Another week had passed since the incident in the treasury.
Aodh finished repairing the decorative sword given to him by Verc and handed it back to him. The sword is now called [Golden].
It was a piece of craftsmanship that breathed new life into the old, worn steel. The blade, once cracked and dull, had been polished until it shone like a mirror, and the golden hilt had been buffed to a brilliant, eye-catching luster. It sat in its scabbard with a weight and balance that felt intentional and grand.
Verc gave the name, he didn’t think much about it, obviously.
It was just a name, a label for the object that had started his journey. He hang it in the meeting room.
Also, he requested some adjustment from Aodh for his new weapon, which he now called [Moon Blade].
He just asked the blade to be a bit more longer like [Golden].
Aodh had spent two days in the forge, heating the metal, folding it, and re-tempering the edge until it reached the exact specifications Verc demanded. The reach of the blade was now perfectly aligned with his arm span, giving him that extra bit of distance he needed during high-speed exchanges.
And after that was done, Verc became even more glad that he picked the knight commander’s sword as his new weapon.
The weight distribution was perfect. When he held it, the balance point was exactly where his grip met the hilt. It didn’t feel heavy, nor did it feel flimsy. It felt like an extension of his own physical body.
S L A S H--!
The sound of the blade cutting through the air was sharp and clean, a testament to the quality of the sharpening.
Verc just finished training, making himself fully familiarized with his new sword. He had also lifted his restriction of not training with [Mana Circulation].
He had spent the last several hours pushing his mana through his body in cycles, letting it flow into the blade, testing the conductivity of the steel. The [Moon Blade] handled his energy output without a single shudder. It was a perfect vessel for his current power.
"Fuuuuh~"
Verc let out a tired, but satisfied sigh. The steam of his breath dissipated into the cool morning air of his training chamber.
He looked outside his window and saw the sun beginning to rise. The sky was painted in hues of soft orange.
For a moment, he wondered what’s happening outside the forest. The outside world was a mystery for him and everyone else, the curiosity was starting to gnaw at him.
Then, he remembered the three humans in his territory; Pwyll, Bernia, and Nara.
The three of them had fit in quite well in this village full of monster races, they even became important members of the community.
Bernia raised the average intelligence of the village with her teaching.
Pwyll made the orcs and other fighters stronger with techniques that wouldn’t just rely on their raw strength.
He had introduced footwork drills and defensive stances that allowed the physically larger monsters to save their stamina and fight with greater efficiency. He taught them how to fight not just as berserkers, but as soldiers.
And Nara—she was doing very well handling all the books in the library, she’s taking care of Onyx and the other animals as well.
The library was a pristine archive under her watch. She knew where every book was kept, and her gentle nature had made her a favorite among the others that visits the library.
Anyway, remembering these three, an idea entered Verc’s head—
"I can probably send them to the human village along with the kids to check on news and buy a lot of things we could use."
The realization hit him with clarity.
"They’re actually humans so they would do better jobs than everyone else in infiltrating cities."
He mumbled to himself.
They could blend in, walk through the gates, and gather information without drawing a single suspicious glance.
He took a mental note to do that later on.
"Anyway, it’s time to eat."
Verc said, sheathing his sword back in its scabbard.
The metal clicked as it settled into place. He turned away from the window, feeling the hunger in his stomach finally demand his attention.
*****
The population in Verc’s territory rose a bit—some of the orcs and gnoll birthed babies during the past week.
The village had been filled with the high-pitched cries of newborns, a sound that brought a strange warmth to the usually rough atmosphere of the monster village.
They were pregnant already way back before they even came under Verc.
It was a sign of the changing times. The village was no longer just a place to hide; it was becoming a place to live, to raise families, and to build a future.
Also, two women from the dwarves and two as well from the dark elves became pregnant too.
The news had spread quickly, lifting the spirits of the entire population. It gave everyone a renewed sense of purpose. They weren’t just fighting to survive anymore; they were fighting for the next generation.
Just like with humans, they’re expected to give birth in nine months.
Verc congratulated them himself after hearing that news, then as he was walking around the village in his free time, and as he looked down on it from his room at the fifth floor... He noticed that the village was still a bit small even though they were already expanding slowly.
The huts and storage buildings were clustered close together, and the pathing was beginning to feel cramped.
And he also realized that by time—the population of his village will keep increasing.
So with that in mind... he called the leaders once more for a short meeting.
... ... ...
... ... ...
... ... ...
The meeting room was quiet, save for the low murmur of the leaders as they gathered around the long table.
In the meeting, the present are Tatum, Jed, Grainne, Aodh, Kuma, Groo, Mamon, Pwyll, and Bernia as usual.
The atmosphere was professional, each of them waiting for Verc to speak.
