Chase put on a simple shirt a trousers before heading out. Jasmine was soon to follow as well.
Leaving the guild, Ace saw busy streets with merchants, vendors buyers packing everywhere the eyes could see.
As they left, Jasmine began tapping his shoulder. "Hey what if we went and bought a few things to spice this trip up." She tilted to the left with her hands behind her back.
"So you want to go shopping with my money?"
"This poor lady wasn't accepted as a member.
Would you be so cruel as to leave me broke despite my efforts?" She looked at him with a sad look that he knew was fake, but couldn't resist.
"…No."
"Thank you so much! I'll never forget this!"
She ran up and grabbed his hand. After shaking it about three times with both her hands one had reached down and grabbed his coin pouch.
Chase shook his head. Then it hit him.
Watching her skip around with his money, he began picking up the pace. "H–Hey wait up"
Chase had bumped into a few people and had to apologize a time or two, but it seemed he finally made it to where Jasmine was hiding.
She was getting apples from a vendor. Taking two from him. As he caught up, She threw one in his direction. It took no effort to catch it.
As Jasmin took a bite out of the apple, she Seemed enamored with it, like it had become her new obsession.
"Whats so good about that apple?" Chase was curious, taking a bite out of his just to find it normal.
As Jasmine took another bit out of hers, She looked down, seemingly a bit embarrassed.
"It has been a while since I've had a body of my own. It's different than seeing things through your eyes. I feel, smell, touch and taste after so long. I apologize if I'm exited, I'm just not used to being human."
She looked to be on the verge of tears.
Chase had already thought of a remedy.
Around twenty minutes later, Chase had a bunch more food all in a basket, as well as a blanket.
"Why are we leaving Mintstone again?"
Chase was in a much better mood. He was exited for. The destination. "We're barely leaving. It's just a short stop from here."
Leaving the entrance gates to the village, They walked along the road for a bit. The sun shown brightly, the tall trees to their side seemed to glow almost.
just as they were about to make a detour into the forest, "what has happened here?"
Chase saw around 5 carriages that had been destroyed, the resources inside plundered.
The people inside were gone. A few men remained. 5 men lie on the wreckage with either their throats slit or a sword sticking out of them.
"Someone robbed them Stole their things. From the looks of it, they distracted the bandits long enough for their families to make it back to the village." Jasmine was Analyzing the scene and pieced it together.
Chase put the basket down and walked over.
It was hard not to feel bad for the guys. In a brutal world like this, one was given little options.
A small volley of arrows came from the treeline, And without thinking, Chase sprinted, tackling Jasmine to the floor.
After the volley ended, he pushed himself off a bit to see her angry expression. To which he practically jumped off of her.
"Neither of us were in danger you Dunce."
"My bad. I did it in hopes it was a vengeful survivor. But there are clearly too many."
'His first instinct was to protect me.'
She was trying to hide a blush. She was far from in danger, but the act itself was cute.
Dozens of men leaved the trees. They all seem to have light armor and some form of weapon be it a knife, a sword or a bow.
They quickly began to surround the group, with a few commenting on how shitty their archers were.
"No way we didn't hit anything."
"No matter. Don't waste arrows and kill them."
"These guys sure are a confident bunch."
Jasmine turned to her left, looking at Chase.
Just then, a man came out of the treeline, walking slowly and confidently. He had a scar on his forehead. He was bigger than the rest.
He had a crossed of sigil on his chest the spoke of his service in the military at one point.
His men parted and made way for him.
"You two are very lucky. All those shots and no hits. Not even one."
Hearing this, those in the group with bows became a bit uneasy. Subconscious gripping them a bit tighter.
The man pointed out to Chase and Jasmine.
"And because I believe in luck, I would like to extend it further. I will give you the freedom of choice. Relieve yourself of your belongings, and only one of you has to die."
Chase raised an eyebrow. "I've never known such generosity."
The man smiled and closed his eyes. "See? This guy gets it. Perhaps we don't even need to kill you after all. You could make a decent cup holder. Its preferable to death no?"
Chase was getting more angry and surprised by this audacity by the moment. He focused until he saw a big red screen in front of him.
[Appraisal]
[Character info]
[Name: Broggy Peter's]
[Age:32]
[Rank:1]
[Bloodline:N/A]
[Abilities:(Mana enhancement)(Mana slash)
(Haste)]
'All this talk just for him to be an rank one.
Probably a brawler as well.'
Now would be a time to laugh, but this man just destroyed a family.
Chase was getting more and more angry. This was the brutality of this world. He could have just been a lowly commoner who could do nothing but extend his neck.
And to honor all the downtrodden, he made a promise to himself. "Not a single one of you is leaving this forest alive."
Everyone in the group took a second to look at one another. They them immediately burst into laughter.
Broggy put a hand over his head. "And you're just the greatest fighter in the four kingdoms who I've just made the mistake of messing with huh? Or maybe a hidden young master of a wealthy and powerful house? A cocky brat?"
As chase walked closer, claws extended from his hands. He didn't think to bring a sword as he wasn't on a mission. A red glow shone in his eyes that Broggy didn't miss.
"No. But I'll be more than enough."