Chapter 22

I came up with the idea of getting the supply back due to my persistence. Sekki and his brother joined me in this quest but we're not really getting along properly. Especially this brat won't shut up his mouth at all. Right at this moment, we are in the lair of the bandits where the supplies for the restaurant were brought in.

We've overheard a conversation where the boss of the bandits was talking about an Ancient Faerie that they discovered somewhere in the woods. Sekki and I will be following the lead as soon as we wrap everything here.

"So, how would we do it? Should we barge in and surprise them?"

"What are you, a six years old brat? Who would come up with that childish plan?"

"What did you say!?" This brat really doesn't have anything good to say.

"Leave it to my brother! I'm sure he has a magnificent plan in his mind, right—brother?" His smile is seriously mocking me.

Talking about Sekki, the guy glanced at us rather dumbfounded.

"So, brother! What are we going to do?"

Is that really the face who comes up with a plan?

Sekki didn't answer his brother, but he raised his hand below to the chest. He was holding a rock, both myself and his brother were confused about what he was about to do though we continued watching him. We didn't ask any questions since we trust him but—, Sekki without any hesitation threw the rock at one of the bandits who were securing the area.

My eyes and his brother's almost popped out on that well-planned action.

"Ugh…who goes there!?" the bandit shouted; anger was lingering in his voice.

"W-what did you do!?" I yelled. "B-brother… Is that for real?!"

Sekki continuously stared at us like an innocent little boy who doesn't have any idea what he had just done. While the footstep from the man is nearly approaching us, "Get back. I'll knock him down."

"Huh? Do you think you are capable of doing that? Brother can do that properly!"

"Shut up, bitch!"

"..."

I pushed them aside, waiting for the enemy's approach.

"Come out! Whoever you are!" I caught a glimpse of him and noticed that he was dumbly approaching us. My fist was ready from the time the bandit positioned near the bushes, and when he saw us, his eyes nearly dropped. My face can't help but grin sinisterly as my fist slammed into his pitiful face without compassion. After receiving my full-fledged punch, the bandit passed out.

I was curious to see what kind of expressions the two were making; Sekki didn't show much emotion, but the brat was looking at me with a shocked expression. I know I've impressed him, and he's not sure how he'll compliment me.

"What do you think? I hope you've understood by now that I'm stronger than you believe." I went on, expecting his praise, but instead, I noticed his face curved with a taunting smile. "My brother has the ability to make the guy fly away. How feeble you are, merely made the man pass out."

"Quit yapping you two. We need to finish this quickly."

We three then started hitting, kicking, and throwing the bandits. Since the two are doing the magia thingy, it didn't really need me to draw a sword and with only a small portion of my strength, I could beat the bandits out of their shits. The two of them perhaps don't realize I don't have artes, and they don't appear to care either. So, it's best to leave things alone. I don't want to appear frail in their eyes.

As an outcome, we tie a rope around them, and they sit in a circle. They've all got bruises and even scratches on their faces. They're lucky, though, since we didn't kill them. There's no purpose for the killing; we only need to get our supplies back, and we'll be good.

"Isn't she a soldier? What is the empire's soldier doing here? And look at her neck, she has the collar of a high ranker."

"I…I don't know either. I've never thought the soldier would come here herself. The boss isn't here, we are all dead meat when he finds out about this."

Their mumbling was loud enough for me to hear it. "So, you're more concerned about your boss finding out everything here? What about the knights who will be arresting you all? Shouldn't you be more worried about that than about your boss's wrath?"

"You don't want to see his anger, lady soldier."

"Yes!"

Everyone disagreed with me. They are all slightly glaring with a little anger through their faces.

Ugh. Disgusting.

"Haven't you heard?"

"About what?"

"Our boss was the well-known tiger lion! He could easily rip your limbs off! He already brought down villages, burned it into ashes and…—"

"Shhhhss! S-shut up! What do you think you're talking about?"

When one of them tried to stop exposing the complicated stuff I shouldn't have heard, the talk was cut short. These folks are certainly murderers who slaughtered people without mercy. They are exactly like the empire's dog.

Because of the rage, it instilled in me, I tightened my fists.

