The Smiling Death-Chapter 362: World Beyond This Place

Meanwhile, inside the village.

In one corner where there was a plain surface, a place made for people to train. Julian and Ethan were currently fighting against each other. It was already past afternoon.

After their spar ended, they walked toward a corner and sat where Katherine, Oliver, and Steven were sitting.

A few other people were sitting in different corners of the ground.

Steffeny watched them with a friendly smile and said, "Hey, that was a good spar. You two are getting stronger slowly."

She was a young woman around their age. She had grey-colored hair and brown eyes. And tall, around 180 cm.

Katherine, who was sitting beside her, nodded in agreement and said, "Yeah, I agree."

Julian sighed slightly and said, "Well, it’s still nothing compared to Amon. He could still defeat me easily."

Ethan nodded and said thoughtfully, "Same... he looks so normal. A harmless boy who can’t even kill a fly."

Katherine spoke thoughtfully, "He sure is stronger than us... but now that you talk about him... have any one of you seen him? Since this morning I haven’t seen him."

Oliver leaned his back against a tree. He shook his head slightly and said, "No... I didn’t. He was not even at the canteen for lunch."

Steffeny casually added, "Not only him... I didn’t even see Scarlett since this morning. She also didn’t come for lunch."

All of them looked at each other. Then they smiled knowingly at the same time.

Katherine spoke excitedly, "They must have gone somewhere together. To spend time with each other."

Oliver smirked and said, "Crazy! They are spending a lot of time together."

Ethan added with a grin, "More like they are not even hiding their relationship."

Julian shook his head in disbelief and said, "That Amon is really crazy! I remember him saying something to us in the canteen on the first day he came here."

Oliver laughed and said, "You mean when he tried to talk with her and nearly got beaten?"

Julian nodded and said, "Yeah! After that we teased him... and he said ’Just you wait’ with that big knowing smile."

Oliver shook his head in amazement and said, "Crazy... he actually did it. To think he got Scarlett... the most beautiful woman in the village... crazy!"

Ethan muttered thoughtfully, "I really have to take a few lessons from him."

Oliver looked at him mischievously and said, "Why? So you could flirt with Steffeny?"

Ethan shouted loudly, "WHAT?!"

At the same time, Steffeny also shouted, "WHAT?!"

Both of their faces turned red.

Ethan quickly looked away and said, "Don’t talk nonsense! Me with that wolf! Never!"

Steffeny also stuttered nervously, "Y-yeah! Don’t t-talk nonsense!"

Then she added defensively, "No way that beast has the guts to f-flirt with me."

Katherine, Oliver, and Julian looked at each other silently.

Then they burst into laughter.

Oliver waved his hand and said, "Yeah yeah, I was just joking."

Julian tried to control his laughter and said, "Don’t take Oliver’s words seriously."

Katherine tried her best to stay serious but couldn’t help laughing and said, "I agree with Julian."

The group of young people continued to chat and laugh, enjoying their own time.

Not knowing that soon their peaceful life in this village would come to an end and their first battle would start.

---

A few days went on like that. Just like every day. But there was something different today.

All the villagers were gathered at the center old men, women, married couples, their children, and youngsters.

They were looking at each other with confusion and curiosity, wondering why they had been told to gather here.

Away from the gathered people, Amon was leaning against the wall of one of the wooden houses.

Beside him stood Scarlett with her arms folded. Both of them were acting as usual with each other. But without a doubt, they had gotten much closer now.

After a while, Roland, Kaelan, Malphas, Ria, Silavan, and two more people stood in front of the villagers.

Roland raised his voice loudly and said, "Hello everyone!"

Roland’s loud voice rang through the center area.

He looked at everyone and continued, "You all might be confused... some of you might be wondering why we have asked all of you to gather here."

The villagers looked at each other, murmuring quietly among themselves.

Roland took a slow breath before continuing.

He spoke seriously, "There is a reason for that. And the reason is something... very important."

Everyone became more attentive.

Roland’s voice turned firmer. "We have found a way to get outside this village."

For a moment, there was complete silence. Then suddenly murmurs erupted everywhere.

"What?!"

"Outside?"

"Did he say outside?!"

Roland raised his hand slightly, trying to calm everyone.

He said firmly, "Yes... a way to get outside of this place. Or more accurately... outside of this loop-like space that has trapped us here for years." 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Shock spread across the crowd.

Some villagers stared in disbelief. Others whispered excitedly. A few looked nervous, unsure whether to feel happy or afraid.

"Is that really possible?"

"After all these years?"

"What if it’s dangerous?"

"Are we really leaving this place?"

Roland waited for the noise to settle before continuing.

He spoke calmly, "I know this revelation is sudden. And I understand that many of you may feel confused right now."

He paused, his eyes sweeping across the villagers.

Then he continued, "But this is the truth. We finally have a chance... a real chance to leave this place."

More murmurs followed.

Some people looked excited, their eyes shining with hope. Others looked worried, glancing at the homes they had lived in for years.

Roland continued speaking with a serious tone. "But escaping will not be easy."

The crowd slowly grew quieter again. He continued firmly, "The path ahead could be harder than anything we have faced before."

His voice echoed firmly. "But there is a chance."

Roland clenched his fist slightly. He continued, "And for that chance... we need everyone’s help. Everyone’s involvement."

The villagers looked at each other again, this time with heavier expressions.

Roland sighed softly before speaking again. He said gently, "I know that many of you have lived peacefully in this village for years. Some of you have built your lives here."

He looked toward the older villagers. Then he continued, "And some of you were even born here... and grew up here."

A few younger villagers exchanged uncertain looks.

Roland’s voice softened. "For those who were trapped here from the outside world... this may be the only chance to return. To see your families again. To see the world you once lived in."

Several older villagers lowered their heads, emotions flickering across their faces. Roland then looked toward the younger generation.

He continued, "And for those who were born here... everything outside may be completely new to you."

He gestured toward the distant forest surrounding the village. Then he said, "But there is an entire world beyond this place."

His voice became stronger again. "A world far bigger than this village."

The murmuring quieted as the villagers listened carefully.

Roland continued firmly. "So whether you were trapped here... or born here... we must move forward together."

He looked at the crowd with determination.

Then he said with resolve, "This will not be easy. But if we succeed... every one of us will finally be free from this place."