Guardian: Derek Walker 28
Rita apologized desperately to Luna on behalf of the village, but melting her heart wasn't easy.
From Luna's perspective, the villagers she'd protected so diligently had openly betrayed her. It would be weirder if she wasn't pissed. Rita knew that too, so she just kept her head bowed in apology.
"I'm truly sorry. I'll apologize on their behalf. I don't know why the villagers are acting like this... They weren't always such unreasonable people..."
"This isn't something for you to apologize for, Rita."
Luna's voice was ice-cold as she addressed Rita. Her unyielding will shone clearly through that crystalline chill.
"No. As one of the villagers, I want to sincerely apologize for this. Sigh. Really, it seems like the others have been possessed or something. To say such things to you, Luna... I wouldn't have enough mouths to apologize properly."
As she kept expressing her remorse beside Luna, one of the villagers approached the two women.
He was Jack, a vigilante and the second-best archer in the village after Drobin. With his ponytail, he came running up and stood before Luna.
Luna stood her ground, glaring at the young man blocking her path. Her razor-sharp aura silently warned that if he didn't move, he'd regret it. If she wanted, she could terrify this ordinary youth into collapsing on the spot.
Overwhelmed by Luna's beastly presence, Jack stumbled back a few steps but quickly regained his composure and did what he'd come for. He bowed deeply to her.
"Luna! I'm truly sorry!"
"Jack oppa!"
Bianca, who had been walking alongside Luna like Rita, cried out in her youthful voice. Jack bowed once more and repeated himself.
"We were wrong, Luna. Please forgive our anger."
Confirming he wasn't here to pick a fight, Luna withdrew her icy aura.
"Is that what you came here to say?"
"We were truly wrong. As atonement, we'd like to host a small feast for you."
"With our master kidnapped by that orc horde, I have no desire whatsoever to enjoy a feast. Please leave."
Luna rejected him bluntly. But Jack didn't back down. Her eyebrow twitched faintly at his persistence.
"Jack, please step back for now."
Rita tried to gently persuade him, but Jack held firm. He believed the village's future hinged on his mission.
"If not a feast, at least let us treat you to a simple meal. Please forgive our mistake."
Luna let out a soft sigh at his steadfast attitude. Rita chimed in from the side. Of course, she had no idea Jack's invitation stemmed from impure motives.
"Luna, it seems the villagers are reflecting on their actions. For our sakes, please forgive them this once. I'm truly sorry."
"Sigh. Fine. I'll pretend I didn't hear what was said earlier. But this is the last time."
Luna shot Jack a piercing glare with her cold eyes. He shrank back like a rabbit before a tiger and retreated.
"S-so you'll accept our apology?"
"Yes. For Rita and Bianca's sake, I'll forgive you just this once."
"Thank you! Luna! We'll grandly welcome you at the village hall tonight! Thank you for your forgiveness!"
Luna walked slowly past Jack. She turned to the two sisters following her.
"You two should head back as well. Don't you have work to do?"
"Yes... Understood, Luna. Thank you so much."
"Thank you, Luna!"
Rita and Bianca bowed in unison. Jack kept bowing until Luna was out of sight.
"At least the villagers came to their senses. That's a relief."
Bianca said with a small smile. Jack swallowed hard and replied to Rita.
"Y-yeah."
"Ugh..."
His head throbbed. Drobin barely clung to consciousness amid the dizziness. His whole body felt numb. He couldn't see a thing.
He waited calmly for his vision to return from the blackout. Once his wits cleared, he realized his arms were bound behind him.
"Damn! Those village bastards... Where the hell am I?"
He struggled to his feet. It was a familiar place—the village communal warehouse.
"Tch! Tied up tight with rope, huh!"
Drobin strained with all his might to move his arms. But the tightly knotted rope wouldn't budge. It was a real pickle.
But Drobin was the village's finest hunter. Handling ropes was second nature to him. He was as skilled at tying as he was at untying.
Scanning the room, he spotted a suitable tool to cut the rope—a large shovel.
