After I used my previous route of entry into the Sanki Capital to go out of the city, I went to a nearby lake to clean up. Luckily, the woods are like a swampy oasis. The only unfortunate part about this oasis is just that there seemed to be quite a lot of mosquitos along the water.

Why do mosquitos have to exist here? I'd like to take up a complaint with this world's creator.

At least I was wearing the Sanki traditional outfit for men. This attire helped somewhat defend against the swarm of angry mosquito's. The farmer mentioned that it would be easier if I dressed like a man in this Kingdom in order to avoid trouble. So I decided to take his advice and do just that.

The farmer also said it would be easy for me to do so because I already looked like a juvenile boy... I guess the Sanki people are just painfully blunt.

I pulled out the map the farmers gave me and walked to the known location of the bandit camp. I am surprised the citizens would like the bandits so much. Although they feared them, they also respected them. The bandits snuck in food and other necessities to hand out to the starving citizens. Even though they attacked carriages and caravans to steal from nobles and merchants, they did so to help the commoners. At least the bandits have a compassionate side.

The Bandits of the Sanki Kingdom sort of remind me of the Yakuza. Let's just hope they don't also take fingers.

As I snuck through the forest swamp swatting off the mosquitos, I could smell smoke in the distance. I went to a ridge and hid behind a bush. Sure enough, at the bottom of the hillside, there was a bandit village.

Yes, a village.

It seems like the bandits live in a fully functional village. Their houses were made of trees, the roofs made from leaves, and their clothes from animal skins. I have to admit that it is actually impressive how resourceful they are.

Okay, the farmer told me that if I made an offering to the bandits and walked out with my hands raised, they wouldn't kill me. However, the thing they hate the most is surprises. So I just have to walk to the front gate and-

...My foot slipped on moss sending me rolling down the steep hillside. I screamed as I rolled until I was so queasy, I would puke. Luckily, my rolling came to a stop as I gagged trying to refrain from vomiting.

Well that fall definitely reopened my wounds again.

Ouch…

I opened my eyes and saw dozens of spears in my face. I gulped and put on an innocent smile, "Oh... Hello…"

A very large and muscular man strolled out of a nearby house and bellowed. His accent was so thick that it was hard to understand, "Who dares try to launch a surprise attack in my village?!"

I spoke quickly, "It wasn't a surprise attack! I promise! I was just innocently on a walk when I slipped and fell!"

Another shouted, "Lies! Our scouts never saw this pale skin! He must have snuck in to assassinate you Chief!"

The Chief glared at me, "Who sent you? The King?!"

I shook my head hastily while trying to avoid accidentally poking my eye out with one of the spears, "No sir! Actually, I came here because I wanted your help to kill the King!"

The man looked at a scout who had run down after hearing the commotion, "He came from your area. Why didn't you ring an alarm?"

He spoke, "Chief! I never saw him! Even Banru didn't bark to warn me!"

The dog at his side looked at me with an excited expression and wagged his tail. I forced a smile as the people around me were astonished by the dog's attitude. The Chief narrowed his eyes at me, "It seems he has bewitched Banru... Then that can only mean one thing..."

I'm a nice person?

"WITCH!"

My mouth dropped, "Huh?"

"BURN HIM AT THE STAKE!"

"WAIT WAIT!" I shouted quickly over their shouts and chants, "I am not a witch!"

The Chief chuckled darkly, "Mother will decide that." He then ordered the men around him loudly, "BRING HIM TO MOTHER!"

"MOTHER! MOTHER! MOTHER!"

I was suddenly tied up and hoisted into the air like a pig roasting over the fire. I shrieked, "Mother?! WHO IS MOTHER!?"

They didn't answer as they chanted and carried me through the village. As they walked, children ran behind them chanting in excitement. I had an menacing feeling as I approached a cave mouth attached to their village. They threw me down and all bowed.

The Chief bellowed, "Mother! We implore you to grace us with your presence and tell us... Is this pale skin a witch?!"

I frowned at him. Why does everyone have to keep calling me pale skin? I'm not that pale…

I glanced at my hand and winced. Nevermind. I guess I am that pale…

I really need to start going out more.

An elderly woman slowly emerged from the darkness of the cave. Her eyes were white and covered with a haze. She was clearly blind as she used the twisted wooden stick in her hands to tap the ground in front of her. Her hair was in knots with twigs, mud, and who knows what else braided within it. She shuffled out slowly using the staff while hunched over. I leaned back in disgust as her pungent smell assaulted my nose.

Her white hazy eyes looked into mine sending chills down my spine. It seriously feels like this old hag is looking into my soul. It's so creepy.

Her voice croaked, "This body is not yours..."

My mouth dropped. Could this creepy hag actually know?!

I was suddenly hoisted in the air and dragged away from the elderly woman. The crowd continued to chant, "BURN THE WITCH!"

I screamed at the sudden change of events, "NO! I DON'T WANT TO BE BURNED! PUT ME DOWN! AHHH!"

The old woman did not even seem to realize I was already dragged away before she added calmly, "But the two souls that reside in this body are very compatible and neither one means any harm. This one is not a witch."

Unfortunately for me, no one heard her admit that I was not a witch over the loud chanting. I was carried to the center of the village where a pyre had already been erected with wood stacked around it.

What the hell?! This was not here before!!! DID THEY REALLY ASSEMBLE IT THAT QUICKLY JUST TO KILL ME!?

As they tied me up to the pole at the center of the pyre, I spoke quickly. "I assure you, I'm not a witch. Please don't burn me! You'll be burning an innocent person!"

One spoke, "Fear not! Your soul will be purified by the fire, so you will not have to undergo eternal damnation."

"But I will still die! How can I not be afraid?!" I began to bargain, "Just let me go! I brought enough jewels for everyone! I can make you rich! I can give you whatever you want!"

"We care not for your monetary possessions."

I want to cry.

"Come on! There must be something you want! Everyone has a price! Wait! What is in your hand?! No! Put it down! PUT IT DOWN!"

A man laughed as he held out a torch and lit it on fire. I hung my head in defeat as they began to spread what seemed to be a fire accelerator on the wood at my feet. Is there really no way to get out of this?! Ugh... It seems like I really do have terrible luck.

"LIGHT THE FIRE!"

They held up the lit torch with excitement showing in their eyes. My eyes shrank back in terror, "Oh f*ck everything."