Later that day…
His feet were sore, covered with blisters, smeared with mud and forest debris. The trees had thinned now, and the sunlight spilled more freely over the land.
While he led the way, both Lina and Elior followed behind.
Their complexion was pale, and their clothes were tattered and ripped in places.
Valen, himself, didn't fare better. His clothes were ragged, his hair tousled, his once elegant face full of scratches and scars.
His once elegant appearance was now rugged and rough.
It had been a long time since he left his home and set out on this journey. He didn't have a clue where he was headed.
He knew nothing about his destination.
But he knew that he had to keep moving until he found a place to gather forces. If he wanted to seek revenge, then he had to build his forces before challenging his sworn enemies.
Consumed by his desire for revenge, he kept advancing.
"400…" Valen muttered under his breath as he parted the thick bush ahead.
He had been counting days, and it had been exactly four hundred days since the incident.
Just as he parted the undergrowth, he came to a halt.
His breath caught in his throat.
Before him lay an open plain, kissed by green and gold. Fields stretched wide, planted in orderly rows and flanked by flowing irrigation canals. Water sparkled as it moved through carefully laid stone channels.
Just beyond the fields stood a village.
The houses were crafted with timber and stone, with sloped roofs and wide courtyards. Smoke curled lazily from chimneys. Children ran barefoot through dirt paths that wove between homes, and watchtowers overlooked the forest edge.
He could tell even from a glance that it wasn't a tribal settlement.
Valen squinched his eyes, attempting to process what he was seeing. Disbelief clouded his vision as he rubbed his eyes.
But the village stood firm before him as if reminding him that whatever he was seeing wasn't a mirage but real.
What mesmerized him even more was the layout of the village.
The layout looked thoughtful and efficient, as if someone had created it from scratch with deliberate planning.
He could tell that the village was clearly planned, not thrown together in haste.
Who built this?
He couldn't understand. But he was curious.
He had encountered many broken remnants of humanity and beast-folk in his travels—scattered bands, makeshift camps, desperate survivors.
But this…
This was different.
It was the most majestic structure he had seen. Despite being a fairly large village, even his home didn't amount to anything before what he saw.
"Young master! Just who built this grand settlement?" Lina asked, her voice tinged with surprise and awe.
Elior's jaw dropped as his eyes sparkled upon seeing this structural miracle before him.
This majestic settlement captivated their heart. However, Valen couldn't help but feel distressed.
He knew whoever built this majestic settlement must possess a lot of strength. He could gauge their strength just from the structure laid before him.
"Who do you think must own this place, young master?" Elior questioned.
"I don't know. But whoever it is… we can't afford to meddle," Valen said solemnly, reaching for the hilt of his sword.
Elior gulped as he realized the severity of their situation.
'Can I find allies here?' Valen wondered.
Though he felt intimidated, he couldn't help but entertain the thought of finding allies. He knew he'd be able to gather strong allies here if he managed to meet some.
But he still couldn't approach them recklessly.
What if he finds foes instead? What if the people of the village don't welcome him?
Though the greed of revenge burned bright, he still couldn't help but raise his guard. He had to be as cautious as possible.
'Should I take a gamble?' He wondered.
He didn't want to miss this opportunity. The thought of finding strong allies was too hard to resist. But at the same time, the threat of finding strong foes was equally depressing.
What should I do?
Valen found himself in a dilemma. He couldn't risk the lives of his servants either.
He turned to look at their faces before coming to a decision.
"Elior, Lina, you two stay here. I'll go and scout the village," Valen said, his tone firm and resolute.
Hearing those words, both Lina and Elior couldn't help but frown. How could they allow their young master to perform such a dangerous task?
"But young master…"
Both were reluctant to accept his decision.
Valen could see through their reluctance. However, he still had to see if he could find allies here. He couldn't afford to ignore such a delicious piece of pie.
"It's alright. I won't get found—"
No sooner had those words left his lips than his expression twisted. His pointed ears twitched as he sensed danger.
Without wasting a second, he grabbed his sword and swung it.
Clang!
The sword hit something metallic.
Sparks flew as he deflected an arrow that veered into the underbrush with a violent hiss.
"Ahh!"
Both Lina and Elior let out a scream. Their pupils constricted, fear gripped their hearts, and they felt their strength waning. Intense fear gripped their heart as they felt their soul leave their body.
"Young Mas—"
It seemed like before Valen could even begin his scouting, his party had been found.
Before he could steady his breath, a second arrow cut through the air, followed by a third and a fourth.
Valen's sword danced with desperate precision as he parried the incoming volley of arrows. His feet stung as the blisters rubbed against the rugged terrain.
'They've already found us?'
Valen felt shocked. He couldn't even detect the incoming threat until the last moment. Just when did they even find them?
He couldn't comprehend.
However, one thing was certain: their position was exposed, and he knew nothing about their positions.
His eyes flicked toward the tree line beyond.
He spotted a fast-moving shadow. Figures blurred between trunks, their steps silent but sure. He couldn't see them clearly, but he knew what they were:
Wolf-Kin!