Verc asked them about reports of what’s happening in their tasks, and they all said everything is going normally, nothing good, but nothing bad too.
Groo gave a brief update on the daily hunting, Mamon spoke about the patrol routes, and Grainne mentioned that the crops were healthy and growing at a steady pace.
Verc just nodded his head after hearing the summaries. It was good to know that things were stable.
Anyway, after that--
"I’m planning to expand our territory faster."
Verc wasted no time and declared that with a straight expression on his face.
"?!"
A ripple of surprise went through the room.
Mamon asked on how he plans to do that.
"My Lord, the current pace is safe and sustainable. If we push for a faster expansion, we might overextend our resources and labor force. Do you have a specific plan in mind?"
Verc looked at Mamon, his expression unreadable.
But before answering that--
"I need to know the landscape of the forest beyond our borders. Are there more tribes? And if so, how many?"
Verc asked him first if there are other monster tribes out there like them and Kuma’s.
Kuma spoke up first.
"Yes, My Lord. There are many. Small clans of goblins, wandering packs of wolf-kin, and various other groups scattered throughout the deep parts of the woods."
Mamon nodded in agreement.
"Some are territorial, others are nomadic. There is a lot of potential, but also a lot of conflict."
Groo added his input.
"They aren’t all friendly. Many of them are just trying to survive, and they will fight anyone who threatens their hunting grounds."
In short; Kuma, Mamon, and Groo confirmed that there are a lot more in the forest like them.
Verc absorbed the information, calculating the implications.
"Are there specific tribes that are dangerous?"
Then he asked them that... And the three of them mentioned two tribes—
The Centaur Tribe and the Minotaur Tribe.
"The Centaurs control the eastern part of the forest. They are fast, organized, and they fight with incredible coordination using bows and spears."
Mamon explained, his voice turning serious.
"And the Minotaurs..."
Groo cut in, his face darkening.
"They dwell in the rocky northern caves. They are physically overpowering. A single one of them can crush an armored orc with their bare hands. They do not talk, they do not negotiate. They just attack."
Verc frowned after hearing those names.
’Centaurs and Minotaurs.’
He knows those monsters back from his world as well, and if they’re the same as he know—then they will definitely be trouble.
The legends of such creatures were universal, and they were never ones to be underestimated.
’If they are as dangerous as the myths suggest, they won’t just bow down.’
He decided to think of ways how to deal with them if they became a problem to his goals.
Anyway, after that... Verc finally let the others know his plan. He looked at the others, then with a straigh face--
"I plan to fasten the expansion by conquering the whole forest."
He declared that.
"We will take it. Every path, every clearing, every resource. The [Cursed Forest] will be ours."
The words hung in the air, heavy and decisive.
"?!!!"
The others were surprised hearing that.
They looked at each other, some with wide eyes, others with bated breath. It was a massive undertaking, far greater than anything they had attempted before.
But they didn’t oppose Verc.
After all, they all had been waiting for him to say that!
A small smile appeared on their faces at Verc’s declaration.
It wasn’t a smile of fear, but a smile of shared ambition. They were ready for a greater purpose.
Not that Verc noticed—he just instructed Mamon and Groo to ready the warriors.
"Start the drills. I want them at peak physical condition. Focus on formation fighting, especially against fast-moving opponents like the Centaurs."
He then turned to Aodh and Kuma.
"For Aodh and Kuma, I need you to produce a lot of weapons and armors. Use whatever metals we have stored. We need to equip every single warrior, even the scouts. If there are no more metals, just talk to me."
Aodh nodded firmly, already thinking of the forge adjustments he would need to make.
"It will be done, My Lord."
Verc shifted his gaze to Grainne.
"And for Grainne, start focusing on growing herbs that could be used for potions. We will need healing supplies in mass quantities. Blood will be spilled for this plan."
Grainne bowed her head.
"I will ensure the gardens are prepared."
Then lastly looking at Bernia and Pwyll—
"You are to travel to the nearest human city. Blend in. Learn how they operate, how they trade, and gather some news about what’s happening outside."
He told them to infiltrate a human city.
He looked at the group of five.
"Take whatever disguise you need. Act like travelers, merchants, anything. Just do not get caught."
He also told them to buy a lot of resources and items they could use in their village and for the conquering plan.
"Medicine, high-quality steel if you can find it, construction tools, and information. Don’t be stingy with the coins we have."
He stated.
Escorting Pwyll and Bernia were Nara, the little girl, so she can come back to a human cimmunity at least for a while--then Tatum and Jed for protection.
Tatum stood a bit straighter, his expression resolute.
"We won’t fail you, Lord Verc."
Verc looked around the room, meeting the eyes of every leader present.
The room felt different now. The tension was gone, replaced by a focused, electric energy. Everyone knew what they had to do.
They would start cleaning the [Cursed Forest] in two months.