“Now then, if you’ll excuse us,” Gruszka said. “Ahem, boys! Take everyone here except for these two brave idiots! If someone can’t move, lend them a hand!” The bandits swiftly tied up the rest of the passengers.
They’re used to this, and they’re not getting close to us either. Taking us along might make things tricky for them, and they’re probably satisfied if they get their minimum quota from the other passengers.
“Apple-san, can’t you collect those bombs?” Fresa asked.
Unfortunately, no. After experimenting, I found out that Grida can’t collect any item that’s being held or worn by someone else. Even if they’re just lightly pinching something with their thumb and index finger, there’s no collecting it.
“That looks like a no, I guess,” she said.
Again, how can you tell?
“Damn. If we move recklessly, everyone is going to die. We can’t really apply any shock to those bombs either,” Datil said. If he tried to take those bombs like he did with the weapons earlier, it might cause them to explode.
“Chief! We’re done with our preparations!” a bandit called out.
“Very good!”
Damn it! At this rate, they’ll escape! Should I use the sleeping spell? No, he might drop those bombs. If I don’t collect them in time, this’ll go bad.
“Whoa there, don’t move! My bombs are rather effective. Stay put,” he said. “Right as you are.”
“Wait! Huh? When did you light its fuse?!” Datil cried out.
I turned my attention to the fuse and saw that he was right. Sparks were flying. No way! We only have a few seconds to spare! Gruszka’s really good at sleight of hand—he could become a stage magician! Stop, now’s not the time. I was a bit too naive.
“Damn! Fresa-san!” Datil called. He stepped in front of Gruszka as if to protect Fresa from the blast.
“Datil?!”
No! Even if that armor is high quality, the explosion would happen at point-blank range! Ugh, what should I do?!
“Ah, yes. Here’s a little present for you,” Gruszka said, throwing the bombs in the air.
Fresa screamed.
“Wh-What?!” Datil yelled.
The bombs, hurled high into the air, formed an arc as they dropped toward the ground. Gruszka, who had already mounted his horse, let loose an evil laugh.
He moves so quickly! Is he really human?!
“Good day to you all!” he laughed.
Okay, Grida. Collect those bombs!
Grida giggled. “I’ve already done that for you!”
Oh, you’re right. They’re gone. Nice work, Grida!
“Yay, you praised me again!”
“WHAAAAAT?!” Gruszka was so shocked by the sudden disappearances of the bombs that he forgot to flee.
You said it was a present for us, so I accepted it. What are you so surprised about? In any case, this was too close of a call. I guess there are times when humans are dangerous enemies too. I should keep that in mind.
“Whew, you saved us.” Datil breathed a sigh of relief.
“Thank you, Apple-san,” Fresa said.
No need to thank me, ha ha ha! I didn’t do anything this time around.
“Ah, Furutsu! They’re coming!” Grida said.
Got it. Then I guess we don’t need to hold back, do we?
“Okay!”
Are the bombs that Grida collected safe inside the storage, you ask? Like God told us before, anything in the storage card is frozen in time. As long as we don’t take them out, the bombs will just sit there, fuses lit. Wait, if that’s the case, how can Grida move around? Why isn’t she frozen in time?
“They’re coming, Fresa-san.”
“So they are.”
So you guys noticed it too? Chief Gruszka was surprised when the bombs vanished, but he wasn’t an evil boss just for show. He started using the passengers as his shields.
“D-Don’t move! That’s right, stay put—or else these innocent people might die, like those two foolish Rank C adventurers! Burnt to a crisp!” Gruszka said.
What are you talking about? Certainly, those two are fools, but...
“Ugh... Huh? What? Wh-What’s going on?” one said.
“My vision went red and... Huh?! What?!” the other cried.
They’re not dead. Perfect timing, guys.
“Huh?! Why are you fools alive?! I’m sure we used our fire magic!” Gruszka said.
You were told to be careful to not get burned alive last night. So I used my magician card to add those two no-good adventurers to my safety settings.
Fresa giggled. “I knew it. You did something, didn’t you, Apple-san?”
“Huh. I would’ve just silently offered a prayer for their passing after this was all over. You’re too nice,” Datil said.
Heh, guess so! Besides, I need those two to do some stuff for me.
“Hey, coachman! What’s all this about?!” the adventurer said.
“Huh? You seem a bit different,” the other observed.
My God, they’re terrible adventurers. I’m not asking you to fully understand the situation, but learn to read the mood a little.
