It's been three days since I left Stark territory.
　I haven't arrived at King's Landing yet.
　According to the peddler, it will take another two days to reach King's Landing.

　The carriage journey is going really well.
　The journey is going very well, with no small fry monster beasts or adventurer crumblers chasing us down.

　As for me, I was sitting on top of the back of the carriage and only chomping on apples.
　All I can see are trees, woods, forests and a ridiculously blue sky.

　The country I live in - the Kingdom of Vila Amst - covers a whopping 40% of its land area in forests and swift mountains.
　The eastern part of the country, in particular, is one of Galveer's most heavily forested areas.
　The bounty of the forest has nurtured people, the tall, high-quality timber has provided a means of earning foreign currency, and the steep mountains have protected the country from invaders.

　As a result, the kingdom of Villa Amst reigns in Galveer as one of the leading powers.

　Our ancestors cut through these forests, built bridges in the valleys, and built roads.
　The coniferous trees that tower like a wall along the roads are a common sight in this country.
　The sight of these coniferous trees stretching to the horizon is truly a spectacular sight, but after three days of the same scenery, we grew tired of it.
　By the time we reach Shabar, the capital of the Kingdom of Vila Amst, I may have seen nothing but greenery.

　Suddenly, the carriage stopped.
　A peddler playing the role of a guru gets out of the carriage.
　I thought we had arrived at today's inn, but what I could see around me was still green.

　Oh no..... I might have really only seen green.

"Boy, please wait in the back of the truck. It won't take long.

　With a word, the peddler walked forward quickly.

　A parting of the ways.
　The road to the mountain and the road to the riverside parted.
　At that point, there was a signpost.
　I squinted at it and saw that it said 'Many bandits. Make a detour to the mountain route.

　In the Kingdom of Villa Amst, where forty percent of the land area is occupied by forests, the thing that bothers me the most is wild thieves - in other words, bandits.

　The vast forests are the perfect hiding places for criminals and adventurers.
　Such people form gangs, and there is no end to the number of such people who get down along the roads and conduct unwanted business activities.

　The signboard must be a warning written by someone.

　Then the peddlers broke the sign.
　He dumped the wreckage somewhere and then came back and grabbed the reins.
　Eventually I chose the river route.

　As I tilt my head back, the peddler opens his mouth.

'That was written by the thieves, boy.

Thieves?

'Yes......... It's a classic method, but it works pretty well. Someone must have put it there out of kindness.

So you're saying that if we take the mountain route, the bandits will be waiting for us.

'Yes. It's a good thing we know the way, though. Travelers who don't know their way around easily believe it.

　Indeed.
　The peddler was right, it's a classic method, but to the untraveled, the signs would seem to be a friendly reminder indeed.
　In fact, I didn't even notice it until the peddler told me.
　But when I thought about it, it was obvious that there was no village or town nearby, and yet there was only a billboard standing in the middle of the street.

'Don't worry, kid. The road along the river is quite open. There's no place for bandits to hide. If they find you, we'll force our way through with a carriage.

You're an old horse.　I wouldn't expect too much.

'This guy is still running. However, I've heard that little Lacelle boy is very strong. If a bandit comes, you'll get rid of him, right?

　Just kidding......... Give me a break.

　You won't get any skill points for defeating the bandits.
　They'll all be small fry that won't be trained.
　Defeating those guys without the guild's request fee is not beneficial at all.

　Unfortunately, I want to be the strongest.
　It's not the character of a brave man who blindly displays a sense of justice.

"Kyaaaaaaaaaah!

　I heard a scream.
　The mountains.
　Apparently a dumb traveler believed the sign.

'It was a young woman's voice, wasn't it? Poor thing..... It would be hell to be the consolation prize for these bandits.'

　I say.....
　C'mon. Don't give me those pleading eyes, peddler.

　I know.
　You just need to go help them.

　I activated the [Warrior] magic.

　[Muscle mass enhancement]
　[Leg strengthened]

　I kick the ground with a thump.
　My body ejects like a bow and arrow.
　I turn back the way I came from.

　''Huh........'' I listen to the peddler's dumb voice over my back as I walk up the mountain.

　Totally..........
　I'm not a brave man or a hero, but....

　There they are--.

