The Tengu Village (1)

(16 years and 2 months after Reincarnation)

[Kyrielle's POV]

(3 hours later....)

(6:25 p.m.)

I slowly crept up the bushes and the bamboo forest from besides the road... finally reaching an area where I could see something that resembled a camp, right in the middle of the road.

The sun is already behind the mountains, covering this area in a dark veil despite the fact that the sun haven't fully set just yet.

Deeper into the forest, I could see a lot of torch lights at the distance, no doubt the lights from the bandits.

The rain clouds are now over the village, and a small amount of rain is starting to fall down.... It seems that this rain will persists for long, which aids in my stealth attack.

I stashed my luggage near someplace at a road side. Now I'm carrying just a katana, my winter coat and 3 healing potions.

I slowly crept up closer to the camp, not intending to be seen. The surroundings had slowly gotten even darker until I can't see clearly anymore.

Finally getting closer to the camp, I hid in  a bush and stalked the people inside.

I saw 7 men inside the camp.... Although they are all dressed in rugged clothes, they also wore metal chest plates and also metal kabuto helmets.... They are really well equipped for bandits.

While some of them are armed with katanas, a large number of them were empty handed which implies that they are mages.

I can't take them all by myself.... What I must do instead is to kill the leader as well as pick them off one by one, a guerilla tactic. That'll be my plan for now.

"Yawn.... Are there any intruders here?"

A man dressed in a white, monk-like robe walked out from one of the tents. He seems to be in charge.

"No one, Juzou-sama. Our backs are secured."

"I see... Enshin-san and Goketsu-sama has successfully entered the village. Right now we have nothing to do other than to watch their backs with our magic, and rest up so that we can pick off the stranglers.

Goketsu is that sumo wrestler right? And there's another one here called Enshin who sounds like trouble as well....

"But for now I need to relax and rest a bit to recover my mana.... You guys can handle the gate keeping right?"

"Yes, Juzou-sama. We'll handle the rest so you can go sleep with the woman." (6x)

"Good, I'll be counting on you all." The white robed monk headed back into one of the tents after he finished talking....

Hmm, this is the perfect chance for me to split and kill the enemies. But still, I don't know if I should kill them all. I feel that it might be a sin for me if I did so....

...Or so I thought, until I heard one of the bandit's conversation which reminded me that these people are trashes of this planet.

"....Hey, you know that boy that escaped last night?"

"Yeah, you shot him didn't you?"

"Yes. That shot was actually one of my best shot ever! It felt so satisfying to shoot at him while he runs for his life, screaming."

"Is that so? I was thinking more about that girl we kidnapped..."

"Oh, you had your time with her right?"

"Yeah. She may be young but her screams were exciting... Maybe I'll go for another round with her once he had his time with her body."

....Bastards... These people deserves no mercy.

"Well then, we'll be off to patrol the road." Said two bandits to the rest.

"Hurry up with your patrol and come back soon, we can't risk drawing attention."

"Got it." (2x) Two bandits walked out of the camp following the road. One of them is using a sword while the other is empty handed. A mage and a warrior.

I'll take out the warrior in a surprise attack and then kill the mage swiftly before he can fight back.

I slowly crept up from behind the two bandits making sure that no one from the camp is following us.... I am now like a tiger stalking it's prey, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

I have became accustomed to killing using a katana after I travelled for so long. Although I'm not used to fighting people, I know for a fact that if I hit anywhere on the top side of the human body it'd almost always be lethal.

Since they are wearing plate armor, it'd be near impossible to hit them through that armor. The only logical place to aim for would be the neck....

I crept up from behind the two guards and got within striking range... I silently pulled out the sword from my waist.

"Hmm... There's nothing here. Let's head ba-"

'Slash!' I swung my katana at the nape of the bandit. Blood bursts out of his neck like a broken water hose, and I stepped to the side to avoid the blood....

By aiming for your opponent's vital points when they are unguarded, you can kill them in just one decisive blow. A killing blow that can be executed when approaching from behind, or when their posture is broken, like when they are knocked to the ground.