“Shut up, you trash! Die!” Gruszka cracked his whip at the duo. Datil, who was still able to move faster than the whip, protected them. The strikes, reflected by Loga’s Leather Armor, completely crushed the wooden boxes and carriage around him.
What do you mean by “too nice,” Datil? After all you’ve said, you’re protecting them too.
One of the pair shrieked. “Wh-What’s going on?!”
“H-Huh?! You’re so strong, coachman!” the other screamed.
Seems like they’ve finally understood the gravity of the situation. Both of them are trembling on the ground now.
“You deflected those attacks? D-Damn it! Get out of my way!” Gruszka said. As he prepared to use his whip once more, we heard a low growl in the distance. A veritable horde of beasts then appeared from behind the rocks and above the hill. “H-Huh?”
“Are those gerugeres? There’s so many of them!” someone cried.
So that’s what they’re called. At a glance, they look like really large tigers.
The gerugeres growled menacingly. I’m sure it’s obvious, but these guys were classic carnivores. This was most likely what Grida was referring to before she was cut off by the carriage exploding earlier. The monsters slowly closed the distance, surrounding the carriage. There were at least fifty of them.
“They’re too close! A-At this distance, my evasion potion and barriers won’t make it in time,” Gruszka muttered.
Looks like he gave up once he was surrounded.
“Oh, you’re quick to surrender, huh?” Datil’s voice was dripping with sarcasm as he smirked at the bandit chief.
“Don’t you understand? Resistance is futile. In a moment, we’ll be in their stomachs.”
If you wish, you can get eaten alone. Although, since they’re carnivores, I doubt they’d want to eat an apple like myself.
Fresa chuckled. “Would you like for us to save you?”
Okay, it’s a little scary that you’re smiling in this situation.
Gruszka laughed. “Hah, how foolish! You lot are pretty tough for Rank E, but surely there’s nothing you can do in this hopeless situation?” He seemed to be laughing from the bottom of his heart.
“Huuuh? This is easy for me.”
“Huh?! Stop kidding yourselves! You guys had your hands full with a dozen or so of us humans!”
“Hands full? Who are you kidding? Of course we had to hold back against humans. We don’t need to do the same for demons, so this is obviously easier for us,” Datil retorted.
He’s right. If we went all out, we could’ve won a lot easier. It’s difficult to fight without killing, you know?
“H-Hold back?! How’s that possible?” Gruszka said.
You think we’re lying? Want me to show you?
“Oh? You seem fired up,” Datil said to me.
“Then we can leave this to you, maybe?” Fresa added.
You guys have an insane ability to read apples. How can you tell that I’m fired up? Now, what request do you have today, Fresa? (Hey, Grida, wanna make a bet? If it’s wind, you can use your magic. If it’s fire, I’ll do it!)
Grida giggled. “You’re on!”
Fresa picked me up and raised me in the air. “Use your wind and fire apple magic!” she shouted.
Ha ha, a mix of the two? Are you sure you can’t hear us? Anyways, Grida, let’s do this at the same time.
“Yay! We’ll show them the power of our love!” Grida said.
L-Love?! Uh, yeah, I mean, I guess. Ahem. I hope they’re high-ranking monsters! That way, we can make more coins!
Anyway, since I’m a plant, I can look in all directions at once and lock on to all the monsters around me. Let’s do this! Remove the shackles of fire, traveler!
“Unchain the wind, entreat the moon!”
Two announcements played at once.
Ding! “Confirmed activation of spell. Strength is at three percent.”
Ding! “Confirmed activation of spell. Strength is at three percent.”
The announcement is hard to hear if we both use our spells at the same time!
Fwoosh! Fwoom!
Fwish! Swoosh!
A countless number of fireballs and wind blades launched toward the demons.
“Eep?! Just who are you guys? Aren’t you supposed to be low-rankers?” one of the adventurers said.
“Amazing! I’ve never seen magic this beautiful!” said the other.
Wind blades separated each of the gerugeres’ enormous heads from their bodies, and the fire scorched them before they collapsed.
Yeah, looks like Grida’s magic is much faster than mine.
“Hey, Fresa-san! You’ve made one too many requests! This is clearly overkill,” Datil said.
Fresa giggled. “It’ll be easier for us to boss those people around if we’re flashy here.”
I get it. If Gruszka and those two loser adventurers see all this, they’ll be more inclined to do what we say.