After making sure all the logistics had been loaded, they set out, leaving the wolf village and the kitsune village for the human village deep in the forest.
Norton knew exactly which village it was—he was the one who had sent Moko's soldiers there after receiving a report from someone.
It was Nemora Village, with Noele as the village head after her husband passed away. The village had a population of about two thousand, most of them farmers and loggers.
Nemora was the only village bordering the mythical lands, the wolf village, and the kitsune village.
Norton explained that he had once proposed turning Nemora into the kingdom's southern military base, but the idea had been rejected without any explanation.
Now, Norton had no problem letting Gideon and his team settle there. They didn't have a proper place to stay, and their conflict with the wolf village had already put them on high alert.
The horse-drawn carriage stopped near the village gate. Several villagers paused and stared at the distinctive look of the soldiers' carriage.
Their expressions turned tense and fearful—after all, royal soldiers were known for their arrogance and abuse of power.
If one of them wanted to eat, the village had to provide it. If they wanted to sleep, the village had to give them a place. And if their commander wanted a woman, the village had to offer one to him.
That was why the villagers weren't exactly happy when they saw Moko's soldiers arrive.
One of the villagers ran to Noele's house, telling the old woman about the soldiers' carriage parked at the gate.
Clicking her tongue, Noele stepped outside, her face annoyed.
When she arrived at the gate, she was surprised to see that the visitors were the two people who had come to the village some time ago—the ones who had saved the village from a bandit attack.
"You… aren't you the man from that time?" Noele asked. Gideon nodded.
It wasn't just Gideon—Noele also saw Lena, Lyra, and Luke. Many others in brown-green uniforms similar to Gideon's were there, but their outfits were clearly different from Moko's soldiers.
It was obvious to her that the four of them were not part of Moko's army.
Norton dismounted and walked toward Noele, handing her a pouch of coins. Noele opened it and saw that it contained ten gold coins.
"W-What is this?" Noele asked.
"They are honored guests of mine. Provide them with a place to stay. They will help protect your village," Norton explained.
Noele turned her head. Gideon looked beaten up, his face covered in bruises.
Luke and the others were busy unloading supplies from the carriage—boxes of MREs, ammunition, rifles, and more. Enough to sustain the four of them.
"Of course. We'll prepare a place for them," Noele replied, handing the pouch of gold coins to one of the men, who would be responsible for making sure Gideon and his team had a house.
"It seems those bandits haven't been bothering you anymore, huh?" Gideon asked. Noele turned to him with a smile.
"That's right. Ever since your fight with Moko's soldiers on the forest dirt road, no bandits have dared to come."
"They might be scared of your skills."
"Thank goodness," said Lena.
Realizing that Gideon's team needed shelter right away, Noele used the gold to rent four rooms at the village inn. The villagers also helped carry the supplies inside.
Everyone treated them warmly—they knew who Gideon's team was and what they had done for Nemora Village.
Welcoming them was the same as gaining their protection.
"For now, you'll stay here until your house is finished. You don't mind, do you?" Noele asked. Gideon shook his head.
"Not at all. Thank you."
"You're welcome. Welcome to Nemora Village."
Once the door was closed, the entire team gathered in Gideon's room with the supply crates stacked nearby. Luke walked over to the window, noting that they were on the second floor.
"You told Lena to jump from a building like this? You're crazy!" Luke joked. Gideon smiled.
"So… is this our permanent shelter?" Luke asked.
Gideon cleared his throat. He preferred staying in a human village over the wolf and kitsune villages.
The racial differences here still played a big role in social interactions—people in this world cared about that.
"Yes. Until I decide otherwise, this is our shelter," Gideon replied.
"Then what do you want me to start with?" Luke asked.
"Set up a perimeter and a watchtower. That way, we can keep an eye on the area before anything bad happens," Gideon said.
"Got it. I can do that."
He glanced to the side, studying Lena carefully. He needed Lena and Lyra's skills to discuss matters with the villagers—especially regarding hygiene and sanitation.
It was crucial for maintaining the villagers' health. If their water was clean, the village could thrive.
Lena and Lyra listened to what Gideon had to say. Both women nodded in full understanding and obedience to their captain's orders. But Lena pointed something out.
"Before we start discussing this, we should observe their habits first. That way, we'll know exactly what needs to be corrected or stopped," Lena explained.
"I agree—explaining without seeing the actual situation is like drawing conclusions without understanding," Lyra added.
"All right. I'll leave that to you two."
"Then what will you be working on?" Luke asked.
Gideon stayed silent. He opened his bag and took out his green entry permit. The Moko army camp had been disbanded—it was time for him to go to Mischo City and see the situation there.
Especially to find a blacksmith who could help them make bullets.
"I'm going to the city."
"Are you sure?" Lena asked. Gideon cleared his throat.
"We need to know where that blacksmith is. We need a solid decision on ammunition production. Only by going there can I confirm it," Gideon replied.
"But it's dangerous for you to go alone. Mischo City is still Moko territory. They're hostile to us—don't you remember?" Lena said.
Gideon smiled. He appreciated his team's concern for him. But he reminded them that he was ex–Delta Force—no matter how tough the mission, he could handle it.
"I can manage on my own. I'll go with Norton—he can help me."
Lena fell silent, then sighed, her hand resting gently on the back of Gideon's. "Be careful, Gideon."