Sunlight shone down on the village of Rosti.
A new day had begun.
"Over here, Mayor Heguel."
Cashew called out to him and pointed at the large bag in front of her.
"Please return the things inside to everyone. These should be the items that were stolen from them."
Heguel widened his eyes at the bag, then looked back at Cashew.
"Ca… Cashew, where did you find this?"
Cashew smiled awkwardly and scratched the back of her head.
"I found it near the stream. Maybe they accidentally left it behind."
Heguel looked at her with some suspicion, but eventually sighed.
"Ever since they set up their camp here… this village hasn't had a single peaceful day. If it's not our belongings being taken, it's our money."
Standing beside him, Cashew gently pointed at the bag.
"Then please return them to everyone. Think of it as a small comfort."
Heguel stepped forward and lifted the bag onto his back.
But it was so heavy that he almost fell over.
"Are you okay, Mayor?"
Cashew asked worriedly.
Heguel simply shook his head.
"It's fine. I may be old, but I'm still strong."
With that, he slowly walked away.
Cashew stood there watching him for a moment before heading back into the house.
She walked into the familiar kitchen, took a deep breath, and placed several pieces of firewood into the oven.
While waiting for it to heat up, she took out some flour, eggs, and sugar to make some cakes.
But just as she poured the batter into the mold, she heard voices outside.
Cashew stood still for a moment, listening with confusion.
"What's going on…? Those voices don't sound like anyone from the village."
She walked over to the window and looked outside.
In the distance, Mayor Heguel was standing there.
"What is he doing…? And where's the bag?"
The mayor slowly stepped backward.
Standing opposite him was a man wearing armor, with a belly as round as a drum and a pair of black sunglasses.
"What…? The army? Don't tell me they're here looking for Almond."
Panicking, Cashew immediately abandoned the cakes and ran outside.
Outside, the fat man was threatening the mayor relentlessly.
"Do you know who these things belong to, Mayor?"
Heguel stammered.
"T-They belong to the villagers… yesterday the soldiers under your command—"
"Shut up, old man! What do you know?"
He shouted straight into the mayor's face.
"That's called war tax. You're the mayor and you don't even know that?"
Heguel stood there awkwardly, not knowing how to respond.
Just then, Heartman stepped forward from behind.
"Hey. I know you're part of the army. But if the army that claims to stand for justice acts like this, I'll report you to your superiors—"
"You little brat. Do you even know who I am?"
Heartman didn't even get to finish his sentence before being shouted at.
"I am Athur, the Duke of the Christian family. Go ahead and report it to the higher-ups if you want. Because I am the higher-up!"
After yelling so much that his spit flew everywhere, Athur dragged someone forward.
"Mayor, take a look at what that traitor did to my subordinate."
John stepped out.
He was covered in blood. His face was bruised, his hair a mess, and he was crying uncontrollably.
"A-Almond… he…"
He covered his face and ran away.
Athur immediately turned back to Heguel.
"See that, Mayor? Now step aside so we can search the village for him."
Heguel raised his hand to stop them.
"Duke Athur… I swear there is no one named Almond in this village."
Athur covered Heguel's mouth with his hand.
"Mayor, every trace leads to this village. From the stream… to the trees stained with blood."
Heguel stuttered.
"B-But… I swear—"
"Silence."
Athur raised his hand.
"Step forward."
Several soldiers in full armor stepped out, their faces hidden behind steel helmets.
"Yes, Lord Athur."
One of them handed him a sword still stained with blood.
"Look, Mayor. This blood belongs to him. He was wounded this morning and ran straight into the village."
Heguel took the sword, his face filled with confusion.
"That's impossible… perhaps you're mistaken. Our village would never harbor such a man."
The villagers had also begun gathering to watch.
"What's going on?"
"They're probably here to steal again."
One soldier immediately turned around.
"What did you just say? Want me to split your skull open?"
The villagers quickly backed away in fear.
Among them was Fenna.
She was searching for someone among the soldiers.
On the other side, Daniel had already seen her.
But he turned his face away, unable to look at her directly.
"Well then, Mayor. I'm certain someone in this village is harboring a criminal."
Heguel tried to speak, but Athur immediately covered his mouth again.
"You're going to say there's no one again, aren't you? If you keep blocking our search, then that means you are the one harboring him, dear Mayor."
He jabbed his finger into Heguel's chest with every word, forcing the old man to step back in pain.
"Alright then. The mayor has given permission."
Athur waved his hand.
"Go search the village. Find him… and kill him."
The soldiers immediately flooded into the village, pushing the villagers aside as they began searching each house.
Fenna stood there watching the man she loved follow the soldiers.
She could only whisper softly.
"Daniel…"
Daniel lowered his head, closed his eyes, clenched his fists, and kept walking forward.
"I'm sorry, Fenna…"
In the distance, Cashew was standing beside Mr. Gouda and his grandson.
Seeing the soldiers begin their search, Cashew grew anxious.
Mr. Gouda turned to her.
"Afraid they'll take your things too, Cashew? Then you'd better go hide them."
Cashew looked at him, her face tense.
"N-No… that's not it."
Suddenly, a loud noise came from inside her house, as if something heavy had fallen onto the wooden floor.
"What was that, Cashew?"
Mr. Gouda asked.
"It's nothing… the floor is old, so it probably just made a noise."
Cashew said quickly before rushing back into the house.
Meanwhile, on another path through the village, John was slowly making his way toward Cashew's house.
He splashed water on himself, washing away the blood.
"Idiots… a little animal blood mixed with crushed purple flowers was enough to fool them."
John had already reached the back of Cashew's house.
But he didn't enter immediately.
Instead, he leaned against the wall, a hungry smile slowly spreading across his face.
"Wonderful… this time, I won't let that sweet flavor slip away from my tongue."