The Path of Learning (4)
A shout of "thieves!" rang out, but surprisingly, the passengers stayed calm. There was some murmuring, sure, but no one was screaming or fleeing. Instead, it felt like everyone was holding their ground, waiting to see what happened.
Out of the dozen or so passengers, including me, four of us drew weapons and got ready for a fight. Adventurers, no doubt.
I checked my sword and loaded the crossbow—one bolt long, two short.
From the lead wagon where the merchant rep was, a young man hopped down and ran toward the distant group of bandits blocking the road—about ten of them.
Roughly a hundred meters ahead, a mounted man flanked by armed thugs on foot was striding toward us, blocking the path with clear menace.
Among the bandits, I spotted two or three women. That was kinda novel.
The kid had run off to negotiate, probably. If they meant to kill and loot, they'd have ambushed us from hiding.
Maybe they were just thugs shaking down travelers for a toll and calling it a day. Drawing the army's attention wasn't worth it for them, and the merchants knew this route because they were used to it.
The young negotiator came panting back, reported something to someone in the front wagon, then headed our way.
He had a boyish face dotted with freckles. Looked like a merchant's assistant or servant.
He stopped in front of the passengers at the rear wagon and showed his face.
"U-um... s-sorry. E-everyone. Everyone h-has to g-get off. Th-they say they'll l-let us live if we c-comply quietly!"
So that was the negotiation result. Selling out the passengers for safe passage.
And those bandits' main gig was human trafficking, huh?
One female adventurer finally drew her sword.
"Eek!!!"
The servant boy bolted forward at the sight of the blade, while some passengers held their breath and eyed escape routes.
No one in charge—chaos was one wrong move away.
"Everyone, stay in your seats."
Ashu stood calmly and spoke, silencing the anxious murmurs in an instant. All eyes turned to her.
"The forest for cover is too far, and they have a mounted man among them. Fleeing recklessly will just get you killed or captured quickly. There are brave souls here, so trust them and wait a moment."
Royal blood really shone in moments like this—natural charisma.
Ashu gave me a subtle nod. I grabbed my weapons and stood; the two male adventurers and one female followed suit, grabbing swords, spears, shields, and such.
Counting properly, there were twelve bandits including their mounted leader. Only the rider wore armor, so yeah, boss man.
"Heh, with a priestess here, no worries about wounds, right? Even in a scrap like this, she won't play favorites."
She'd kept her hood up since boarding, but the tight top and leather pants made her figure unmistakably female. Toned like Ferio, and... well, provocative curves.
She wielded a thrusting longsword—not broad-bladed, but sturdy like a cross-driver, with solid weight.
"Loot from my kills is mine. But I wanna plug that lead merchant first."
This one looked more bandit than the bandits. Short broom-blonde hair, iron headband, and fierce triangular eyes glaring like axes.
Shorter than the other woman, but battle-honed build—perfect for loading and unloading cargo, as they say.
Weapons: round shield and spear.
"…."
This hulking silent guy, head and shoulders taller than me, seemed shadowkin. Long black hair, brown skin. His bulk was impressive, but those elbow-length iron gauntlets screamed power. Could probably flatten a horse with 'em.
Three against twelve, yet these adventurers showed no fear. Neither did I, honestly.
Just looking at their gear screamed competence. My waist sword might look plain, but Hodo's custom crossbow? That thing packed a punch.
Ashu stayed seated in the wagon—to reassure folks, but mostly because she trusted my skills.
Her eyes were on me, though. If things went south, she'd heal via the ring on the sly.
Killing didn't sit right, but no choice.
Unlike lord- or king-ruled lands, the academy fringes—supposedly "free"—might be rife with this lawless crap. Free to the point of anarchy.
The adventurers hopped down with weapons drawn, and the bandits responded with neck-cracks, blade-checks, and swaggering steps.
Outnumbered, they were cocky as hell.
"Sorry~ I'm out."
The female adventurer suddenly sprinted forward, then veered sharply aside.
"That bitch! Coward!!"
