Chapter 53: The Advantage is Mine!
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 53: The Advantage is Mine!
"Huh?"
Muen froze as if struck by lightning. "Big brother, what did you just say?"
"I said, I’m here for your body!"
As if afraid Muen hadn't heard him, the scarred man raised his voice even higher, the volume causing the surrounding leaves to rustle and fall.
I know what you meant by 'robbing for sex,' but the problem is...
"I'm a man!" Muen slapped his pectorals, shouting anxiously, "Look closer, big brother! Don't let my outstanding beauty blind you—I'm a man!"
"Yeah, I can see that." The scarred man’s gaze swept over Muen’s crotch before he flashed a wicked grin. "It’s because you’re a man that I’m doing this. Otherwise, why don't you ask the little lady behind you? Did I ever show any interest in her body?"
"..."
Muen’s neck creaked as he stiffly turned his head.
The young girl, who had looked so fierce just a moment ago, didn't know what expression to make. She hesitated for a long time, then averted her eyes, unable to meet Muen’s hopeful gaze.
Then, she gave a silent nod.
These bandits really hadn't looked at her with lustful eyes even once.
"..."
At the sight of this, Muen felt something inside him snap.
Help! There’s a gay guy here!
"Hmph, I suppose this is fate." The scarred man’s rugged face flushed slightly, his expression turning wistful as he sank into deep memory.
"Ever since I became a bandit, I’ve dreamed of the day when, out in the middle of nowhere, I would encounter a beautiful youth brave enough to release his true nature and show his real self. Ideally, he would be a true pervert. Unfortunately, there are too few real men in this world who are willing to shed all disguises and embrace their true selves. I had almost given up hope. But then... I met you!"
The scarred man’s eyes welled with tears as he spoke with deep emotion. "To dare to face a stranger and show yourself off without flinching—you truly are a top-tier pervert! Because of that, I’m certain. You are the one I’ve been waiting for!"
The scarred man reached out a hand and declared with ringing conviction, "So, come with me! I will marry you and carry you away on seven-colored clouds! Be my brigand's bride!"
Muen: "..."
The girl: "..."
Bandit D: "Sniff... To work so hard robbing people to support the family while never forgetting to chase his dreams... That’s our Boss for you. He’s so sweet, I’m gonna cry... Waaaaah..."
"Hmph, it seems you’re just shy." Seeing the completely petrified Muen, the scarred man rubbed his nose with a finger, looking quite smug. "It seems my charm hasn't diminished in the slightest."
"..."
"Charm my ass—!"
After a brief silence, Muen suddenly exploded with a distorted face.
"Shadow Step!"
"Go to hell, you damn creep!"
Closing the distance in an instant, Muen delivered a beautiful uppercut that smashed squarely into the scarred man’s chin.
Having reached the Second-Tier and gained Fighting Spirit, Muen’s physical stats were on a completely different level than before. Under the force of this punch, the scarred man—who was several sizes larger than Muen—was actually sent flying over ten meters, snapping several trees as thick as bowls before finally coming to a stop.
"Huh? I'm that strong?"
Muen was a bit startled by his own surging strength, but he immediately adopted a cocky stance, hands on his hips. "Now you know how tough I am, you damn pervert! How dare you call me a pervert? You’re the pervert! Your whole family are perverts!"
"Boss!" Seeing the scarred man get sent flying, the bandit underlings rushed over in a panic.
"Cough, cough... I’m fine." The scarred man pushed away the subordinates trying to help him up. He stood up, spat out a bloody tooth, and laughed with total nonchalance. "As expected of my future bride, you’ve got some kick. But the wilder you are, the better. It only makes me more excited! Hahahaha!"
"Dammit..." Muen felt a wave of revulsion.
How did he keep running into high-level creeps like this? How much did the heavens hate him? Couldn't a gentle, cute, beautiful girl just fall from the sky for once?
"Since my bride wants to play, I’ll play with you." The scarred man laughed loudly and raised his greatsword.
Then... he swung it down violently.
From that far away?
Muen’s pupils shrank. Alarm bells rang in his mind. Without hesitation, he twisted his body and dove to the side.
A slash mark several meters long and as wide as an arm appeared exactly where Muen had been standing.
Muen’s hair stood on end at the sight.
Was that... Blade Energy? No, that was Fighting Spirit projection.
The opponent was also a Second-Tier Martial Artist, and at least at the Middle or Late stage!
Dammit, if you’re this strong, why the hell are you a bandit? Literally anything else would be better than this!
"Haha! I told you, I only became a bandit to wait for the man of my dreams!" The scarred man laughed uproariously, leaping like a giant bear and crashing down toward Muen. "See? Haven't I found you now?"
"I told you, stay the hell away from me, you creep! I only like cute girls!"
"Shadow Step!"
Muen dodged the scarred man’s attack again. But he knew he couldn't keep this up forever. Even though the side effects of Shadow Step were much smaller now that he was Second-Tier, he couldn't use it indefinitely. And in a contest of stamina, he was no match for this bear-like bandit leader.
Once his stamina ran out, he would be at the man's mercy. When that happened...
"Bride... just give in to me..."
"Hehe, you have nowhere left to run."
"Scream all you want. No one is coming to save you."
"Do you want to wear this black silk lingerie, or this bunny girl outfit? I’m fine with either."
Aaaah! Why am I imagining this?! This is a total hellscape! Get out of my head! Get out!
"No way." Muen’s eyes became incredibly determined. "I’d rather die than lose!"
Early Second-Tier vs. Late Second-Tier.
Bare fists vs. a Greatsword.
The advantage is mine!
"Gimme that!"
Muen knew he couldn't win by brute force. He used Shadow Step to flash in front of a spectating bandit, knocked him down with one punch, and snatched the greatsword from his hands.
With a weapon in hand, his heart finally felt a bit more... actually, no it didn't.
I’ve never used a greatsword! How do you even use this thing? Someone give me a tutorial! Coach, I want to learn how to swing a sword!
The scarred man naturally wouldn't give Muen time to get used to the weapon. The moment Muen wailed internally, the man closed in, delivering another straightforward—slash.
But this time, a terrifying suction force suddenly erupted from the scarred man’s blade. Muen felt as if he were being pulled in; he couldn't even trigger Shadow Step in time.
It’s over.
This was... a Martial Technique!
Muen’s eyes widened, a surge of regret filling his heart. After reaching the Second-Tier and being able to use Shadow Step with almost no cooldown, he had become careless.
How had he not realized it? If he could use Martial Techniques, then obviously others could too!
"Dammit!"
Muen gritted his teeth. Left with no choice, he raised his stolen sword to desperately block the scarred man’s strike.
But with his slender frame, how could he possibly win a contest of strength against this wall of muscle?
My life is over!
Muen Campbell seemed to see his tragic end flashing before his eyes once again.