Eternal Adventurer (WN): Chapter 17

 

Chapter 17: Betrayal

In the depths of the forest were a large number of bandits and the manager.

"Ha! You were right!"

"Right? He's a fucking serious guy."

"What are you talking about, manager?"

I mean, it's pretty obvious by now, but I'm just making sure.

"Did you know? I'm in charge around here."

"You're doing a lot of roundabout things, aren't you?"

“My motto is to make money the short way. And the topography of this town was very convenient for that."

“For that reason, you attacked the merchants that crossed the mountains, slaughtered them all, robbed them of their supplies, and sold the surplus items to people who knew nothing about the town. Am I right?"

“You know, I wanted to kill you sooner. You are too strong. I have no choice but to destroy all the evidence and escape. Because of you, we had to kill a lot of people."

Don't shift the blame.

It's all your doing, and you're doing it with pleasure!

"Then why aren't you running away?"

"No matter how strong you are, you can't handle this many people, can you?"

Saying that, the bandits readied their weapons all at once.

Not swords or knives.

It was a crossbow.

"It took a lot of work to get all this stuff together, have you seen it? They're more modern and easier to use than bows."

Dozens of crossbows are pointed at me.

I'd probably die if I got hit by one of these things.

Well, I'll do my best to resist.

"That's the latest. It's about the same outside."

"What are you......"

"Yeah, go ahead. Shoot me."

"Don't be arrogant, I know it looks like a toy, but this is a real deal......"

"Shoot it."

"......Kill him!"

The crossbow is the newest weapon.

Don't let that fool you.

The magic I've mastered...

There is a way to prevent it.

"A barrier that can block arrows..."

Even if there are a lot of them, they're right in front of me.

"I'm going to shoot you now~"

What they had said.

"Do it!"

Is there anyone who will quietly get shot for saying something like that?

I'm prepared with defensive and evasive measures.

If I'm not prepared, I'll run away immediately.

"W-what! Magic?"

"Looks like it was a toy."

And even though they're armed with the latest weapon, they're not trained to use it.

And they're loading it too slowly

"One!"

I charged with everything I've got and bring down the greatsword.

I'm not going to hold back.

I can't let them live.

If I hesitated and let them go...

Wince.

No.

They could harm someone.

I still have that scene in my mind.

The moment the bandit is about to kill Wince.

The appearance of throwing up with empty eyes.

The sight I was watching from afar, out of reach.

I may not be able to save her again.

And that's why.

Every last one of you here.

Die.

-------------

"Fisse?"

"Wince, what's wrong?"

Fisse stood in the middle of the burning town.

Behind her was a bandit with an arrow stuck in his right knee.

"This person? He's my subordinate."

"Subordinate......?"

"Oh, it's been a while, little girl."

"You're not very perceptive. That's why you can't become a staff, you know?"

"Eh... eh? Why?"

"Ah! Wince! You still trust me even in this situation! I'm so happy!"

I don't know what you're talking about.

Why?

Why is Fisse's subordinate a bandit?

"What do you think happened to my parents when I turned 12?"

"Ah, they died of an illness..."

"I'm sorry, it's a lie. Actually, I killed my parents."

"Kill..."

"I had no choice. They wanted to sell me to a brothel for money without even working. I was just a child."

"No way..."

“But I was in trouble. How was a child supposed to survive on her own without her parents? Then I met the manager and I had an idea!"

Stop it.

“We will completely isolate this town and create our own paradise! We will be the rulers and keep robbing the people of this town who know nothing!"

I don't want to hear it.

“You know how hard the manager is working? He is the mayor of the town and he plays two roles! Managing the communication of the merchants! He's the one who's got my back, and I'm the one who's got his!"

"Fisse..."

"I'm sorry, but there's something I've been wanting to tell you for a long time, and I haven't told you."

"Fisse..."

"There was a woodsman among the manager's subordinates. He's already dead from a venereal disease."

"Stop it... stop it..."

"I did some research, okay? I'm pretty sure he's your father."

"......Do you...... even know what you've done?"

"Hmm? Ah! I'm sorry Wince! I'm sorry I left you out of the group. But it's okay! From now on, we're not just friends anymore, we're family! Let's have some fun together tonight! It feels so good! The manager is really good...”

I couldn't listen.

So I.

Fisse, who was hugging me.

"Ouch! Wince! What are you doing!"

"Sister! You little shit!"

I tried to stab her in the stomach.

But she noticed and I ended up just slashing her skin.

“Blood… blood? Ahh...... youuu! Wince, why did you stab meee!"

The bandit approaches me to kill me.

"Kill her! Kill heeerr! That one! Wince! Kill her!"

Fisse gave me a look I'd never seen before.

I was strangely calm.

The bandit swung his club down on me.

It seemed so slow.

I knew immediately.

He's slow.

Compared to Shiro-san.

I'd been watching him the whole time.

It was easy to avoid.

There were a lot of openings.

I cut his throat with a knife without giving him any pain.

“Uu… Wince. Are you okay? I'm sorry, but I'm upset right now and I'm not serious... so, see?"

"Fisse... what happens if a bandit gets caught... do you know?"

I gripped my knife properly.

"Everyone suffered so much and died... I don't want Fisse to suffer."

"Wince...... please, forgive me......"

Fisse runs away.

She was slow.

It was easy to mount her.

Fisse fell to the ground.

"Don't worry. I'll get this done as fast as I can."

"Stop it! Forgive meeee!"

I can't stab her heart because her spine is in the way.

My knife can't penetrate the skull.

I can't even cut her throat because she's rampaging.

So I'm gonna stab her in the lungs.

"Sorry."

I stabbed again.

"Sorry."

Stab.

"Sorry."

I think Fisse is saying something.

"Sorry."

She's in pain, let's end it quickly.

"Very soon."

Fisse just coughed up blood.

"It'll be over."

She stopped moving.

I don't know why.

"Ahaha... haha..."

I couldn't help but want to laugh.