Chapter 1 - Dangerous Skills
I came with Ione and Meena to the eastern part of the royal capital, to the back streets lined with stores.
Even though it's the royal capital, perhaps it's because of the small size of Vernia, there are very few people when you take a step into the back streets.
There was an old man sitting on a chair behind a house, doing nothing. Beyond him, there was only one craftsman cutting a wood carving on a rush mat.
Umm, yeah ......, there's dog poop on the street, does anyone ever clean it up?
"It's over there."
As I was concerned about that, Ione pointed to a house on one side of the street.
"*sniff sniff* ...... Ah, I remember that smell. It's definitely the bandits from that time. There's more than one."
Meena, the dog-eared race member, assured me with a sniff.
That time must have been four days ago when I mistook Alec for a criminal and cut him down. I heard that there were other bandits and Ione chased after them just before I arrived.
"That's right. Well, I guess we'd better find out how many we're dealing with first."
I said.
"But if that's the case, we'll have to sneak into the house. ......"
Meena made a troubled face.
"No, I've got the [Enemy Counter] skill, so leave it to me."
I walked down the street as normal and used my skill to look for signs of enemies in the bandits' hideout. I quickly found them.
"There are five of them upstairs."
"There's a little too many of them. ...... We don't want them to escape again, so let's wait for Alec and Fritz to arrive."
Ione said with a furrowed brow. The bandits' hideout is an exterior staircase, so as long as we can hold that staircase, I don't think we'll be able to let them escape, but if there's a window in the back, I wonder if there's a chance they could escape through there.
Just as I was wondering what to do, the door to the second floor opened and a man who looked like a bandit came down.
"Everyone, hide!"
I said sharply in a whisper. We hadn't even checked the back of the house, and it would be bad if he noticed us now.
We nodded at each other and hid in the shadow of the house where the old man was sitting.
"Ugh, leaking, it's leaking!"
A man came staggering down the stairs, holding his crotch, as if he wanted to go to the bathroom.
『Serina-san, why don't you use [Appraisal] on that person? If it was the wrong person again, Serina-san would have to apologize to that person too, and you would become everyone's meat slave.』
『Kkuhh. ...... You're right』
I don't like the way Heruko said it, but I've made so many mistakes, and I have to make sure.
〈Name〉Bandit D 〈Level〉８ 〈Class〉Bandit 〈Race〉Human 〈Gender〉Male
〈ＨＰ〉 48
"Looks okay. I'm pretty sure he's a bandit."
"Yes" "Yeah" 『Uh-oh, that's too bad.』
The bandit went downstairs and went back upstairs, but soon after, Alec and Fritz came and joined us.
"Are you sure this is the place?"
Alec asked doubtfully.
"Yes, Meena confirmed their smell. There's no doubt."
I nodded confidently.
Meena doesn't seem like the kind of girl who would lie, and I've already heard from the adventurer's guild that beastmen have different abilities than humans. I've also done my appraisal, so I'm fine. I'm not making a mistake this time.
"How many are there?"
Fritz asks. I got the impression that he was a fearless swordsman with silver hair all back.
"There are five of them."
"That's a lot. ......"
Fritz's brow wrinkles and his face becomes stern. He is a master swordsman, but even he feels uneasy when he doesn't know the strength of his opponent and there are so many of them.
"But if we can catch them by surprise, I think we can manage. I saw one of the bandits with my skills, but he's only level 8, nothing serious."
"Not sure the others are the same, though."
Alec argue with me.
"Yeah, but I don't think the bandit-looking guy has that many levels, and--shh!"
I motioned with my hand for everyone to quiet.
I heard a creaking sound from the second floor of the building I was watching, and someone came down the stairs again. The bandit yawned loudly and must have woken up from sleep. He had a sleepy look in his eyes.
"Level 9."
Alec seems to have [Appraised] it and tells us in a small voice.
"I think I can go. The bandit don't even have gear on."
I was about to pulled out my sword, but Ione said.
"Serina-san, please go around the alley and attack that bandit from behind. In the meantime, I'll draw the bandit's attention."
It looks like she's going to be the decoy, just like she planned beforehand.
"I understand. Be careful."
"I'll be right behind you. Ione, take it easy."
"Okay."
Fritz and I will head back to the main road.
"Will it work? I hope we make it in time."
As we ran down the alley, I wondered about the time limit, and Fritz assured me that it would be fine.
"That's not a problem. The bandit would be glued to Ione by now."
I wonder if he has any skills, he seems so confident.
As I entered the back alley, Ione was talking to the bandit from earlier. She put her hand on the chest clasp of her armor and fiddled with it annoyingly with her fingers. Then the bandit said, wringing his hands excitedly.
"Oh, ooh? You want it take it off? You want take it off, right!? You want me to take it off and fondle it right!?"
What? Eh, what it is?
"Fufu. ......"
"Heiyaa! Are you stupid!?"
I slash at the bandit from behind, as if to defeat the bandit. Fritz also thrusts, and the bandit collapses.
"Not an easy victory."
I smile and wink at him, but Alec still looks reluctant. You're very careful, .......
"What do we do now?"
Fritz asks.
"The other bandits might be asleep. Let's step in."
I say, taking a chance.
"Alright."
"Okay."
"I'll take the lead."
Fritz tiptoes up the stairs, followed by me and Ione. Meena seems to be waiting at the bottom of the stairs with Alec. Well, that's okay. If there are three of us, and there are only four of them left.
Now, let's get rid of the bandits, shall we?
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