Hiding behind a tree some distance away, Kai glared intensely ahead.
Ariella was entertaining herself with the flowers when he pretended to leave. However, now, five men were surrounding her. Each wore varying clothes meant for hunting in the wild, a bit tattered and dirty. However, what bothered him the most was their perverted expression as they tried talking to the goddess, blushing at the sight of her beauty.
With each moment, their approach is getting closer to Ariella.
'What should I do, what should I do.' He thought repeatedly, hesitant to charge head on to save the damsel in distress.
Kai had expected to encounter other humans in this world, because all participants of the graduation ceremony were probably dragged into this mess according to the conversation of the gods. So, he already anticipated meeting his peers and professors who are in the same boat as him. Hoping to tag in their group, and follow their leadership towards safety.
However, it seems other humans aside from them inhabit this world. And Kai were unlucky enough to meet a troublesome bunch of them. If his judgement is correct, those guys are hunters aiming to catch some wild animals. That said, their messy attire stained by unknown liquid and harmful weapons looks suspicious.
Nevertheless, Ariella was in trouble. For the Hunters isn't showing concerned expressions, but more like excitement as they gazed at her body like hungry beasts. He can't blame them, though, because Ariella is a Devine being possessing a goddess body. Her charm is too attractive for mortals to ignore and her innocence is too concerning.
He know he should be saving her, but are currently hesitating. Because first of all, five grown men were too much for a student to handle. Can he stopped them? No, he'll probably get beaten up and fail in saving her.
'But...' He leaned on the tree, feeling heavy.
Kai is no hero, his just a ordinary student from a low background. Partially a delinquent, but mostly introverted in nature who stayed silent at most times, caring for himself more than he would care for others. After all, as someone who lost parental guidance at an early age, his personality isn't that bright due to the things his struggles had instilled in him.
He isn't a rich kid that had access to advance combat education taught by professional couches unlike childrens from elite families. Therefore, Kai had no confidence in fighting five men for a beautiful girl's sake he recently met.
Still, he isn't a completely heartless person. Kai's thought's was conflicted, a part of him finding it ironic that his supposed to teach her the value of mortal lives. Yet here they are, experiencing the hideous side of humans at their first day. Five lustful men enchanted by her beauty, planning malice upon to satisfy their carnal desire. On the other hand, her protector was reluctant to interfere, afraid for his own safety.
Then again, is he truly safe?
His eyes suddenly widened in realization.
"Hey there, missy. What you doing out here in the wild alone?" Said a man with a wide smile.
"The wilderness is pretty dangerous for a lady, why don't you come with us to our base. We'll shelter you there if you have no where else to go. Hehe, in exchange..." Another fat man said, failing to hide his malicious intentions.
However, a wary hunter among them voiced.
"Quite it, would you? What if she's with someone? Look at her clothes and more importantly, that face! She looks like a royalty, why would a noble lady be alone here of all places."
The others shrugged.
"So what? There's five of us here, we can handle whoever they are."
"Yeah right, not like anyone would go against our gang. Besides, our bandit's liar isn't that far away. I doubt they can get back to us after we're done."
"Hey guys, what about the boss? Surely, he'll be delighted if we present her to him, she's more valuable than wild animals were supposed to catch! Just think about the rewards we'll receive."
Some nodded, but other hunter suggest otherwise.
"Yeah, yeah. But before that, how about enjoying ourselves first because that fat, stingy bastard won't share with us for sure."
Ariella watches them, not understanding their bulgar conversation due to her immature mind. Clueless to their vile intentions, she offered them a flower with a smile.
"Oh, what's this missy? For me?"
Ariella nodded happily, viewing everything with simplicity and softness.
That's when that simple picture of her of the world will end though.
Instead of taking the flower from her hand, the bandit ignored it and gripped her soft wrist. Her eyes widened, as she was violently pressed down to the grasses. For the first time since coming to consciousness as a goddess, Ariella felt pain.
The bandit loom above her, wearing a vicious grin of hunger for her body. While his companions also advance, emitting bad intentions towards her.
Surrounded by vile people without power to shield herself, Ariella's heart beat faster. Her innocent smile crumbled along the pure look on her eyes as a new sensation entered her mind.
For the first time, she felt... fear.
The man leaked his lips.
"Let's see what's hidden in that pretty dress of yours." Said malicious bandit, trying to grab a hold of her dress of the terrified, powerless goddess.
