"Why did you run out alone? What about your parents? ”

At the Sheriff's Office in Namula Village, Sheriff Donev asks the strange girl.

But the girl hung her head and said nothing.

"Where is your hometown?"

Asked other questions, but remained silent.

Donev was embarrassed.

The girl didn't do anything wrong, she just walked around the village alone.

The village of Namula is in a very remote place.

There is no contact with the outside world, and at most there is only the recipient who contacts the liege.

It is indeed a very rare thing for a strange little girl to appear, and Donev also took her away for safety reasons.

"Is it inconvenient to speak? Can you tell me your name? ”

“… Neil. ”

The girl finally spoke, and Donev smiled at her.

As if hearing his own sister's voice, Donev comforted the girl in a gentle tone.

"Well, it turned out to be called Nell, and the little brother is the sheriff of this village, Donev, not to arrest you to prison, so don't be afraid."

"It doesn't seem to be a little brother."

At the age of 30, Donev was a little out of breath when he heard Nell's words.

Also, everyone else is busy getting married and having children at the age of 30, and Donev should be called an uncle.

If Donev hadn't taken office in such a foreign country, he would have been married and had children.

"The little brother is not married yet, so he is not an uncle..."

"Okay, then if you want to hear little brother, then I'll call you little brother."

Nell nodded, looking like he had put a lot of effort into it.

Donev touched his chin naturally, did he have a shave today?

I feel like I'm still relatively young.

“… Well, thank you, in short, the little brother is also for your safety, if there is anything you need to help, just say. ”

"That's... I am hungry. ”

It just so happened that Nell's stomach was growling, and Donev was a little ashamed, feeling that he thought too little.

Also, how can a little girl wander like this, how can she have a good meal.

We should have eaten something and talked about it.

Just in time for dinner, Donev takes Nell to the sheriff's cafeteria.

"Does the imp eat it too?"

Said the security officer in charge of the kitchen today.

"That's right, it looks like I haven't eaten for a long time, so serve more."

"Can a child eat this?"

The kitchen manager gave a big bowl with a smile on his face.

It's all high-calorie food for the vigilantes, and although it looks coarse, it's still quite hearty.

"Eat more, you're welcome, if it's less, there's still here."

Donev handed Nell rice.

Nell didn't even say thank you, and began to eat.

With forks in both hands, he began to eat wildly.

Thinking that he had taken too much, he didn't expect this little Jiao's body to be able to support so much food, Donev smiled slightly.

"Well, yes, children should eat more."

"I'm not a child."

The girl stopped suddenly and said very seriously.

"Ah, okay. I just thought you were small, so I thought you were a child. ”

"Ah~ I'm done eating."

Nell loudly announced that he had finished eating, but seemed a little upset.

She took the napkin from the table and wiped her lips.

But suddenly something came to mind, and shouted loudly.

"Ah, why don't you have dessert?"

“… Hey, do we still have snacks? ”

Donev asked the person next to him, and the kitchen manager was speechless and shrugged his shoulders.

"No, then there's no way."

Nell pouted.

The two men returned to Donev's office and continued their conversation.

"I'm not going to ask you where you're from or why you're wandering. But one person is too dangerous. How about staying in this village for a while? I'll find you a good place. If you don't like the village, the lord's recipient will come here in a few weeks, and then go somewhere else. ”

"It's okay for me to be alone."

Nell whispered to himself, but Donev just pretended not to hear.

Then he called his own adjutant, Areno.

Eleno is the only woman in the vigilante and is 26 years old and single.

"Elenor, you're in charge of this kid."

Erreno knew it was only temporary, but he was still a little unhappy.

Donev's disadvantage is that he is too merciful to civilians, so he does not take the feelings of the adjutant too seriously.

He hated Donev's request, but if he refused, he would waste his time trying to find another way.

Erreno also didn't want to waste Donev's time.

"Are you ready for me to say no? Okay, then take her to my house. ”

Erenor's answer reassured Donev.

"Fortunately, I feel more at ease with the adjutant here."

"Every time it's the sheriff who is looking for trouble, it's the adjutant who is going to carry out it, so can I get off work early today?"

"Of course."

Erreno greeted Nell.

