On the Fire Moon, July 6th.
The evening light had lost the scorching intensity of midday, casting a warm glow over the wheat fields.
Enri bent forward, carefully parting the wheat stalks as she stepped through the rows. Her feet pressed down on the overgrown weeds at the edges of the field, and with both hands, she pulled them free.
Sweat trickled down her cheeks and neck.
A small pile of freshly uprooted green weeds had already formed beside her. Gathering them into her arms, she walked along the narrow path between the wheat stalks, making her way to the edge of the field.
Once she reached the outermost aisle, she dropped the bundle onto the growing heap of weeds.
Only then did Enri straighten up, raising an arm—still relatively clean compared to the rest of her dirt-streaked form—to wipe the sweat from her forehead. She let out a soft breath.
Her damp clothes clung to her body, and exhaustion weighed on her limbs, tempting her to retreat into the shade for a well-earned rest.
But there was no time to be lazy.
She turned her gaze back to the vast golden wheat field before her, still speckled with hints of green. The faint scent of wheat carried on the breeze, lifting her spirits and momentarily easing her fatigue.
"Just half a month more until the harvest season."
"The tax collector will be here by then—he never misses his yearly visit."
Enri muttered the last part with a hint of complaint. She was undeniably tired, yet her voice still carried a quiet determination.
"Enri? Are you out here alone?"
A voice, tinged with surprise, called out from the aisle between the fields.
Recognizing it instantly, Enri turned to see Aunt Ambe and several village women returning from their work. Their arms were full of freshly gathered weeds.
"Auntie."
Enri bowed slightly in greeting before responding, "My father and Uncle Lachmont went to the forest to gather herbs, and my mother is busy taking care of my sister, so I came out on my own."
She gave a small, shy smile. "It's just some weeding—I can handle it myself."
"That's impressive," one of the women remarked.
"It must be tough doing it alone, though. If you ever need help, just say the word," another added kindly.
Laughter and murmurs of agreement rippled through the group as they continued their way back to the village.
"In half a month, the tax collector will arrive."
"Right. Speaking of which, there have been a lot of outsiders passing through the village lately."
"I heard most of them are adventurers. Rude, rowdy types, the lot of them."
"Not all adventurers are like that," one woman chimed in. "Remember that black-haired young man from a month ago? The village chief said he was an adventurer too. He even left money before he departed—and he was quite handsome."
A playful giggle followed. "Oh? Thinking about young men at your age?"
"Get lost! There's nothing wrong with that! I heard noble ladies in the city sometimes keep a few adventurers as—"
"Hey, hey, let's not go there!"
"Still, adventurers must make a lot of money, right?"
Their chatter faded as they walked further away.
Enri, still standing at the field's edge, felt a slight warmth creep onto her cheeks.
"A black-haired young man?"
She did remember hearing about him. In a small village like theirs, any newcomer was the talk of the town.
She had even tried to catch a glimpse of him that night, peeking out through her window.
But it had been too dark.
She hadn't seen his face at all.
"Adventurers must be incredibly strong…"
The thought flickered in her mind before she quickly shook it away.
They were people from a different world—what did it matter?
After stacking the weeds she had gathered into a neat pile, Enri picked up a length of rope and secured them tightly.
Then, she turned around, bending her knees slightly as she hauled the bundle onto her back.
The weight was substantial, and the weeds piled high over her head, obscuring her vision.
But it didn't matter.
She had walked this path countless times—her feet knew the way.
The wheat field was on the village outskirts, and the distance back was short.
"I'll be home soon."
Just as she took a step forward—
"You can't see the road like that."
"Need some help?"
The sudden voice startled her.
It was gentle, yet unfamiliar.
Not someone from the village.
Before she could respond—
"Rar."
A low, guttural growl followed.
Some kind of beast.
Enri's body tensed.
Her vision was still blocked by the weeds on her back, making her already precarious situation feel even more dangerous.
A stranger. A beast.
Her breath hitched.
Startled, she instinctively tried to straighten up—
And in doing so, threw off her balance.
The heavy bundle of weeds shifted backward, pulling her center of gravity with it.
"Ah—!"
With a startled cry, Enri tumbled backward, her world flipping upside down.
She landed with a soft thud.
Fortunately, the thick pile of weeds cushioned her fall.
Bang!
A dull thud rang out.
"Woo..."
It sounded as if the beast had been kicked.
"Don't make such a fuss—you'll end up scaring people."
A calm, gentle voice followed.
Enri rubbed her shoulder, wincing slightly before raising her head.
