Chapter 6: Request for subjugation of criminals (Part 1) (Revised)

“Mick!”

The village chief widened his eyes and shouted.

The man called Mick was thrown onto the ground and crouched.

Then two people appeared from the house where he was thrown out from.

One man was fat with a bald head, and the other one slender with a spiky hairstyle like a broom. The Spiky Head spit while looking down on Mick.

“Keh! Try saying that again!”

The slender man, who fit the name Tsungari, stared at him with a vicious look on his face. Next to him was a man whom Hiiro had named Tsurudebu in his mind, who bit on a fruit that probably belonged to the store. (TL: Tsungari = Spiky Beanpole; Tsurudebu = Bald Fatty)

“Hiii! Please, no more! This is all I can!”

Mick desperately pleaded. They most likely told him to hand over the goods for free and he refused.

A vein bulged on Tsungari’s forehead, and he kicked Mick’s face.

A lot of blood spurted out from Mick’s mouth.

Seeing that, the villagers rushed over to him. Tsungari glared sharply at the village chief.

“Huuh? Look who we have here – the chief. Got something to say? Mh?”

Hiiro looks at him calmly, as if he’s a third-rate gangster, or rather, a delinquent.

“I, more food.”

Tsurudebu is drooling and trying to make his way back to the store. Perhaps he wants to scavenge for more food.

“Oi, little brother, give it a rest, we’re leaving.”

“B- But I’m hungry.”

“Tsk. Then make it quick.”

“Okay.”

“Please stop it already!”

Unable to watch any longer, the village chief shouted, but Tsungari’s glare causes him to flinch.

The others close by didn’t approach either, scared by Tsungari’s murderous look.

(Looks like they’re being compelled to accept it because these guys are beyond their power, not just due to the title deed)

The village didn’t have any capable people, so they didn’t resist since they would only get killed if they did so.

(They could ask the army for help, but I guess these guys would just run away with the title deed then. And there’s a fear of their revenge. The best solution would be for someone to subdue them)

While Hiiro pondered like that, the boy next to him looked up at him. It’s as if he was begging him to do something about it.

“I don’t know what you’re hoping for, but it’s none of my business.”

“Wha-! And you still call yourself human!?”

“Hey, stop it, Nies!”

A girl named Coco called the boy Nies, and that’s where Hiiro first found out his name.

“What? Do I look like a monster?”

“You do! Why aren’t you helping! As a fellow adventurer, you have to stop them!”

At Nies’s words, Coco glances at him as well, looking uncomfortable. She told Nies to stop, but it seems that a sense of anticipation resides in her eyes too.

“…Listen, brat, I may be an adventurer, but I ain’t some advocate of justice. Ask the Heroes if you want justice for free.”

Hiiro said composedly while crossing his arms. The boy gave him a look filled with anger; it was no concern of his.

“H- Hey, how can you say such a thing? You could have helped us out!”

“I refuse. If you want to make me move, you’ll have to pay up.”

“P- Pay? What the hell!? Forget it! In the end, all adventurers are like this!”

With that, Nies went towards Tsurudebu.

“Nies! Where are you going!?”

“Hey, Nies! Don’t go that way!”

Coco screams and Panis tries to stop him, but Nies runs as fast as he can. And Panis glares at Hiiro while grinding his teeth. But he quickly relaxes and lets out a sigh.

“No, I know. It’s none of your business. There are no brave men and women who work for free for others, like in the stories.”

“I don’t know if there aren’t any, but I’m not like that. I don’t work for free.”

This is not your run-of-the-mill hero story. Fighting is fraught with danger. And thus, the choice to fight for free is not possible for Hiiro.

“O- Onii-chan…are you not going to help us?”

Coco looks up and pleads with her eyes, but Hiiro keeps his mouth shut.

And gradually, her eyes grow moist. As expected, it’s become hard for Hiiro to look her in the eyes, so he crosses his arms and closes his eyes.

“Uuu…”

Just as Coco was almost ready to cry out after seeing Hiiro’s actions, Hiiro said.

“…free of charge.”

“…Huh? What?” (TL: here is the birth of the…)

Panis suddenly leaked a voice, so Hiiro inadvertently asked back.

“So it just… has to be paid?”

Hiiro got a bad feeling.

“Then if you help us, I’ll give you the best armor I have in my shop.”

“……….”

“Will you help me?”

“……….”

Panis looked at him earnestly

It’s a pain in the ass, and frankly, it’s not my problem. I’m not sure I want to get the best armor, although I am interested in it.

“I’m going to give you a handmade snack made by my mother. So…..”

He stares into Coco’s eyes as he turns, seeing her almost crying face, and then he and Panis lock gazes. Looking into his eyes without averting his gaze. After a while, Hiiro sighs, as if defeated by Panis’ perseverance.

“……..Is there any good food or rare books in this village? I’d prefer that over the armor.”

“What? Food and books…?”

“We got some snacks…right?”

Panis frowns and Coco tilts her head cutely.

Then Panis thinks for a moment, then claps his hands with a pop.

“We don’t have any food to represent this village, but I’m sure the village chief has some old books. So I’ll ask him. What do you think?”

I like the idea of old books. Very intriguing. It’s perfect if you can get it just by knocking out these scums.

“Alright then. I’ll lend you a hand. Just hold up your end of the bargain, okay?”

A moment later Panis and Coco reflexively smile, but then Panis’s expression darkens.

“Ta, I asked for it, but are you, um… strong?”

He looks at Hiiro from head to toe and asks anxiously.

“Dunno. But at least good enough to do something about them.” He says as he looks at the Debugari duo. (TL: Debugari = Fatty and Beanpole)

Panis had his mouth gaping open seeing that confidence, but Hiiro ignored that and swiftly went into action.

–

Nies picks up a pebble from the ground and throws it at Tsungari. Nies was pleased to see it hit him right in the face. But needless to say, the other villagers all went pale.

“Get out! Idiot!”

Tsungari’s expression, as he slowly looked at Nies, spoke volumes: I will murder this brat!

Nies had been happy that his earlier attack hit the mark, but when he felt Tsungari’s killing intent all over his body, he cowered.

“P- Please s- stop it!”

The village chief stood in front of Nies, but was sent flying with a hard punch. “Get out of my way!”

Tsungari pulls out the sword he carried at his waist and points it at Nies.

The fear of the approaching death rattles Nies, making him unable to move.

“Brat, any last words?”

“D- Don’t…”

Nies shook his head while shedding tears, but that didn’t stop Tsungari.

He smiled happily and raised his sword high in the air, then swung it down.

*Bushu!*

Everyone gulped and closed their eyes. They all thought Nies’s life was over. However!

“UWAAA! IT HURTS!”

It was Tsungari who was bleeding and screaming in pain.

Something had pierced his sword arm.

It was definitely a blade. Crimson liquid dripped from the blade that protruded from his arm. Everyone was also dumbfounded at this strange scene.

Although the object that was piercing his arm was certainly a blade, it was clearly too long.

If this strange scene was done by someone’s attack, that person should be gripping the other end of that blade.

Everyone turned their eyes that way in unison.

The one who stood there… was the red-robed young man who came to this village.

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