"Hello~ Sister's name is Eleno, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"I'm Nell! I'm happy too, sister. ”

Nell unexpectedly reached out first to shake hands.

Erreno gently shook Nell's hand.

"Is it okay to stay at my sister's house for the time being from today onwards?"

"I'm staying overnight, I should ask my sister, is it really okay?"

But Nell's strength is surprisingly strong.

Erreno was trying to pack his luggage.

Nell's luggage was almost up to Nell's neck.

Luggage that is difficult for even adult males to handle.

A strong force was felt in the hazel backpack, and the long sticks were tied with a white cloth and stood out outside.

“... What are they? Can you hold it? ”

"Please don't touch this, it's all mine!"

The girl panicked and got out of her chair to block Éreno.

"That's too, how do you move, my sister will help you."

"No need! I can do it alone! ”

Nell waved his hand, as if he was afraid of being robbed, and quickly picked it up.

How did you carry this? Errenor thought to himself.

It was ridiculous to see Nell carrying his luggage and feeling like he was surrounded by luggage.

"Alright, sister. Sister will lead the way! I don't know where my sister lives? ”

Suddenly the little girl said this, and Erreno felt that the little girl was still having a hard time accepting the kindness around her.

A few days later, the public security office came with guests.

The head of the village people's association, the rich man of the small village, a kid named Zaha.

Zaha hurried into Donev's office for questioning.

"Sheriff, how was that kid before?"

Donev stood up from his position to greet the teenager.

From the standpoint of the sheriff, the head of the people's council cannot be treated casually.

It was the lord who supervised the work of the sheriff, and the main matters of the village were also decided by the council.

"The kid? Nell is it? ”

In fact, Donev knew in his heart who he was asking, but he still had to ask again.

"Is it called Nell? The name doesn't matter, what the hell is going on? ”

"At Erreno's house..."

"What, the adjutant's house?"

Zaha expressed displeasure.

"Yes, what's the problem?"

"Even outsiders who don't know the specific background are brought to the village, what do you say?"

"Outsiders? Isn't it still a child? ”

"Haven't you heard the news that there is a demon march on the Ferbelo Plains?"

"Of course I heard about it, didn't I hear it when the lord's recipients were together?"

"And that's how you deal with things? Near the Ferbelo Plains, the Doroka thieves went south to escape the demons.

It's a vicious group, where will they go if they go south? Kuhan with a mercenary group? Or is there a Rochester with the Knights? Must have come around here, can you be sure that the kid isn't one of the wicked? ”

"You're thinking too much, you're just a kid, and if something else happens, I'll take care of it."

"What if something happens? What to do? ”

"What's the matter, Sheriff Donev?"

It just so happened that Erreno opened the sheriff's office.

Next to him, Nell took Elenor's hand and stared at Donev and Zaha with wide eyes.

Zaha saw that Nell was a little embarrassed and coughed dryly.

Then he looked at Nell and Donev.

"Go first, I've already warned you!"

Zaha yelled and left.

The move gave Ereno an idea of what Zaha and Donev were talking about.

He is the richest man in the village, and he is more suspicious than anyone else in order to protect his property.

"What did Uncle say?"

Nell asked.

"No... It's nothing. ”

Donev shook his head and whispered.

"There are people in this world who forget their responsibilities as adults."

Time passed.

The date for the lord's receiver to come came, but he didn't come.

In the peaceful and peaceful village of Namula, nothing like this has ever happened.

The people of the village began to be a little scared.

A few more days later, the survivors of the recipient appeared in the village.

The survivor, whose clothes were tattered and covered in wounds, said in a weak voice.

"The Doroka thieves are coming to the village."

On that day, the village council held an emergency meeting.

The people's assembly called out loudly.

"Now hurry up and get ready to resist them, Sheriff Donev!"

Donev put on a heavy expression and nodded silently.

"The security forces have stepped up their vigilance and will temporarily close all roads.

Villagers don't go out, please follow the command of the security team. ”

But Zaha wasn't happy enough to say that.

"What about that kid?"

"Who are you talking about?"

"Pretending not to know? It's the kid who wandered from out of town, Nell, right? It's that kid. ”

"It's just a child, it's too dangerous outside, and there might be a group of thieves, so let her go out of the village alone?"

