Saki could see the invading bugs in Kire from the distance as she sprinted towards the village. She would run past the crowds standing in the path observing Kire with worried whispers and gazes. Once through, shouts of worries reached her as she ran straight to Kire.
"Hey, come back here, lady!" "The bugs are attacking there as well, don't go!" They shouted in an attempt to stop her not knowing her intention to help Kire. She left the concerned yelling behind and proceeded to run towards the village. The crowd could only stay and watch her figure get smaller in the distance as she ignored their calls.
A few minutes of running later, Saki reached Kire. She stopped inside to assess the situation. The village was already deserted; most villagers were inside their houses, and their silent whispering and whimpers could be heard from inside. Only the guards are around scrambling further inside the village. She followed after the guards. Later, she was led to the center of the village, where the chief was shouting orders to the line of guards before him.
The guards whom Saki was following lined up with the other guards, leaving her to be seen by the chief. He momentarily faced away from the guards to talk to her. His expression went from strict to casual. "Miss Nisshin! It's a surprise that Kanna and Shigure used to send five or more men to aid us from these kinds of invasions from the monsters. Now they send one brave lady" His words were nothing but amusement. Saki blushed slightly and nodded. "I'm afraid I won't be around for long to keep that going, sir" She replied.
The chief recoiled slightly. "Oh... Yes, of course. You will leave Shigure to pursue the thrill of adventure. It's just that Shigure and Kanna would never send a lone guard as an aid" He chuckled. "Well... I was just about to send these boys around the village for pest control. The bugs are hiding in small alleys and narrow paths around the houses. I would be grateful if you help around. We were already late with our shipment of iron for Saintsville, we can't afford any more delays... The sooner we resolve this pest problem the better" He then turns to the guards.
"That goes the same with you, boys! Get on it!" With his command, the guards divided themselves into groups and spread out in every direction. After seeing them go, the chief turns to Saki. "I heard our blacksmith is in trouble, Miss Nisshin. I would like you to go and assist them first before everything else" Saki nods at his request and sprints towards the east of the village. The chief yells from behind with a bit of appreciation behind his words. "You're saving our village for the second time, Miss Nisshin! We owe you a lot!"
Saki glanced over her shoulder and nodded before returning her gaze ahead. She remembered where the blacksmith, the father, and his daughter escaped when the prince was in the village causing a scene. She slows down as she reaches the rows of buildings, carefully scanning around her and listening for trouble while walking at a brisk pace. Her head snaps up ahead as she hears a commotion, causing her to immediately sprint ahead.
She stopped at an intersection, where the blacksmith's shop was visible to her left. In there, she saw the blacksmith fighting alone against three bugs. Despite his resolve to defend his home against the bugs, his lack of experience in fighting is very obvious to Saki. From his stance to his methods of attacking, Saki could clearly tell the differences in her capability compared to him. Although lacking, the blacksmith still stands to defend his home, making the bugs hesitate under his persistence.
"Hey!" Saki called out and they all turned to her. "It's... you?!" The blacksmith's eyes went wide at seeing her again. The bugs moved their attention from the blacksmith towards Saki and crawled forward. Saki pulls out her sword and slowly approaches the bugs, making the blacksmith gasp at the sight of her wielding the sword he had given her.
"Cleave the enemies apart!" The blacksmith's eyes went wide once again at her casting a skill. He could see the immense difference between when she was fighting the prince to how she is now. He watched her ready her sword to her right and with a precise aim, she swung at the bugs in front of her with the support of her weight and a sharp intent in her eyes to slash the bugs in one single strike.
He wouldn't miss the sight of her blade cutting through the bodies of the bugs as if cutting through silk, her precise aim, angle, and correct amount of force made the cut clean and thorough. The sight happening before him left him stunned, his gaze only following her sword and her movement.
He gasped as one of the bugs lunged forward. To his eyes, it was incredibly fast. The bug launches itself suddenly without warning, with its jaw threatening to clench to Saki's arm. Just as surprised as he saw the bug lunge, he gasped as Saki swiftly stepped to the side with her arms raising to swing her sword above the same level as the bug lunging at her. It happened so fast that he only saw the lunging bug fall to the ground lifelessly past her.
He could only grip his own sword at the sight of her renewed prowess. One of the remaining bugs lunges to attack, only to share the fate of the first bug. He watches in anticipation as the last remaining bug remains on its spot for a reason he doesn't know else but fear. "Slash true against the bodies of gel!" He watches in clear suspense, following her every movement. Saki swings her sword against the bug, her strike as clean as her prior strikes. She then followed her slash with a graceful motion of thrusting the blade deep into the bug's body.
The bug let out a dying cry as it weakened against her blade and eventually perished. Saki pulls out her sword from the bug with a swing, cleaning her blade, then rushes to the blacksmith. "Are you okay?!" She asks with concern as she sheaths her sword. "Yes, I'm okay. You should calm down for now" He replied as he composed himself as well. "You have grown a lot in a very short time" He frowns as he thinks about her. "It was just yesterday when you showed up here to drive the prince away... How did you grow up so quickly in such a short time?" He asked, full of curiosity and confusion.
"I, um... went to the forest with my friend and slain slimes until I ranked up..." Saki replied timidly. The blacksmith raised his brows in disbelief. "Th-that's all?! And ranked up, you say?!" He went to read her stats and read 'Rank: Village Militia' He stared at the text for a second before turning to Saki. "I... That's... That's incredible. Your growth is swift, this all happened in a day?" He asked and Saki nodded. "My friend described me as a fast learner" The blacksmith smiles in amusement at her reply. "You keep surprising me, lady. I was right to give you that sword and to think it would be used to help me and this village... I couldn't be more proud of it" His words cause Saki to blush.
"I'm glad you're using that sword well, Miss Nisshin. But by the time comes, don't hesitate to replace it with a better sword. As you travel, you will come across many talented blacksmiths throughout the world. They will surely have better materials to forge your swords that are better than simple iron" He added. Saki nods at him. "Yes, but until then, this sword will carry my progress for quite a while" She said.
The shop's door suddenly opens wide, revealing his daughter, Rumi, with a worried expression. "Father! Are they gone yet?!" As she gets out, she sees Saki and gasps, putting up both of her hands on her mouth. "Miss Nisshin!" She hops toward Saki to grab both of her hands and hold them above their chest. "I thought I heard a lady screaming bloody murder outside!" She said with excitement. Saki chuckles shyly, not knowing how to respond back to those words. Rumi looks down on her bandaged wrist. "How's your wrist?" She asked. "Pretty much healed" Saki replies briefly.
"That's good!" Rumi then let go of her hands and looked around. "I can't believe the bugs have attacked of all times as if the commotion with the prince wasn't enough" She frowns as she scans their surrounding. "Oh... I don't have much time. I'm running around trying to see if there is anybody else that needs saving" Saki told them with an apologetic smile. The blacksmith smiles. "Yes, of course. I'm sorry for taking up your time. After this is all over, come visit us here again, okay? A little chat would be nice" He told Saki, Rumi also spoke after him. "Yes! I would like to have a chat with you soon, Miss Nisshin!"
Saki felt a warmth in her chest as she acknowledged their willingness to have her visit them again to talk. She nods at them as a farewell and runs away. They both waved as her figure gradually faded into the distance.