Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Black Hammer Gang (2)
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Even though they were a ragtag bunch who had never learned proper combat techniques, killing and brawling were everyday affairs for them. The moment they saw their comrade's blood, the bandits reflexively raised their weapons.
"Damn it, you bastard, shit!"
"You crazy son of a bitch! Do you even know who you just messed with? You're dead meat now!"
"Hey, charge him! Everyone rush in at once!"
It wasn't a good choice at all.
Thud!
"Wha... wh-what...?"
One bandit's eyes locked onto the hand axe that had suddenly sprouted from his forehead. Why was the thing that had been on top of his head just moments ago now here? He staggered in confusion before finally rolling his eyes back.
"Wh-what? What just flew by...?"
"Gavin? Why are you suddenly...?"
The remaining bandits weren't given time to grasp the situation. The barbarian had already raised his blade and was charging straight at them.
Kadim decided to take out the spearman at the front first. His sharp blade easily deflected the clumsy thrust. Then, in one fluid motion, he drew a line from the bandit's chest down to his navel.
Slash!
"Guh...!"
The spearman tried to counterattack immediately, but his body wouldn't obey. A chilling sensation of being severed spread through him as his ruptured abs curled inward. The spear tip wobbled unsteadily before finally clattering to the ground.
"Damn it!"
Whoosh!
A wild club swing came from all directions. When desperation to hit the enemy overrode everything else, attacks like this—full of massive openings—were the result. Kadim took a light step back to dodge effortlessly. Then, like the wind, he slipped in close and deeply sliced the bandit's side.
Slash!
"Aaaagh!"
The bandit dropped his club and clutched his side. Intestines spilled out in thick clumps from the gash. Kadim pivoted to the opposite side.
Slash!
"Eeeeeek!!!"
Slicing open the other side doubled the screams. No matter how tightly he pressed his arms to his sides, he couldn't hold back his spilling guts. Writhing in agony, the bandit collapsed face-first onto the ground.
Seizing the opening, another presence crept up from behind. It wasn't hard to deal with. Kadim twisted his waist and swung his sword in a wide arc.
Clang!
"Wha... what...?"
The bandit couldn't hide his bewilderment as he watched his sword fly far away. How had he noticed without eyes in the back of his head? And how strong was he to send the blade flying that far...?
Crunch!
Kadim cut off his questions with a slash.
The bandit didn't seem satisfied with the barbarian's response. Even as his neck was mangled, his eyes remained wide with doubt.
"G-Gavin...? Meden, Horsel... E-Everyone's... done for? Shit... If you're alive, say something! Ugh...!"
The other bandits were all wiped out. The last one had completely lost the will to fight. Kadim ignored him for now and checked his weapons first.
The blade greedily absorbed the sticky blood droplets. Even without its owner being injured, Mosquito had fulfilled its duty. It had no extra effects, but not needing to wipe off the blood was convenient enough. Kadim sheathed the now spotless, gleaming sword at his waist.
The hand axe was in bad shape. The edge was chipped, and the gap between the head and handle was loose and rattling. It wasn't made for combat in the first place, and he'd used it roughly.
'I should pick up a decent axe once I reach the city.'
There were other ways to resupply weapons, of course. Kadim approached the last bandit he'd deliberately spared.
"Hah... haaack! Guh, guuuuh...!"
The enemy couldn't even breathe properly as he crawled away on all fours. His face, which had mocked the barbarian just minutes ago, was now blank with terror.
Kadim pinned him down by stomping on his waist, preventing escape. The bandit thrashed like a crushed cockroach, letting out guttural howls.
"Gaaaaah! Gaaaaaaaah!"
"Quit your hysterics and answer my questions. Or I'll crush your spine right here."
"Guh... guuuh...!"
"Are you bandits? What's your connection to those two who ran off? Who's 'Agon’s Furious Horn'?"
An unexpected answer came first.