"......"
I was stunned too, but no urge to curse her.
Life-or-slavery stakes. Smarter to bail than fight nameless strangers.
But cheap.
The bandits ignored the deserter, focusing weapons on us. We had the big guy and a ranged weapon, after all.
Perfect timing for her exit.
Instantly, it was four against one—no, three against twelve now.
"Fuck, should we bolt too?"
"......"
Shield-and-spear guy hesitated. Gauntlet brute stayed mute.
Outnumbered and uncoordinated. But whatever they decided, I wasn't ditching my plan.
So I laid it out.
"When I say drop, hit the dirt—no matter what. And stay clear of me. You might get caught in it."
"Oh ho, cocky much? But you got a trick up your sleeve, so let's roll with it?"
"......"
Gauntlet nodded.
Consensus at last. Shield guy took point, gauntlet followed.
I brought up the rear. No complaints about that—Hodo's weird crossbow was why.
Merchants stayed put, no moves. That was their survival MO—no judging.
Non-combatants like civilians, hiring adventurers for exactly this.
Distance closing.
We stuck tight; they spread out to encircle.
At grinning range, two archers by the boss loosed arrows. Battle on.
I dodged and fired two crossbow bolts, dropping the two charging from the left.
Holstered the bow, drew sword. Shield adventurer blocked frontal assault covering me; gauntlet punched aside a spear and sword from the right.
Outnumbered, they focused parrying the swarm.
I charged forward and yelled.
"Drop!!"
"!?"
"What the—crazy bastard! Right at the start!!"
They obeyed anyway.
No showing off Happy Moment in plain view.
So...
"[Two, advance!]"
One bandit I'd downed struggled up—then boom! His bolt-pierced arm exploded, dropping him again. The bolt burst through, flying far to embed in another archer's skull mid-draw.
"[One! Return!!]"
The other downed bandit's body erupted in a small blast, propelling his bolt straight back to me.
I triggered Happy Moment briefly to track it. Time froze: the [1]-marked bolt hovered by my head.
Numbers for precise multi-bolt control.
Dodged the incoming [1] while slicing a bandit's wrist clean off. Instantly, the one behind me ate the returning bolt and flew back.
Five down or disabled in seconds.
"Up!"
"Already over? Kid's got moves!"
Our duo switched to offense. Bandits panicked as tides turned. One ditched his weapon and ran.
"No guards, they said—and a wizard?! Fucked over!! Run! Everyone run!!"
Total disarray. Some dropped arms, surrendering. Far off... huh?
The runaway woman stabbed the last archer in the back.
Boss, stunned by the shift and ambush, spurred his horse to flee without countering.
Bandits shattered. But I wasn't done.
Half-measures left revenge risks—for me and Ashu.
One long bolt left in the crossbow.
I knelt, aimed. Boss just started galloping. Moving target, but easy at my range.
About 150 meters.
Thwung!!
Not a headshot fan. Aimed center-back—solid hit.
"Whoa!! Stealing the horse too? See that, you fucks?! Run and die!!"
No such plans, but watching the boss slump neck-broken from the horse froze the runners. Weapons hit dirt.
"No need to die now, so names time.
Hey, I'm Baradi. This silent beanpole's Chad. He likes you. Chad can't talk, so cut him slack."
Post-fight intros. The woman slunk back shamelessly to her seat like nothing happened.
They ignored her—disapproval clear.
Six of twelve bandits dead, three critically wounded.
Some wounded looked terminal if left.
Ashu said priests never heal enemies on battlefields or adventures—to avoid losing allies to misplaced mercy.
No Geneva Convention here. Survive to a safe village or no healing for them.
Two critically wounded accepted fate, begging for quick ends.
"Fuck, worthless scum ain't worth saving."
Baradi grimaced, stabbing their hearts one by one.
Villainous look, villainous kills—but I knew the bitterness. Foul-mouthed, but first to dirty work.
The remaining four? My business.
One muttered weird shit: "No guards, and a wizard?!"
Not simple bandits, huh.