"It's possible that the kid brought the thief here, so why is he going to be locked up?"

Donev argues fiercely with Zaha.

Errenor grabbed Nell's hand and ran away from the Minguild.

As you run away, you can feel the arguments getting louder and louder.

"That uncle hates me."

Nell bowed his head silently, and Errenor held it tighter.

"Isn't there only that kind of adult in this world, isn't there me and my little brother?"

Hearing this, Nell looked up and smiled.

After two days, it was evening.

The villagers went into a state of alert with torches.

The security forces are also heavily armed and at their posts.

In the past two days, Donev hurriedly made a fortified fence and taught the villagers to arm.

All the guards were on patrol, and Donev from the sheriff's office also did the final inspection.

Together with Erreno and Nell next to him.

"What's the matter?"

"There's going to be a bunch of bad uncles."

"Bad uncle?"

"Don't worry, my sister and that uncle will get rid of them all."

"How did I become an uncle?"

Donev touched the hilt of the knife on his waist, a little dissatisfied.

"Is now the time to think about that?"

"No, that's what you say annoys me a little."

"The thieves are coming."

"Ah, come on! This is the first village I have ever been to work in, and I have to protect it to the death. ”

"Hmph, the sheriff is going to fight to the death or something, and others will only be more upset when they hear it, okay?"

"Well, that's rude."

The two of them were no different from usual.

But Nell knew it was covering himself.

"Nell, you stay here. It's the safest place, and my sister and sheriff's uncle will be out there to protect you. ”

"I want to help you too."

Hearing Nell's words, Donev burst out laughing. Then he touched Nell's head.

"What a special kid! When this is over, the position of sheriff will be handed over to you. ”

"Without further ado... Hurry up. ”

With that to Donev and Erreno, they came out of the office.

The sound of the office closing was very heavy.

Donev looked at the sky, saw the stars, and the village was quiet.

But this quiet is only temporary.

Donev took a deep breath and was ready to come to his senses.

Nell was left alone in the sheriff's office.

But not like a child, but calmly looking out the window.

After a while, shouts were heard in the distance, and the battle began.

Nell used the chair as a footmat and looked out the window.

Donev and his security team battled fiercely.

The clutter of metal colliding with metal can be heard.

There was a wind-like sound, and countless bows and arrows flew in.

There are also torch arrows in it, and the fire spreads instantly.

Windows and railings were smashed, dust was flying all around, and visibility was extremely low.

As the battle progressed, the cacophony was gradually drowned out by screams.

Donev watched his men fall to the ground one by one, fighting even more desperately.

It's not that there is no confidence in strength, it's that they are outnumbered.

The Dorocca thieves were terrified to see how stubbornly the small village could resist.

Most people would flee with a little scare, but the thieves thought the sheriff here still had two brushes.

However, to this extent, it did not exceed much expectations.

Three or four wall-smashing attacks, coupled with constant baptism of archery, already felt that the town's defensive positions had almost collapsed.

Now it's time to coax it.

The leader of the thieves raised his hand to signal his men to stop moving, and then stepped forward to shout.

"Hey, sheriff! Still alive? Speak when you are alive. ”

But nothing happened.

"There's nothing to talk about, so keep shooting."

Hearing the threatening tone, as a result of which Donev came out from behind the fence.

The leader shouted in satisfaction.

"It's amazing, it's really amazing. But it's time to stop in moderation, and we don't want to fight anymore. You saw that too, right? If you continue to fight, it will only kill more people, and if you surrender, I will spare the people of your village. ”

The villagers began to waver when they heard this.

I didn't expect the word surrender to be so tempting.

Although everyone is ready to die for the consciousness, this consciousness will not last long.

The defeat is getting thicker, and the fear surging in my heart is getting bigger and bigger, and when I hear the word "surrender" at this time, everyone will definitely be shaken.

Donev felt that he could resist a little more.

From the day the sheriff took office, he was ready to die.

But I don't want more of my men to die.

Erreno was wounded in the thigh as a result of the previous shot.

Although the arteries were not injured, they could not be fought in a dangerous situation.

Fighting will only bring more casualties.

