Narrator's P.O.V
Peter distributed his free stats evenly among Strength, Agility, Intelligence, and Perception before setting up his fake status.
[
Name: Peter
Race: Human
Class: Blade Dancer lv. 1, Villager. Lv. 1
Level: 2
Experience: 0/ 300
Age: 10
Title: None
Stats:
Health: 50
Mana: 290
Constitution: 12 Spirit: 31
Strength: 11 Agility: 10
Intelligence: 18 Perception: 2
Luck: 3
Skills: Mana Sense lv.8, Swordsmanship {Short- Sword} lv. 14, Recovery {Physical} lv. 7
]
Satisfied, he turned to his parents and nodded with a small smile.
"Congratulations on getting your class, son." Joseph stood up and ruffled Peter's hair.
Peter barely had time to enjoy the moment before his father sighed. "I wish we could talk more, but I've to get going. There's a lot of paperwork waiting for me." He gave them both an apologetic look.
"It's okay, dear. We understand." Mariah reassured him before turning to Peter. "I'll cook something special to celebrate. What do you want to eat?"
Peter rubbed his chin in deep thought. "Hmm…"
After much internal debate, he finally answered, "Roasted lamb."
Mariah and Joseph exchanged amused glances. He never compromised when it came to food.
"Alright, I'll make that for you," Mariah agreed with a doting smile.
Joseph spoke after clearing his throat, drawing their attention. "Actually, I'd prefer if you both moved to Amelia's house until things settle down. It'll be safer for you there."
The guards had split into patrols, constantly sweeping the woods to eliminate any stray predators, but mistakes could happen.
Understanding the concern in Joseph's voice, Mariah nodded without hesitation. "Let me pack some clothes," she said with a reassuring smile as she stood up.
Joseph glanced at his wife and son one last time before turning away, his steps firm with renewed determination. There was a village to protect.
…
"What's the situation?" Joseph asked as he took his seat at the desk.
The soldier before him straightened, saluting stiffly. "Yes, Captain." He swallowed, feeling the weight of his superior's calculating gaze.
"The Vice-Captain has been coordinating patrols since morning after you took a break from the night shift. The situation isn't as dire as it was at dawn. No permanent injuries—nothing a potion or rest won't fix," he reported swiftly.
Joseph nodded, fingers tapping against the desk. "Any update on what caused all this?" His brows furrowed in thought.
It was a relief that no serious casualties had occurred and that things were under control. But until they understood the root cause, he couldn't let his guard down.
The soldier hesitated before answering. "None, sir. Other villages are facing similar troubles, but so far, no one has dared send a scouting party deep into the woods to investigate." His frustration was evident.
Joseph smirked. "They're not fools. A scouting mission would be too risky. Cautious types like them won't take the initiative in a situation like this."
"Then what's our next move, Captain?" the soldier asked hesitantly.
He had patrolled alongside Joseph last night and had nearly lost his life to a razor wolf's bite—if not for the man sitting before him, he wouldn't be standing here now.
Joseph exhaled, rubbing his forehead. "We could wait things out—but I don't like that option. The lord needs to be informed of what's happening in his domain. Whether he decides to send the knight order or hire adventurers is up to him."
He pulled open a drawer, retrieving a sheet of parchment before dipping his quill in ink. "Tell the reserves to rest as much as they can. We'll replace the Vice-Captain and his teams this evening."
The soldier gave a quick nod before hurrying out of the room.
…
Later That Evening
Joseph locked eyes with the pack leader, assessing the beast's level. Measuring nearly two meters in length with bulging muscles rippling beneath its fur, the wolf was in its prime.
This was no ordinary beast—his men didn't encounter creatures of this caliber often during patrols. He had to ensure they didn't underestimate it or the pack it led.
"Simon, how many?" he asked the scout without breaking eye contact with the beast. The only reason it hadn't attacked yet was its wariness of him. He couldn't let his guard down.
This wasn't just any wolf; it was a godforsaken thing at the peak of the first tier.
"Twelve, Captain. Six are hiding under the bushes, slowly approaching," Simon answered from his perch in a nearby tree—an ideal position to rain down deadly, precise arrows.
Joseph wasn't as skilled an archer as his scout, but he was a trained fighter. And any fighter worth his name had ways to survey his surroundings.
Taking a deep breath, Joseph activated Mana Sense. His mana drained proportionally as the skill spread out, mapping the hidden wolves lurking nearby.
His team stood in a practiced formation, their coordination honed through experience. He had faith in their victory.
"Get ready."
Raising his sword, Joseph moved fluidly. His weapon hummed with bloodthirsty intent as mana surged through it, activating his weapon skill.
The beast snarled in defiance, meeting his charge head-on with equal agility, despite his use of Shadow Step.
It might not have been a pure agility-based skill, but it still gave him a significant speed boost.
The wolf lunged, jaws wide, claws shimmering silver from some skill. Joseph expertly spun, sword in hand, dancing with the beast.
Steel met claw in mid-air, the force of the clash sending a tremor through his arm. The wolf tried to snap at him, its head darting forward in an attempt to bite—but Joseph wouldn't allow that.
The beast had exposed its belly by lunging, and Joseph wielded a one-handed sword.
Without hesitation, he reached for the knife on his hip and drove it into the wolf's chest.
A pained howl tore from its throat as it staggered back, but Joseph didn't let up. He kept it too occupied to remove the blade, striking relentlessly with his sword.