Chapter 24
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Going Out (3)
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Objectively speaking, this body was indeed trash.
For the sake of picking the trait 'Savior of a Fallen Nation,' I had to take the worst physical limitations: 'Frail,' 'Sickly,' and 'Slow Recovery.'
That is, excluding penalties like having crippled arms or legs.
Among the physical penalties you could get with a perfectly healthy body, these were the absolute worst.
Just trying to pull Lumia out of the ground earlier had nearly blown out my lumbar ligaments.
Goddamn it, where do you see a dumbass who throws out his own back and collapses while trying to save someone?
If it hadn't been me, I would have laughed my ass off.
The body's durability was pathetic, and the muscle mass was horrifically lacking compared to my original body.
I don't have a scale, so I can't measure the exact numbers, but...
Back in the day, I was at a level where I even got offered a temporary trainer position at the gym I frequented, so just a simple glance at the body lets me estimate its condition quite well.
A physique so crappy that even simple training would tire me out in no time.
Plus, since the base skeleton was modeled after Westerners, clothes might hide it well enough, but...
If you actually stripped me down, I was skinny enough to be classified as a stick insect. Naturally underweight.
In contrast, those thugs had physiques that looked incredibly robust at a glance. Must've eaten well with the money they extorted from kids.
But there was no need to be intimidated.
Street fights aren't just about size.
"Where did all that confidence go? You were flapping your gums so much just a moment ago."
I smirked and taunted them, and the remaining two flinched and stepped back. Though, it was a dead end anyway.
"T-This fucking...!"
One of them grit his teeth and charged. Always the same repertoire.
These are the moths to the flame who, after witnessing the difference in our levels firsthand, still refuse to kneel and beg, but insist on throwing themselves at me anyway. The kind whose bodies are ruled by ego.
I stuck my hand into the inside of the charging guy's arm to block his attack, then twisted his joint right then and there.
"Graaah!!"
The thug, neutralized in an instant, let out a pained scream. The muscles twitching violently were clearly visible.
"This is what they call martial arts."
Even if the current body's physique differs from my real one, the way it moves is the same.
That's why the techniques of 'Krav Maga' I learned by getting beaten up all day during my military days are still naturally remembered by this body.
"And street fighting has no rules."
*Crunch!*
"Ack, Aaaaah!!!"
With a horrific sound, the thug's joint twisted outward. I turned around and kicked the waist of the guy writhing on the ground, knocking him over.
"Huhguk! Heu-euk!! M-My arm!!"
"You're gonna have a hell of a time getting that put back in place."
Having a weak body is never a problem when it comes to winning a fight.
If you're weak but hit a vital point accurately or snap a joint quickly, they're just as helpless, right?
"H-Hik."
Only then did the last remaining one lose all will to fight and plop down on the spot.
I had already loosened up my body anyway.
There was no point in beating up the guys who were already sprawled out.
I rotated my creaking shoulder and gently gestured to the kid, who was looking at me with a startled expression.
"Are you okay?"
"Ah... Y-Yes. I'm okay."
They looked to be about ten years old. The kid's body was covered in bruises from the beating they had just received.
'These human trash...'
I glared at the remaining one, and he raised both hands high, repeatedly banging his head against the ground.
"S-Sorry!! I won't bother you again! No, I won't even show my face!!"
Well, that's that.
He had completely lost his will to fight.
The two collapsed guys got hit squarely on their temples and jaws, so they'd probably be knocked out for a while.
I had no desire to drag out the neutralized guys to vent my anger on them. That might actually become a real problem.
"Don't walk around places like this alone anymore."
"I had no choice... it was an errand..."
"Still, you must come with an adult next time."
I brushed the dirt off the kid's clothes as I spoke. Corporal Bell Mayer also quickly approached and reached out to the kid.
A blue mana subsequently unfolded, slowly flowing into the child.
'Cure,' a water-attribute magic spell.
A recovery spell that heals light injuries and bruises.
"You'll be fine now."
"Th-Thank you...!!!"
"Let's hurry back in case other guys join up."
I put my coat back on and picked up my bag, which I had set down in the corner.
