Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Unconscious Flag Planting
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Well, now.
I never imagined they'd bite so hard on El as bait.
It was like swinging the fishing rod on a whim and hooking a massive grouper.
I'd come for a picnic vibe, but this was getting annoying.
I'd heard the bandits first showed up in a forest pretty far from here.
Yet here they were, popping up right in this spot. Which meant...
I gathered my thoughts and asked,
"Just to be sure... are you with the bandits...?"
Kekekekekeke.
A burst of raucous laughter cut me off before I could finish.
These fuckers had no manners.
"So you are bandits."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Whoosh! This time, an arrow flew instead of laughter.
I snatched it out of the air, but their laughs didn't stop. If anything, they got louder.
Why? I thought it was pretty cool.
"What a pathetic sight."
What should I nickname that bitch Sor? Just "cunt" enough?
Sor, who'd been eyeing me with utter disdain, suddenly went wide-eyed in surprise.
The bandits reacted the same way.
Their laughter died the moment they saw the arrow clutched in my hand.
"Incredible!"
"Ugh."
I felt someone leap onto my back, accompanied by a peachy scent.
"It's dangerous. Please stay behind me quietly."
The sealed girl ignored me completely.
"Amazing, Outsider! I thought you were flailing in panic, but you've got the arrow right there in your hand!"
"......"
Oh, is that how it looked? Figures.
"Kuhuhuhu. Impressive."
One of the bandits—a burly guy with a massive bow slung on his back—stepped forward.
Not a small fry... named mob? Nah, borderline. Hero among the trash mobs? Something like that.
"Let's see if you can block my attack t..."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Flash! I bolted forward like I had boosters on my back.
The hero mob's eyes bulged as he grabbed his greatbow and swung it at me. Slash. A satisfying sensation—and his arm...!
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Shwick! I tried to sever it, but he rolled away, then sprinted off at full speed.
"Retreat! He's stronger than we thought!!"
"Huh? Huh?"
"Wh-what..."
The flustered bandits exchanged glances before scattering like waves, fleeing in all directions.
Catching a few would've been easy, but it might be a decoy. So I headed to El's side.
"Lady El. We can't pursue them right now."
"Yeah, looks that way. Those scum will call for reinforcements, and we can't take them all with our numbers."
......?
Unexpected.
Merits right in front of her, yet she was rational and reading the situation perfectly?
"This is a blunder by Chief Apiz. Not noticing enemies of that scale near Milf Village... Not like him at all."
El pondered deeply.
She looked way too vulnerable.
"Flat!! Don't leave Lady El's side!!"
"Don't worry! I'll protect my beloved!"
"Flat...!"
Not the lovesick gaze right now.
We were in a hurry.
"Lady Clarir."
"I know. No need to say it."
Everyone knew we had to retreat fast without words.
"Boo... I wanted to investigate the recent gouge in God's Valley together~"
The sealed girl grumbled. Huh? Gouge?
...Was that from when I fell and stabbed it as a last resort?
Nah, probably not.
Anyway, not the issue now. Survival first.
Honestly, I'd come for a stroll, but things had turned urgent.
"Lady Sor. Please stay close to me."
"What? Is that what an escort says? Even if you're not glued to me, protecting me is your job."
Every word from her was so damn rude.
Fuck it, no more talking to her.
And so we hurried back.
Over an hour's distance. Even rushing wasn't enough, and Sor was the problem.
Unlike the others, she was basically a civilian, constantly lagging behind.
I offered to carry her, but she glared venomously, telling me not to touch her.
Fuck, the ugly one pissed me off, so I asked Flat, but even the pretty boy refused.
......What the hell with this bitch?
I had to admire her consistent bitchiness to everyone, but now wasn't the time for tantrums.
"Lady Sor. Do you grasp how urgent this is?"
"......You. Do you even know who I am?"
"I'm Dre."
She kept bringing up the escort thing, annoying me.
I ignored her poisonous glare and forced Flat to piggyback her anyway.
El surprisingly agreed, but Flat himself refused, so it fell through.
"Sorry, Dre. I don't want to touch any woman but El."
