Silence filled the room. The faint crackle from the lantern flame was the only sound echoing between the wooden walls. Guden sat deep in thought, his hands clasped tightly on the table, while Hayla stood beside him, her eyes fixed on Shirou.
It was Shirou who broke the silence first.
"If you allow it," he said quietly, "I can help. Oswyn might not be able to deal with these men alone."
Guden's eyes narrowed. "We cannot ask an outsider to fight for us," he said after a moment, his voice steady but strained. "This village has its own rules."
Hayla's gaze shifted toward him. "I don't think we have another choice," she said softly.
Shirou nodded in agreement. "She's right. They already know I told you about them. And if the kingdom learns of their existence, their entire plan will fall apart. They won't risk that. Which means… they'll attack the village to silence us before that happens." He leaned forward, his tone calm yet firm. "It's not a matter of if. It's when."
Guden's fingers trembled slightly. "Only one we can send for reinforcements is Oswyn himself," he said, his voice low and heavy. "But if we do that… we leave the village defenseless."
No one spoke for a long moment. Then Guden took a deep breath, his shoulders sagging. "This village… is my home," he said slowly. "And it shames me to admit this, but I no longer have the strength to protect it on my own."
His eyes lifted toward Shirou. "So I ask you, Shirou. Please… help us."
Even Hayla looked surprised. Her eyes widened slightly; it wasn't often that Guden lowered his pride before anyone.
Shirou met his gaze, unmoving. "I was planning to," he said. "The people of this village took me in even when I was a stranger. You treated me as one of your own. This is the least I can do. Besides…" His eyes darkened slightly. "I have a score to settle with them too."
Guden stared at him for a moment, then gave a firm nod. "Then we'll rely on you." He leaned forward slightly. "But before that, we'll need you to explain what exactly happened during your fight with them."
Shirou nodded. He began recounting everything that took place. How the mist spread, how the enemies moved, and how their leader fought. But he deliberately left out one detail, his mana detection. That ability was something he didn't intend to reveal just yet.
Both Guden and Hayla listened in silence. Occasionally, Hayla would ask for clarification; her expression would tighten whenever Shirou described something unusual. When he finished, Guden leaned back, letting out a tired sigh.
"…I see," the old man said finally. "Then we'll need to tighten patrols immediately."
"I'll take part in the patrols myself," Shirou said without hesitation.
Guden blinked. "You don't need to—"
"I want to," Shirou interrupted. "And one more thing… I'll need a different place to stay. I can't stay at Math's house anymore."
For a moment, Guden didn't say anything. He understood why. "Very well," he said at last. "A room will be prepared for you here, in the main house."
Shirou nodded.
The discussion dragged on for nearly two hours. They discussed patrol schedules, guard routes, evacuation plans, and defense strategies filled the room. When it finally came to an end, Shirou rose from his seat and stepped outside
----
The night was quiet, but the air carried unease. Villagers were still awake, working together to finish the temporary shelters near the center of the village. Wooden planks creaked, ropes tightened, and the sound of hammers echoed faintly in the dark.
Shirou could see the fear behind their movements. Even though no one spoke of it openly, the tension was there, lingering in every hurried step, every nervous glance.
Guden came out shortly after and addressed the gathered villagers. His voice carried authority, reassuring yet firm. He told them about the new patrol arrangements, about how Shirou himself would be guarding the outskirts. But he carefully avoided mentioning that their enemies were humans. Revealing that would only cause more panic.
After a brief round of questions and murmurs, the villagers dispersed. Shirou didn't linger. Without another word, he headed toward the edge of the forest where his patrol route began.
----
The night passed without incident. The knowledge that Shirou himself was patrolling seemed to calm the others.
By morning, everyone's tension had lessened a little. The next day went on quietly, the guards rotating shifts, while Shirou continued patrolling at the edges. Hours later, the sun sank behind the horizon once again, painting the forest in shades of grey and blue.
Shirou walked through the faintly lit path, his footsteps steady. From the opposite side, another guard approached, carrying a lantern. They exchanged brief words about the patrol routes before parting ways again.
After several minutes of walking, Shirou noticed someone ahead, Math. He was carrying a bundle of supplies, heading toward the center of the village. Their eyes met. Math forced a small, tired smile.
When Math turned around to continue walking, he suddenly froze. There was the soft sound of footsteps behind him, too close. He spun around, startled, only to see Shirou standing there silently.
"That was quick," Math said with a nervous chuckle.
"Well, not for me," Shirou replied. His voice was calm, almost detached. "Can we talk?"
Math hesitated. "Don't you have patrol duty?"
"I can do both," Shirou said simply.
Math nodded slowly and placed the bundle on the ground. For a while, neither of them spoke. The night wind rustled the trees, and the faint sound of insects filled the air.
Then Shirou exhaled quietly. "I'm sorry," he said. "I couldn't save them."
Math gave a weak smile. "It's fine. I know you tried. Maybe… maybe that's just how things were meant to be."
But Shirou could hear the weight behind his words, the grief buried beneath his calm.
They began walking together along the narrow path, side by side. After a few steps, Shirou spoke again. "I once lost people I cared about," he said softly. "Because I wasn't strong enough. I made a promise that it would never happen again." He paused, staring ahead. "And yet… it did."
Math looked down. "You don't have to feel guilty," he said. "Like I told you before, we're all part of nature. We come from it, and we return to it. That's the way of things."
"I know that," Shirou said quietly. Then his tone changed, "But let's say, hypothetically… that your children weren't killed by beasts." He glanced sideways. "What if they were killed by humans instead?"
Math froze mid-step. "Wh-what do you mean? I mean th…that's hypothetical, right?"
Shirou stopped and turned to face him. "Can you keep a secret?"
Math's eyes darted nervously. "…Yes. What actually happened?"
"I can't tell you everything," Shirou said, his voice steady. "But I'll tell you this. The ones who took your children were human."
Math stared at him, disbelief washing over his face. "Why… why would anyone do something like that?" His voice broke slightly. "You're lying. You must be…"
Shirou said nothing. He simply looked at him, his expression calm and unshaken. And in that silence, Math understood, Shirou wasn't lying.
"…Why tell me?" Math asked quietly, his voice barely a whisper.
"Because I want to ask you something," Shirou replied.
Math swallowed hard, nodding for him to continue.
Shirou took a step closer. "If that's true… what would you want to do to that man?"
Math stared at Shirou, his eyes wide, his hands trembling, breath coming in ragged bursts. For a moment, his expression was caught between anger, grief, and something else entirely. Then he closed his eyes, forcing in a deep breath, then another. Slowly, a faint, weary smile found its way to his lips.
"Nothing," he said quietly. "I'm not the one to decide what happens to him. Even humans are part of nature. Their lives aren't mine to take or judge."
Shirou looked at him, his voice low but sharper. "That's not what I asked. I didn't ask what you'll do or what you're supposed to do." He took a step closer, his gaze unwavering. "I'm asking what you want to do. If you stood face to face with that person. Not what the laws of the forest demand. Not what others expect. Just you… What do you truly want to do?"
Math's body shook. His lips quivered. For several seconds, he couldn't speak. Then, in a trembling voice, he whispered two words.
"…Kill him."
Shirou nodded slowly. "Good. That's what I wanted to hear." He turned his gaze toward the forest. "And this time… I won't miss."
Math said nothing at first. After a long moment, he gave a small nod and murmured, "I'll be leaving now."
He turned to go, but before he could take a step, Shirou's voice stopped him.
"I want to know something else too."
Math glanced back. "What is it?"
Shirou's eyes were steady. "Tell me more about Hayla."