Chapter 9 : In the snow

I ran after Baekmyo, following the footprints in the snow.

If a human came in, how did they do it?

“This forest is hard to access because of the Sarkas. How did they get in?”

“Smells scatter on snowy or rainy days. There are some humans who come in targeting beastmen on those days.”

They’re vicious.

If it had rained when I was being taken as a s*ave, I would have really died in vain.

“The patrol group is visible! Follow them!”

Following her, I saw several patrol members surrounding two men.

One of them held Myoa in one hand and brandished a dagger towards us.

“Come any closer, and this girl dies!”

“Mmph, mmph…!”

Myoa saw me and seemed to be saying something, but her mouth was covered, so it wasn’t clear.

“Let the child go, and we’ll let you go. Send her here!”

“Do you think I’d believe that? And go back empty-handed and die? I’d rather die here!”

He slightly stabbed the tip of the dagger near Myoa’s neck, causing a little blood to flow.

“Mmph…!!”

“If you don’t move, I’ll stab deeper. Move quickly!”

Baekmyo couldn’t approach recklessly either.

If we approached carelessly, Myoa’s life would be in danger.

“Don’t you guys have any pride, you dirty…!”

“Pride or whatever, we have no way to make a living if not for this!”

Step by step, the assailants began to move away.

“If you take another step, this child’s neck will be cut.”

“Oh my gosh, you…”

Baekmyo and her subordinates couldn’t move, even while cursing.

In the silence, only the sound of Myoa crying could be heard.

In the end, I spoke up.

“…Then, how about this.”

“Huh?”

“One s*ave is too little reward for two people to share, isn’t it? Don’t you think?”

Baekmyo, who was next to me, looked at me.

“What are you doing, human?”

“Let’s have a duel. If I lose, take me as a s*ave too. But if I win, you’ll release the child.”

“….”

The assailants looked at each other silently.

Are they worried?

If so…

“Surely, you’re not afraid of losing a fight to a young girl like me, are you?”

I blurted it out.

They wouldn’t refuse a sure win.

“..Well, fine. But we need to get the consent of the beastmen too.”

“You’ll accept it, right, Captain?”

“This kid is doing whatever she wants…”

Baekmyo sighed and pushed my back.

“Use what I taught you well. You’ve dodged my attacks, so as long as you don’t get caught, there’s a chance.”

Baekmyo declared to the assailants.

“Fine. If you win, take this kid too. We won’t interfere at all. Of course, if you lose, it’s a different story.”

If there was a chance to rescue Myoa during the fight, it would be good, but Myoa was still being held by another assailant.

“Bare-handed fighting is the rule. No knives.”

“Hahaha! I’ll make some money thanks to a stupid kid!”

I took a deep breath and faced the assailant.

‘As the captain said, if I get caught, it’s over.’

The opponent is a strong adult male. Even if he’s much weaker than the captain, the strength and pressure from the difference in physique can’t be ignored.

I ran towards him first, and he was still watching with a relaxed expression.

As I got closer, he tried to grab me with both arms.

When I easily dodged a few times, he got angry and started attacking wildly.

“Damn kid, what’s so quick!?”

“…”

It’s a strong punch, but compared to Baekmyo’s, it’s a level that I can endure even if I get hit a few times.

But, the problem is that if my attack doesn’t work, it won’t end…

With a big decision, I planted a knee kick to the face of the assailant who was bending over to throw a punch.

“Kuh…!”

It lacked weight, but it hit his nose, and he grabbed his nose, which was bleeding profusely.

“Just because I’m playing along, you rotten girl…!”

He, who was furious, broke the promise and took out a dagger.

Before anyone around could stop him, he rushed towards me.

‘There’s only that method.’

It seemed like the time had come to use the technique I was going to use as a last, last resort.

I threw a handful of snow at the face of the assailant who was approaching in anger.

He wiped his face while spitting out curses.

Now is the chance.

‘Secret technique, Twin Orb Crushing Fist!’

I threw a straight punch towards the front of his pants.

I felt a squishy and heavy sensation, and for some reason, I also felt pain.

“Co…. Cough…. Gulp…”

The duel ended when he fell to his knees.

I’m sorry.

You broke the rules first, didn’t you…?

Baekmyo’s hand came up over my head.

“..Well done.”

Captain, you know how to praise too. It’s the first time.

The assailants released Myoa as promised, and fortunately, Myoa returned to my arms without major injuries.

Captain Baekmyo grabbed the other assailant by the scruff of the neck and lifted him up.

“Who hired you? If you tell the truth, I’ll let you go.”

“It’s Baron Tulius! He wanted a young beastwoman child…”

“If you want a s*ave, you can go to a s*ave trader, can’t you!”

“H, he said he wanted a clean product…”

Baekmyo’s face hardened.

It was the scariest expression I’ve ever seen.

“Tell me where the mansion is.”

The price of touching a sleeping beast was great.

That night, Baekmyo unleashed her subordinates and infiltrated the mansion.

The guards were left with not even their skin, and the baron was beaten so badly that his face was almost unrecognizable due to swelling and he was brought to the bandits.

“Heukgyeon, prepare enough alcohol and meat for everyone to eat.”

Baekmyo said, wiping the blood.

“Baekmyo. Don’t you only have feasts on auspicious occasions?”

“Everyone is safe, so it’s an auspicious occasion. That’s the most important thing.”