"Surrender!"

Someone in the villagers' group said.

Since then, there has been silence and a consensus has been formed.

Donev shouted to the enemy.

“... Can thieves be trusted? ”

"We are also people who are embraced by the goddess, to this extent, can we not believe it?"

After saying that, the thieves began to laugh out loud, thinking that it was particularly funny to think about it.

This is also a mockery of Donev.

Donev is angry, but endure it.

Donev took a few breaths and spoke.

"Cast..."

"Wait a minute!"

Someone shouted in a crisp voice.

Everyone's eyes were on Nell, who came out of the sheriff's office.

"Nell? Don't come out! Go back! ”

Donev hurriedly shouted, but Nell did not listen to the persuasion and swaggered out.

He had the same backpack he always had with him on his back.

Enemies in the distance thought their backpacks were moving.

Nell walked between Donev and the thieves, and the thieves saw that Nell was a little one.

"I'm sorry, I've been lying to you."

"Lie to me? What the hell is being said? ”

Donev instantly thought of Zaha's words.

No, that can't be, Donev can't believe it.

"My name is not Nell, that's a lie to you, because there is a reason, so I use a lot of fake names. My real name is Bella. ”

Everyone was stunned and looked at Nell, not Bella.

After a while, the thieves and the villagers began to talk.

"Bella? So what do you want your little brother to do now? ”

Donev no longer has the will to fight, and he has no strength in his body.

Even if Bella said anything, it felt like an excuse.

Bella put her backpack on the ground.

The leader of the thieves asked.

"What? Something that was paid in order to surrender. ”

"No, of course not, please don't expect it."

Bella opened her backpack and rummaged through its contents.

Clothes that had been worn for a long time, water bottles, tree trunks and other garbage were turned out.

Bella said, rummaging through her backpack.

"Brother Donev, you have done your duty to me."

“... What is the responsibility of adults? ”

Donev did not understand the current situation.

"Guarding the little ones? It seems to mean something like that. When an uncle asked me to get out of the village, you said no.

Well, that's how I understand it. ”

What an incomprehensible child.

Donev thought.

Soon he felt a little ashamed, and although he had been so righteous before, he still had to hand over the entire village to the thieves.

“… It's not like that. ”

"It's time for me to do my adult duty. Ah, now you can take it out. ”

With that, Nella pulled her stick out of her backpack.

The white cloth that had been tied up was then torn apart, revealing a large metal object.

"Shovels?"

"No, it's an axe."

The thieves saw Bella's huge axe and thought it was some kind of toy.

"Aren't you a child?"

Donev said to himself, and Bella shook her head.

"I'm not a child, my brother is a child. Although I am called little brother, I look at you like a child. ”

"What do you say! Come back quickly! ”

Donev didn't understand what this was saying, and then he got angry.

To say that this is a child's joke is too much,

And at such a critical juncture!

Bella didn't answer, and put on a shelf, ready to wield an axe.

Unbefitting his age, he has a brave posture that makes the thieves laugh.

"It's... What are you going to do? ”

"Using children as meat shields, the sheriff of this village is really amazing..."

That's when Bella wielded an axe.

"Babble!"

With the brave cooperation, Bella lost her center of gravity and staggered.

It was a bit of a stretch to walk two steps, like an axe wielding Bella.

The thieves laughed even louder.

"Is this some kind of house time? Or have you lost your mind when you're afraid? The little one will go to the side and kneel and raise your hands..."

At this moment, Bella's eyes suddenly changed.

"Don't take it lightly, fools!"

Bella brandished an axe and rushed at the thieves. The thieves haven't reacted yet.

With a swing of Bella, she directly cut off the heads of three or four thieves.

"Laughing and dying, it's too sad"

Bella scoffed as she corrected the axe.

"It's... What a situation! ”

The thieves were frightened, and Bella freely swung her axe and swept through the enemy line.

Seeing such a Bella, all the villagers of Namula Village were stunned and could only stare blankly.

"What is the little brother doing! Let me fight alone? ”

Hearing this, Donev reacted, drew his sword and shouted.

"Everyone, strike! Protect Bella! ”

----------

"How's it going? Sister Ereno? ”

In the early hours of the next day, the village entrance Donev sent Bella.

