It's thrilling.
'It's Aura!'
"I heard you, you idiot!"
I was just sleeping when I came out because of the commotion outside.
But my goodness, who would have thought bandits would show up?
I never imagined there would be forest bandits in this world too.
Traditionally, novice martial artists in the pugilistic world make their debut by hunting forest bandits, right?
These guys didn't just take a toll and leave, they killed the merchants as soon as they appeared.
Villains of the world.
The dagger filled with the sword energy of the Flame Flower Sword Technique flies towards the guy's neck.
'It's Aura, isn't it?'
"I said I heard you!"
A pseudo-sword energy created by attaching paper with magic circles drawn on it to the dagger.
It seems that even to the other bandits, it looked like Aura.
I don't know who he is, but that guy seems to be the leader of this place.
His sword and my dagger collided.
The result was a bit disappointing.
Clang!
The dagger flew away spinning.
The fire magic imitating Aura dispersed, and even the invisible hand was dispelled by the impact.
"What is this!"
Even the bandit leader looked dumbfounded.
He almost fell off his horse from swinging his sword too strongly.
"Puhah!"
Pelerian laughed when my dagger flew away.
Yeah, it's just an imitation of Aura on the surface, so it can't be helped.
I expected this.
"So you're just a snake that uses strange tricks!"
He came charging on his horse as if to trample me completely.
However, the dagger and Aura were just a diversion.
I could cast two invisible hands.
The pen that was scribbling in Amain's book was already flying around in the darkness.
Swoosh-
The leader's eyes, blurred by the flames, probably couldn't see it.
The sharp pen tip pierced his nape.
"Keak!"
The leader fell off his horse just like that.
This is how a snake fights, bandits.
「Using Heart-eating Leap lv3.」
I stole the heart of a bandit lingering nearby.
And I bite the ankle of the bandit approaching as if to save his leader.
No one will be able to survive here.
Today is a day for killing bandits.
All the chaff is dead, but the leader with the pen stuck in his neck suddenly got up.
The horse he rode had run away in fright earlier.
He ran wildly into the darkness.
He can't even scream because his neck is pierced.
'Hey, give me back my pen!'
This pen thief!
He's very fast at running.
He's already gone that far.
Well, I've dealt with the other bandits too.
My existence has been revealed to my disciple and his father, so whatever.
It's the middle of the night and there's no one around, when else could I practice that skill?
「Overcome Crown lv2 surpasses the limit of skill 'Gigantification lv0'.」
「'Gigantification lv0' temporarily becomes 'Gigantification lv1'.」
This is rather a good opportunity.
「Using Gigantification lv1.」
A massive amount of magical power drains out.
This time, let's try to control the size.
Last time, I became as big as my father and couldn't even control my own body properly.
"Uh, uhhh!"
Roil's scream was heard from behind.
My body grew vigorously.
Scales reflecting the moonlight sparkle transparently.
My field of vision heightened.
The guy running away in the distance turns back and screams.
"Hueeeek!"
I have Night Vision lv8.
The surroundings were clearly visible as it wasn't as densely wooded as the great forest.
It doesn't seem like anyone is hiding.
Then.
「Using Heart-eating Leap lv3.」
The leap became as heavy as my gigantic body.
I didn't even need to bite, I just crushed the leader.
Boom!
「You have killed the fugitive Yatus lv30.」
「Your level has increased.」
Yap.
I immediately deactivated the gigantification.
「The proficiency of Gigantification lv0 increases.」
I should be able to fully acquire it when it reaches level 1.
I was shocked.
The leader was in such a miserable state that his original form was unrecognizable.
'My pen!'
Fortunately, the pen was safe.
I retrieved the pen and returned to where Roil and Amain were.
"Master!"
"Hueeerk!"
Unlike the boy who welcomed me, his father screamed while trembling violently.
He seemed quite brave earlier, but it was only for a moment.
Rather, Amain politely expressed his gratitude.
"Thank you for saving us."
