Out on the city streets, the line of houses that were burned down to hold back the orcs from taking over the town is still only debris. I move stealthily around and reach Alvus' clinic. It didn't take long to awake the light-sleeping apothecary-physician.

"Who goes there? Mrs. Mercy? What are you doing there? Weren't you in prison?"

"I was. But Beowulf broke us out. What is the status of town?"

"People are adapting slowly to the rule of the Viscount. The children were dismayed because the Viscount confiscated all the meat they brought. Many complained about the treatment of the hero, but he brought 200 knights with him. Nobody can oppose them now that Beowulf is locked away. How is the boy?"

"He had to do some awful things in jail to get us out, but he is fine."

"Glad to hear it. Is he near here?" Alvus is suspiciously not suspicious... And I feel a sudden urge to laugh. Something is very strange here.

"Yes. Can I trust you? Can Beowulf trust you?"

"Of course he can. But why are you armed?"

"I had to break out of jail, of course, I'd be armed. Can we trust that apprentice girl of yours? Does she have parents in town?"

"Mercy, what is wrong with you? You were the one that brought her... Alice to me. Her parents died during the orc invasion and she had no relatives."

"Good. We are skipping town too. You and Alice are coming with us, of course. This place will be dangerous for anyone related to Beowulf. At least until things settle down."

"You are not Mercy. Who are you?" Erm...

Mercy decides to break her silence, "Hehe, silly hero. Better reveal yourself now."

I dismiss the possession. "Beowulf was inside Mercy?"

"Yes, Alvus. Long story short, we did this to escape the garrison."

"Then that explosion a few minutes ago?"

I recover enough to speak, "Yes, that was all me. I am both the savior and the scourge of Mirfield. We need to get you out of here before things get too heated."

"Are we leaving? Where to? The roads are closed with the heavy snow. There is no way we can..." I silence him with an open palm.

"Alvus. It is not the time to argue. I'll get your things, just point them out to me. Are there any critical patients?"

"No. I have two people sleeping over, but they are just under observation."

"Good. Do what you have to do. We are leaving in ten minutes."

I begin with the herb garden. With the gnomes' help, all the herbs go to the item box. Next is the inside of the clinic. All the furniture.

"The notes are already written. I'll push them under the door."

"Fine. Come here, You three. Hold hands. {Teleport}!"

Skill Space Magic Level 10.

Ultimate Spell: {Different Dimension Sphere} learned.

Creates a spherical barrier with / 6 feet of radius that lasts for 10 minutes. The space inside the barrier is in another dimension and nothing outside can affect what is inside and vice versa. Resisted by Agility. Those that resist can choose to get out before the barrier fully forms. Sphere goes inside structures but does not affect or cut them. The longer the chant, the faster the barrier closes and harder it is to resist/escape.

Someone is reading too much manga. Should I be yelling like a retard?

And we find ourselves at the willow hill village. It is warmer here than in Mirfield, because of the hot springs of the syrup meadow and the mountains both north and south blocking some winds.

Still holding hands, I check on the tactical map and see that Marcy is home. "Your daughter is inside, mother."

Reaching the porch, Mercy calls her daughter out loud, "Hey Marcy!" Hurried steps and the door swings open, revealing a disgruntled Marcy with swollen eyes. "We are back, honey!"

"Mother! Mother! Mother, are you hurt? What did they do to you? How did you get here?"

"Yes, I am not hurt now. Beowulf did some 'special treatment' on me and now I am better than never!" Oi, oi, stop the intentional misunderstandings!

"Beowulf, what did you do to my mother?" Marcy is switching between happy and angry.

"He broke into my cell, then made me take a bath before going inside me. I think we even left the prison joined as one!" Kill me. Just kill me!

Marcy stomps her feet next to me, "Be-o-wulf!"

"C'mon Marcy, there is no way I'd even lay a finger on your mother! She is just teasing you. I used the 'possession' skill on her. The same I used on Cloude. By the way, 'Uppa, what is the status of the prisoner?' where is he?"

The goblin answers after a while. "Yawn. He is sleeping in his quarters, boss. I'm watching him right now. He is fine." The tracking marker of Cloude confirms the information.

"Cloude is in his room. He behaved these days. Did you need to sic all the six goblins at him?"

"Yes, I do. Marcy, do you know where Mittens is? I need him now." Also Shraaizar. "Shraaizar, please come to my location. Sorry if I woke you up, but we are going to war."

Some battle-crazy gorilla taps into the telepathy before the naga can even answer. "Lord Grendel, if you are going to war I am going with you!"

Zahariel comes from the girl's house, "I know where Mittens is. I'm going to get him," and flies away.

Alvus notices something, "Did you say goblins?" Alice is hiding behind him.

I answer from the ground, "Yes. This place is Willow Hill, we are east of Mirfield, about a day and a half through the forest. This is my realm. Marcy, Zahariel, and Helen live in this house. I am usually too big for any houses most of the time. When I am not using the Beowulf form. This place is home to several types of monsters. Don't worry, all of them are friendly. Especially me."