Even Flat, who seemed so gentle with ladies, looked utterly disgusted at Sor. And she shamelessly met his gaze like "What?"
El finally snapped.
"Hold on. Do you not get what's happening?"
"I agree with El this time."
Clarir chimed in coldly.
Two heirs of major houses glaring icily, yet Sor scoffed.
"Hate is hate."
But unlike me, Clarir wasn't kind.
"Then we'll have to leave you and go ahead... That okay with you?"
Was that polite or rude?
Sor sneered at Clarir's jab.
"Wow. Heirs of the top houses abandoning a commoner and fleeing alone?"
"Yes, pretty much. We'd protect someone cooperative, but no reason to for the selfish."
Facts hit hard.
"Ha! Excuses come in all flavors."
I had to respect how she sniped back at Clarir without flinching.
I'd hate fighting her.
Pretty sure I'd be bawling in tears after a minute.
Then El, bold as ever, stepped in.
"No, we're not leaving you. On my noble honor, I dragged you into this—I take responsibility."
She said it firmly.
...Really unexpected.
I thought she was selfish at first, but this was genuine—no posturing.
She's starting to seem different.
"Showboating."
Only Sor sneered.
"Haa..."
A sigh escaped me.
This was on Sor.
I hoisted the still smirking Sor over my shoulder.
"Wh-what...! Put me down?!"
Thwack!
Her elbow nailed my nape perfectly. Martial arts training?
It fucking hurt, but I didn't show it and slammed her roughly to the ground as she swung again.
Bam!
"Ack!"
"S-Sor!"
The sealed girl tried to rush over, but I stopped her.
And then.
Slap!!
"......"
"......"
"......"
"......"
Clarir, glasses girl, El, and Flat gaped at me.
Sor clutched her right cheek blankly.
"...Y-you... dare to hit me...?"
Slap!!
"Eek!"
Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap!!
Dull smacking sounds.
I kept going until blood sprayed from her mouth, over and over.
"S-stop! Enough!! You bastard!!"
"Will you behave?"
"Y-you son of a...!!"
Crack!!
"Aaaah!!!"
Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap!
Sor's legs trembled, knees buckling.
She glared in disbelief, then suddenly screamed.
"I-I'll behave!! I said I'll listen!!"
Only then did I stop.
I spoke in a grim tone.
"Time is critical. I don't know your circumstances, but we can't accommodate them."
Sor, slumped dazedly, glared venomously again.
"Ha...! Y-you little shit...?!?!?!"
She rose with a demonic scowl, glaring murderously.
Honestly, pathetic.
"You, you!! Know who I am? One word from me, and in Milf Village..."
"Doesn't matter. Hate it? I'll beat you unconscious and drag you. Your choice?"
"......"
"Pick wisely."
Feeling my sincerity, Sor's face hardened.
I didn't wait, slinging her over my shoulder again.
She trembled but didn't resist.
Just the sound of her grinding teeth by my ear.
Loser bitch. Lol.
"Alright. Let's move."
The frozen group nodded.
"Got it..."
"O-okay..."
"Understood..."
"Y-yes, Dre! Moving now! Yes!"
Everyone but Sor responded promptly.
With her complying silently, our pace quickened.
But were we too late?
Milf Village was in sight, yet we were suddenly surrounded by countless figures.
Several times the earlier number.
"Yo. Thanks earlier?"
Yo could freeze and die, fucker.
The greatbow guy from before waved from the front, new bow equipped.
Mounted archer bandits lined beside him.
"Hey, mister. I don't wanna lose my cute underlings either. Surrender nicely, and I promise to spare your lives."
"Is that so?"
"Damn right."
Hmm.
No way they'd honor it.
Clarir stepped forward, sharing my thoughts.
Her mind synced with mine surprisingly well.
"What a pathetic backwater drama."
Clarir's icy voice made even the rough bandits flinch.
But someone soon scoffed.
"Kekekeke. Feisty bitches are fun to crush."
A thick voice.
Suddenly, a head popped up among the bandits.
Probably the owner. He'd been sitting till now—way taller than a normal man.
...Why sit? Sore legs? Or dramatic entrance?
