Happy Moment (1)
As soon as the Demon Katona's declaration and roar ended, every flame around him snuffed out.
I'd braced for the village to erupt in flames, monsters bursting from the inferno to slaughter the villagers.
But reality flipped the script.
No fire arrows flew.
They'd struck on a moonless, starless night—perfect cover for monsters more at home in the dark than humans. They were using the shadows to their advantage.
"Light the roads!!"
Instead, the villagers were frantically igniting the emergency lanterns lining the paths.
"Kyaaah!!"
Every now and then, goblins—small, shadowy figures—lunged from the blackness, ambushing anyone they could reach.
Luckily, most folks here were ex-adventurers. They didn't panic at the sudden attacks, striking back and driving the beasts off... but...
"They're putting out the lanterns!!"
It wasn't random. They hit the light sources first, aiming to extinguish every glow.
Meanwhile, the distant war cries from the village outskirts and the thud of shields grew steadily closer. The villagers' screams and shouts swelled in response.
Shadow ambushes. A tightening noose of encirclement.
Even seasoned adventurers or veteran soldiers would crack under this.
Reshi and I stepped out of the house, where others were already gathering. This was the village chief's place—a small square perfect for rallying.
Confused stragglers unable to find an escape route started trickling in.
Some enemies, eager for kills before the encirclement sealed or burning for revenge, pursued them.
As people clustered, we repelled a handful of goblins and orcs nipping at their heels.
The monsters didn't overcommit. They'd retreat if wounded. They knew when they had the edge.
"Reshi!! Kirgil!!"
Moments later, Shtai and Latia joined us, embracing Reshi.
Shtai carried an axe and sword; Latia, several spears.
"Reshi!! You're safe!! I'm here too!!"
Kras showed up. Normally unreliable, but after winter training, he was a welcome addition now.
"Where's Elias?"
"That elf bastard bolted with his dogs first!! That pointy-eared prick..."
A villager was mid-rant when a gust of wind whipped through.
Shiiiiiik!!!
"Kyaaak!!"
A goblin sneaking up behind him took an arrow to the chest and slammed into the wall.
"...Best there is. That bastard's one hell of an elf."
I didn't know where he was watching from, but I gave a thumbs-up in approval.
That way, villagers converged on the chief's house, drawn by light and voices.
We herded the vulnerable like Reshi to the center. Fighters formed a protective ring around them.
Smart—keeping forces together against encirclement. But...
"What now?"
Gathered or not, where could we flee in this pitch black? Where was the encirclement thinnest?
"Damn it, there are hundreds of them at least! And that Katona! The demon executioner who says he'll carve us up!!"
"The Demon King's sending her best!!"
No ideas meant rising panic. Holding out meant annihilation eventually.
The war cries and shield-thumps closed in relentlessly.
Axes and stones flew from the dark now and then. Sometimes they'd rush a momentary lapse.
Minor wounds, but each chipped away at stamina and morale.
"You fucking bastards!!! Think we'll go down easy?! You, you—follow me! We'll kill a few before we die!!"
Three or four, fed up, formed an impromptu party, torches high, and charged the shadows.
But soon their lights winked out.
Moments later.
"Kyaaaaah!!"
"Kraaaaaah!!"
Enemy roars echoed—not fear, but triumph and mockery.
To amplify the terror, something landed in plain view: one of the brave chargers. Still alive... barely.
"Don't go. It's bait."
Shtai, with his battle experience, saw through it and shook his head. One villager, missing the warning, rushed to save him—and vanished into the dark.
Soon, his short sword and weapon clattered from the shadows.
The outcome was obvious. No one went after him.
Damn it, what do we do?! Die like this?!
Me? Reshi too?
Then—faint flames flickered in the distance.
Bwooooooo!!
Horns from the garrison. They'd noticed and mobilized.
"Fuck! Finally crawling out?!"
"Hurry your asses up!!"
Fighters cursed, but it was praise—allies boosting morale.
Relief, but stay sharp. The garrison was dozens, not hundreds. Fifty at most.
They couldn't break the siege—just punch a hole.
We had to bet on that. I shouted to the villagers.
"Move!! Head for the soldiers!! Hit from both sides to break the encirclement!!"
Battle-savvy folks grasped it fast.
They raised spears and shields in breakthrough formation, advancing toward the horns.
Village outskirts—right by my house.
"Kyaaaaah!! Revenge!!"
"Don't let them escape!!"
Enemies sensed our momentum, tightening the noose. Frontal resistance was expected, but rear pursuers swelled too.
Encircled meant done.
Fortune: chasers were ragged—formations broken from haste, light gear.
Shtai and I, trained together, brushed them aside easily.
He'd swing his massive axe, smashing spears and shields; I'd finish them.
Ferio's gifted sword held its edge, magic blessing or not, through multiple kills.
After skirmishes, we neared my house.
Up ahead, soldiers clashed with monsters—metal rang, screams rose.
Horns blared amid it: Come on, now's your chance!
But opposite shadows brought faster, more numerous footsteps—closer.
Get caught, and many die. Reshi too...
"Shtai, waves are rough. Need a solid breakwater here."
"Agreed."
We steeled ourselves. An arrow pierced a charging orc's skull.
Someone else covering from afar.
"What about me?"
Latia planted her spear beside her husband. Shtai pushed her back.
"Ti, go first."
"Doubting my skill?"
"Ti, you're not alone."
"......"
Latia hesitated, then hugged his back.
"Don't overdo it, or I'll punish you."
She bolted to the evacuees.
"Wait! Mom? What about Dad and Uncle?! Mom!! Moom!! Wait!!"
