The monsters that appeared through the dense forest were Kobolds.
"Everyone, prepare to attack!" Asfi commanded. Falgar and the others took positions. The battle that ensued wasn't spectacular. Falgar, Lulune, and Thane dealt with all the monsters.
"The monsters outside the dungeon aren't too strong," Thane commented, adjusting his hat.
"With this party, I don't think we need to worry about being defeated by monsters. But…" I said, looking over at the members gathered here.
"But the military power is too much… we are going to stand out. " Asfi finished.
"It's fine; it's fine!" Hermes intervened, draping his hand around my shoulder, "But shouldn't we keep moving?"
I narrowed my eyes at his suspiciously confident words, but instead of asking, I sighed and let it go. Worrying about what a god like him was thinking was exhausting. "Yes, let's keep moving," I said as we started walking again.
"But… if the rumors about the thieves are true, why would adventurers become thieves?" Meryl asked as we walked, wary of more monsters.
"Not everyone can make a living as an adventurer. Many adventurers don't get blessed with a good god or comrades." Falgar answered.
"Oh…" Meryl's voice fell.
"But not a good enough reason to become thieves," said Hermes, "As long as they don't have the mindset of not caring about gravitating towards the lower ground."
"Lower ground?" Meryl tilted her head at that.
"Maybe they are affiliated with a proper familia?" I suggested.
"That could be a possibility," Lydia said, "There is no doubt that you can get richer by dealing with monsters in the dungeon."
"But… if days continue where you can't earn anything, you start looking for easier money." Asfi continued, "Some might even start thinking of attacking normal people to get money."
"I can understand the reason, but…" Meryl remained conflicted as Hermes spoke.
"Part of the charm of the lower world is that you can choose foolish options. Maybe we shouldn't blame them, but blame this world."
"Interesting… That's impressive, Lord Hermes." Thane said, appreciating his god's thoughts.
"Well, I don't care for those kinds," Hermes put his hands on his hat as he spoke, "Fun you can easily have doesn't have much appeal. You have to be serious to have fun. If you cut corners, you won't get that sense of accomplishment.
"You have to be serious... to have fun?" I questioned, "That's an interesting thought coming from you."
"Hey, Arin, I will get really hurt if you say it like that, you know?" Hermes wore a mock hurt expression as the serious atmosphere around our group changed. We bantered for a while until Asfi's voice stopped the useless chatter.
"We are almost at the main road…" as Asfi said. I could see a clear path slightly ahead through the forest.
"GRAAAAAA"
"Kyaaaaaaa!"
Growls of monsters and screams of people resounded from the direction of the main road.
"That's… Monsters are attacking traders!" Lulune reported.
"What should we do…?" I locked eyes with Hermes. He spoke.
"You already know, don't you? I am the god of travel, too." I smirked, hearing his answer.
"Everyone, get ready!" Asfi commanded.
"Roger!" Everyone rushed toward the monsters.
This time, the monster horde was a combination of different kinds, with Goblin and Kobold mixed in. Though with our military strength, it didn't take us long to defeat the monsters.
Moonlight glinted off my blade as it pierced through a goblin's chest, turning it to ash. I punched the next kobold's face. The monster's head exploded on impact, spraying blood before dissipating into ash just like the monster before it.
The others fought efficiently as well. Asfi made quick work of the group of Kobolds on her side. The rest of the party did the same. All the monsters were defeated in a matter of seconds.
After a quick scan of the area and finding no more monsters, I put the sword back into the scabbard. "We defeated all the monsters," I said.
"Are there any problems with our cargo or the cargo of the…"
"Kyaa!"
Just as Asfi was confirming the damage, the screams from the other group rang out again. I turned to see a group of strangers holding weapons as they surrounded us. There were at least a few dozen of them, all armed with decent weapons.
"What blockheads… caring for strangers and making it easier for us to attack," said the person leading the group—presumably their leader.
"...we are surrounded…" Lulune reported quietly, her eyes still scanning the area for more information.
"Now, both groups hand over your cargo," said the guy standing slightly behind the leader, their vice-captain perhaps?
"The rumored thieves?" Thane noted.
"I dunno about 'rumored' thieves, but there is no difference in that we will be stealing your cargo."
"Don't underestimate us. Planning to attack us with only a few of you?" Falgar growled, launching forward.
"Yup, yup." Lydia spoke, barely concealing her excitement, "You would need at least a few thousand to even put up a fight!"
"No, why are you getting excited…" I commented before leaping left. I kicked the first thief in the face. They spun through the air and landed flat on their back. Without waiting, I punched the one standing on the side in the gut.
"Non-combatants and cargo to the back! Attack and reduce their numbers!' Asfi commanded, her gaze sweeping the battlefield.
The fight raged. The silent forest was filled with clashing blades and cries of pain.
"So they are blessed, huh?" As I fought more and more, I was able to determine that the thieves were, in fact, a part of the familia. "But they lack technique," I noted.
"Can't be helped… You guys! Aim for the cargo!" The leader shouted. His minions followed orders, focusing their attack on the cargo. But instead of chasing them, I continued fighting. I had faith Asfi would handle it.
"Make sure to keep your formations! Attack!" And sure enough, Asfi continued commanding, unhindered by the bandits targeting the cargo.
"Stop right there!" the leader of bandits shouted, and I turned to see him holding a knife at Hermes' neck; he was being held hostage.
"Ah! No! My Hermes!" Lydia shouted theatrically, "Leave him alone! Take me as a hostage instead, you scum!"
"For heaven's sake! Can you be serious?!' I shouted, eyes fixed on the hostage situation.
