Helping A Small Village

“Stunned at my genius, no doubt.” Sato ran his hand through his hair. “I’m pretty sure the only person who could even comprehend a fraction of my plan would be Idalec! But he’s merely my pawn because he’s been an inside man for me this whole time!” Sato exclaimed, clenching his fist in front of himself, “Sent to me by the angels!”

Everyone looked over at Idalec now. ‘I can’t imagine anyone is falling for this.’

“Wow, I didn’t know,” Carrot said tiredly,

“Master Sato is such a genius~” Sunya applauded,

“Of course I am~” Sato sang over to Sunya, “That’s why I’m not even a gram worried about the Calamity because everything is playing right in my hand.” Sato opened his hand and pointed his palm up at the sky.

“Pardon my interruption, master, but is that why, by chance, you didn’t bring any food with us? Have you in fact already hid some food along our path?" Garia inquired,

Sato's smile fell into a frown; his hand was still out, stretching, making him look suddenly like a beggar. “Aaaaaaa.” Sato droned on, “We’ll get there when we get there…”

“Wait, nobody brought food?” Prix asked, looking around. “Did you not even bring your tent, Sato?”

“I have our tent~” Sunya said, lifting the tent Sato and his harem sleep in.

“God blessed us.” Prix breathed out in relief, carrying her own tent.

“Anyway! I didn’t finish explaining my grand plan.” Sato said, taking over the airwaves again, moving his hands in an accordion gesture, “See, I already know who the Calamity is. In fact, my angels say that they hid amongst us!”

“So you're the Calamity?” Prix asked pointedly,

“No,” Sato answered indignantly,

“Well, we only have two guys in our group. Idalec doesn't seem like the Calamity, which only leaves you. Also, we all saw Calamity out in the field yesterday, so it can’t be one of us.” Prix reasoned,

Sato paused, his eyes wandering up as if he was listening to a cue. “No, the Calamity is among us-” Sato snickered, slapping his knee, looking back at everyone. “Forget I said that-”

“Sato?” Idalec cleared his throat. ‘How should I put this?’ “Do you think you could be insane?”

“I am insane- insanely cracked, that is!” Sato bragged,

“Yeah, Master Sato is insane!” Carrot agreed readily,

“Ye…” Sunya trailed off. “No, Master isn’t crazy~” Sunya defended Sato,

“You're such an idiot, Sunya~” Luna mocked Sunya. “He admitted it himself that he is crazy.”

“The lion doesn't concern himself with whatever we're talking about.” Sato said dismissively, “Let’s get back on track… which was…” Sato looked at Prix expectantly,
“What?” Prix asked unamused,

“I’m listening-” Sato said, intertwining his fingers, “To you.”

“Master is so considerate.” Carrot managed between huffs.

There was a moment of silence as Prix looked at the road ahead. “I thought you had a plan?” Prix looked back at Sato. “Should know what we’re doing?”

“Well, I wanted to hear it from you to make sure you know.” Sato panted,

‘It looks like Carrot is really dragging Sato down.’ Idalec wondered if he should ask someone to help Sato out. ‘Perhaps we could take a break to let them rest up?’

“I already told you where we’re going,” Prix said calmly,

“No, you didn’t.” Sato snapped back,

“I told you not even an hour ago.” Prix exasperated,

“I knew that.” Sato replied, “You can just admit that you don’t remember what the actual plan was.” Prix didn’t say anything to that.

“Easy ragebait.” Sato mused under his breath as they kept walking.

“I told you so~” was the first thing Sato said as they stumbled upon a village by, which was a collection of fewer than ten homes with fields around. “It’s all part of the plan.”

Prix was seething as she looked at her map; there was supposed to be a village a few kilometers away called Bloom, but she had specifically planned to avoid it. “Tsk.”

“That’s right, keep malding, little bro. Cuz I just can’t stop winning.” Sato said, “New slave girl here I come~.”

“We’re not buying any more slave girls,” Prix said, putting away her map,

“But it's tradition at this point! To add one new slave from each town!” Sato complained loud enough that some of the kids who had been running in the settlement spotted the eight heroes,

“There are eight bandits!” one of the kids yelled out before all the kids ran away,

“Why would they get that idea?” Sato asked, obviously, as Prix and Idalec facepalmed. As they got closer to town, some of the villagers had gathered up with makeshift weapons, pitchforks, a few scythes, and fire pokers.

“Dinner came out!” Luna said happily, raising her paw, a fire almost instantly starting to form.

“Luna, I already told you not to kill people, didn't I?” Idalec huffed,

“FINE!” Luna bemoaned; the peasants who once looked so ready to fight against the eight suddenly started to look a lot more nervous. Luna put down her paw, “But if they attack us, they had it coming!”

“I’m really sorry!” Prix ran up further ahead and gave these farmers a curtsy,

‘Fascinating that a princess would greet even peasants like this.’ Idalec mused, ‘Maybe that is what I lack to be good?’ Idalec broke out into an uncharacteristic jog. When he got close to Prix, Idalec also bowed to the farmer, “Greetings.”

“So you aren’t bandits?” some of the peasants asked,

“We could be?” Luna taunted them, “But then again, what can we steal from you surfs? Ehh? Honorless, copperless, joyless.” The peasants held up their weapons again with angry expressions.

“If you ain't bandits, who are you?”

Prix opened her mouth, but Sato beat her to it. “I am the heavenly hero Sato Sato, leader of the heroes party, some call me Darksama-sama- it’s like a nickname- liberator of Letin, redeemer of Rome, former king of Rome, judge of Rome,” Sato was counting off on his fingers, “Based beyond belief, chosen by god… ahhh…” Sato looked around himself as if he hadn’t stroked his own ego enough. “And current harem king?”

‘At least Sato has an imposing gaze.’ Idalec rolled his eyes,

“I’m Erik the elder,” one of the presents said, lowering his weapon.

“Is that it?” Sato asked expectantly,

“Yes.” Erik said, “I’m the head of our clan.”

“Aren’t you too young?” Sato asked Erik, who looked well into his forties. “Aren't politicians supposed to be at least 80 or something?” Erik and Sato blinked at each other. “Whatever, I guess you're unc enough.” Sato waved dismissively,

“His name is just Sato,” Prix said tensely, motioning to Sato.

“And you are?” Erik asked cautiously,

“Prix,” Prix said

“Nice to meet you.” Erik nodded, turning a little to Sato. “So you're a hero?”