Goat Village sat beside a clear stream called Maple Creek. It was a fairly large village, with roughly a hundred households.
Most of its residents made their living by farming the fertile land beside the stream and raising a breed of hardy, wool-bearing goats.
Gauss recalled what he knew about the village as he guided the Land Bird slowly along the country road.
The village seemed to be in decent shape. Though some sections of the wooden fence were damaged, there were no signs of extensive destruction and subsequent repairs.
An elderly man with graying hair was waiting at the village entrance with several other able-bodied adults. The shepherd boy they had met up the road must have returned to report their arrival.
"You must be the esteemed adventurers sent by the Adventurer's Guild?"
The old man had noticed their neatly displayed badges.
"That's right, Village Chief. I'm Gauss, the team leader. These are my teammates, Alya, Theron, and Shadow."
Gauss dismounted and replied politely. He also showed the old man the commission papers stamped with the Adventurer's Guild seal to prove their identities.
"We've been commissioned by the Guild to help train your village's militia and clear out the monsters troubling the surrounding area."
After confirming their identities, the old man breathed a sigh of relief and led them into the village.
"Village Chief, what kinds of monsters are most common around here?"
As they walked along the village road, Gauss took the opportunity to gather information.
"Goblins, kobolds, and a group of skeletons. They say there was once a battle on the land around our village, and many bodies were buried here. So, every now and then, a skeleton's hand comes poking out of the ground."
"I see."
Gauss nodded, already planning out their next few days.
Thanks