Chapter 26

While walking, I suddenly thought.

Why am I looking for Hyaro?

He's a guy I don't like. I have no obligation to help him. His poverty isn't my fault. I should just leave him alone.

But when I try to leave him, I feel restless.

I don't know what this feeling is, but it must be an unpleasant one.

Hyaro was found soon enough.

As soon as we left the slums, shouts echoed.

A crowd had gathered, peering into an alley.

Some looked on curiously, others winced and twisted their faces, some narrowed their eyes with hatred, and others gave cold, indifferent glances. In the center of these gazes, Hyaro sat against a wall, surrounded by adults. His limbs were limp, and his face was swollen.

"Is this enough?"

One of the three adults standing in front of Hyaro muttered. His hands were stained with blood, and it was clear whose blood it was.

"This isn't enough, sir! These guys are like pests!"

One of the onlookers shouted. Another chimed in.

"Cutting off a limb would be just right, do it!"

"Isn't it enough already?"

The man with bloodstained fists sighed and turned to look at the two.

What's going on here?

I looked around. The onlookers were murmuring.

"That guy tried to snatch something."

"Yeah, he's from the slums."

"Considering the recent attacks, they're all dangerous."

"Well, what can you do? They're from the slums, after all. It's divine punishment."

Such words buzzed around.

I see, so he was caught trying to snatch something, and now they're retaliating. That's what's happening.

If that's the case, this is his own doing. I have no obligation to help him.

I have no obligation. But for some reason, I can't look away.

For some reason, it irritates me.

I looked at the faces of the adults surrounding Hyaro.

Two were large and muscular for civilians. The one who had beaten Hyaro was the handsome one.

He had golden hair down to his shoulders and a fur-trimmed cloak. He looked elegant at first glance, but his eyes were sharp, giving him a more wild impression.

"Well, we can't go against the wishes of our employers..."

The golden-haired man smiled, twisting his lips, and put more force into his legs.

Then, he aimed a roundhouse kick at Hyaro's temple, who was slumped against the wall.

He was about to kick.

The golden-haired man's movement stopped abruptly.

He didn't stop on his own. The other adults didn't stop him, and Hyaro didn't stop himself.

"What...!?"

The golden-haired man was surprised. I was surprised too.

I had stopped him with telekinesis.

I didn't know what I was doing myself.

I thought I could just leave him. I thought this was his own fault.

He hadn't asked for help, and I had no reason to help him.

But I couldn't leave him.

As soon as I released the telekinesis, I activated my fighting spirit and leaped to Hyaro's side.

Without stopping, I picked up Hyaro and put some distance between us.

I landed with a cloud of dust.

"What the hell? You!"

The golden-haired man frowned at me.

One of the men seemed to recognize me.

"Hey, isn't that the kid from before!? What are you doing here!?"

Apparently, I was among those who had been knocked out by Mr. Niksky.

"Mr. Reshid! Him too! Please punish him! The boss will be grateful!"

The man hurriedly shouted to the golden-haired man. Reshid, as he was called, heard this and twisted his lips.

Cracking his knuckles, Reshid approached.

"Sorry, but that's the way it is. You'll pay for my drinks."

His grin suggested he was already imagining his evening drink.

A reason to help Hyaro formed in my mind, which had been troubled.

I really hate this face.

Still, I had been warned just a few days ago to avoid fighting as much as possible.

So, I ran.

If I could ruin his evening drink, I'd be satisfied.

I kicked off the alley wall and jumped, carrying Hyaro. After a couple of wall jumps, I was above the rooftops.

It might be a nuisance to the people below, but I couldn't help it.

I ran across the rooftops toward the slums.

The slums were just around the corner.

I ran at full speed, leaping from roof to roof, ignoring the roads.

Even without knowing the way, it didn't matter.

It was easy. It should have been easy to escape.

But it wasn't.

"Wow, you're fast, kid."

Reshid was right behind me, his fighting spirit visible in the light.

"!"

I tried to put some distance between us by jumping to the side. But it seemed he was faster.

"Wait... a minute!"

Reshid's kick aimed for my side, but I barely blocked it with my knee. However, I couldn't stop the impact.

With a thud, I was knocked to the ground.

I landed without dropping Hyaro. Fortunately, there was no follow-up attack.

Hyaro groaned softly, but I couldn't worry about that now.

"Not bad, but carrying someone makes a difference, even for a kid like you."

Reshid landed with a cool expression.

As he said, it was true.

Reshid could use fighting spirit, which made him faster than I expected.

Carrying Hyaro made it difficult to escape.

What should I do?

In that moment of hesitation, Reshid didn't miss his chance.

He quickly came to my face and kicked me.

I crossed my arms to block, but his kick was infused with fighting spirit, and my arms went numb.

"Wow, you can use fighting spirit at your size. You're really something."

He seemed to be enjoying it, just grinning without following up.

It was unpleasant.

"Hey, over here! We found him!"

The two men from before joined us, and I was surrounded again.

There were fewer of them than when I was with Mr. Niksky, but Reshid made them more troublesome.

In fact, I thought Reshid alone was more troublesome than before.

"Heh, heh... Brat, you're in for it."

The men inched closer.

"After all, we've got the <Hound> Reshid on our side."

"Hmm, an explorer, huh?"

The unfamiliar phrase "<Hound>" piqued my interest. I asked the men.

I remembered that top explorers had nicknames. Was Reshid one of them?

"Haha! You know your stuff! This guy completes any mission faithfully and never lets his target escape."

"He's a hard worker, always doing the dirty jobs."

Interrupting the man, Reshid self-mockingly added, but his face was full of confidence.

"I see. That's scary."

Despite saying that, my fighting spirit didn't wane. His face was more unpleasant than I thought.

"But, you won't be able to call yourself that anymore."

"Huh?"

Reshid asked, not understanding what I meant.

I didn't answer.

Running was no longer an option. It seemed talking wouldn't work either.

Then, I had no choice but to fight.

I kicked up the sand at my feet and scattered it in the men's faces.

If they closed their eyes for even a moment, it would be enough.

I instantly kicked the head of the man on the right. Even though he was about 5 meters away, with my fighting spirit enhanced, it was no problem.

"Ugh...!?"

A dull sound echoed as he flew backward. He was still breathing, so he should be fine.

The other henchman, confused by what was happening, looked at the man who had been kicked. As soon as his gaze shifted, I swept his feet and punched his chin with a backhand. I heard a crack.

"Huh!?"

He fell to the ground.

One left, only Reshid remained.

Impressive, he was already in a fighting stance.

"Wow, wow, you're something, kid! What are you, anyway!?"

Laughing, he drew a dagger from inside his cloak and held it in reverse.

"But, it's not over yet."

"It's over now."

Before Reshid could say anything, I kicked his dagger-wielding hand, sending the dagger flying. I then struck his solar plexus several times with the palm of my hand.

"Ugh, ugh, ugh..."

Reshid vomited and fell forward.

"Now, your target has escaped."

The dagger I had kicked away landed and stuck in the ground right next to Reshid's head.

I walked calmly down the street, carrying Hyaro on my back.

I might look calm, but I was trembling inside.

I did it...

I was told not to fight, but I ended up hurting them.

I left the three men behind.

Someone will probably help them.

But this will spread rumors again.

What will I say to Mr. Gustav?

My first solo fight left me with a mix of exhilaration and regret, with a little more regret.