Chapter 57

After emerging from the Kossus Forest, Aldis and the others found themselves surrounded by a group of bandits.

There were eight visible in the area.

Additionally, three more were hiding behind rocks and in the grass.

In total, eleven. It was not a small number, but not quite enough to be considered a medium-sized group.

Seeing Aldis and the young mercenary duo, the bandits likely thought they had found easy prey.

However, that was a major misunderstanding.

Regarding Kirill, it could be said that he was indeed an easy target.

He was young, and had almost no combat skills or experience.

But the other person was far from an easy opponent.

The bandits had clearly chosen the wrong targets.

"Aldis, what do we do?"

Kirill asked in a whisper.

Kirill had glimpsed Aldis's strength in the forest.

However, it would be difficult for Kirill, who did not fully understand the strength of monsters, to realize that Aldis's strength was beyond the norm.

To him, the whip monster and the beast Rakta were not much different in terms of absolute power.

Thus, Kirill could not judge whether Aldis had the ability to get out of this situation.

After all, the number of enemies was four times their own.

Moreover, Kirill was of no help in battle; he was more of a hindrance.

It was understandable that Kirill did not know if Aldis could defeat eight times the number of enemies alone.

"Don't worry. It's easier than dealing with two Raktas. ...No, wait."

After reassuring Kirill, Aldis suddenly smiled, as if he had just thought of something.

"It might be just right."

Kirill looked at Aldis with a puzzled expression as he muttered these words.

"Aldis? What are you—"

Kirill's question was drowned out by one of the bandits shouting loudly.

"Hey! What's your answer!? Are you going to leave your belongings and save your life, or freeze to death? Make up your mind quickly! If you can't decide, we'll choose for you! Of course, the choice will be to freeze to death!"

The surrounding bandits smirked in response to the man's words.

Aldis took a step forward and moved the cursed sword, which had been floating behind him, to his right side.

"Wait! We'll give you this sword we found in the forest's ruins, so please let us go!"

As he said this, Aldis extended his right hand forward, and the cursed sword flew in a parabolic arc.

To the bandits, who were standing a bit away, it would look as if Aldis had thrown the sword he was holding.

The cursed sword fell at the feet of the bandits.

"A-Aldis!"

Kirill, who was standing nearby, likely did not expect Aldis to hand over the sword to the bandits.

His eyes showed a hint of reproach as he glared at Aldis.

On the other hand, the bandits deepened their smiles, thinking it was an easy catch.

"Hmm, that's a fine sword."

The man who had been urging for an answer immediately picked up the cursed sword and inspected its decorations.

His eyes were filled with desire, but as a bandit, that was to be expected.

"Hmm. There doesn't seem to be any particular problem when holding it."

Aldis muttered, as if verifying the results of a new drug, focusing only on the outcome before him.

"Huh? Aldis? ...Could it be?"

Kirill seemed to have realized something.

Because the cursed sword could have unknown harmful effects on those who touched it, Aldis had been carrying it for three days, keeping it afloat with magic.

To test what would happen when it was touched, either Aldis or Kirill could have done it.

However, neither wanted to touch a sword that not only had an unknown nature but also seemed to summon or create strange humanoid figures at night.

Thus, Aldis thought the only option was to carry it to the capital, consuming magic, and have it examined by a sorcerer or appraiser.

However, a perfect test subject had just walked right up to them.

Since the bandits were lawless, Aldis's conscience did not bother him.

"Aldis... you..."

Kirill's slightly cold gaze was an inevitable consequence.

Unaware of the conversation between the two targets, the bandit pulled the cursed sword from its sheath.

"Hmm, it has a nice color."

The bandit, satisfied with the sword's ominous red glow, commented.

"But, I told you to leave all your belongings behind."

"That's not possible. I have nothing to give you."

Aldis's sudden change in tone made the bandit frown.

"What!? Do you know your position!? If you don't want to die, leave all your other belongings and get lost! You idiot!"