"'Agon' is the city at the heart of the Free City Alliance, milord. It has the continent's largest arena, where countless mercenaries, gladiators, and ronin gather seeking fortune and fame. 'Agon’s Furious Horn' is a legendary barbarian mercenary who's won there multiple times."
The merchant had scurried up beside him. Kadim glanced at Duncan.
"They mistook me for that guy."
"Yes, probably... But it's strange, milord. 'Agon’s Furious Horn' is such a big name even city officials can't easily meet him. No reason for him to come to a backwater like this, even for a fortune..."
Both men's gazes turned to the bandit on the ground. He pitifully craned his neck to look up at Kadim.
"Shit, no! Our boss is from the arena—he said they were best friends from back then! He said if he just asked for help, he'd drop everything and come running! Once 'Agon’s Furious Horn' gets here, you're all dead... Gaaaaah!!"
Kadim applied pressure with his foot. Just enough to snap the spine without actually breaking it—perfectly precise. After the bone-deep agony, the bandit finally turned meek as a lamb.
The story he spilled wasn't anything special.
"We... no, damn it, just me left... I'm with the Blood Cave Gang, and those two who ran are from the Black Hammer Gang..."
The Blood Cave Gang had originally been the dominant bandits in the area. But the upstart Black Hammer Gang had overrun them with sheer numbers. Most members were killed or scattered, so the boss had begged his "best friend" 'Agon’s Furious Horn' for help to drive them out...
"Whew, mister. You got totally duped."
"...What?"
"If they were really that close, would 'Agon’s Furious Horn' let his buddy play boss of a bandit gang out here? He could've just given him a few gold bars to open a proper shop in the city..."
The merchant's point was spot on. The bandit was speechless. His last glimmer of hope flickered out, his eyes trembling.
"...!"
Meanwhile, Kadim had decided what to do next.
He might have let it go if he hadn't gotten involved, but now that he was, there was no choice. With six members dead, their boss wouldn't let it slide.
Never leave loose ends. It had been Kadim's guiding principle from his first playthrough to now. Better to strike first than risk pursuit or ambush.
'And since they're bandits... I can loot their supplies without a guilty conscience.'
Kadim lifted his foot from the bandit's waist. Instead, he grabbed the man's elbow with his massive hand.
"Time to clean up the remnants. Guide me to your hideout."
"Wh-what? I-I can't do th..."
Crack!
The joint twisted in an unnatural direction with surprising ease.
"...!!!"
The bandit screamed as if the world were ending and began leading the way.
Shadows flickered along the damp cave walls, lit by torches. With no witnesses now, there was no need to keep up appearances.
"Haaaah..."
Graham, leader of the Blood Cave Gang, clutched his hair and sighed heavily.
'Shit, what the hell... where did it all go wrong...?'
Graham had once been a gladiator in the famed arena of Agon. "Famed" referred to the arena, not him. He'd ended his career with a dismal 1-4 record.
Still, he had something impressive: that arena's losses usually meant death, yet he'd survived four defeats.
But Graham never boasted about his cockroach-like tenacity. Instead, he bragged about being a popular gladiator with hordes of followers—even claiming close friendship with 'Agon’s Furious Horn'.
His arena descriptions rang true, so surprisingly many believed the lies. It let him form the small-time Blood Cave Gang. He just prayed his bluster wouldn't catch up to him in this backwater, scraping by on banditry.
His modest dream shattered.
'Black Hammer Gang, those damn dogs...'
Because of the rival bandits, the Black Hammer Gang.
They'd started as notorious border raiders. But lately, they'd crept into his territory and now had a base nearby. Every encounter cost him men, rapidly dwindling his numbers.
'Boss, do something! Are we just gonna keep taking it from those bastards?'
'How about calling 'Agon’s Furious Horn' this time? You're such good friends, right?'
'Well...'
He'd tried brushing it off as not wanting to burden a friend. But the mood shifted. With most dead or fled, fewer than twenty remained—and they were on the verge of deserting.
