Even though the man was skeptical, he still allowed Raymond and the others to join the caravan. Additional men actually have its perks and that includes more helpers and guards. This would ensure the safety of their group.
In fact, the man also knew that they would never risk the children's safety on this journey if they were not serious. Also, why would they let two toddlers join them? If they were really bandits, where would they get these white radishes?
Ah, just let them help if they want to. They were also adorable. En, really made all these men some joy in their life. After all, some of them have their own families with children to tend to. In all of the adorable white radishes, Berlin was the most doted upon by all the women in the group. Avina, on the other hand, stimulated the men's protective desire. Such pure angels, even though their expressions resemble a murderer, they would gladly be stabbed.
If Berlin could hear their thoughts he would be the first one to draw their blood. Unfortunately, with his chubby little body, he wouldn't even be able to hold a sword properly much less a knife. But this little body has its own advantages. And that includes being surrounded by different types of women.
Big sister, aren't your breast a bit too big. It's suffocating me! Berlin silently cried, both sadness and joy. Can't help ah, these women just favored cute little things. Being with women made his dignity fall off the pit. Who cares anyway, he has girls on both arms. Life would be so much better if he has a grown body.
Seeing his youngest brother cuddled by women, Adekin can only sigh. He also want to cuddle his baby brother ah! He glanced at his other younger brother on his side. At least he still has Thomas and quite possibly his only little sister, Avina, who was carried by one of those rough looking men on his shoulders.
A poker faced bear with a killer faced child would make a terrifying image. Yet they look so harmonious; like a father and daughter criminal. Adekin pulled Thomas and went to the bear looking man's side. He still can't leave his little sister with a man. His elder brother instinct was tingling, much like a warning telling him that his little sister must be close to him.
With another two killer looking boys, the scene made it more hair splitting. Just how much of a murderous looks do the Silverlance siblings have to create such an image? Berlin was the only one lacking. That would be marvelous. Brently stifled his laughter while looking at this image. His little brother glanced at him with a confused look.
"Why are you looking ugly right now big brother?" Nilson tilted his head while looking at his older brother who, in turn, glared at him.
"Who's ugly ah? Nothing good comes out of your mouth," Brently snorted. Eyes beaming, Nilson gave him a wide smile.
"Big brother."
"Pfft." The ever so meek butler almost laughed out loud while listening to his young masters' little quarrel. Raymond, on the other hand, was laughing without a sound. He was holding on Abner's tailcoat as if his life was on the line. His face was completely beet red and there were tears beginning to form from his eyes. His stomach even hurts!
"Brent! Your brother made you eat dust! He's too good for you ah! Lend him to me." After a long time of calming himself down, Raymond opened the topic of lending Nilson to him for the nth time. Who told him to be the youngest child?
Brently glared at his friend and his, supposedly loyal, butler with a flushed face. "He just took the opportunity on that one!" He defended, not admitting his little brother's small victory. The other spectators stifled their laughter. They can't let a child feel worse if he already feels bad.
With such an easy atmosphere, the whole journey became peaceful. However, fate did not seem to let them be as in the middle of their way, bandits came to play. As expected, the mission was not simple at all. Raymond furrowed his brows as he clutched Abner's clothes. His grip was to strong that his knuckles went white.
"Bandits!" The man on the front yelled a warning. The coachman in front stopped the caravan and the rest followed suit. They became vigilant of the surroundings. In a while, a group of men was seen in front of their pathway. Even though they can see the bandits in front, Evrat signaled the others to be cautious as some bandits may be on hiding.
"Pack the children together at the back." The man, their leader, ordered the men to protect Berlin and the others. Avina hid behind the bear man's huge back, she was holding on tightly on his leg.
Seeing the fear on the little girl's face, the bear man soften and asked her to hide with his brothers in which she complied. Adekin and Thomas held her hands and went their way to meet Raymond and the other two with their butler.
So there really are bandits on the way! Berlin was a little thrilled by this foreign experience. He lived a peaceful life in the past after all. Well, if you could call it peaceful to live in an asylum then it really was a little better than living in the world full of fighting and killing.
In the middle, all of them were surrounded by the women who seem to be ready to fight. They must protect the children! Especially their little Berlin and Avina. Their mother instinct kicked in; their blood rushed through their body. As women, they would be looked down upon by men. But no one can compete with the women's protectiveness on children. They can even turn a simple stick as a weapon if the moment was dire! Such powerful mamas!
The men, on the other hand, took a protective stance in front of the women. Ah, some instincts can never be overcome at such a dire situation. Other women were irritated. They can fight ah! If the men can hear them, then they would not know if they would laugh or cry. Can't help it! It was already in their bones to protect women that protect children.
With this sight, Berlin almost snickered. What is this scene? You protect me, they protect you! Who would protect them ah? None. So even if he was reincarnated, this kind of rule was practiced in this world. Well at least, here in this world, women can fight and have powers to protect themselves.
Berlin's inner, tinny, feminism, was jumping. Even though he was a man on his past life, and still a boy in this life, he was actually a feminist. But that did not diminish his manliness! Men can be feminists too ah!
The bandits ahead started walking near the front. They were smirking while watching the people in front of them became protective of their caravan. He even caught the sight of the children at the back. Another treasures! With those looks and attitude, they were sure that those children were from a wealthy family.