"Exactly. I said no! You bird-brain!"

Aldis responded to the enraged bandit with a matching tone, his face twisted into a wicked smile.

"Aldis..."

Kirill, who was standing to the side, frowned, but the situation continued to worsen.

"You! It's too late to beg for your life now! Get them!"

At the bandit's command, the others began to move.

"Kirill, don't move from there!"

Aldis immediately floated two swords in the air, sending 'Moon-Substitute Blizzard' to protect Kirill and 'Spring-Engraved Mist' towards the three hiding.

He kept 'Azure Heaven Colorful Flower' in its sheath, ready to face the bandits coming from the front.

He struck the side of a small bandit who charged first, then delivered a lightning-fast thrust to the solar plexus of a tall bandit, and finally brought down a heavy blow on the shoulder of a chubby bandit, shattering it.

Meanwhile, to protect Kirill, who was visible in the corner of his eye, he directed 'Moon-Substitute Blizzard' to cut the tendons of two bandits approaching from behind.

Aldis, avoiding killing in front of a child, focused on incapacitating the bandits.

Of course, even if he didn't kill them, the injuries would be fatal if they didn't receive proper medical treatment.

Additionally, in places where Kirill couldn't see, Aldis showed no mercy.

He used 'Spring-Engraved Mist' to stealthily approach the three hiding bandits, cutting their throats before they could react.

"You! How dare you!"

Despite the overwhelming disadvantage, the bandit holding the cursed sword, perhaps driven by rage, charged straight at Aldis.

Aldis dealt with the remaining two bandits with 'Moon-Substitute Blizzard' while engaging in a few exchanges with the bandit holding the cursed sword.

"Well, it seems to be fine."

"What are you talking about! —Gah!"

After observing for a while, Aldis finished off the bandit holding the sword with a powerful strike to the head using 'Azure Heaven Colorful Flower', still in its sheath.

The bandit, his brain shaken, stumbled and fell.

It took only about a minute to deal with all the bandits.

Kirill, who had watched the entire scene, realized anew the extent of Aldis's strength and glimpsed a side of him he had never seen before.

As Aldis approached with the sheathed cursed sword in hand, he greeted him with a troubled expression.

"Aldis... You're quite a ruthless person, aren't you?"

"That's a bit harsh. I just brushed off the sparks that fell on me."

Aldis countered nonchalantly.

"No, I understand that. But to use bandits as test subjects..."

"Since I was going to defeat them anyway, I just made use of them. If something went wrong, it wouldn't be a problem for them."

Logically, Kirill understood.

Bandits, if captured, would almost certainly be executed.

Killing bandits would not result in criticism but rather praise. In this world, they had no human rights.

So, using them as test subjects for the cursed sword might not be condemned by anyone.

However, understanding and accepting are different matters.

Kirill might have wanted the person who saved him to act like a hero, someone who wouldn't be pointed at behind his back.

Of course, this was Kirill's selfish expectation.

Aldis didn't want to be praised or be a hero.

He just wanted to protect what was important to him.

His life, his property, his companions. Recently, this might have included the twin girls and the insolent attendant.

"Anyway, thanks to this, we know it's safe. You needed to confirm it to bring this back, right? Holding it isn't a problem, drawing it doesn't cause any issues, and even after a few exchanges, there were no significant changes. It might not be harmful except for summoning those things at night."

As he said this, Aldis handed the sheathed sword to Kirill.

Since it was originally Kirill's desired sword, it made sense for him to carry it.

Kirill hesitantly accepted it, opening his mouth as if he wanted to say something.

However, after a moment, he seemed to convince himself and replied to Aldis with a complex expression.

"You're right... After all, you did this for me, so it's not fair to complain. ...I'm sorry."

"......Well, let's head back to the capital quickly. I want to sleep in a bed for a change!"

Aldis patted Kirill's back, which seemed slightly dejected, and began walking, leaving the groaning bandits behind.

Kirill, carrying the sword, hurriedly followed behind.