The Beast Wave of each year is not getting any weaker… As a matter of fact, it grows stronger as the number of Evil Beasts were increasing especially to those who have no natural predators.

Only when these beasts decided to enter the Losea and Chodora Kingdom's territory will they meet their end.

​​

These beasts were obviously not a match against the powerful Arcanists and organized attacks of the soldiers from the two kingdoms.

Just a single Knight Order can probably defend the Fortress and win with barely a casualty.

Nevertheless, this is still bringing a lot of troubles to the half-imps as they can be found by some special Evil Beasts as they love the taste of their half-imp blood.

It doesn't matter where they hide, these beasts would still find a way to locate and hunt them.

Right now, the elders of the village are having a long discussion about the nearing Beast Wave.

They have to save a lot of food as they wouldn't be able to go out during the Wave as the meat of the Evil Beasts wasn't edible as well.

"The team that Miss Ayumi led outside managed to get enough meat for us and they even captured live ones… I think that we'll have enough to get by."

"That may be enough for three weeks… However, the beast wave this time might last longer than that, we can kill all the Melody Geese for food consumption since it would take a long while before they'll return again."

"That's right… We have to find another source of food that wouldn't get spoiled easily."

"How about the crops that the Guardians told us to be planted?"

"Hmm… Most of them were unable to grow… Only small vegetables were able to last on our land. We can consider them as an alternative. For now, we have to create another Defense Array…"

Ruthren just listened to their discussion. He wanted to know their plans on how they'll face the Beast Wave this time.

He and the other slaves would act on their own later on depending on the situation of the villages.

Finally, the discussion went to the distribution of the forces around the Bhibra Village…

A group of half-imps would be tasked to strengthen the ground where the Forest Rats could use to enter their village.

This is a very important task since this would eliminate the threats coming from the walking or crawling Evil Beasts altogether. They would be able to focus on fighting against flying creatures like Gryphons, Harpies, and other smaller flying beasts.

If they failed to strongly reinforce the ground, it would be a huge disaster for them.

Another division of half-imps would be tasked to ensure the safety of the non-combatant villagers or the children, pregnant women, and old half-imps living here.

Finally, all the abled half-imps that could fight against the Evil Beasts would have to take their weapons to fend off the creatures…

"Sir Ruthren… Is it alright to ask something about our Defense Array?" One of the elders suddenly asked while the man was listening to their conversation.

"Sure, go ahead and ask." He replied.

The elders nodded in appreciation as he voiced out his question.

"I would like to know whether you have any other method to strengthen our Array... I know that you've already helped us with this a couple of years ago. However, I'm asking this just in case you still have another method you could share with us… Of course, we are willing to make payment for this array… You just have to name your price."

"I see… You have a point… That array you guy have been using is already quite old." Ruthren thought for a moment… or that is how it looks like.

Currently, he's speaking with his master to ask about this.

Reiji was about to tell him that he could no longer help since what he learned about the Arrays were just things that he learned from Rufus before.

However, he suddenly recalled the Aqua Pearls he had taken from the confinement array before!

The Greater Water Restriction Array that trapped Szaaz has three core arrays in the form of Aqua Pearls. Reiji placed them inside his Void Space and had almost forgotten about it.

'Alright, tell them that you'll give them core arrays. Since they are good with Arcane Magic, they can probably discover how to make it work by themselves. Tell them that you'll be giving it to them within a day… Do your best to negotiate, it would be good if we can get some high-rank Arcana.'

'Yes, Master! I will do my best!'

Ruthren answered as he started negotiating with the elders.

***

While Ruthren was negotiating with the elders, Reiji was planning to just laze around.

However, he suddenly received a notification from his guide!

[ Slave Nine has died. ]

"Eh?"

It was a bit surprising but he didn't think too much of it.

His Slaves Nine to Twenty are all the minotaurs he had taken as slaves and left in the forest.

He told them to survive on their own but it seems that they've met a powerful creature there…

[ Slave Eleven has died. ]

[ Slave Thirteen has died. ]

[ Slave Sixteen has died. ]

Three deaths were suddenly reported with only a second gap in between.

'Tsk… What kind of creature are they facing right now?'

Right now, Reiji is thinking that the minotaurs are probably facing a group of beasts. Nevertheless, their deaths weren't something he has to be worried about.

These minotaurs were quite weak anyway… It wouldn't be surprising for them to be killed by other Evil Beasts.

[ Slave Ten has died. ]

[ Slave Nineteen has died. ]

[ Slave Twelve has died. ]

…

[ Slave Twenty has died. ]

The news about the deaths of his minotaur slaves continued until no one was left.

It was a shame that the one who died first was Slave Nine or the one who has the intelligence to speak with him.

Because of this, he couldn't communicate with the other Minotaurs and learn about their situation.

He can only think that it's because of their natural predators within the forest.