Over a hundred adventurers gathered in the training hall, the air thick with murmurs and unease. The weight of what was coming pressed down on us all.

  The guildmaster took her place on the platform, ready to address the assembly.

  “Silence!” Her voice boomed, slicing through the restless crowd like a blade. The chatter vanished, replaced by a tense, expectant hush.

  She took a step forward, standing tall on the raised platform. Her eyes swept across the room, meeting the gaze of every adventurer present.

  Then, she spoke.

  “To all you valiant adventurers!” she began, her voice unwavering. “Right now, two thousand orcs are marching toward our town! If you wish to flee—then flee. I won’t stop you. I won’t shame you. No shame in saving your own life!”

  Her words hung heavy in the silence.

  Unlike soldiers, adventurers have the freedom to choose their battles. They can accept or refuse quests as they see fit.

  Some shifted uncomfortably. Others clenched their fists.

  But the guildmaster’s voice only grew stronger.

  “But!” she continued, her tone now charged with emotion. “This town—our home—is more than just buildings and streets. It is our sanctuary, our shelter, our purpose. We don’t just live here—we fight for what we love!”

  Her voice echoed through the hall, ringing with conviction.

  “I stand here not as your guildmaster, but as one of you! A fellow citizen of Lavender Town! And I say—I will fight! I will defend the walls that shield our families! I will protect the lavender gardens we cherish! I will not allow those beasts to trample the land we call home!”

  A surge of energy rippled through the room. Adventurers straightened their backs, some exchanging glances as doubt gave way to determination.

  Then she raised her fist. “So I ask you—”

  “Will you stand with me!?”

  The tension snapped.

  *clap* *clap* *clap*

  The first applause. Then another.

  ““WHOAAAAA!!””

  The hall erupted in thunderous applause and cheers.

  This was no longer a room full of hesitant adventurers.

  It had become a hall of warriors, ready for battle.

  The guildmaster let them cheer for a moment before delivering the final push.

  “And as a token of gratitude,” she announced, “each of you will receive 10 gold coins!”

  Excitement surged through the room. For lower-ranked adventurers, 10 gold was a fortune. For the strongest, the real reward came next—

  “The lord of this town has also pledged additional rewards. Weapons. Armor. Magic tools. These will go to the ten most valiant warriors in our successful defense!”

  ““WHOAAAAA!!””

  A roar of approval followed.

  Now, no one was backing out.

  Even the hesitant ones had fire in their eyes.

  The training hall, once buzzing with nerves, now bristled with purpose.

  Nobody walked away. The fear was still there, but now—it had turned into resolve.

  A collective sigh of relief echoed through the air. The guildmaster didn’t waste a second. She assumed command, issuing clear instructions.

  "Orcs are classified as D-Rank monsters," she stated, her voice sharp and commanding. "D-Rank and C-Rank adventurers—you’re on the frontlines. Your job is to cut them down before they breach the town."

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  She gestured toward the walls. Not the hall’s wall, but the town’s.

  “Long-range fighters—you’ll position yourselves on the walls. Archers, mages, anyone with distance attacks. Your job is to rain hell on them before they reach us.”

  “Close-range fighters—stand ready behind the gates. Once we thin their numbers, you’ll charge and cut down the rest.”

  Her gaze swept over the younger, less experienced adventurers.

  “E-Rank adventurers—your mission is retrieval. Get to the wounded and bring them behind the walls.”

  The F-Rank and G-Rank adventurers, mostly newbies and kids, straightened at her next command.

  “The rest will handle logistics. You will run supplies—potions, weapons, food. Make sure no fighter collapses from exhaustion!”

  No hesitation. No wasted words. Just clear orders.

  The plan was simple.

  But the battle would not be.

  “Fear not! Reinforcements will arrive,” The guildmaster reassured. “Our job is to hold the line until they do.”

  Two thousand orcs.

  Against one hundred, or even fewer capable combatants.

  The odds seemed staggering.

