Chapter Fifty-Two: The Hero’s Rest

"Zach!" Fleeing in panic from the Forest of Beasts, Alex caught sight of a fast-approaching cavalry on the road back to the village. At the head of the group was Zach, the one who had decided earlier to return and report the news.

Seeing Zach leading the town guards back, hope instantly flared in Alex's heart. "Quick! Go save Perrin!"

"What happened to Perrin?" Zach reined in his horse before Alex, the steed rearing up and letting out a shrill neigh, sending dust flying.

"We were tracking the enemy and accidentally entered the territory of the horned apes!" Alex hung his head in shame. "Perrin, to let me escape safely, used all her strength to unleash a sweeping attack, drawing all the horned apes' attention..."

"Hmph! It's because of your stubbornness that Perrin was harmed!" Zach glared at him furiously. "If you'd listened to my call for caution, would Perrin have died protecting you?"

"That's enough, Zach!" From the ranks of the guards, a man on a red horse rode out—the captain, Brent. He glanced at the battered, disheveled Alex and said calmly, "Don't condemn a comrade for a small mistake! Alex, you must also learn from this lesson. You have great potential to become the next captain; these setbacks will only help you grow."

"Captain! Please, lead the rescue for Perrin yourself!" Alex raised his head and spoke loudly.

"Alex," Brent extended his right hand, "the horned apes never let any intruder leave alive unless the difference in strength is overwhelming. Since Perrin drew their attention to let you escape, it means she has already sacrificed herself. The Forest of Beasts is fraught with danger and is not to be taken lightly. Mount up—we can only check the outskirts, in the slim hope of retrieving her body for a proper burial."

Ashamed, Alex mounted the captain’s horse, head bowed, at a loss for words.

"Hyah!!" With a flick of his whip, Brent's red horse carried both him and Alex charging toward the Forest of Beasts.

Zach and the other guards spurred their mounts and quickly followed.

"This is the place!" The guards arrived at a forest clearing stained with blood. Alex leapt off his horse and searched anxiously. But not only was there no sign of Perrin, not even a single horned ape corpse remained. "Impossible! This can't be! We killed so many horned apes here, the blood hasn't even dried! Perrin! Perrin, where are you?"

"Shhh—" Zach hurriedly dismounted and clamped a hand over Alex's mouth. "Are you trying to get yourself killed, yelling in the Forest of Beasts?"

"Alex, you have talent, but you lack experience!" Brent also dismounted and addressed him. "Zach is more seasoned than you; you should heed his advice!"

With the captain off his horse, the other guards followed suit, drawing their swords and keeping a wary eye on the surroundings.

Brent circled the area a few times, bent down, and touched some of the bloodstains, inspecting them closely. "This is indeed the horned apes' territory. But it's odd—there's kobold blood mixed in as well. There must have been a fierce battle between the two tribes!"

"What about Perrin?" Alex asked anxiously.

"The kobolds used some kind of crossbow—" Brent noticed a strange mark on a tree. "The bolts are of a very high standard, not the kind of technology mindless kobolds could master!"

"Crossbows?" Zach was taken aback. "I've only ever heard of kobolds throwing rocks, never using crossbows..."

Brent carefully examined the ground again, his brows knitted. "There are tracks from Perrin and the kobolds. She tried to fight but was subdued in an instant! There was a powerful kobold leader—this is worse than we thought!"

"Captain..." Alex's eyes brimmed with pain at these words.

"Withdraw!" Brent sighed. "Perrin was taken away by the kobolds—there's no way we can recover her remains for a proper burial. Go inform Kato at the orphanage: Perrin fought bravely, but in the end was exhausted and captured by the kobolds—she’s likely become their food. Everyone, let us honor our fallen warrior!"

Instantly, all the town guards stood at attention, left arms pressed to their thighs, right hands placed on the badge on their left arms, and in unison, gazed at the bloodstained ground and cried, "May the God of War guide Perrin's soul home!"

"May the God of War guide Perrin's soul home!" Alex, his eyes red with grief, forced himself to shout with all his strength.

"Withdraw!!" Fearing their voices might attract other dangerous creatures from the forest, Brent immediately mounted up after the ceremony.

All the guards followed their captain; Alex cast a final look toward the depths of the forest, gritted his teeth, and climbed onto Brent's horse.

"Hyah!!" Before any more threats could appear, Brent decisively led the guards away from the forest at speed.

After returning Alex to the village, Brent said to him, "You may have an extra three days of leave. Take care of your family affairs. Forget about Perrin—she upheld the honor of the town guards and is our hero!"

"Thank you, Captain," Alex replied, lowering his head in sorrow.

"Town guards, back to camp!" At Brent’s command, all the guards followed him and soon disappeared at the village entrance.

"Young master!" The village chief's aide hurried over. "The village chief has passed away peacefully..."

"Spread this sad news throughout the village. Summon everyone to see my father off!" Alex ordered.

"Yes, sir!"

The entire village was gathered, and under Alex's lead, they held a solemn funeral for his father. Grief-stricken, Alex personally set his father’s body atop the pyre and lit the fire.

On the night of the Blood Moon, any corpse or remains would be transformed into undead creatures upon the earth. Thus, the local custom was to cremate the dead at once, preventing them from being tainted by demonic energy and becoming wicked undead.

"My father’s murder must be avenged!" Gathering his father’s ashes, Alex bit his lip until it bled. "And Perrin’s death will be added to your debt, foreigner—Bekaron!"

"What are your orders, young master?" Bekaron, one of the late village chief's aides, now served under Alex by default.

"Recruit the strongest men in the village for me, and form a militia!" Alex's eyes burned with hatred as he looked toward the Forest of Beasts. "Arm them with the best weapons—we will enter the forest, seek out that cursed foreigner and the Amber family, and offer their blood in sacrifice for my father and Perrin!"

"The—the Forest of Beasts...?" Bekaron swallowed hard, his nerves taut.