Chapter 117-2
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Well, if it came to that, there was a good chance the kingdom or local authorities would be alerted, so I never expected they’d just let us go.
Facing that bunch, I glanced around the area.
Apparently, they took that as a good sign.
”Oh? Haha! Looking around, hoping someone’s gonna come save you? There’s no one passing through here at this hour.”
”Yeah. That’s kind of our fault, though.”
”We haven’t let anyone we caught get away alive. But if someone expected to meet you and you never showed up, people tend to get suspicious.”
”Because of that, caravans carrying a lot of goods have stopped staying in this area altogether. But ones with fewer supplies, like yours, probably think they’re safe, so they still camp around here sometimes.”
I was just making sure this open area was clear of any more of their buddies, but… sure, let them think what they want.
Hearing this, I asked Iris.
”You managed to get through here? Wow.”
”It was crowded around harvest time…”
Ah… it seems they were holding back their activities because there were a lot of people transporting harvest goods to town, and there were a lot of people fighting back.
Bandits are common enemies for decent people, aren’t they?
”I see.”
I understood, and they attacked.
”Well, are you ready?”
”Even if I’m not ready, I’m going to do it.”
”Let’s go! CHARGE!”
BANG!
”…What?”
SPLAT!
They were trying to kill me in style, but… the men, without realizing the abnormality happening to their bodies, collapsed to the ground, except for one merchant.
Their bodies were lifeless, with their heads severed.
Blood gushed from their cut necks.
Of course, I was the one who used my magic threads to strangle them. And the reason I checked the surroundings was to make sure no outsiders saw what I’d done.
Even if I wasn’t in the wrong, there’s no reason to let people watch me kill someone for fun.
”…What? H-huh?!”
The merchant man gasped in shock and tried to step back—
”…M-my legs?!”
But his feet wouldn’t budge. I had already locked them in place with magic. The man, unable to comprehend what was happening, stared at me, bewildered.
”W-what did you do?! To me… and to them?!”
”I have no obligation—or reason—to explain that to you.”
Did he give up on asking more detailed questions after that response?
The merchant came begging for his life.
”Wait, wait! I’ll leave the goods here, so please let me go! I won’t do this kind of thing anymore!”
”…”
What part of his words am I supposed to trust?
He’s dressed as a regular merchant but is engaged in thievery; there’s not a shred of credibility to him.
With a cold stare… I replied.
”Give up.”
* * *
After that, we buried the bodies—whether they were merchants or bandits, it didn’t really matter—off the side of the main road.
Then we turned our attention to the horses and the wagon they left behind.
”Basically, it should be fine if we keep them for ourselves.”
”Yes, but if there’s something valuable among their goods, there might be a request for its return.”
Iris and Seria, who know I’ve come from abroad, explained the situation in this country, and we decided to check their cargo.
One of the two wagons was filled with general supplies like food, but the other was packed with small wooden boxes containing magical stones.
As for the magical stones, I can just absorb them for my magic power.
Regarding the wagons… thanks to Iris’s teachings, I’ve learned enough to handle them, so Seria and I have considered using their wagons.
However, if their associates find out we have the wagons, they might suspect we finished them off, even if we explain that they were abandoned on the road.
This is an open area, not a place where bandits could hide nearby, and it’s possible they have allies in the nearest town or village.
A campfire here wouldn’t seem out of place, so we might as well burn the wagons here.
Apart from absorbing the magical stones, we’ll barely touch the cargo, just leaving some food to keep the horses from following us.
After untying the bandits’ horses from the wagons, I’ll destroy the wagons and set a few fires, then have Iris release her magic flames.
”Release!”
Thanks to her skill, the fire magic stored in her finger was unleashed, and unlike ordinary fire, it stubbornly refused to go out, quickly burning the wagons.
Should we have burned the bandits’ bodies too?
But if we did that, we’d have to wait until it burned completely before burying it, which would extend the time we have to be here.
That would increase the chances of being seen by outsiders, and if the body was found, they might suspect our involvement.
So this is fine.
To avoid that, I dug the burial hole in one go with a large Magic Armor shovel instead of little by little, and then covered it back up.
* * *
We decided to spend the night a bit further on once the remains of the carriage had burned down sufficiently.
Unexpectedly, I was able to recharge my magic, and when we set up our tent, I surrounded it with a wall of black Magic Armor to keep it hidden from view.
People might think it’s a waste of magic, but I’d been saving it up for a situation just like this.
This way, I can finally get some rest.
After finishing our meal, I also built a roof with Magic Armor, and said that we didn’t need a lookout, so the 3 of us went inside the tent.
”Uh… what should we do?”
Iris asked that, her voice hesitant, under the lamplight.
But with her armor removed and the cold air, it was clear what she was getting at.
I thought she might refrain considering Seria was also here, but… Seria, who was on the other side of Iris, leaned against me.
Judging by the way she was leaning, she was also wearing thin clothing, just like Iris.
Seria whispered in my ear.
”Please, just relax. I know what happened with those bandits might have upset you. If you want to clear your head, feel free to use me however you like.”
At her words, Iris silently leaned against me too.
It seems like they both sensed that I was feeling stress from dealing with the bandits.
I have no regrets, but as an average person, killing is still a heavy burden.
Well, if something similar happens again, I’ll do the same if I have to.
But then this stress… will it subside or build up?
I don’t want it to subside, but if it builds up, it’ll be depressing.
So I took advantage of their kindness and decided to enjoy the three of us, covering myself with a blanket because it was getting cold.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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