　That's right, bandits.
　One, two, three there's got to be seven of them.
　Their sallow skin and tattered armor.
　The weapons they carry are also almost unkempt.
　It's a picture-perfect bandit group.

　The other side was a man and woman in traveling clothes.
　The man has a wound in his stomach, and the woman is surrounded by a group of sweaty bandits.
　They are quite young.
　Maybe they're no different than me........

''Oi, no!　Don't come any closer!　Cecil-chan!

　The girl is desperately trying to raise her voice.
　To the bandits, a woman's scream is probably more appealing than any lofty music.
　It further gouges the man's wounds. Hearing the distressed voice, the woman raised her high-pitched voice again.
　Teeth covered in fecal matter, the bandits bare their teeth and the bandits reach out their yellowed hands to the girl.

'She's a bit young, though.
I like it that way.
What the f*ck, man. You're a pedophile?
But it's quite a growth spurt.

Don't look at me!

　The girl hid her breasts, which were large for her age.
　The gathered breasts pleased the bandits even more.
　The girl shuddered even more when she saw the men licking their lips with their long, sticky tongues.

'Who's there!　Somebody help me!


　Huh.....


　It's an auspicious situation.
　If it's God's work, I'll complain about it in my next incarnation.

　I can't believe it.....
　I don't intend to be a hero or a brave man, though.

　I activate my 【Mage(Wizard)】 magic.
　I focused my magic power on my feet.

　[Stormy bubble].

　With a bang, I launch up.
　I went over the cliff in one fell swoop, and landed directly in the center of the crowd of thieves.

　Dang!

　The sound of impact rang out.
　Even the girl who called for help, let alone the bandit, is cowering at the sudden appearance of a child.
　I shout at the girl.

'Get down!'

　Then it wasn't the girl who responded.
　It was the bandits.
　It seems that my body reflexively moved.
　The only ones standing were me and the girl.

''Huh?''

　The girl crackled and blinked her eyelids.
　I held my head in my hands.

　Oh.....
　I'm sorry I shouted so the bandits could hear.

　When I regained my composure, I run towards the girl.

''Kyah!''

　I held it up.
　Activating more magic.

　[Stormy foam]

　The mass of the storm swirled underneath our feet.
　With the full force of our magic power, we shot up into the sky.

''Kyaaaaaaaaaah!

　The girl screams in my ear.
　Shut up......... I'm sorry, but can you please be a little quieter?
　It's only a mere shot up into the sky........

　I'd like to protest, but right now is not the time to do so.

　Below us, the bandits were pointing in our direction.

''They're trying to escape!
And leave your people behind?
''Hahahahaha!　That's one hell of a friendship.
"You've been abandoned by your friends, geehahahahaha.

　Running away?
　Me?
　Fool.
　No way.

　I activate my magic.
　The moment I knead the magic and contract it into my palm, a dark cloud suddenly appears in the blue sky.
　The bandits are horrified by the sudden change in weather.
　Those with good instincts fled towards the forest.

　''Too late!　It's over!

　[Lightning Punishment]!

　Seven thunderbolts fell on each of their heads.
　They pierced the poor equipment and pierced through the entire body.

''Gyaaah!
Eeeeeeeeeeeeee!

　The men's vulgar screams echoed in the mountains and fields.
　Intermediate level lightning attribute oriented magic.
　It's a spell that targets only any target and delivers a lightning strike.
　There is no way to resist the bandits.

　In the blink of an eye, seven black-robed statues were created.

"Wow......... A single blow........

　Mutter.
　I make sure the danger is gone.
　I'm on the ground with a little girl.

"It's no big deal,

'It's not a big deal.... What are you?　You're not that much older than me, but.... And yet, the intermediate--

My name is Lacer Singh Stark, and I'm twelve years old. I'm on my way to take the Adventurer's School now.

Oh, you're a candidate!　Oh..... I was just on my way to take an exam for the Adventurer's School. I'm sorry I'm late. My name is Sarasa Vargard. Thank you for your help.

Don't thank me. More importantly, how's your friend?

Oh, yeah. Hey, Cecil-chan!

　Sarasa hurriedly ran towards her other companion.

　Sarasa Vargard.
　Cecil Ribom.

　I had no way of knowing at that time that the meeting between these two would affect my later school life.