"Hey, leader!" someone called out to Hairu.
He turned his head and saw a group of scouts emerging from the forest.
"Hey, Led. Did you wait long for us?" the scout in front asked with a grin.
"Nah, not too long," Hairu replied. "We just wrapped up the second wave of the defense."
"Good job, Led. Sorry we took so long. Tyuri wanted to speak with you about something important."
Hairu remembered Tyuri well from the starting room. He had stood out among the scout candidates—about 19 years old, tall, with black hair and a mole near his left eye, close to the forehead. His squad was memorable too: Aiko, a short, quiet girl with silver hair and deep navy eyes—far more capable than she let on. Then there was Nori, her sworn protector. Nori had generic black hair and eyes, but was taller and incredibly fast, never leaving Aiko's side.
"Let's talk inside the command building," Hairu said, motioning them forward.
The building was simple but important—its only source of light was a single dangling lamp, but it had good soundproofing, perfect for strategic discussions.
Once inside, Tyuri got straight to the point. "We've discovered a new monster in the forest. We believe it's the boss of this wave defense mission."
Hairu's eyes narrowed. "What kind of monster?"
Tyuri hesitated, then said, "An orc."
"An ORC?!" Hairu exclaimed, stunned. "Goblins were already a pain, and their stats barely average 2, with stamina being their highest. But orcs? That's a whole new level. If I remember correctly, their stat ranges are something like: 10 Endurance, 7 Strength, 3 Stamina, 2 Intelligence…"
He fell silent for a moment, processing the implications.
"How long until it reaches the village?" Hairu asked.
Tyuri, Aiko, and Nori gathered together, whispering among themselves for a few minutes. Then Tyuri turned back.
"Estimated time of arrival… five days."
"Five days…" Hairu muttered under his breath. His mind raced. I need to prepare. Reinforce the defenses, train the squad, check supplies. Everything needs to be perfect. He clenched his fist. I should've discussed this with my vice leader sooner.