"Keeehh, n-no! Soldier Lady, y-you've heard it wrong we…"

I was about to confront these bandits when the brat abruptly chimed in.

"You people! How dare you take the lives of the innocents!"

My eyes were still glaring at them.

"Brother. I have called the knights already. They should be here shortly." he informed Sekki.

Sekki finally intervened by inquiring a couple of the bandits about the whereabouts of their boss, "Where did your boss go? " However, based on their expressions, it appears that no one intends to respond to him. That's why I meddled right after he asked the question.

"You people don't intend to respond to him, do you?" I grabbed the sword from its scabbard as my lethal sword slipped and slashed their bangs without even blinking. When they noticed the particles of hair dropping dramatically to the ground, their eyes almost jumped out as we heard a loud gasping from each of them.

They've confessed eventually though.

"H-h-h-he is in the heart of the mountain! He went there to see the Ancient Faerie!"

This Ancient Faerie is really something that we should look into. Although I'm not that knowledgeable about them, those creatures perhaps possessed a great magia that these bandits are after.

"Well then, one of you will take us to where your boss is."

When Sekki said that, it piqued my interest. When I looked at him, he was staring at the bandits. I've never seen him so serious, but there's no denying that this is a critical issue that we must deal with.

"B-b-b-but…!"

"What is it? No one wants to take my brother to your boss?"

"T-this guy!" everyone pointed at a certain guy, "H-he can take you to our boss!"

"H-huh?! W-why me…?!"

"Do you think we're playing games here?" I scowled at each of them. "Do you want me to sever the tongues of yours before the knights arrive?"

They all shook their heads and pointed at the certain man again. "Please, our life depends on you. Take them to the boss and make them regret." their whispering is so loud I could hear it perfectly but I didn't have much time to argue with that. So, in the end. The guy they pointed out went with us. While the brat waited for the knights.

We started down the path with one of the bandits leading the way. Sekki's expression was very indifferent. I couldn't tell if he was angry or happy. In any case, he doesn't smile. When I first saw him, he seemed to appear out of nowhere to assist me in using the silly vending machine. I didn't really think we would be some sort of acquaintance.

"How is your patched eye, does it still hurt?" Sekki out of nowhere asked, "It doesn't hurt at all."

"I see."

I have never thought he would ask something like that. Guess this guy still worries about people around him.

Now then, it's best for me to know what in the world is an ancient faerie. I should start asking Sekki about it.

"Say…"

"...?"

"What is an ancient faeries?"

Sekki's eyes slightly took a glance at me before he even answered, "They are creatures that can be tame. However, most people kill them to gain an enormous magia."

"Tame? Then, faeries can be a pet?"

"Are you stupid, Lady Soldier? That means you can fight along with the faerie you tamed. They serve as both a shield and a perfect weapon against your enemy. Our boss has no intention of killing the faerie but not only does the boss have an eye for the faerie, but also the cadres."

Cadres, huh?

Oz told me he is a member of Cadres. Then, it could be not only the leader of the bandits who are currently here but also the Cadres?

It wasn't long until we heard a snarling, horrible noise in the distance. The birds began to fly in an unsettling manner through the sky, and even the wild animals came running toward us.

"Sekki!"

"Tch. We must hurry!"

We three sprint toward the source of the noise. And as we arrived at the right area, we...saw a flying leg just as we came to a halt. My jaw fell in horror because of what we saw. A man lying and soaking in his own blood that was already lifeless. And there's this woman in front of him, holding a claymore blade in her right hand.

"You dared to take my property? This is what you deserve."

"B-boss!!!!!"

The guy that was with us can't watch any longer as his emotion bests him, he ran to where his boss lies.

"H-hey!" I tried to stop him because I can feel an intense aura over her, but when the woman switched attention to the guy. I didn't even see what was coming until his body was crushed into the ground. He...was cut into two pieces mercilessly, he got killed in cold blood.

"S-sekki!" I shouted in panic, the woman's eyes shifted right through us after that. The chill from my spine started to crawl, not only that I could see she was an executioner but the magia around her was insanely high.

"...Oh, it's been a while. Calcyfer le Sekkia."

"...Undyne."

T-they know each other?