Unexpected visitor.

[Jack's POV]

After everything had passed in the town hall's proximity, most of the townspeople returned to their home. Ourselves included, as most of our business was done.

Anne found the forest, Randall found both of the things we needed from the Solpani's farm, and I…

The usurper had been dealt with.

While the uniform hung in one of the houses' walls revealed that he undoubtedly worked arm-in-arm with the bandits, the usurper himself didn't seem to be in good health. Rather, I'd go as far as to say he looked starved.

'He didn't just look starved… That guy couldn't even react fast enough.'

Even an untrained, healthy civilian would have been able to react. And yet, I killed him. Was it worth it?

I'm not sure, but honestly… It is what it is.

It's either me or them. 

"Are you going to eat tonight, Jack?"

"Nah. I'm not quite in the mood to eat," I replied. 

The attack of those bandits really soured my mood greatly, along with my appetite. 

Why would they even choose someone like Demian? He's one of the kindest people in this hellhole. They'd only draw the town's wrath by doing this…

'... It really doesn't make sense. At all-'

A sound from the entrance hallway reached everyone's ears. A knock on the door, to be exact.

We all looked at each other, and without requiring a drop of communication, Randall and Anne silently rose from the ground. Subsequently, I saw them tiptoe all the way to the storage room. 

Knowing who waited outside, I walked through the small hallway and opened the bright brown, wooden door. 

"Hello, Mister Oliv-"

"Are you done with my request??"

Request? The list of tasks?... That's odd, only four days have passed. And he usually tends to respect the timelines he gives me, too.

I suppose the situation is that bad.

"Most of it is done, sir."

His left eye, as dark as the void element, twitched lightly. "Show me everything."

"Sir, it'd be better if we waited-"

"I need it now. Don't fuck with my time." The grave severity of his tone was raised by, at least, a few grades. Every bit of his notorious, yet silent fury fell upon me. Nothing tough to handle, but…

'Doesn't look like I can avoid it.'

I resigned myself to my circumstances. "Sure, please come in," I voiced particularly loudly.

I couldn't hear anything coming from within my home. At best, my ears picked up the fluttering from the green mini-curtain in the storage.

The man dressed in a stylish, yet cheap blue overcoat made his way into the main room of the building. That directly connected with the other four, and allowed access to them.

There's also the bed, but I doubted he'd want to sleep on it. 

"... Where are they? The bandits." His hands opened a map of the town's victinities, far more detailed than the one I had, and showed it to me.

I pointed at the dense shrubland in the southwest direction. "The bandit's base is here. There's also some of them living in our-"

In that same instant, I got a death glare from the old demon.

"... your town, since the intruder was indeed connected to their group."

Oliver nodded, ever so anxiously. The usual calmness in his eyes had gone missing, leaving behind a rather distressed spectre. He did his best to hide it, but…

"What about the Solpani's farm? They're involved in this, aren't they??"

It was pointless. He couldn't mask the sense of urgency in his vocal chords.

"Yes. I found enough supplies for two in one of the mills, along with some weapons-"

"I understand. Where are the uniforms, then?" he asked, anxiously looking around. "Are they in the bathroom? The kitchen? Or in that room?"

Oliver almost ran to the storage room, but I managed to grab him in time. 

"This is MY house, let me go unless you wish to be handed over to some bounty hunters!"

… uh, fuck.

'That'd be bad. Really bad.'

But I also can't let him see those two… Things would get way too rough between us, to the point that he might just kick me out of here. And then I'll be back to square 1…

'Further dissuade him from going in, not coerce. That's the best I can do.'

"Mister, there's nothing there."

The eyes above his knitted brows reflected a shred of… Discomfort? Just like most of his body did, before blatantly ignoring my words and marching over to that door.

'... I suppose I'll have to use my last resort: killing him in a sneak attack.'

Then frame someone else for the murder. Perhaps the bandits? Probably, yes. They'd be good choices… After all, only he knows that I live here. 

And her daughter too, I suppose.

Seconds passed, while the outline of my plan in my head kept developing. I stayed behind Oliver for obvious reasons, though I opted to not pop my Ego just yet. 

It'd look bad if he somehow noticed.

The pale spectre bursted into the room fearlessly, just as I prepared myself to manifest my hatchet. Yet… The reaction I expected as a signal never came.

Because neither of the demons were in the room.

"Nothing… In which room did you stash the stolen supplies?"

Haa… Ok, looks like I won't have to kill this guy. Great. "In none of them. I left them back in the mill."

His eyes almost bulged out of his head, but they went back in as soon as my follow-up statement came. "If you can find a way to send some guards there, you can make a pretty notorious case against them. Perhaps your syndicate can finally get its hands on those fertile lands…"

That clearly did the trick. 

"That… That's a good idea." The slight head nod only accentuated the conformity shown by his expression. 

We discussed a few more details, and he eventually went over to the entrance. 

"Considering the condition of the town, the other leaders and I will come up with something. By that point, your assistance as a… "covert soldier" will be key."

"I understand. I'll be prepared."

Finally, Oliver left. 

… A while after, I finally got comfortable enough to actually leave through the storage's hidden gap and locate the demon duo. 'I'm glad they weren't there, but when did they leave? I barely picked up any sounds coming from there…'

***

[Oliver's POV]

Wind shards floated unrestricted across the mostly free dirt road, hitting me up-front. My body shivered slightly in spite of the blue overcoat, serving to break most of the impact.

… I still recalled my daughter's attitude when she caught Jack's smell, or the bits that remained even after I did my best to get rid of that scent. The curiosity she'd usually show was nowhere to be seen, instead displaying… Indifference.

Perhaps my efforts have started to pay off. That would be great.

… Even now, thoughts regarding the moment of my fit of rage resurfaced. 

'I shouldn't have acted like that. Such was my main conclusion.'

Of course, that being my main one didn't mean I had others…

'He got quite defensive when I went towards one of the rooms.'

My feet soon reached the hill, which was no big deal to climb. At least not for me.

'That's true… Yes, I'll keep that noted.'

For now, I have something far more important to deal with.

My fellows.

If the recent events are anything to go by, then we'll probably have to talk about the recent incident involving Peter's pupil, the plans for the war against the outside bastards, and prepare to organize defenders for some of our key resource spots.

"I been pretty stressed recently… Maybe I'll need a break after this."

I laughed to myself for voicing out loud such a dumb idea. 

Ah… Here it is. The house of the main leader.

Fernand Fiend.

I'd love to hope that he and the others don't mind my small stroll, but I'm sure at least Emil will be annoyed by this.

Oh well. As Sean would say…

"It is what it is."