Chereads / I Refuse the Nonsense System / Chapter 2 - Bandits Don't Act Like This

Chapter 2 - Bandits Don't Act Like This

[And so, our young hero found himself helplessly lost inside of the woods without any tools or knowledge to help him out.]

"You can keep trying to persuade me all you want, but I know that I've bested you. Just wait and see how this will all turn out."

Although Charley spoke with such confidence, a frown formed on his face as he looked out at the seemingly endless expanse of trees all around him. It had been nearly an hour since he had walked into the forest, and so far he hadn't seen anything except for birds, bugs, and a few small animals.

[Looking at his surroundings with a hopeless expression, perhaps our young hero finally decided it was time to return to Sora Village and get some much needed supplies.]

"Oh I bet you would like that wouldn't you? After getting me killed and forcing me into this world, you would like nothing better than to see me fall to despair and succumb to your will. But I won't... Ah ha. See there is some fine equipment hidden away right here. So much for having no supplies."

Searching his surroundings while talking, Charley found a sickly looking branch and picked it up as if it were a staff.

[You know that is just a flimsy branch right? And what do you mean by saying I killed you and forced you into this world? My only purpose is to help guide you on your journey and reward you for your efforts.]

"Mhm, and if you are supposed to be my source of rewards, how did I find this great staff while also disobeying your orders?"

[...]

[That's just a branch that fell off of a tree. I'm talking about actual rewards like legendary swords and lost pieces of magic.]

"Magic? And just when I thought you couldn't get any more absurd with your bait. Just leave me alone strange voice, I'll figure out what is really going on here."

[No, but there really is magic in this world. In fact you were supposed to learn magic on your adventure.]

"Please, you can't fool me with such outlandish nonsense."

[...]

However, a scream for help broke both of them out of their conversation. Focusing on a clearing ahead, Charley could barely make out what looked to be a carriage on a road that cut through the forest.

[Hmm, oh yes. Perhaps through some strange workings of fate, our young hero came across a group of bandits trying to rob a carriage. Seeing the unfair treatment of those helpless people, he decided to go forth in an effort to save them. If he could succeed, who knows what benefits he might receive from them.]

After moving a little bit closer to understand the situation, Charley said, "Ya, actually those people have swords and there are a lot of them, so I think I'll just go this way instead."

[Our young hero bravely strode forth... Wait don't tell me you are walking away again.]

"Ya, no. I thought it through and I realized that I don't know how to fight. Besides, what could I do with this little stick when they have swords?"

[No, but you were just calling it a great staff.]

"Nope, I think you might be mistaken. How could you take this little stick as a staff?"

Saying his peace, Charley began to walk away from the clearing. Yet, somehow a young girl, who was the same one that shouted for help earlier, spotted him among the trees and called out for help again.

"Wait! Look there! There's an adventurer among the trees! I'm sure he can save us!"

Despite her optimistic yelling, Charley felt a chill down his spine as he looked back towards the carriage.

"No, but how can she even see me? I'm definitely out of their line of sight..."

Despite his puzzling, another shout came from the clearing. This time from one of the bandits.

"Oh, ye say we've got an adventurer eh? Come on boys, let's show 'em there's no help coming their way."

"What the hell..."

Charley stood slack jawed as he saw every single on of the bandits leave the carriage and approach his direction.

[Oh! A brilliant development! And so, acting as all normal bandits do, they decided to take out the potential threat that was our young hero and at the same time prove to their victims that nobody could save them.]

"How could that be normal for bandits?" Charley shouted, "They are just going to let the carriage go?"

[Yes, just normal bandits. And so, feeling a strong urge to protect the innocents and prevent the evil bandits from continuing their reign of terror, our young hero stepped forth to fight -- or actually started running away?]

"He's trying to run away, get 'im!"

Both the group of bandits and Charley began running desperately. Yet, the bandits seemed to be in a much better physical condition as they quickly shortened the distance and were almost upon him.

"Don't you guys have better things to do! I'm just a helpless traveler who doesn't have any sort of valuables on him! I bet you could get much more from that carriage back there!"

[The young hero pleaded with the bandits, but alas, as soon as they focused on making a point out of him the time for talking was over.]

Tears formed on Charley's face as he yelled, "This doesn't make any sense!"

Just before the bandits could catch him and force him to stop running, Charley spotted a hill leading up to a cliff. Quickly thinking through his options, a light of determination shone from his eyes once more.

"I refuse to believe you guys are crazy enough to follow me here!"

Charley found one last bit of energy and dashed straight for the cliff.

"He's taunting us! Kill 'em now!"

And every one of the bandits followed closely behind him.

[Leaving his chances up to fate, the young hero sprinted up to the cliff with his stick in hand and jumped forth into the unknown. And the bandits, after being taunted so viscously, followed him without hesitation.]

Dozens of screams were heard as the entire group plunged down to the forest below.

[Ok, yeah. I see what he was thinking all along now. Indeed ever since he arrived in this world our young hero Charley heard a call for help. He knew right away that he had to drop everything he was doing and help save that carriage from those bandits in the forest. Despite being woefully unprepared, he put his body on the line as he taunted the bandits and tricked them into falling off of a cliff.]

[He succeeded in saving the carriage from certain doom, but was he also able to save himself from that terrible fall? Only time would tell.]