Lawless Mountains
I never expected trash adventurers to attack fellow adventurers out of the blue like that. Even if fights break out often among adventurers, openly picking a fight isn't easy. It'd hurt both sides badly. But they came at us recklessly anyway, which meant one of two things. Either they were greedy enough to want Pegasus Sesiah all to themselves and confident they could cover their tracks. Or they were deranged scum who didn't give a damn about Sesiah and just targeted adventurers for their gear and gold.
Logan was a thief who got plenty of praise from those who knew him for his skills. And he'd kidnap a child if the price was right. Then came his big break.
Pegasus Sesiah sighted in the Bagas Mountains!
Surely hordes of adventurers would flock to the mountains. Logan knew his limits. He could never hunt Sesiah himself. So what should he do while everyone was hyped and distracted?
'Obvious.'
As a thief, the answer was set in stone. Rob the adventurers blind.
'Can't miss this party. I'll have my fun and bounce.'
He rounded up a crew fast. Since adventurers moved in parties, he'd need one too for an edge. He grabbed a guy and a girl to form a team.
"Remember. Sesiah's not our goal."
"Got it."
"Hey, mister, that's why I'm here."
Both suited the shadows more than the light. Killers like him, used to murder for breakfast.
The first day after arriving in the Bagas Mountains for their debut job. They spotted a fun party mixed with schoolgirls. Here for a joyride? How the hell did these greenhorns plan to catch Sesiah?
Logan chuckled.
'Kill the burliest guy there, and it'll work out.'
Take out the man, sow chaos, then pick them off one by one in the confusion. Image training done, he signaled his female mage companion.
And boom.
A fireball rocketed out, smashing the man dead-on.
"Wh-what!?"
The man emerged unscathed from the blast. Logan and his crew panicked.
"His arm or leg should've been gone!"
"Shit, we're made!"
"Arrows! Dodge!"
An arrow zipped like lightning, piercing the arm of their female mage hidden in the trees.
"Gah!"
"We gotta pull back!"
"Retreat!"
As they tried to drag their wounded comrade and flee, they were surrounded in a blink.
A blonde swordswoman blocking the front. A dark elf aiming an arrow point-blank. And the man, teleporting right in their faces.
He wore a chilling expression as he spoke.
"Why'd you do it?"
Fear gripped Logan's face.
"Sp-spare me…!"
Thud. Thud. Thud.
The three attackers crumpled unconscious.
"We sparing them?"
Jenia approached, so I nodded.
"I'm a hero. I hold back on killing when I can."
"What if I, of the dark kin, was your enemy…?"
Her question gave me pause. I'd hesitate to kill them just because they're human, but if they were vile dark elves, I'd end them without a thought… A hero's blood boils at pure darkness.
"I'd spare you the same. And I wouldn't let my little sister get hurt. Don't even think like that."
I stroked Jenia's head and moved on.
Twang. Twang. Twang.
Arrows thudding into backs behind me. Jenia had offed the thieves on her own. Probably pissed they fired a fireball at her big bro. All grown up now, ignoring me. But I won't stop someone else if there's good reason. I just kept walking, pretending not to notice.
"As you saw, this place is a lawless zone. Thieves lurking everywhere, eyeing adventurers' gear and loot."
"Ugh… attacking fellow adventurers? Scary…"
"I thought we just had to fight monsters…"
"Plenty of uneducated scum among adventurers. Think of it as another world."
"First time seeing someone die…"
"Get used to it. You'll see it plenty."
The students huddled, spooked. Even tough Lydia looked tense.
'Gotta reassure them.'
I pointed high in the sky.
"Everyone, look up there."
A white balloon floated lazily. A long tether dangled below, ending in an eyeball swiveling all around.
"That's a mile rune, a surveillance drone. Launched to watch everything in these mountains."
"Who launched it?"
Rachel stared in wonder. The other students gawked at me blankly.
