4. Death(3)

"What do you mean we need to evacuate?"

As we reached in front of the chief's room, we heard the conversation that was taking place inside. The chief's voice sounded agitated, but evacuating the village was not a decision to be taken lightly. Winter was approaching, and the last of the harvest season was upon us. We needed to stay to harvest the crops, or we would not have enough food to sustain us through the winter, and we might even die.

"I do understand your concern, but the count has issued the order as per the royal command."

"But it's the harvest season, and if we leave now, we will not be able to get through the winter."

"Make your decision, chief. If you don't evacuate the village within a week, the consequences will be dire. The count has given his promise to bring you all under his protection in his territory."

"This..."

As we heard the conversation, my body went numb. I looked at Alice, and her face was pale as well. We were both struggling to comprehend what was happening.

"Baam..."

The door of the room opened with a sound as if it had been forced open. A man in knight armor emerged from the room, and he too wore a very serious expression. His presence was weighty, and the atmosphere around him was suffocating, making it difficult to approach him.

"Let's go."

He told the knights who were standing watch in the corridor. As we entered the room after the knight left, we saw the chief sitting with his hand supporting his forehead.

"Dad! What is going on? And why does the knight of the Count want us to evacuate?"

"Hey, wait, Alice! Let us take it slowly and calmly."

I caught Alice, who was on the verge of losing control. But I, too, was not in a good state. I needed to understand the situation first.

"Chief, what happened, and what's with the evacuation notice?"

"Ron, listen, it's important. You know about the hero, right?"

"Yes, he was summoned by the Royal family for the war against the Demons."

Well, I don't know if the hero is from my world like the original or from somewhere different. Meeting him as I am now is not possible.

"I think he might have died in action."

"What? How can that be? That's not possible."

"This is not confirmed, as the Royal family is trying their best to hide this. But I think the spies have spread this to the Empire Kronas to create unrest among its people."

How is that possible? How can he die? This is not good. If he dies, then what? I don't know what will happen after game over. What will happen to the world after the hero dies and leads to game over?

"Ron, we need to evacuate, as we are the ones closest to the southern border, and the demons have got wind of this news. And since the Count is already bedridden due to the assassination attack, his vassals think that the demons will not miss this opportunity to attack the southern borders."

"Yes, chief. Let us first relay it and try to evacuate. This may cause unrest among the villagers, but we need to give them some reason without disclosing the information about the hero."

"Sorry, Ron, I will leave this matter to you."

"No problem, chief. I am well aware of what needs to be done."

"Well, I am not opposed to you being my son-in-law."

"What? Chief, we were just coming to ask your permission about that."

"Yes, Dad, we were on our way to do the same."

"Well, as a father, I am well aware of what my daughter is up to. So, Ron, you have my permission regarding this. Let us have a grand celebration after all this."

"Yes, chief!"

"Dad!"

Even though we got his permission, the situation is the worst possible scenario. Let's first try to evacuate the villagers. I don't know what will happen to the storyline or this world without its hero.

---

It's already been three days since we received the warning to evacuate. We were informed that the count had sent carriages and knights to guard us until we reached the city walls.

"The first batch of people is leaving. Please get in the carriage if anyone is left."

The knight captain announced the details. We had some rations to take, so a group would leave after we had taken care of the necessary preparations to survive in the city. I would be leaving with the second group with the chief. Just Alice.

"I will not go with them."

"Hey, Alice, don't be stubborn. We can't waste any more time."

"Why can't I stay here with Ron? Why do I have to go with the first group?"

This girl is stubborn at the wrong times. Now, what should I do?

"Hey, Alice, the chief is right. Get on the carriage. We won't be far behind you."

"Ron, you too."

"Hey, let's get out of here first, and then we can go on a date in the city."

"A date? The city is beautiful from what I have heard. Do you promise that you will go on a date with me?"

"Have I ever broken any promises with you?"

"No! Take care, Ron!"

"Ahem! You two have some nerve playing a couple in front of me."

Holy shit, I got so caught up that I forgot about the chief.

"Sorry, chief!"

"Now, Alice, leave with the first group. We'll be right behind you guys."

"Yes, Dad. Please take care of yourself."

"You too. Let's meet in the city, and then we'll decide the next course of action for you guys."