"Quiet!" the thief shouted as he released a low laugh, "you got caught nicely… that's why we made the fight into a melee."
"You shouldn't bring your god into a place like this. You are really blockheads," said another, a mocking smile on his face.
Lulune tried to step back, but the thieves caught her movements, as he called, "Hey, don't move. My hands might accidentally twitch and send your god back to heaven."
"YOU…!" Thane's voice was tight with rage.
I caught Hermes's eye, silently asking if he wanted me to intervene. He gave an almost imperceptible shake. Wait. And so I did, waiting till it was time for me to make my move.
"You've never killed a god?" Hermes began his conversation.
"What…?" the thief demanded in bewilderment.
"Ah, sorry. You probably haven't, by the looks of it," Hermes went on, paying the thief's confusion no heed. "It's a method I wouldn't recommend."
"Ha?! You understand the kind of position you are in?" The thief asked, increasing his hold on the knife.
"Isn't it you who don't understand?" replied Hermes.
"What?" Confusion crossed the thief's face at Hermes' cryptic words.
"You must have heard of the stories at least, right? What happens when you kill a god? A pillar of light, signifying death, rises to the sky… The return of a god."
"So…?"
"So, nothing. Just that… also a part of arcanum. It's been said that the light is so bright that it burns the eyes. But it's not that tame. That light burns its surroundings and has the power to turn everything into nothing. The last struggle of a god."
"Who would believe a bluff like that…!" The thief tried to sound confident, but his voice shook.
I knew more than anyone—it wasn't a bluff. I still remembered how dangerous that light had been when I had killed those damn gods before. That all-consuming and all-devastating light. Each place the god had died became barren, like a nuke had just gone off.
"Yes, it might be a bluff. But you aren't so stupid as to try and see if it's really a bluff, are you?"
"I don't think they have the brain power to think that much," I added, "And how long are you going to drag this, Hermes?" I stepped forward, while the thief holding Hermes hostage panicked.
"Hey! Stop! I said Stop! or else!" He screamed, bringing the knife closer towards Hermes' neck. I stopped midway, "Yes, now back off—GUHYAA!" And leaped forwards again, breaking his knife arm like a twig and punching another thief in the gut.
"Kuu! K-Kill them!" The leader of thieves shouted, but no one moved as several magic circles formed near the thieves, out of which flame spears burst forth, stopping just inches away from their faces.
"Ah, I am saved," Hermes spoke with a sigh, "Everyone alright?"
"You know, we would never get hurt by low-level thieves like them," Asfi answered.
"Now then," I step forward, "Where is your hideout?" I asked, glaring down at the thief clutching his hand.
"Kuu! Did you think that would work—GAAAA!" Before he could say anything, I poked his broken hand. The thief writhed in agony, tears and snot streaming down his face as his voice echoed through the forest. I wasn't proud of this, but these bastards had attacked innocent people, killed who knows how many people, or worse. Besides, this was faster than waiting for him to speak up.
Meryl winced but didn't intervene. Lydia's cheerful expression faltered slightly. Even Hermes watched with uncharacteristic seriousness.
"Stop overreacting." I gave him my most gentle smile, "and tell me before I break the other one."
"Speak! I will speak!" he cried, sweating bullets as he rattled out the location. Having gotten what I needed, I stood back up and turned to face my group, all of them standing silently as they observed.
"Owa… you are really something, Arin," Lydia said. Lulune nodded beside her.
"What the heck are you talking about?" I tilted my head, "Anyways, let's go ahead and take a look at their hideout now."
"Ano…" one of the merchants interjected. 'Thank you for coming to our aid. We're really grateful." He bowed his head, along with his other companions.
"Don't worry about it," Said Asfi, observing their carriage, "It seems your cargo is fine. Will you be able to return to the city safely?"
"Yes, we will. Again, thank you very much for saving us… We will depart now." All of them boarded their carriages and made their way toward Orario.
"Um, I don't think we have much time before the quest ends, so maybe we should first deliver this cargo, and then we can go to their hideout?" Falgar suggested as we watched the carriage depart, and while he had a point, but that would have only been liable IF we had a quest in the first place.
"Ah, don't worry about it, the cargo is empty," I said. He had a point, but that would only be relevant if we'd had a quest in the first place.
"Eh, what do you mean, Arin?" Asfi asked, her brows furrowing.
"Exactly as I said. I was suspicious at first, but after encountering these thieves, the timing was too perfect, so I was certain. We didn't have a quest in the first place, did we, Hermes?"
"What did he mean by that, Hermes?" asked Lulune.
"Yaa, you caught me," he said, with his same easy-going attitude, "as Arin said, we didn't have any quest, I heard the rumors about the thieves, and as the god of travel, I couldn't possibly ignore it now, can I?" he stopped, spreading his arms. "Yup, it has nothing to do with treasures."
"It was definitely about the treasure," said Lydia, followed by the rest of them.
Asfi pinched the bridge of her nose. "So you used us as bait. Again."
"It worked out!" Hermes said cheerfully.
"That's not the point, Hermes," she sighed.
"But how did you know about it, Arin?" he asked.
"Call it intuition." I shrugged. To be honest, I don't think I would have guessed this much without the knowledge I had about his personality, and when it came to money, he and I were similar. Well, if we're already out here, and these thieves attacked innocent people, then… "Let's go and loot these bastards!"
"No, our treasures-GUUFAA!" the thief cried, only to earn a kick to the face.
"That's not your treasure, you trash," I said, as we made our way toward their hideout. The night was still young, and apparently, so was our capacity for 'treasure hunting,' Hermes' favorite euphemism for justified robbery.