Stranger’s Handbook Chapter 30

Chapter 30: The Bandits Showed Up

“He he he, what’s wrong, dear knights……you’re so shocked you can’t even say a word? Haa?”

That’s correct. We were really too surprised to say anything.

What we saw was a bandit group of almost 30 people.
Normally this would be considered a threat, being outnumbered three times.

“You have women too! We’re lucky today. Oi! Leave the women and your armors behind and disappear from my sight, little n.o.ble boys.”

The bandits were smiling mockingly.

What’s with these guys?……Why are they so composed when going against the knights? Is there something more that I’m not aware of?

“You idiots are out of your minds? What are you planning, making enemies of the army?”

Albert shouted.
He readied his spear not leaving a single opening; the black knights followed his example and were already prepared for battle.
They would not show weakness even against a group of bandits.
Usually they spar with my master or my foster father….the Knights Commander, and even in those circ.u.mstances these guys are happily fighting against them, they’re all battle maniacs…..urm, elites, they’re elites, yes.

However, they seemed to be differently perceived by the bandits.

“Haaa! After the war ended, the army is only composed of weak n.o.ble little boys now. Look, don’t try to show off and leave before you injure yourselves.”

While one of the bandits was saying those words, another one was approaching Albert, and ended up being stabbed to death.
His neck was cut open and he collapsed leaving behind a mist of blood.

“What the h.e.l.l is this?”

It was Albert who muttered those words.
When the bandits saw their comrade become a corpse in but an instant, they couldn’t even react.

“You’re this weak but still dare to challenge us?”

He muttered to himself again and killed another two bandits who were closest to him.
After that, the bandits finally came to their senses.

These guys are different than ordinary soldiers…..Did we challenge some unthinkably strong group? That’s what they were thinking.

Finally, they readied their weapons, lowered their backs to prepare for battle, and even though they started shouting angrily and threateningly, it was already too late for them.

“Don’t make a fool of yourselves, you idiots! It’s an insult to challenge the Frontier Count’s Army when you’re this unskilled! Everyone, don’t leave any of these fools alive!”

Moved by Albert’s anger, the black knights started to move simultaneously.
It didn’t matter whether the bandits were wielding their weapons or trying to run away.

It was a one-sided extermination.

The black knights, including Albert, had a very easy to understand reasoning.
They enjoy the status of being the most elites among the soldiers of the empire, so for these guys pride is something very valuable.

‘As the empire’s shield, the Frontier Count’s Army and its soldiers are to never be defeated. The enemy army is the first and the last opponent you fight against. The defeat of the Frontier Count’s Army is the defeat of the Empire.’

Once you enter this army, this is what you get taught in the very beginning, after that you get trained thoroughly.

This also applies for n.o.bles.
Even a highly ranked n.o.ble from an esteemed family and lineage, once he enters the Frontier Count’s Army, his status would account for nothing.

n.o.bles that are not soldiers, commoners that are soldiers.
These kinds of things mostly occur throughout the Frontier Count’s territories.

The little n.o.ble boys these guys refer to, who can’t hold on even for half a day and end up running to escape death, this situation for the soldiers in the Frontier Count’s Army is daily training.
The Imperial Capital Army sure has become dull……

My master and I were inside the carriage thinking about this, when one of the still surviving bandits approached us.
A hostage?……Your way of thinking is really not bad…..

I left the carriage, my att.i.tude changing from a miserable mood to a delightful one……and I approached the group like I was a predator coming across its prey.

I waved my hand to stop the black knights who were moving towards me to offer protection.

“He’s their boss! Take him hostage, hurry up!”

Someone from the already shrunken group of surviving bandits shouted.

Only two?……So few.

A bandit carrying an axe on his right shoulder was approaching me insecurely when I drew my sword and slashed him from his lower half up to his neck.
His severed head was rolling on the ground, his face dumbfounded.

The other one was coming slashing, aiming at my leg.
I stroke with my sword on a diagonal trajectory from above and cut off his arm.
This guy was instinctively pressing down on his wound with his other hand, not even realizing his neck was just losing the head above it.

It’s a bad idea to aim at me and not be prepared….I never hesitate to kill my enemy before they try to kill me.
Besides……..

“There is no possible way that I, the leader of the black knights, am a weakling.”

I was so amazed by their stupidity and muttered to myself.

“Lord Zest, we finished as well. I am sorry to have troubled you.”

Albert lowered his head.

“It’s all right, I don’t mind. The maids and the adventurers are unharmed, I hope?”

The black knights would never get injured against weak opponents, so there was no point in asking them.

“Yes sir! No damage has been done.”

Good.
The adventurers’ faces were looking bad…..I guess they are not used to seeing people die.

“Well then, let’s get going. Toss these bodies in the woods somewhere.”

The black knights made the preparations very quickly.
The adventurers helped out, which made me grateful.

However, it was such an unnecessary loss of time…….Let’s get to the village fast and rest.

And so, we arrived at our village the same day in the evening.
We got here much later than we had planned, so I was feeling tired.
I just wanted to drink and forget about it…….

A banquet was taking place again.
This is also part of my ‘job’ and it’s important for maintaining the Frontier Count’s Household’s authority.
Really now, being a n.o.ble is d.a.m.n difficult.

I was really in need for a drink.

“ “ “ “ “Cheers!” “ “ “ “

“Everyone, today you’re allowed to eat and drink all you want!”

“Yes!”    “Zest-sama, let’s buy some sake from the imperial capital on the way back!”    “Ah! I also want some sweets.”

“Right, leave it to me. It’s a long-awaited journey after all. Leaving that aside, come on, drink!”

“Zest-sama, this sake is really good!”
“Oh, village chief! Did you like it? We still have a lot more.”

“Lord Zest! I like meat the most!”
“Albert, shut up! I’ve heard that countless times already!”

“Hey Zest, Bea has a…… dark mole on her right b.u.t.t cheek and……”

“W…who is the idiot who gave my master a drink??”

It’s my job…..This is my job as a n.o.ble……

Other things happened that night, but nothing too problematic.
All that’s left now is to have my audience with the Emperor, buy some souvenirs and return home quickly.

The enjoyable banquet came to an end and I went to sleep.

Suddenly, I was coming to reconsider some things.

Among the adventurers we rescued, there were two young women…..!? W…what if perhaps……?

A fitting development for the night, huh? Ah! I give up.

This is cheating, right?……Will the pink diamond break, I wonder? Will it be okay if there’s no love involved, only the body?
No, in the worst case the diamond will break……However, will it be all right if it only happens once?
No, maybe not……

In the end, I kept on worrying until morning and nothing actually happened…….

Somehow or other, I really wanted to die at that moment……

Translation: Nana
Proofreading: Carmina
DA BEST (among the worst): Mockii