PoV Willy

- We're almost there! Tomorrow at dawn we will attack the village! You can rest now.

- Hurray!

Hearing my words, the brigands were delighted and began to equip the camp. Their number decreased slightly, no one dared to cause problems anymore.

I smiled, this is how peasants should behave. Humility and fear.

-Baron Willy, should I be near you during the battle? - A level 1 warrior turned to me. I answered without hesitation

-Of course. With the help of robbers, it will be easy to deal with a level 2 warrior.

- Since you say so.

-*Kar* *Kar* - While we were talking, a flock of ravens gathered upstairs. They were just looking at us, seemingly waiting for the moment to grab some food. Nodding to my thoughts in my mind, I stopped paying attention to them.

Soon the sun will set, we need to sleep and gather strength. Thinking so, I went to the camp. The brigands have already set up tents and gone to bed. I went into the largest tent and lay down comfortably. A litter of foliage is not the most comfortable, especially when you're wearing armor, but I've gotten used to it this month.

...

-We are under attack! There are wolves! Wolves! -

Screams woke me from my sleep. Grabbing my sword, I went outside with the warrior. The brigands desperately fought off the beasts. Mostly wolves. A level 2 warrior fought with bears, dodging their attacks, he tried to pierce their thick hide.

- What kind of menagerie is this!? - One of the brigands came up to me and, looking around with fright, reported

- We were attacked, the guards managed to raise the alarm and we are still fighting back somehow. But they are not the main problem. Although you can't see it from here, some of them are fighting with the militia of the village. It looks like shamans are involved.

- How is this possible? - While I was looking around in shock, a wolf jumped on me, fortunately, the warrior grabbed it and cut off its head with one swing. When I came to myself I shouted

- Everyone, gather! - Having heard my order, the brigands began to gather around me. A level 2 warrior was able to get out of the encirclement and enter our circle. Breathing heavily he asked

- Haa, haa. Where did these animals even come from? There are too many of them for me alone. Do shamans live here?! What kind of magic did they use to control animals?

While we were all silently thinking about what to do next, people came into view. Although the wolves did not touch them, some of them looked at the wolves intently. Exhaling deeply, I asked.

- Who are you!?

No one answered my question. Everyone just raised their weapons.

- Get ready for battle! There may be a warrior among them!

The brigands raised their weapons, or what appeared to be weapons. Starting with pointed branches and ending with tolerable axes of loggers. Only the fighters of my family have good weapons and good armor.

The wolves, as if on command, pounced on the brigands. The battle quickly became messy. The sounds of screams, curses, and wild growls merged into a cacophony.

Although I did not expect the rabble to have a great ability to fight, in practice they turned out to be that inept in a team battle so they died almost every few seconds. Their weakness can be easily noticed by comparing them with the enemy's squad. They fought like an experienced team of mercenaries. Even without talking, they move like one. After they beat brigands, they took the ones who were still alive and take them away, then took dead ones

-Seems like only we can fight. Let's show how we, born to a warrior, are capable of - Having inspired our fighters, we fought off the wolves in a holding formation.

-What the hell!? -One of the fighters shouted and pointed at the wolf without a leg, a militia ran up to it and pressed its leg to the wound, a couple of seconds and it got up again and went into battle. - What kind of magic is this?!

We were all confused when we saw this sight. How is this possible? Are enemies capable of regenerating like this, is it even possible to defeat them? Putting aside all doubts, I shouted with all my might

-No need to panic! It must be very expensive magic, and the enemy's shamans will get tired quickly!

My words restored their calmness and we continued our battle. The brigands died one by one, fulfilling their duty as human shields.

With a lunge, I pierced the wolf in the stomach, the animal tried to take me with him, but instead of my throat, his fangs met with a shield.

The battle became harder and harder as the rabble fell to the ground. For some reason, people almost didn't attack us, instead, they took the bodies. Some of them were still alive, but too weak to resist.

