DIVINE BANE-Chapter 71: You fight—I fight

The canopy overhead filtered sunlight in dappled patches, casting a soft green hue over the dirt path. The village, tucked quietly into the forest, seemed almost forgotten by time, modest wooden houses, narrow paths, and smoke curling from chimneys. Birds chirped overhead, and wary eyes peeked from doorways as Alex, wearing his red Asura skull mask, and Rina, gripping her long staff tightly, stepped into the village.

Their sudden presence clearly stood out.

Villagers paused their work, some mid-conversation, some hauling supplies. They whispered amongst themselves, glancing at the masked boy and the staff-wielding girl. A few children watched in awe from behind barrels and fences.

As the two walked further in, a tall, broad-shouldered man with a scar running across his jaw stepped into their path, blocking the road with a raised hand.

"State your business, strangers," he said, voice gruff but not immediately hostile. "We don't get many outsiders in these parts."

Rina hesitated, clearly nervous under the sudden attention. Alex stepped forward, his tone calm.

"We're adventurers from Welford city Guild. We picked up a quest regarding wolf activity around this village."

The man squinted, eyeing the badge on Alex's chest bronze. Then his gaze flicked to Rina, then back to the mask.

"You sure you're not too young to be handling beasts like that?" he asked, suspicion laced with concern.

Alex kept his voice steady. "We'll manage."

The man stared for a moment longer, then gave a grunt and stepped aside. "Fine. Speak with Elder Meron, his house is near the well. He'll give you the details. Just don't stir up trouble. We've had enough of that lately."

Rina gave a small bow of gratitude. "Thank you."

As they continued walking, she whispered to Alex, "Why do I feel like this won't be just a regular wolf hunt..."

Alex gave a dry chuckle. "Because it never is."

The small cottage was dimly lit, the only light coming from a few flickering candles and the soft glow of a fireplace. Herbs hung from the rafters, and the scent of old parchment, dried roots, and incense lingered in the air. Elder Meron, a frail but sharp-eyed man with a snow-white beard, welcomed them in with a warm, almost fatherly smile.

"You've come from Welford, yes?" he said, his voice raspy but kind.

"Please, sit... You must be tired from the road."

Alex and Rina took their seats across a low wooden table. Rina nodded politely while Alex remained still, the expression behind his mask unreadable.

"We're here for the wolf subjugation," Alex said, straight to the point. "We heard there were attacks near the edge of the village."

Elder Meron's expression faltered.

The smile faded. His eyes, once welcoming, now reflected weariness. After a moment of silence, he sighed deeply and leaned back in his chair. From behind a curtain, an older woman clearly his wife emerged, setting down two wooden cups filled with tea. Her eyes met theirs, and though kind, they held something else.

Regret.

Fear.

"You should leave," she said softly, but firmly. "Turn around, and don't get involved."

Rina blinked, surprised. "What? Why?"

Elder Meron looked down at the table, as if the wood itself might give him strength. Then he spoke, voice low.

"The quest we posted at the guild... it was a lie. A half-truth, at best. There were wolves... once. But that ended weeks ago."

Alex tilted his head. "Then what is it now?"

"A monster," the old woman said, wrapping her shawl tighter around her shoulders.

"A beast wearing a man's skin. Something cursed and ancient. A werewolf."

The room fell into silence. Only the crackling of the fire filled the gap between words.

Elder Meron continued, "We're a small village. We can't afford the bounty required to post a real mission for something of that level. So, we posted a C-rank request, hoping someone brave or foolish would come. Someone we could ask, beg, to help us. Offer them what coin we have and pray they have mercy."

Alex and Rina exchanged a glance. Her grip on her staff tightened slightly.

"But... that's misleading the guild," Rina said quietly, uncertain.

"It is," the elder admitted. "And we'll face the consequences for that, if it comes to it. But people are dying. Livestock slaughtered. Children... taken. We've no one else to turn to. We didn't want to risk sending someone unprepared, but... no one's came. Until you."

The elder's wife stepped forward, placing a hand on Alex's arm.

"We don't expect you to face it," she said softly.

"You're young. Too young. But if you leave now, please tell the guild the truth. Send someone capable."

Alex remained quiet. His fingers slowly clenched on the table.

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After a long moment, he asked, "Have you seen it? The werewolf?"

Elder Meron nodded slowly. "Once. In the woods. Its eyes... weren't human anymore. And when it howled..." He shuddered. "The trees bent."

Rina's face was pale. "W-What rank would something like that even be?"

"I don't know," the elder replied.

"But I do know one thing, no one we've sent into those woods has returned."

