One figure lay on the floor with his eyes popping out in horror as his brain tried to process what just happened.
Another figure was standing erect, his back facing the figure on the ground.
'' B-boss. '' One of the bandits stuttered in a hushed tone, his face turned white, and his hands were visibly shaking.
Whether it was the people from the bandits' group or the merchants' group, all of them were appalled by what they saw.
Everyone here was a commoner who rarely saw where strong warlocks clashed. Today's event was a terrifying experience for them which they would narrate to their coming generations.
'' H-how di… '' Ralph tried to form some words, but only gibberish came out from his mouth.
There was a deep gash on his belly, and he was soaked in a pool of blood where he lay.
Blood kept gushing out of his wound followed by his visceral which scattered outside his body.
His chest wasn't excluded, as the sternum was broken, and his left lung got completely squashed together with his heart.
He gagged weakly for his last breath, eventually, his limbs stopped moving, and then his eyes, that refused to close even after his death.
A couple of minutes earlier.
Immediately after Jerouch saw that attack, he knew it was barely in the D rank and he could tank it.
To increase the damage, however, he used sprint, which increased his speed before shooting multiple water bullets to break the momentum of the lightning-cloaked axe.
Clashing with the axe with his sceptre, Jerouch did feel some numbness, nevertheless, he pushed forward.
He trapped Ralph who didn't expect such a response with earth spikes, and by the time he figured out what was happening, his axe was already ravaging deep inside his chest and belly.
[Daily quests completed.]
Hand-to-hand art- 3
Sceptre art- 2
[New passive skill.]
[feather body- host is now able to perform multiple maneuvers in the air with his body.]
' Mmm, keep it coming. ' Jerouch grinned inwardly before abruptly turning his head in the remaining bandits' direction.
' Fire arrows. '
He muttered, and red blazing arrows that cracked in the air swooshed forward.
'' Argh. ''
'' Argh. ''
Multiple cries followed after that as they were all impaled.
None of them even lasted a few seconds after their boss' demise.
'' Hmm. ''
Azel, the merchants' leader, finally released the breath that he was holding.
Everything was happening at an insane pace, and his head could barely keep up.
'' Payment? '' Jerouch questioned with a soft smile, facing the merchants' direction who were still soul shaken.
Azel, though, didn't find anything soft or kind about that smile. It was giving him chills, and he knew better not to waste this person's time.
Previously, they negotiated it to one-third, but as it was currently, he wouldn't wince if they had to pay half.
His senior and boss, back in the guild would understand his situation. At most he would be reprimanded which was still better than being grimly butchered.
Azel without hesitating rushed into one of the carriages and brought out a brown wooden box that fit into his two hands.
'' A hundred silver coins, Sir. '' Azel muttered respectfully, bowing his head slightly while panting occasionally.
He might be old enough to father this unknown stranger just by look, but this same person could squeeze his life in a matter of seconds.
He was just an F rank warlock who got lucky to be talented in business, and that made the merchant guild take interest in him.
They had invested in him greatly, and he didn't disappoint. He transacted with merchants from other cities which always ended up in massive success making his authority in the guild soar.
Every business deal went well until today.
He was supposed to buy a few D rank and E rank monster cores that were common in the other city, but rare in theirs.
The business deal was only known by a few people in the guild since they didn't want to bring attention to themselves from other guilds.
That was why they went on the business trip with low rank guards, but they were still attacked by the bandits.
He had lost all hope and had even started whispering his last prayers when this unknown person in a black robe appeared.
At first, he thought he was at most an E rank warlock who might join the guards and help fend off the bandits.
He was even planning to hire him should he do well before the other guilds set their eyes on him.
Since meeting an E rank warlock in their small city wasn't a daily occurrence. Especially a warlock who wasn't affiliated with any guild.
From Jerouch's dress to his accent, he could tell accurately that he didn't belong here.
However, as it was presently, he only hoped that Jerouch would let them go in peace.
Should he happen to be a crazy warlock, then their death would be without a climax.
Apart from the nine guards that remained, there were also five trade apprentices who accompanied Azel to garner experience.
All of them were having these conflicted thoughts and they occasionally glanced at Jerouch who had been staring at the silver coins.
' Is he not satisfied? ' Azel wondered, and his heart began to palpitate.
It would be stupid of him if he annoyed this person because of money, he still had two hundred more silver coins in the carriage.
He didn't even mind if he had to collect all the little pennies from the guards and the trade apprentices.
Jerouch, the source of their worries, didn't even know that he was making others uncomfortable with his gaze.
As soon as he opened the box, he did see a hundred silver coins there.
Each coin had a diameter of five centimetres, and they reflected the scorching sunlight that fell on their smooth silvery surface.
They had some weird engravings on them, which Jerouch thought to be the monetary signature.
Azel and his group were still overthinking this matter, but Jerouch's next statement gobsmacked all of them.