The first thing I do after operating the Angler is blocking off the alleyways in the shopping district.

  Wooden crates, carts—anything will do. I diligently barricade every path except the main road to ensure no one can get through.

  "That takes care of the smaller routes."

  With the Angler, even heavy objects can be moved easily.

  I operate the golem’s arm, letting out a deep, heavy thud as I stack obstacles to seal the gaps between buildings.

  Next, I block off the southern entrance of the shopping district.

  Using the golem, I pile up wooden crates, then add carts, stone statues, barrels—anything rge and heavy—stacking them endlessly to form a barricade even a child couldn’t slip through.

  Monsters won’t easily jump over something that big and heavy, and if there’s a wide-open path elsewhere, they’ll naturally flow in from that direction.

  Once I’ve used up all the visible materials to finish the barricade...

  "Liberta!! I’ve gathered everyone!"

  Just as I finish, Nel returns with a group of people.

  Led by Jink, along with Punk and nearly ten other men.

  "Kid!! You really think we can protect the shopping district?!"

  There should be more people in the shopping district, but most are probably too scared to fight.Did Nel convince Jink, who then managed to gather these men?

  "Yes! If everyone cooperates, we can definitely win!!"

  I puff myself up to ensure their efforts aren’t in vain.I can’t show fear—I nod confidently from atop the golem, making sure they don’t see through the act.

  Fighting alongside Esmeralda taught me something.In games, NPCs move exactly as instructed, but in reality, even if people know what to do, fear makes them hesitate and doubt orders.

  The key is to keep them convinced that their actions will lead to victory.

  Hesitation only breeds the worst outcomes.

  So I tell myself—stand tall.

  "Amina should be back soon—""Liberta! Sorry to keep you waiting!"

  Just as I’m about to expin the pn—

  "Ah, Amina? Perfect timing."

  Amina’s voice calls from above. I look up and see, for some reason, flying figures behind her.

  "Who are they?""Papa! The southern gate was destroyed, so I brought everyone here!""'Everyone'?""Hello, you must be Liberta? My daughter said it’d be safer here..."

  Even after nding, the figures don’t disappear. Behind Amina stand two adult birdfolk—a man and a woman, likely her parents—followed by five more birdfolk.

  From the looks of it, her siblings?

  "Yes, this pce should be safe for now. We’ll be busy soon, so any help would be appreciated.""Of course. My wife and youngest can’t fight, but me and the older boys can help."

  My guess seems correct.Unlike the somewhat timid father, the two brothers gre at me with clear dissatisfaction.Maybe because they’re older and more physically imposing?

  "Understood. Then, ma’am, you should evacuate for now—"

  But strangely, they don’t argue.Why?

  Because every time one of them looks like they’re about to speak up, Amina gnces back—and they flinch into silence.

  The sibling hierarchy is acting as a perfect deterrent.To me, Amina’s always been cheerful and kind, but seeing her brothers shrink under her gaze makes me realize there’s another side to her I’ve never seen.

  "Amina’s father and brothers—""Ah, how rude of me. I’m Jeff, and these are—""Wife, Juna! I heard there’s plenty to eat here~!""Ald.""Igl.""Uda.""Eselda, at your service!!""...Obel."

  Some of them are a bit too honest, but more aerial fighters are a welcome addition.

  "So, those joining us are Jeff, Ald, Igl, and Uda?""Yes. Eselda will stay with Juna and Obel.""Understood."

  I readjust the pn in my head. With their added strength, we should be able to stabilize the defense.

  "Now, back to the shopping district’s defensive strategy!"

  We don’t know how close the enemy is.Time is short.

  "Sorry for the rush, but Jeff, scout the southern gate and monitor monster movements. Ald, check the east. Igl, north. Uda, west.""Got it. Let’s go.""Understood.""Sure thing~!""Be right back!"

  From the second-floor windows, people peek out at us.Are they hopeful? Anxious?

  Their mixed gazes don’t shake my confident stance.

  "This is a good start. Having fliers means we can gather intel on the enemy. At this rate, we might even wipe out the monsters ourselves."

  I crack a joke, lightening the mood.

  "Then maybe the king will reward us with delicious food and treasures."

  Morale is key.I treat this like a new game mechanic—something to tackle seriously.

  "Juicy meat...""Sweet treats...""Warm furs..."