'Thud!' The bandit immediately drops to the ground, dying on the spot from having his spine be slashed.

"What the hell?!"

"Hah...." I swung my blade to the sides to fling off the blood, and the sheathed my sword to it's saya. 'Click.'

"Bring forth to me, a stream of fire and-"

"Too slow!" Shadow Rush.

'Slash!!!' I slashed my sword at his arm, slicing his arm right off.

"Argh!!! M-my arm!..."

"You enjoyed your time having fun with that girl you kidnapped right?...."

"N-no!... Please spare me-"

"I guess the least I can do is to grant you a painless death...." I brought my sword overhead and at his head which was covered by his metal helmet.

One Line!

'Tank!!!' My powerful slash cleaved through the metal helmet and cut right into his head.

'Thud!' The bandit drops to the floor, dying immediately....

".....I killed people...."

And just as I thought.... I no longer feel anything from killing people. No guilt, or sadness, not even anger. Is this a result of my soul merging with Red and me growing apathetic to the loss of lives itself?

But these people are bandits.

"They had it coming." I said to reassure myself.

That's right.... My killing isn't unjust, I am doing this to protect the villagers.... I must keep that in mind so that I don't get drowned in my killings.

"2 down, 5 more to go...."

____________

[Third Person POV]

(Tengu Village Outskirts, Bandit Camp)

(6:31 p.m.)

"....Must be nice being able to rest huh?..." One of the bandits guarding the

"Well, Juzou-sama has been casting magic left and right like it was nothing.... He needed the rest unlike you who only casted a single spell at best during the initial assault."

"Hey it's not my fault that my tongue on stuck when I casted the second spell...."

"Anyway, don't you think those two are taking an awful long time with their patrols?"

".....You're right, they should be back in 5 minutes already."

"How about we go take a look? Maybe they are taking a dump?"

The two bandits walked out of their post and headed down the road....

"Hey idiots! Where are you all off to?" Yelled one of the bandits.

"Don't tell me that they deserted?..."

"That's impossible, not right before they get their money.... Hey, what's that?"

The bandit pointed down the road, where two figures of people lying on the ground was seen. It was dark at the time as the sun had just set, so they couldn't confirm the identity of the two bodies there.

"Hey, is that their corpses?..."

"Shit, we must report back to-"

'Rustle!' A bush nearby shakes violently, and making rustling noise in the process.

"What was that?!" (2x)

"....." No more sound came from the bush there.

"Prepare your magic...."

The first bandit pulled out his katana while the second bandit started to chant for a magic.

"Bring forth to me, a stream of fire and burn down any who dares to oppose the all mighty fire...."

The first bandit walked up to the bush, and swiped open the bush.... There was nothing inside other than a rock.

"....A rock?..."

"What's the matter?"

"Someone must've flung this thing here-"

'Stab!' From behind, a blade was jammed through the chest of the mage, killing him in an instant by stabbing his heart.

"Grk!... Gah...."

"Brother!!!"

'Thud!' The mage dropped to his knee, and from behind him is a girl dressed in a blue skirt stained with blood.

"Aiming for the gaps in the ribs need more precision than I anticipated.... But it can deliver a near instant death huh?" Said the girl as she kicks the bandit's corpse off of her blade.

"You'll pay for that you little fucker!" Yelled the bandit as he rushed forward with his katana raised....

"You're wide open!" 'Thud!' The girl kicked off the ground and lunged forward at him, pointing her katana in preparation to stab him....

"Yah!!!" The bandit brought his katana down and swung at the girl's katana, knocking her off balance by parrying her and throwing the katana off her hand. 'Tank!'

"Heh... I'm going to have so much fun with your body before I'm done with you, cutie!"

The bandit switched his katana to the flat edge, intending to knock the girl out instead of out right killing her because he has uses for her.... As he walked closer and swung down at her.

"....Idiot." Said the girl.

'Slash!' A blade cleanly sliced through his thigh, making him drop to the ground.