While the ragged baron was tied to a pillar, everyone laughed and talked and enjoyed themselves. As I was talking with Gillian and the children, Baekmyo sat down next to me.

“Will you have a drink?”

“No, I’m still a kid…”

I drank like a fish in my previous life.

“You don’t have to refuse. On a day like this, a drink or two is fine.”

“..Then, I’ll just have one drink.”

I carefully brought the alcohol in the bowl to my lips.

‘It’s delicious..!’

Come to think of it, how many years has it been since I drank alcohol?

I completely forgot the taste of alcohol after my past life.

“Is it okay? Would you like another drink?”

“Then, just one more…”

Of course, I knew that this promise wouldn’t be kept.

Did we empty almost three bottles together? The captain, whose tongue was completely twisted, began to complain to me.

“Saya, do you believe in God?”

“God?”

“Yes. I don’t. If there was a god, he wouldn’t have made the world so harsh only for beastmen…!”

Baekmyo slammed the table, and all the plates on it were overturned.

“I don’t know who made the world, but if I ever run into him, I’ll beat him up so much that his intestines pop out…”

“Haha.”

I’m sorry. It’s me.

“Anyway, how did you think of challenging him to a duel in that situation?”

“I just wanted to save Myoa…”

It was definitely a gamble.

“Anyway, you risked danger for your comrade. Thank you.”

Her face, which had been grinning while drunk, was serious this time.

“Saya. Did you say you wanted to join the bandits?”

“..Yes!”

“…Fine.”

What happened to the person who was so stubborn?

“But, you have to show your determination.”

‘Determination…?’

She got up from her seat and headed towards the pillar where the baron was tied.

“Everyone, attention! I’d appreciate it if you’d look here.”

At Baekmyo’s words, everyone put down their glasses and focused on her.

“As you all know, this noble is clearly a villain. He used his noble status to exploit countless beastwomen girls, and threw their parents as food for beasts to watch. He’s the worst of the worst.”

The jeers around started. Some of the rough subordinates were drunk and furious, fighting over who would kill him.

“You, did you think you could live proudly after doing that?”

Her dagger glided across the man’s neck.

“Hi…. Hic..! Hiccup…! J, just spare my life! If you spare my life, I’ll give you all my wealth, and…”

“Take that wealth and go to hell.”

The captain’s eyes were real.

This man is going to die.

It was a killing intent that anyone could see.

“But unfortunately, you won’t die by my hand today.”

She sheathed her sword and walked slowly.

Towards me.

“…?”

She pulled my hand and gave me the sword.

“Show your determination. Saya.”

She was ordering me to kill a person with this sword.

‘Me, a person…?’

I held the sword and stood in front of the baron.

I looked at the sword once, and at the man once.

He is clearly garbage.

If I end his life here, it will actually help the world become cleaner.

Countless beastmen and slaves were sacrificed and suffered for the pleasure of this man.

If I hadn’t saved Myoa, who knows what this man would have done to her.

He was a villain anyway.

I know. I know, but…

My hand doesn’t move easily.

I calmed my trembling hand and brought the blade to his neck.

“Huff, huff….”

The man’s breathing, especially loud, tormented my mind.

“Spare…. me..”

Only the last hurdle remained until I could join the bandits.

I clenched my teeth and gripped the sword again.

Just as I was about to thrust the blade into the man’s neck,

Slash.

With the sound, someone’s dagger ruthlessly cut the man’s throat.

It was Baekmyo.

“….Don’t hesitate in real combat. Saya.”

“….”

I froze in place and couldn’t say anything.

It’s ruined.

It’s been a week since that incident, and the captain hasn’t spoken.

Why did I hesitate like an idiot at that time?

On the outside, I pretended to have experienced all sorts of hardships, but when the life of a person was in my hands, I was scared.

Is the quest completion ruined because of this?

“Saya. Can you come here for a moment?”

It was Heukgyeon.

“What’s wrong?”

While following her, I was suddenly pushed into a small room.

“Whoa, what are you doing?!”

“Change and come out, please!”

Change? Into what?

Looking around the room, I saw a set of clothes I had never seen before.

It was dark so I couldn’t see well, but I fumbled around and put it on.

…

As Heukgyeon said, I changed my clothes and came out.

“Welcome to the Black Dog Bandits, Saya!”

From the bandits to the children.

Everyone was gathered.

Am I, recognized as a member…?

“A, am I really becoming a bandit, even though I’m human?”

“The captain allowed it, so there’s no problem.”

Even though I was wearing the bandit uniform, I couldn’t easily believe it.

To really become a member.

“There was no size that fit, so I had to tailor a new one, and it was so much work.”

“Did Heukgyeon make it?”

“No, Gillian helped me. He seems to know Saya’s body type almost by heart?”

“Ah, Heukgyeon, please don’t say that…!”

Gillian knew my body type by heart…?

..No, let’s not worry about that.

“Thank you, everyone. But, I don’t see the captain?”

Where did she go? The person who should be here the most?

“Baekmyo said she wouldn’t come because it’s embarrassing. Isn’t she strange?”

“That’s just like the captain.”

Baekmyo’s efforts to avoid me were in vain, and as soon as the feast started in the dining room, she appeared to drink.

Quests, academy, I’ll ignore everything and just enjoy myself today.

It’s the first time in this world that I feel like I have a family.

<Quest requirements met> [Sub-quest: Join the Blackdog Bandits]

Achievement: 100%

Reward: [Armonia History Table]