  But no one flinched.

  The time for fear was over.

  “Any questions?” The guildmaster asked.

  A lone hand went up. “What about the civilians?”

  “The guards are handling the evacuation,” she said firmly. “Once the town is cleared, they will join us in defense.”

  Silence.

  No other objections.

  “If there are no more questions—disperse!”

  The room emptied in seconds.

  Only a handful of staff remained.

  The guildmaster turned to us.

  “All guild staff—assist the guards with evacuation. Once the people are safe, receptionists will help the healers.”

  ““Yes!””

  Then, she turned to the children.

  “You are all evacuating.”

  ““EHH!? But—!”” The kids protested.

  “No buts! This is not a game!” she snapped.

  Then she turned to the bar’s staff. “Sasa, Morin, you have to evacuate as well.”

  ““Yes!””

  “Tian, Greg, Esta, Hazel.” Her expression softened just a fraction. “Can I entrust you with protecting the citizens?”

  Brother Greg smirked, resting his hand on the hilt of his greatsword. “Heh. It’s been a while since I’ve stretched my arms.”

  Brother Tian gave a simple nod.

  Then—

  Sis Esta and Sis Hazel knelt.

  ““We will protect them, even at the cost of our lives, (nya)!””

  However, the guildmaster's face darkened.

  “...You don’t have to do that,” she muttered. “Haa… Now I’m worried about you two. You’ve just earned your freedom, so it's okay for you to prioritize your own lives too.”

  “You don’t have to worry,” Brother Tian reassured her. “I’ll make sure they don’t get reckless.”

  A weight seemed to lift from her shoulders. “...Alright.”

  I had thought Brother Tian and Brother Greg were just regular workers… I had no idea they were skilled fighters too.

  【That butler and chef are as strong as that cat and elf.】

  ...Really? Wow, I didn’t know that.

  By the way, why did Aza call Brother Tian a butler? He's clearly a bartender. But well, his appearance does resemble a butler's, though.

  My sisters, the only adventurers who still stay here, approached me.

  I turned to them.

  “Sis… be careful.”

  Sissy grinned, trying to lighten the mood. “We’re not going to the battlefield, Freed! We’ll just be inside the wall!”

  But then—Sis Celes stepped forward.

  “Freed… I have a request.”

  Her face was serious unlike her usual self.

  Something was wrong.

  “What is it, sis?”

  “I don’t know why, but… I have a bad feeling about this.”

  Her hands clenched.

  “I’m worried about Mom and Dad.”

  A chill ran down my spine.

  “I hope it’s just my imagination,” she muttered. “But… please. Go back home. Tell Mom and Dad about the situation. Tell them to carry their weapons, so they can prepare for the worst.”

  It seemed like a random request.

  The orcs were approaching from the north in less than 3 hours, and Aster Village lay to the south.

  It should be safe.

  It should be.

  But—

  “Okay,” I said. “I’ll go.”

  It was the first time she'd made a request with such a serious expression.

  It was probably nothing—just a gut feeling.

  And yet, I couldn’t shake the gnawing unease creeping into my chest.

  I feel that I will regret it if I decline her request.

  So I agreed.

  “Thank you, Freed.”

  A part of me couldn’t help but feel disappointed. If this were a story, the hero would be at the center of the battle—leading the charge, standing against impossible odds.

  But I wasn’t that hero.

  I was still weak, unable to contribute much to the battle against the orcs.

  With evacuations in full swing, carriages were impossible to find. So I did the only thing I could—I took the guild’s horse and rode alone.

  I’m glad I had asked the coachman who usually takes me to the town to teach me how to ride a horse whenever we have free time in the village.

  This is the first time I rode a horse without a guide, so I couldn’t move faster to avoid the unnecessary troubles.

  By the time I reached the village, the battle in the town would likely have just begun.

  But as I rode through the empty roads, the unease in my chest only grew.

  This wasn’t just a battle.

  This was only the beginning.