Upper Fire Moon, July 6th.
The late afternoon light lacked the midday's scorching heat.
Enri bent low, carefully parting wheat stalks, pinning weeds with her foot, and yanking them out with both hands.
Sweat trickled down her cheeks and neck.
Seeing the sizable pile of vibrant weeds nearby, Enri gathered them up and carried them along the path through the wheat field to the outer edge.
After stacking the weeds on the outermost path, she straightened, wiping sweat from her forehead with a relatively clean arm, and exhaled softly.
Her sweat-soaked clothes clung to her, and fatigue urged her to find a shady spot for a nap.
No slacking, she told herself.
Gazing at the golden wheat field, dotted with green, and inhaling the faint aroma of grain, Enri's mood lifted, her exhaustion easing.
"Half a month until harvest." She murmured. "The tax collector should come then. Once a year, always punctual."
Her quiet complaint carried a hint of fatigue, yet her vibrant energy shone through.
"Enri? You're out here alone?" A surprised voice called from the path.
It was Aunt Embe.
Enri turned to see Aunt Embe and several village women, their backs laden with weeds, heading back to the village.
"Auntie." Enri said, bowing slightly. "Father and Unc Latimon went to gather herbs in the forest, and Mother's watching my sister, so I came out here alone."
"It's just weeding. I can handle it." She added shyly.
"Impressive."
"It's tough alone. Let us know if you need help."
Praises echoed from the group.
"Half a month until the tax collector arrives."
"Speaking of, the village has had a lot of outsiders lately."
"Adventurers, I hear. Rough, nasty lot."
"Not all of them. That young man from a month ago, the village chief said he was an adventurer. Paid before leaving, and handsome too."
"Pfft, what're you thinking at your age?"
"Shut it! What's wrong with a little daydream? I hear city noblewomen keep a few… heh."
"Adventurers make good money, don't they?"
As the women's chatter faded into the distance, their spicy talk made Enri's cheeks flush. She sighed in relief.
Young man?
Enri recalled him. In a small village like Carne, news spread fast.
She'd peeked out her window but couldn't see his face in the dark.
Adventurers must be formidable people, she thought, then shook her head.
Worlds apart.
Gathering her pulled weeds, Enri spent some effort tying them with rope.
Heaving the bundle onto her back, she steadied herself and headed toward the village.
The weed pile was substantial, obscuring her view, but she could see the ground. The familiar path posed no issue.
Besides, the wheat field was just outside the village, not far.
"You can't see the road like that." A gentle, unfamiliar voice said ahead. "Need help?"
"I can manage." Enri replied instinctively, still hefting the weeds.
But then it hit her.
Such an unfamiliar voice, not a villager.
"Wrrf." A low, beastly growl followed.
Startled, Enri's limited visibility and lack of security amplified her unease at the stranger's voice and the animalistic sound.
She straightened abruptly.
The weed bundle shifted, throwing off her balance, and she toppled backward.
"Ah!" She yelped.
Thankfully, the soft weeds cushioned her fall, leaving her unharmed.
Thud!
"Wrrf…"
The beast sounded as if it had been kicked.
"Don't growl like that. You'll scare people." The gentle voice chided.
Enri rubbed her shoulder and looked up.
A young man in a black robe stood before her, his noticeable black hair slightly past his ears, neat despite its length. He looked at her apologetically.
Enri shivered, a chill running down her neck, but the sensation vanished as if imagined.
Then she saw it, beside the man stood a fierce-looking Invisible Hound, bone chains coiling around its body.
"Monster!" Enri paled.
Though she'd never seen a Invisible Hound, its appearance was clearly no ordinary beast.
"Don't worry, it won't hurt you." Adam said, stepping forward with a calm tone to calm her.
Hearing his words and seeing the cub's lack of aggression, Enri exhaled shakily.
"S-sorry." She stammered, scrambling up, her cheeks reddening.
She'd realized this black-haired youth was the adventurer from a month ago.
Though she hadn't seen his face, his voice was unmistakable.
Recalling the women's gossip, her blush deepened.
"I should apologize for startling you." Adam said, waving a hand dismissively. He turned to the Invisible Hound. "Blackie."
"Wrrf."
The cub's back twitched, and its black bone chains lashed out, coiling around the rope binding the weed bundle. With a sharp tug, it hoisted the pile onto its back.
"Amazing." Enri gasped, eyes wide. Then, worried, she waved her hands. "No, I can carry it! That's too much, it'll crush it."
The cub's small frame was dwarfed by the weed pile, looking like a moving heap of grass.
"It's fine. Consider it amends for scaring you." Adam said. "Don't let its size fool you. As a magical beast, its stamina and endurance rival an adult's."
With that, Adam signaled the cub to follow and headed toward Carne Village.
Enri stood stunned, her rough hands nervously twisting her shirt's hem before she hurried after him.
She didn't dare walk beside him, trailing a few steps behind, head lowered.
Enri, huh.
Adam sensed her presence behind him, his eyes flickering.
Last time in Carne Village, eager to level up, he'd stayed only one night and left at dawn, missing Enri.
He hadn't expected to encounter her here, far more youthful than her future self.
Who could imagine?
This girl from a remote village would become one of the world's most formidable figures.
The Warlord!
Or perhaps the Warlord Enri The Bloody.
Enri's first use of the Goblin General's Horn summoned a mere goblin squad.
But the second triggered its hidden effect, conjuring a 5,000-strong goblin army.
This force comprised eight legions. Beyond the elite guard, each of the seven legions was led by a hero-level (≥29Lv) commander.
The guard, just 13 strong, averaged level 43, the Thirteen Red Caps.
A Goblin Strategist, level 51, commanded the entire army.
With this force, Enri could crush neighboring nations if she chose.
Adam felt a twinge of envy at such a legion.
Moreover, Enri later awakened General and Commander classes, showcasing her talent in leadership.
Adam's thoughts stirred.
Four years wasn't long or short. Beyond leveling, he might need to make other preparations.
Previously, his strength was lacking.
Now, only mithril-rank or higher adventurer teams, or warriors like Gazef Stronoff or Brain Unglaus, posed a threat.
He was still shy of facing hero-level foes.
***
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