Chapter 15

In the midst of cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

---

"Does this guy really believe the story I just told?"

Indeed, I had heard that there were new recruits, but these bandits don't look like they've been knocked out from drinking.

One of them is even foaming at the mouth and lying on the ground.

But—the bandit leader seemed to believe it seriously.

He sat in the chair and said,

"Hey, new recruits, I want some alcohol too! Bring me some alcohol!"

"Um, I'm sorry, but we don't have any alcohol right now."

If we had alcohol, they could get drunk and escape.

However, the room where Nolun was had only a bed, and there was nothing else. I had already searched this room, but there was no alcohol, just a large wooden box.

The bandits must have been irritated because the new recruit they sent to buy alcohol hadn't returned.

When I apologized, the bandit leader looked puzzled.

"These guys are knocked out, right? So there must be alcohol, right?"

Oh no, is the story breaking down already? No, I have to somehow cover it up.

I need to use my poker face, which I learned to maintain during job interviews to hide my mistakes.

"Sorry, the guys drank it all, and she's going to buy more right now."

I pointed at Har.

...At least let Har escape, and bring back reinforcements!

That's what I was trying to convey to her,

"Huh? That woman is wearing a slave collar. What's going on here!"

Gah, he's stupid but surprisingly sharp. Ah, I need a story, any story.

A story where it's not strange to treat a slave as a companion—

"Well, actually, she's my girlfriend, and she was kidnapped by a wicked slave trader. I killed the slave trader to get her back, but the slave trader was connected to a noble, so I'm wanted. That's why we fled here, hoping to join your famous bandit group."

I smoothly lied, but inside I was panicking.

...Oh no! I overdid it!

If I'm wanted, I can't enter the town, and it's obvious that Har and I don't look like a couple. Also, with a slave collar, she should be following orders and can't escape. Besides, no one knows about your famous group; everyone only knows about the bandits in the beginner's dungeon.

"Hey, are you serious about what you just said?"

The bandit leader's eyes became sharp.

Damn, it's come to this.

But then,

"Ugh, what a touching story. I'm a softie for these kinds of stories."

Wait, is he really crying?

Maybe he's a good guy?

But then the man picked up his axe and said,

"But to drink all the alcohol, they must be pretty arrogant! I'll kill one as an example—what, two more guys joined, so killing one won't be a problem."

He swung his axe at the archer's neck.

Blood splattered, and the man's head rolled on the ground.

...No way, he killed his own comrade? Just because they drank the alcohol?

"Hahaha, killing people is great! My level has gone up!"

Indeed, the bandit leader's level had increased to 15.

I was wrong to think he might be a good guy for a moment.

This guy— he's crazy. I want to escape from here as soon as possible.

But I have to let Har escape first— and I need to find a chance to escape with Nolun.

"Boss, I'll send this guy to buy alcohol."

"Yeah, that's right. But you buy it! Look at that sister, she's quite a beauty. A few scars, but that's fine. I'll take care of her."

"Um, Boss, she's my girlfriend."

"What, you won't listen to me? Do you want to die?"

Gah, the plan failed.

"Please go ahead, I'm fine."

Har said with a smile. It was the first time I saw her smile.

Fine? No way.

Don't say you're fine with such a sad smile.

"Hmm, this girl has a good eye. Alright, I'll let you go, but hurry up and bring the alcohol!"

...Right, Har and Nolun won't be killed.

If I run at full speed and explain the situation to the constables on the surface and come back— no, if the other two bandits wake up or the real new recruit returns and it's revealed that I'm not a bandit, they might escape to another place, and Har might not be safe.

Besides, I don't want to leave Har behind.

After all, it's a life I've already lost once!

I'll do everything I can!

I can't kill with a surprise attack. In my original world, maybe, but this is a different world.

A world where stats play a big role. Even a powerful attack might not work with my attack power.

Then—

"Boss, I'll hurry and buy the alcohol!"

I said this and, as I passed the bandit, I drew my sword and cut off the head of the bandit who was lying on the ground.

He was weakened by Har's attack earlier, so I thought it was possible, and it worked.

[Ichinou's level has increased]

[Unemployed Skill: Third Job Setting has upgraded to Fourth Job Setting]

[Job: Swordsman has been unlocked]

[Job: Archer has been unlocked]

[Automatically set to Commoner Level 15 for the Fourth Job Setting]

I willed myself to become a Swordsman Level 1.

...I just killed someone.

And the next one—

"Hey, what are you doing—"

"Slash!"

My Slash cut through the body of the Swordsman Level 9 man.

[Ichinou's level has increased]

[Apprentice Swordsman Skill: Sword Mastery (Small) has been obtained]

[Hunter Skill: Butchering has upgraded to Butchering II]

[Swordsman Skill: Sword Equipment has upgraded to Sword Equipment II]

I've leveled up.

I can see that the Apprentice Swordsman has reached Level 25, but I don't have time to check the other job levels.

I don't have time to be shaken by the fact that I just killed someone.

The blood dripping from the sword and the iron smell of the blood splattered on my face almost made me choke, but I don't have time for that.

Because the bandit leader was glaring at me.

I can't run away from this fight anymore.

"You, you're lying about wanting to join my group, right?"

