11. Wheat Fields and the Fortified Settlement
Day four. We'd been trudging along the forest path when, around noon, we finally reached the wheat fields.
About two hundred meters ahead rose a small hill, ringed by a stone wall. Inside were a handful of wooden houses and even a wooden watchtower. It looked like a miniature fortress.
"Three families and their serfs live there," Aidan said.
"A farmstead, huh. Not quite the village I had in mind."
The wheat fields stretched out around the hill. We headed toward it.
I didn't know much about farming, but the fields looked neglected. Weeds were already starting to sprout.
"Master. Something smells off."
Fam stopped in her tracks.
"Yeah, I've got a bad feeling too. Maybe we shouldn't go any closer."
There should've been people working the fields, but no one was in sight. It was eerie.
"We're being watched."
I followed Fam's gaze. Someone was peering at us from the watchtower—someone who hadn't been there a moment ago.
"Goblins, huh. Let's fall back for now."
We followed Aidan's lead and retreated into the forest. After a short walk, we slipped into some underbrush and held our breath. Aidan began readying his bow.
"Hope they don't follow..." he muttered, almost to himself.
"The quest was to exterminate goblins raiding the village fields, right?" I whispered to him.
"Aye. The villagers had found their lair—about five of 'em holed up there. We were gonna hit 'em, but things have changed."
"The fields were already starting to get wrecked. It's been going on a while," Fam said anxiously.
"Best assume it's a goblin nest now."
Aidan and Fam nodded at his own words. So did I.
"Someone's coming."
Fam spoke up. We fell silent. Moments later, goblin pursuers appeared.
Six of them. Armed with iron swords and wooden shields. One even had a bow.
"Lure 'em in, and I'll shoot the leader. That's your signal—charge and attack. No, fake an attack and focus on defense."
Fam and I switched to one-handed swords and shields, waiting for Aidan's shot. The weapons he'd lent us had better edge and power—probably made from tamahagane steel or something. But I couldn't hold a shield with a katana, and Fam's attack range sucked with a knife and shield.
The goblins halted just out of my stone magic range and froze.
"Tch, they spotted us."
Aidan clicked his tongue, stood, and loosed an arrow. It nailed one goblin right between the eyes.
"It reached?!" I was more shocked than the enemy.
"No point hiding in the brush now they know we're here. Out into the open."
We burst from the underbrush, weapons ready, facing down the goblins.
Too far to close in safely. If they fell back, we risked running into an ambush and getting surrounded.
The goblin archer fired, but the arrow fell short.
Aidan fired back. His shot reached, but the goblin dodged.
"Let's pull back. Run slow—count to twenty-five."
Fam and I nodded. We turned and ran. The goblins gave chase but didn't close the gap.
"They wary we might have an ambush waiting?"
"Nah. Goblins won't attack outright. They'll try luring us to the village, fight on their terms. Let's circle 'em and scout the place again."
Aidan explained.
"We should head back to town, call for backup. It's a fortress, not just a village. We need numbers to assault it."
The hilltop farmers had probably built it that way to fend off monsters.
"Aye. I'll stay and gather intel. You two head back, tell the guild, bring the knights."
Tough call. Aidan was right—we weren't much help in a fight. Retreat to town for reinforcements made sense. But leaving an A-rank adventurer alone against unknown numbers?
"Master!" Fam shoved me aside. An arrow whistled through where I'd stood.
Sloppy. The goblins had closed to arrow range while I spaced out.
"Close range now—we can rush 'em. Aidan, cover us!"
Fam charged, closing the distance in a flash.
The goblins realized their mistake too late and tried to retreat, but Fam's sword struck first. The goblin howled in pain but stayed up.
It counterattacked—only for Aidan's arrow to pierce it. I followed up with a slash on another.
One goblin vanished in a puff of mana. Two more wounded.
"Leave the damaged ones to me. Fam, get the archer."
"Yes!"
Fam bolted for the bow goblin. I bashed one with my shield and cleaved another—it burst into mana.
Aidan sniped the downed one; Fam finished the archer.
"Watch it—one's missing."
"It's fine. Not here."
"Back to the village."
Aidan said.
Probably reporting back. Gathering numbers, arming up—smart little bastards.
My hands were shaking.
"Master, there might be survivors in the village."
Fam wanted to push on for rescue instead of retreating.
"Yeah. Slim chance, but maybe. Aidan's fine on his own. But you're a liability, Fam. No offense. Me too."
I wanted out—now. Ideal was all three of us bailing to town. Slower, but safer goblin wipeout.
Rescue? Forget it.
"What if we just peek from the forest?"
"No. They'll spot us, go on higher alert."
Fam gave up on me and looked to Aidan.
"Aye, they're already wary. But let's scout while it's light. No approaching the village proper—we split up."
Aidan proposed.
"Hold up—Fam can't. Send her to town."
"Master, I'm staying with you."
Aidan nodded at her words.
Fam's level was up—she could slip back to town solo, avoiding fights. I'd wanted her gone, but no backing out now.
"I'll circle left, you two right. Rendezvous at the stone pillar ward past the village."
"No entering the wheat fields. Stay out of watchtower sight. Traps likely at good vantage points—no disarming just to peek. If you can't link up or it gets dicey, backtrack to town. Got it?"
We nodded.
"See you after."
We split from Aidan.
Fam and I pushed through pathless forest toward the village.
"...Um, are you mad?"
She asked. She knew I wanted to bail.
"Yeah. But thinking about it, no woman's ever listened to me anyway."
Memories of my old world's women ignoring or brushing me off flooded back.
"Wanna tell me why?"
"Sure. Reminded me of when your village got hit."
"Figured."
Bad memories had me pissed—no snarky comeback left.
"Back then, I couldn't do a thing. But meeting you made me a bit stronger. I can't just look away."
"Neither of us are heroes, Fam. Just playing adventurer with Aidan. Know your limits." I warned her.
"Sorry."
She apologized straight. I placed a hand on her head, pressing down.
"C'mon. Let's get this over with."
I started walking.
"W-Wait!"
Fam stopped me. She unbuckled her leather breastplate. Sore maybe?
"Master, we're alone. Let's play a game."
She pressed her chest together, arms inward for emphasis. Bashful upward glance.
The nipple-guessing game. Her way to calm me down.
Right—this ritual bonded us.
"Uh, guess right today, okay?"
She looked down.
"Show the fruits of our journey, eh?"
I poked her flushed cheek with my index finger.
"No, that won't prove it."
"Fine. You're on. You know I'm on edge, right?"
"...Yes. I wanna get closer."
"I'll win. Then parade your bare tits to those goblins!"
"Eek! Keep my chest for yourself!"
I focused every nerve on my fingertip. World, lend me strength for this poke.
Both index fingers jabbed her swells. Soft squish.
Bent the first knuckles slightly—hard nub.
"Ow! I-Impressive."
I wiggled like a duck tail, vibrating. The nubs stiffened.
"Nailed it. Journey complete."
Reluctant, but I pulled away.
"Fam, I'm good. Back to town."
"W-Wait! Goal changed."
"Right. Damn. Hate it, but fine. Quick scout."
"Um, no need to see them?"
She said shyly.
"Can't trust myself after. Show me in town."
"O-Okay."
I helped buckle her breastplate. As we walked, she hugged me from behind.
"I'll show you. Promise to look."
Face buried in my back. Arms released quick.
A promise of future. She was scared too.
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