Unchanged Samurai In Another World

Episode 16: The Adventurer Trouble with Hoodlums

“Hey, look! It’s one of the Little People!”

“Shit! Hide your wallet, or it’ll get stolen! Hahaha!”

Approaching from ahead was a group of men emanating a rough and tumble aura. There were eight of them, all wearing matching armor and carrying swords. Had they been drinking since noon? Their faces were all slightly flushed.

They don’t feel like adventurers…

Are they from the Mercenary Guild?

The Mercenary Guild is an organization specialized in human conflict. Though their system of taking commissions and receiving rewards is the same as that of the Adventurer Guild—tasks like wiping out bandit groups, guarding important figures, apprehending bounty hunters, protecting merchants, or serving as bodyguards to powerful individuals—their work focuses entirely on person-to-person situations. Additionally, while adventurers typically form groups of about five members for “parties,” mercenaries often organize over ten people into “mercenary units.” Their most notable work is on the battlefield, whether in skirmishes between villages or large-scale wars between nations. Though the Pharas Kingdom internally has been at peace for a long time, skirmishes along its borders persist. This frontier city, Angila, borders part of the Orcus Empire in the northwest, so the demand for mercenaries remains high. However, due to their daily involvement in battles and bloodshed, they tend to be hotheaded. Acts of plunder on the battlefield, though prohibited, are frequent, and it’s often said, “where mercenaries pass, not even grass grows.”

Trouble has found us…

While their companions’ taunts were certainly irritating, it was obvious their numbers were lopsided. Furthermore, Franz and Barth had just entrusted their equipment, leaving them virtually unarmed. It didn’t seem like the mercenaries were dumb enough to draw their swords in the middle of a street, but it would likely be best to avoid any kind of fight.

“…Let’s go, everyone.”

“Hey, come on, don’t be like that. Wait up!”

“You guys are like the handyman guild, right? Such a friendly bunch. Hey, why don’t you let us tag along?”

Before we could slip away, they stepped directly in front of us, blocking our path.

“Hey, little guy, ain’t that a fine piece of armor you’re wearing? Where’d you steal it from?”

“They’re probably just thieves and robbers. Likely swiped that new armor someone bought. Should we call the guards?”

There was no sign that the other mercenaries were going to stop the two ruffians. Instead, they were grinning and watching as if it were a spectacle, occasionally leering creepily at Pamela.

“Don’t mess with us, you drunks! Now go away!”

“What? Short-stacks think they can strut around, huh?”

As Mauri shot back, one of the men suddenly lost his temper and shoved him. Watching Mauri fall on his backside, Franz reached his breaking point.

“You bastards—!!”

“Oi!! You guys better cut it out—!”

“—Guh!!”

The moment Franz shouted, the man who pushed Mauri was sent careening backward as if he’d been shot by a cannon.

When Franz turned in shock, Cross stood there, his features contorted with rage. Veins bulged on his forehead, his eyes bloodshot, and the intensity around him now was so different from the usual Cross that it was almost terrifying.

There was no question about it. This man had lost control.

“You bastards, fall in line.”

“Wha—what’s this? What d’ya mean, you?”

“You little punk thinks you can pull that off?!”

“You little piece of shit thinks you can fight us?!”

Though Cross’s voice radiated clear, unbridled malice, the effects of alcohol must have dulled their senses because they didn’t seem to notice. Instead, the other mercenaries began hurling insults in anger for their fallen comrade, but Cross’s focus remained fixed on the two who harassed Mauri.

“You. The two of you who insulted my friend. Step forward.”

“Haha, buddy of yours, huh?”

“What’s your problem, kid? You wanna take on us grown-ups?”

“Unlike trash like you, I don’t intend to engage in a normal fight. Your lot deserves to be beaten flat. Step forward.”

“…What did you just say, kid? Said we’re trash, huh! Alright, everyone! Let’s take ’em down!!”

Finally, they drew their swords. The man who had been tossed aside was still dazed sitting on the ground, but there were still seven opponents.

Crap, we need anything that can be used as a weapon…

Franz hurriedly scanned the area, spotting a pile of wood stacked at the edge of the road and quickly grabbing one. It wasn’t ideal, but it was better than nothing.

“Cross and I will hold the front lines! Mauri, take the rear line with your throwing knives! Barth and Pamela, you two guard—”

Before Franz could finish his commands, he turned to face the front—only to find several mercenaries already lying sprawled on the ground.

Whenever Cross took action, mercenaries were sent flying through the air. He would seize their arms or collars, hoisting them onto his back before flinging them away like bags of grain.

Men who had been hurled to the ground struck their heads or backs and either fainted or writhed in agony. Franz had never seen anything like it before. Could this be the “jujutsu” fighting style Cross had once mentioned?

In the end, only the man who had harassed Mauri remained.

“W-what… What the hell are you!?”

The man, trembling, raised his sword but was kicked in the crotch before he could bring it down.

“Aaaaaaaahhh!!!”

As he writhed and screamed in agony, Cross walked briskly over and dealt a powerful kick to the back of his head, rendering him unconscious. However, he didn’t stop there. Cross kept mercilessly stomping on the man’s face over and over again.

Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!

The dull sound of skull meeting cobblestone echoed repeatedly throughout the area. For a moment, Franz and the others could only stare in stunned disbelief—but this couldn’t go on.

“Cross! That’s enough!!”

“Hey, stop! That’s enough!”

“Cross, he’s going to die!”

“You’re going too far! Snap out of it!!”

The four of them managed to pull Cross off the unconscious man, but his anger continued to burn fiercely within him, showing no sign of abating.

“Why are you holding me back? The words they spoke were unbearable and a deep insult. Such behavior must be punished. These two must die here and now.”

As Cross spat out these words, he glared at the first man he punched, withdrawing his sword.

“Hiiii—! I-I’m sorry! Please forgive me!”

“I will not forgive you. Die.”

Without even seeming to notice his friends clinging to him, Cross dragged them along as he approached the man again.

“What powerful strength—!”

“Kneel. Close your eyes and relax your neck. I will grant you a quick death.”

“N-no! S-sorry! Please forgive me! Please don’t kill me…!!”

The man broke down crying, pressing his forehead against the ground and pleading for mercy.

“And yet still you plead for your life even as you brandish your blade… mocking the art of combat without resolve. You are unworthy of bearing a sword. You lowlifes will now perish here.”

“Cross! That’s enough! I don’t care what that bastard said! Don’t take it to heart!”

Mauri stood in front of Cross, arms spread wide, stopping him from moving forward.

“…Why do you defend this filth, Mauri? Such trash?”

“Trash or not, it doesn’t matter to me! Look at him!”

The man’s face was smeared with snot and tears, his body trembling, and he had already wet himself.

“That’s how pathetic he is! Sure, he looks like a mercenary, but he disgraced himself in front of everyone like this. Guys like him are finished. My pride’s been restored. There’s no need for you to get your hands dirty. Let’s just go.”

After locking eyes with Mauri for a moment, Cross turned his gaze toward the pleading man, now looking at him like an insect.

“Leave this town immediately. The next time I see you, I will cut you down.”

At that, Cross finally let his body relax.

“Well, shall we buy provisions now?”

“N-no…! NO NO NO NO!!”

“Hey, hear the commotion? The guards are coming! Let’s scram!!”

“Why are we running? We didn’t do anything!”

“Just go!! We’re leaving!”

Pamela forcefully pushed Cross forward to get him moving. As they ran toward the horse-drawn carriage station, Franz mentally vowed to avoid angering Cross in the future—no matter what.

And with that, the chapter came to a close.

---