The characteristic of these types of thugs is that they stick together.
Since I could use magic, it didn't matter how many of them joined in, but using magic on a civilian without a clear reason would definitely be grounds for disciplinary action.
Even if I could brush this off for now under the pretext of being provoked, magic was highly unlikely to be overlooked.
"Yes, understood."
Corporal Bell Mayer understood what I meant and led the kid out of the alley.
Only after we made it out to the main street, crowded with pedestrians, did the kid carefully let go of Bell's hand.
"Thank you for helping me. I can go the rest of the way alone."
"Where is your home?"
"That herb shop over there."
I checked the store the kid was pointing to. It seemed to be an alchemy shop that dealt with potions and the like.
'So they were holding something like alchemy ingredients.'
They said it was an errand, so that made sense.
Since some alchemy ingredients cost several gold coins for just a few grams,
it was the perfect target for thugs.
"Alright, be careful getting home."
"Yes! Thank you one more time!"
The kid bowed deeply at a 90-degree angle.
Despite being so young, their manners were ingrained in them, giving me a vague idea of how much they valued family education.
I waved back in response, and the kid immediately ran into the store.
"Then let's head back too."
***
"Ugh... Aaah..."
"Who the hell did this?"
"I-I think he was an officer. I don't know which unit..."
"You fucking idiot!"
*Smack!*
"Kugh, Kup!!"
The man's nose gushed red blood after being punched squarely in the face. His nose bone seemed to be broken.
However, the man didn't resist or scream in pain. He simply bowed his head in fear.
"You're supposed to find that shit out, goddammit! What the hell were you doing while those kids were getting beaten like that?"
"S-Sorry."
The man's body trembled. Blood dripping from his nose pattered onto the ground.
Rauro, the Acting Captain.
He was the mid-level boss of 'Gavial,' the organization that firmly gripped the back alleys of Cherno City, and the twin brother of the City Guard Captain.
Unable to contain his anger, the Acting Captain huffed and puffed, and one of his men cautiously spoke up.
"Captain, we asked around the local merchants, and they said he was with a woman with short hair."
"A woman?"
"They said she had black short hair and red eyes. Probably the magic non-commissioned officer from the 3rd Battalion. She's often in the city."
"So what about the guy."
"The merchants said they'd never seen him before, so he must be a new officer."
"Goddamn it, so he's a new officer causing trouble in the city."
A new officer from the 3rd Battalion.
Rauro tried to recall the names of the units adjacent to Cherno City one by one.
"3rd Battalion... Isn't that where that Rex guy is?"
"Probably."
"Tell him to look into that officer. He made our guys like this, so he's gotta pay the price."
Basically, the units adjacent to the city have a cooperative relationship.
However, strictly speaking in terms of actual authority, the city is higher than a regular battalion.
That's why if you properly discipline the city officials, you can put pressure on the military units.
That's why the thugs in Cherno City could run rampant even against soldiers.
With the Guard Captain, the second-highest rank in the city, backing them, there was nothing to fear.
Of course, since they were formally soldiers, they couldn't just pick a fight without any reason...
But today's incident had crossed the line.
Moreover, a new officer of all people? This was no different than a declaration of war against Gavial.
Since Rauro was the type to get his kicks by stomping on people twice as hard as they tried to climb over him...
"Just try coming. I'm gonna beat you half to death."
His eyes burned with fury.
"Let the Guard know too. Tell them to notify us immediately if a new officer from the 3rd Battalion shows up."
"Got it. Speaking of which, didn't you say that bitch Rex is seeing is also from the 3rd Battalion?"
"Probably."
"The 3rd Battalion. What an interesting unit? After we're done dealing with that officer, let's ask them to put some pressure on the battalion too."
After beating him to a pulp, make him the laughingstock of the whole organization, and use him as an example to the others.
And then, make sure that female non-commissioned officer can't set foot in the city again.
It would be the icing on the cake if we put pressure on his battalion and got him transferred out entirely.
"Let's show them exactly what happens when they recklessly mess with Gavial."
Acting Captain Rauro recited with a cruel smile.