Bandits?!

Gran chuckles.

"See what I was talking about?

This world is unpredictable.

Be right back."

Gran got balls of steel.

Her first reaction isn't to panic.

Or even worry.

Nope, she chuckles!

How badass is that?!

Very!

I exit the wagon too.

Outside about 30 bandits are coming.

Wait…

Gran is actually taking a horse to go toward them?!

She whispers to the others to take care.

That she'll try to negotiate.

To disregard it if they take her hostage.

There are two outcomes.

They kill/capture her and at least we'll know that we need to fight.

This way we won't be taken by surprise.

They accept her terms and leave peacefully.

Usually, that would be a very dumb move.

But she is really old and doesn't fear death.

She is also very observant.

They won't be able to trick her.

I can see the logic.

Well, it would be fine if I wasn't here.

[Wait up!]

I jump on the horse.

Clutching her waist not to fall down.

"You want to come too?"

[Yep, you stay on the horse when we get there, Gran.]

She guides the horse forward.

"Sure. By the way, your strike range is really large, eh?"

[What?!]

"It has been a while since a young man tried embracing me."

Then I see her smile.

She is teasing me.

Trying to lighten the atmosphere.

[What can I say? It's only because it's you!

Riding a horse to battle!

Are you a Valkyrie?]

"Pfft, HAHAHAHAHAHA. At least we'll die laughing eh."

[Shut up, I'm not planning on dying.]

"Of course."

The bandits look at us weirdly.

They probably aren't used to people actively approaching them.

"Hello, young men."

Their leader growls.

"Who are you, granny?"

"Just an old woman passing by.

What brings you all here today?"

They all start laughing.

"Can you believe her?"

"What brings us?! Haha, what do you think?!"

"She wouldn't realize if death was in her face."

"How courageous! Hahaha!"

I slowly dismount.

Their leader looks at me weirdly.

"Give us all your possessions and we'll let you guys live."

How forceful!

[Granny, should I act as I usually do or restrain myself?]

"I won't stop you either way."

The bandits seem confused.

I look at them.

[Give me all your possessions and I'll let you guys live.]

Of course, I don't forget the business smile.

After all, robbery is an art.

"HAHAHAHAHA the kid has gone insane!"

"What a jokester!"

"As if you could do anything to us!"

"Nice try but you are too young to be that strong haha!"

Then one goes even farther.

"Kid, how close are you to that old woman?

I'll slowly torture her and make you watch.

Wouldn't that be fun?

A shame she is so old, otherwise we could have enjoyed her too.

Perhaps we can use daggers instead of…"

The others look at him shocked.

"Brother that's too much!"

"We don't do things like that here!"

"You recently joined but still…"

He exclaims.

"The best bandits are the ones that are feared!"

Fuck that guy.

Seriously screw him.

[Apologize.]

"Who are you kidding kid?! I'll do as I said and there is nothing you…"

He is trash.

Pure trash.

A good target for an experiment.

I will be giving meaning to his worthless existence.

I focus.

Illusion magic.

For once I am not the target.

That piece of shit is.

All the anger I have toward him.

All the disgust.

All the hate.

I use it as a duel for the spell.

I want something even more potent.

Here goes nothing.

[Have fun.]

For a few seconds, the world seems to stop.

They all change the way they look at him.

Before, he was an annoying colleague.

Now he is something they must destroy.

At all costs.

Something vile.

Something horrible.

He seems to realize it too.

He is suddenly the target of intense killing intent.

Then, they all charge at him.

I simply give him a slight smile.

He sees my gaze.

He doesn't understand what is happening.

At all.

But he does understand that I caused it somehow.

I can see then horror in his eyes.

Then he gets stabbed repeatedly.

Shortly after life leaves him.

They keep slashing.

They also kick.

All until he is unrecognizable.

Just chunks on the ground.

Splattered all over.

The bandits start smiling.

Glad to have come out victorious.

They look at each other with happiness.

Then they come back to their senses.

They see what they have done.

They remember how it felt.

They throw their weapons away.

Weapons that are chipped from senseless hacking.

Then, many start vomiting.

Before long they remember my presence.

They turn toward me.

I can see pure dread.

They fear me doing it again.

They fear losing control of themselves.

More importantly, they fear being my target.

Many fall to their knees.

Not bothering about the puddles of vomit.

Looking at me like I am a monster.

Gran is the only one that managed to keep a semblance of calm.

I smile at them calmly.

[Give me all your possessions and I'll let you guys live.]

Let's just say the impact is different this time.

None are laughing.

They start removing their clothes and their bags.

[I don't want any vomit-covered stuff.]

"Y-yes!"

I see their leader struggling to talk.

"W-we are sorry about earlier.

We would never have followed that crazy man's plan!"

[*Sigh* I know. That is the only reason you guys are even alive at the moment.]

"T-thank you! Thank you so much!"

He drops on the ground kneeling.

In a puddle of…yikes.

[Whatever, leave the gold and be on your way.]

"Thank you so much!"

They hurry up and throw it all toward me.

Then they start running at full speed.

Not even bothering about us anymore.

Just to be safe I say loudly:

[Hey Gran, think I should kill them after all?]

I see them tense up.

"It should be fine. If they bother us again, I'll tell you."

I can somewhat hear them thanking her.

I don't think they'll come for revenge.

They seemed more like thieves than murderers.

Judging by how fast they denied that bloodthirsty guy.

We go back to the camp.

All of them are looking at us with worshipping gazes.

"You two! What the hell happened out there?!"

I give a slight smile.

[Nothing much. Just negotiations.]

Then I go back inside to train.

Also to prepare for tomorrow…