The battle was over in an instant.
Though it sounded like a large force, the hundred-plus bandits were slaughtered so swiftly and mercilessly by the women that their bodies now littered the ground.
Only the bandit leader remained, standing dumbfounded before Haruki, his eyes blank and lifeless.
What he had just witnessed was too shocking to process. Moments ago, those delicate-looking women had seemed like helpless lambs—yet in the blink of an eye, they had become ravenous tigers.
He couldn't accept that the group he'd spent years building had been wiped out so effortlessly.
But as the leader of so many bandits, he wasn't a complete fool. From the ruthless efficiency of the women's attacks, he knew full well he didn't stand a chance.
"Sir, I was wrong! I didn't know who I was offending! Please forgive me—spare my life, and show mercy to me and the ladies!"
Seeing Haruki was the only man present and hadn't joined the fight, the bandit leader assumed he was in charge. He dropped to his knees, kowtowing furiously, groveling for forgiveness.
"Oh? Do you take me for a fool? You just tried to kill me—and had indecent thoughts about my women. Why would I spare you?"
Haruki's disgust only deepened as he watched the cowardly display from someone who looked so fierce.
He slowly stepped toward the kneeling man.
"And now look—your loyal men have already gone ahead. You really want to let them travel the underworld alone? I think it's best if you go join them. Don't you agree?"
His words were phrased as a question, but his tone left no room for argument.
From the moment the bandit gave that vile order, Haruki had already sentenced him to death.
"Please! Please spare me...!"
Suddenly, as Haruki approached, the bandit leader sprang up. In one motion, he pressed his heavy broadsword against Haruki's neck, roaring madly at Gin and the others as they advanced.
Realizing Haruki had no intention of showing mercy, the bandit leader had made a desperate gamble.
He'd noticed that Haruki hadn't participated in the earlier slaughter. Combined with Haruki's composed appearance, the bandit convinced himself that Haruki was just some pampered noble from the Imperial Capital, weak and sheltered. Surely the women were just bodyguards. If he could control Haruki, the rest would surrender.
Drunk on this false logic, he felt a surge of twisted pride, even daring to hope he could enjoy the spoils after all.
He failed to see the amused, mocking glances the women exchanged as he held Haruki hostage.
He even praised himself silently for his cleverness.
"What the hell are you waiting for?! Drop your weapons, now! Or he dies! You think you can handle the consequences?"
When the women didn't react, he shouted again and pressed the blade harder against Haruki's neck, hoping to force their hand.
"You really don't give up, do you? Who gave you the idea that I'm weak enough to need a bunch of girls to protect me? I told you—you'll die before the night ends. Struggling only speeds it up."
Before any of the women could speak, Haruki finally opened his mouth. His voice, laced with fury and killing intent, cut through the tension.
Never in his life had a blade been held to his neck—especially not by someone he saw as less than an insect, now threatening those closest to him.
That was something he could never forgive.
"Hmph. Still so arrogant, even now..."
"Huh?"
Just as the bandit leader tried to force the blade deeper to shut him up, he suddenly realized something terrifying—no matter how hard he pushed, the sword wouldn't move an inch.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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