“V-Village Chief, of course I am a Vice Chief of this village.”
“Really?”
The village Chief looked away from the ceiling to stare at Ro-Dune.
“From what I can see, Fogon’s words are correct. You have been influenced by the Church too much. Us Ibbian tribes do not throw away our Guardians in exchange for a better one, Guardian Han will remain our village’s Guardian if he so wishes. That’s final, do you understand?”
“Y-Yes, village Chief.”
The terrifying Will suddenly retreated from Ro-Dune as he said that.
Afterward, the village Chief turned to a silent Han Min and said.
“I ask Guardian Han to forgive Vice Chief Ro-Dune. Though his words are harsh, he ultimately has the village’s safety at heart.”
Han Min listened to this, and for the first time in two years, he spoke.
“I have already warned you of those people’s influences if they enter, but yet you still let them in. Now the village has been divided and our children are being taken away to serve those Churches.”
“Isn’t that a good thing? Once they return we’ll have strong warri-”
“Returned? Do you think they’ll return?”
Han Min coldly cut off Ro-Dune.
Last year the Church had selected children from their village to head outside of the Ibbian Mountain Range. They claim it was so the kids could see the outside world before returning, but Han Min was now saying otherwise.
“Guardian Han, could you explain?”
The village Chief asked.
Han Min didn’t respond but instead unfurled his hands and threw something onto the table.
When everyone’s eyes landed on this object their expression immediately became gloomy.
“This-How can this be?”
The village Chief said as he reached out with his hand. The object then flew into his outstretched hand.
The object in question was a small stone with the carving of a spiraling symbol on its surface. The village Chief recognized this since it was something he had personally given to each of the children who left.
It was a navigation stone for the children to find the village if they were ever lost.
But this navigation stone was cracked and damaged, there was even a strong scent of blood wafting from it.
“Those kids are never returning because they’ve already been murdered.”
The village Chief’s body shook, while a nasty expression appeared on everyone’s face. Those in golden robes, however, had different reactions. It’s as if they didn’t want to be here wearing the Church’s robes.
“Who did it?”
Vice Chief Fogon said through bloodshot eyes and gritted teeth.
Han Min didn’t answer immediately as he was currently looking at the door leading outside the hall. After announcing the children being murdered he had faintly sensed someone’s presence outside. But he soon ignored it and turned to answer Fogon’s question.
“You disregarded my words because you were promised more resources for the village and the possibility of leaving this mountain range. I do not fault you because you are naive people who do not know the true horrors of human nature. When you align yourself with such a power, and allow them to plunder our mountain range’s resources, do you not think the enemies they have also become your enemies? Those children were seen as future threats so they were killed by the enemies of the Church.”
The village Chief closed his eyes, but tears still escaped to flow down his cheeks.
“You are right Guardian Han, we were naive… I was naive. I should have never allowed them to enter our village, now the deaths of those children are on my shoulders.”
Han Min looked at the village Chief and shook his head.
“I knew you meant the best. When you asked why you can’t leave this mountain range I told you about the barrier. Now that the barrier has been broken, asides from your curiosity to see the outside world, you wanted to join forces with the amicable Church to avoid the other powers from outside that might be more greedy and violent.”
“But I see that my decision to side with the Church was wrong. Vice Chief Ro-Dune.”
“Yes, village Chief!”
“Have Bishop Adalhard meet me, I will have to break off our relationship personally.”
Hearing this, Vice Chief Ro-Dune hesitated.
Seeing his hesitation, the village Chief frowned, but Ro-Dune quickly explained.
“Of course, I will heed the village Chief’s orders, but my concern is how the Church might react.”
“I will handle them, just have Bishop Adalhard meet me.”
“Yes, village Chief.”
Ro-Dune then stood up and left through the door.
Unbeknownst to everyone, slight anger flashed past his eyes as soon as he left the room.
“And to think they were planning on gathering more children in the village this year as well, unforgivable!”
Fogon was heard yelling. He then raised his head and glared at the people in golden robes across the table.
“Take off those robes, we are no longer associated with that Church!”
Those people glanced at each other and a look of hesitation appeared on their faces. They weren’t wearing anything besides these robes, were they supposed to strip naked?
Seeing this, Fogon was about to flare up, but the village Chief said.
“Vice Chief Fogon, it’s not decided yet. After we officially end our relationship with the Church then we’ll cut all ties with them. This meeting is dismissed, we’ll meet again after I talk with Bishop Adalhard.”
The village Chief went to speak with Han Min, but when he looked at his chair he was already gone.
….
…
..
Some distance away from the large building the meeting was being held in, Sol was trying to sneak away. However, a figure suddenly appeared behind him.
“Waah!”
Sol released a small squeal as he was easily picked up off the ground by the large carrier on his back.
After being slowly turned around, he came face to face with his father.
Smiling nervously, Sol stuttered.
“F-Father, what’s wrong?”
With a frown on his face, Han Min looked at his son and said.
“You little brat, when did you become so good at masking your presence? If you hadn’t made a mistake and let your aura leak I wouldn’t have noticed you. Looks like I allowed you to go unsupervised for too long over the years. I’m free today so I’ll be tagging along to get some father-son bonding today.”
When Sol heard that, his face instantly became pale. He then began waving his hand frantically while saying in a hurry.
“N-No! Wait! You don’t need to do that, I’m not that good at masking my presence at all! You probably didn’t sense me because you weren’t paying attention. And I didn’t hear anything in that meeting, I promise!”
“Ho? I didn’t mention you were eavesdropping on the meeting though, looks like I have to punish you for that on this father-son bonding trip.”
Sol’s face became even paler upon hearing that before both he and his father suddenly vanished.
After they disappeared, a man in golden robes who was watching them from behind a building suddenly turned and dashed towards the temple in the village square.