16. Red Evil Mercenaries
“Bella, why are you suddenly so pissed off?”
“I'm not pissed off, fuck… I said I'm not.”
Why the hell is she acting like this all of a sudden?
I'd passed out and woken up to find Bella driving the carriage in my place. She was doing okay, but her skills were still seriously lacking. You think it's easy just because you watched from the side? Sure, compared to real professional coachmen, I'm way below par myself…
But I had some confidence that I was better than novice drivers with little experience. Anyway, I took over the reins and whip, and as I drove on, Bella had been acting a bit off these past few days.
“Come on, you're totally pouting… Your cheeks are all puffed up.”
“Fuck off, you lunatic.”
Just like now—like I'd flipped some switch I shouldn't have. She used to boldly speak up about whatever was bothering her, so why was she suddenly acting all prickly like this? This wasn't like her at all…
Bella kept bristling at everything, snapping at me nonstop. The problem was, I had no clue what I'd done wrong. Was it because I'd used berserk on my own…? No, I was the victim there too. She'd suddenly confirmed my intent out of nowhere, and the ability activated. I felt wronged myself.
Thinking she might be mad about getting hit with the ability, I apologized, but she said that wasn't it.
“You're really not mad at me because of that, right?”
“Hey, I told you I'm not mad!”
“Seriously not because of the berserk thing?”
“F-fuck! No! I even said I was sorry about that, you idiot. I was so goddamn slow I got hit everywhere, making you hurt—that's what I feel sorry about!”
I awkwardly scratched my cheek and hunched over at Bella's unnecessary outburst.
“…Well, if that's the case, why yell about it?”
“Argh, this is just me being sorry!”
How the hell is that the tone of someone who's sorry? Who apologizes by yelling like that? Jeez.
But what was the point of arguing? She said it wasn't that, so…
“Fine, I'll believe you.”
“Hey, it's not about believing…”
Suddenly, Bella started to say something but stopped, thrusting her fist right in front of me.
“Wah…!”
So it finally happened! Her anger exploded, and she was gonna punch me? My shock didn't last.
A sharp arrowhead glinted right before my nose. And in her fist, I saw the arrow she'd caught.
Whoa, that almost killed me…
“W-what the hell?”
As I stammered in surprise, Bella glared furiously in the direction the arrow came from.
“…Fuck, which bastard…”
Her low growl rumbled. Red mana rippled around her body like she was about to draw her greatsword and charge any second.
“You hiding there…! Think I don't know? Get the fuck out now?!”
As Bella shouted while glaring that way, the bushes rustled, and a few people emerged.
Their clothes were ragged and filthy, looking just like bandits. Bella eyed them and demanded,
“What the hell are you?”
But they didn't answer, just gripped their weapons. Bella snorted in disbelief.
“These fuckers got some balls.”
In an instant, that ridiculously massive greatsword was in her hand. Where the hell did she pull that from? She definitely wasn't holding it before…
I stared puzzled, then glanced aside. There was a familiar-looking bag slumped pathetically nearby.
“Huh?”
It was my magic tool bag? The one where I stored the magic items I'd secretly bought behind Cheong-ah's back—my little collection stash. I usually kept it under the bed, but I'd brought it just in case when leaving Leventen…
Why the hell was it there?
Bella noticed me spacing out and asked worriedly,
“What's up? Did the arrow hit you or something? I blocked it fine.”
“No, that bag. It looked familiar.”
I mumbled blankly, and she shrugged.
“Oh, that? I borrowed it. Yours, right? Yeah, you know my greatsword's huge, so I was looking for something to store it in and found it in the corner of the carriage. Borrowed it for a bit—what, problem?”
“No, not a problem, but…”
Even with space expansion and storage enchantments, magic bags have limits. And as far as I knew, that one's internal space wasn't huge. I'd bought it specifically to hide my purchases from Cheong-ah…
So, it could barely fit one of Bella's absurdly massive greatswords. Meaning…
“Wasn't there other stuff inside? Like other magic tools.”
“Oh, other stuff? Yeah, there was. Worried I threw it out or something? Relax, you think I'd toss your shit? Big sis handed it off to Cheong-ah safely, punk.”
“…”
Of all people, why Cheong-ah…? She could've given it to me. Wait, does that mean Cheong-ah already knows I bought magic tools? Then why hasn't she said anything till now?
I started feeling uneasy. Meanwhile, the bandits approached. Oblivious to my turmoil, Bella mistook my pursed lips for sulking over her silence and glanced apologetically before hopping off the carriage.
“Uh, Cheong-ah said she'd tell you later, but since you didn't know till now, maybe she forgot? She spaces out sometimes. Cut her some slack. Anyway, I'm off?”
She sauntered off casually, greatsword slung over her shoulder like a well-fed predator eyeing wounded prey. I just stared blankly at her back, lips still pursed in thought.
…What the hell am I gonna say to Cheong-ah?
Worried about Bella fighting bandits? Please. Obviously,
“Those goddamn fuckers…!”
Our Bella would sweep them aside on her own.
§
“Those goddamn fuckers…!”
With a roar, Bella charged the bandits like a storm.
Having faced hundreds, thousands of soldiers without flinching, taking on a handful of countable bandits didn't scare her—instead, she barreled in full of fight.
The bandits faltered at her ferocious aura and overwhelming mana output. Before they could wonder if they'd poked the wrong bear, her massive greatsword loomed before them.
Not for slicing or stabbing like a normal sword, but blunt and thick like a mace or hammer—meant to smash them dead.
First target: the bastard who'd dared shoot an arrow at Ian.
“You dare shoot an arrow at our Ian's head…?!”
Her words blunt and gruff, but her feelings for him ran deep—on par with her drive to reclaim her kingdom.
“Die, you piece of shit…!”
Too heavy for a normal person to swing, staying put meant a crushed skull. The bandit ducked in panic, his decent reflexes letting him dodge the greatsword by luck.
“Eek…!”
“Oh ho?”
But Bella's attacks weren't just the sword. As he bowed his head, her knee—wrapped in tight red leather pants—greeted him perfectly.
Crack…!
Straight to the philtrum. His neck snapped back from the impact, and Bella seized his face like she'd been waiting.
Boom…!
She slammed his head into the dirt. It cratered deep into the soil.
“Huuuuh…”
The other bandits eyed the scene warily. A comrade's head just planted in the ground—who wouldn't?
What do we do?
What, run!
Can we even escape?
I dunno…
When are those guys showing up?
Quick glances exchanged. Meanwhile, Bella scanned them fast.
…These fuckers are weird.
Their clothes screamed ragged bandits, threadbare and filthy. But their weapons? Way too high-quality. Well-maintained, no chips, sturdy—not something bandits would scrounge.
Come to think of it, that arrow at Ian…
It had a proper arrowhead. Sure, adventurers could buy those easily. But
Bandits in rags using proper arrows…?
With that money, they'd buy armor first, sharpen sticks for arrows as threats. Or maybe they robbed someone carrying such gear? Nah, no escort would use these ragtag losers for high-end weapons.
Questions piling up—
“Hraaah…!”
One man leaped at her with a fierce shout, swinging his sword. Bella snapped back, blocking with her greatsword.
Clang…!
Sparks flew. She shoved him back with raw power. He flipped lightly away and landed.
“You sneaky bastard, ambushing me…!”
As Bella fumed, the man's eyes widened in shock.
“Huh? Captain Bella?”
“…Huh? What the fuck.”