Chapter 69
Chapter 69 – Bandits
We have left from Bailey early in the morning and arrived at a certain mountain after a half day of walking .
「Joule, Feat, thank you」
『Wafu』『Gau』
Although I say that, I have summoned Joule and others after getting slightly away from the town and we moved on them, so it didn’t take that much time to arrive at the destination .
「N~, would it be better if you turned small here?」
『Kyan』『Naa~』
It’s unhabituated mountain, but it would be unsuitable to keep riding on Joule’s and other’s backs on this mountain, so I had them turn smaller .
The s.p.a.ce between the trees is considerably narrower compared to the Gaya Forest, so it doesn’t seem like running around in their big forms would be good .
『Garu~』
Vector was in his small form since I summoned him . Well, although I say small, he’s as big as Allen and Elena . Rather, Vector is slightly bigger .
「Now then, what shall we do?」
「Herb~」
「Searching~」
「Eh? Herb searching? It’s not like we have accepted a request, it’s okay to play around, you know?」
When I asked the children what they want to do, they returned an unexpected reply .
I thought of receiving a request before coming here at first, but I somehow didn’t want to go to this place’s Adventurer’s Guild, so we have not received any requests today .
That’s why I thought of normally playing today, but to think they would want to do herb searching……
「Lemme see~…… ah!」
Right . It might be a good idea to look for the materials and herbs used as spices for curry . When I looked around lightly, and as I thought, I found a mint growing nearby .
「Allen, Elena . Shall we look for plants and herbs for today’s meal?」
「「Un, let’s do it~」」
Allen and Elena have displayed a great motivation .
At the same time, Joule and others drew closer to us .
「Oh, everyone will help us out?」
『Kyan』『Naa~』『Pii~』『Garu~』
That being the case, I thought of searching for plants and herbs while strolling around the mountain, but――
「「Ah!」」
「Allen, Elena?」
Suddenly, Allen and Elena began feeling presences from the surroundings .
When I also looked around with【Detection】, I sensed several presences at some distance away .
「Ah~……」
Furthermore, they are surrounding us from all sides .
The presences are also gradually approaching us . This is obviously not the movement of animals or monsters . No need to guess, this is……
And then, after a few minutes, ten-odd people holding weapons appeared .
We are just pa.s.sing by, they won’t be saying that, will they? As I thought, they are bandits, aren’t they~
When I used【Appraisal】to see their status, their occupation had properly【Bandit】beside it . We have encountered a troublesome group .
「Head~ They are a man and two brats」
「No woman, huh . You b.a.s.t.a.r.ds, kill the man and steal the valuables . Don’t kill the brats, we are going to sell them」
『Ussu!』
It looks like fighting can’t be avoided .
Even if you kill bandits, it won’t become a crime in this world . But, I don’t think of proceeding to kill them . I do not intend to hesitate because they are dangerous, but I don’t plan on staining our hands on opponents of such degree . I would like to avoid taking lives as much as possible .
I thought of reaching my hands and pulling Allen and Elena behind me, but the two are already in a complete battle mode . Even if I tell them, they won’t obediently back away, right?
「Allen, Elena . Are you not willing to let Oniichan take care of this?」
「Allen too~」
「Elena too~」
…… Un, they are eager to act .
「Oniichan wants to be entrusted with this?」
「「………… Doing~」」
They seemed to be conflicted a little, but they don’t withdraw . How unfortunate .
「Ah~…… then, can you go easy? You must absolutely not kill, okay?」
「「Can do~」」
The two are usually obedient, but they are surprisingly belligerent .
「Joule, Feat, Bolt, and Vector will……」
『Kyan』『Na~u』『Pii』『Garu』
…… They are fully motivated as well .
「…… You guys hold back too, okay? Please, avoid killing as much as possible」
『Kyan』『Na~u』『Pii』『Garu』
Everyone except Bolt are in their small forms, but all of them should be able to instantly kill if going seriously .
I beg you, don’t overdo it! We obviously have too much fighting power!
「You b.a.s.t.a.r.ds, let’s go-!」
『Ooohーーー』
With the command of the man called Head, the bandits simultaneously rushed at us .
Using it as a signal, the children faced the bandits .
「「Yaa!」」
「「Guwa……」」
『Kyan』『Nnaa』『Garu~』
「「「Guwa……」」」
『Piii』
「Giyaaーーー」
The bandits decreased in numbers in no time .
Ah~ Lemme see, lemme see…… un, they are fine . They didn’t die .
I thought it would be difficult to render the bandits incapable of fighting, but it appears the children can properly control their power . I’m a bit relieved .
「You b.a.s.t.a.r.ds, what are you doing against brats, dogs, and cats!!」
「H, however, Head! These guys are str~ong!」
The Head gets angry seeing his underlings get beaten one after another, and the remaining underlings are preparing to flee .
「「Yaa!」」
「Gufu」
「Gawa」
Thus, Allen and Elena knock them out as well .
Not being able to endure, the Head faced the children while a holding a knife――
「You b.a.s.t.a.r.ds! If you want to live――guha!」
Vector slammed into the Head with all his power .
「「「H, Head!!?」」」
『Garu~♪』
The Head flew slightly backward, but Vector’s attack was a simple ramming attack…… he will surely live……
「T, there’s no way we can win against fellows like these~~~」
「Oopsy, I won’t let you escape」
「Hiii!!」
Looking at their companions getting beaten one after another, one of the remaining bandits tried to escape .
I swiftly move behind him and place a knife against his throat .
「Are all of your companions here? Ahh, will you also tell me where your hideout is?」
「P, please wait-!」
「If you don’t answer quickly, my clumsy hand might slip, you know?」
「Hiiiiii!! Talk, I will talk! I will talk so, p, please spare me…」
When I lowered my knife, the bandit immediately answered my questions .