"Who knows. Probably a base camp somewhere with adventurers and merchants gathered. Pegasus Sesiah's a mount anyone would kill for. Proof that lots of eyes are watching who claims it. And with those floating overhead, no scumbag adventurer dares harm another. Their faces and crimes go public."
"Ah… so people are spectating."
"They just look away when it's convenient. Like earlier."
"Useless then."
Hazel grumbled. Crimes happen in mile rune's blind spots, naturally. They must have at least ten up, but only one in sight. No way they cover every inch of these vast mountains.
"Alright, let's move. Roan."
"Yes, sir!"
"Shield up, take point."
"Yes, sir!"
"Angelina and Hazel, watch left flank. Lydia and Rachel, right. Sophia, stay safe in the middle. I'll handle rear with Aquina. Jenia, scout freely on your own."
They fell into formation smoothly at my command.
I sidled up to Aquina at the rear and gave her ass a light squeeze.
"Eep?!"
I whispered to the startled woman.
"You know the adventurer life. If we get split unavoidably, look after the kids for me."
Aquina's cheeks flushed as she nodded.
"Yeah, got it…"
She beamed. I kneaded her ass leisurely a few more times before pulling back as a mile rune drifted our way.
"Oh shit."
Adventurer Peter had just lost his companions. He'd stepped away to take a piss, and poof—they were gone. Obviously intentional. Those pranksters always messing around, even here. It pissed him off.
"Damn bastards."
Good thing he knew the way to the adventurer rest camp. They'd be waiting there, no doubt. This time, he'd kick their asses.
Grinding his teeth as he hiked the trail, he heard it.
"Help… please save me… aaah…"
What the—? A naked blonde girl sprawled in the bushes.
Peter rushed over and propped her up.
"You okay?"
"Help me… I'm dying… ahh…"
"Where's it hurt?"
"M-my chest… it's burning up."
His eyes drifted to her breasts.
Gulp.
Peter's eyes widened. Perfectly perky tits right there.
"T-touch my chest, please. I got hit with an aphrodisiac…"
"Aphrodisiac?"
"Barely escaped a goblin den. But I inhaled powder from a vial they threw… ugh… haa…"
"Ah… aphrodisiac. Only sex cures that. What now…?"
"D-do it."
"You want me to?"
"I wanna live. Please save me… yeah?"
Peter's heart raced, chills down his spine.
'M-me, this lucky…? But is it okay? With a stranger?'
He scanned her tremblingly. Pale, soft skin. Slender arms and legs. Full breasts, golden bush over her mound. Slim waist flaring to wide hips. S-grade body.
'S-tier figure. Chance like this ever again?'
As he hesitated, she caressed his face and neck coquettishly.
"I need a hero's cock… put it in quick. Hurry…"
"…"
Peter glanced up. Clear blue sky, no mile rune.
"Fuck it!"
He jumped up, tossed his gear and weapons, fumbled his pants down.
"Getting hard now! Just wait!"
As he gripped and stroked his dick—
A cold blade pierced his throat from behind.
Squelch!
"Gack!"
Ah, fucked…
He turned slowly. Another girl, identical to the one below, grinning.
'Twins…?'
Bloody dagger in her hand. She stabbed again.
"Guh!"
"Dumb fuck. Haha."
She yanked the dagger from his chest. Peter collapsed.
They giggled over his open-eyed corpse.
"This guy's a pushover. Didn't even suspect."
"Horny idiot."
They kicked the body.
"Go fuck in heaven. We'll use yours well."
They looted his clothes and gear, then split.
"Feared as much, but damn."
I sighed. Thirty minutes ago, we'd run into 50-meter giants while dodging them in the mountains. Got separated from the group.
"Come get me!"
I'd lured the chasing giants far away alone, then tried heading back. Lost my way.
"What a mess."
No clue where I was. Would take forever to regroup. At least seasoned Aquina and Jenia would protect the kids.
"Just gotta find my way back."
Then, a pained woman's moan nearby.
"Anyone there…? Save me… ahhn…"
A damsel in distress? Can't ignore as a hero. I bolted toward the sound.