The villagers were lying on the ground exhausted from the battle.

"I fell asleep just now, don't worry, the injury is not serious, and it is not a poisoned arrow."

"I see~ That's great, I'm worried about whether it's too late."

Bella said with a smile on her face.

Seeing Bella like this, Donev felt that what happened last night was not true.

This little kid doesn't look like the warrior who killed the enemy yesterday at all.

"Bella, you are the benefactor of our village, why don't you stay for a while."

Donev tried to keep Bella, but Bella shook her head.

"No, I should come here again in the future, I can't stay here forever, it's not good. When everyone comes to their senses, they will scream non-stop, right? Monsters, devils, whatever. You're definitely afraid of me, especially the uncle named Zaha, who doesn't dare to look at me for fear of trouble, right? ”

Zaha was scared of Bella's situation, and Bella was amused to think about it. Donev also felt that Bella was right.

After all, it's a scene that even I can't believe.

Donev could not refute either.

"You saved everyone."

"My little brother also helped me. That's the point. Uh-huh, 'the responsibility of adults'... I'm a little blushing, but I'm pretty handsome, and I've done my duty as an adult. ”

"You're still a kid!"

When Donev said this, Bella shook her head.

"Me~ I'm an older sister than my little brother, can an ordinary child wield such a big giant axe?"

Bella patted the backpack she was carrying and said.

"Where does this power come from?"

Bella frowned at the question and paused. Then he made up his mind to continue.

"Well, little brother, then I'll tell you. It's because of the curse. ”

"Cursed?"

“… A long time ago, I didn't listen to my father and went to the forest to look for elves, because I had heard before... The elf story of gambling on his fate and indifferently embarking on the road of heroes. ”

"Then one day, I inadvertently went to the forbidden forest. By chance, really by chance, I met the Elf Queen. … Although I don't know if it's really the queen, she said her name is Regina. When she said to me, 'Don't go into the place where time stands,' I suddenly got scared and ran out. ”

"Since then, my time has stopped, and I don't grow older anymore. I don't know how long it has been, my parents have died of old age in bed, and I am still like this. ”

"Until now, I don't know how many years I've lived, maybe decades, maybe hundreds of years, I've lived in the forest, and my understanding of time has never been very deep.

"Suddenly one day, I thought, what's the point of being alone? I guess I have to learn something. My dad was a lumberjack, and then in my years alone, I learned the axe my dad left me. At the same time, I couldn't keep my home all the time, I wanted to go outside, and from then on, I embarked on a journey alone, a journey without a purpose. ”

Hearing these words, Donev fell into deep thought.

Is this a lie?

It's not clear.

Nell, no, it's Bella's words, I don't know where to start with the truth.

It's a bit messy.

Donev stopped in the village, and Bella walked out of the village.

"Then pay attention to your body, little brother! Let's meet when my sister is well! ”

Donev waved his hand vigorously.

"Hmmm...! Thank you and come again! ”

"Marry my sister! Then become an uncle! ”

Bella finished shouting like this, turned around and ran away in a hurry.

Donev was a little empty and kept looking up until he couldn't see Bella.

…

"So where do you go now?"

Bella was talking to herself.

After living alone for a long time, I am used to talking to myself.

Especially after breaking up with someone like this, you will talk to yourself more.

“... What did that uncle say, the village of the mercenary group... Kuhan: Right? ”

Bella wants to go to a nearby mercenary village.

What happened in Namula's village also has a lot of significance for Bella.

The boring life, thinking that the affairs of the village, made her re-understand her own strength and review her life.

I also have some kind of responsibility.

There may be people who need their own strength.

Bella thought to herself, I should be the oldest old man in this world, so I will fulfill my responsibility as an adult and help these children make the world a better place!

"Ah~, I knew that I would have asked my little brother how Kuhan had left."

Bella regretted it a little.

But I can't go back, otherwise I'm too shy.

No matter how long you live, you can still be shy.

"It's okay, um... What I have is time! Then take your time to find it! ”

But Bella didn't know that the forest she was walking in was in a completely different direction from Kuhan, and that this forest was the Hilda Forest full of demons.