Friends

"Wait… this is not body strengthening potion… it's just energy potion" Barn looked at Hira as he said those words.

"What!" Hira's nervousness increased.

Barn then looked at the other thugs

…

"You guys are in this as well, aren't you?" He asked

…

"ha ha ha ha ha… boss it seems he fooled us."

"ha ha you are right I found out as soon as I drank my potion, but I decided to help him with his prank." The thug who was the first to drink his potion said while laughing. 

"You guys… and you brat, you called us this late just to pull a prank on us? It was funny though ha ha ha ha" Barn laughed.

…

"hi hi hi ha ha ha ha ha…" Hira also started laughing loudly, as the blade has long moved away from his neck. 

"It worked… ha ha ha it worked; this is awesome…" he laughed. 

"Of course, your prank worked, You, are really smart Hira…" All thugs kept laughing at each other. 

Was it the prank that worked, or was it?

"So, you guys… what is our relationship?"

"Of course, we are best of friends…." The goon who was holding his blade on Hira neck a few seconds ago said while patting him on the back. 

'System' Hira muttered to himself.

'Will it be okay if I hit this bastard.' He was on the verge of death a few seconds, of course he needed revenge.

[Affirmative. The target will themselves find reasons to validate the hosts actions, no matter what action the user takes.]

'Even if I kill them?'

[Affirmative]

'That's some scary power'

[…]

"Well, you my friend… what is your name again?"

He asked the guy who was patting him. 

"Oh my name is Andi" the thug replied. 

"Oh Andi… well… would you mind if I slap you a few times?" He asked as if it was the most casual question. 

"You want to slap me… sure go ahead" Andi said as he positioned himself in front of Hira. 

"Slap…. Slap… Slap…" three resounding slaps were heard, as Hira slapped Andi with all his strength. 

"You bastard, slap… you have made my life into a mess ever since I came here… slap… slap… its time for revenge bitch slap…" he slapped the thug multiple times.

…

"hmm no wonder Hira played a prank on us. He was tired of us pranking and hitting him, now that I think about I would have also become angry if you guys pulled prank on me." One of the thugs said

"Yep… you are right, Hira you don't have to worry we understand, you can take out your frustration, we are your friends, we will help you" another thug said. 

"Of course… of course… I am not letting any of you bastards go…"

"Now all of you get in a line to be slapped by me", he said.

All the thugs just smiled as if they were playing with a young friend and aligned themselves so that Hira could slap them. 

"Slap… Slap… Slap…"

…

"Slap"

Hira hit each thug with full force and multiple time, before he finally reached at Barn. 

"So you are the big guy huh… Slap"

…

…

"Aaaah… slap… slap… dammit" Hira was frustrated.

He slapped at Barn multiple times, but could even leave a fingerprint.

"Hira… are you hurt… please don't stress yourself, I was rewarded with a vitality potion by my boss… my body is stronger now, you won't be able to hurt me. Barn said as he looked at Hira with pity"

Black lines formed on Hira's head as he looked at Barn. 

He then looked at other thugs.

"Hey all of you… how about you help me beat this guy… he is really full of himself?"

"Got it Hira… boss Barn is really getting full of himself, to think he would brag in front of Hira, let's go guys beat lord Barn up"

"Yeah… let's beat him up"

All the bandits started hitting barn with their fists, and Barn just stood there letting them hit himself, as he looked at Hira with a kind smile on his face.

'Why does he look at me like that… It feels like I am the villain here' Hira muttered.

…

A few minutes later. 

Barn was battered by other bandits, and was now on the ground breathing heavily.

The other bandits were no better either, first they were slapped hard by Hira and then hitting Barn for so long also tired them a lot. 

"Alright you guys I feel much better now" Hira said, the thugs looked at him with kind eyes.

"It's good that you feel better now. Remember, one should always feel good in life, that way you stay healthier." One of the bandits gave a friendly advice. 

"Sure sure… whenever I feel like feeling better, I will come back and slap you guys. What do you think about that?"

"Hmm… that's a nice idea. You are smart Hira." Other thug commented, and the all smiled, at the thought of letting Hira release some stress on them. 

"Okay now its getting cringe." Hira muttered as he looked at the bandits. 

"Alright we are done for now. But I will be needing your help, so why don't you come to the Misty's tomorrow?" 

"Okay sure… you work there… we will come to meet you" Barn said as he got up, still breathing heavily. 

"Alright then 'Friends' bye"

"Bye Hira take care of yourself"

The bandits waved him bye as he disappeared. 

…

The next morning…

"Morning boss…" Hira said as he entered the shop. 

"Hira… you are back… I thought…" Misty fell silent. 

"You thought I ran away with the potions, didn't you? Well, it was a good idea but… I am not going anywhere. I like it here… I like being around you" he said.

"Wha What…" Misty's face turned red, listening to what Hira said.

"Hello boss, get out of your thoughts, our help will be arriving soon…" He said as he started walking inside the shop.

"What help are you talk…" Misty was interrupted as saw the door of the shop opening.

"You… you… why are you here?"

The thugs had come back to cause trouble in her shop.