Chapter 1290

Whether Ruby would confirm or deny Miki’s speculation, an answer never came. That’s because the door burst open a few moments later, and a scout from the adventuring guild popped his head in.

“The Osterians identified a group of several hundred animalkin approaching Chalm!” He declared.

“Another attack?” the guild master cursed.

“Deek, you should resolve this immediately!” Ruby declared, and when we all looked at her, she blushed. “What? It’s important!”

Well, she wasn’t wrong. Did the animalkin decide to invade? A group of several hundred, were they underestimating us? In all honesty, if those few hundred were all knights or something of equal ability and power, there was a time not too long ago where it would have been enough to wipe out Chalm. My army could only grow so fast, and besides the Osterians, they were only a few hundred strong and only had been training a few months. To be honest, our strongest had always been my slaves and the generals, most of which were absent right now.

“Mm!” She nodded.

I could see a look of worry in her eyes. She felt responsible for this group coming to us. If it didn’t have anything to do with Lady Death, then I’d be completely surprised. I lifted my hand and opened a portal that was a few hundred yards in front of these enemies, and then with Miki on my arm, I stepped through.

When I reached the other side, I did not see what I expected. The thing I saw was far worse than I would have predicted. It was a group of people I had hoped to never see again in my life. These were a rag-tag group, dirty, sick, and dying. They looked like they had been on a pretty bad journey the last few days, and had crossed the wilderness on foot, braving many potential attacks. I didn’t know why they had bothered though.

A man stepped forward, taking off his hat and pressing it to his chest, his fox ears lowered, his tail slouched. “Lord Deek...”

I didn’t say anything, but Miki took a step forward in front of me. “Hello, Father.”