Roy spent two busy days in the village. Tione and Tiona took turns standing guard over the captive God Ares and the hundred-plus soldiers. Relying on his forging skills, Roy updated a vast amount of farming tools, weapons, and furniture for the village.
The entire village took on a brand-new look.
Roy also forged a high-quality bracelet each for the Old Village Chief, Xilin, and his little niece. These bracelets would automatically trigger a shield when under attack, similar to the Steel Gauntlet Roy had once obtained.
They could block an attack from a Level 3 adventurer.
It wasn't that Roy was unwilling to give them higher-grade equipment, but for people living in the countryside, high-quality gear was more than enough. His fame alone could deter common thieves and bandits. However, Epic-grade equipment was different.
To adventurers, Epic-grade gear was considered "First-Class Armament." Possessing it might tempt desperate individuals to take risks.
Time passed in a tense atmosphere.
Everyone knew the matter wasn't over. Ares and a large group of guards were still locked in the pigsty. How would the Kingdom react? The answer was obvious: a massive army bearing down on them!
At dawn on the third day, under the hazy sky, a mass of dark shadows appeared in the distance, accompanied by a rumbling sound like thousands of troops on the march. The villager on sentry duty rushed back to report.
Roy and his group appeared at the village entrance first, followed by villagers wielding various farming tools. Despite Roy repeatedly emphasizing that they didn't need to fight, the villagers still volunteered to follow.
In these chaotic times, the only way to survive was unity. When facing an enemy, they had to band together and fight tooth and nail to earn respect.
"Damn Kingdom!"
"Targeting us intentionally and making excuses!"
"Little Roy, we'll fight them to the end!"
The villagers were filled with righteous indignation, raising their weapons with a momentum no less impressive than the opposing Kingdom army.
Although the enemy was entirely composed of soldiers blessed with Falna, there wasn't a trace of fear on the villagers' faces. At worst, it was just death.
When people do not fear death, how can you threaten them with it?
Tione and Tiona looked surprised. No wonder the Captain had rushed all the way back from Orario; these simple, kind-hearted villagers were worth it.
Roy was deeply moved as well. With a faint smile, he turned his gaze toward the Kingdom's army.
Meanwhile, under the protection of the army...
A handsome, golden-haired young man clad in armor was discussing strategy with his trusted aides.
They also saw Roy's group at the village entrance.
An aide spoke with apprehension, "Prince Marius, that is the 'Justice Bud.' And the two girls beside him are the super rookies of the Astrea Familia, the Level 3 Amazon sisters!"
When the news reached the capital, there was an uproar from top to bottom.
That unreliable god had actually led people to besiege the hometown of "Justice Bud" Roy.
Everyone was furious, but they had no choice. As dependents, they had to pay for their god's whims.
Unlike previous monarchs of Rakia who obeyed Ares unconditionally, Prince Marius of this generation was quite capable and had his own opinions.
While mobilizing the army for the rescue, Prince Marius had also sent people overnight to Orario to gather all information about Roy. As the Eastern saying goes: Know the enemy and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster.
Just as the army arrived at the village, the spies from Orario returned with intelligence on Roy.
After reading the information in hand...
Prince Marius's heart sank to rock bottom. Burdened with domestic affairs, he hadn't paid attention to Roy for a while. In that short time, Roy's rich experiences had turned into a thick stack of papers.
The Astrea Familia had revived and established close ties with multiple Familias, showing a trend of forming a faction.
All of this was directly related to Roy.
Marius felt a sense of dread. This wasn't a little lamb; this was clearly a Demon King.
He had predicted early on that Roy would eventually become a First-Class Adventurer and shouldn't be provoked lightly.
But alas, that muscle-brained god had shouted, "Just because the gods of Orario couldn't do it doesn't mean I can't!" and insisted on making Roy his dependent.
"Rioters! I am the current Prince of the Kingdom of Rakia, Marius Victrix Rakia. Release God Ares immediately, or the Kingdom's army of eight thousand will flatten this village!" Marius shouted loudly.
Hearing Marius's voice, a commotion stirred among the villagers. Living in the countryside, they had never seen so many soldiers. However, Roy and the other two remained calm.
"Eight thousand? It looks like three or four thousand at most." Tione pursed her lips, gazing at the distant army five or six hundred meters away. They might fool ordinary people, but there was no way they could fool her.
Roy laughed. "Numbers shouted during introductions like that are usually just bluffs."
In just two days, with their patron deity Ares missing, Marius gathering three or four thousand soldiers was already impressive. After all, these were warriors with Falna.
Roy shouted behind him, "Tiona, bring God Ares up here."
"Okay!"
Tiona's crisp response rang out. Soon, she brought the dog-tired Ares and his two most loyal Knight Commanders to the village entrance.
Having been starved for two consecutive days, Ares was skin and bones, nearly sent back to Tenkai. The look in his eyes when he saw Roy held a trace of fear. It was his first time encountering a human with absolutely no reverence for gods.
Even upon seeing his own army, there wasn't much joy in Ares's eyes.
"It's Lord Ares!"
"Bastards! Are they trying to use Lord Ares as a hostage?"
"Your Highness, we must attack immediately!"
The Kingdom's army was furious. They were dependents most loyal to Ares, practically willing to die for him.
"Calm down, everyone!" Marius frowned tightly, maintaining the composure of a leader.
Then, Roy made a move that surprised everyone. "Tiona, release God Ares!"
"Huh?"
Tiona looked at Roy in surprise.
"Tiona, do not disobey the Captain!" Tione glared at her sister.
"Fine."
Tiona muttered under her breath, untying God Ares and the two Knight Commanders, allowing the trio to leave.
"Lord Ares, are you alright?"
"Excellent. It seems those sinful rioters have realized their mistake. execute half of them, and we shall pardon the rest!" The Kingdom's army quickly received the trio.
Ares felt only the joy of escaping his misery.
However, the two Knight Commanders looked worried. What is the opponent planning? After two days of interaction, they knew Roy wasn't someone who gave in easily.
When he saw Ares return to the Kingdom's ranks, Roy spoke.
"Tione, Tiona. Prepare to charge. Target: crush the Kingdom's army in front of us!"
Roy's tone was as calm as if he were chatting with a neighbor about family matters, but the content was terrifying.
Tione and Tiona froze for a moment, then revealed ferocious, fanatic smiles.
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Danmachi : Starting with an Elf (444 Chapter – Ongoing)
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