[VII] Raid end

A few silence had passed, and soon, it was replaced with cheers and words of compliments to the name 'Ainzach'.

The fierce battle of both leaders of the opposite sides has finally reached its conclusion, to where only one survived while the other was defeated. Killed.

And just as what everyone had expected, Walter was the person to remain standing between the two, staring at the corpse of Guro, who had been cut many times and burnt altogether, releasing fresh smoke of cooked flesh. If his body was a little more fragile and weak, the sight could be much more grotesque, but luckily, that was not the case.

Walter was successful, so does his members who seem to still have their original count intact.

But as any attacks should expect, there are some who had gain injuries, such as Gerald's partner - Kira, and Zel, who had rushed to the enemy without thinking. Other than the two of them, some only have a few cuts or scratches.

[ Did you capture everyone? ] amidst the cheering and high spirit, Walter casually asked Gerald - he was the closes to him so he's the one he had asked. And his reply soon came after.

[ We made sure none would escape, Walter-sama. ]

[ Good. How about their tents? We'll loot everything they have and take them back with us. ]

[ Of course, we also made sure none were hiding in their tents anymore, but... we haven't looted them yet. ]

( Just as expected from a mercenary... I could probably leave everything else to him now... ) having his questions answered, Walter finally turned around to face the other direction.

[ Then, we'll take care of those tomorrow... For now... I'll take my own rest. You can also tell the other men to rest, just make sure you will keep guard... Gerald, I'll leave everything to you for now. ]

[ I-Is that so? Thank you for your work, Walter-sama... ] he bows as he hesitatingly response.

[ Un. ] as soon as Walter receives his reply, he nodded and starts to move his feet. He's tired now, and just as he said, he needs his own rest. There are just too many things that had happened today and he's still just not used to it yet, so his body seeks rest.

But just before he could go far, the sight of an unknown number of demi-humans blocked his vision from a few meters away.

They were the slaves. Most of them are demi-humans, but there were a few humans too. All of them are in a messy state, with ragged clothes and dirty figures, but the look on their faces are completely different - they are all looking at him with admiring and gazing eyes, it's as if he was their savior.

Walter had expected as much. They must've gotten abused by the bandits, and him - coming here to rescue them had ended it. But... Although that was the case, he couldn't look back at them with pride. He had saved them so he should, but out of all the people here, Walter knows - that the slaves themselves should know what will become of them once they have taken them back to the city.

Nothing would really change as they're still slaves with collars on their necks.

So instead of minding them, he just went ahead to the closes tent there was. Though unexpected, the tent he went straight at is the largest tent there was in the bandits' base, at least twice the size as the others.

Entering there, he was immediately greeted with a bunch of items that weren't sorted at all. Most of them are weapons and armors, but there are also some furniture, clothes, and other things that they could've stolen from rich people. It's easy to guess that this bandit group must be staying in this place for quite some time now. Regardless, Walter did not mind the messy room as it still has the necessary things he needs: a lamp and a small bed.

[ Haah... ] so with a sigh, he lays his body on the bed. It has a bit of a dirty scent, but the tiredness of his body far surpasses his disgusts so he didn't mind.

For the past few days, this might be the hardest he had ever worked. He was rich already by himself and he doesn't really need to work, but as a noble and a person itself, he still needed to, especially now that he's on his own.

But this day won't even compare to all the days he had overworked himself in his past life, so in a sense, this would be a dream come true for him. And once this is over, he will be back on his peaceful everyday life in his mansion, doing only simple tasks when Arthur assigned him to.

As he lays there on his bed, he thinks back to just how great his life in this world is. There might be a few instances that he would prefer the older one, but it still won't be able to compete.

[ But still... that was the first time I've killed for a while... ] his thoughts came to that direction, to the time when he had finished Guro off, who had begged for his life one last time before he struck him down.

Though he had killed a human being, he never really has any particular thoughts in it. Yes, he was very bothered the first time he killed someone, but doing it many times already had made him immune to the guilt of doing it. He is still just a 16-year-old person, but he was way more mature than anyone else he could think of. But to think that a person like him would be able to do such crimes as such age is still something that would be unthinkable of in his past life.

There was just a very huge difference.

For now, he just needs to sleep these thoughts away and the day would past without problems.

Closing his eyes, he finally decided to sleep... but before he could completely do so, he heard a thin rasping sound from underneath the bed. Hearing it for the first time, he thought he should ignore it, but when it happened a few times again after, there's no way he could brush it off as nothing anymore.

Taking a grip on his sword, sliding it from its sheath an inch open, he prepared himself to look.

Gerald had said that there shouldn't be any bandits left anymore, but who knows there are still might some that are hiding.

So, setting his foot on the ground, he kneels and turns to look below the bed, ready to swing his weapon fast.

[ ...! ] lowering his gaze, he waits for what's coming, expecting to see another bandit... but instead...

What he saw there is another demi-human, but unlike the others, it doesn't have a collar whatsoever.