'Thud!' "Argh!... What the hell?!"

The girl had a second katana sheathed to her waist.... The first one that was knocked away by the bandit was actually one that was looted off the corpse of the dead bandit earlier.

"Shadow Draw.... In the end, this is a technique that's meant to be used in assassinations. It's quite effective at catching people off guard."

"What the hell are you saying, argh!..."

The blood from the bandit's cut leaked out more, and he can no longer move his leg anymore for most of the muscles and tendons in his thigh was completely severed.

"What I am saying is that I'm sorry, but you are going to die."

"What-" 'Thud!'

The girl kicked the bandit in the face and brought him down lying on the ground.

"Argh...." 'Thud!' Then the girl dropped and sat on the bandit's body, looking down on him.

"Please stop! Don't do it-"

"So this is what you look like.... The face of a bandit scumbag who treats women like objects." She said as she points her katana at his throat and pushes downwards.

"No! Wait!-"

'Stab!' The bandit tried to block the blade with his hands but the sword stabbed right through his hands and into his throat.

"Ark!... Grk..."

"....Goodbye."

___________

[Kyrielle's POV]

(6:36 p.m.)

I took care of the four stranglers, and now it is time to kill the remaining three bandits.

I slowly sneaked up to the camp again. Hiding inside a bush, I stalked the two guards that stood outside the tent guarding the white robed monk just now.

'Rumble....' The distant thunder sounded.

'Splashings....' A mild downpour started to drop down on the camp, soaking everything in water.

"This can be used as a shield...." I took out my winter coat, and covered myself in it to soak as much water as possible and help protect myself from the fire mages.

I wrapped my mouth using the red fire-proof scarf on my neck, leaving only my eyes on top.

The downpour created a lot of noises.... I can no longer hear the two guards standing outside of the tent, but I can still see them. It is dark because the camp fire that lighted the area around was put out by the water.

"Perfect.... Hmpt!"

I dashed out of the bushes, the two guards noticed me. One of them has a bow while the other had nothing.... One is an archer while the other is a mage!

"There's an enemy!" The archer brought his bow up and pulled on the strings.

"Bring forth to me, a stream of fire and-"

"I won't let you!" I yelled out as I dashed in range.

Shadow Cross.

'Slash!' (2x) With a slash, I cut away the bow of the archer. With a second slash, I aimed for the arm of the bandit and sliced his arm off.

"Argh!!!"

"-and burn down any who dares to oppose the all mighty fire. Flame Gush!"

"!" Shit!

'Bwuom!' A cloud of flames bursts out from the magic crest of that bandit. I jumped to the sides and avoided the fire while the flames burned the archer bandit to the sides.

Even if it is raining, fire is still fire....

"Argh!!! Grah!!! Urgh!!!"

"Oh shit, sorry!"

"Don't use fire magic if you can't end it in a single hit!" I said as I swung my sword down at him...

'Slash!' I cut him in the arm, but wasn't able to slice it off because I didn't used a technique.

"Argh! Stop! Sto-"

"Hiya!" I swung down at him once again aiming for his head. He tried to block my slash with his other arm, and has his arm cut deeply by my sword as well.

"Argh!!!... Urgh...."

"I didn't mean to make you suffer.... Just give up!" I said as I raised my sword and for prepared to swing it down.... Until I saw two flashed of blue light from within the tent.

It's magic crests! "Shit!"

'Fwuom!' An arc of wind shoots out from the tent while carrying flames.... Its a Fused Magic!

'Thud!' I kicked off the ground and jumped up to the air... The arc of flames glide past right underneath me, and hitting and setting everything it hits on fire.

The smoke from the scene clears, revealing a white robed man inside.

"Tsk, agile little brat.... are you alright?" Said the white robed monk from inside the burning tent.

"I-I'm fine for the moment, but please kill that bitch!"

"Got it.... I'll heal you up later, but I'll be scorching this one to hell first."

"....Why are you all doing this?! You know how cruel it is to burn creatures alive?! And you burned the village, they are innocents who you torched just to earn money!"

