Tokarou looked away from Sarei and back at Dekor.
"Tell me one thing," he said quietly.
His eyes narrowed just a little.
"Do you believe us… or are all of you just pretending?"
Dekor did not answer immediately.
The old beastman tightened his grip on the wooden stick, his shoulders stiff. The crowd waited in silence, eyes shifting between him, Tokarou, and Sumi.
Finally, Dekor let out a long breath.
"We… do not fully trust you," he said honestly. "You look like humans...too much like them. And yet… you don't feel like humans either."
A murmur spread through the villagers. Some nodded, others looked uneasy.
Tokarou stared at Dekor for a few seconds, then gave a small nod.
"Good," he said. "At least you told the truth."
His gaze sharpened.
"I can tell when someone lies."
That single sentence made several beastmen swallow nervously.
Before the tension could thicken further, Maleta stepped out from the crowd. She walked to the front, her steps slow but firm.
"They are telling the truth," she said, her voice steady.
"At least… from what their eyes have seen."
Everyone turned to her.
"For a long time, our village believed the Monster King was kind," Maleta continued.
"We never imagined he was planning something against us. And none of us knew the food was poisoned."
She clenched her fists.
"Some of you have said it yourselves you felt weaker day by day you just didn't know why."
The villagers began whispering.
"She's right…"
"I have been tired lately…"
"My joints hurt more than before…"
Confusion and fear mixed together.
Sarei sat on the ground, her hands shaking. Tears gathered at the corner of her eyes.
"It can't be…" she whispered weakly.
Dekor fell silent again, deep in thought, his gaze fixed on Tokarou.
Tokarou slowly scanned the crowd, then turned toward Sumi. She was sitting on the wooden log, calm, watching everything without speaking.
Their eyes met.
'Sumi…' Tokarou spoke in her mind.
She replied instantly.
'These people are fools, darling… We need proof otherwise, they won't believe us completely.'
Tokarou stared at her for a moment.
'What a pain… Should we just choke these people and get the information we want about this world? I doubt they even know much.'
Sumi closed her eyes.
'If that's your thought, then let me do it. I can't let you become a monster.'
Tokarou went silent.
He knew she meant it. And she knew he would never allow her to cross that line either.
'Let's try something else,' he said.
Sumi nodded.
She stood up and faced the villagers.
"When do you go to collect the fruit?" she asked.
Maleta blinked, then answered, "Once every seven days. We go early in the morning, when the mist is thick."
"Where?" Sumi asked.
"A forested area near the Monster King's territory," Maleta replied.
"We are not allowed to enter at any other time. That rule was given by him."
Sumi tilted her head slightly.
"So you just obey?"
Maleta hesitated, then nodded.
"We thought it was for our safety."
Tokarou stepped forward.
"What does he look like?" he asked. "The Monster King."
Maleta took a breath.
"His name is Bahaver Krotzil," she said. "He has a human like body, but his hands are like a lizard's. He has a long tail… and four eyes."
Her voice lowered.
"He is very strong... Ranked twenty third among the thirty Monster Kings."
Tokarou glanced at Sumi.
'Looks like there's a lot of stuff out there,' he thought.
Sumi gave a small nod.
The discussion did not end there.
Questions kept coming, one after another, slower now, as if everyone was trying to understand the situation instead of reacting to it. Maleta explained how they had ended up in this jungle in the first place. The village had not always been surrounded by trees this dense, nor had they planned to live so far away from any human road.
"This place is very far from human lands," she said.
"Too far for traders, too dangerous for travelers at first we thought that was a good thing."
Sumi listened quietly, her eyes moving over the villagers.
Dekor stepped forward and continued where Maleta stopped.
"We tried living closer to other regions before," he said.
"Plains, riversides, even near old ruins. But it never worked."
His voice grew heavier.
"Many died... Hunger took some, thirst took others and those who survived long enough…" he paused.
"…were hunted by wild monsters and demons."
'Demons…' Tokarou thought.
Tokarou spoke after a moment.
"To make you all believe that the fruit is poisoned and that the Monster King is your enemy," Tokarou said calmly.
"we'll go to his territory tomorrow."
The crowd stirred.
"And we'll take one of you with us," he added.
Sumi slowly turned her gaze toward Sarei.
"You," she said simply. "Grey cat."
Sarei flinched in surprise.
"Y-you're the one who collects the fruit, right?" Sumi continued. "If you see it yourself… and speak the truth, people will believe you."
Sarei's mouth opened, but no words came out.
Dekor nodded after a brief pause.
"That… makes sense If she goes and returns safely, there will be no more doubt."
Tokarou walked closer to Dekor.
"Do you have any weapons I can use?" he asked.
Dekor looked confused. "Weapons?"
"We don't use weapons," Dekor said slowly.
"The Monster King forbade us from killing animals we only use knives or axes for daily work."
He hesitated, then added, "But… I do have a sword. One I used in my younger days."
Tokarou nodded. "Fine a sword works."
Sumi tilted her head.
"Why do you even need a weapon?"
Tokarou replied without thinking, "Main character vibe."
She blinked, then shrugged.
Dekor led them to his hut. It was less worn than the others, though still simple, the air inside filled with old wood and dust.
He knelt and pulled out a long wooden chest from under the bed, the surface was scratched and faded.
Inside lay a steel sword. It wasn't new, but it had been cared for. Scratches lined the blade, yet its edge was still firm. A few old trinkets rested beside it.
Dekor held the sword, his expression distant, memories flashing through his eyes, hunting monsters, fighting humans, goblins, orcs… a time long gone.
He offered it to Tokarou.
Tokarou took it and swung it lightly.
In his mind he thought.
'If I want to use this sword then I have to hold back badly or this will broke into pieces.'
The chief stepped back nervously. Sumi walked over, examining the blade, then grabbed it and followed Tokarou outside, swinging it like a toy. A chair snapped in half behind her.
Tokarou stopped and looked back at Dekor.
"Don't worry about food tonight," he said. "We'll go to the river and catch enough fish for everyone."
Dekor watched them in silence, then smiled faintly.