"Yeah— it's a lie!"

"Are you planning to take over this bandit group by defeating me? I won't let that happen!"

I can't interject with "I have no such intention!"

The bandit leader ran towards me, holding his axe diagonally.

I want to run and buy time, but the bandit might have a long-range attack like Slash.

So, I judged that it's dangerous to stay too far away.

I quickly took Nolun's spear from my item bag and threw it.

The smooth movement was thanks to the Commoner Skill: Throwing Stones— no, that's irrelevant. It's not a stone. The spear was easily deflected by the bandit's raised axe.

Damn, he's strong!

"Die! This bandit group is mine!"

At that moment— Har quickly jumped onto the bandit's back and slashed at his neck.

But—

"Ouch!"

The bandit hit Har with the side of his axe.

Har's slender body flew backward.

"I'll deal with you later, just lie there!"

You bastard, how dare you to Har!

He turned his back— blood was coming from his neck, but it wasn't a fatal wound.

If Har could defeat him, she wouldn't have said she couldn't.

But— I'm strong now!

Whether it's a Swordsman or a bandit, it doesn't matter!

I'll show you the power of an Unemployed!

I resolved this, drew my steel sword, and swung it while running.

But— the bandit blocked it with his axe and smirked.

"Good move! If you work for me, you might become my right-hand man."

"Thanks!"

I said this and, raising my foot to perform the gold target attack that failed against the goblin,

"Slash!"

I shouted.

It wasn't a hand strike, but a kick attack using Slash! If I can do it with my hand, I can do it with my foot— and it worked.

"Ouch! What, I've never heard of using Slash with your foot! What did you do!"

"Never heard of it? But it worked, so you're just stupid, right?"

"Me, stupid!? Don't kid around! I can write, you know!"

That's the only thing you're proud of, which makes you stupid!

Well, I can't say that since I can't write in this world's language.

"Anyone who mocks me won't get away with it! Die!"

"Die, you!"

The bandit and I crossed paths in the dungeon corridor.

And—

"Ouch! Potion, potion!"

I shouted! My arm, my arm! Oh, the steel sword is broken.

I quickly took a potion from my item bag and drank it.

The bandit leader, seeing this, laughed—

"Hahaha... cough"

And fell to the ground.

A large cut was left on his stomach.

I somehow won, but I can't do the cool scene where the winner kneels and the enemy falls afterward, like in common fiction. From the fact that my level hasn't increased, it seems the bandit is still alive.

I quietly approached, picked up the axe, and put it in my item bag.

Also, I cut the tendons in his right arm. Sorry, I can't let him hit me when he wakes up.

Is Har okay?

She was kicked and flew back earlier.

"Har, are you okay! Answer me!"

"Master, please run."

"It's okay now, I've defeated the bandit leader. Drink this potion."

I gave Har the potion and made her drink it.

After drinking the potion, Har got up, seemingly recovered from the pain.

Then, I took a cloth from my item bag, which I bought to clean weapons, and wiped the blood from my sword and face.

Now— what to do with that bandit... kill him or—

"Hey, what's going on, Elise? There's a big boss sleeping over there."

"Really, Joffre. It's warm in the dungeon, but to sleep in such a place?"

"Hahaha, did you know, Elise? In a far-off country's language, there's a phrase 'Kahou sleeps and waits.' It means he's waiting for Kahou."

"Is that so? Hey, Joffre, what's Kahou?"

"Well, the only thing you can wait for while sleeping is the dawn! He's waiting for the world's dawn."

"Then he's a revolutionary! Just like Joffre."

"Hey, I've never been a revolutionary."

"What are you saying, Joffre? You always make my heart happy."

Then, the golden-haired couple embraced.

A sweet atmosphere enveloped them.

"......Slash"

My Slash hit Joffre and Elise's feet.

Wait, what am I doing? My body moved on its own.

"Whoa, what are you doing... Oh, you're the newbie from before. What are you doing here?"

"What are you doing... Oh, it's really the newbie from before. It's dangerous here. You should leave quickly."

Ah... this is troublesome. Should I kill them?

"Sorry, but this guy is the leader of the bandits. We just defeated him—"

When I said this, Elise and Joffre were surprised and whispered to each other.

Then, they looked at me with a full smile,

"Right, right, to be defeated by a newbie, the bandits must not have been that strong. What are you going to do with him?"

"Well, there's no reason to keep him alive, so I was thinking of killing him."

"Hey, that's a waste. Even if he's weak, you can get a reward by taking the bandit leader to the Adventurer's Guild."

"If you want, we'll help you carry him! In exchange, we want a share of the reward."

Hmm, I'll take you up on that.

I can't carry him alone anyway, and if I hand over the proof that I defeated the bandits, everyone on the surface will be relieved. I whispered to Har, and she also shared her thoughts with me.

I returned to the bandit's hideout, put the wooden box, whose contents were unknown, into my item bag, and carried the still sleeping Nolun. The bodies were gone.

The two sensations on my back felt very comfortable.

According to Har, Nolun is drugged but not in a dangerous state.

"Alright, let's return to the town in triumph!"

And so, we returned to the town.

I became the top of the day.

I'm overwhelmed with gratitude. Thank you.