9 Incident in the forest

Without the worry of what's happening in the village, Saito traveled through the forest. As he was moving forward, his thoughts were full of Iori, which gave him a boost. And as to why he was in the forest is because he was an idiot.

After he woke up at the first light in the morning, he got himself ready by packing some food, water and some gold coins. After he did that, he didn't use the gate to get out but climbed a tree near the wall and crossed the wall. After landing on the ground, he just went straight into the forest and left the easy and possible road to a nearby town. Thus ending up here and got lost.

"How to get back to the road....? Damn I was an idiot for acting on impulse! I should have just used the road to get to some town! Now I'm lost in this goddamn forest!!!!!!" He swore as he walked. The forest was pretty calming and there were no monsters like he expected there to be. It was pretty much peaceful and he wanted this to continue till he reach the next town or village.

Just as he was thinking about what to do if dark arrives before he gets to a town, he heard the sound of water running. He perked up and rushed in that direction. He saw a river running through the forest. It was wide. "The one I saw when I first arrived should be a branch river for this one" he said. The water looked clean and no monsters could be around.

He then followed the river along with it. He saw some berries type fruits which seemed edible to eat along the way and took some as snack on the trip. Just as he thought that everything was peaceful, he heard the sound of running in the forest.

He immediately went on guard and his gaze was trying to catch any movement in the forest. Since he was in a little opening he could clearly see small movements made in the forest. His hand gripped the blade as he got ready to engage at anything that comes his way.

He thought that it would be some monster or something, but the sound didn't approach him. It just went passed his location and didn't make contact in his vision. Curiously, he started to follow the sound and sped up. He could hear many foots stamping the ground as they ran. The sound was getting closer and he was catching up.

The sound suddenly stopped. He also stopped and moved in stealth. He moved closer and he heard an shouting followed by a cry. He went to the bush and saw what was happening while crouching. He saw a middle aged women and a Young girl. They were surrounded by six men, each had a leather armor and had a weapon in their hand. Their weapons differed from swords to axe. All those men had a lecherous look on their face.

The women trembled upon seeing the look on those men's face, they knew what their fate will be. The middle aged women tried asking for one last time, "please...please....please at least, let my daughter go! You can do anything to me, but please let my daughter go! Please!" She begged those men with teary eyes. The young one also cried upon hearing her mother's words.

The men started laughing upon hearing her words. One of the men sneered, "hahaha! Do you hear this bitch brothers!? She wants us to let the little one go! Women, do think you are in a place to negotiate?" They all started laughing like maniacs.

Saito who was in the background, couldn't take it anymore. He drew his blade and darted towards the guy who spoke. The one who was laughing eairler, had despair all over his face. His so called brothers all had fear written on their faces. Saito lifted his head and looked at him with a sharp gaze.

He then drew his blade from his back and moved closer to the mother and daughter pair and asked, "are you both alright?".

Hearing his voice which sounded like a guardian Knight who came out of nowhere to save them, the young one's face was flushed. The mother looked at her daughter and said as she turned her looks towards the man in front of them with a weird clothes. She said, "ye- yes...we are fine, but..." She looked at those men in front of them, who still had fear in their faces.

Saito also looked them and turned towards the pair and said in a soft voice, "don't worry, I'll take care of them, closer her eyes" he smiled at them and stood up. The women did exactly as he asked. He then turned towards the men.

His eyes flashed with critical, there was even a hint of blood lust in them. He looked at them with sharp gazes and spoke, "do you guys think that women are nothing but just merchandize? Some sort of play thing for you!? Will you think of the same about your mother and sisters!? If someone pays high enough you guys will even sell your own blood relatives! You all are despicable! You can't even be considered as humans, you are all just worthless and useless than trash!" He drew his blade which he put back after killing that guy once again and stared at the men in the front with deep hate in his eyes.

The men felt shiver run down their spine. They never saw anyone like him, they were after all normal bandits who raid villages for food, money, supplies and slaves. They thought they would have a good harvest this time, but who would have thought that they will come face to face with this monster? No, calling him a monster is inappropriate. He's a demon! A demon sent from Hell to punish them! That's how he looked like in the eyes of those men. They couldn't handle the pressure he was emitting.

They tried moving, but their body just froze from the extreme pressure that was being released from Saito's body. Just as they were being pressurized by him, he made a move by thrusting his blade forward. He just pointed the blade forward and darted out.

They were being pressurized by him, so they couldn't see his movements. He then stood in front of a man with his blade piercing his heart. He looked the man in the eye. The man felt great fear from looked at his eyes, but he couldn't speak or shout, he just stood there and died. As the man died, Saito retrieved his blade and pushed him.

He looked at the rest and said, "today will be day of your ending". He then started slaughtering the men one by one with no resistance.

After completing the slaughter he looked towards the mother and daughter duo. The mother had fear all over her face after witnessing what happened and the daughter still had her eyes closed.

Saito just shrugged his shoulders and returned his blade into its saya and went near them. He crouched near them and asked in a soft tone, "are you hurt anywhere? Do you need anything?" He sounded like a caring big brother, with a scary side.

The mother was brought back to reality and removed her daughter's eyes. She then remembered something as her eyes flashed with hope. She then looked at him expectantly and asked, "Master, can you please save my village? These guys are from a bandit group , me and my daughter escaped the village with the help of some guard but they can't hold on much longer! Please! Help us!" She looked at him with pleading eyes.

Saito thought about it and then he said, "well, lead the way ma'am, I'll try and help you to my fullest". Hearing those words eyes of the women shone with gratefulness. She then stood up and started running in the direction with her daughter followed by Saito who was holding his blade's handle as he ran.