Chapter 19 - The Raid
Dragging the gang members along, we naturally attract a lot of attention. They’re making quite a spectacle. Bruno's gang is just a short walk away, but we’re being watched by the neighborhood folks, who are either peeking out their windows or standing on the streets. They’re usually the type to look away, but their curiosity is getting the better of them.
In a way, this might have saved us the trouble of introducing ourselves to the neighbors, right? It’s a bit unsettling to be seen as dangerous, though. Maybe we should have brought some sweets and made the rounds to introduce ourselves properly.
But hey, we haven’t even decided if we’re going to live there yet. Hmm…
Lost in thought, I barely noticed we were nearing our destination. Two tough-looking guys are standing at the entrance, guarding the place.
They look surprised when they see us dragging the gang members, but they quickly shoulder their oversized weapons.
"Hey, hold it. What’s going on here? Do you know where you are?"
Ignoring the guard’s questions, we keep walking without breaking our pace.
"Hey, I said, stop it!"
Just as the guard was about to move, I picked up one of the gang members, ignoring his protests.
"S-Stop it!"
"Here we go!"
I hurled him towards the large glass door, which shattered with a loud crash as he passed over the heads of the guards.
"What the—!?"
Taking advantage of the stunned guards, I tossed the remaining gang members into the still-intact glass.
I had already decided to go all out. If we were going to do this, we might as well make it memorable.
First impressions are important, after all. We’re making a grand entrance. I’m going to put on a show.
Not giving the shocked guards a chance to recover, Angelina and Siegrune dashed forward, quickly taking them down and rolling them to the side.
"What’s going on?"
"Hey, what’s the matter?"
"Who are these guys?"
"We’re being raided!"
More guards, about a dozen, armed with imposing weapons, emerged. They looked at us with a mix of surprise and suspicion.
They might be tough, but they’re not as careless as the gang members. They’re cautious, even as they display their anger.
It’s only natural they’d see us as dangerous. We’re walking into their place in broad daylight, ready to start a fight.
I don’t look like someone who’s here to argue, and Angelina’s stance clearly shows she’s ready for a fight. They must have guessed we were coming to make trouble.
"Hey, who put you up to this? You won’t get out of here alive!"
"Hold it, who are you? What’s with that crest?"
"Is that a flower? I’ve never seen it before."
"Are you from some other city’s gang? Still, you’re women. Using you as cannon fodder is one thing, but…"
Cannon fodder…
What do they mean by that crest? Oh, they must be talking about the Kikyo accessory we’re all wearing!
Oops, we’re all wearing matching accessories. Looks like there’s been a misunderstanding.
"Hey, Yukari-dono, what’s the name of that flower you’re all wearing?"
"Huh? It’s Kikyo."
I answered the whispered question. Why would anyone care about the name of a flower at a time like this?
Surprised by the answer, Siegrune stepped forward.
"We are the Kikyo Society Yukari Gang! We’re new in town, but we were provoked by your gang members. We’ve kindly brought them back to you, so you should be grateful."
What is Siegrune doing?!
"What did you say!?!"
"Kikyo Society Yukari Gang?"
"New in town? Ha! That’s a bold move for women! But you’re playing a bit too rough. We’ll have to teach you a lesson."
"Hey, guys, if you see a woman you like, it’s first come, first served!"
"Bro, I get it. I was just looking for a new one anyway. Hehe."
They’re all making their own decisions. Irritating, but right now, I’m more concerned with Siegrune.
Siegrune ignores their banter and continues.
"We expect you to pay for the trouble we’ve taken to bring them back. Even a poor gang like yours can afford dinner money, right? We’re hungry from dragging these guys here."
She’s goading them. Siegrune is really getting into the villain role. She looks like she’s having a lot of fun.
Hmm. Still, the Yukari Gang sounds a bit…
The lowlifes are exchanging incomprehensible insults, but I think it’s time to stop the wordplay.
"Yukari, leave this to us."
"Please protect Onee-sama."
Other fighters step forward to support Siegrune.