Fortunately, his legs were free. Drobin stood, leaned the shovel against the wall at an angle, and maneuvered his bound hands toward the blade.
With his arms twisted behind him, the position was awkward, but he managed to align the knot with the edge.
"Hunter's knot, huh. Sigh... With this shoddy work, it must be Jenkins who tied it... Lucky for me that hack did it. If it'd been Harken, no way I could've undone it."
After rubbing the knot against the blade to loosen it, Drobin waged a thirty-minute battle and finally freed his arms completely.
Red rope marks scarred his wrists. The chafed skin stung fiercely, but he didn't show it.
"Right now, I need to find Rita! Damn villagers... They've all lost their minds."
The warehouse door was firmly shut. Barred from the outside, most likely. The window was boarded up too. Drobin grabbed the shovel and pounded on the wooden planks.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Suddenly, the warehouse door swung open. Drobin startled and aimed the shovel at the entrance.
"Oh. Already free? As expected of the village's top hunter."
The one who'd opened the door was old man Junaid. Drobin swallowed hard. The elder raised his open palms, signaling no hostility.
"Sigh. Grandpa, the villagers aren't in their right minds. They're trying to offer Rita to that white captain guy."
"I know. Everyone's changed suddenly. I don't know why... but it feels like they're different people."
"Are you okay, Grandpa Junaid?"
"I'm fine. For now, stopping their madness comes first. Hurry and save Rita."
"What time is it?"
"Evening. The villagers are holding some kind of feast at the hall. Rita doesn't suspect their dark intentions. You're the only one who can save her."
"Got it. Thank you!"
Drobin bowed and dashed out of the warehouse. He sprinted full speed toward the village hall.
"By the way, where's Drobin?"
Rita tilted her head after finishing food prep. Jenkins, carrying dishes, flashed an awkward smile.
"Uh, looks like he went hunting. Hasn't come back yet."
"Out hunting this late, in the middle of all this chaos? What if something happened to him?"
"The guy's the best hunter in the village. No need to worry—he'll come back fine."
Jenkins said with feigned nonchalance. Rita pouted and continued.
"But is it okay for us to have a feast like this? We still haven't rescued Walker."
"Ahem! It's just to eat well and gather strength. And honestly, if the orcs got him, his fate is probably..."
"Don't say that! Walker is definitely alive!"
Rita snapped indignantly, and Jenkins waved it off in agreement.
"Yeah, yeah. Anyway, let's enjoy tonight. You worked hard prepping the food, Rita. Take a good rest now."
Just then, the hall doors opened, and tonight's stars arrived: Luna and Kelly. Kelly gripped her staff tightly, scanning the room anxiously, while Luna strode in with her usual impassive poise.
"Luna! Kelly!"
Rita beamed and welcomed them.
"Wow~! So much delicious food!"
Kelly marveled, looking around the hall.
"This way. Seats prepared for you two."
Harken appeared from inside the hall, holding a fancy wine bottle. Jenkins whistled.
"That's two-silver wine. Factoring in the aging, probably worth at least five."
"Good day calls for good wine."
Harken guided Luna and Kelly to their seats—the head table.
"We prepared this to apologize for our rudeness. Please enjoy the food without reservation."
Harken said with a beaming smile. He poured wine into Rita and Kelly's glasses.
"Then, to the village's prosperity and gratitude for Rita and Kelly's dedication—raise your glasses! Cheers!"
"""Cheers!"""
The villagers raised their glasses in unison. Luna and Kelly followed suit. At that moment, the hall doors burst open with a bang.
"Rita! Run!"
A man burst in, panting heavily. Harken's face twisted in fury at the sight.
"Tch."
"D-Drobin!?"
Rita gasped at her sudden fiancé's intrusion. Sensing something off, Luna stood.
"I think explanations are in order."
"Th-this is..."
As things didn't go as planned, Harken flailed his hand in bewilderment. Luna glanced sideways at her wine glass.
"Did you tamper with this too, by any chance?"