Overlord: Welcoming the Birth of the King
Chapter 66: Return to Carne Village, Meeting Enri

Flame Moon, July 6th.

The approaching evening light had lost the scorching intensity of midday.

Enri bent over, carefully parting the wheat stalks with her head lowered while stepping on the weeds growing beside them. She forcefully pulled out the weeds with both hands.

Sweat dripped down her cheeks and neck.

Seeing the considerable pile of green weeds she'd already gathered, Enri collected them all and walked along the pathway through the wheat field toward the edge.

After exiting the wheat field and placing the weeds on the outermost path,

Enri finally straightened her back. She wiped the sweat from her forehead with her relatively clean arm and let out a soft sigh.

Her sweat-soaked clothes clung to her body, and combined with exhaustion, she longed to find some shade and take a good nap.

But she couldn't slack off.

Looking at the golden wheat field dotted with green before her, especially while breathing in the faint wheat fragrance in the air, Enri's mood improved considerably, and some of her fatigue seemed to fade away.

"Just two more weeks until harvest season."

"The tax collector will probably come then - once a year, and they're always punctual," Enri muttered quietly with a hint of complaint. Though her expression showed clear exhaustion, she still radiated vitality.

"Enri? Are you out here alone?"

A surprised voice came from the wheat field path - it was Aunt Emebei's voice.

Enri turned to see Aunt Emebei and several other village women returning to the village with their backs laden with weeds.

"Auntie," Enri quickly bowed slightly before explaining, "Father went herb gathering in the forest with Uncle Rachimon, and mother needs to look after my little sister, so I came by myself."

"It's just some weeding - I can handle it alone," Enri said shyly.

"How impressive!"

"Working alone must be tough. Let us know if you need anything."

Various words of praise came from the group of women.

"In two weeks, the tax collector will arrive."

"Yes, speaking of which, many outsiders have come to the village recently."

"They're all adventurers, I hear - a bunch of rude and nasty fellows."

"Not all adventurers are like that. Remember that black-haired young man a month ago? The village chief said he was an adventurer too. He even left money before departing, and was quite handsome too."

"Teehee, what are you thinking at your age?"

"Go away! What's wrong with looking? I hear noble ladies in the city keep several... heh."

"Adventurers must earn well, right?"

Watching the women gradually walk away, especially after hearing their increasingly risque conversation, Enri exhaled with slightly flushed cheeks.

The black-haired young man?

Enri remembered too - in such a small village, everyone knew about any newcomers immediately.

She had peeked through her window back then, but it was already dark, making it impossible to see his face clearly.

Adventurers must all be remarkable people, Enri thought before shaking her head.

People from different worlds.

Gathering all the weeds she'd pulled up, Enri spent considerable effort tying them together with rope.

Turning around, she gave a strong tug and hoisted the bundle onto her back. Steadying herself, she began walking back toward the village.

The large bundle of weeds completely covered Enri's head, leaving only the ground at her feet visible. But this didn't bother her - she could walk this path blindfolded by now.

Besides, the wheat field was right next to the village - not far at all.

"You can't see the path like that."

"Do you need help?"

Suddenly, a gentle yet unfamiliar voice came from ahead.

"I can manage," Enri instinctively replied while adjusting the weed bundle on her back.

But then she realized - that voice didn't belong to anyone from the village.

"Grrr." A low growl like some beast followed immediately.

Startled, with her vision already blocked by the weeds and now hearing both a stranger and an animal's growl, Enri instinctively straightened up.

The sudden shift in the bundle's weight threw off her balance, sending her tumbling backward.

"Ah!"

Enri cried out in surprise.

Fortunately, the pile of weeds cushioned her fall, preventing any injury.

Thud!

"Grrr..."

The beast seemed to have been kicked.

"Stop growling - you'll scare people," the gentle voice chided.

Rubbing her shoulder, Enri finally looked up to see a young man in a black robe standing before her. His most striking feature was his black hair - slightly long past his ears but neatly kept. He was looking at her apologetically.

Enri's shoulders shivered as an inexplicable chill ran down her neck, though the sensation disappeared instantly as if imagined.

Then she saw it - the vicious-looking hellhound with bone chains moving across its body standing beside the black-haired youth.

"A monster!"

Enri's face instantly paled.

Though she'd never seen a hellhound before, its appearance clearly wasn't that of a normal beast.

"Don't worry, it won't hurt you."

Seeing Enri's panic, Tang Zheng stepped forward to reassure her helplessly.

Hearing his words and noticing the small hellhound showed no aggressive behavior, Enri gradually calmed down.

"I-I'm sorry."

Blushing, Enri scrambled to her feet, flustered.

Now she remembered - this black-haired youth was the same person who had appeared in the village a month ago.

Though she hadn't seen his face clearly then, she recognized his voice.

Remembering the women's earlier conversation made her cheeks burn even hotter.

"I should apologize for startling you," Tang Zheng waved lightly before turning to the hellhound and pointing at the weed bundle. "Xiao Hei."

"Grrr."

The hellhound's back twitched as the black bone chains wrapped around its body extended out.

The chain's end coiled around the rope binding the weeds, then lifted the entire bundle effortlessly before placing it on its own back.

"That's amazing!"

"But... that's not necessary, I can carry it," Enri said wide-eyed before hurriedly waving her hands in concern, "All those weeds might crush it."

After all, the small hellhound's size paled in comparison to her large weed bundle - its body completely hidden beneath, making it look like a moving pile of grass.

"Consider it compensation for frightening you earlier," Tang Zheng said. "Don't let its size fool you - it's still a magical beast with strength and stamina matching an adult's."

With that, Tang Zheng showed no intention of further conversation, signaling the hellhound to follow as they walked toward Carne Village.

Enri stood frozen for a moment before nervously clutching her rough hands at her clothes and quickly following.

However, she didn't dare walk beside Tang Zheng, instead keeping several steps behind with her head lowered.

Enri, huh.

Tang Zheng sensed her following behind him, his eyes glinting slightly.

During his last visit to Carne Village, he'd left at dawn the next day to focus on leveling up without meeting Enri.

Unexpectedly encountering her here now, she seemed much more naive compared to her future self.

Who could have imagined?

This girl from a remote border village would become one of the world's most formidable figures in the future.

The Conqueror!

Or alternatively, Conqueror General.

When Enri first used the "Goblin General's Horn," she only summoned an ordinary goblin squad.

But the second time triggered a hidden effect - producing an entire 5,000-strong goblin army.

This massive force comprised eight legions. Besides the royal guard, the seven other legions each had a commander with hero-level (≥29Lv) strength.

The royal guard numbered just thirteen, each averaging level (43Lv) - the infamous Thirteen Red Caps!

Including a goblin strategist commanding the entire army at level (51Lv).

With this army, Enri could crush neighboring nations at will if she desired.

Even Tang Zheng felt slightly envious of such easily obtained military power.

Moreover,

Enri later awakened "General" and "Commander" class command-type professions through her own efforts, proving her innate talent in this field.

Considering this, Tang Zheng's mind stirred.

Four-plus years wasn't particularly long or short. Besides leveling up, perhaps it was time to make other preparations.

Previously, he'd been too weak.

Now at his current strength, only Mithril-rank or higher adventurer parties posed any threat - or elite fighters like Climb and the Warrior Captain at this stage.

Hero-level opponents still remained beyond him for now.