They’re all riled up by the insults. I want to let off some steam too, but I’ll leave it to them.
Bruno’s gang might be a step above the gang members, but our Physical Enhancement Magic is clearly superior.
Even if they use magic inside the city, I’m confident Siegrune and the others can handle it.
Their numbers are a concern, but I’ll keep an eye out for stray attacks and protect the non-combatants.
"Alright, it’s all yours. Finish it quickly."
"You got it!"
They charge forward with a battle cry, a refreshing sight.
This time, it wasn’t over in a moment. They’re seasoned fighters.
Siegrune and the skilled ones are using their weapons, carefully taking down the opponents. They’re not all that strong, though, so it’s turning into a good fight overall.
But our Physical Enhancement Magic gives us the edge, and the close-range footwork is unfamiliar to Bruno’s gang. Overall, we have the upper hand.
We had a few close calls due to the numbers, but I helped by throwing small iron balls.
As the opponents dwindled, everyone gained more confidence.
Valeria, in particular, seemed to be holding back while using her weapon, but she was still quite efficient with her throws.
Glancing to the side, I see Mary, who has been working hard on her physical training, watching the fight with a serious expression.
"Is something wrong?"
"No, I’m just learning. I want to fight like that someday. Throwing techniques are truly beautiful, aren’t they?"
"Onee-chan, I want to do it too!"
Even Sarah is raring to go. Sophie, her mother, is watching her with a fond smile, but is this really a good idea?
Thinking about it, it’s not a good influence to show her all this violence so casually. I can’t exactly talk, but I’m worried about her future.
As we chat, Angelina delivers a roundhouse kick to a bald man’s torso, and the fight seems to be over.
"…Finally done. They were tougher than expected."
"By the way, none of them used magic attacks other than Physical Enhancement. Is there a rule against it in the city?"
"Yukari-dono, that’s right. Using magic could cause collateral damage. The city folks wouldn’t stand for it."
"True, but there are bandits who don’t care. Better to be cautious."
Bruno’s gang seems to be aware of this common sense.
Fortunately, there are no casualties on either side, and things are going smoothly.
We quickly treat minor injuries with low-level healing potions.
I even treated the more seriously injured members of Bruno’s gang. We’re not here to hold a grudge.
"Alright, but we’re not done yet. There’s no sign of their boss."
"Yukari-dono, I sense strong magic from upstairs. The boss and his guards might be there."
"It’s probably too dangerous for Frederica and the others to go up."
I can sense the buildup of magic from somewhere. It’s likely they’re preparing a powerful spell. I’ve gotten better at recognizing such things.
Even if using magic in the city is forbidden, they might go all out if their headquarters are attacked. They could use powerful spells with a narrow range.
Alright, it’s time for me to take action.
"Everyone, take the fallen inside. It’s not polite to leave them on the street. Also, be on the lookout for more of their gang members. If anyone shows up, handle it."
"Onee-sama, are you going alone?"
"I have a Shield Magic, so it’s easier to move solo. I want you all to protect Sarah-chan and Frederica."
I might not be able to protect everyone if they use a wide-area attack. Better to be safe than sorry.
It’s best for me to go solo. Plus, I can act freely without worrying about collateral damage.
"Yukari, be careful."
"Understood. Yukari-dono, I trust you."
I pat Valeria, who looks like she wants to join, and hand out a few backup healing potions.
I confidently walk towards the stairs. From here on, it’s my fight.
"I’ll leave the rest to you!"
As I ascend, I wonder where the boss is. On the second or third floor? The top floor would be the most likely, right?
Well, I’ll search through the building.
Lost in thought, I reach the second floor just as a preemptive attack is launched.
I dodge the downward swing of the large sword, moving slightly to the side.
The sound of the sword hitting the floor echoes as I approach the man, who was aiming for a one-hit kill but left himself wide open.
With precise movements, I push against his extended elbow and force him back. The joint bends the wrong way, and he collapses with a silent scream. I follow up with a powerful kick to his side, effectively ending his will to fight.
