Chapter 90

Amanda Lou was held captive by bandits.

(Why doesn't anyone come to help... What kind of incompetent guild is this?)

She had to curse inwardly to keep from breaking down. It had been hours since she was captured, and the sun had long set.

Amanda was not the only one held captive. The other passengers from the same carriage were also prisoners. From the voices she could hear, she knew that several people had been brought from other places as well.

Amanda and the others were in the remnants of an abandoned village. Inside a dilapidated building, iron bars had been thoughtfully installed. She was fortunate enough to be left in a cage, but others were being taken away with their hands bound.

The bandits seemed to make a living from human trafficking. Men were sold as labor, and women as objects to satisfy desires. When they first arrived at the abandoned village, she saw people who were deemed unsellable being killed and piled up. This made her completely lose any will to resist.

Amanda, being a woman, especially did not want to provoke them and end up in an even worse situation. She could still hear the anguished screams of women being used to satisfy the bandits' desires.

This place was truly hell.

"Hey, woman."

"---Ah!"

A man entered the dilapidated building, holding a torch in his hand. From his appearance, it was clear he was not approaching to satisfy his desires, and she felt a slight relief.

Amanda was covered in mud. No one would willingly touch a woman in such a state. However, there were no facilities like a bath here. For now, she was grateful to the detestable people of Amrus.

"Look at me. I have some questions for you."

The man had brown hair and was tall. His dirty armor made him look more like a swordsman than a bandit. Amanda guessed he was probably a former adventurer.

"W-What do you want?"

"You're from Amrus, right? I want to know more about that town."

"You mean to attack that town?"

"We don't have enough supplies right now. We could raid a small town, but it wouldn't be enough. We have about fifty people. That's why we're targeting Amrus."

She silently mocked his foolishness. It was impossible to do as he pleased in Amrus with just fifty people. The town had an adventurer's guild and was a base for new settlers, so there were many adventurers.

"---Just fifty people to attack that town?"

"Well, we'll probably team up with other bandits. I expect about a hundred and fifty to gather. It doesn't matter how many die. As long as I survive, that's all that matters."

Amanda felt a glimmer of hope.

(The adventurers in that town might be able to defeat the bandits even if there are over a hundred. If so, I might be saved too.)

"Besides, I have an acquaintance in that town. Do you know the name Reta Dixon?"

"---Reta Dixon!?"

"Ah, you know her?"

She realized her mistake too late. The man's demeanor changed, and he opened the cage and entered. He grabbed Amanda's hair.

"Ow, stop it!"

"Because of that bastard, my life has become a mess. And yet, that bastard... is celebrated as a hero in that town!"

"---You mean to attack the town for that reason?"

"For that reason!?"

In an instant, Amanda's face was slammed into the ground. A dull pain shot through her, and she could feel blood gushing from her nose. The man kicked her stomach in a fit of rage, causing her to groan in pain.

"Ugh, ah, ah, ah, ah"

He kicked her repeatedly, his breathing becoming erratic, until he was satisfied.

"Ha, ha, ha, no, no. You're a valuable commodity. But, what a small world, knowing Reta."

He took a small bottle of alcohol from his pocket and took a swig.

"That bastard, who I took care of so much, is living a life of luxury. What a mess! Why did I kick him out? I wanted to see him in a pathetic state, but why am I suffering like this!"

He kicked Amanda again. His frustration never subsided, and she continued to suffer.

She couldn't tell how long she was tormented. She had no energy left to speak.

"Ah, I feel better. By the way, you're from the Recovery Guild, right? Many people hate you. They'll probably pay a high price for you."

Amanda's body, which should have been too weak to move, twitched at his words.

"Think about it. What would a person who hates you do if they bought you? Rape you? Or torture you before killing you?"

Amanda shuddered at the thought. She knew the Recovery Guild was hated, but she had never given it much thought. However, if she were sold to someone who hated the guild, she had no idea what they would do to her.

"Please, help me."

Ignoring the pain in her body, she clung to the man's leg. But his words were merciless.

"No. But, I'm not a monster. If you can be useful, I might consider it. First, information about Amrus. I should tell you, I'm making the others I've captured give information too. Understand? Who gives the valuable information first will decide their fate."

"Yes."

"Good girl. Now, tell me everything you know."

Amanda, driven by the desire to survive, told him everything she knew about Amrus.