25 Chapter 24 - Trouble at the Village (4)

"They are shaking in their boots. They are afraid of confrontation. Cowards who put on a front. As the elite of the elite, what do you think we should do? That's right. Show these village bumpkins how real warrior fight!" Renata barked. "Huh!?" I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. Did my ears hear that right? Did Renata just praise and insult the village militia at the same time? The reaction of my classmates was the same as me. Their faces were filled with confusion as they shifted their gaze between Renata and the village militia.

"The hell did you just say?" one of the village militia yelled angrily. "We're cowards? Afraid? Hah, who the hell do you think you are!?" one of the militia spat on the ground. "You want to die, bitch?" threatened one of the village militia. Renata smirked, "You want to kill me? Let's see if you dare," Renata provoked. Then, an unbelievable amount of pressure came out from Renata, washing the village militia with fear and trepidation. The aggressive militia flinched back, but they were still angry, evident by the expression on their faces. "Amazing," Wortel muttered as the tip of his lips curled up. Wortel's eyes were filled with admiration, although Renata's pressure made his knee slightly buckle down. My classmates did not know this, but Renata was going easy this time. As her little brother, I knew what Renata was like when she went all out. Brr, just thinking about it scared me.

The village militia all backed down, causing Renata to sigh. She retracted her pressure earlier and shook her head. Then, Renata looked at the middle-aged village militia beside her, "The rest is up to you," she smiled. The middle-aged village militia standing beside Renata took a deep breath before stepping forward. "Lads!" the middle-aged village militia shouted. The younger village militias were startled, and their bodies jolted upwards. "What the lady said is correct. Tell me. Which one of you isn't scared, aren't worried for your life?" the middle-aged village militia scanned the village militias, and most of them lowered their heads. However, there were some that still held their head high. They continued to grit their teeth, not only from anger but from frustration too. That was until one of the ones that still held their head high stepped forward.

"No. She's wrong. I'm not afraid. I'm ready to lay down my life for Darug Village, for the people, women, children, and elderly…. And most importantly, my home," the young village militia spoke with passion in his voice. "Yeah, like he said," the other young village militia, who did not lower his head, also stepped forward. Not only that, but one by one, the village militia all stepped forward, standing beside the first young village militia with their makeshift spear in hand. "Yeah, we are not afraid. We are the people from Darug Village. We can't rely on outsiders to keep our village safe. We must do so with our own hands!" the young village militia shouted.

The bald, middle-aged village militia had smiles all over his face. "Then what should we do, lads?" he asked loudly.

"Protect our home!"

"Protect our families!"

"Defend the children!"

"Prove that bitch wrong!"