And there were no fewer wolves, before my eyes, the wolf that I pierced with a sword a few minutes ago, stood up as if nothing had happened and returned to the battle. If we didn't have warriors, the battle would have been even more difficult, they destroyed more enemies than we all put together. However, their regeneration is very frightening. And it looks like they're not tired at all. My body aching, fingers trembling, but my mind is more focused than ever. I can't give up, die at the hands of some animals! I have a better life in store for me. Becoming a count is only a matter of time for me! I can't give up!

- Heh heh heh. - I felt someone grab me by the neck. Without looking back, I raised my sword and attack the one behind me, but I did not feel the steel cut off the flesh. Instead, I felt someone pull hard on the sword, it fell loudly to the ground

-Are you so glad to see me again? We've seen each other just a week ago.

I looked back in fear. Eyes burning with fire, curly hair. Zhangolos, the one who has been chasing me all this time.

- Kill him! What are you standing for?- Before the fighters had time to react, zhangolos picked me up and ran away. He was so fast that even the wolves couldn't catch up with him.

-*Ding!**Ding!**Ding* - For the next few minutes, all I heard was the bell ringing. Despite my attempts to get out, all my attempts were pointless. After going a long distance, he threw me to the ground. As soon as I got to my feet, I quietly asked

- High-level spirit?

- Heh heh. You're right. I am glad to welcome you, Level 4 Zhangolos. It's been a long time since I've come across a noble prey. Entertain me. -The face that used to have a human appearance, turned black, the fire in the eyes came out. The air became hot.

-W-wait! If you spare me, I'll pay you!

-I'm not interested in money.

-Y-you need people, don't you? I can give them to you! As many as you want just spare me!

- How many times have I heard such words? You know, noble people often say that because they want to save their own lives. It's very amusing, but the peasants don't do that, they have nothing to offer me, sometimes they offer family members instead of themselves. It happens sometimes, but you, almost always act like that. First, tell such words, then, bring a priest to the next time, and he tries to destroy me. But hey, I'm not the one who holds grudges, I'm just a spirit who wants to have some fun. Otherwise, I wouldn't play cat and mouse with you for so long time, I hope the ending will be just as fun. Heh heh heh.

His hands touched my throat and squeezed it tightly. Even though he has gloves, his hands burned my throat.

Hot! So hot!

- Kha! Kha! KHA! St!

He lifted me off the ground. My arms and legs were moving in panic, I was hitting and kicking him, and he just laughed.

Damn spirit! I need to reach for the necklace! I pulled my hands to my neck and started groping for the necklace, but I didn't find it.

-Heh heh heh, I knew you will want to use it, so I got rid of it beforehand. Yes, I like when you make face like that. It's time to finish. - Lifting me with one hand, he hit me in the chest with the other. An incredible heat flared up inside me. My insides were burning. He let me fall to the ground. When I fell, I started rolling on the ground and tried to scream, but because of my burned throat, I could barely breathe, let alone make sounds. - Don't be afraid, my energy won't burn you alive. Hold on as long as you can, I want to enjoy it. Hmm? You've found me that fast? I thought you would still be fighting each other.

-They're fighting. Only we came here.

My eyes were too blurry and I couldn't see who it was. It looks like they are servants of shamans.

-Go away, whoever you are. I don't have a feeling that you are a human, and those who are behind you don't interest me. Even though you didn't receive a direct blessing, I still don't want to offend Su Ata by killing you.

- A blessing?

-Although you were not the one who was blessed, you were there and received a partial blessing. I don't want to become an enemy of Su Ata. You're not that attractive to me.

- I want to take him.

-He's almost dead now. Why do you need him?

-I need him, dead or alive.

-As you want, but I want to see what are you going to do with him, do you mind?

-As long as you don't threaten.

-Heh heh heh. Good. I'll just be…

All the unnecessary noise disappeared. The eyes closed by themselves. Is this... the end? Am I going to die here? Die at the hands of the spirit? Damn it... I shouldn't have agreed to do the Count's task. Too much has gone wrong.

And after all, they won't even bury me properly, the death of a dirty brigand will befall me. And my family's name will die with me. Father, I'm really sorry.