He won’t be able to make coherent sounds for a while.
I look down at the man, who is no longer a threat, and start searching the rooms on the second floor.
The first few small rooms are empty. The deeper room feels different, but the strong magical aura is not the same. This might not be the main target.
Still, I have to search every room until I find the boss. Time to storm through.
"Here we go!"
I kick the door open, and three men and a woman are waiting, armed with spears.
They seem to have expected me. The lone woman lunges forward without a word, her spear aimed at my vital points.
It’s a bit disappointing. I made such a grand entrance, and I was hoping for a more dramatic reaction.
I dodge the woman’s sharp thrust by shifting my body and prepare for the next attack.
The tall man aims for my head with his spear, which I dodge by crouching down. The short, chubby man then lunges forward with a powerful thrust.
Their coordination is impressive. The woman’s spear indicates another attack is coming.
I can dodge the short man’s thrust, but the next attack is unavoidable.
Should I guard with my shield? Victory would be easy, but that would be boring.
Pain is a barrier to becoming stronger. I believe in greater possibilities within myself, and to achieve them, I must do what’s extraordinary.
What should I do?
I’ll break through head-on. No tricks, just push through and destroy.
That’s the only way!
I dodge the short man’s thrust with a slight tilt of my head, and the woman and the tall man’s spears come down from above.
"Is that all?"
Fortunately, the part hitting me is the blunt side of the spear, not the sharp tip.
I focus my Physical Enhancement Magic on my arms and fists.
With the image of impenetrable strength, I block the woman’s downward strike with my left arm and punch the tall man’s spear with my right fist, knocking it upward.
"What—!?"
My left arm hurts, and my right fist feels like it’s on fire, but it’s just pain.
Capitalizing on the pause in their attacks, I kick the woman in the leg, wrench her spear from her grasp, and throw it at the short man.
I didn’t throw it with full strength, but with the skill of throwing and the short distance, it hits him in the side.
"Subchief!"
He’s probably not dead. More importantly, what’s next?
As the tall man’s guard falters, I slip under his defenses, hoist him onto my shoulder, and slam him onto the floor with a forceful throw.
The tall man’s back and waist take the brunt of the impact, and the short man is impaled by the spear. The woman is holding her leg, clearly in pain, but she still looks battle-ready. Her gaze is even more determined.
That’s fine. I don’t mind a fighter’s spirit. But the fight is already decided.
I pull out a healing potion from my coat pocket, and the woman quickly grabs one from a nearby shelf and administers it to the short man.
I ignore them and drink my custom potion, quickly regaining feeling in my aching arm and fist. Wow, it’s a great magic.
"Hey, is Bruno’s boss in here?"
I ask, even though I doubt he’s here.
"Subchief, hold on! Your wounds are sealed, you’ll be fine!"
"…Yeah, I’m fine. Sorry. But who are you? What do you want?"
They don’t seem inclined to answer. In fact, the short man and the woman are already picking up their weapons, ready for another round.
I’ve had enough of them. They’ve served their purpose, and I have no intention of sticking around for a pointless confrontation. There’s still the boss to deal with.
In such situations, it’s best to demonstrate a decisive advantage. I need to crush their will to fight.
I generate small iron balls in my healed right hand and hurl them at the two, who are still a bit stunned.
I don’t aim to hit them directly but to show the destruction they can cause. They should understand the consequences if these balls hit them.
With each loud crack of the balls hitting the hard floor, I see their resolve waning. That’s perfect.
"Hey, is Bruno’s boss in here?"
I ask the same question again, this time with a glare that suggests the next one will hit.
"Uhh, no, he’s not here."
"…The boss is upstairs. But who are you, and what do you want?"
I almost forgot our original purpose.
To teach a lesson to the gang members who provoked us and to warn them off our territory. That’s about it.
"It’s a hassle to explain everything to you. Ask your boss later."
They’re no longer of any use to me. I turn my back and leave the room.
Let’s see what the boss is like. I hope he’s interesting.