As Yuan and his wives followed Rose back to the village, they observed that the overall condition of the villagers and buildings seemed relatively unharmed, aside from a few minor cracks caused by the shockwaves of Yuan's attack.
"It appears that the village hasn't suffered any significant damage, just a few scratches," Yuan commented, relaying his observation to Rose.
"You're right, Yuan. It's fortunate that the village didn't sustain severe damage from the shockwaves. If that were the case, it would have taken a considerable amount of time and effort to recover, potentially impacting the village's economy." Rose nodded in agreement, a sense of relief washing over her.
"Indeed," Yuan responded, his gaze wandering to the serene night sky above. "Many people would have lost their homes, where they've shared precious memories with their families. I'm glad I was able to safeguard those cherished moments for the people of this village."
'At this point, I don't know how to thank you enough. You have done so much for us that we don't know how to repay this debt to you guys...' Rose thought to herself as she looked at Yuan and his wives with a profound expression.
Lost in her thoughts, Rose couldn't help but admire Yuan's handsome face illuminated by the moonlight.
"He's so handsome..." she murmured, momentarily captivated by his appearance.
After a few minutes, Yuan, his wives, and Rose arrived at the Monroe family's manor. Ava, Rose's younger sister, approached them anxiously, bombarding them with questions about the earthquake and blinding light that had occurred earlier, as well as the fate of the Wyvern.
"Calm down, Ava. Listen to me," Rose said gently, her smile reassuring. "Everything has been resolved by Yuan, Xi Meili, Anna, Grace, Emma, and Lily. They not only defended the village from powerful monsters at the entrance but also defeated the Wyvern themselves. Our village is safe now."
"W-What? Our Pinebrook village is no longer in danger?" Ava's eyes widened in surprise, her anxiety giving way to a sweet smile.
Rose nodded, her voice filled with pride. "Indeed! Our village is safe now. And as for the golden light and the earthquakes earlier, believe it or not, they were all caused by Yuan here."
Ava's mouth hung open in disbelief upon hearing her sister's words. How could one person be responsible for such extraordinary phenomena?
'With such incredible strength, are they really not gods...?' Ava pondered, her gaze shifting between Yuan and his wives, overwhelmed by a sense of disbelief.
A moment later, Ava came out of her daze and immediately bowed her head towards Yuan and his wives. "Mr. Yuan and everyone, thank you for protecting our peaceful Pinebrook village. I'm truly grateful."
Anna shook her head and spoke gently to Ava. "There's no need to thank us, Ava. Your sister has already expressed her gratitude on behalf of all of us. We did what we had to do."
Curiosity flickered in Ava's eyes as she turned to Yuan. "By the way, Mr. Yuan, are you truly not gods as the rumors suggest? It's hard for me to believe that a person with such extraordinary power could be merely human."
Yuan sighed softly before responding. "I understand your skepticism, Ava. But it is the truth. We are not gods, despite what people may say. Extraordinary power can be found within humans as well."
"Even if you say that, it's still difficult to believe... After witnessing the incredible feats you and your wives have accomplished, it's hard for anyone to dismiss the notion of your divine nature." Ava's eyes reflected her uncertainty.
"Believe it or not, it's your choice. We cannot control what others believe or perceive." Yuan smiled helplessly.
Once they entered the yard, Yuan and his wives noticed a crowd of people, mostly women, children, and elderly individuals, taking refuge in Rose's expansive front yard. These villagers sought safety within the Monroe family's manor, seeking protection from the monsters that roamed outside the village.
Most of the people in the Pinebrook village are farmers who have little to no experience fighting monsters. Those who know how to fight monsters a little take the duty to look out for monsters who might have slipped inside silently without altering the defenders at the entrance of the village.
"As you can see, our family manor is fortified with sturdy walls, making it the safest place within Pinebrook village. That's why the villagers have sought refuge here." Rose, observing Yuan and his wives' perplexed expressions, explained the situation.
"I see." Yuan nodded in understanding.
Meanwhile, the villagers within the garden noticed Rose's return, accompanied by Yuan and his wives, causing whispers to ripple through the crowd.
"Look, everyone! The eldest miss has returned from the battlefield!"
"Huh? They've already returned?! Does that mean they've defeated the Lord of the mountain?"