It was an adult-like action, but his wet pants weren't so mature.
"Uh, uu. Uh. Thank... you."
Roil looked back and forth between his son and me before expressing his gratitude.
It's not a big deal.
I've been indebted to you in your carriage all this time.
Considering the jerky I've eaten, it's okay to help a bit more.
As I approached Roil, the fear in his eyes intensified.
I pulled out the bolt stuck in Roil's thigh.
"Aagh!"
Then I took out a potion from my subspace and poured it on the wound.
Sizzle.
Roil's wound began to heal gradually.
"Wow... a potion."
"Th-thank you for the precious potion."
I smiled brightly.
"Eek."
Roil flinched for some reason, seemingly afraid.
Well, I think this is enough to pay for the lodging.
"Saak."
I called my disciple, Amain.
Amain took out a notebook and pen as if he was used to it.
I wrote on it.
'I'll be in your care a bit longer.'
"In our care...? Ah, yes, of course. We owe you our lives."
Roil nodded, speaking incoherently.
Good. Now it's legal lodging!
==
And the next day.
The carriage finally arrived safely in Calea City.
Although Calea City was located on a mountainside, it was quite a large city.
Thanks to the resources from the mines, it even had proper city walls.
In front of those walls, soldiers were inspecting those trying to enter.
Roil and his cargo wagon were no exception.
"Go inside the cargo hold and search it directly."
The man standing at the city gate giving weighty orders was none other than the Guard Captain of Calea.
The line had grown long due to the thorough inspection today, but no one dared to complain.
The soldiers followed the Guard Captain's orders and entered the cargo hold.
There were oak barrels filled with ale.
And...
"One box of jerky and five oak barrels, sir!"
"Check the oak barrels too."
"Check them?"
"See what's inside them!"
"Ah, yes sir!"
The soldiers pushed the oak barrels and even opened the lids to see what was inside.
"No problems, sir."
"Is that so?"
The Guard Captain's stern expression softened.
He approached Roil and Amain on the driver's seat.
"I'm sorry for being so strict. There are rumors that highway robbers have been active lately. They say those guys are trying to enter the city."
"Haha, it's no problem."
Roil smiled good-naturedly.
Unlike before, he was wearing a thick overcoat.
And I was inside that overcoat.
I was wrapped around Roil's waist like a belt, holding my breath.
"That overcoat."
Suddenly, the Guard Captain pointed at the overcoat.
I quickly hid my head after secretly peeking outside.
"The, the overcoat?"
"It's a nice overcoat. Looks warm."
"Yes, I get cold easily. Haha."
"I see. You may enter."
"Thank you."
The soldiers let the carriage through.
That was close.
I heard the Guard Captain muttering behind us.
"I thought I smelled blood..."
Why are the Guard Captains in this world so competent?
From my position of having the achievement 'Guard Captain Killer', it's best to avoid them quickly.
I patted Roil's shoulder to praise him for doing well.
While we're in this town, I plan to be indebted to Roil and Amain.
Since it's certain that Pelerian's dungeon is attached to the city, a monster can't roam around alone.
"Alright, let's hurry to the dungeon!"
Pelerian seemed impatient and hurried.
I was also eager to find it quickly.
Still, gathering information through Roil and Amain was the priority.
There might be rumors about strange caves or something.
Or maybe it had already been looted and all the items were gone.
However, it soon became clear that my imagination was far from sufficient.
When Roil asked the innkeeper, "Isn't there a big tree to the west of Calea City?"
The innkeeper replied like this:
"Ah, you mean where Fairy Magician Pelerian's Temporary Residence is?"
"...Pardon?"
The innkeeper said while wiping a beer mug:
"You're an outsider with a child and you don't know that? Is this your first time in Calea?"
"Not the first, it's my second time."
"It's quite a well-known place. The city's top tourist attraction. Famous as a good place to take kids."
Pelerian.
The owner of that dungeon was foaming at the mouth.