Year 141_Keireki Era_Spring/08
In short, "You're filthy."
Well, yeah, bandits are dirty. They don't indulge in luxuries like baths.
Now, this thing called "Petition" is a mysterious power.
Literally, it is activated by praying for a specific result.
It's a strange ability that allows you to wield powers your body cannot possess. Naturally, it's far removed from anything a bandit would have.
When she mentioned my filthiness, it probably meant she was going to pray to cleanse my body and clothes.
"Are you saying you'll clean me up? If so, I'd be happy if you could."
"Yes, then..."
Adopting a prayerful stance, she chanted the incantation, Purification.
The change was noticeable in the lightness of my hair and the tension lifting from my face.
When the wind blew, my hair swayed. How long had it been since I last took a bath?
"Thank you, um..."
"I'm Felicity. Sorry for introducing myself so late."
"Thanks, Felicity."
"You can just call me Feli if that's easier, Vi."
Maybe it's rare for someone to simply accept kindness, but Felicity responded to my gratitude with a smile.
"Since we're on introductions, I shall name myself as well, de gozaru."
A mysterious figure concealed entirely in a hood and cloak.
Judging by the voice, it seemed to be a woman, but the truth was unclear.
"I am Nichirin, a scout, de gozaru. By the looks of it, Vi, you don’t seem to carry a weapon."
A ninja? Not a scout?
What's a ninja?
Still, replying to a question with a question gets us nowhere.
"Oh, I threw it when I helped, and I left it behind. It was almost broken anyway, so I didn’t care."
"You *threw* it?"
Nichirin nodded with interest.
"Perhaps you have a technique similar to mine, de gozaru. If so, you may find this useful."
She handed me a strangely shaped blade.
It had no grip, consisting only of the blade itself.
"What’s this?"
"My 'sidearm,' de gozaru."
Three of these "sidearms." Should they be counted as three blades?
"They’re called chakrams, de gozaru. They’re designed to cleave almost anything in two if used correctly, de gozaru."
"Nichirin, is that okay?"
Felicity asked as if confirming.
It was visibly imbued with a strange power, meaning it had significant value.
As a bandit, I might be ridiculed for my appraisal skills, but precisely because I’m a bandit, I've naturally developed the ability to assess the value of items. Time is precious when you're raiding and running away.
That said, I don’t have supernatural insight. I can only vaguely sense that something is valuable or imbued with power. So, I can’t exactly flaunt my appraisals.
"Ha ha ha! The fact that you had to cover for our lack of an attacker is an unchangeable sin, de gozaru! Please accept this as a token of our gratitude!"
"Thank you."
This might come in handy as a trump card.
… Well, if I don’t end up dying too easily, that is.
"I’d like to give something to you too, Vi, but let’s save the fun for later."
"No worries."
"Even Rin said it. If you hadn’t been there, we might not have been able to protect Iserina. It’s not like we were careless, but I never imagined they could gather so many people this close to the city."
The boss really pulled off something incredible.
Bandits don’t usually operate like that.
In a way, the boss could be considered uniquely talented.
If bandits start adopting the strategy of uniting simply because it’s "effective," things would get dangerous.
Though bandits are often scattered, their numbers are immense.
Between alliances, captives, and the like, a second generation of bandits is being born.
We’re already seeing a growing trend of people turning to banditry as a job, and now, we're entering an era where bandit children naturally spring up.
For adventurers, bandits might just be "out there somewhere."
Most people probably haven’t even noticed the increase.
Maybe the realization that bandits are growing in number is something only other bandits—or perhaps only I—am aware of.
"Maybe we shouldn’t have parted ways with the temporary helpers we had along the way…"
"Regrets never end, huh..."
It seems they had other escorts too.
But since they aren’t here, perhaps they were sent back, or maybe...
Just as the group was about to sink into a reflective mood, Iserina interjected:
"But I’m safe! Thanks to all of you!"
"Yeah, if it had just been me, I wouldn’t have gotten out of that situation. I want to thank you all too."
My words might have sounded a bit hollow, but even so, the group felt reassured and thanked me in return.
What a group of good people...
Dealing with bandits all the time makes moments like this refreshing and nice.
Oh, and I need to adjust my perspective a little.
I used to think guys with two women tagging along in a trio were a certain type, but I see now there are exceptions.
I’ll stop looking through tinted glasses.
What do you think about this chapter?
