, Hans stopped. In the middle of the streets, a little girl was crying while hugging her body as the rain poured.

Gulp—

Hans swallowed his saliva.

Slowly approaching the little girl, he whispered, 'Why is she here?'

It was the little girl he gave a piece of bread earlier.