Graham had no choice but to commit.
'Today, I sent a messenger to 'Agon’s Furious Horn'. He's the kind of friend who'll come even from the gates of hell if I call. Just hold on a bit longer.'
'Woooah!'
'Shit, that's awesome!'
'Knew it, boss!'
'...'
Buying time with false promises, delaying doom.
He wasn't totally unacquainted with 'Agon’s Furious Horn'. He'd been one of the countless spectators, not a bosom buddy. Never exchanged words, but the barbarian's overwhelming might had left a deep impression.
'Ha, damn it... If 'Agon’s Furious Horn' really came to help, I'd have nothing left to wish for...'
A pipe dream. Why would a legendary champion visit this nowhere?
Unless he was a barbarian coming to cut loose ends.
"Gaaah, boss! 'A-Agon’s Furious Horn' is heeeere...!"
"...What?"
Thud!
The subordinate couldn't finish. The hulking barbarian yanked his hand axe from the man's skull. The battered head showed it'd already claimed plenty of lives that way.
"My god... H-how did he really...?"
The cave's light was dim torchfire. The revealed silhouette was inhumanly massive. For a moment, Graham almost believed it was truly 'Agon’s Furious Horn'.
"...Hm?"
Up close, he realized it was someone else.
...Though he looked just as brutal, capable of tearing men apart barehanded.
Unlike his oblivious underlings, Graham was a survival expert. He'd lived through four arena losses thanks to his lightning-quick instincts.
He knew instantly the barbarian was an absurd powerhouse. No sounds from his men—they were all done for. Sensing how to survive, he threw pride aside and prostrated himself.
"All our money and valuables are in the chest under that table. If you want gear or food, head to the back of the cave. Oh, if you have grudges against any other subordinates, just say the word. I'll summon and deliver them right away."
"...!"
"Please, spare my life."
The barbarian said nothing.
His gaze pierced like an awl into Graham's back. The silence grew heavy and damp.
Graham squeezed his eyes shut. His gut screamed: this guy's not swayed by words. The type who finishes clean, no loose ends, guts or no...
'Ugh, really... I swear I'll live humbly, no grudges... Just rob passing travelers quietly...'
He'd rip out his heart to prove his sincerity if he could. Ruthlessly, the barbarian raised his sword and approached with heavy steps.
Most would give up here, but not Graham. He scanned Kadim desperately to the end, for his own wretched life.
And finally, he found his lifeline.
In the barbarian's battered hand axe.
"Um... mercenary sir?"
"...!"
"Interested in some 'treasure'? I know where a 'treasure map' marking a valuable one is..."
"...!"
The blade rose slowly like a guillotine. The barbarian figured it was a desperate ploy. Panicking, Graham blurted info.
"The treasure's a dwarven axe! A 'throwing axe' crafted with dwarven care! They say the edge never dulls no matter how much you use it, it hits targets on its own when thrown, flies back like a bird—insanely good! You'd love it, I'm sure!"
"...!"
The blade finally halted. Graham swallowed hard, gauging the barbarian's eyes. Lips parted for the first time, a deep bass voice rumbled.
"Where's the map."
"...Ah, well, um... Lower the sword first..."
"Where."
"I-I'm sorry, but without a guarantee you'll spare me... I can't tell you..."
Graham really knew where that 'treasure map' was. He'd hidden it himself.
But he had no intention of spilling easily. Tell him, and he'd demand a guide—going there meant certain death.
Better point somewhere far off, then bolt at the first chance...
"Amusing. A bandit trying to haggle with me?"
"...Pardon?"
"I'm no slouch at negotiations myself."
Stab!
The blade pierced between arm and chest. The sword greedily drank the flowing blood. Graham's face went corpse-pale.
"Wha... what...!"
Excruciating pain spread.
"Guh... guh... gaaaaah!"
Screams erupted from deep in his lungs.
"Speak now, or I'll carve out your heart."
A terror worse than death invaded Graham's mind.