The apprentice girl notices something and clings to Alvus' waist. "Master, we are being watched."

I look around and I see something green. "Downna, don't skulk around like that. Put your hands behind your back and come here slowly."

The female goblin comes slowly as ordered. Alice is trembling in fear, "Master, it is a goblin girl!"

Alvus looks at Downna and asks, "Is that one of the friendly monsters?"

"Yes, one of my trusted minions. This is Downna, the goblin artisan."

She makes a crude curtsy and says, "Nice to meet you, master apothecary from the human town. We heard great things about you."

Alvus is impressed, "She can speak?"

"Monsters have their own language, but most of them can learn and speak the human language. Almost all the monsters here already do and I am teaching the few that haven't yet learned. Alvus, remember that horn I gave you?"

"That troll horn? I had a trusted merchant friend appraise it."

"Yeah. That is one of my horns. Hold a second... you are too calm. People usually run around screaming 'Help! Beowulf is a troll! The Hero is a monster'! Cloude did."

The apothecary shrugs and looks at me in the eyes, "I already knew it. I talked to Helen when she was in prison. When you brought her back and her eyes had when she looked at you were with the same sparkle that she had back when she talked about the cursed man she met in the woods that was turned into a troll, I knew you were that troll."

Information leaks? This is the goddamned little Dutch boy in nightmare mode. "Yeah. I think I left a lot of clues behind."

"During that little chat we had in the garden before the kissing theater I had my confirmation. When I joked about it, you froze for an instant."

"Is my daughter engaged to a troll?" Mercy that was silently watching suddenly drops the bomb when the silence took over. "Is she a monster bride?" Oi, get that hands off of that bow.

Marcy cuts in while I am slack-jawed trying to think of an answer, "Yes, mom. That monster seduced me!" And she points at me. Grab your torch and pitchfork! Time for the villagers to hunt some monster!

"I'm sorry, Mercy. It is true, I seduced her. Please cut off my head me now. There was no way to just come and say 'Hello, I'm a troll and I am going out with your daughter, best regards!' Or is there?"

Alvus disarms the situation, "You do realize she knows as much as I do, right? She is just pulling your leg."

Mercy drops her bow, laughs and hugs me. "You are not the perfect son-in-law I'd like to have, but still better than most. If Marcy is happy with you, I should not intervene."

I call the 12-year-old girl hiding behind Alvus' legs. "Alice, come here, please. You trust me, right?"

"Are you really a monster, Sir?" She asks with an almost whispered voice. The fear is visible.

"Yes, I am a monster. A big ten-foot tall troll. But don't shy away. Look in my eyes. Do you think I would hurt you? I won't ever directly hurt you. Can you believe me?"

"Are you a bad monster, Beowulf?"

"I did a lot of bad things, but I also did a lot of good things. I think I did more good than bad though."

"Do you eat people?"

I lower my head in shame. No more than a couple hours ago... What should I say? "Only the really bad guys."

Marcy gently pulls Alice back, "Beowulf, stop joking. Alice, Beowulf was a human just like us in another world. But something happened and he was reborn in our world in the skin of a troll. And all the monsters here are tame and obey him. You are safe here, and that is what is important."

Alice looks around and decides to accept, "Okay, I guess. It is scary to leave the walls of the town. But if both Master and Mrs. Mercy say it is alright, then I have to trust them."

I decide to set a goal, "Alice, can we do one thing? You know Zahariel, right? When morning comes, I'll tell him to escort you and you and Charmma will go make jewelry. Charmma, make a pretty necklace for Alice, would you? You know where the silver is and you can use these amethysts." I get a few small uncut amethysts from the item box and hand over to the female goblin.

"Yes, master. I will craft one very pretty necklace for Miss Alice."

"No, Charmma. You will craft two necklaces with Alice. Make sure to let her help you and teach her how to use the tools. They will be necklaces you two will make together to remember today."

It may seem I am buying the girl's trust, but the silver and the gemstone are just props for a bonding exercise. Right, maybe I am buying her trust. I'm scum.

It took yet another minute after the above exchange for the heavy-sleeper Shraaizar to get out of her nest. "Grendel, we are going to war? It is too cold for war!" How insensitive of me. It is winter!

"If you want to stay behind I'll just take Kochurearc with me. And then you will remain cold and miss all the fun."

"I'm coming. Ssstop teasing!"

Fifteen minutes later, everyone is gathered. Except Marcy that went inside after Charmma and Alvus took Alice to an empty house.

"The infiltration group will be Mittens, Shraaizar, Emory and me. Sorry Kochurearc, but a huge heavy flaming gorilla is not what we need now. And I think there is a chance some humans will come to raid this place. I need you to double the watches at all times. No monster is to leave the settlement to hunt. We have enough roc meat to last the rest of the winter."

"I will not fail to protect my tribe this time, my Lord." The gorilla kneels like a knight. He is also finally fluently speaking in the human language.

Alvus is impressed. "Impressive. Most impressive." I would like put on record here and now that if Alvus is one of the final bosses I will be very disgusted.