Chapter 189: Prep For War; Speculative Truth

The story I've been told certainly doesn't answer everything there is to know about the village of Demme, in fact, the Mayor, Alric's seemingly sympathetic behaviour to the people's suffering makes no sense.

I have yet to be given answers of why there are bodies littered around the place, according to Shaco's scan, especially around the Mayor's mansion. It all seems all too convenient to skip over this little fact, and yet, I let it happen.

In good faith I take a look at the stout, angry, outraged and confused man following after me, demanding answers to what I mean, and I decide to belief that he isn't a sinister little boy that needs to be put down.

In fact, if he isn't terrible, I think I can redeem this place and still have him in charge, although, I think I'll much more prefer Fragas. A man who also looks outraged as he follows after me, demanding to know what I mean.

All this time their rants and questions fall on deafened ears as I mindlessly stride into the village proper for the first time. 

I take a full and round look, another crowd had gathered, this one quite obviously made up of the peasants. Mothers, children, old or crippled men too weak or hindered to be in with the Warriors.

All of them with a clear scar of malnutrition on their faces. Clean clothes but skeletons to wear them. It's as though I've walked into a village meant especially for undead.

It's horrible

They see their Mayor trailing behind me with a group of Warrior and the men from Aste all armoured up. I can see the hope in their faces grow as with their bright smiles and gasps.

The rest of the village is in rather good shape, although, some buildings have clearly lost some use after living in these conditions for so long. I don't pay that mind though, the people I need are right here before me.

It's a shame though, that they're all so Malnourished. Well, I'll be taking most of the Warriors for my army and they've thankfully gotten the most fat on body, they won't be breaking in two like twigs.

The crowd begins to clamour and questions are yelled out to the Mayor, the Benefactor is predominantly praised. I look down at the man and he looks rather uncomfortable.

I should assume so.

The crowd gasps once more and even louder as Anselm descends beside me, the Warriors have fallen into guard duty, keeping the people back. I simply shake my head, they're lucky I left Panda outside.

"What do you actually mean by that though, Asher?" Anselm asks, sounding pressed and urgent. 

Everyone is in such a hurry today. I smile and start my stroll towards where Shaco says I should be headed to for my prey.

"You're talking as if you can get Lotar to throw a punch at these guys Benefactor and everything will be peachy."

I don't say anything still but I note that Fragas and Alric are listening in closely for my answer.

Juri runs up to me however before I can ignore Anselm some more, "Milord, I'll be taking the initiative and taking over Demme's military structure and begin preparations for defence and attack."

"Huh!?" Alric is so outraged this time he jumps on his toes.

"Yes, please do that, Juri. Begin prepping Demme for my rule." Juri nods and bows before leaving to do exactly that.

Anselm is unfazed however, and continues to pester me, "Asher! Answer me." He demands as we turn the corner

By this time our previously large entourage has broken up under Juri's command and all we're left with is ourselves and three of Juri's armoured men.

Still, Alric is widely recognize across the village, so we soon start a new trail of commoners following us around. Starving commoners with children, begging and pleading for when the next bounty would be, for the Benefactor to do something.

Finally, I have my destination in sight; a dinky old broken-down tavern and inn with barely anyone in sight save for the thinning drunkard leaning on the post.

And then I have Anselm in my view, arms folded and a deep scowl on his face. Fragas and Alric also stand with him, shifting quickly to his side as soon as I stop.

I hum lightly and sigh, "What do you want to know?"

"What do you mean by the Benefactor will be interested in speaking with you?" Alric is the first to speak.

"I mean exactly that, I'm an interesting person and a major threat to his operation here." I drawl, trying to get past Anselm. "It's quite obvious what he's doing with those sacrifices."

Alarmed, Fragas demands with great urgency, "Which is what? What is he doing!"

"He's feeding off the death and worship you give it, I'm all but certain this Benefactor is not one of the Divine Deities that are currently in battle with Phien, I think this is a being from another realm" I look to Alric as a I say this, "Reais perhaps."

Sure enough, he looks away, unable to hide the glaring fact that he's made a deal with a verifiable daemon.

"If my theory is right then, the starving bodies you keep around it, bodies that don't seem to decay mind you," he flinches, likely wondering how I know this much, "they're all part of the Benefactors little operation to keep feeding off of you idiots until you're all dead and it uses the flesh gathered in this spot for its summoning."

Anselm fixes me with a shocked look. "Summoning? How do you know all of this?"

I shrug and finally get past him, "The ritual I used earlier, plus my conversation with the Forest spirit. It became a bit obvious that the powers I was summoning to create Panda were powers that came not from any God, but from a Daemon looking for a way out of their realm. And I've met Daemon's less powerful ones that are satisfied to exist in this realm on the mana of the caster that calls them out."

"Leriva…" He gasps, "So you think this Benefactor is…"

"Trying to pierce the veil? Yes. The sacrifices do bring food and boon, but that's just to make sure the populace keep breeding, the real purpose is to make sure the forest creatures stay provoked."

"Stay provoked? Why? Why would it want that and give us food for it?" Fragas tries to piece together what I'm saying.

I smile but don't bother with him, instead I push the creaky tavern door open, "It's all just a theory, Fragas, but don't worry, even if I'm wrong which is unlikely, I still have a plan for that scenario. Your people will be free."

My smile turns upside down as I glare at the shocked tavern owner that's been lounging on the floor of his establishment.

"Where are they?"