Chapter 5- Brain Over Brawn

Hello everyone, my name is Ray. Currently, I'm being held hostage by a brat and her entourage. Sounds like fun right? Not really.

Ray, with a brat-sized handprint on his face, has been leading the bandits around the forest in an endless circle. Drawing the anger of his captors.

"Oi oi oi, what the hell are you trying to pull!" One of the bandits moved in to place a blade on Ray's neck. "We've been walking in cricles haven't we!?"

Ray merely shrugged and spoke with a mild grin. " What proof do you have? How do you know we have been?" he spoke as a matter of factly.

"Oi don't bleep with me! Look at that tree! I had my suspicions and marked a cross on it!"

"Oh very well, you caught me. I'll lead you guys to the real treasure now."

"One more time and we won't go easy on you, you get it!"

"Yes, yes."

Pfft, this nameless bandit 1 thinks he can outsmart me. Well, nevermind him. I have bigger fish to fry.

More walking later...

"Are we there yet..."

"No"

"Are we there yet...."

"No.."

"Are we there y-"

"No, Elizabeth, we will not be there until I tell you we are there."

Nameless Bandit 2 now came out from the back of the group and shoved Ray to the ground. "Boss, this guy's just playing us like fools. We should just kill him, take his clothes and sell his body to the cultist clans in the north."

"Eh? But, I mean."

"Boss, don't tell me you're going soft. We only agreed to follow you because you promised us lots of money you know."

Ray could only grin to himself as he heard this conversation. "Hue hue hue, losing control of your own men Elizabeth? Don't worry your pretty head though, the treasure is right up ahead. Through that path." Ray pointed towards a dirt path through a thick overhead of a trees.

"N, n, nonsense! I am still stronger than all of you, remember that! Anyway, onwards to the treasure!"

Many grunts of approval could be heard amongst the bandits, even the large one nodded his head. As the bandits all moved forward they noticed something a little off.

...

...

"Where's the prisoner?"

Some distance away.

HUEHUEHUEHUE, so easy! If the entire world were like them, it's going to be so easy! But if this were a manga, I might get instant karma for that.

Authors Note: Still a light novel you're safe.

"Get him! Get him and when you do, kill him!" yelled Nameless Bandit 1.

As the bandits went to chase, Elizabeth and her large companion could only stand there, contemplating what Ray said. "We...we should go too." At that, they followed after at the very rear of the pack.

...

Ray, after sprinting away for a good 10 minutes, with the bandits following closely behind finally gets trapped, surrounded by the bandits with their swords and knives and his back against a tree. All of them were particularly worn out especially Elizabeth who was panting like mad. She was also being carried by unnamed large guy.

"F....F.....bleeping finally, for a wimpy little bastard you sure run fast don't you. B...b...but now, you die."

"R..R...running is considered a strategy you know and now... you've been caught in my t-"

"JUST DIE ALREADY!"

At that, nameless bandit 1 rushed forward, knife extended ready to pierce right through Ray.

*Schink*

...

...

"W..w..what?" and with that, nameless bandit 1 has fallen.

"Huh?!"

To the surprise of the bandits, a spear had lodged itself in the back of the now dead man and had penetrated all the way through to his front, blood wetting the tip of the spear. Before they could even respond, several more spears fell upon them killing 2 bandits and injuring 1 in the leg. The remaining 2 who could move could only watch in horror as two goblins came from behind them, impaling them upon their spears and immediately chopping off their heads, ending their pain.

"Mr Ray, you truly are a pain to deal with." with a familiar voice, Maya appeared from the bushes. With her usual pouty face, she began ordering the goblins to retreat. "Well, we've done what you asked. Is there anything else?"

"Nah, I think I got it from here. You're dismissed." With a polite nod, Maya returned back to the village with the goblins.

Ray could only put on his poker face for so long before collapsing on the ground. Holy bleep, that was...a bit more graphical than I expected..it's almost like it's real.. I must commend the developers for such amazing detail.

"Wh..wh...what happened!?!?"

Ah the main attraction has arrived. "B-b-boss, it was....an ambush...please..help us.." Oh, he's still alive. Hmm, I could use him.

"Elizabeth, it seems you are still unaware of how this world works."

"W-what are you talking about!?! What...have you done! I'll kill you to avenge my comrades!"

"Tsk, tsk. Did you truly think they were your comrades?"

"They were my party members! How dare you!"

"Nonsense, they were your minions. You heard from them just now didn't you? You ruled over them with the promise of money. They were never your friends."

"N..No, it w-"

"Face it, there was no trust between the two of you. They obeyed you, you were their ruler and they were acting without their ruler. Betrayal it would seem."

The injured bandit, lying on the ground could only watch as the two argued. "B-boss, don't listen to him!"

"..."

"You know it to be true, don't you? Now then Elizabeth, I will grant you two options. One, you can take your injured 'friend' and leave, in exchange you must tell me all that you know about this world. Two, cut off your ties with the bandits and join me."

"...Why should I join you?"

"Because I need you!"

"Eh?!"

"To Rule the world!"

Oh, and with that Elizabeth could only put on a face of anger.

Authors Note: Not really anger but pissed off at Ray's choice of words.

"Never!"

"Eh!?!"

In an instant, Elizabeth's large friend picked up the injured man and her to quickly make their escape.

...

...

"Is that it?" Maya popped up with the rest of the goblins that were supposed to have retreated.

"Yes, that's all that I needed to do. With that, she will start doubting her true nature and she will return one day to confirm it. So, have I proven myself to you yet?" Ray smiled genuinely as he said so.

This man is truly amazing thought Maya as she went back to before this all began. The scouts had reported a party of bandits including two out of place characters, a young brat and a large ogre creature.

Authors note: Flashback starts from here.

"Maya do those two people reported seem like any of the other races you have encountered?"

"Um, well, not really. We've encountered ogres before but this one according to the description had stone skin so I don't think they ar-"

"Then they might be people like me, beta testers. Well then, Maya. Get some of the goblin hunters and scouts who can hide themselves well to follow me from a distance away. When I'm in trouble, they will attack those that are attacking me. I emphasize once again, ATTACKING. ME."

"I may not be the smartest person in the world Mr Ray, but doesn't this sound extremely dangerous?"

"It does? I'm trusting you entirely though."

Maya could only blush and look down. "Eh?!"

"Well, no point worrying about it now. Just make sure the preparations are in order ok?"

"Uh, Mr Ray where are you going?"

"To the nearby lake, before I go handle the other problems in the village I should at least clean myself up..."

Authors note: Flashback ends here.

"Yes, you really are amazing. Ray."

"Oh, the first time you've actually called me without Mr."

"Yes, yes. Now we have more problems that the goblins back home are facing."

"Ho ho, you guys can't survive without me can you! Alright, lets go back home!"

To be Continued