Chapter 90: Hideout Of The Bandits

[00 Months: 06 Days: 08 Hours]

We followed the trail into the heart of the woods, the thick canopy overhead casting a dense shadow over the path ahead.

The surroundings were so quiet it was almost unsettling.

Eventually, we hit a dead end.

Fey, with a puzzled frown on her face, muttered, "This can't be... the trail ends here. But that's impossible."

I peered at the dense foliage before us, which appeared as impenetrable as a wall. But something wasn't quite right.

A gentle hum at the edge of my perception sparked my curiosity. I activated <Immersion>, and one of its perks allowed me to see through even hidden things with my heightened perception.

As I let my senses stretch out, the truth unveiled itself. There was indeed a barrier before us, but it was merely an illusion to hide the bandits' lair. I turned to Fey and Benard, who were looking at me with a mixture of curiosity and uncertainty.

"Our prize lies ahead," I said, pointing at the seemingly solid wall of vegetation. "We just need to keep going."

With skepticism on their faces, they hesitated, but then nodded. We moved forward, my body passing through the illusion like it was a mirage.

The sensation was odd, like stepping through a thin veil of water. Once we crossed the threshold, a large wooden fence materialized before us, with a hefty gate set in its middle.

A grin spread across my face as I glanced at the impressive structure.

"This is a bit grand for mere bandits," I murmured, a sense of amusement tingeing my words. "But I'd bet my last coin that this is the right place."

A glance at Fey confirmed that we were at the right place.

"This is the place. The trail picks up again here." She nodded, her eyes hardened with resolve.

Benard was silent. He took a deep breath, his posture stiffening as he prepared himself for what lay beyond.

"It seems the moment of truth is upon us... " he muttered, his fists clenching.

And so, there we were, standing at the doorstep of a potentially dangerous situation. Yet, despite the uncertainty, I found a thrill in it all.

It was a moment of truth indeed.

'Now then... I'm curious about the kinds of bandits we'll see...'

***********

{A Few Moments Earlier}

The air within the dimly lit room was thick with palpable tension and fear.

The Delegate of the Lyma family, a young lady, her clothes disheveled and tears streaking down her delicate face, was trembling in the corner.

The room was scantily furnished, and it reeked of fear. Fear towards the imposing being that sat within it.

"I was born into war. Bred into it..." He whispered, his tone solemn as his voice rang with unfathomable deepness.

"Please, let me go. My family will pay any price you ask," she sobbed, her pleas falling on deaf ears.

Fenrir, the grizzled bandit leader, was leaning against a rough wooden table, his icy blue eyes fixed on the girl.

He ignored her pleas, his lips curling into a sinister grin.

He began his monologue, his voice gravelly, echoing through the eerie silence.

"Once, I was a knight of your precious family," he muttered, his voice saturated with bitterness.

"I bled for them. I fought countless battles in their name. But in our last expedition to the Wild Lands, when I was on the brink of death, they abandoned me."

His expression contorted into a grimace as the painful memories surfaced.

"Do you understand? They left me there to die. To be killed by monsters just because I became a liability." He let out a chuckle.

"You, with your silver spoon, wouldn't understand, would you? There are some of us in this world who have to claw and fight for every scrap of life we get."

"Hicc... hicc..." The girl could do nothing but produce more tears as she shuddered at Fenrir's words. S~eaʀᴄh the NôvelFire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"Look at me now. Look at my face. The countless scars on my body. I'm now nothing but a monster." Enjoy new chapters from m-v l'-NovelFire.net

His gaze met the girl's terrified eyes, a sharp glint forming in his.

"Nothing would make me happier than to carve up that pristine body of yours, make you taste the same pain I had to endure."

The girl whimpered, flinching as his words sliced through the air.

Fenrir continued, "But, I suppose your body is worth more intact, for the hefty ransom your family will pay. Though..." He glanced at her, his grin broadening.

"... I'm not sure how much longer I can resist the temptation."

She shuddered at his words, her sobs turning into silent cries.

She felt powerless, trapped in this horrific scenario, at the mercy of a monster. Her mind was in turmoil, a whirlwind of fear and desperation.

She shut her eyes tight, praying fervently for a miracle, for someone to save her from this nightmare.

'Please. Someone... anyone... h-help... help me!'

~WHUM!~

The sturdy wooden door of the dimly lit room was abruptly pushed open, the rough creaking noise breaking the heavy silence.

A disheveled bandit, his face flushed with panic, rushed in, stumbling over his words, "Leader...the barrier...it's been bypassed!"

Fenrir, who had been leaning against the table, his eyes fixed on the delegate, stiffened at these words.

"W-what?" he shot up, his icy blue eyes wide with surprise, "Are you sure?"

He had been certain that there would be some action for the recovery of the delegate, but he never expected it to be so soon. That barrier would have at least halted their progress for a day or more.

How had they acted so quickly? How were they able to gather so many reinforcements to quickly?

Fenrir was on edge the moment he heard the news.

"And you've detected them?"

The bandit nodded furiously, gasping out, "Yes, Leader! We've detected incoming intruders! There are three of them. One of them matches Benard, the Guildmaster of Terance...and there's also Fey, the best Ranger in all of Terance..."

"And the third?" Fenrir cut him off, an ominous edge to his voice.

"We... we don't recognize him, Leader," the bandit stuttered, "But given he's with them... he must be powerful."

Fenrir leaned back, a look of astonishment crossing his weathered face. He began to pace, his mind whirling.

He chuckled darkly, "They managed to break the barrier, huh? That's interesting... But, only three? Benard should've known that we overpowered Sirius. And yet, he only brings two more people?"

It was strange indeed. Yet, for the reason of desperation, perhaps the Guildmaster of Terance didn't have any other choice.

He shot a pointed glance at the bandit, "Any backups detected?"

"No, Leader, only the three of them."

Fenrir's grin broadened, "Well, well, they truly don't know their place."

He rose to his feet, determination seeping into his words, "I'll go and greet Benard and his pitiful excuse for a rescue team."

The bandit's eyes widened, "Should we inform 'that man' about the barrier?"

"No!" Fenrir's voice was like a whip, his gaze swiftly narrowing.

There was no need to trouble someone like him over something as easy as this. With the Enchanted Items currently in his possession, he was confident in his ability.

"He doesn't need to know..."

Fenrir strode towards the door, pausing to cast a last glance at the delegate.

"How lucky you are," he murmured, his voice low, "People actually came back for you."

He lingered on those words before continuing, "Once again, this world proves its unfairness. But no matter... "

Turning away from her and everything else in the dimly lit room, his words faded in a menacing echo.

"I'll deal with this myself."

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[A/N]

And so it begins, my dear friends!

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