"Everyone in the village has been replaced...!? What on earth does that mean?"
"They... they look exactly the same. But I know. They aren't my Papa and Mama. Something is pretending to be them!"
Yugo and the others exchanged stunned glances, struggling to process Shiroi’s incredible claim.
The boy seemed to realize how absurd his words sounded, but he pushed on anyway, recounting exactly what he had witnessed.
"A few days ago, I came into this forest alone. Everyone told me never to come here because of the Magic Armor Beasts, but Mama had a high fever. I was so worried about her that I couldn't just sit there. I snuck out of the house to find medicinal herbs, but when I finally got home... everyone was different. I’d broken the rules, but nobody even scolded me. And Mama, who had been so sick, was suddenly perfectly fine."
As Shiroi recalled that day, his small frame shuddered with terror.
Yugo rested a hand on the boy’s shoulder, his silent gaze telling him he didn't have to push himself. But with tears shimmering in his eyes, Shiroi continued.
"It wasn't just Papa and Mama. It was the neighbors, my friends—everyone. They were all so strangely cheerful, like they were wearing masks of smiles that never reached their eyes. Watching them... it terrified me. I knew they weren't my parents. They weren't the people I knew. It felt like something had stolen their faces and was just pretending to be them. I thought I’d be next if I stayed, so I just ran. I bolted from the house and hid in the woods. And then—"
"—And then you met us," Yugo finished gently.
Shiroi gave a small nod. Yugo pulled the boy close, praising him for his bravery. To sense such an abnormality and fight that crushing loneliness all on his own—the child must have been terrified. Yugo lauded him for resisting despite the odds, then turned to discuss the situation with Presia.
"What do you think of his story, President?"
"Honestly, it’s almost impossible to believe. And yet, I can't imagine Shiroi-kun would lie about something like this..."
"If his story is true, then the landlady’s claim about the Security Force clearing out the Magic Armor Beasts is a lie," Fee added. "Besides, the Arachlaw we just fought was alone, even though they’re supposed to be pack hunters. Nothing adds up."
According to Shiroi, the beasts were still prowling the woods when he fled. There simply wasn't enough time for a Security Force to arrive, wipe out the monsters, and clear out before Yugo’s group reached the village.
However, the lone Arachlaw remained a puzzle. They shared the swarming instincts of Goblins, so seeing one isolated was bizarre. Judging by its desperate hunger, it was likely a stray that had managed to survive even as the rest of its pack was picked off.
That meant something else in these woods had decimated the swarm. A new question loomed: what? Yugo shared his suspicions with Fee and Presia.
"If we take Shiroi-kun’s word as truth, that eerie vibe from the village starts to make sense. We don’t know the full story yet, but I believe we have to look into it."
"I agree," Presia said. "If impostors have taken over, then where are the real villagers? Even if we went to the Security Force, they aren't likely to act without hard proof."
"But what do we do about Shiroi-kun?" Fee asked. "If we just walk him back into town, the villagers will grab him. It’ll be dangerous if they realize he’s talked to us, but we can’t exactly leave him out here in the woods, either."
With zero evidence to back his claims, reporting to the Security Force would likely end with Shiroi being dismissed as a delusional runaway. And if they did act, there was no telling how the situation might escalate. They decided their best bet was to gather intel discreetly. That left one problem: Shiroi’s safety.
They couldn't leave him in the forest, but they had to find a way to smuggle him past the villagers. As they brainstormed, Presia snapped her fingers.
"Wait! I’m sure Hao-kun has a massive hunting bag for wild game! We can borrow it, hide Shiroi-kun inside, and sneak him back into the inn!"
"Perfect! Let’s get in touch and have Melt’s group bring the bag. President, can I leave the talking to Hao to you?"
"Yes, of course!"
Yugo pulled Anhel's Communication Device from his pocket and signaled her. After a brief wait, she picked up. Shiroi watched him with wide, anxious eyes as Yugo quickly laid out the situation.