Chapter 20: "It's None of My Concern"

(Warning: Contains graphic violence)

“Eh…?”

Sunny was taken aback by Shoot’s sudden question. Shoot, his gaze fixed on the incapacitated bandits, continued.

“No, they’re still human… I’m hesitating to kill them like the monsters earlier. Even though they’re such worthless scum, they still look human, so I think killing them might be considered murder in this world, which is why I’m still leaving them alive.

Sunny-san, if I kill these guys in self-defense, will I be punished in this world? Will I become a criminal?”

Sunny was awestruck by Shoot’s intense gaze. He seemed like a different person compared to their first meeting. But it was clear that he was still rational; he was simply asking whether it was acceptable to "exterminate" the bandits like monsters.

Shoot, on the other hand, was considering eliminating the bandits like monsters. But he was also wrestling with the implications of killing humans. He worried that crossing that line would change him.

(But they were trying to kill us. So, it’s not wrong if I kill them, right? Our lives are at stake.)

More importantly, Shoot wanted to eliminate people like these bandits. He hated them intensely; they were unnecessary. If he wouldn't be punished, he wanted to kill them himself.

Sunny, still hesitant, answered.

“I… I don’t know… But if you ‘exterminate’ the bandits… at least our lives will be saved.”

“I see. Understood.”

Sunny wanted to ask what he meant, but before she could, Shoot approached the remaining bandits. Six remained, including the leader.

“He took down five of our men instantly… with his bare hands!?”

“Hey, that guy’s really strong, isn’t he? Can we take him?”

“Ha! Six of us are still left! If we surround him and attack together, we’ll tear him apart easily!”

The bandits, determined to kill Shoot, dispelled their fear. Their leader watched impatiently.

“We, the bandits, won’t be humiliated by a single kid! Kill him quickly!!”

Following the leader’s order, the bandits surrounded Shoot, slowly closing in.

“This is just like the real world. Without numbers and strength, they stick together, like scum, to bully people.”

“What was that…?”

“And in this other world, they’re robbing and even trying to kill. They’re completely rotten people!”

The bandits’ eyes burned with rage at Shoot’s insults.

“You’ve been blabbering on and on…!”

“But I understand this: that bastard is insulting us!”

“First, we’ll cut off his legs! Then, his arms! We’ll make sure he can’t do anything!”

“That’s right, then we’ll enjoy ourselves with that girl in front of him! We'll make him regret opposing us!!”

“Kukuku, that sounds fun!”

The bandits, filled with rage, imagined dragging Shoot and Sunny into despair, their laughter vile. Shoot saw the ghosts of the extortionists, Nakazato and his gang, fueling his disgust and irritation.

“We’ll kill you!!”

All six bandits closed in, simultaneously raising their weapons. Shoot leaped, levitating to avoid their attacks.

“Wha!?” “He’s floating!?” “No way!?”

All the bandits stared in disbelief. Sunny was equally astonished. Shoot, his gaze cold, unleashed a merciless lightning magic attack.

“““““Gyaaaaaaaaaaah…!”””””

A yellow flash struck all six bandits, electrocuting them. The attack lasted about ten seconds. When it ended, they were all charred, smoking, and collapsed, powerless. The power of the attack was immense; some had lost limbs.

“…”

“N-no…”

Sunny covered her mouth, speechless at the carnage. The remaining bandit leader was sweating profusely, as if in a nightmare.

“…They’re all still alive. But maybe it’s more painful to live like this. They’re human scum, so it’s fine, right?”

Muttering incomprehensibly as he landed, Shoot was surprised by his own calm. How could he be so calm after inflicting such damage? Was it because they were all scum?

With a cold gaze, he turned to the bandit leader. The leader, sensing his imminent death, turned pale. He hastily removed the cloth from the wagon. Several young children were trapped inside.

“Those are children from another village!? These bandits are kidnappers!?”

“Hehehe… That’s right! We kidnapped people from another village and came here. These kids are merchandise… we were going to sell them to slave traders! But now… I’ll use them differently…”

The bandit leader drew a gleaming sword, pulling a child towards him and placing the blade to its throat.

“These kids are hostages!! If you try to kill me, I’ll kill this kid! Throw down your weapons! Don’t use that magic again!?”

The bandit leader, his eyes bloodshot, used the children as leverage.

“Waaaaah! Help!”

“Shut up!!”

The terrified boy screamed.

“Th-that…”

Sunny stood frozen, unable to act. Two more bandits emerged from the back of the wagon; they had been hiding.

“Don’t move! Don’t do anything! Kill that man quickly, and capture the woman.”

Ordered by their leader, the two bandits grinned, raising their swords and spears, advancing towards Shoot.

“Wh-what should I do, Shoot-ku… eh?”

As Sunny looked at Shoot, her expression changed; he had approached the bandit leader without hesitation. This was unexpected, and the bandits panicked.

“H-hey! He’s got hostages! Don’t you understand!? If you come any closer, if you try anything, I’ll kill him!”

The leader screamed, but Shoot ignored him. The boy with the sword to his throat trembled violently.

“Y-you… dare…!”

SLASH… “Ka… hyu…!”

Sunny’s worst fear came to pass; the bandit leader, enraged, plunged his sword into the boy’s neck, ending his young life. Sunny collapsed. The children in the wagon panicked and cried.

“H-hahaha… You wouldn’t listen to my warnings, so one died! Even for bandits, you wouldn’t really kill a kid… Wha—! !?”

The leader, discarding the boy’s body, laughed, but his face contorted in surprise. Shoot was still approaching.

“W-what do you think you’re doing!? You still have hostages—”

Before the leader could kill another child, Shoot closed the distance.

“Gyaaaaaaaaaah—(SLASH)—gwaaaah… !?”

Shoot slashed the leader’s throat with his knife. Blood spurted as the leader died instantly.

“Those children’s lives… are none of my concern. Taking hostages wouldn’t have harmed me in any way.”

Shoot said coldly, addressing the dead leader.

(Is this considered "graphic violence"? I hope it’s okay…)