Unfortunately, yes.

You consider ways of making her stay longer so you can spend the night fighting. But you can't think of any that wouldn't also piss her off, like lying about there being special ingredients back at the ruins or something. No, patience is a virtue. It took a great deal of patience to grind your way to where you are now, so waiting a day or so before you get to leech off of a hero's success shouldn't be that hard.

So when Morwyn says that it's getting late and it's time to head back to the village she's staying at, you comply. Until you realize something.

"Uh... Mistress Morwyn?" you ask.

"Yeah?" she replies, glancing back at you.

"Is it safe for me to go into a village? I'm still a monster."

"Shouldn't you count as a companion of mine or something at this point?"

"I doubt it. I don't think out companionship is... official."

"Well dontcha worry little guy, I'll just tell off any other hero that tries to fuck with you. As for the NPCs... I doubt they'll do much."

"And if they do?"

She shrugs. And doesn't say anything more about it.

That's not a good sign.

You eventually step out of the forest and you can clearly see the setting sun, having almost vanished under the horizon. You also see the village Morwyn was talking about, a small settlement built near the forest. You can see lights shining there to prevent the fast approaching night from shrouding it in darkness. To a hero it probably looks comforting, but you're terrified of what might happen to you if you approach. But Morwyn is walking in that direction, which means you are too.

At least the terrain is better here. Just grass, not a lot of bushes or trees blocking your path. Just wide, hilly plains. You'd prefer them without the "hilly" part, but it's still a drastic improvement. So you have almost no problem keeping up with your mistress. You're still lucky she's only walking, though. If she was more on the athletic side, you'd have been left behind long ago.

Then comes the moment of truth. The two of you step into the village. It's a small one, so there's no wall and seemingly no guards. That's a relief, at least. But then a villager girl passes by and spots you. And runs away, screaming for help. Morwyn laughs at this, but you don't find it quite so funny. Your little heart is beating profusely in fear of the help that may or may not arrive as a result of the girl's screams.

"I don't think this is safe," you whisper to your mistress.

"Relax, it'll be fine."

How can she be so calm?!

"But what if that lady comes back with a bunch of guards and I die?! Have I not made it clear enough how badly I don't wanna die?"

"Just trust me on this one."

Trust a hero? No thanks. But do you have a choice at this point?