However, before he could. One of their members suddenly let out a pained yelp, before falling on the ground, unconscious.
A fist-size stone that was thrown carrying enough force to make it bounced on a bandit head dropped heavily on the soil, its surface drenched by blood.
Silence settled over them, as all heads spare the bloody stone a glance before turning to the sender - A young man donning a neat academy uniform, appearing out of this world in the bandits eyes.
'D-damn... I, I really did it.' Kai tried acting calmly to the best of his ability, but his trembling hands betrayed it all. It couldn't be help, because Kai lack experience in real combat. Furthermore, this is the first time he throws a stone with all his might! With the intention of seriously harming one of the bandits.
He succeed, however, now. All attention was focused on him, piercing him with angered glares as if trying to dig through his skull.
Under this pressure, it isn't hard to figure out the outcome.
'I'm dead.'
The leader left Ariella and check on their unconscious comrade. A moment later, he voiced with evident rage seeping in his rough voice.
"Brat... I hope you're prepared to die."
He inhaled deeply, then roared!
"KILL HIM!!"
By then, Kai was already running away.
Of course he knew this would happen. Striking down one of the bandits meant enraging the entire group, therefore leading to his approaching doom. His also aware he can't win against four adult men, yet despite all the disadvantageous odds. Kai choose to save Ariella from their savagery instead of caring for his own safety.
Why?
It's not because his heroism kicked in, for he had none, whatsoever. It's simply because the gods are no joke, so did their words. Which they used to dictate him as Ariella's guardian from now on, with the sole mission of teaching her the value of mortals. He didn't believe in humanity himself after suffering their cruelty, but Ariella, a goddess must not be stained by their vileness. For it may bring disastrous consequences.
A mere human like him stood no chance against the gods wrath, so wether he liked it or not. Kai had to save her from the dark side of mortals and Instead, make her unknowledge the positive traits humans could offer.
Which is what his doing now by saving her.
Sprinting away with all his might with the bandits at his tail, Kai's stamina was depleting in a noticeable rate. His heart beating wild, as fear of death pursuit drive him to surpassed his speed limit. Kai had never run this fast before! Unfortunately, the bandits isn't much slower than him in terms of speed.
The sounds of their threatening
shouts and dashing feet's never lessed, implying the distance between isn't decreasing at all!
Only now did he realized the importance of physical fitness, making him regrets not exercising at a daily basis to Improve his average build. It can't be helped, because he originally belonged to a peaceful world where life didn't demand a strong physic to have an easier livelihood. Exercising is a choice there, not demand.
Apparently, raw strength matters more here. To the point it decide life and death.
He gritted his teeth, trying to comfort his situation.
'If I can drag them away from her, maybe they'll get lost in the forest or whatever!'
However, he forgot an important factor... Weapon.
Amidst his run, unexpectedly, it wasn't insufficient stamina that made him fall. But a dagger thrown at his back, burying inside him. It was too quick to process, all he felt was an abrupt pang erupting in a certain area behind him. A pain excruciating enough to make him unconsciously straitened, causing his focus to crumble. Kai stumbled on the ground, carried by inertia as he rolled a few meters before coming to a stop.
Agony constantly assaulted his back, which was intensified by his uncontrollable roll. Still, his mental fortitude held his consciousness awake. The pain helped, too.
When his awareness cleared, the first thing he notice was the taste of blood on his tongue. Kai was facing down, laying on the ground. He shifted his head slightly, hearing the bandits walking towards him with unhurried steps. As if the hunt was over by the fall of their pray, now all that's left is take his life.
His breathing was labored, his eyes bleak. Kai's body was tormented all over, making the slightest move a struggle.
'F*ck... I really am gonna die.'
He felt cold a the thought of death, his body subtly trembling. The urge to cry was there, too. But he suppressed it at best as he could, a bad habit of his to hold back tears no matter the pain because no matter how much tears he produce, it won't make things any better.
'I... I, I don't wanna die.' no one does, it was everyone's greatest fear.
A fear greater than anything, far greater than the fear of pain and fighting. With that in mind, Kai fought against the agony of moving his body. Stand, face his foes and pull out the dagger from his back. Every action hurts like hell, but his fear of death dwarfed his reluctance to feel pain.
"Oh, aren't you a tough one!" The bandits laughed and mocked.
While Kai pointed the dagger drenched by his own blood at them, indignant to simply die.