They can ask for a ransom or even sell them to the black market. Unfortunately, just like Earth, in this world, there exist such loathsome people who find joy on children, regardless of gender. If Berlin knew then he would be sadden by this world, just like his past world.
Maybe because of the bandit leader's perverted gaze, the man that was leading the caravan unsheathed his sword and points it towards the group of bandits. He glared and huffed before asking the bandit leader, "You all came here to rob us?"You
The bandit leader laughed and the men behind him followed suit. Even though they didn't know what was funny, they must show their moral support. The leader must be loved by his men ah.
"Isn't it obvious? We're bandits! That's our job!" One of the bandits shouted from behind.
"Well it was quite obvious," whispered someone from Berlin's side.
"You might not know but I am named Merek, the leader of the Black Mercenaries. We are here to safeguard this caravan to its destination. So, I am sorry to say that we will eliminate to as you all posed as a threat to our—" Merek was still talking when he was cut off by the bandit leader.
"Men! Take the loots!"
The bandits made their way; running and jumping towards their target with their weapons on handa. Some of the bandits that were hidding suddenly appeared from their spot as they also joined the others to their merrily way. The caravan was a huge piece of meat to their eyes. In addition, those cute little noble children could definitely fetch them a high price from the black market. The money would feed them for quite some while.
A vein popped out from Merek's forehead, not literally. He was irked by the bandit leader's rude behavior but he knew very well to not expect something from bandits, especially if it was about manners. He readied himself and signaled the others to draw their weapons.
The mercenaries divided themselves into offensive and defensive groups. They were well trained that even Berlin, with a modern mind, nodded his head in approval. However, compared to the bandits' recklessness and 'do or die' behavior, their discipline made them a second too late to react from the attack.
From the children's group, Brently panicked a little before remembering he still has his five items that should be used, as well as the others. "I'd like to remind you all that we still have those items that we have chosen," he reminded the others.
Raymond thankfully glanced at his friend. If not for his reminder they would still be stuck in anxiousness. Even though they matured a little because of their statuses, they were still, after all, pampered children from noble houses. They were sheltered and protected. Even if Raymond, Brently, and Adekin started learning swordsmanship, they still lacked fighting experience.
"I almost forgot about that," Nilson whispered as Thomas nodded his head. From the side line, Abner sweats a little for his young masters and their friends. It was hard to be their butler. If he didn't die from the bandits then he would definitely die from constantly worrying for his young masters' life.
"Well of course I would remember!" Brently stuck his nose up to the sky. With his level of confidence, the tallest tower would crumble in shame. Of course, his pride would not loose.
Nilson watched his older brother with admiration in his eyes. The Silverlance siblings only looked at Brently with a scrutinizing gaze. Adekin shook his head as he patted Thomas's.
"What are your items big brother?" Nilson asked.
Brently looked at his cards that were, amazingly, hidden from his pockets. He blushed a little while he looked down his hands. He was silent for a while before looking up and smiled wryly.
"Ah I have a beasts' meat."
The kids, along with Abner, grew silent as they stared at Brently. Their faces were blank and expressionless. Well, Raymond and Nilson were the only ones that changed their expressions. Even so, Brently could still feel the scrutinizing gaze suddenly increased. He coldly sweats.
"Why would you pick meat out of all other useful things?!" Raymond snapped. He controlled himself to not hit the boy in front of him.
"How would I know that we will be facing those bandits?! Aren't challenges usually held inside a forest or something?!" Brently argued. He would never admit that he just want to taste the food even if it's just an illusion. Food was food.
Raymond sighed and surrendered before saying, "Then what else did you choose? Don't tell me it's still beasts' meat?"
Brently, again, looked down. "No, it's carrots."
And there was a rare sighting of a boy who almost commit murder.
"What in the world came out of your mind?! First was meat and now carrots?! What's next, let me guess, a cabbage?!"
Surprised, Brently looked at Raymond. "How did you know?!"
Abner took action of separating the two boys before Raymond could kill his friend. He too, was irked by his young master. He could understand that his young master chose meat as his first item, but then, carrots and cabbage seemed to be a little too much for them to handle.
On the other hand, Adekin calmed Raymond by the sides with Thomas.
"It's okay, we could still throw them at the enemies."
"It's not helping." Raymond shook off the two brothers' hands that were patting him on both of his shoulders. What would he even expect to a boy that has a pit in his brain?
"Big brother is right though. We can throw them at the enemies as weapons." Thomas tilted his head making a cute image that would melt everyone's eyes, alright as well as heart.
Watching from the sidelines, Brently inhaled sharply at the scen that was happening in front of him. As a little brother, he was quite bothered to watch his older brothers acquaint themselves to idiots. How worrisome. He wished his big sister won't follow their foot step on making such useless friends.
"Young master, since you already showed us enough of your items then could you tell us something useful that you chose?" Abner asked politely. He wanted to finish this quick.
"Uhm, can a knife be useful enough?" Brently, with his crushed pride, looked at them with eyes full of grief.
Abner nodded as if his head would fall off. He was quite happy to know that his young master have chosen at least one useful thing. In fact, Brently haven't said anything about his one particular item. He felt that Raymond would not hesitate to finish him off if he showed them that thing.
He also thoight that Adekin and Thomas would help Raymond to bury his body six feet underground. The only one he could possibly trust was his little brother who could sell him off if he teased him at any moment. Ah, let's be nice to him now.