Royalpanda
The story made an unexpected turn from happy go lucky to child sacrifice not that i mind a more complex story line but this goes beyond my expectations that point the quality of your story telling abilities, i just hope non of the mc family meet an end like that but i really like how the story is developing in this moment.
orion lose his cool this time after knowing they plan to use him but punching the chief still not good idea he still not in position to punch him for me he cant really blame them for what they have done cuz for them thats the best choice theres is no orion at that time (isekai) he act like that cuz he have advance knowledge what if he dont do y'all think he can give that idea they cant use old people cuz they can think it will only increase the guilt they are feeling if yall look in our past theres a lot of killing that happen you know like the one Europe the killing of suspected witches the point is they just lack of knowledge and understanding what they need is education
So is the idea for the new settlements to maintain between 500 and 1000 in each new settlement while continously taking more land and defenses = buidling new settlements between the frontline and the main settlement. Then once you expand enough you can a population surge in the main since the vines won't be near enough to "know".