《Stranger’s Handbook》Chapter 30: The Bandits Showed Up
Advertisement
“He he he, what’s wrong, dear knights……you’re so shocked you can’t even say a word? Haa?”
That’s correct. We were really too surprised to say anything.
What we saw was a bandit group of almost 30 people.
Normally this would be considered a threat, being outnumbered three times.
“You have women too! We’re lucky today. Oi! Leave the women and your armors behind and disappear from my sight, little noble boys.”
The bandits were smiling mockingly.
What’s with these guys?……Why are they so composed when going against the knights? Is there something more that I’m not aware of?
“You idiots are out of your minds? What are you planning, making enemies of the army?”
Albert shouted.
He readied his spear not leaving a single opening; the black knights followed his example and were already prepared for battle.
They would not show weakness even against a group of bandits.
Usually they spar with my master or my foster father….the Knights Commander, and even in those circumstances these guys are happily fighting against them, they’re all battle maniacs…..urm, elites, they’re elites, yes.
However, they seemed to be differently perceived by the bandits.
“Haaa! After the war ended, the army is only composed of weak noble little boys now. Look, don’t try to show off and leave before you injure yourselves.”
While one of the bandits was saying those words, another one was approaching Albert, and ended up being stabbed to death.
His neck was cut open and he collapsed leaving behind a mist of blood.
“What the hell is this?”
It was Albert who muttered those words.
When the bandits saw their comrade become a corpse in but an instant, they couldn’t even react.
“You’re this weak but still dare to challenge us?”
He muttered to himself again and killed another two bandits who were closest to him.
After that, the bandits finally came to their senses.
These guys are different than ordinary soldiers…..Did we challenge some unthinkably strong group? That’s what they were thinking.
Advertisement
Finally, they readied their weapons, lowered their backs to prepare for battle, and even though they started shouting angrily and threateningly, it was already too late for them.
“Don’t make a fool of yourselves, you idiots! It’s an insult to challenge the Frontier Count’s Army when you’re this unskilled! Everyone, don’t leave any of these fools alive!”
Moved by Albert’s anger, the black knights started to move simultaneously.
It didn’t matter whether the bandits were wielding their weapons or trying to run away.
It was a one-sided extermination.
The black knights, including Albert, had a very easy to understand reasoning.
They enjoy the status of being the most elites among the soldiers of the empire, so for these guys pride is something very valuable.
‘As the empire’s shield, the Frontier Count’s Army and its soldiers are to never be defeated. The enemy army is the first and the last opponent you fight against. The defeat of the Frontier Count’s Army is the defeat of the Empire.’
Once you enter this army, this is what you get taught in the very beginning, after that you get trained thoroughly.
This also applies for nobles.
Even a highly ranked noble from an esteemed family and lineage, once he enters the Frontier Count’s Army, his status would account for nothing.
Nobles that are not soldiers, commoners that are soldiers.
These kinds of things mostly occur throughout the Frontier Count’s territories.
The little noble boys these guys refer to, who can’t hold on even for half a day and end up running to escape death, this situation for the soldiers in the Frontier Count’s Army is daily training.
The Imperial Capital Army sure has become dull……
My master and I were inside the carriage thinking about this, when one of the still surviving bandits approached us.
A hostage?……Your way of thinking is really not bad…..
I left the carriage, my attitude changing from a miserable mood to a delightful one……and I approached the group like I was a predator coming across its prey.
Advertisement
I waved my hand to stop the black knights who were moving towards me to offer protection.
“He’s their boss! Take him hostage, hurry up!”
Someone from the already shrunken group of surviving bandits shouted.
Only two?……So few.
A bandit carrying an axe on his right shoulder was approaching me insecurely when I drew my sword and slashed him from his lower half up to his neck.
His severed head was rolling on the ground, his face dumbfounded.
The other one was coming slashing, aiming at my leg.
I stroke with my sword on a diagonal trajectory from above and cut off his arm.
This guy was instinctively pressing down on his wound with his other hand, not even realizing his neck was just losing the head above it.
It’s a bad idea to aim at me and not be prepared….I never hesitate to kill my enemy before they try to kill me.
Besides……..
“There is no possible way that I, the leader of the black knights, am a weakling.”
I was so amazed by their stupidity and muttered to myself.
“Lord Zest, we finished as well. I am sorry to have troubled you.”
Albert lowered his head.
“It’s all right, I don’t mind. The maids and the adventurers are unharmed, I hope?”
The black knights would never get injured against weak opponents, so there was no point in asking them.
“Yes sir! No damage has been done.”
Good.
The adventurers’ faces were looking bad…..I guess they are not used to seeing people die.
“Well then, let’s get going. Toss these bodies in the woods somewhere.”
The black knights made the preparations very quickly.
