The Haunted Village

Following the mother's instructions, Alex walked straight ahead on the street. At the end, he saw a comparatively large house with a nameplate indicating it was the village chief's residence.

Alex rang the doorbell unceremoniously. When there was no immediate response, he pressed it a few more times. After a few minutes, an old man, the chief of Opal Village, finally greeted him.

"Who might you be, young lad? I haven't seen you around this village. Judging by your outfit, you seem to be a passerby from a big town or city. Are you perhaps looking for a place to stay the night?"

"Good evening, Chief. I am Alex, an E-rank adventurer from Lunar City. I am here to help you with the request you made to the Adventurer's Guild. Here are the guild documents."

Alex handed over the officially signed guild documents for verification.

"Oh, you're from the guild in the city. Finally, someone came to help this poor village. Come inside and sit."

Alex and the old chief sat opposite each other as the chief offered some tea. Without waiting for Alex to start the conversation, the chief spoke in a melancholy tone.

"I had almost given up hope that someone might come to help us. We are, after all, a poor, small village on the kingdom's border. Finally, someone took pity on us and dispatched you."

"Chief, about that, may I ask why the village is so deserted and haunted? On my way here, I saw a mother stopping her child from going outside in the dark. I understand why, but she seemed wary of something else entirely. She was particularly skeptical and wary when she saw me."

"Ah, about that. Have you gone through the description of the request I posted? Can you tell me what they included?"

"The request simply stated that there have been mysterious phenomena occurring here at night. It is speculated that the villagers can hear strange noises and sometimes harsh banging on their doors. One person has gone missing and was never found."

"Yes, that was just the gist of the report I sent, but it is not entirely complete. The strange voices are more precisely the haunting voices of the dead. Not just one, but after the report was sent, a total of three more people have gone missing."

"The voices of the dead? Can you tell me more details?"

The village chief explained how the once happy and lively village had suddenly become haunted at night.

It all started less than two months ago when villagers living on the outskirts reported hearing strange, eerie noises at night.

As the sun sets, the air becomes heavy with an unnatural chill, seeping into the bones of anyone brave enough to step outside.

From the depths of the outskirt's barren land bordering the village, faint, mournful wails drift through the air, carried on the breeze like ghostly whispers.

Occasionally, a guttural moan rises above the whispers, an unmistakably inhuman sound. Movement of creatures with a slow, shuffling gait can be heard, their dragging footsteps sending shivers down the spines of those who hear it.

Inside the homes, villagers wake with a start, their hearts pounding as they sit bolt upright in their beds.

The sound of relentless banging grows louder and more insistent, as if something unseen is desperately trying to gain entry. The doors shudder violently, the doorknobs twisting and turning as if manipulated by ghostly fingers.

"So, everyone in fear of ghosts has barred themselves in their houses and shut off all the lights and sound. That explains why the girl mistook me for a ghost." Alex said.

"Yes, it's true. It's like we're living in a nightmare. I felt the same when someone rang my doorbell today. One disaster doesn't end, and now we are facing another calamity." the village chief sighed, lost in thought.

'Did the village chief just mistake me for some ghost knocking on his door?' Alex cringed, thinking he had been mistaken for some kind of urban ghost from his previous world.

"Hmm, Chief, may I ask what you meant by your last sentence?" Alex inquired.

"What can I say? This village is facing disasters, one after another. Just a few months back, we were dealing with a huge infestation of rats. These rats spread many infectious diseases, leaving a trail of contamination everywhere."

Before this haunting incident, there had been a sudden rise in the population of rats in Opal Village, specifically a type of monster rat known as Carrion Rats.

Carrion Rats, one of the lowest types of monsters, are notorious for their ability to spread disease. These vile creatures thrive in dark, filthy environments where decay and death are prevalent.

Their presence often heralds disease outbreaks, as they carry numerous pathogens in their matted fur and saliva.

"The Adventurer's Guild, sensing a significant health crisis, promptly sent someone who managed to control their budding population. Their help was crucial, but we still have a few people getting infected every day."

Alex listened intently, absorbing the gravity of the situation. "I see. So the village has been dealing with one crisis after another. First the Carrion Rats, and now this haunting."

"Exactly. We hoped the worst was over after the rats were dealt with, but then this haunting started. It's been relentless. People are scared to go outside, and our village has become a ghost town."

"Don't worry, Chief. I'm here now. I'll do everything I can to help solve this mystery and bring peace back to Opal Village."

The chief's eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Alex. Your help means more to us than you can imagine. If you need any information or assistance, don't hesitate to ask."

"I will. For now, I'll start by investigating the outskirts where these noises are coming from. I'll need a place to stay, too. Is there an inn still operating?"

"No, there isn't any inn open now." the chief said. "I live alone in this big house anyway. As long as you are here in the village, you can stay here."

"Great, I'll take you up on your offer. Now I should head to the site and prepare for my investigation tonight. Thank you, Chief."

As Alex left the chief's house, he felt a mix of determination and curiosity.

The village had faced immense hardships, and he was determined to uncover the truth behind the hauntings and put an end to the villagers' suffering.

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Alex headed to the outskirts, specifically to the east side of the village, where the haunting incidents had begun.

Geographically, Opal Village was small. To its north was Ludwig Town. The west side held rich, fertile lands where villagers farmed. The east and south sides, however, were barren.

What made the southeast special was the Poison Mist Forest. This dense forest was filled with a thick, toxic mist. Even the flora and fauna in the forest were imbued with deadly poison.

The forest was shrouded in a perpetual layer of poisonous mist, so dense that no one dared to venture near it.

A single minute of inhaling that mist could lead to severe health problems, and no normal human could survive there for more than five minutes.

Alex's main goal in coming here was this forest. To him, it was an untouched treasure trove waiting to be explored.