Selvara wiped blood from her cheek with the back of her hand. The forest still smelled of iron and smoke. Her body ached, but her voice remained steady.
"We should report to the village," she said at last.
Angela exhaled through her nose, dragging her blade across the grass to clean it. For a moment, she looked like she wanted to argue, but instead she gave a half-shrug. "Tch. Fine. I don't like leaving it behind unfinished, but you're right."
Her crimson eyes drifted back to the ork corpses. She stomped toward the larger one, knelt, and seized its head by the tusks. With one clean stroke of her greatsword, she severed it from the body. Blood poured out, steaming in the night air. She did the same with the second ork.
Angela slung both heads into a rough sack, the grotesque shapes bulging against the fabric. She glanced at Selvara. "Proof is better than words."
Selvara's lips twitched faintly, almost a smile. "Practical."
Together, they left the battlefield behind.
---
The village gates loomed ahead. Guards patrolled the palisade, their torches swaying in the dark. When they spotted Selvara and Angela, the men froze.
One leaned forward, blinking as the sack Angela carried dripped red. "Is… is that---?"
"Orc heads," Angela said bluntly, her voice carrying. "Open the gate."
The guards scrambled, chains clanking as the gate creaked open. Selvara stepped inside first, silent as shadow. Angela followed, the sack dripping a trail of blood across the dirt road. Villagers peered from doorways, their whispers spreading fast.
Inside the captain's office, lanterns flickered. Captain Roderick stood in heated discussion with the village chief, an older man with gray hair tied back in a knot. Their words cut short the moment the door opened.
Roderick's eyes widened. He shot up from his chair. "You're alive."
Angela dropped the sack onto the table with a wet thud. She reached in and rolled one of the orc heads onto the wood. Its yellow eyes stared glassy at the ceiling.
Selvara stepped forward, voice calm, almost detached. "The realm break is close to completion. We confirmed orcs among the creatures pouring through."
The chief's hands trembled as he pushed away from the table. "Saints preserve us…" He looked between the two women, awe and fear mixing in his gaze. "You fought them and won."
Angela folded her arms, her crimson hair still matted with blood. "Barely. They're stronger than anything your men can handle. If a group of orcs come, this village won't stand."
The chief drew a slow breath, then bowed deeply. "Thank you. Truly. Without you, we would already be ashes." He straightened, eyes hardening with decision. "You will be rewarded. Eight hundred gold."
The room froze.
Captain Roderick's jaw dropped. "Chief, that's nearly thirty percent of our treasury!"
The chief raised a hand, silencing him. "Quiet, Roderick. These mercenaries risked their lives to protect us when no one else could. They deserve it."
Angela arched an eyebrow, but said nothing. Selvara only tilted her head slightly, observing the exchange.
Roderick clenched his fists. "With all respect, Chief, if we empty the treasury now, what will we have left for the coming winter? For reinforcements? For the Viscount's levy?"
The chief's tone sharpened. "I said enough. Collect the gold."
Roderick's face tightened. For a moment, it looked as if he would continue arguing, but under the weight of the chief's glare, he exhaled hard and left the room.
The silence stretched. The chief sank back into his chair, staring at the ork head. His voice softened. "Too many have died already in the past months. If not for the arrival of these mercenaries, we would all be corpses by dawn."
Minutes later, Roderick returned, a heavy pouch in hand. His expression was sour, his steps reluctant. He set the gold on the table, the clinking of coins loud in the quiet office.
"Eight hundred," he muttered.
Angela picked up the pouch, weighing it briefly before slinging it across her shoulder. She gave a curt nod. "Accepted."
Selvara inclined her head slightly. "Our thanks."
The chief straightened. "You've earned it."
Angela and Selvara turned to leave, but Roderick's voice stopped them at the door.
"Chief… why?"
The older man sighed. "Because you know as well as I do, Viscount Dell is coming with reinforcements. And when he arrives, he will move the villagers to his own lands, claim everything of value that is including our treasury. If we don't give it now, we'll lose it later, and without the goodwill of those who actually kept us alive."
Roderick's eyes darkened. "You gave away that many..."
The chief's reply was weary, almost bitter. "I gave away that many to save what little chance we still have. If I had given all of it, viscount Dell would have our heads for it. This way, at least, the people might survive long enough to start again on the land of the viscount."
Roderick lowered his head. "And if the Viscount's promise is hollow?"
The chief's eyes closed briefly. "Then we pray it isn't."
---
The inn was quiet when Angela and Selvara pushed open the door to their shared room. A faint grunting sound filled the air.
Loid was on the floor, sweat dripping as he pushed himself through another set of push-ups.
When he saw them, his eyes widened. "Angela! Selvara!" He scrambled to his feet, chest heaving. "You're back."
Selvara allowed herself the faintest of smiles. "Good to be back."
Angela unslung the pouch of gold and tossed it onto the bed. The weight made the mattress dip.
Loid blinked, then hurried over, untying the strings. His eyes nearly popped at the glittering coins inside. "This much?" He quickly pulled up his UI, checking. His jaw dropped again. "Eight hundred…"
Angela smirked faintly. "Thank the chief. He gave a lot from the treasury for us."
Selvara sat down, stretching her legs. "It won't last long, but it's enough for now."
Loid's excitement softened as he looked at them, Selvara's cuts still bleeding faintly, Angela's armor dented and stained. He swallowed. "I'm just glad you're both safe."
Angela leaned back against the wall, letting her greatsword rest beside her. She gave him a long look. "That ork would have split me in half if not for the level-up. Five in strength gave me just enough strength to break him before he broke me."
Loid nodded quickly. "Anything to keep you alive."
For the first time that night, his smile seemed genuine. He opened the UI window again, the soft glow lighting his face. "So… with our reputation points at eight hundred now, I'm guessing Selvara wants a sword. And Angela, you've been muttering about passives since day one."
Angela smirked. "You listen."
Selvara's silver eyes gleamed faintly. "A blade that very sharp and won't break so easily. That would be good."
Loid clapped his hands together, tension melting into excitement. "Then let's get started. Time to open the shop."
The air shimmered as the UI expanded, golden letters spreading across the dim inn room.
Angela and Selvara leaned in, eyes narrowing with anticipation.