New World with Four Husbands-Chapter 242: Quick briefing

Alithe yelled out for the guards to gather around, his voice snapping with authority.

The guards were quick to respond as they drifted towards Alithe, their movements obedient and disciplined as they gathered in a small circle around Alithe.

They stood in a loose formation, their bodies tense and their attention focused on the person their captain told them to follow, their gazes were sharp and focused, their faces betraying no emotion as they waited for instructions.

It was clear that whatever he was about to say was important and the guards were waiting patiently for his words.

"We will be leaving later this evening because the part of the forest we will be going into is swarmed with day time monsters." Alithe stated, his eyes scanning the crowd before him.

They listened to Alithe intently, their focus on his words and his expression.

"We will be carrying food that will be packed by the village inn’s chef and all of you will be receiving a room, but you will have to share the room with someone because the condition the owner of the inn gave me was two people per room." Alithe informed the guards with a huff.

"I’m pretty sure that Captain Orlan had given everyone here a weapon before all of you left the main city, right?" The guild master asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, sir." A guard with a baritone voice answered, making Coco snap her attention to that person.

"So I don’t have to worry about that? That’s good." Alithe smiled, pleased and happy with what he heard from the man, "Thank you for answering, vice captain."

"Just doing my job, sir." The voice captain stated, lowering his head to show his respect.

"Anyway, once again, we will be leaving later this evening." Alithe spoke up and raised his voice so the other guards could hear what he was saying, "Since all of us are not familiar with the danger of the Jire Forest, Chief Salamandara has lended me someone important to help us."

"The village chief did?" The guards started whispering, each one of them leaning to their friend.

"This person has been painted in a bad light, but is reliable and strong." The guild master informed everyone with a smirk, "One way or another, whether you like it or not, you will be following her lead."

"Her..?"

"Who could possibly be strong and reliable for the guild master to ensure his safety to this person?"

The guards murmured amongst themselves, their voices filled with disbelief and some even laughed quietly at the absurdity of the proposal, their voices low as they exchanged glances.

Their expressions were full of incredulity as they spoke, the words of their whispers clear.

"A woman? Leading us? That’s ridiculous." A few men shook their heads, the notion clearly absurd to them, their voices low and rough with clear disdain.

Another guard chimed in, his tone mocking. "As if a woman could lead us to victory. We need a strong, capable leader!"

"Right? A woman leading us? What a ridiculous idea." One guard said from the back, his voice low as he leaned to his friend, which was right next to Coco.

"It’s a joke." Another guard scoffed in agreement. "We can’t follow a woman into battle."

The guard beside Coco narrowed his eyes in irritation and crossed his arms. "What kind of army has a woman leading them? I’ve never heard such a ridiculous thing for the past fifty years of my life."

Alithe listened to the guards as they expressed their doubts and disbelief, but his expression was calm and unruffled.

The guards’ words are true.

No woman had led a troop before and often led their household instead if they were the sole heiress of their family wealth.

Men, on the other hand, either get sent as a guard or a head of a household depending on their choice.

However, a woman leading a troop or an army is not impossible.. As far as Alithe could remember from his old days, the only reason why women refused to lead was because they didn’t want to deal with men’s ridiculous demands.

The women prefer to earn the title of their parent and lead the household, marry a spouse, build a family, and nurture every member in that household.

Sighing through his nose, Alithe continued to stand there, listening to the guards grumble amongst themselves, but he didn’t appear concerned by their doubts and protests, letting them pour out their thoughts undisturbed.

He cleared his throat, firmly this time, his tone making it clear that he was done listening to their arguments. "Coco, please step forward."

The guards fell silent as soon as Coco stepped forward, the guards around her flinching and making way.

They stood there frozen in their places, their gazes on her as she took a step forward with her sharp green eyes traveling over to the guards, her gaze like a physical force that keeps them from uttering words of mockery.

The guards gaped at her, their surprise evident in the way their eyes widened and their jaws dropped.

They looked at her with a mixture of confusion and wariness, unsure of how to handle this unexpected development— the once loud area was suddenly still, the only sound being the guards’ breathing and the soft rustle of fabric as they shifted nervously.

"I’m sure that everyone here knows who this woman is." Alithe said as he gestured towards Coco who stopped by his side, "And that’s good, because she will be the one who will lead us."

No one dared to speak, their words caught in their throat, the reason is either out of disdain, fear, or they just don’t care.

"Again, we will be leaving this evening." Alithe repeated what he said with a firm tone, "Those who don’t want to follow Coco may leave before nightfall."

"What?"

"Is he serious?"

"He can’t be—"

"That’s all." Alithe stated, ending the briefing as he dragged Coco back inside the village hall.

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