Page 39

Fire burns in the ruins as the villagers are crying helplessly.

The street is in shambles, with rubble and smoke everywhere.

Marbon is attacking with a Metalic club; Maany is protecting her allies with magic; Gabab is holding up a shield for Mabon; Kulontan and Mirabelle are prepared for battle.

They're holding against a group of almost 30 people... Or should I say, being pushed back slowly.

"Who are you!? Why are you attacking this town!?" Marbon shouts angrily; blood flowing from the injury on his abdomen that was cut deep enough to hurt the organs.

These guys just appeared in the village out of nowhere! How can a bunch of armored people just appear so suddenly!?

Why wasn't the security bell rung? And where are the damn soldiers that should be here already!?

"As you can see, Bandits!" The fully-armored bald man laughed. He then held his gigantic ax up and charged with a loud roar, "[Boiling Blood]"!

Gabab raised his shield and clashed with Marbon, the clear metallic clang spreading throughout the street.

The shield shatters, Gabab is sent flying. But the bandit wielding the giant axe did not lose his speed, and directed the strike at Maany!

"No way!" Mabon gritted his teeth and struggled to straighten his back, his metal club shining brightly.

...

...

...Then, it broke apart.

Mabon no longer holds a metal club, but a twisted piece of scrap. He was coughing blood as he tried to get up from the rubble, but couldn't even move an inch of his body.

On the other side, the bandits suddenly launched magic attacks of varying sizes, and the four adventurers plus nun were unable to hold on, their formation collapsing.

"Apart from you, isn't there anyone worth fighting in this village?" The bald man approached them while laughing, his ax still swinging, "Such a rural place, it's full of weaklings."

"A-Are you... from... the Capital?" Mabon speaks difficulty.

No wonder their moves seem familiar, if he's not mistaken... those should be a type of "Solo-battle Magic" from the Army... Why would the people from the Capital be bandits?

N-No, are these people even really bandits? Normally, bandits are dressed messily, and their appearance is disheveled and different from each other. But these people are well-armored, and even have a magic force.

They attack the village, killing the civilians from the start, burning houses without plundering it, these actions seem different from the usual bandits. If they're not bandits, then what are they...? Adventurers? Mercenaries? Or some noble's private army?

Not plundering means they don't have a need for money, then why attack the village? Is there some kind purpose?

"Argh, why are you talking so much? There's only one person the boss wants alive, you can die, it's fine." The bald guy said while lifting the ax, swinging it downwards to the defenseless Marbon.

Suddenly...

*EXPLOSION!*

Just when the scattered adventurers and Maany were watching the "bandits" walking closer, something dropped from the sky in the nick of time!

Rocks were flying, smoke spread throughout the scene, blowing the "bandit" group apart.

Then, a clear metal "breaking" sound.

Marbon opened his eyes, the armored man was gone, and a figure with red hair that was blowing in the wind was there instead.

A height of 170cm, red ponytail, purple tail swaying, there seemed to be things equipped on her wrists and ankles, and smoke came out of her limbs.

"*Cough*... you're Melon... I think?" Mabon coughed blood but laughed in relief

He almost forgot... even though this is a remote village, there are still stronger people than myself.

"Mr. Marbon, please drink this potion and rest." Melon took out a MPOH(β) and placed it in Marbon's shaking hands, "Leave the rest to us."

The magic force and some close-combatting "bandits" on the other side regrouped after the sudden explosion. Strangely, the smoke surrounding them didn't fade away, but instead started to circle them at a weird tempo.

The black-haired maiden appeared in front of them with a wooden staff in her hand. At the same time, she took off her glasses.

The lead spell-caster instinctively felt the person wasn't someone to be messed with, and asked alarmingly:

"Who are you?"

Between the rubbles, the bald guy struggled for a long time just to leave the rubble pile.

A hole appeared on the chest area of the armor, and with the action of him standing up, the cracks spread, the metal fell piece by piece, and the well-made armor was rendered useless.

"Who! Who attacked me!" Losing his protection, the bald guy picked up his giant axe, pulled a nearby villager as a hostage, and roared angrily.

The lizard girl didn't hide, she just walked towards the man, and took off her gloves.

The answer to the bald guy's question is simply... just two people who shouldn't be messed with.