"Cruel huh?.... I guess you can say it is cruel, but honestly I couldn't care less."

"Can't you just not hurt people?! Can't you be a normal person?!"

"Normal? Do you think there are any normals for us warmongers who lost our job because the war ended and the govern disposed us like tools? Now we can have everything, from money, food, and even women.... Like you."

He said while gazing at me like a hunter analyzing it's prey.... It makes me feel uncomfortable.

"Tsk, there's no negotiating with bastards like you.... Now die!" I yelled out as I rushed forward at him.

I sprinted forward, closing the distance on us but it's too slow.... This guy can cast chantlessly.

"Fireball!" A ball of fire appeared on his hand.

"!"

'Fwuom!' He flings the ball of fire at me. I jumped to the sides and barely avoided the ball of flames coming for me. 'Boom!'

"There, Wind Blade!" 'Fwuo!!!'

"!" I jumped to the sides once again, getting out of the way if the vertical wind blade. 'Slash!'

"Take this, Flame Blade!" Two crests formed on his hand, he swung a horizontal wave of wind at me, this time with fire inside it.

"Woah!" I leaped up to the air in order to dodge the wave of fire....

"Got you! Fireball!" 'Fwuom!' He flung a ball of flames towards me....

Shit, I can't dodge in the air!

But I don't still have options.... I'll have to try to deflect it!

'Tank!' With my sword, I caught the fireball at an angle, making it glance along the blade, flying away from me before exploding mid air. 'Boom!'

"What the hell?!"

Lynn told me that it's possible to deflect some magic.... But to see it actually work is very unreal.

'Thud!' I dropped back to the ground, and immediately rushed forward at the mage. Seeing me trying to close the distance he started to jog backwards as well...

"Yah!" He swung an arc of wind at me vertically. I stepped to the side and avoided the attack...

He continues casting magic as he gets away from me. "Seiya!" He flung a ball of fire at me again....

"Hmpt!" 'Tank!' I waited for the perfect moment and slapped it away once again.

"Seriously?!... Earth, grant me a bullet that shall pierce all...."

He can't chantlessly cast earth magic, and when he was forming the rock sling I rushed forward at him again. Only 6 meters left!

He holds the rock bullet in place, spinning it violently with a vortex of wind magic.... And then he let it out.

"Having fun?! Bullet!"

"!" Shit, this one will be dangerous!

'Bang!' 'Phiuc!'

The rock bullet fired out at me exceeding the speed of sound.... I could barely see the bullet flying at me, this is almost certain death for me if it hits me.

But.... It was like my body had moved on its own.

'Tank!!!' I raised my blade up just in time and caught the bullet with my sword. 'Ssss....' A red smoking mark was left at the place where the bullet hits my blade.

"Fucking hell, you can deflect that?!"

"...Now you die!" I rushed forward once again, this time I was able to close the distance without him firing at me. 2 meters away!

"Heh..." A smirk appeared on his face. Something's coming!

I grabbed onto my soaked coat just in case, and when he brought out a metal pipe from his back...

'Bwuom!!!' The barrel shot out clouds of flames at me while I covered my body with the wet coat.

"What-"

"Begone!" I rushed forward and shoved the barrel away using the coat, then swung my blade at his arm. 'Slash!'

"Urgh!..." He jumped back and immediately tried to run off again when my attack slashed his arm....

"Don't move." I flung my sword spinning at him like how an axe. 'Stab!'

"Urgh!..." My sword cut right into his back, and he dropped to the ground from the damage.

"That's a bullseye. I'm done playing hide and seek with you... Now die!" I said as I pull out another katana that I picked up just now.

"Heh, you got me...."

I kicked off the ground and lunged at him. 'Thud!' Stinger.

'Stab!' I jammed my blade right into his chest.

"Grk!... Grr...." His body flopped backwards, losing all signs of life.

(6:41 p.m.)

'Thud!' I sat down to the ground, tired from all the running and jumping just now.

