CHAPTER 223: CHAPTER 222: PEACE AMONG MONSTERS

The soldiers stiffened at once. Hands went to sword hilts and spears lowered instinctively. Even Liraeth’s posture sharpened, her eyes narrowing as she measured the threat.

But Lumberling lifted a hand. "Stand down."

Before anyone could question him, the beautiful girl leapt from the wolf in a blur and practically threw herself at him.

"Brother! You’re back!" Jen’s bright smile lit up her face as she wrapped her arms around him.

Lumberling chuckled, patting her head gently. "You’re growing fast," he said, taking a step back to look at her properly. Then he noticed her aura. His brows lifted. "You’re already a Knight Page?"

’She really is talented,’ he thought, pride swelling in his chest.

Jen giggled, puffing her chest out. "Hehe, I’ve been working hard, haven’t I?"

"You have," Lumberling agreed, his voice warm. A smile tugged at his lips as he reached out to ruffle her hair again.

His gaze shifted to the great wolf at her side. "Lunira," he greeted softly.

The beast lowered its head with surprising gentleness, tail wagging like an oversized hound as it pressed forward to meet his hand. Lumberling stroked its thick fur, feeling the strength coiled beneath.

’She hasn’t evolved yet, but she’s grown,’ he thought, running his hand along her head. ’I should give her some essence too, to give her another push.’

Satisfied, he let his hand fall and glanced back at the others. "Come on. Let’s head inside," he said. "I want to see how everyone else is doing."

Liraeth finally eased her grip on her weapon, watching the tender reunion with quiet surprise. She hadn’t expected this side of him, the way his hard edges softened when the girl called him "brother," or how naturally he handled the wolf like it was part of his family.

Her lips curved in the faintest of smiles.

Together with Liraeth’s small group, Lumberling led the way toward the village. The closer they came, the clearer its silhouette grew, walls of stone standing tall, higher than before, with sturdy watchtowers perched at the corners.

"This..." Liraeth’s voice broke the silence, soft yet tinged with surprise. "This is more of a fortress than a small village."

"It’s chaotic nowadays," Lumberling replied with a shrug. "We had to build up."

"But..." her brow furrowed as she studied the defenses. "I thought it would be a monster village."

Lumberling cast her a sidelong glance, lips quirking. "Well, sorry for not meeting your expectations."

Jen tugged at his sleeve, lowering her voice as her curious eyes darted toward Liraeth.

"Brother, who is that beautiful woman? If sister elves find out you brought a woman home, they’ll be angry."

Lumberling’s brow twitched. That was the second time he’d heard something like that from different persons.

"They won’t," he simple said. "And don’t think about such things. You’re still too young."

Jen puffed her cheeks and crossed her arms, clearly not convinced.

By then, the massive gate came into view, no longer wooden, but iron-bound, towering with a presence that rivaled any city’s entrance. As it creaked open, Liraeth’s eyes widened.

The moment they stepped inside, she let out a soft gasp.

’This... this couldn’t be a monster village.’

The streets stretched wide and neat, lined with tall houses of stone and wood. Their design carried an almost nostalgic charm, something Lumberling thought resembled neighborhoods from the 90s of his old world.

Goblins and kobolds bustled about, clothed properly in tunics, robes, and leather garb. They carried baskets, traded goods, or argued loudly at stalls, yet it all felt startlingly human. Among them, Liraeth also spotted actual humans, weaving through the crowd as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Whenever the villagers caught sight of their group, they paused, bowing their heads respectfully. No, bowing to him.

Liraeth stole a glance at Lumberling. To these people, he wasn’t just a man walking through the streets. He was someone more.

She turned her eyes back to the crowd, listening to the laughter, the noise, the simple life playing out before her. Compared to the human cities she knew, weighed down by war and fear, this place felt... alive.

She found herself wondering if she had been wrong all along.

"It’s peaceful in here," Liraeth said softly, her voice carrying a note of surprise.

.....

From the side, a towering gnoll in heavy armor approached, his presence casting a shadow across the courtyard. Behind him trailed a mix of kobold and goblin soldiers, their discipline obvious in the way they moved together.

Liraeth’s soldiers stiffened at once, hands tightening on their weapons, and fear flickered in their eyes.

But then, the gnoll stopped, dropping to one knee, and with a single, sharp clack of boots and armor, his soldiers mirrored him perfectly, heads lowered in unison.

The air seemed to hum with disciplined energy. Lumberling’s eyes flicked across them, noting the precision that came from relentless training and loyalty.

"I greet the Lord." Grokk spoke.

"You’ve reached the peak of your stage," Lumberling said, studying him with a nod of approval. "Good job."

Grokk’s ears twitched, though his head remained bowed. "Still, I can’t keep up with you, my Lord." He straightened, glancing back at the soldiers behind him. "Besides the original forty-nine guards, new blood has joined. I’ve been training and hunting with them."

"Good." Lumberling’s tone shifted to command. "We’ll talk more about it later. For now, accompany our guest and show them their rooms."

Grokk saluted crisply. At his signal, the mixed troop rose and moved to guide the human soldiers, who remained visibly uneasy. But Liraeth lifted a hand, steadying them with a calm nod, and they reluctantly followed.

She watched Grokk’s back for a moment, then turned to Lumberling. "Is that your soldier? He looks strong."

"There are others like Uncle Grokk at the second base," Jen piped up brightly before Lumberling could answer. "Especially the large spider."

Liraeth’s brow arched. "Really? I thought he only had his captains and that strong goblin."

"Oh, you mean Skitz?" Jen grinned. "He’s strong, yes..."