Chapter 281: Side Story— Behind the Scenes of Bandit Subjugation

Chapter 281: Side Story— Behind the Scenes of Bandit Subjugation

H-Help

This isimpossible

The fight between the boy and the bandits was so one-sided that it could hardly be called a battle. The boy moved deftly while wielding his great sword with ease as he swiftly cut down one bandit after another. The heavy, thick blade cut bodies in half with a single stroke, leaving no corpse intact. The air was thick with the stench of blood.

The boy who was responsible for creating such carnage did not bat one eye in front of the sea of blood in front of him. It was as if this level of brutality was normal for him. What was particularly unsettling was that not a drop of blood stained the boy. Despite the copious amounts of blood spraying from the cleaved bodies, none seemed to reach him.

Constantly vigilant, the boy scanned his surroundings to ensure no one was left moving. Then, after a flick of his great sword through the air to clean off the blood, he exhaled shortly as if he had just finished his work.

Thats that. All thats left is to tie up these fellows and take them back, then the mission is complete.

Eeeh! Eeeeek!

The leader who grew stunned as his men were swiftly defeated snapped back to realityor perhaps he snapped out of itwhen the boys gaze turned towards him. In a panic, he attempted to flee while screaming.

The brash and somewhat charismatic leader who had stood before the boys arrival was nowhere to be found. Now, consumed by a fear he hadnt felt in a long time, he became the very embodiment of the weaklings he would likely crush without a second thought.

But the boy wasnt one to let his prey escape easily. Closing the gap in a single breath, he seized the leader by the neck and slammed him to the ground. Pinning him face down with a knee on his back to immobilize him, the boy then bound his wrists behind him with a coarse rope.

That takes care of this one. Now for the other

When the boy restrained the leader of the bandits, the small man wielding a dagger approached from behind. His movements were agile and silent. He was certainly the most skilled one of them.

Yet, the boy was no ordinary opponent. Even though he wasnt making any footsteps, the boy noticed the small man approaching from behind, dove down to avoid the blade, and rammed his elbow into the small mans stomach.

Ugh Damn it!

Really, that took me by surprise. Those moves dont seem like they belong to a mere bandit. Did you get some serious training in the army or something?

The boys guess was not far off the mark. Indeed, the small man had been raised within an organization of a certain country. However, what he was wrong about was that although this organization was under the direct control of the state, it was not of the army but a behind-the-scenes organization that did all the dirty work.

The organizations duties included espionage for gathering intelligence and assassination to eliminate those deemed a threat to the state. These dangerous tasks often treated agents as disposable tools, with failure resulting in death.

From a young age, members were trained to accept this harsh reality. Yet, fortunately or unfortunately, the small man managed to retain his sanity. So he devised a plan, faked his death, escaped, and gained his freedom. This was the reason behind his exceptional skills.

Its none of your business. Release our leader!

Your confidence isnt just in your dagger skills, I see. That smell poison, huh?

The capital of Stalhern earldom, right in the heart of the Stalhern noble familys territory, was buzzing with activity. Even though the entire Kingdom of Harlasia, under the kings leadership maintained a semblance of comfort compared to other nations even in times of war, the prosperity of each territory still depended heavily on the abilities of the local lord. This was proof of the effective management of the head of the earldom, Lieselotte Herzfeldt.

Two people were talking in a room of a private house in the capital. One was a man in his early thirties, of medium build with a gentle demeanor, and the other was a teenager in his early teens, a bit chubby but with arms covered in muscles like armor. Had there been any onlookers, the disparity between the two would have been strikingly obvious.

And thats the whole story.

My, my. Thats quite impressive indeed.

And if anyone had been present, they would have been surprised to see that it was the young man who was clearly acting in an arrogant manner. Without hesitation, the young man popped the offered candy into his mouth as if it were a matter of course, and drained the fragrant, high-quality tea without a hint of savoring it, as if it was his right to do so.

The man did not rebuke the young mans presumptuous attitude, and his face was always adorned with a smile. Whether that smile was a genuine expression of amusement or a mask to hide his true feelings, the young man didnt even try to tell.

Leo may be nothing more than a muscle-brained swordsman, but he would have been a natural enemy to guys like this.

Indeed. The terror of a demons senses is something Ive keenly felt, young master Bolts.

The one who spoke to the man was Bolts, who had remained in the kingdom to serve Lieselotte. After parting ways with Antares and the others, Bolts traveled to Lieselottes domain with Leo, Zard, and Sophie, where each of them had been assigned their respective duties.

For Leo, it was keeping the peace in the area. It could be said that this was the perfect role to utilize the fighting skills of Leo, who was one of the most talented of the demons. Not limited to dealing with bandits, Leo roamed the territory on behalf of Lieselotte and arrested criminals, and subdued dangerous creatures.

On the other hand, Bolts, who came from a business background, often found himself doing desk work such as accounting. This wasnt only because of Lieselottes instructions, but also because of Bolts own preference. Lieselotte, who appreciated anyone with a high administrative ability, was more than willing to accommodate this.

However, there was an underlying reason Bolts refrained from involving himself in rougher tasks. He would never admit it, but he was well aware of his lack of aptitude for combat. It was obvious that he was inferior to Leo, and he didnt want his ego to be hurt by the comparison.

Regardless of Bolts personal feelings, Leos reputation in the Stalhern earldom was on the rise, and a short period of time was enough to raise his status. Lieselottes promotion played a role, but more so Leos fighting skills and his character.

Even as a newcomer representing Lieselotte, it wouldnt have been pleasant to be looked down upon. But Leo didnt just show his strength; he actively engaged with the local people. At first, he was not only shunned, but even scolded, but gradually his efforts were recognized because of his strong will to reduce prejudice against demons.

This will make for detailed documentation. What do you think?

Yes, yes. Its quite persuasive.

Bolts handed the man the documents he had pulled from his pocket. These were copies of detailed reports on the bandit subjugation. Reading these reports would reveal just how extraordinary Leos contributions as a fighter were and it went far beyond what the rumors told.

It wasnt just his sheer fighting strength that was noteworthy. His ability to navigate the darkness with ease, thanks to his night vision, and his amazing sense of smell, which can detect poisons, were highlighted. The reports also listed several other aspects in which demons outperformed other races, backed by actual data.

Why the man was collecting this information and what he intended to use it for were questions Bolts didnt know the answers to, nor did he intend to inquire. After all, his only concern was regaining the status and wealth he once had as a merchants son.