The adventurers helped out, which made me grateful.
However, it was such an unnecessary loss of time…….Let’s get to the village fast and rest.
And so, we arrived at our village the same day in the evening.
We got here much later than we had planned, so I was feeling tired.
I just wanted to drink and forget about it…….
A banquet was taking place again.
This is also part of my ‘job’ and it’s important for maintaining the Frontier Count’s Household’s authority.
Really now, being a noble is damn difficult.
I was really in need for a drink.
“ “ “ “ “Cheers!” “ “ “ “
“Everyone, today you’re allowed to eat and drink all you want!”
“Yes!” “Zest-sama, let’s buy some sake from the imperial capital on the way back!” “Ah! I also want some sweets.”
“Right, leave it to me. It’s a long-awaited journey after all. Leaving that aside, come on, drink!”
“Zest-sama, this sake is really good!”
“Oh, village chief! Did you like it? We still have a lot more.”
“Lord Zest! I like meat the most!”
“Albert, shut up! I’ve heard that countless times already!”
“Hey Zest, Bea has a…… dark mole on her right butt cheek and……”
“W…who is the idiot who gave my master a drink??”
It’s my job…..This is my job as a noble……
Other things happened that night, but nothing too problematic.
All that’s left now is to have my audience with the Emperor, buy some souvenirs and return home quickly.
The enjoyable banquet came to an end and I went to sleep.
Suddenly, I was coming to reconsider some things.
Among the adventurers we rescued, there were two young women…..!? W…what if perhaps……?
A fitting development for the night, huh? Ah! I give up.
This is cheating, right?……Will the pink diamond break, I wonder? Will it be okay if there’s no love involved, only the body?
No, in the worst case the diamond will break……However, will it be all right if it only happens once?
No, maybe not……
In the end, I kept on worrying until morning and nothing actually happened…….
Somehow or other, I really wanted to die at that moment……
Advertisement
Scruffy's Adventure
Warning: 18+ for violence, language, gore, and sexual situations.What would you do if one day you woke up and felt like everything had changed? Scruffy is faced with this dilemma as he awakes to horrors only seen in nightmares.Unable to remember who he was or where he came from, he finds himself in the company of a new friend in a violent world. They set off in search of the unknown, hoping to find their missing pieces along the way.Will they be able to regain their memories? Can they find the cause of the horrors that befell them? Or will friend turn into foe as the cruel world tests their sanity?
8 219Missteps - Book Two
Adventure. Coin. Danger. Treasure. Ready to truly start their adventuring careers, the seven members of M.A. traverse more of their world. As they navigate the dangers inherent of the unknown, they're also besieged by the dangers within. Kerri's mark remains an ever-present threat, Lia's memories bring up truths she'd never experienced, Iados still can't visit the ocean for fear of being dragged away, and Jun is still out to prove himelf to his god. Who knows where fate will lead them, or what challenges will be put in their way. Book Two of this fantasy campaign-style tale has our heroes dive further into a world inspired by classic roleplaying adventures, and the unpredictabily of dice. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/misstepsstory Discord: https://discord.gg/fQECFhBjV7 Twitter: https://twitter.com/MisstepsStory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/misstepsstory Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/misstepsstory/
8 140Pilgrims and Fulcrums
Poetry will collect here. I hope it comes from my heart. I hope it reaches yours.
8 176Not one of your Victim (Gojo Satoru x Reader)
An super serious y/n and an goofy Egoistic Gojou Satoru. Unlike the other people who gets easily smitten by his Handsomeness. Reader have bluntly said to his face that only his appearance is the best but not in the inside.Making Satoru laughed at how straightforward she is.Jujutsu Kaisen characters are not mine, even the use images and videos for this video, All credits to the rightful owner.Only the story belongs to me.
8 139The Mythfits - Books 1 & 2
The key was never supposed to be seen again. It was destroyed after a group of mythical warriors locked away the embodiment of darkness. So, when the key reemerges in present-day New Orleans to an easy-going college student named Aidan, a group of what goes "bump in the night" comes seeking it intent on condemning the city to a “Purge” style curse. As if supernatural slammers, malevolent monsters, and hellish hexes weren't enough, Aidan discovers he and his friends are reincarnated from the original group of mythical warriors. Is history repeating itself or are ancient and deadly secrets from the past ready to reveal themselves? A pinch of primordial evil mixed with a fist full of Fat Tuesday and it's a recipe for one hell of a party.
8 187Ascension
Sevs is a man left behind. Humanity has progressed to a singularity. He is one of the last of his age trying to join. From a conversation with a younger potential candidate he has an idea and will try a new path. With a change in attitude he throws himself back into the tutorial world, to try and achieve synchronicity to join his compatriots. Welcome to Earth. Cover art by Asviloka
8 191