After everyone had eaten, Gabriel called one of the survivors the old man's eldest son.
"You. Rudeus. Come with me. We're checking the area."
"Yes, sir. But… what about the others? If monsters attack, they'll be vulnerable."
"They'll be fine," Gabriel said. "As long as they stay hidden under the roots of this giant tree, monsters won't notice them. Just make sure they keep quiet."
Rudeus nodded.
"Stay hidden," Gabriel told the group. "Don't make a sound. We'll find a better spot for camp."
Then he handed Rudeus a weapon a plain-looking sword. "Here. It's not the best but better than nothing."
Just a D-rank from earth but it'll help.
The young man's eyes widened. "T-Thank you, my lord!"
They moved out, carefully pushing through the brush. After ten minutes, they found a cave. The entrance was narrow, but inside it widened just enough to fit a group of people. It was empty no claw marks, no stench of beasts. A perfect hideout.
Gabriel smirked. "Good. Let's bring the others here. We'll sleep in shifts and get some rest."
"Yes, sir."
As they walked back, Gabriel asked, "You seem comfortable in the forest. What did you do before the war?"
"I was a hunter, my lord," Rudeus admitted. "From a nameless village in Taysia."
"That explains it," Gabriel said with a nod. "Good. I'll need that experience."
When they returned, the survivors were still quiet under the tree roots, their fear keeping them silent. Gabriel waved them forward.
"Come on. Ten minutes from here there's a cave. Safer than staying out here."
They followed him quickly, relief on their faces. Inside, Gabriel lit a small fire near the entrance so the smoke drifted out, keeping them warm without choking the cave. The forest nights were bitterly cold.
"Alright," Gabriel said once everyone settled. "Let's have a quick meeting. I need to know who I'm working with."
The old man stepped forward. "My name is Toto. I have no last name. I was a farmer. These five are my children. Rudeus you met earlier. He's my eldest."
He gestured toward a black-haired girl. "This is Martha. She was a scholar in the capital she can read, write, and do basic math."
He pointed to a tall girl with freckles. "Lydia. She's pretty, but she was conscripted as a soldier. Didn't see combat, but she knows training."
She fell I'll 3 months beforethe war erupted.
Finally, he motioned toward two blonde twins. "Tierra and Sierra. They're both seventeen, same as you, my lord. Students at the research academy."
Gabriel nodded. "Good. All of you have skills." He turned to the woman with the little girl. "And you?"
"My name is Agatha. I was a fruit picker. My husband was a soldier. I don't know if he's alive. This is my daughter, Mine."
Gabriel's gaze shifted to two tall young men.
"I'm Darius. This is my brother, Garen. We were lumberjacks, but we studied swordsmanship before the war," one said. Both bowed their heads. "We're cowards, my lord. When the Sigfried army came… we couldn't fight. We just surrendered. Forgive us."
Gabriel shook his head. "Don't blame yourselves. It's not your fault it's those cunning bastards who destroyed everything."
Another boy stepped forward. "My name is Samuel. These five are my childhood friends Toto, Lam, Teri, and Baki. We're all farmers from the Lirieal state."
Gabriel studied them all. A mixed group farmers, scholars, laborers, even a conscript. Not soldiers, not trained warriors, but not useless either.
"Alright," Gabriel said at last. "Seems each of you has something to offer. Since you've chosen to follow me, you're putting your lives in my hands. So I'll ask are you willing to accept me as your leader?"
The old man bowed. "Yes, my lord. We surrender ourselves to you. Please… lead us."
The others echoed the words, their voices trembling but resolute.
Gabriel smiled faintly. "Good. Then here's the plan: we'll start small. A shelter, a village. And from there… a new country. Right here, in the Beast Glades."
Gasps spread through the cave.
"My lord, this forest is filled with monsters," one of them said. "And we have no food until we can grow crops. We don't even have seeds," added by Baki.
"No problem," Gabriel said simply. "I have plans. As for the monsters…" His hand touched the hilt of his sword. "I'm an expert at exterminating them."
The survivors exchanged uneasy glances. They had all heard the rumors about Gabriel Lundale the bastard son of the Lundale estate. A troublemaker who caused endless problems, even picking a fight with a prince of Taysia and forcing his father to kneel before the king. A reckless, arrogant youth expelled from the royal academy for sexually harassing a female teacher.
But the man before them now the one who stood tall, calm, and confident felt nothing like that spoiled noble kid.
Felt like a kngiht captain had through with countless wars.
The truth was, the old Gabriel had been a real bastard.
The one standing here was someone else.
Gabriel Chavez. A veteran B-rank hunter from Earth. A man who had raided countless dungeons and survived against overwhelming odds. Back home, people had called him Manila's Guardian.
Gab let out a quiet breath and rubbed his temples. His mana was almost drained, his body heavy from exhaustion.
"Listen up," he said, his voice steady. "I need to recover my mana and energy. That means I need sleep. You boys, take turns keeping watch. If a monster comes near, wake me immediately. Understood?"
"Yes, sir," the young men replied in unison.
Gab nodded. "Good. And when it's your turn to rest sleep deeply. You'll need all your strength for tomorrow."
Without another word, he pulled a pillow from his subspace, set it on the hard cave floor, and lay down. The stone was cold and uncomfortable, but he shut his eyes anyway. Years of dungeon raids had taught him how to fall asleep anywhere, no matter the conditions.
The boys did as instructed, keeping shifts through the night while the others huddled together for warmth. Somehow, morning arrived without incident.
Gab stretched and sat up, his sharp eyes scanning the group. "Alright. Let's eat."
He reached into his subspace and pulled out ration packs: bread and canned meat. Dungeon supplies from Earth. He did a quick calculation in his head. Sixteen people. At this pace, his stock would last them only until nightfall.
He passed the food around, watching their hungry eyes brighten as they tore into the bread. At least water wouldn't be an issue Gabriel Lundale, bastard or not, had been born with talent in water magic. That much was still real.
Once everyone had eaten, he stood and spoke firmly.
"Listen. My rations won't last long. If we rely on just what I brought, we'll starve by nightfall. So here's the plan. I'll be the one to hunt monsters for food. Your job is to help me dismantle the carcasses. Understood?"
The survivors straightened, their fear mixing with determination.
"Sir! Yes, sir!" they shouted.
Gab nodded, satisfied. "Good. Then follow me."