Rina sat there in silence, trying to piece everything together. Her green eyes flickered with unease.

"...If it's really a werewolf, then... it might be an A-rank threat," she muttered. "That's no joke. Even a group of Silver-ranked adventurers would struggle with something like that."

Alex turned toward the elder, his voice steady behind the Asura skull mask.

"Since when has it been attacking?"

Elder Meron rubbed his temples, exhaustion clear in every movement. "It started about... three months ago. At first, we thought it was just a large wolf. It attacked livestock sheep, goats, a few pigs. Then, the screams started in the night. People began disappearing. First a farm boy. Then the woodcutter. Then..."

His voice cracked. The elder's wife took over, eyes glassy.

"Then our granddaughter."

Alex's jaw tightened.

The old woman's voice trembled. "She was barely six summers old... we found the back door torn off its hinges. Blood on the floor. But no body. Just... deep claw marks leading into the woods."

Rina placed a hand over her mouth, eyes wide with horror.

Alex looked down at his gloved hands for a second, then asked quietly, "Do you know what it wants? Has it said anything? Left any signs?"

Elder Meron shook his head.

"No demands. No patterns. No mercy. Just death. It haunts the forest. Comes only during the night of the full moon. But lately... we think it's getting bolder. The last sighting was in broad daylight."

He looked up at them pleading. "We didn't know what else to do. So we lied. We said it was a simple wolf problem. We hoped the Dev would send someone who could help."

A long silence followed.

Then Alex slowly stood up and walked to the window, looking out at the thick tree line beyond the village.

"...A monster that attacks without reason," he muttered. "That doesn't make sense."

Rina turned to him. "What do you mean?"

Alex crossed his arms. "Even beasts attack for a reason. Territory. Hunger. Fear. If it's not asking for anything... then maybe it can't. Or maybe it doesn't want to. But either way..."

He looked over his shoulder, eyes shadowed beneath his mask.

"...I want to find out."

The room had fallen into a tense, heavy silence.

Then Alex stepped forward and placed a firm hand on the elder's shoulder.

"You don't have to worry anymore," he said, voice calm but resolute. "Your prayers have been heard."

The old man blinked in confusion. "Wh-What do you mean?"

"I'll stop the werewolf," Alex said, his masked gaze fixed toward the forest beyond the window. "I swear on my name, I won't let anyone else die."

The elder's eyes widened. "N-No, child... please. You don't understand. It's not that we don't appreciate the help, but this is too dangerous! You're just—"

"A kid?" Alex cut in, then slowly removed his mask. His sharp, determined eyes met the elder's gaze with unwavering confidence.

"I've faced worse."

The room stilled. Even Rina was stunned by how serious his tone was.

"You shouldn't have lied on the guild mission," Alex added,

"but I understand why you did. Still, that choice could've gotten someone killed. Lucky for you, I'm not just 'someone.'"

Rina stepped forward quickly. "Alex, wait. This isn't like fighting bandits or magical beasts. We don't even know what kind of werewolf it is. It might be cursed. Or intelligent. Or worse."

"I know."

"That's exactly why we should go back and report this. A full team, maybe even a Gold-ranked one is needs to handle this."

But Alex turned to her with a small smile. "If we leave, more people might die before anyone even gets here. I can't let that happen. I won't."

Rina's brows furrowed. "But you'll get hurt. Or worse."

He looked at her, calm as ever. "If I'm scared of pain, then I have no right calling myself an adventurer."

Rina stood there, conflicted, gripping her staff tighter.

"...Then I'm staying too."

Alex blinked. "Huh?"

She looked him in the eye, cheeks puffed slightly in frustration. "If you're staying, then I am too. You fight—I fight. That's the deal."

Alex chuckled softly. "You're stubborn."

Rina blushed faintly but crossed her arms. "You're reckless."

Behind them, Elder Meron and his wife exchanged glances, hearts heavy.

"We should have never lied," the old woman whispered.

"These children... they shouldn't have to bear this weight."

Meron nodded, voice hoarse. "And yet... they're the only ones who've looked us in the eye and said they'll help."

Alex turned back to them. "It's not your fault. But I need one thing from you."

"Anything," the elder replied.

"Tonight, make sure no one leaves their home. No one enters the woods. And don't open your doors for anyone, no matter what voice you hear."

The elder nodded solemnly.

Rina sighed, looking at the ceiling. "Guess we're really doing this..."

Alex grinned. "Guess so."

Outside, the sun began to dip beyond the trees, and the shadows of the forest seemed to grow deeper darker.

And somewhere in that darkness, something watched.

Waiting.