The bald man mentioned that the bandits could be on their way as they spoke, confirming that the carriage wasn't the only reason the villagers were retreating into their homes.
Even if Arin and Tessa hadn't arrived, the villagers would have naturally locked themselves away out of fear, especially with the bandits' arrival approaching.
One of the black-haired men decided to speak. "The Village Leader will be with you shortly. We are ju—"
He abruptly stopped talking when he noticed Arin's gaze fixed behind him. Confused, the three men turned to see what had caught his attention.
A woman was approaching. She had short green bob-shaped hair, and her armor, though slightly worn, was still better maintained than the guards'. Her eyes were locked on Arin, her strides exuding the confidence of a leader. Judging by her appearance, she seemed to be in her mid-twenties.
When she arrived, a smile appeared on her face as her eyes shifted to Tessa before returning to Arin.
Arin stood in front of Tessa, his hands behind his back, which made it natural for her to assume he was the one in charge.
As soon as she arrived, the three men lowered their heads in respect and said in unison, "Greetings, Leader!"
She waved a hand for them to rise, her attention still focused on Arin and Tessa.
Standing behind the lady, the bald man shifted uncomfortably. The silence was unsettling. 'What's with this tension?' he thought. 'It's making me uneasy.'
The other two men shared similar thoughts but kept them to themselves.
The woman adjusted the sword at her waist and folded her arms before speaking. "Your presence is greatly appreciated, Mages," she said. "You can call me Fang."
'Fang?' Arin thought. His expression remained neutral, but the name piqued his interest.
"I'm Arin," he replied. "I'll do everything I can to stop these bandits."
"I'm Tessa," she said, folding her arms.
Fang nodded, her green bob bouncing slightly. With introductions out of the way, it was time to get down to business.
Fang cleared her throat and glanced at both Arin and Tessa. "The bandits usually approach from the exit gate," she began.
Arin's eyes flicked to the left, where the gate stood. With his enhanced eyesight, he spotted guards gripping their swords tightly, their tension evident in their postures.
"There are ten of them in total," Fang continued, "nine men and one woman."
Arin raised an eyebrow. 'Ten bandits? That's a lot.'
Tessa glanced at him, gauging his reaction.
'Ten bandits might be too much for him to handle alone,' she thought. 'He might need help.'
'No wonder the mission required a Mage of at least the Master Rank.'
"Will some of the Mages here fight alongside him?" Tessa asked, breaking the silence.
Fang's eyes narrowed slightly at the question. The men behind her frowned as well.
Arin had already guessed the answer. 'There's a reason they requested help from the Academy,' he thought.
As expected, Fang confirmed his thoughts.
"I would love to have the Mages and Warriors here fight alongside you, but they wouldn't stand a chance. That's why we needed outside help."
Arin's gaze hardened. 'Exactly as I thought.'
Before Tessa could respond, Arin interjected.
"Do you know their Elemental Affinities? How many are Mages, and how many are Warriors?"
Fang shifted her attention back to him. "Their leader, the only woman among them, is a Grade 5 Veteran Warrior," she said.
She glanced briefly at Tessa before continuing. "There are two other Warriors, both at Grade 4 Common Warrior Rank. The remaining seven are Mages, ranging from Grade 2 Common Mages to Grade 2 Veteran Mages."
Arin absorbed the information, his mind racing through possibilities.
Fang studied him carefully. 'If he's only a Grade 1 Master Mage, this won't be easy. But there's still a clear difference between the Veteran Rank and the Master Rank,' she thought.
"What's your rank?" Arin asked abruptly, catching Fang off guard.
She blinked, then answered, "Grade 4 Veteran Mage."
"I see…" Arin muttered, his expression thoughtful.
Fang's confusion was evident, but she chose not to press further.
Judging by her green hair, Arin could already guess her Elemental Affinity. 'She's likely a Wind Mage,' he thought.
Time was running out. He needed to act.
"If the guards can't join the fight," Arin began, "they should station themselves near the homes. If any of the bandits get through, they'll need to protect the villagers."
Fang nodded, understanding his reasoning.
Tessa continued watching Arin, impressed by how quickly he took charge.
"I'll head to the gate now," Arin said. "When the bandits arrive, I'll engage them there."
"Understood," Fang replied, her expression serious.
Arin studied her for a moment. 'At her age, she's already leading a village. She must carry a lot of responsibility,' he thought.
For now, he set that thought aside. The bandits came first.
"Is there a storage hall?" he asked.
"Yes," Fang answered. "It's opposite my house."
"Good," Arin said, turning toward the gate. "Stay there and protect it. If any bandits slip past me, I trust you'll handle them."
"Of course," Fang replied, her determination evident.
Suddenly, a guard's shout pierced the air.
"Leader! Leader! I see the bandits! They're approaching fast!"
"It's time, huh?" Arin muttered.