Year 133_Keireki Era_Summer/01
Alright!
Until yesterday, I was just a regular bandit.
But today, I'm an adventurer, and my very first job is to take care of some bandits on the roadside.
According to a merchant who managed to escape, there are about ten of them, looking like they’re starving and in rough shape.
Do I hesitate to kill those who were in the same situation as me just yesterday?
Not a chance! It’s survival of the fittest!
… That said, I'm not allowed to take on most jobs solo. Must be because I don’t have enough of a track record yet.
The guild doesn’t want people trying to throw their lives away. After all, dying on the job is a failure, and failures tarnish the guild's reputation.
If they send a rookie off to get themselves killed, it looks pretty bad for them, doesn’t it?
So, I'm joining forces with some other rookies for this job.
Our group has four people. I’ve gotten a quick introduction to their backgrounds:
There’s a young warrior from the countryside.
A girl who looks like a monk but doesn’t wear any religious symbols.
And a one-armed girl mage.
Then there’s me, the former bandit.
Both of the girls seem to have their own stories, but the young guy just nods and wants to get on with the job.
It's mature of him to mind his own business. Respect level +1.
We’ve got the gear, we know the job, and we’ve gathered what intel we can. So without further ado, we’re setting off.
Without much chit-chat, we arrived near our destination.
It was a road with a dense scattering of trees, just short of being a forest.
If I were a bandit, this is exactly where I'd lie in wait.
"Hold up."
I stopped the group for a second.
"Huh? Uh… what was your name again?"
"It’s Gram."
"Ah, sorry about that. Guess I should have asked before. Name’s Yalbatzi, but most call me Yalba."
He’s fully decked out in leather armor, holding what looks like a woodcutter’s ax rather than a combat weapon.
Probably from a family of lumberjacks or something.
At least he looks like he’s got some muscle, which could come in handy.
Yalba then asked the other two for introductions.
"I’m Wiminea."
She’s equipped with light armor, a shield, and a blunt weapon—definitely giving off monk vibes.
Her short, golden hair and energetic voice match her lively aura.
"… Lukarsi."
The one-armed mage girl has long, silver hair, an unreadable expression, and a twisted wooden staff.
She’s the picture of a mysterious spellcaster.
Yalba thanks us with a nod and a cheerful "Thanks for the intros!"
To thank us for just introducing ourselves…guess he’s the type to build people up.
Then, he turned back to me.
"So, why’d you want us to stop?"
"With the number of bandits we’re up against, it wouldn’t be strange if one or two were keeping watch. They’d be told to shoot anyone who wandered into their territory from behind."
"... You seem to know a lot," Lukarsi noted, casting a suspicious look.
"Well, I was in a similar position to them not too long ago," I reply.
"Oh… I see."
Her suspicion cleared, though she didn’t seem particularly distrustful either.
"I apologize if I made you uncomfortable.”
Wiminea said.
"It’s fine. If my scars can help others, then they’re worth it."
"Hey," Yalba whispers, “that shadow over there—is it…?"
It’s a little late to start whispering now, but sure enough, I spotted a figure in the shadows where Yalba pointed.
It’s definitely a bandit.
"Good eyes, Yalba."
He was blushing from the compliment—probably more used to giving praise than receiving it.
He seemed like a genuinely decent guy, one who could live a peaceful life in town rather than adventuring.
But everyone has their reasons. Yalba must have his own.
I picked up a nearby stone. It’s just as I noted in the interview—my skill with throwing is classified as a "technique."
They say anyone can learn a technique with the right mindset and practice.
I’ve even been told it’s called "slinging" rather than "throwing" in the technical sense.
It’s a memory from long ago, and I can’t remember who said it, but it was probably another bandit.
This won’t work against any strong enemies, but it should be effective against bandits at my level.
"Once I take down that guy, the rest will rush us. They’re dumb, so they won’t bother with ambush tactics. We just need to take them down, and the job’s done. Ready?"
The three of them nodded.
"We’re just a temporary team anyway. No need to show all our cards. Let’s each fight to the best of our abilities."
Another round of nods.
"Alright, let’s begin."
I launched the stone, striking the bandit square in the head, which shattered like a melon, and he fell.
"Huh? What the hell?"
"Damn it! It’s adventurers!"
"Kill 'em! Kill 'em all!"
They come out of the woodwork—seven of them, it seems.
I can’t see their leader, but one of them is hiding with a bow.
Yalba’s keen eye already caught him.
What do you think about this chapter?
