Is... He Bald?

We arrived at the scene within a nearby forest. Just as the elderly man had said, there were signs of struggle and an empty wagon.

"...Dried blood, but no bodies?" [Raon]

Wilharrow knelt down near what once was most likely a puddle of blood and picked at it with a random stick he found.

"Must've been a day or two when they got attacked. Can't say I have good enough tracking skills to tell." [Wilharrow]

I sighed.

"Man… I thought this would be a quick kill and go." [Solace]

Wilharrow gave me a stern look.

"Alt. We are the Hero's party. We do NOT kill humans." [Wilharrow]

That was a strange rule.

"What do you mean by that? So it's fine if the bandits were another race? Say… lizardman?" [Solace]

Wilharrow went silent for a moment.

"It is the will of the goddess, Soloi. I do not make the rules." [Wilharrow]

Somehow, that pissed me off. What made him think that the rules of his religion bound me?

"Ah yes, the will of a divine being. Whom of which, I do not worship." [Solace]

Wilharrow's eyes sharpened.

"...Are you insulting my god?" [Wilharrow]

He took a threatening posture. Seeing as how invested in this he was, I wasn't one to back down.

"I'm not. I was just stating facts. But so what? What would you do if I did?" [Solace]

Wilharrow drew his sword. In response, I put on my crimson gauntlets.

"Stop!" [Fina]

Fearing for what's to come, my summoner stepped between us.

"We can't just fight each other! We have bandits to deal with!" [Fina]

She was right. It must have been our early setback from being unable to cross the bridge that put us on edge.

"Fina… No, you're correct. Alt, I am sorry. I do not mean to place my church and my ideals onto you. I can only ask that you spare humans if you can." [Wilharrow]

His apology actually made me feel bad.

"Yeah… I was being too much as well. I'll try my best." [Solace]

As we spoke, there was a rustle within the nearby brush that put us on edge.

("An enemy?!") [Solace]

My eyes met my comrades, and we began to shift towards the sound. As we inched closer, something jumped out.

"Boo!" [???]

It came at me out of nowhere causing me to flinch.

"Woah!" [Solace]

I was especially surprised to find that it was the little girl I met near midnight at the village. If I recall correctly, her name was Elis.

"Elis?! What are you doing here?!" [Solace]

"Elis? My name is Elisse!" [Little Girl]

"Yeah, that's what I said. Elisse." [Solace]

"Nuh uh! You said "Elis!"" [Elisse]

"I promise you that I said Elisse." [Solace]

The girl made a confused expression.

"...Did you?" [Elisse]

Yes, I was gaslighting a child. I also now realize that I am a complete scumbag for that. I still don't feel bad for doing it though.

"Well that doesn't matter anyway. What are you doing here?" [Solace]

Elisse smiled brightly.

"I came to guide you!" [Elisse]

"Guide me? To where?" [Solace]

"The… meeeerchant wagon?" [Elisse]

She had a strange way to pronounce merchant. It was kind of cute though.

"Do you mean that one right there?" [Raon]

He pointed at the empty wagon.

"That's right! You found it! You're welcome!" [Elisse]

That kind of invalidated all reason for her to be here.

"Uh… sure, kid." [Raon]

Wilharrow came over and nudged me.

"Is this the girl that gave you the doll?" [Wilharrow]

I nodded.

"Well… she's your responsibility then. Take her back to the village. We'll take it from here." [Wilharrow]

Damn. Babysitting duty fell to me.

"Okay, Elisse. Can you come with me? It's dan-" [Solace]

As I spoke, I saw something glint out of the corner of my eye.

("What is that?") [Solace]

The next second I found out that it was an arrow that was just released at me. Luckily, Leon had thrown a knife to intercept it.

"Holy! Thanks, Leon!" [Solace]

"Mm." [Leon]

Is all she said in reply.

"Well well well… What do we have here?" [???]

Some guy just waltzed out of the brush, spouting third rate bad guy lines as if he was trying to ruin my ears. He wore clothing made mainly out of fur, mixed with normal cloth like it was made out of necessity. I could see a quiver strapped to his back and a bow in hand. There was also the gleaming of the two axes by his side. Though, his most noticeable feature was that he was bald.

"Sup, Baldy? Who're you?" [Solace]

"...Baldy? Are you talking about me?" [Bald Guy]

I saw a vein form on his forehead. I probably wouldn't have noticed it if he had hair to be honest.

"Take a look around. Anyone else without hair?" [Solace]

Yep, he was pissed.

"Look here, kid. First of all, I am NOT bald. Look here." [Bald Guy]

He lowered his head, allowing me to see what I think was a… single strand of hair? Maybe two if he's lucky.

"That's still not much-" [Solace]

"SECOND!!! My name is Gwain Lyle, the axeman of the Green Forest Gang." [Bald… Guy?]

I was just getting more confused as this guy kept talking.

"Wait. Before anything. Why is the gang called the Green Forest Gang? Aren't forests already green?" [Solace]

"That's… Huh." [Gwain]

He scratched his chin.

"W-well, there are forests that aren't green. Like, when they turn red and fall off!" [Gwain]

"..." [Solace]

At this point, we all just pitied him.

"So… what are you? A bandit? A warrior? Did you have anything that relates to whatever happened to this wagon?" [Solace]

A sinister smile grew across Gwain's face.

"Yeah. Me and my boys killed 'em and stripped the place clean." [Gwain]

"No survivors?" [Solace]

"No survivors." [Gwain]

I raised a brow.

"What about the bodies?" [Solace]

I motioned at the blood.

"Eh. Probably the animals ate them or something." [Gwain]

"Hm. I have two more questions." [Solace]

"Ask away." [Gwain]

I really didn't expect him to talk so much. Maybe I'm a genius at information gathering or something? Better yet, I'm just that charismatic.

"You said you and your boys… where are your boys now?" [Solace]

"Back at base." [Gwain]

"Where's your base?" [Solace]

"Oh, it's over at-" [Gwain]

He cut himself off.

"Ah ah ah~ You almost got me~." [Gwain]

"Okay, that question doesn't count then. Why are you confronting us alone? We have what, like five people?" [Solace]

Gwain shrugged.

"More loot for me. What can five kids do to me?" [Gwain]

Reasonable enough.

"Okay, actually the last question." [Solace]

Gwain raised a hand.

"Hold on. I feel like you're just trying to distract me so I won't kill you guys yet." [Gwain]

I almost burst out laughing.

"Hah! Nothing like that. We'll get to the action soon enough. Now, actually the last question." [Solace]

"Shoot." [Gwain]

"You call yourself the "axeman". Why do you use a bow?" [Solace]

This time, Gwain didn't answer. Instead, he placed his bow on his back and put an ax in each hand.

"I'm going to kill you now." [Gwain]