Chapter 8: “Pretty Strong”

The five youths look at each other. They can’t get angry or refute what Ares said. They are indeed weak, and they realize that.

One in five youths ventured to speak to Ares. "Sir, our village is in a state of famine. The harvest in the garden failed due to the attack of wild beasts. That's why the five of us, as the strongest people in the village, tried to hunt for meat. Instead of the meat we got, we got lost and went deeper into the forest."

"Take all the body parts from this wolf, and I will escort you back to the village. Ashur, come take them out!" he shouted, calling for his partner.

From the thick of the tree emerged an adult man with an athletic body and handsome face but still lost to Ares' perfect look. The large green sword stuck behind Ashur’s back made him very dignified.

Seeing the arrival of Ashur, the five youths who Ares was helping are a little wary. Then he decided to speak to lighten the mood, "You don't need to be wary. My brother's face is a little scary, but trust me, he's a good person, and of course, he's powerful."

The five youths regained their composure and relaxed their vigilance a little. "Sir, it's rude that we haven't introduced ourselves. Let it start with me, I'm Erick, and they are my colleagues."

"Sir, I’m Louis."

"I'm Daniel."

"I'm Taro, and this is my sister Akira."

Ares smiles politely, then introduces himself and his new company on this journey so far, "I am Ares, and you must know his name is Ashur. He’s my partner, but also like my brother and bodyguard."

Ashur, who is a vassal, moves closer to his master after he introduces him. Ares never looks down on him in the slightest. The brief introduction ended, and they walked together towards the village where Erick and the others lived.

The brief introduction ended, and they walked together towards the village where Erick and the others lived. Each person brings a wolf with yellow fur, except for Ashur, who can carry four of it at once.

"Pretty strong, the two of them are very, very strong," Erick murmured in his heart, and his four companions did the same.

Arriving at the village, Erick invites Ares and Ashur to enter the town through the main gate. Around the village, a fence made of logs was built. Sturdy but not strong enough to protect the town from beasts or monsters.

Entering the village, Ares could see the condition of the town, and it was pretty alarming. Many uninhabitable buildings stand in the village. Skinny little kids with bulging bellies often Ares see along the way. The condition of adults and parents is not much different from that of their children.

"What a pitiful village," he thought as he continued to follow Erick.

"We arrived. Put the game here, and let the women process it," Erick said after they arrived in front of the most prominent house in the village.

Ares is quite surprised by the condition of the house in front of him, which is much more liveable than the other houses. Erick smiles at him, still in his feelings. "This house used to belong to the village head. But after our leader leaves this village, this is the only house left. Manta, the village head, left the village with all his possessions and took all the treasures in the storage barn."

Erick took a deep breath; a deep disappointment also appeared on his face. Then he opens his mouth again, "He stole all the treasures and left while we were all gardening. Since the former village head left, the situation of this village has deteriorated, and finally, it is what it is now."

"The location of this village is quite close to the forest. The fences you built are also not very strong, and again there is a shortage of guards here. The vacancy of leaders also makes this village increasingly neglected." Ares sits back while thinking about finding the best solution for the village where Erick lives.