By the time everyone finished preparations, it was already dark out…… I’m worried that the enemy might launch an attack under the cover of darkness, or maybe they found out that their cursed magic circle was ruined and the village has already been attacked. I sure hope not.
The Ryujin village might be feeling uneasy since me and Baron haven’t come back yet.
I asked Bella to send someone from the village ahead and check how the other village is doing.

However, if we bring every fighter here back to the Ryujin village with us, then this village would be left unguarded if it gets attacked as well.
We talked it out with Bella and a few of the higher-ups in the village that only half of the 200 residents will come to our aid and the remaining half, including non-fighters, will evacuate to safety until everything is settled.
The evacuation route was set up in advance, so if ever the enemy will attack this village, it wouldn’t matter if no one is here to begin with.

We now begin our march back to the Ryujin village along with reinforcements as we follow the river downstream.
…… Won’t the enemy just cower once they see the number of fighters on our side, while also led by me?

Bella said there are approximately 300 people in the Ryujin village.
Among them, only 200 can fight.
So, combined with the 100 fighters I’m bringing with me, we’ll have a force of 300 men in total.

Many were afflicted by the cursed water in the river, but…… now that I’ve removed the source, their conditions shouldn’t get any worse, I presume.
And, since convincing the anti-Ryujin village to help us didn’t force me to waste any MP, it should be fully recovered by the time we get back.
I’ll use〖High Rest〗and〖Holy〗to fully heal a few more fighters who may still be poisoned.

Besides, I’ll be joining the battle too.
I’ll be up against humans this time, I should be able to handle them without too much trouble.
Back when I was still an Evil Plague Dragon, I could hold my ground against multiple humans.
But as an Ouroboros, I’m pretty sure I’m capable of long-term battles lasting a whole day now.

That’s why I asked Bella to tell the Lithuvar Tribe to buy me time instead of actually fighting.
If I drive them away and circle around them repeatedly, we can end the battle by losing their will to fight.

As I was busy thinking to myself, Partner is restlessly shaking her jaw.
I look at her to see if something’s wrong, but even her eyes are moving restlessly.
Did she sense another strange presence before I did again or……

Hey Partner, if something’s bothering you, you can talk to me about it.

【”…… I-It’s not important”】

That was a short answer coming from Partner.
She then tries to consciously restrain her eyes from moving restlessly.
You know doing that will make me more worried about you.

M-Maybe you should just tell me about it……

【”…… N-Nothing, it’s just that…… everyone behind us is so tense”】

Tense? I look behind us to see what Partner meant.
She’s right, everyone is looking nervous and walking with anxious expressions.
Those who’re dragging the wagon of medicines and those who’re equipped with spears. They’re all on edge. …… I get why Partner’s feeling that way now. Knowing that they’re tense is also making me tense.
Let’s hope the Ryujin village won’t freak out after seeing us.

With the Ryujin village on sight, I use〖Whistle〗…… to call them out instead of a roar.
The whistle sound reverberated throughout the area.

Someone…… should’ve heard it.
It’s impolite to wake the sick in the middle of the night, but we’re still in an emergency.
We can’t afford to waste any more time.

Fyuiiiーーーii!
A second whistle came.

It wasn’t me who whistled, it was Partner.
Partner looks smug and satisfied after whistling loudly.
So, you just wanted to try it out?! Well, not that I mind.

Answering our whistle call, the Ryujin village whistle us back.
Three groups, each group containing five warriors, come out of the village gate and approach us in three different directions.

One of them is holding a hollowed bone.
That’s probably what they used to whistle us back.
Maybe it’s to inform the villagers that something’s approaching their village?

“W-What’s all this about…… R-Ryujin-sama, what is the meaning of this?”

One of them asks in a confused and also fearful tone while pointing his spear at Bella, but Partner growls at him and he frightfully puts his spear away.

To calm down the tense atmosphere, Baron jumps off my back and lands on his two feet.

“…… Please, rest assured. They came to help us in our time of crisis. Ryujin-sama brought them here himself. For now, our disputes with them are ceased.”

“R-Ryujin-sama brought them here……?!”

The men from the Ryujin village all glance each other first before hesitantly putting away their spears.

“We brought antidotes and medicinal herbs as well. Notify the whole village!”

Heeding Baron’s call, most of the men who came to us went back to the village and informed everyone.
After some time, we finally got permission to enter the village as well as the anti-Ryujin group accompanying me.

I was worried there for a while…… but everything still worked out in the end.
It’s probably because they have no choice in their current situation.
The relationship between the Ryujin village and the antiRyujin village might be a bit awkward, but compared to the bigger problem at hand, they’re left to rely on each other’s help now.

It might’ve been thoughtless of me…… but, with the lack of a shrine maiden in this village, and the fact that the anti-Ryujin village has a shrine maiden of their own is an important key factor of why I’m doing this.
I may be going against the rules set out by the shrine maidens by doing this.
Sorry, Hibi.
But, I’m doing this to protect the Lithuvar Tribe.

Entering the village, they guided Bella to the town hall.
Probably to discuss about plannings and what they should in the future.

In the meantime, I decided to circle around the village with the rest of the anti-Ryujin group.
Although the anti-Ryujin group brought some medicine with them, we’ll let Partner do the main healing for now, and having them tag along with me will let me deal with any scuffles that may start when residents from both villages meet.
And so, we once again roam around the village with Partner using〖High Rest〗, fully healing as many fighters as we can.

When the battle starts, it would be nice if I could get the first attack and take down their leader in one shot to scare them into retreating.

But, in the case that I’m still looking for the enemy’s leader and the enemy manages to raid the village while I’m not there, that’s not gonna end well.
That’s why I’ll be following whatever plan the Lithuvar Tribe can think of after their meeting.
They might think up of a better plan than mine.

However, Bella and the rest inside the town hall aren’t coming out yet.
They should hurry up. We don’t know when the enemy will attack.
I want Bella to join me in patrolling around the perimeter for any signs of the enemy.

Then, I overhead voices talking as we pass by the town hall.
I can’t make up what they’re saying inside though so I put my ear closer.
I got impatient and I took a peek in the window instead.

Inside are three people, most likely the head of each group, sitting on a chair, facing each other over a long table, and there are at least five people in each group.
The other side is kinda hesitant and careful of what to say and how they act.
…… This is no time to still be antagonizing over each other, damn it.

Bella and Baron were mostly the ones talking and explaining stuff.
…… Though, Baron is standing on the sides with his large spear on hand, so you could say he’s acting as an escort while explaining to them.

Suddenly, an old woman sitting in the Ryujin tribe’s side turns to the window and was surprised to see me.
S-Sorry…… I just couldn’t stay still.
I quickly walk away.

==========================

Author’s Note:【Modified (2016/12/14)】

Sorry, sorry.

In “296. The Truth About the Dragon God”, when the shrine maiden presented the sacrificial plan nine years ago, it was pointed out that the estimated age of Hibi at that time would be around eight years old, but that’s impossible.

Judging that it was certainly impossible, we changed the word from “Hibi gave instructions” to “The shrine maiden at that time gave instructions”.