Hunting bandits. It was sudden for me, but Viro had apparently planned from the start to raid bandits, rogue brigands, or even Goblin lairs to “use” them for my training. Quite cruel.
There’s a slight difference between bandits and thieves. There’s the difference in where they appear, but the biggest difference is that bandits, unlike thieves, are not “managed” by an organization like the Thieves’ Guild.
Thieves are people who, like orphans in the slums, have no other way to rise in the world and have lost any aversion to doing evil. That’s why scouts from the Adventurer’s Guild, like Viro, hire orphans from the slums, partly to prevent the Thieves’ Guild from gaining more members.
But bandits are often villagers who have trouble making ends meet.
In farming villages… especially poor ones, children are often used as labor, so families tend to be large. But because they’re poor, the second or third sons and beyond have no fields to inherit, and if there’s no work in the village or nearby town, those villagers who are left out tend to become thieves in the town and get caught, or become bandits outside the town.
However, this Kingdom of Claydale is a relatively easy country to “just survive” in. The tax rates aren’t exactly low, but the climate is mild and the forests are bountiful, so unless something drastic happens, there’s no “starvation.”
In other words, most people who become bandits are those who have succumbed to the desire to take from others and live easy.
Moreover, the Thieves’ Guild thieves tend to avoid killing ordinary people, partly to avoid making things too big.
But bandits don’t hesitate to kill travelers. They don’t attack nobles with escorts, they only target the weak, and they kill them as a way to silence them so the lord doesn’t find out.
There aren’t any daring enough to take merchants hostage and demand ransom. Perhaps because they were originally villagers, they’re “cowardly” and afraid of their misdeeds being discovered, so they kill.
“…That’s why, if you find bandits, subjugation takes priority over capture. Even if you capture them, it’s difficult to take them to a town with guards, and even if you hand them over, the reward is negligible unless there’s a bounty on their heads, and there’s no point in showing mercy since they’ll just be forced to work to death in the mines anyway. Understand?”
“…Yes.”
I quietly nodded at Viro’s words as he roasted wild bird meat over a bonfire in the forest, about half a day’s journey from the nearby village.
Bandits have no human rights. Because the lord’s law doesn’t reach them, they do as they please, so they aren’t protected by the law either.
Thinking about it that way, I could understand the Thieves’ Guild’s way of doing things better. They created a large force called a guild to do as they pleased, and protected themselves by adhering to their own code of conduct as villains.
That’s why the existence of “bandits” is perfect for “using” in my training.
“…Let’s go soon.”
“Roger.”
I stood up at Viro’s words, used the Utility Magic 【Water】 to pour water on the bonfire, and stomped it out. I shouldn’t be using Mana before anything happens, but a consumption of 1 will recover in a few minutes.
The distant sky was still faintly bright, but the forest, away from the main road, was already shrouded in impenetrable Darkness.
Viro, his presence thinned, started walking in that Darkness, and I followed, erasing my presence as well.
Even in the Darkness where nothing could be seen, I had the Night Vision Skill, and Viro naturally had the Night Vision Skill as well.
Viro was still suppressing his Stealth Skill so I could follow, but what would Viro have done if it had been a slum child without Night Vision or Detection Skills?
Feld is the same, but Viro also has a sense that he doesn’t think what he can do is special. Normally, he would realize while interacting with a child that they can’t do such things, but because I casually started a bonfire in the forest and was able to move around in the Darkness without any problems, he’s become less and less restrained.
Even though he’s suppressing his Stealth, I have a feeling that he’s only unconsciously suppressing it to the extent that his Adventurer party members would notice, and that he’s not really being considerate of a child (me).
Even so, he seems to remember that this is my “training,” and he taught me various things at key points.
“Bandits, unlike the Thieves’ Guild guys, don’t have any particular skills. There are some who are a bit clever and hide the path to their hideout, but they’re careless in order to transport their loot.”
“Yes.”
There was a path that deviated slightly from the main road, like an animal trail, but wider than what animals would use.
“Look here. It must have rained a few days ago, because there are dried and hardened footprints left. Can you tell how many types of footprints there are?”
