Chapter 80

Gordon glanced at the axe embedded in the ground and snorted.

"You scrawny brat, you don't need a weapon. How about I let you use only one of your hands? Choose which one you like."

Gordon tilted his head to the left and right, making a cracking sound. As an aside, cracking your neck isn't good for you. It puts stress on the joints between the bones. I was taken to the hospital for this in my previous life.

"Ignoring me, huh? Hahaha, you're too scared! "

Gordon ran over, dramatically winding up his right arm.

"You might not look it, but I'm the strongest in the slums. Abel, as a senior, I'll teach you that the world of adventurers is a place where the strong prey on the weak. This might be your only chance to learn! Don't take it personally, if I don't do it, someone else will."

How can I take down Gordon's fighting spirit without seriously injuring him? Using a large-scale spell would be the quickest way. Big things are strong and easy to see.

"Earth Hand"

As I swung my staff, Gordon pulled back his right arm and swung his left.

"Thought it was my right? I'm left-handed. If you had just specified, I would have only used that one... Ow!"

Gordon was thrown back by a wall of earth that emerged from the ground. A ten-meter-long earth hand blocked the space between Gordon and me.

"Wh-what... What the hell is this?"

Gordon, who was trying to get up, sat back down and retreated. He grabbed his axe and used it to stand up.

"Earth Hand"

I made another hand grow to block Gordon's advance. Gordon's movements came to a complete stop.

"Which hand do you want? I can even specify a finger if you want."

I made sure to clearly distinguish between his right and left arms. I'm the type who pays attention to the details.

"Uaaaaaah!"

Gordon, holding his axe, struck the earth hand. It made a thud as the axe embedded itself in the earth. However, it wasn't thin enough to be easily cut. As Gordon tried to pull the axe out, I bent the earth hand, lifting Gordon into the air. I then lightly flicked Gordon with the earth hand's index finger, causing him to roll on the ground and hit a tree root. This should be enough.

Gordon lifted his dirt-covered face. His left cheek was swollen and red.

"Gordon! Shoot the mage! That will stop him! Hurry up!"

"Bro, that's..."

"Hurry up, I said!"

Gordon was completely enraged. I thought a little intimidation would do, but I might have scared him too much.

"U-uh... Hey mage, stop! I'll shoot if you move. I know you're strong, but in this state, I can shoot while you're transcribing the magic array... I won't hurt you, just drop your staff..."

"Wind Blade"

I swung my staff at Gordon. A blade of wind flew towards him.

"Y-you're too fast! Ugh!"

Gordon fired an arrow, but the wind blade swept it away and struck his bow, shattering it and sending debris flying. The impact of the bow breaking knocked Gordon onto his back.

"H-h-how... How can you do that?"

I turned my gaze from the gaping Gordon to Gordon. When our eyes met, Gordon's body trembled.

"Getting your body beaten up so badly that you can't be an adventurer is a common occurrence. You shouldn't say you're not prepared, right?"

I raised my staff, pointing its tip at Gordon's head. Gordon stared at the tip of the staff, his mouth wide open. His eyes, now completely different from before, looked like those of a puppy facing a lion. A puddle of water was spreading from his crotch, indicating he had lost control from fear.

Well, that's enough.

If I scare him this much, he won't bother us again. I glanced at Mea, then back at Gordon, and lowered my staff.

"Stay away from us. And don't tell anyone about this..."

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! Really, I'm so sorry! Please spare my life! Just my life!"

"No, that's..."

Gordon, completely different from before, was now bowing on the ground.

"Because it's embarrassing and annoying for a guy to stick to a girl who's stronger, and I thought someone would eventually do something about it, even if it wasn't me! I just wanted to scare you and make you run away in a shameful way, I didn't really mean to break your bones! I only told Modeon to shoot because I got scared thinking I might really get killed! I didn't think someone like you existed!"

That's a quick change...

"If you can't let it go, just spare me! Modeon, my brother, is a nice guy, unlike me! He's a bit lacking in initiative, but he can do well in other places without me! He can work well with others and form a party, unlike me, and I hear good things about him later! So, so..."

Gordon repeatedly hit his head on the ground.

"N-no, I get it, go away..."

"Bro, you're saying such things about me..."

Modeon, with tears in his eyes, wobbled over to Gordon.

"I'm sorry, little brother! I'm such a useless brother until the end!"

Crying loudly, Gordon and Modeon hugged each other tightly.

...Can't they do this somewhere else without me?