Chapter 18: The Price of a Father’s Wrath

“Exterminate the bandits?”

“Yes.”

The elderly village chief, seated beside me, spoke these words. I set down my utensils, feigning a look of reluctance as I regarded him.

Just moments earlier, after Bella had her fill, she had returned control of her body to Nina. However, Nina was still asleep, so I had left her in the room, locking the doors and windows.

I then came downstairs for dinner, only to be approached by the village chief.

He had heard from Emma that I had successfully dealt with a bandit. She had likely exaggerated, praising my exceptional skills. Thus, the chief had come to propose that I join the village guards in eradicating the bandit group.

Naturally, I refused. I was merely an ordinary father traveling with his daughter, not some extraordinary adventurer. I had a journey to continue; where would I find the time to help others?

Moreover, the bandits had never actually invaded this village, largely due to the presence of guards. The chief’s request stemmed only from his fear that they might one day launch a sudden attack.

He was likely worried about potential casualties. After hearing Emma’s account, he must have believed I could serve as a vanguard, prompting him to make this proposal.

Given Emma’s personality, it wouldn’t be surprising for her to embellish the story; I was already well aware of that.

“No, Chief, I merely ambushed the bandit from behind. And there was only one; knocking him out was all it took. It wasn’t nearly as impressive as Emma made it sound. Look at my build—I hardly seem capable of fighting multiple opponents. You should really seek someone more capable. I have to continue my journey tomorrow.”

“Uh, but, Miss Emma…”

“Emma was unconscious then; how could she have seen me fight? It was just a child’s idle chatter, please don’t take it too seriously. Now, it’s getting late. You should return home and rest early. I need to go back and look after my daughter.”

Without giving the chief a chance to persuade me further, I placed a few silver coins on the table, picked up a paper bag of bread from beside me, and headed upstairs.

Though I felt a pang of guilt towards the old chief, everything I did was for Nina.

Emma had been unconscious and hadn’t witnessed my fight. This meant my true strength remained unknown to anyone. I couldn’t afford to expose myself.

“Nina~ Are you awake?”

I entered the room…

“…Nina?”

However, Nina was nowhere to be seen. The blanket was thrown back, and the window stood open.

A growing unease settled in my heart. I scanned the room, searching for any possible hiding places, then walked to the table, set down the bread, and then…

“Hmm?”

I discovered a piece of paper, a very dirty one.

[If you want the girl back, come to the forest alone tonight]

[We will definitely avenge today’s grudge]

Two lines of crude, crooked handwriting marred the paper. The second line appeared to have been added later, hastily scrawled, almost rendering the last few words illegible.

A grudge? The forest? Did this mean the bandits? Had they abducted Nina while I was eating? In such a short time? It shouldn’t… it couldn’t be Bella’s prank, could it? No, there was no pen or ink here, and I hadn’t brought any.

I walked to the window, seeing that its lock was broken. The snapped edges suggested it had been forced open from the outside.

She had truly been abducted. Or rather, at this moment, my rationality wouldn’t allow me to consider any other possibility.

Anger? No, that fragile word could not describe the emotions swirling within me right now.

I left the room, locked the door, and descended the stairs. The village chief still sat there, sighing dejectedly, but I ignored him. As I passed him, he must have thought I had changed my mind, for he immediately came forward to greet me.

“Mr. Ken, have you changed your mi—”

“Are you trying to send me and your guards to our deaths?”

“Uh!”

I merely glanced at him, and he instantly fell silent, his mouth half-open. He stared at me with wide, terrified eyes, his hands trembling as if he had just encountered a murderer. His already pale face seemed to deepen with age. A few seconds later, he collapsed into his chair, nearly toppling backward.

The gazes of those around us converged. Seeing the chief so thoroughly terrified, they, too, seemed to grow restless.

I had tried my best to keep my tone and expression calm. Or perhaps, he had seen something in my eyes? To be so utterly frightened.

Never mind. It wasn’t my concern. The village guards couldn’t even detect an infiltrating bandit, yet they expected me to help them clear out the rest… What a joke.

Still, I was also to blame. Nina hadn’t even woken up, yet I wasn’t by her side, foolishly hoping nothing would happen. Father, I was wrong.

The village’s affairs were irrelevant to me. I abandoned the chief and left the inn, heading towards the village outskirts. Other matters held no importance. Right now, all I wanted was Nina.

It had been a long time since I had used that body. Perhaps it was time to cause a little trouble. After all… I was angry.

***

“Wine! Bring me wine!”

In the forest, at the clearing where Emma had been attacked, a group of bandits had gathered, sitting around a roaring bonfire.

One tall, muscular bandit, their leader, bellowed, and several subordinates immediately stepped forward, pouring him a full bowl of wine.

It was a feast of stolen food and drink, making the scene resemble a lively bonfire party. In reality, they were merely waiting for the culprit who had incapacitated three of their brothers.

Nearby, tied to a horse’s back, Nina remained unconscious. It was unclear how much of Zero’s drug she had been given, but she had been asleep for nearly two days. Fortunately, the medicine had no side effects.

“I say, Boss, we’ve waited so long and haven’t seen a soul. Will that guy really come?”

“He will! He absolutely will!” the leader declared in a gruff voice. “There’s no father in the world who doesn’t love their child. If he doesn’t come, we’ll go to him!”

“Then, if he does come, what should we do?”

“Of course, we’ll capture him, and then… Hmph hmph hmph! You’ll rape his daughter right in front of him, then throw both of them into the bonfire to burn. Afterwards, we’ll hang their corpses at the village entrance so everyone knows the fate of those who dare lay hands on my brothers! Let them know our power! Brothers! Am I right?”

“Right—!”

Dozens of men roared in unison, their shouts echoing through the forest. Hearing this satisfying plan of revenge, their morale soared.

Though in their eyes, they were only dealing with a mere small-time punk, they reveled in such acts of cruelty. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have enjoyed being bandits so much.

This leader was a man who only showed loyalty to his subordinates, treating them like brothers. To outsiders, he was a brutal murderer.

Since someone had provoked his brothers, that person could not be allowed to live. The rape and immolation were just initial amusements; he would add more tortures as they occurred to him, tormenting his victim to death.

“Boss, shouldn’t you just cleave him into pieces with your great saber?”

At his subordinate’s words, the leader glanced at the large saber hanging by his side.

If possible, he would have liked to end his opponent with his beloved blade. This saber had already claimed ninety-nine lives.

It dripped with blood, its heavy metallic scent lingering perpetually. Just one more cut, to reach a hundred, would be a significant achievement.

Of course, his victims had always been powerful warriors and adventurers, worthy opponents to be slain. After a deadly struggle, he would hack them apart, continuing until they were nothing but a bloody mess.

So, the man had to possess sufficient strength for him to deem it worthwhile to draw his weapon. He had no desire to use a mere lowlife to complete his ‘Hundred-Man Slayer’ title.

“Have you forgotten? This saber isn’t just used casually. It depends on whether that fellow is worthy of me drawing my blade!”

“Then, how about we test that now?”

Suddenly, a calm yet powerful voice resonated from the edge of the clearing. Immediately afterward, an unconscious bandit flew towards the leader.

The leader merely glanced, raised a hand to block the body, then tossed his unconscious subordinate to a nearby bandit.

All the bandits, startled or still composed, turned their gazes towards the source of the voice.

There, illuminated by the firelight, stood a tall figure clad in heavy armor.

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