Either way, lame.
"I'll grope and suck those huge tits raw. Look forward to it."
Clarir's eyes narrowed at the vulgarity.
...Just hit me: most heroines, especially Clarir's type, were set as super tough.
"Hoo."
Oh. She held back.
"You may not know, but me and that girl you're after—we're from the top houses. Know what that means?"
"Know what that meeeeans~?"
Bandits mimicked her mockingly.
...Something off?
Didn't seem like bluff dismissal.
They acted like they knew and came anyway—bold.
...Then.
As expected.
A bandit's shout broke my thoughts.
"So? Top houses or whatever, you're slaves here. What do they care?"
"...True."
Clarir exhaled, uncrossing her arms.
The giant sneered, thinking she'd realized her place, laughed about still sampling her, and...
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Vwooom. Fierce cold swirled around Clarir.
"Huh."
The giant's eyes changed.
"Trying to chat with beasts below monkeys. I'm the idiot."
Sensing danger, the greatbow guy nocked an arrow threateningly.
"Flat."
"Y-yes?"
I asked him, startling him mid-vigil.
"Any defense skills?"
"Yes...!"
"Then protect the others briefly."
With that, I shot forward like an arrow.
As if planned, bandits unleashed arrow barrages.
I deflected wildly with my sword and closed in instantly.
"Uh."
"Eh."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Shwick! Two bandits slashed at chest height tumbled from their horses.
"Raaah!"
"Hup!"
Two more charged from flanks, one with chakram, one spear.
These were greatbow guy's level.
I.e., half of Yulis's skill—two of them.
And greatbow aimed at me.
Matched the "dangerous" threshold I'd told the branch chief.
I clicked my tongue.
Real combat differed from imagination.
If just this level, I should've said more numbers.
Slash-crack.
"Huh?"
"What."
Their weapons sheared off into the air; they panicked into defense.
Block with arms? Your body, your funeral.
I battered them helpless and charged the greatbow. Wind whistled past.
"Grk!"
Boom!
Sound unbelievable for an arrow—more like a cannon.
But I jumped over, slashing the archer mid-leap.
Clang!
"Hm."
Blocked it? Severing Sword, yet...
Probably infused the bow somehow.
"Th-this! This ain't what we heard! Three at our level should be tough!"
"I'm humble."
How'd he know my chat with Apiz?
More to interrogate.
Seeing skilled guys, bandit scale exceeded expectations—plenty to catch.
But it didn't end.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Whooo. Kricklecrack!! Odd noise—then over ten bandits froze solid.
Bandits recoiled from the sudden phenomenon.
Clarir strode toward them.
"Go Clarit!!"
The sealed girl cheered.
A few bandits twitched toward Clarir but froze and collapsed.
.....
Did we even need to run?
"Cr-grk!"
The giant sweated buckets, backing away—his earlier bravado gone.
Fair; even I'd flee facing that head-on.
Clarir's presence was overwhelming.
"Tch! Don't hesitate! Shoo—Guhk!"
I hurled nearby pebbles at the rallying bandit.
Desperate move, but they boomed like bombs, toppling the giant.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Ding! Oof. Ever tried stone-throwing? Granting Skill: Throwing! Thanks.
The bandits eyed me—three leaders downed—and Clarir ramping up, terror dawning.
Hundreds? Rabble.
But unease hit. Could this rabble commit those crimes?
This the main force behind years of kidnappings?
Then.
Thud.
The ground shook.
The vibration underfoot, the trembling— heavy footsteps. No time wasted realizing.
Thud.
Ssssss...
In this chaos, the clear source: a stone humanoid something.
...What the hell?
"Golem?"
El muttered. Golem? That?
Clay-and-stone body, mask-like blunt face.
Looks like a golem superficially.
But that ominous power.
Like female slime Yuna...
No, maybe stronger.
Crackle.
Noise on the blank face— then a face-like shape emerged.
Emoji-ish.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [One of the real ones. Right on plan.] "......"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Ice though? Wait... no? Weird. Or... hm... more maybe...?] What the...?
