Chapter - 23 Signs of Something Worse
Lucien looked around the village again.
"There are many things I need to do," he thought while looking at the broken village.
After that, Lucien asked Aren to divide the party into two groups.
First group – Lucien and Aren: they would help the villagers repair the village.
Second group – Seris and Lira: they would heal the injured people.
Aren thought for a few minutes.
"That is a good plan," said Aren.
Seris and Lira nodded.
Lira had also learned healing magic from Seris.
"So, let's begin the plan," said Lucien with a smile.
After they divided into two groups, and with the help of the village chief, the villagers slowly started to trust them.
Seris and Lira went to heal the injured people.
Meanwhile, Aren and Lucien helped repair the damaged areas of the village and the fences surrounding it.
"We have to work faster because I'm not sure when the goblins are going to attack us. According to the main story, the goblins attack this village the day after tomorrow," Lucien thought.
"But right now the main story has already changed because of my and Seris's interaction with Aren and Lira."
Lucien and Aren helped the villagers all night to repair the damaged fences.
They collected resources like wood and ropes and fixed them into the ground.
By the end of the night, they had repaired one-third of the area, while Seris and Lira continued helping the injured villagers.
Next Day
Lucien and Aren checked the areas surrounding the village to see if there were any goblins nearby.
They also set some sound traps.
"Well, you know many things, Lucien," said Aren while looking at him.
Lucien smiled and thought inwardly,
I just learned these things in my past life.
Lucien replied, "I just learned them somewhere."
While they were checking the traps, Aren looked at Lucien thoughtfully.
Lucien is really amazing, Aren thought.
I wonder when he learned these things and how he became this strong.
Lucien noticed Aren staring at him.
"What?" he asked.
Aren had been lost in thought, but suddenly replied, "Nothing."
After checking and setting the traps, they went back inside the village.
Lira and Seris were still working hard to heal the villagers.
When Lucien and Aren walked toward them, Lucien thought,
"They are using their mana non-stop. If they use all their mana now, it will create problems when the goblins attack."
"Hey! You guys should take a rest for now," said Lucien.
Seris turned around and saw Lucien and Aren.
"There are only a few injured people left," Seris replied. "After we finish, we will take a rest."
Lira nodded as well.
"Okay, but take care, both of you," said Aren.
Lucien nodded.
When they walked away, Lucien noticed that Aren had a worried expression and was looking back at the hall where Seris and Lira were.
He must be worried about Lira, Lucien thought.
After that, they returned to their work.
Inside the Hall
"Are you okay, Lira?" Seris asked.
Lira nodded.
"I'm fine."
Even though Lira said that, Seris was still worried about her.
A few minutes later, Seris and Lira left the hall after healing all the injured villagers.
Outside, they saw Aren resting under a tree.
Aren noticed them.
"Are you guys done with your work?" he asked.
Lira nodded with a tired face and lay down on the ground.
Aren nodded.
"Yes, we have finished our work."
"That's good," said Seris. "Where is Lucien?"
"He went to talk to the village chief," Aren replied.
"Village chief?" Seris thought.
She looked at Lira and saw that she had already fallen asleep.
Seris smiled.
"She must be tired."
Then she looked at Aren and noticed he had also fallen asleep.
"They are really the same," she thought.
After that, Seris looked toward the village chief's house.
What does Lucien want to talk about with the village chief? she wondered.
Inside the Village Chief's House
"Why did you call me?" said Lucien.
The old village chief looked at him.
"First, I want to thank you," the old man said. "Because of you all, the condition of the village is much better than before."
Lucien replied, "It's nothing. We are just doing our job."
Then he continued, "What is the reason you called me here?"
"There is some information I want to discuss with you," said the village chief.
"Information?" Lucien thought.
The old man looked at Lucien with a serious expression.
"The goblins who attacked us are not normal goblins."
"What?" Lucien said with wide eyes.
"Those goblins are much stronger than normal goblins, and their intelligence is almost like humans," the old man said.
After hearing this, Lucien was sure the old man was not lying.
This is completely different from the main story, Lucien thought.
"Sir, are you sure that the ones who attacked the village were goblins?" Lucien asked.
The old man replied, "Yes. I saw them with my own eyes."
After a moment of silence, the old man suddenly remembered something.
"I remember that all the goblins had many cut marks on their bodies."
"Cut marks?" said Lucien.
Lucien thought,
In the novel, normal goblins attacked the village. But if what the village chief said is true, this could become a big problem.
The old man lowered his head. It seemed like he wanted to say something but stopped himself.
Lucien noticed this and took a deep breath.
"We will protect this village," Lucien said.
The old man looked at him in surprise.
"Thank you," said the old man.
When Lucien left the village chief's house, the moon had already risen.
He went back to the house that the village chief had given them to stay in.
When Lucien opened the door—
Aren, Lira, and Seris were waiting for him at the dinner table.
They noticed him.
"Finally, you came," said Aren.
Lucien sat down at the table.
"So, what did the village chief say?" Seris asked.
Lira looked at them while eating.
Lucien replied,
"The village chief said that—"
He told them everything the chief had said.
"What? They are not normal goblins?" Lira said.
"Do you think what the village chief said is true?" Seris asked.
"Well, yes," Lucien replied. "The way he said it… I'm sure it's true."
"Then what should we do—" Aren began.
Suddenly, they heard the emergency bell.
They immediately rushed outside.
"Aren't they supposed to attack tomorrow?" Lira said in shock.
Lucien picked up his sword.
"Seris and Lira, protect the village from inside," Lucien said.
"Aren, let's go."
Hearing Lucien's words, Aren quickly grabbed his sword. Seris and Lira moved to their positions.
Lucien and Aren ran toward the village gate.
When they reached the entrance, they saw many goblins attacking the village, while the villagers were fighting them.
Lucien looked at Aren.
"Let's go."
Aren nodded.
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END OF CHAPTER 23
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