Latia scooped the pursuing Reshi without a word and ran.
Thank god. I'd always wanted to save her.
Thank god.
"Hah... Figured a day like this might come. Didn't think it'd be tonight."
A brief lull. Hearing enemy cries and steps, I opened my house door.
Tossed torches on the bed, oil lanterns, flammables nearby.
Flames and smoke drew eyes—some pursuers peeled off toward us.
Sloppy control for a named demon's army. Rural raid, so small fry sufficed.
Two or three? Me, Shtai, Elias's sniping could handle.
Plus, back-to-firewall. No flanking—pure frontal assaults.
After four or five frenzied bouts, my house blazed like a beacon.
"That's him! That human!! The one who killed our brothers!!"
A familiar voice from afar—a wolf-riding goblin pointed our way.
"That guy from before? And wolf cavalry!?"
Not ragtag goblins/orcs now—armored orcs on huge wolves charged.
Katona's true elites, it seemed.
Chasers toward the rendezvous turned at the goblin's call, eyeing our fire with Katona.
"Hoh, quite the fireworks."
The biggest-wolf rider—Katona—wheeled about, leading her squad straight at us.
Plan: wear us with small fry, finish with wolf knights.
Twenty or so.
Could I stop them?
"Kirgil, run."
Shtai braced for death too.
"Don't joke. You know we can't escape."
Shtai chuckled. He'd wanted to say it.
We knew the odds. Still, buy time—divert troops from villagers.
Especially elites. Cripple those wolves, save one more life.
Boost Reshi's odds.
Then—
Shiiik!!
An arrow streaked for Katona's head.
Clang!!
Deflected by her greatsword.
More arrows flew—blocked by blade or... arm!?
Elias's shots weren't weak. Iron-hard arm? Special power?
"Foolish."
Katona glared arrow-ward.
"......Hmph! Coward! Fled already?"
Elves lived long by dodging death traps.
No blame for Elias. He'd helped max within limits.
Katona dismounted, turned to us. Wolf riders slowly ringed my burning house.
Back to flames, we leveled sword and axe in standoff.
"I came for the brave ones. I am Katona, blade of Century Queen Parshiana! What are your names?"
Demon seeking honorable duel? Warrior code?
"Kirgil."
"Shtai of the paired hands."
For a sec, I wondered if I needed a title. But...
"Pitiful. Unknown names. No despair for humans there. But beheading the boldest crushes resistance. I'll make you nobodies miserable."
A goblin rider chimed in.
"Kekeke, that little human's neck is mine."
Damn, no honor—trophy-hunting fame-whores.
Humiliated already, but I gripped my sword, resolve firm. Shtai mirrored: axe one hand, sword other.
Katona—three meters up close—hoisted guillotine-like greatsword.
Sorry. Reshi, Chief, Ferio. Looks like my story ends here.
She raised her blade, advancing.
Overhead smash? Swing? Strike first?
"Hah, hah."
We'd braced. Fought mindlessly till now.
Just facing her, thinking—it choked me.
What to do? Cold sweat. Pressure of true strength?
Shtai signaled—party tactic. He frontline, me back. Flesh offering for bone strike.
He'd bait with life. I'd land the hit on his gamble.
Could I? Dark thoughts swirled. All omens.
Damn! Damn!! Daaaamn!!!
Tension maddening. Need to loosen up somehow...
"Uncle!!!!"
"Huh?"
"Uncllleee!! Run!! We linked up!!"
Voice like heaven. But...
"Why Reshi!?"
Far off, Reshi rode a white wolf.
Behind—a youth on horse... Kras!? Learned riding?
Knight-like, guarding her side. Goblins/orcs bounced off him.
"Kirgil, it's you!! Because of you, Reshi!!"
Probably chased reckless Reshi. Glad, but timing sucks.
"No!! Reshi!! Don't come!!"
Katona and wolves turned to her.
"Annoying!!"
Katona eyed the white wolf—not Reshi. Belly threat bigger?
"This isn't your place, wench!!"
Reshi charged straight, like to snatch us.
Katona surged—massive frame belying speed.
"Reshi!! Stay back!! Go!!! Please!!"
I chased desperately. Katona's blade...
Perfectly aimed.
At incoming Reshi.
"Reshi!!!"
Kang!!!
Greatsword met Kras's shield.
"Eh!?"
...Or so. His torso sheared off, flying. Horse bisected too.
Gap let Belly twist aside, dodging barely.
"Again!! Dodged again!! Lucky bitch!!!!"
Blade didn't stop—arced for Reshi and wolf's back.
No escape now.
I block!
Promised to save her!! Trained for this!!
But father guarding child outmatched me.
Kaaang!!!
Shtai overtook, body-slammed Reshi/Belly aside.
Crossed sword/axe caught Katona's blade. Sword snapped, axe split.
Reshi unscathed, but Shtai flew from blade/wind pressure.
And.
His head rolled to my feet.
Too sudden—my mind blanked.
Body froze.
"Hmph! You whelps dare ruin my fun."
Katona approached fallen Reshi, raising greatsword.
"Riding her means you're with the bitch."
Provoke Belly by beheading unconscious Reshi?
Why!?
"You... you!"
Brain rebooted. No options.
Kras dead. Shtai dead. Me next.
Save her. Save her. Save her.
Somehow save Reshi!
STOP!! STOP!! PLEASE STOP!!
I bolted mindlessly.
Adrenaline surge?
Her death felt like mine—desperate?
Blade raised, time froze.
This moment... this moment!!
Then.
Past memories flashed like a montage.