“…I can’t see that well.”
“You have the Night Vision Skill, right? Try to focus on enhancing your vision in the same way as Body Enhancement. Due to racial limitations, Humans can only acquire Night Vision up to Level 1, but you should be able to see this much if you strain your eyes.”
I see… so that’s how you use the normal 【Night Vision Skill】.
It seems that using the “color” of Mana Particles to distinguish things like I do is still unorthodox. The original Night Vision Skill probably not only enhances eyesight, but also detects the flow of presence and Mana, and combines it with vision to visualize the actual scene in the brain.
I’m also continuing to train in detecting presence by the flow of Mana. I was visualizing the Darkness by combining it with the color of Mana.
The limit of the Human Night Vision Skill is Level 1. That’s due to the basic difference in physical ability, and it would be higher for Beastmen and Dwarves. According to “knowledge,” Dwarves who live underground are born with the Night Vision Skill.
But if I, who obtained the Skill through a different method than usual, were to acquire the normal method, my Skill Level might increase even more.
For now, I’ll try flowing Mana into my eyes in the same way as Body Enhancement.
“…I can see it.”
Faintly, but I can definitely see that there are multiple footprints.
“Five to six people?”
“A little more, but not quite 10. These two footprints are similar, but this one is slightly deeper. Either they’re heavier or carrying luggage… the footprints are a bit messy, so it’s the latter’s underling. This can also be used to identify the number of Monsters in ruin exploration. ‘Imagine’ the other person’s appearance from their stride and gait.”
“Got it.”
“…Stop.”
Viro suddenly raised his hand and stopped walking.
“Look over there. There’s an unnatural spot off the path. Can you tell what’s there?”
I strained my eyes and there was indeed a place where the direction of the branches was unnaturally different. There were broken branches up above, and if I “imagine” what made them…
“…A trap?”
“Correct. Probably a bear trap for dealing with beasts rather than intruders. If you get caught in it with your physique, 【Heal】 won’t be able to fix it completely, so be careful.”
“Roger.”
“I’ll disarm the visible traps just in case. Memorize the silent method with your eyes.”
As we proceeded while disarming the traps, I could see faint “fire” and “light” Mana beyond the gaps in the forest.
When I silently pointed in that direction, Viro also strained his eyes in that direction, nodded slightly, and instructed me to “advance” with just the movement of his fingers.
As we proceeded in that direction, we saw an open space. I had an image of bandits living in caves, but Viro told me with just the movement of his mouth that it was an “Abandoned Village.”
I don’t know if they were originally residents of that village or if bandits had settled there, but as we quietly surveyed the small village, there were desolate, grassy fields and several dilapidated houses, and in the center, in a relatively decent house, the bandits seemed to be making a bonfire and drinking alcohol.
“…A bit many.”
I nodded at Viro’s words as he spoke after confirming the location.
The footprints were less than ten people. I had assumed a little over ten people including those on guard duty, but I could see about 15 bandits just by looking.
About ten people were by the central bonfire. Even in a place with a roof away from there, several men, also serving as lookouts, were drinking alcohol.
Near there was a carriage with splatters of blood that seemed to be loot, and we were convinced that the other party was not just villagers or travelers, but bandits.
“We’ll reduce them little by little. You can stay here if you’re scared?”
“No.”
Viro grinned when I shook my head. …No, I’m troubled by being treated like a child even after coming to a place like this, but does he really remember that I’m a child?
Viro, having completely erased his presence, moved smoothly along the flow of Mana in the atmosphere. Even knowing that he was in front of me, I was doing my best just to trace the “shape of a person” with the color of Mana.
This is 【Stealth Skill】 Level 4… huh.
I followed him, trying to burn his movements into my eyes.
Unlike me, with Stealth level 1, Viro, when serious, was terrifyingly fast. He silently crept up on one of the men who had staggered out of the circle of people, weaving unsteadily, wrapped his arm around his neck, and with a movement that made a ‘crack’ sound in my head, snapped his neck, laying him down silently behind the abandoned building.
“I’ll take care of the lookouts first. You watch those guys. If they start moving towards the lookouts, come and let me know.”
