MT - 76 Bandits?
Maeve selected a task from the guild board that seemed to have a bit more difficulty and handed it to Roy. As he read through the details, Roy fell into deep contemplation.
He opened his mouth to speak, then stopped. He tried again, but once more, no words came out.
In the end, all his thoughts condensed into a single sigh.
The mission slip read:
Task: Eliminate Bandits
Reports indicate that a group of bandits—probably?—has been active near a small southern town. The group is believed to consist of four members who engage in rampant thievery and harassment, including oppressing the townsfolk. One of the bandits appears to have the skill level of a lower-ranked swordsman. This bounty is issued by the Adventurer's Guild.
Reward: 100 Copper Coins
While this was undoubtedly better than finding a dog, the details left much to be desired.
"'Probably'? You're seriously putting 'probably' in an official guild task?" Roy muttered, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.
Maeve offered him an apologetic smile. "I'm truly sorry, sir. Believe me, I'd like to help you more, but I don't have the authority to let low-ranked adventurers take on higher-level missions. This is already the most leniency I can offer within the rules."
Roy nodded expressionlessly. Well, it's better than chasing after cats and dogs.
Looking at the task slip in his hand, he contemplated his next move. Should he take it or not?
After some thought, he reasoned, If I've already accepted jobs as trivial as finding a dog, this isn't too bad.
And so, Roy set off to complete the mission.
The small southern "town" was technically beyond the jurisdiction of the Greyrat family's domain. To be precise, it could hardly be called a town at all—"slum" would be a more fitting description.
Many of the so-called bandits in the area were, in truth, impoverished farmers who had turned to theft out of desperation to survive.
Despite Asura Kingdom's status as one of the most powerful nations, and the Greyrat family being among its four great noble houses, wealth did not extend evenly across all regions. Even within the Greyrat-controlled territories, not every corner could flourish.
The southern areas, in particular, were largely neglected.
The closer Roy got to the "town," the clearer this reality became. This wasn't a matter of a mere three bandits—practically everyone here looked like they could be bandits.
The task's description, Roy realized, was hopelessly detached from reality.
The "town" consisted of broken-down streets and crumbling houses, exuding an indescribable stench. The people moving through the area wore expressions of numb indifference.
Roy's brows furrowed. The stark contrast between the prosperous areas and this desolation was striking. The two places weren't far apart, yet the gap in wealth and living conditions was immense.
With circumstances like this, it's no wonder banditry thrives here, he thought.
Still, this mission seemed increasingly pointless. Clearly, the guild had no idea of the actual situation when they issued the task.
Just as Roy was about to leave, a commotion erupted in the street.
Turning his gaze, Roy spotted a burly young man bullying a scrawnier individual. Annoyed by the mission's disappointing nature, he had no desire to get involved in trivial disputes and started to walk away.
But then, a clear and youthful voice rang out.
"Stop it! You mustn't fight anymore!"
Roy instinctively halted and looked back.
It was a young girl with silver hair that shimmered like moonlight and striking crimson eyes. She looked no older than seven or eight. Her delicate features and petite stature gave her an almost otherworldly appearance.
Roy's eyes widened slightly. Silver hair, red eyes...
This combination... irresistible.
The quintessential favorite of certain enthusiasts, he mused—a silver-haired loli, destined to grow into a dignified white-haired beauty.
Dangerous. That's a dangerous line of thought.
Roy froze in place, his mind a swirl of conflicted emotions.
Though captivated, he didn't plan to step in and help immediately.
Just as Roy assumed the silver-haired girl was either the younger sister or daughter of the scrawny young man, stepping in to protect her brother from being beaten, it became clear he was entirely mistaken.
The little silver-haired girl suddenly roared, her voice sharp and commanding:
"Didn't you hear me tell you to stop fighting?"
Then, without hesitation, she delivered a solid punch to each of the men. The force of her blows sent them staggering back a step, clutching their stomachs and gasping for breath.
"…"
What was this situation? Did he completely misread it?
Falling into thought again, Roy observed the expressions of the surrounding onlookers. To his surprise, there was genuine fear in their eyes as they watched the silver-haired girl.
Quietly, Roy pulled out the bounty slip and reread it. A bandit with the skill level of a lower-ranked swordsman… Could this be referring to her?
"Oppressing the weak, bullying others…"
It sounded like her. But as he watched her flash a pair of tiny fangs while attempting to look menacing, he shook his head.
No, that can't be right. How could such an adorable little girl be a bandit?
As Roy entertained these thoughts, the little girl landed another punch on each man's forehead. Her expression remained cold as she asked, "Have you settled your argument now?"
The burly man grimaced and nodded reluctantly. The scrawny man, however, shot a resentful look at his aggressor. The little girl, unimpressed, smacked him on the head again and snapped, "Hey, idiot. I just saved you. Do you actually want to get beaten half to death?"
The two men exchanged a bitter glance, each clearly resigned to their fate.
From their pockets, they pulled out ten copper coins each and obediently handed them to the little girl.
Roy stood there, dumbfounded.
So that look of resentment wasn't directed at the burly man... It was aimed at her!
The absurdity of the situation left Roy at a loss for words.
Confirmed: she's perfect bandit material.
Still, Roy couldn't help but notice something extraordinary. Despite her age, the girl possessed magical energy akin to that of an intermediate mage. What's more, it seemed entirely self-taught—a rarity in itself.
Her punches had been infused with rudimentary battle aura, which was why they'd caused so much pain. For someone her age to achieve that was remarkable.
A prodigy, perhaps?
Unfortunately, her potential was being squandered. At this age, it was too late to properly train her magical capabilities. And while she might take up swordsmanship, without a skilled mentor, even the most gifted individual could only go so far.
At best, she might reach the level of an advanced swordsman. Talented, yes, but not extraordinary. Coupled with her poor background—and the fact she was just a little girl—her prospects were limited.
Looking at her fiery demeanor, Roy could easily imagine her making enemies left and right.
Given the nature of nobility in the Asura Kingdom and her striking appearance, Roy thought grimly, It's only a matter of time before this girl finds herself in serious trouble.
***
Bonus Chapter:
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
***
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