Standing before her was a young man clad in a black robe. He didn't appear much older than herself, but what stood out the most was his black hair, striking against the dimming light.
His hair was slightly overgrown, reaching just past his ears, yet it wasn't unkempt. His expression carried an air of quiet apology as he looked at her.
Enri's shoulders trembled involuntarily. A strange chill crept down the back of her neck, but the sensation vanished as quickly as it had come—like a fleeting illusion.
Then, she saw it.
Beside the black-haired young man stood a beast—a monstrous hound with a menacing aura. Chains of bone coiled around its body, shifting as if alive. Its presence alone sent a shiver through her spine.
"A monster—!"
Enri's face went pale.
She had never seen a Barghest before, but she knew without a doubt that this was no ordinary beast.
"Relax. It won't hurt you."
The young man—Sakeer—stepped forward, his voice carrying a note of reassurance.
Enri hesitated, her heartbeat still unsteady. Yet, as she observed the creature more closely, she realized it wasn't acting aggressively.
It simply stood there, silent and obedient.
Her breath evened out.
"I... I'm sorry."
Her face flushed with embarrassment as she quickly scrambled to her feet. Her movements were hurried, flustered.
Now that she had calmed down, recognition struck her. The young man before her—he was the same traveler who had come to the village a month ago.
She hadn't seen his face back then, but the voice was unmistakable.
And as if that wasn't enough, the conversation she had overheard from the village women earlier that day came rushing back—their whispers, their teasing remarks.
Her cheeks burned even redder.
"I should be the one apologizing—I startled you."
Sakeer waved a hand dismissively, then turned his gaze toward the Barghest.
He gestured toward the pile of bundled weeds on the ground.
"Kuro."
The beast stirred.
With a low growl, the bone chains wrapped around its body shifted, extending outward. The tail of the chain curled around the rope binding the haystack—and with one swift motion, it tightened its grip, lifting the bundle effortlessly before placing it onto its back.
Enri's eyes widened in astonishment.
"That's amazing!"
But just as quickly, she came to her senses, her hands waving frantically.
"No, no—I can carry it myself!" She hesitated, glancing at the hound with concern. "Won't the weight be too much for it?"
After all, the pile of weeds was much larger than the creature itself.
From where she stood, it looked as if a walking haystack had suddenly come to life.
"Don't worry about it," Sakeer reassured her. "Consider it an apology for scaring you earlier."
He turned, already walking toward Carne Village.
"Besides, don't let its size fool you. No matter how you look at it, it's still a Magical Beast. Its endurance and physical strength are far superior to that of an average human."
Without waiting for her response, he gestured for the hound to follow, making his way down the familiar path.
Enri remained frozen for a moment, hesitating as her fingers nervously fidgeted with the hem of her clothes.
Then, hurriedly, she followed after him.
However—
She didn't walk beside Sakeer.
Instead, she kept a few steps behind, lowering her gaze to the ground as she trailed after him.
Sakeer also noticed it.
The faint sound of footsteps behind him made it clear—Enri was following.
His eyes flickered with thought.
The last time he had come to Carne Village, he had barely stayed for a single night, leaving at dawn to continue his journey.
He hadn't met Enri then.
And yet, now—he had run into her.
Her younger self.
Who would have thought?
This simple village girl—from a remote settlement on the border—would one day rise to the top of the world.
The General.
Or, as history would later remember her—The Bloody General.
Sakeer knew the story well.
The first time Enri had blown the "Goblin General's Horn," she had merely summoned an ordinary goblin squad.
But the second time—
She had triggered its hidden effect, summoning an army of 5,000 goblins in an instant.
That force was divided into eight legions, each led by a heroic-level commander (≥Lv29).
And among them—
The thirteen elite guards of the General's personal retinue, all averaging Lv43, known collectively as the Thirteen Redcap.
There was even a Goblin Division Commander in charge of an entire legion—at Lv51.
With that army at her command, Enri had gained the power to overthrow entire nations if she so desired.
Even Sakeer had been envious of such a force.
And that wasn't all.
Enri had later awakened the "General" and "Commander" professions entirely on her own—an undeniable testament to her strategic genius and natural leadership.
As he walked, Sakeer's thoughts shifted.
"Four years may not seem like much… but it's enough time to make preparations."
His strength had grown considerably.
Before, he had been weak—vulnerable.
Now?
Only adventurer teams at Mithril Rank or higher could pose a serious threat to him.
Or perhaps...
The Strongest Warrior of the Kingdom—a true master-level opponent.
But heroes?
That was a different level entirely.
(End of Chapter)