"Look beside the eldest miss. Aren't those the mighty God and Goddesses that descended from the heavens at the village entrance a few days ago?"
"Yes, indeed! I can't mistake them for anyone else. I was present when they landed near the entrance!"
"If the gods are here with the eldest miss, it can only mean one thing—they have defeated the Lord of the mountain."
"Absolutely! The golden pillars of light earlier must have been their divine power. They used it to vanquish the Lord of the mountain."
"This means our Pinebrook village is safe now. The gods are truly watching over us!"
A few villagers approached Rose, their expressions filled with anticipation. A middle-aged woman spoke up, addressing Rose as the eldest miss.
"Eldest miss Rose, you're back. Does this mean the Lord of the mountain has been defeated?"
"Eldest miss, is it true?" Another villager asked, seeking confirmation.
Rose took a deep breath, preparing to address the crowd. "Everyone, please calm down and listen to me. The Lord of the mountain and the monsters have indeed been defeated. It was thanks to Yuan and his wives, Anna, Grace, Lily, Emma, and last but not least, Xi Meili. Their combined efforts have ensured the safety of our village."
A sense of relief and gratitude washed over the villagers as they absorbed Rose's words, realizing that their village was now secure.
"Really? Oh, thank goodness! Finally, the nightmare has ended!"
"Did you hear that? The gods really defeated the Lord of the mountain."
"I heard it too! Our village is safe now!"
A few minutes later, the middle-aged woman looked at Yuan and his wives with teary eyes and bowed to them.
"Thank you for saving our village and our lives, Oh mighty Gods. If you hadn't intervened, I can't imagine what our fate would have been."
Yuan shook his head and replied, "It's alright, there's no need to thank us. We simply did what was right, and once again, we are not gods. We are human beings just like the rest of you."
Rose turned to Yuan and his wives and said, "Let's go inside the manor now. Mom must be quite worried about us by now."
"Well then, let's not keep her waiting. Let's head inside now, shall we?" Anna suggested, understanding the worry a mother would feel.
"Very well," Rose nodded and led them inside. Yuan and his wives followed her into the manor.
Some time later, they arrived at the living hall of the manor, where Madam Layla was sitting on a plush sofa, wearing a worried expression. Standing beside her was the head maid, Ivy, who also appeared concerned.
"Mom, Ivy, are you guys okay?" Rose hurried towards her mother on the sofa.
"Rose... Yuan and the misses... Why are you guys here? What happened to defending the village? What about the Lord of the Mountain?" Madam Layla asked, her face filled with anxiety as she stood up from the sofa.
'Why have they returned so early? Have they really managed to defeat the Lord of the Mountain? It seems impossible to defeat such a near S-rank monster so easily. Why are they here?' Ivy's mind raced with questions.
"Mom and Ivy, I have really good news to tell you! Yuan and his wives not only defeated the army of monsters but also the Lord of the Mountain, all by themselves." Rose explained the situation to them with a bright smile on her face.
"Really?! Yuan and his wives defeated the monster invasion and the Lord of the Mountain?! Our village is no longer in danger?!" Madam Layla's eyes shimmered with emotion upon hearing the news.
"Eldest Miss... Is it really true that Lord Yuan and his wives have defeated the Lord of the Mountain?" Ivy asked, seemingly in disbelief.
"Indeed! What I said is the truth! They truly defeated the Wyvern. You can go and see for yourself, although it's a pity that not even a single drop of the Wyvern's blood remains at the site," Rose reassured them with a warm smile.
"I-I don't know what to say at this point, Yuan and the misses... I truly don't know how to thank you for your incredible feat. You have done us a great favor, and we don't know how to repay you..." Madam Layla expressed her gratitude with a grateful expression.
"Madam Layla, your feelings are more than enough, and you have shown us great hospitality during our stay," Yuan said with a sincere smile on his face.
"I agree with my darling, Miss Layla," Grace nodded in agreement.
"No, that won't do! I must find a way to thank you properly!" Madam Layla exclaimed, shaking her head.
Suddenly, a great idea appeared in her mind.
'Hehehe! This is a great chance for me to help Rose; I can hit two targets with the same arrow.' Madam Layla thought, and a mysterious smile appeared on her lips.
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