I nodded, and Viro patted my head before moving. After getting a few dozen meters away, he completely disappeared from sight.
Four or five lookouts shouldn’t be a problem for Viro. An ordinary child would be anxious about being left alone where bandits are, but I took out my Appraisal Orb to examine the bandits, to do my job.
I was running out of Appraisal Orbs, but I still hadn’t acquired the Appraisal Skill. Is there some trick to it? I’ll ask Viro later.
The bandits’ combat strength was around 40-70. There was only one person with a high level, but the others were not much different from ordinary villagers.
But thinking about it, unlike thieves and adventurers, bandits who were originally villagers probably have fewer Skills. They wouldn’t have Stealth or Detection Skills, and at most, they would only have Swordsmanship Skill level 1.
I saw another man walking towards me.
This is a bit bad. I don’t know if he came to relieve himself or to look for the man from earlier, but if the corpse is discovered and he makes a fuss, Viro will have to face them all.
Should I inform Viro, or somehow deal with this man…? I was forced to make a decision.
“…………”
I suppressed my emotions deep inside and quietly narrowed my eyes.
After roughly wiping the ash from my head with my muffler, I hid the unnatural luggage in the bushes, steeled myself, and stepped out in front of the man.
“Mister.”
“Hmm? What is it? A kid?”
The dirty man in his thirties with a Hand Axe at his waist was clearly drunk, and approached the child who had suddenly appeared in such a place without drawing his weapon.
“Boy? Girl? Can’t really tell. I hear girls can be sold for a high price.”
“…Is that so? Mister, take a look at this.”
“Hmm? What’s this?”
As the man carelessly approached to peer at my outstretched left hand, I swung down the weighted cord I had made from my hair, hidden in my right hand, with Mana infused into it.
With a dull thud, the man, struck in the head with the weight, fell backward as if his eyes were spinning. Immediately, I drew my Black Knife and straddled him, and the weight of my body caused the man to regain consciousness slightly.
The man’s hazy eyes trembled with fear as he saw the knife I held. Before his throat could let out a scream of terror, I thrust the tip of the Black Knife from under the man’s chin towards his head.
“…Ugh…”
“…………”
In the man’s frightened eyes, my face, now expressionless like when I killed that woman, was reflected.
A slowly trembling hand reached out to me, and as I twisted the knife and pulled it out, dark blood spilled out and the man’s hand fell to the ground.
“…Phew.”
I seemed to have been a little nervous, so I exhaled and wiped the blood from the knife on the man’s clothes.
This should be fine. Until Viro finishes off the lookouts, I can just deal with anyone else who comes. I don’t have the “余裕(yutori)” to hesitate in a life-or-death situation, so I won’t hesitate to take a life.
Besides, the sharpness of this knife is amazing. The bloodstains came off with just a light wipe, restoring its original luster, so I realized once again that it was truly a good item.
After a while, I turned my gaze towards the lookouts, and the lights were gone, and the human-shaped Mana Particles were no longer visible.
It seems the lookouts have been taken care of. Until now, it’s been like an assassin’s battle, but against the six people at the bonfire, I’ll probably see a battle as an ‘adventurer’s scout’.
I have no intention of joining such a group battle. Even if they are off guard, it’s still dangerous to face multiple opponents head-on, and even a clumsy assist could hinder Viro.
I thought I would keep watch from a slightly distant location, and if anyone ran away, I would grasp their position, or if I could defeat them, I would.
“…Six people?”
I’m sure… there were nine people at the bonfire. Viro and I each defeated one, so there should have been seven left.
Where did the other one go? As I hurriedly began to look around, a voice was released from the darkness into my ears.
“Who’s there!? What are you doing!?”
When I turned around, the man in dirty Hard Leather Armor had drawn his sword, looking wary.
“…………”
Viro hasn’t started fighting yet. If I cause a commotion here and ask Viro for help, Viro will be fighting with a burden.
I have no choice… I drew my Black Knife to buy time until Viro’s battle is over.
Next time: The battle with the Bandit Leader.
What strategy will Aria, a child, use to fight an opponent stronger than herself?