"Hah... Hah... Hah..." He was definitely a cut above the rest of the bandits....

Luckily my wet winter coat saved me just now, I would've really died there when he shot me with that flame barrel if not for the wet coat acting as a shield.

"Hah.... Hah.... Phew, time to pick off the last one." I stood up, and walked back to the entrance of the tent.

I saw the bandit just now, lying down on the ground with a shocked face.

"Hiee!!! Y-you killed Juzou-sama?!"

"Yes, and it is your turn now."

"N-no! Please spare me-"

'Thud!' I jumped and sat onto his body.

"Just stop resisting, this won't be painful!" I said as I point the tip of my sword to his neck.

"Ahhh!!! N-no sto-"

'Stab!' The sound of a stab was heard, and what came after that was a unnerving silence in the rain after the last bandit was killed.

"....Now then, where's the girl that they talked about?"

I walked over to the half burned tent where the monk came out from, and walked inside....

There is a bed, and on top of the bed is a half naked young woman about my age with torn clothes and her entire body full of bruises. She was assaulted and toyed with by those bandits just now....

"Sob.... please..... stop.... Sob...."

"My god...." I slowly walked up to her, and grabbed a blanket nearby before wrapping her body up.

The woman panicked immediately and started flailing her arms wildly, hitting me in the process. "No!!! Please stop!!! It hurts and I hate it!!! I won't run again so please don't do those hings to me again....!"

"Please, I'm trying to help you! I'm a woman as well!"

"You're.... Uhh!!! Hah!!!" She cried out in agony, and latched onto me.

"You're safe now.... You're safe now...."

"Wah!!!... They did all those horrible things to me!... It hurts and it feels disgusting!..."

"I know.... I know.... I'm sorry I couldn't come earlier...."

She cried out in pain a lot more after that, and I comforted her the best I can....

The pain that she went through.... Only a woman can fully understand it, and I completely sympathizes with her.

And.... I swear I'll make those bandits pay for doing this to someone like her...!

_______________

(10 minutes later....)

"Have you calmed down now?" I said as I tried to release the woman from hugging me.

"....Yes...."

"I see. You must escape by yourself, I still have to rescue the others.... Can you do that?"

"Yes...."

"Here, drink this." I gave her a healing potion, and made her drink it down.

"Gulp...."

"Do you feel better now?"

"Mmm..."

"Alright. Now let's try to get up and walk alright?"

"Yes...."

With my support, I got her up on her feet and walked her out of the tent.

"Can you run by yourself?"

"Yes...."

"I see. Go down this road and once you come across a three way junction, pick the road on the left. That'll lead you to Niigata city, where someone will help you."

"Thank you.... What is your name?"

"My name?... I am Kyrielle. It might be hard for japanese to pronounce it so you can just call me Kirie."

"Kirie.... I'll remember your name. I'll definitely remember you for saving me back there."

"I see... Now go, don't worry about me and just run!"

"Farewell, and thank you...."

After she said that, she slowly walked away by herself.

"....I hope she'll really be alright after all that she's been through.... Now then."

I walked over to the corpse of the monk, and then picked up the flame barrel that I slapped out of his arm just now.

What the hell is this thing? It looked sort of like a hand sized cannon....

'Fwuom...' When I poured some Mana into it a small fire appears from the mouth of the barrel... It's a magic item.

"I should keep it..." I said as I put it into the pouch that I wore on my back.

"Now let's see here... Should I continue forward?..."

Although my mind is telling me to back off, I can't help but worry about the villagers.... If these wretches continue to pillage the village like they own the place, the villagers will suffer even worse fate than that woman just now....

It'll be dangerous but... I'll do it. I think I can do it, and I have my reasons to help defend this village....

"Hmm?" My eyes glanced across one of the untouched tents in this camp... It seems that many equipments and tools is hiding inside.

Fighting this many bandits just now have taught me that I needed better equipment, as well as better tools and armour. Without the element of surprise, I would've died a long time ago.

Might as well help myself to these equipment before I continue forward.

(Chapter 88, end)