Chapter 31: Preparation

"Village Chief, we understand. We already prepared everything for the village. We aren't really that worried about the shadow monster after engaging it for one night."

"What really troubles us is this storm. Once a house roof gets upturned and wrecked, the people inside will surely panic, and the shadow monster will surely take advantage of that to scare several of them to death."

"The shadow monster isn't that dangerous, but this storm just can't come at another time."

Bang!

Weiss hit the table rather hardly, his scarred face showing more intimidating vibes than they usually show off.

"Stop that, Weiss. You are in the presence of the village chief."

The one who spoke was another hunter beside Weiss.

"I know Baal. But it frustrates me in how I can't do anything to that pesky shadow monster. Ordinary villagers haven't even seen one nor experienced their terror."

"If they met one suddenly, I know for sure it would result in a tragedy. I know some inspiring hunters who died in the past just by taking a look in those monsters eyes."

"Those were with hunters in them, which means they had courage uncommon by most people! But now, we were so careless. We can't do anything at all."

"Weiss, I know. We all thought the same as you. But no one can control how this would happen. You have already done everything for the village."

Baal spoke once again, but this time he was supported by the other hunters.

"We are already done here, Weiss."

"It's a miscalculation in our part, we lack the time because we were sleep deprived."

"Weiss, it's enough. I'm sure the village will be safe."

Garu stood up and slapped Weiss shoulder, thus waking him up as he looked up, meeting Garu's stern eyes.

"Go and immediately return to your family. This time, we can only protect those who were more important to us."

"...yes."

Weiss gritted his teeth before he answered.

Soon, everyone left the house. Leaving only the owner of the house and his family.

"Every time a storm like this comes, there will be several houses whose roofs or walls that will surely crumble."

Jura wasn't his usual lazy and mischievous personality at this time.

When it comes to serious cases, both brothers know when to joke and laugh around and when not to.

"We can't do anything about it. It's a storm after all. I can't even guarantee if my roof could withstand the storm this time."

There came Garu's answer. However, Jura wasn't satisfied with this.

"Your house was built by Menmo's father back then, and his father even proudly said that it's been designed and built using the strongest rocks and wood found in the forest just to withstand a storm."

"What? Still jealous because I got to have our house father left behind?"

"Well, a little. But just a little, you know. My house isn't that much built differently from yours too."

"Alright, alright. I know, so don't jump around immediately. You'll attract it if you make too much noise."

"I surely didn't want that."

While they were talking along the way, Garu suddenly frowned as he motioned Jura with his finger on his mouth.

"Silent, it's here already. Let's speed up."

Hearing him say that, Jura looked around him. Specifically, in the shadows around the torches, its fire can't shine.

"The shadows are stretching towards us! Are we in danger now, big brother?"

Jura couldn't help but feel nervous immediately as he walked much closer to Garu.

"Those shadows can't do anything to us, so don't worry. It's just playing with your heart and mind. It's not even its real body, but just a sign it's near."

Garu moved much faster this time with Jura, without care for the shadows moving differently than usual around them.

"As long as your torch still has a fire to light the path, don't worry about anything around you."

"What if its real body is here?"

Jura asked, as he couldn't help but gulp at the increasingly tense situation he was in.

Then he was met with Garu's gaze as he heard him answer.

"You won't be able to move from sheer fear."

"Come on, let's go and hurry up. Why don't we run immediately? Also, please escort me first before you return to yours. I'm your little brother."

...

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"It's me, Garu. Immediately open the door; the wind is picking up. My torch might not last longer."

Hearing the familiar voice outside, the madam immediately stood up and unlocked the door before she opened it and let Garu inside.

When the door opened, the wind came in with Garu from the outside.

It was strong enough to actually blow off the fire burning on the torch the latter was holding all this time.

"Hurry, lock the door!"

Garu threw the already burned-out torch and his things to the side before he pushed the door closed with his physique.

The wind is so strong that it was actually hindering his wife from closing the door immediately.

"It's done!"

When the madam finally locked the door fully,

Only then did Garu heave a sigh of relief, and he couldn't help but slide downward as he sat on the ground.

"That was close. The wind suddenly got stronger just when I returned. I almost thought the fire on my torch would be blown away anytime if my wife hadn't opened the door timely."

He couldn't help but pull the madam into his embrace when he thought of what happened just now.

"That was a nice job, wife. You saved me this time."

"Hm, I saved you. Actually, it's you who saved me just now."

Juan and Ceth looked at each other at the side and then simultaneously let out a silent chuckle that only they could hear.

A while later, Garu and the madam stood up and sat on the seats around the table.

"Are those weapons yours, Juan? Did you buy them?"

When Juan turned and saw his two javelins beside the door being pointed by Garu, he nodded first before he answered.

"It's Sir Albert son Von's birthday gift. I happened to be one who got the lucky chance in the smithy...so that's how it is. Though I doubt it's even useful today."

When Juan spoke about the Smithy, Garu immediately remembered that they had already talked about it.

"Ah, I remember. We did talk about this already. So this is it, huh? Why are there two though?"

Juan shrugged his shoulders and then said.

"I forgot to ask. I left immediately after saying my thanks."

"I see, well, that's enough for now. Right now, well, remain and sleep right here. We can't afford to sleep back in our room and split up."

"There's danger everywhere; it's dark, so be careful and always observe your surroundings carefully. Stay away from the shadows and likes."

"If you need anything back in the room, immediately call me. I'll accompany you. Are there any available torches around?"

Garu turned to his wife and asked.

The madam nodded and pointed at the side where a wooden box filled with torches and dry clothes were stored.

"Good."

After a nod, he turned back and faced Juan and Ceth before he continued.

"If you have anything to say, immediately say it."

Ceth raised her hand up.

"Go on, Ceth."

"We can't sleep on the ground," she said.

Gatu was stunned. Then he looked on the hard cold ground. This house has no floor at all.

"That is indeed a problem. It looks like I haven't really thought of this much. I even forgotten about this."

Garu nodded, accepting that he was too hasty just now.

"Even if we pour all our clothes to act as our bed, if the rainstorm goes on, we will surely be flooded. At that time, all our clothes will be wet."

The madam followed the logic.

"We might have woken up ourselves already drenched by then. With how cold the night here is, it would be another disaster if we got sick."

"That could only mean we can only sleep in our rooms. If we do this, our torches might not last long. We can only sacrifice some clothes we have then."

Garu also chimed in and understood that they could only waste some of their things to act as fuel to keep up with their safety.

"Alright, Juan, take several torches with you. Light them up and place them on the four corners inside Ceth's room. Be careful not to burn the house."

Juan stood up and followed the order with obedience.

"I will do the same to my room as well."

Turning around, Garu observed the surrounding torches before he said.

"Let two torches remain on fire, and the bonfire needs more firewood to blaze. As for the other torches, well, divide them into two parts."

Juan had already taken some torches and lit them up before he entered Ceth's room.

Garu turned to his daughter and then said,.

"Ceth, take half of the torches on the wooden box and put them inside your room to act as spares in case you don't have enough."

Hearing her father say that, Ceth nodded, knowing the seriousness of the matter.

"Yes father."

Then they all started to move, though Ceth's movement seemed a bit slow and strange, with a bit of limping.

However, they didn't think much of it. Because Ceth moved only when her two parents got busy.