Everyone could tell how dire the situation in Hanmar had become, thanks to reports from the city and hunters. Fan had tried to seek help from both hunters and guilds, hoping someone would take on the task of eliminating the monsters that plagued the village. But no one accepted the request—simply because the commission was too low.
Hunters risked their lives every day. Even a single misstep could mean death. For them, it wasn't worth taking a job that offered little reward. If they were going to face danger, it had to be worth it.
Fan couldn't blame them. If he were in their shoes, he would have done the same. Yet, despite the reports, Kalin still asked questions about the village's current state.
Don't tell me he came all the way here without knowing our situation, Fan thought. But then again, this was the young man sitting in front of him—a known troublemaker who rarely cared about anyone else.
In the end, Fan laid out the full story.
At first, the village had faced attacks from goblins and wolves. The number of monsters wasn't small—on most nights, thirty to fifty creatures descended upon them.
Yet these monsters, while dangerous, were manageable. With careful planning, traps set around the village, and coordinated defense, the villagers could survive without any casualties. In fact, they even found a way to turn their battles into a small source of income: they collected goblin ears and wolf fangs to sell, helping them sustain their needs during these nightly assaults.
It wouldn't have been a problem if only goblins or wolves were attacking—the villagers had learned to exploit the monsters' weaknesses to their advantage.
For about a week, the attacks stopped completely. The villagers celebrated, thinking they had finally won the battle. They knew the monsters could still return, but they hoped the danger had lessened.
Night fell.
A group of villagers ventured into the forest to hunt for food. Only one returned.
"Help! Help! Someone, please!"
The lone hunter screamed at the top of his lungs, blood covering his clothes, his face pale with terror. He ran toward the village, collapsing to the ground as the guard on duty rushed to his side.
"What happened? Where are the others?" the guard demanded, glancing down the path the hunter had come from. A human-shaped figure was advancing from the shadows.
"Close the gate! Everyone inside!" the hunter gasped, his face pale as he remembered the gruesome deaths of his companions.
"The other hunters are on their way back," the guard replied, pointing to the approaching figure.
"I'll explain later. Just listen to me first!" the hunter urged, forcing himself upright.
The guard hesitated but obeyed. If these were the returning hunters, he could reopen the gate later.
Three minutes passed. The creature reached the gate, smashing against it with unnatural strength. Behind it came a chorus of growls, low and aggressive.
The hunter explained everything. While hunting, they had encountered both undead humans and monstrous beasts—creatures that didn't feel pain and charged relentlessly, ignoring swords and axes as if they were nothing.
Fan relayed the story to Kalin, explaining how the attack had begun and the desperate situation the village now faced. These undead weren't just dangerous—they were relentless, immune to physical attacks that would fell ordinary monsters.
As Kalin suspected, the undead attacks had started only three weeks ago. According to the story, the main hero would arrive next month, but with Kalin intervening, the timeline had shifted. The village, nearly destroyed, was in critical need of help, and he had arrived just in time.
Supplies were another major concern. Fan estimated that their limited food would only last three to four days.
"Damn," Kalin muttered under his breath. "I expected trouble, but it's worse than I thought. The food we brought won't last."
Supplies were crucial—not just for survival, but to help the villagers recover from exhaustion. Crops had been destroyed, and the soil was too dry to grow vegetables.
Hanmar faced three major problems: limited supplies, relentless monsters, and too few able-bodied villagers. Most were either too old or too young to fight. Kalin calculated that only eight to ten people could participate in the battle, excluding five already injured.
Kalin pressed his hand to his chin, knowing he needed to act quickly. If he didn't, the village would be wiped out. According to the story, the village would survive for a month until the main hero arrived—but that was before he intervened. Now, everything could change.
Fan, sensing the young man's determination, tried one last time to convince him to leave. "Young master, I'm telling you all this not because I want to keep you here. Our life is hard, and this place… it's not suitable for someone like you."
Kalin shook his head. "I can't leave unless my father orders me to. But don't worry—I'll help fix these problems." With that, he left the house to survey the surroundings.
Fan followed, reluctantly guiding him to a small house where Kalin could stay. The building was modest, old, and dusty, but it would serve for the time being.
"Sir Kalin, this is all I can offer. Please forgive its condition," Fan said, bowing slightly.
"That's fine," Kalin replied, pushing open the wooden door. Inside, the house was cramped but had two rooms—enough for him and Herin. He looked at her, dust coating everything. "Clean this place. I'll check the village."
Herin nodded immediately. "Understood, young master."
Kalin spent the next several minutes walking through the village, assessing the situation. Weapons were damaged, villagers exhausted. But he began forming a plan to combat the undead. Based on the story, the main hero had saved the village by defeating the witch controlling the undead. Until the witch was eliminated, the attacks would never cease.
"Easier said than done," he muttered, aware that his current strength might not be enough to face the monsters—or the witch herself.
"I have to do this—"
Before he could finish, a screen suddenly materialized in front of him, glowing with bold letters:
[Quest Appeared!]