  Dreams are motivation.The impossible, the improbable—what could be.

  "Wouldn’t that be nice?"

  Childish dreams, but honestly, those three rewards sound great.

  "Liberta, you forgot the booze.""Hell no!!"

  Jink chimes in, followed by Punk, ughter spreading through the group.

  "I want a new bed.""Dumbass, aim for a mansion!""Who’d maintain that? Just cut my taxes!""““Now we’re talking!!””"

  If we succeed, maybe we will get rewards.Deep down, we know it’s unlikely—but beyond protecting our families, we want a reason to fight.

  The mood turns rowdy, but the tension never fully leaves their faces.This is just bravado.

  "Then let’s fight hard and cim it all!"

  I won’t let that energy go to waste.

  I py along, convincing myself too.

  Everyone clutches makeshift weapons—a ragtag force.But they’re here because they know hiding won’t save them.

  Raising a fist, I shout—

  "“““““Ooooooh!!!”””””"

  Morale matters.

  The difference between fighting with or without determination will shape this battle.

  "Now, let me expin the pn."

  Standing atop the golem, I begin.No paper, so I use a wooden board as a makeshift bckboard.

  "The enemy is goblin zombies. We don’t know the exact types, but given their numbers, there are likely higher variants—Hobs, Knights, Soldiers."

  A crude map of the shopping district, drawn in ink.

  "Fighting them head-on will exhaust us fast. So, we’ll take them down as efficiently as possible."

  Using my experience, I devised a way to minimize risk while maintaining the defense.

  "The narrow alleys are barricaded with the golem. If monsters break through, it’ll be from the main northern road."

  I trace the path with a stick.

  "The southern entrance is sealed too. So they’ll enter from the north and hit a dead end."

  The shopping district is a straight path from north to south.With our limited forces, splitting our focus would be suicide.

  "Wouldn’t blocking the north entrance be safer?""A fair point, Punk. But monsters—especially aggressive ones—can sense humans. They don’t know exact locations, but they’ll move toward us. That’s why vilges get overrun during stampedes."

  A siege here would fail—this isn’t a fortress.If they find a gap, they’ll slip in and ambush us.

  "The broken city gate proves it. Never underestimate monsters that fear no death. So instead, we control their movement—funnel them into a kill zone."

  My crude drawing might not be clear, but the adults stare intently, clinging to hope.

  "Luckily, they’re undead. Stronger, faster, tougher than regur goblins—but with a fatal weakness."

  What I’m pnning is a trap I’ve used before.Perfect for undead.

  Not enough to kill a boss, but enough to devastate the horde.

  "We’re creating a Light Kill Zone."

  Undead universally fear light.Fire works too, but in a town, that’s just asking for disaster.

  Light is safer.

  "First, we line these areas with light mps, flooding them with brightness."

  Common household magic mps, powered by light stones.

  "Light from both sides, eliminating all shadows."

  The Light skill is a basic magic spell—just creates light.Against normal foes, it’s just illumination, maybe a fshbang at best.

  Most skip it since magic tools can replicate it.But against undead or dark-attribute foes, it deals minor damage—like a slow burn.

  This is the same strategy I used to lure Count Clermont into a trap.A makeshift light-attribute dungeon.

  Of course, this alone won’t annihite the horde.The damage is minimal.

  This is just a setup—a distraction for the real trap.

  "We need three things."

  I raise a finger for each.

  "One: As many lumberjack axes as possible. The golem will break them, so extras are a must.""Two: Dig a knee-high trench across the entire road.""Three: Musical instruments."

  The most crucial item in this situation.

  "Instruments?"

  Jink tilts his head.I nod firmly. "They’re vital."

  Then, I turn to the linchpin of this pn.

  "Amina.""This operation hinges on you."

  All eyes snap to her, startling her.

  "Me?""Yes."

  I never thought we’d use this strategy so soon.Her skills are underdeveloped, her gear incomplete—but we’ll make it work.

  "We need your voice."

  I step down from the golem, meeting her eyes.

  "My... singing?""Yes.""That’ll win?""It will."

  No lies. Just the truth.

  She smiles. "Okay, I’ll sing!""Thank you."

  Then, let’s begin.

  Time to show these monsters the terror of a multi-tasking idol.

  "IDOL LIVE—COMMENCING!!"