And why do I feel chills from the chief's gaze?

"Hey, Ron!"

As I was feeling chills from the chief's gaze, someone approached me.

"Oh, Jin! Are you leaving as well?"

"Yeah, the chief asked me to be a guide for the villagers in the city. I've been there during our training."

"Yes, please do your best, and take care of them until we get to the city."

"Okay! You take care too until we meet again."

Jin is not a bad guy; he just doesn't know how to express his feelings. He's like some dumb protagonist.

---

"So they left, right?"

"Yes, chief. I just came here after watching them depart."

"Ron, we need to think of a way to save as much as possible. Thanks to your idea, we believe it's possible."

We had the harvest, but not the time to transport it. So, instead of wasting or burning it, I asked the chief to store it. With the help of the villagers, we built an underground storeroom. We decided to take what we needed and store the rest. Being underground, that storeroom would act as a cold storage.

"Let's get it done and leave."

After six hours of preparation, our group was ready to leave as well. We carried the necessary items and stored the rest. Now, we could be assured that even if we returned in late winter, we'd have what we needed. But I didn't know if we would be able to return at all.

"Hey, Ron, let's go."

"Coming, chief."

Goodbye to the village where I started my new life.

  It feels very odd, even though I have been in this body for a year. It feels like an eternity has passed since I came to this world.

"Let's depart now."

---

It's been more than eight hours since we left the village. During the journey, we came across many small settlements that were already abandoned. We rested for an hour, but then we started moving again to reach the city before midnight.

"Wait!"

"What happened?"

We suddenly halted due to the knight's command, and all the carriages stopped in their tracks. We got out of the carriages to check what was the matter.

"What happened, Wilbert?"

The chief was the first to ask the knight who was assigned as our guard.

"I feel like something happened here! There are marks on the trees, like some kind of fight took place here."

"A fight? But the war hasn't started yet, and the demons are still at a stand on the border, right?"

"Yes, that's true. Maybe a fight between the villagers?"

The chief and the knight had a conversation about how we should move forward.

"Sergeant, we found an injured person here!"

Some knights who were investigating the surroundings sounded the alarm. An injured person? I had a bad feeling about this. I ran towards the sound, hoping it wouldn't be what I was thinking. Please, God, let it not be true. But it seemed that my bad luck had never left me.

"Jin!"

There he was, a boy who was in tatters. His left hand was missing, his eyes were gouged out, and his legs were bent at impossible angles. But he was still alive, as if left by the attacker for amusement.

"Ron, is that... you?"

The boy who had always been the one leading the villagers with his loud voice was now using his last bit of strength just to speak.

"Yes, Jin, what happened here?"

"Ron, they killed everyone, all of them. They didn't just kill us; they toyed with us. They played with Alice before... before killing her."

Tears of blood were falling from his eyes. I was also just holding back tears. Why was this happening? Where did it all go wrong?

"You need to go, Ron. They are still nearby. You need to leave."

"How can I leave you here, Jin?"

"It's already too late for me, Ron. Just go."

Tears were falling from my eyes. What should I do? I felt completely powerless.

"Sergeant, we are surrounded; this was a trap."

Why was the only thing that came to mind that I just wanted to live a peaceful life?

"Get hold of yourself, Ron! Let's go!"

The chief pulled me away from Jin and dragged me back to the carriage.

"AAAAAhh! Run, they are orcs!"

One of the knights had his head smashed by the orc, who was chewing on something.

"That hand! It can't be!"

The orc was chewing on a hand, but my eyes were fixed on the ring on that hand. Alice, no, this can't be happening. They left for the city. How?

"You monsters!"

"Wait, Ron!"

I had completely lost it, even though I knew I was no match for them. I ran in for what felt like a death parade. But how could I be calm when he was chewing on Alice's hand?

"You insect."

That's what I heard before I was thrown across the plain and crashed into a tree with a hole in my stomach. Just one punch, and I couldn't even scratch him.

"Ron, hold on! We'll heal you and get out of this encirclement."

"Sorry, chief. I couldn't keep Alice safe."

"Ron, don't close your eyes."

"Sorry, Alice."

Our promise of date, i will not be able to complete. After this, my vision went blank.