The pondering golem sighed disappointedly.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Eh, no light or lightning here like heard.] "What are you?"
Clarir asked lowly, sensing the threat.
El clenched her jaw, sweat beading on her cute cheeks.
But the golem kept its pace.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Their artifacts? Don't care what, as long as not themselves, one or two ain't issue.] "What're you..."
Then Prynar gas massively erupted from the golem.
Whoosh!!
Clarir's cold vanished like a lie.
Her eyes widened in shock.
Thud. I turned—El collapsing, eyes blank.
Thud!!
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Taking them for now.] Chills. Goosebumps.
Spec gap too huge.
That thing was a monster incarnate.
Then...
Time to boost my specs!
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Ding! Dump all saved stats.
On the way, I'd asked around; sealed girl taught quick allocation: strongly intend amounts per stat.
But golem was fast.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Ah, Outsider doing something annoying.] "Eh..."
Whoosh. Boulder-like rock flew at me.
Stats finally allocated...
Gong!!
"?!"
Agony nearly blacked me out.
Saw my body fly far, but couldn't stop.
Flying and flying...
I grinned.
Good.
...But seriously, how far?
The endless flight ended.
Ground rushed up. Stats up or not, this landing wouldn't be painless.
...Let's try.
The 'Know Thyself and Know Thy Enemy' I'd learned, tips from Apiz.
Kwaat.
Prynar wrapped me; instantly, I lay softly on the ground from dozens of meters up.
Unbelievable gentleness.
...Success.
Joy surged.
With this, I could handle most situations—even that golem.
I opened my eyes.
"Damn."
Beyond imagination. That golem.
Even mid-stat-up, the humiliation and rage of being batted away burned my chest.
Not exactly golem...
It said artifact, right?
Gold's lightning spears flashed in mind.
Yuna grumbled if they were his too.
Monster tied to top houses...?
I rose slowly, sighing.
No rush to regroup.
They'd be fine awhile.
Golem surely neutralized.
I raised my sword. Slightly bent.
Didn't fully deflect the attack.
But counterattacked.
Swung instantly for 'Spatial Slash'.
Rare use lately; unsure damage, but felt good.
No way golem unscathed.
Neutralize it, Clarir handles rest.
Even if just stalled, bought them escape time.
Now me.
Bandits likely tracking.
Golem took slash but survived—probably tipped them I'm alive.
Damn. Rough road to village.
Detour elsewhere? But to save possibly trapped four, no choice.
I dashed ahead.
Surprisingly unhindered, reached gate.
Guards startled.
"Why alone?"
I asked urgently.
"Any of my morning party pass here?"
"That knight Flat and his pretty lover, plus Sor came."
What about Clarir?
Sealed girl Ashita?
Captured?
Golem couldn't move...
Damn. No time.
Sprinted to guild.
Passing scenery blurred.
Soon at guild...
What now?
Crowd in front; familiar uniforms.
Delinquette girls from pre-op briefing, joining mission.
Faces chatting with sealed girl too.
They wailed to adventurers and knights.
Knew Ashita missing?
One girl spotted me, pointed, gasped.
Poked someone beside, whispered; that someone...
...Rumrat?
Rumrat saw me, startled slightly, then grinned.
Bad vibes.
...Wait, this overlaps weirdly. No?
"That guy!"
All eyes on me.
"He's not just the creep who groped these poor girls today—he's a key bandit trying to sell them off, and knows Lady Ashita's whereabouts!"
"What nonsense..."
Then someone stepped from Rumrat: Sor.
Never thought her face welcome.
Whatever, she saw earlier...
"It's true!"
Sor pointed, yelling.
"He sold Lady Ashita and Lady Clarir! I saw it with my own eyes!"
.....
.....
Ridiculous.
"Hey! Stand still!"
Knight advanced aggressively.
Adventurers approached cautiously.
Situation shitty, but best to get caught meekly.
That was the plan.
So I punched the knight's face off.
"Grahk?!"
He flew rolling, out cold.
Stunned crowd screamed in horror.
I strode to frozen Sor.
"One thing."
"......"
"Can't explain properly?..."
Drew sword, held steady.
"You all die."