163 Kagat Village: The Memories of His Past!

Fortunately, he had long since sent a message to everyone to gather up at the plain and stay together. With the presence of the Treants and the NPCs, he was assured that they won't obtain any further loss, even if they would face an unlimited number of players or monsters once again.

Well... There was one exception. It was Arvedar!

Ever since everyone had started communicating with each other, they had not received a single reply from Arvedar. His whereabouts were unknown. And even Pedro had no idea about it. 

With his two friends dead and was not in the game, while Yojiro was asleep, there was no one who could tell where Arvedar could possibly be located. Thus, Mathew did not bother much about Arvedar and could only hope that he was still alive.

"Arvedar?" Mathew said deep inside. Then, he frowned and continued, "Is he dead or... Is he in his transformation form--unable to revert back to his human form even for just a couple of minutes? Whatever the case... I'll wait for his response. But if he did not reply to my messages after an hour... I'll inform expert bro about this matter!"

~~~~~~~~~~

Back at the Kagat Village, Pedro can't help but force out a smile as the wind breeze past him--carrying the stinky smell of blood. That said, he had no choice but to loot the items and the inventory bags of the dead bodies of the leaders of the United Asian Force, that was lined up just outside the Village Chief's office.

"Why does it seems like I am getting used to this bloody environment?" He chuckled deep inside. Then, he glanced to the other dead bodies scattered everywhere, making him force a smile, and said, "Looting should be fun, especially after a hard-fought battle. But... Why am I feeling troubled right now, than earlier?"

Pedro could only flick his tongue and drag his exhausted body to pick up the inventory bag and items--mostly newbie swords, that are scattered all over the place. Minutes passed by, and monsters soon arrived in the vicinity of Kagat Village. 

That said, Pedro did not need to transform into his dragon form and roast them by himself.

Like what Mathew had encountered, the monsters that came from the north and east of the Kagat Village are very few. Thus, Sabrina was enough to handle the monsters heading towards them--be it the excess monsters from the east, the north, or the south. 

She was like a 'surveillance drone' flying high up in the sky and can see every single movement of her targets as well as their weakest areas. All she needed to do was to mentally control her pen-knives to hit every single one of them.

Hence, Pedro did not need to intervene and he could just simply focus on looting items and inventory bags. 

However, while doing so, he did not dare lower his guard. He kept his dark scales on, even on his face. While his pen-knife kept levitating around him, ready to pierce through any targets that may harm him in any way.

"How troublesome..." He grumbled. "If only Faunia was here, all of these could have been collected in less than a minute! It seems like what Grandma once said was true. That you would only appreciate one's importance when they are gone."

He took a deep breath as he placed his hands to his waist--stretching his hips after bending forward several times to pick up loots. Then, he chuckled, "I could only pray... for her fast recovery."

Soon, he arrived in front of a house with a torn door and broken windows. He can't help but halt on gathering the loots and simply stared towards the desolated structure--remembering how it looked like when he first saw it. 

"The Village Shop..." He murmured as he felt a tinge of pain in his heart. 

He reminisced himself, rushing into the said establishment to buy what he could before going to the first quest--the village story quest. Then, he slowly entered the shop, only to see it desolated.

He slowly caressed the top of the counter and remembered the kind and accomodating saleslady of the shop. Then, he took a deep breath--trying to soothe the painful feeling in his heart and said, "I won't forget... The potions and the potion injector that you sold to me... They were the reason why I survived the first quest I got!"

"Not only that..." He said in a sad voice, seemingly he was holding back himself from crying. "I won't forget... That because of you... and this little shop... No! Because of this little village... I was able to meet Madame Soledad and obtain what I currently have!"

"Though... It was just but a simple coincidence... I won't forget!" He said. Then, he sighed heavily once again--releasing all the pain in his heart, and said, "Wherever you are... Rest assured... I'll continue what you started. I'll make this shop, one of the most successful and busy shops in Aquari Continent!" 

He tapped the counter once again, before leaving the shop and returning to collecting his loots. While doing so, he can't help but have a heavy feeling after reminiscing the past and remembering the deceased NPCs. 

"It seems like I have a lot of work to be done... But... Am I just getting too emotional over such trivial matters?" He murmured to himself. Then, he shook his head and said, "Nah... That's just probably just who I am. Besides... There's nothing wrong in helping and protecting NPCs--like what Madame Soledad had wished, and There's nothing wrong in reviving this shop... this village. In fact... I would even gain more things in doing so."

With that in mind, Pedro was fired up. He collected the loots at a faster rate, only stopping when the moon was up. 

He went in front of the Village Chief's office and cleared the dead bodies out--by storing them into an inventory bag. Then, he piled up woods from the rubble and made a campfire.

As the flame started to become stronger, he went to a nearby house to take out several chairs and a table and placed them around the campfire. Then, using a couple more of woods, he started roasting Flocoloso Birds for their dinner.

Inside the Village Chief's office, Captain Aks' attention was caught by Pedro's seemingly campfire. Thus, Captain Aks can't help but check on the resting Antonio before going out of the office. 

The door opened, making Pedro glance towards its origin only to see Captain Aks. Then, he simply returned his gaze back to the bird he was roasting and said, coldly, "It's not yet cooked."

Captain Aks simply forced out a smile and said, "Don't mind me... I am not that hungry."

Captain Aks went to one of the four seats and sat on it. He leaned forward with his hands rested on top of his thighs while staring at the campfire.

Pedro could not help but to stole a couple of glances towards him and see the sad and hopeless eyes of Captain Aks. Then, he said, "What's your plan?"

Pedro's question made Captain Aks glance towards him and ask, "What do you mean?"

Pedro simply stole a glance in response and said, "There's only the two of you... I mean... I could only help protect the village and rebuild it. But... After that... The village would be left under you and the village chief. I can't stay here for a long time... I have other villages and Kingdoms to also help and visit."

After hearing Pedro's side, Captain Aks glanced back towards the campfire and said, "To be honest... I wanted to rebuild this village. To make it an even stronger and safer fortress than before. But... Like what you just said... In the end... It would just be Antonio and me. With the increase in the number of monsters, I doubt that the people from the east, the north, and the south would travel as far as the west to conduct trades or migrate."

"Two men in a village... This would be difficult, even for the two of you." Pedro said.

"Well..."

"Why don't you guys consider joining our fleet?" Pedro said, glancing towards Captain Aks. "I mean... We are currently short of hands in our fleet. And... We have a common objective."

At this moment, the door of the Village Chief's office opened--interrupting Pedro, and Antonio came out with his hands leaning towards the door, and said, "To help those who are in need."

Pedro and Captain Aks glanced towards him in astonishment. That said, Captain Aks stood and immediately approached Antonio, saying, "Brother... Your body is still weak! Please go back inside and take some more res--"

"I'm fine!" Antonio waved an arm towards Captain Aks--hindering him from assisting the middle-aged man from standing properly. Then, Antonio glanced towards Pedro and said, "It's been a while young man! Where's Soledad? Did she send you here?"

Pedro simply averted his gaze--retaining his cold demeanor. Deep inside, he always feels sad whenever he remembers Madame Soledad and his previous seniors in the Karakoa fleet. That said, he could only take a deep breath after a few seconds, knowing that being asked about Madame Soledad was inevitable because he was her apprentice in the first place.

"She is having her well deserved rest." He simply said.