Chapter 35: Shopping Trip (2)

"Guess you just found out what a scam is. Now get in, it's time to go back."

Verro commanded, the other servants entering the cart. Van stood rooted to the spot, seething. His eyes darted in between the bangle on his wrist and Verro repeatedly, before turning around and running back into Roan.

"Hey!"

Verro yelled as he saw Van run back into the town, but didn't stop him. He sighed, deciding to give Van a few minutes before dragging him back to the cart. 

On his way to the shop, Van ripped the bangle off his wrist and tossed it aside. 

'The Hasty Bangle and Leave Leaf were the ones with typos in the description, those must be the fakes!'

Van ran until he reached the shop, kicking the door open. As expected, there was no one behind the counter. Van quickly scanned the rest of the wares on display, most of the descriptions of the items having typos or similar errors. 

He hopped over the counter and entered a door behind it, revealing a room with a table, a chair on the floor, and another door that was wide open, revealing a back alley. Van followed the alley until he reached a fork in the path. 

Van looked around, spotting a beggar leaning against a wall. Upon being questioned, the beggar pointed towards the path on the left. Thanking him, Van ran down the left path, arriving at a small yard, a well in the center, the rest of the sides hidden by the back of a building. In the distance a simple house stood, with some muscular men lounging around in front.

Turning around, Van noticed this area was positioned so that it would be hidden behind the town's main buildings, only accessible through the alleys. Van approached the men, whose faces hardened as they saw him getting closer.

"Whaddya want?" The biggest man stood up and faced Van, spitting on the ground. 

Unfazed, Van looked up to lock eyes with the man. "Does that house behind you belong to an old man?"

"Hard to tell, plenty of oldies around this part of town." The man pointed behind Van with his chin. "Why donchu go back the way you came."

Realizing the man won't answer his question, Van tried to walk past the big man, only to be shoved back. The man crossed his arms as Van regained his balance.

"I wasn't suggesting, kid."

The other men behind him also stood up and approached the two. Van eyed all of them before sighing. Standing in front of him were 5 men, including the big guy.

"Fine…" Van removed his jacket, folded it, and hung it on a nearby fence. He stretched his arms as he walked back towards the men. 

"Won't even need mana." He cracked his neck, slipping a small tube into his hand. "Except for this."

Inserting mana into the tube in his hand, Van jumped high and swung it towards the big man's jaw. As his fist flew through the air, the tube spat out flames that engulfed Van's fist. The big man's eyes widened as the flaming fist crashed into his mouth, his jaw breaking, a tooth flying out. 

The big man fell to the floor, writhing as he grabbed his burnt mouth. Landing on the ground, Van quickly shook the rest of the flames off his fist as the rest of the men were still shocked at what just happened.

'Good to know the Salamander's Tongue is legit.' 

Van heard a yell. He turned to see one of the men charging at him, his fist raised. Van stepped back, letting the fist fly harmlessly past his face. He picked up a wooden bucket to his left, placing it over the man's head to obstruct his vision. 

The remaining 3 men charged as well. Van kicked one in the knee and pushed him back to block the other 2, before punching the bucket on the last man's head as hard as he could.

The bucket shattered into splinters, the man wearing it flying away and crashing into a window, his nose and mouth bloody. That was the amount of damage a non-mana powered punch from a fresh 1st Sword Knight could do to a normal human. 

The 3 men weren't as shocked this time, and went to attack Van. Van dodged a fist, blocked a kick, and grabbed the third man's arm, pulling him over his shoulder and judo throwing him down the well.

While his back was turned to the last two, Van quickly threw an elbow behind him, hitting one of the men in the throat while the other was able to punch Van in the face. 

Van turned around and crossed his arms to block the second punch, grabbing the man's collar and headbutting him. Van sweeped the legs of the stunned man before punching him in the face to knock him out. 

The last guy, receiver of Van's elbow, stood there in shock, holding his neck. He looked at his friends. The biggest of them was laying on the ground whimpering, one was still in the window of some building, one was thrown down the damn well, and the last one was knocked out right in front of him.

Upon seeing Van's glare, the man ran off, afraid of receiving the same treatment as his friends. Watching the last guy take off, Van breathed out and went to retrieve his jacket, wearing it once more.

"Looks like the meat skewers weren't the only nostalgic thing about this shopping trip." Van spoke to no one in particular as he approached the house. It was a fun little workout.

Not bothering to knock, Van kicked the door off its hinges, sending it flying and hitting the wall. Within the house lay a bed in the corner, a cupboard, a table with a safe on top, and an old man, trembling at the sight of Van.

"Looks like I didn't beat up those guys for nothing." Van said, approaching the old man and lifting him by his shirt.

"Hello again, scammer. I want my money back."