"Wake up, wake up. Miss!" bawled the young man, actually scratched that. Just rename him to Whiny man.
Whiny man would tug and wail in an attempt to wake the 'unconcious' Auyu as the bandits saw an opportunity and close in on their misfortune.
But this was all part of Auyu's plan, and yes she isn't unconcious. It would be foolish if a vampire or magical girl were to knocked out by getting faceplant on the ground.
But she has multiple reasons to why she done this, let's go over these as the bandits take their time to cautiously take us away and do whatever bad guy does.
First, she already deadset on saving this whiny man. But the method of saving him is the cause of why she took so long to save him.
She initially thought of blowing everything away with just her own power, after all. She is currently ranked at Daleth according to Idun. And since she trusted Idun greatly, she doesn't doubt her assessment.
And, the thing with vampires is that they usually don't gain the trust of a lot of people for their notoriety and the secretive lifestyle. Hm, that sounds a bit like myself. But let's just ignore that.
Also, vampires when fighting require a lot of preparation and caution, as everything can fall apart if the enemy can see through you, this is expecially the case with low ranking ones, it's the same reason why vampires don't go out of their way to hunt down their enemies, just lying in wait just to ambush them. I mean, why wouldn't you?
However, this doesn't solve all the problems. Despite herself being lazy, she often described by her maid as having a merticulous mind and a small habit of perfectionism. As consequences to having a lifestyle of a rat.
In her scheme, she wanted to earn a 'poor' man's trust. And the only way to do that, is to experience danger together.
Think about it, someone would trust another more if they shared the burden of surviving together. And it would solve the issues that he would fear her power despite looking like an aristocrat daughter and avoid the unneccesary suspicions. And to give a better impression of; 'She's heroic but weak' as she keep seeing with magical girl archetypes.
And it's better to use the Mune's reputation to her own gain anyways, since she doesn't care about them and only find them slightly annoying, due to a couple impressions of being racially hated.
Now that issue was solved in her mind, she went ahead with the plan of dragging him away pointlessly, now that she drag him all the way to this place, now what?
"I-i will take us away, even if it cost my life!" declared the Whiny man while trying to princess carry Auyu away (Seriously?) but unforturnately, he was knocked down by one of the bandit that was not having it.
As he shriek like a velociraptor, Auyu thought it was about time for the other issues to finally concluded in her 'schemes'
"What was that noise?" asked one of the bandit for other's confirmation ignoring the Whiny man outburst, it was the sound that neither of man nor monster.
As the noise grew louder, the bandits are more alerted to identifying the noise, with both runaway now contained in their sight.
One of the Scrawny bandit yelled for the other bandits to come over, as it seems he has discovered something.
"It's a backpack!" declared the scrawny bandit, as he continued to survey the area. He found traces of campfire as the ground was too leveled and the ashes that originate at the same spot.
But, as soon the bandits approaches the backpack, the equipment in question was filled with strange odor. It was a strong smell enough to foul their noses.
The Scrawny bandit as he was the closest to the scene. Approach the equipment with caution, however as he was about to reach out to check. He felt a towering presence on him, mainly a shadow that isn't a tree. If the god of dices were here, he would perhaps tell the bandit that he rolled a '1'
"Roarrrrrr!!!!!" howled the new intruder, as it has a grizzly fur and a mean looking sharpened large claws that could be mistaken as a blade.
There was a saying, i'm pretty sure. It's called 'The enemy's of my enemy is my friend'
Also, i might have lied about not making hard time for the bears. I'll make it up by offering these bandits for your dinner, bearclaws.
Thought Auyu as her eyes perked when she heard wailing and screaming, as the other bandits that were keeping an eye on her and the Whiny man when to help them.
In reaction, the whiny man took an opportunity to run with Auyu's 'limping' (Auyu's just going along with it)
Sometimes, it's better to be a smart about fooling people than acting like a sage and exposing your vulnerability.
Idun told me that my abnormal cruelty is a gift, but i don't think so. There has to be something else i'm missing...that's why i set on the journey.
Anyways, i doubt the bandits can go up against bunch of bearclaws, with just metal blades, cause from what i've heard, Even Beth ranking creatures can struggle to defeat a regular bearclaw.
Also, as that backpack? It was me, Audyui.
With Whiny man running to the best of his abilities, he begun seeing hope. As if everything has been going well for him, as soon this woman appeared. But he wouldn't thank her just yet, he needs to get out of the dangerous situation.
As he about to leave the forest with the princess on his side, he felt a chill from his back. But as he was about to look back. He felt a discomfort in his waist as he in response touch that spot, he emotionally observe his hand.
"Blood..." As he fell down onto the ground with regrets and tormoil, as he no longer felt the strength to stand.
Auyu, being the baggage on his side. Followed in his footsteps, fallen with annoyance in her clothes being ruined from all the rough treatment.
"You think you can escape me, Vondur?" spoke the bandit leader with a bow in hand.