Chapter 324 - The Bounty is for a Wicked Woman
There’s no reason for me to rush, given my overwhelming power and the fact that I have nothing better to do.
I park my bike off the main road, a short distance from the inn town, and wait leisurely for the pursuers to catch up. Two shabby mid-sized vehicles pull up, carrying what used to be mercenaries but are now bounty hunters. A peculiar scene unfolds as several townsfolk and travelers watch from a distance.
I observe the fools getting out of their vehicles and consider how far I should take this. They may be mere grunts compared to me, but to the general public, they’re considered capable fighters. There are five of them, and their equipment isn’t bad.
Given that they’re based in Berliza, they’re likely equipped with several magic items. However, by the Kikyo Society’s standards, they’re still just grunts. Even if fifty of them banded together, it wouldn’t make much of a difference to me. The real question is how to end this easily.
They boldly declared they would capture me alive. If they had intended to kill me, I might have done the same. But since that’s not the case, I’ll just rough them up a bit and let them off.
To me, this is just a way to pass the time. With an audience, it’s almost like a little show.
I don’t want to disappoint the spectators, so I’ll make it entertaining. The Kikyo Society values its image. While being feared is generally good, we don’t want to be seen as a mere violent group. That’s why we’re particular about our appearance and never harm innocent civilians.
"Well, no need for tricks," I say to myself. "I’ll just wing it and make it look good."
If they get to see me fight, they should be grateful. It’s a privilege.
"Who would’ve thought she’d actually be waiting? Heh, capturing her alive means a bonus of 250 million Gist," one of them says, grinning.
"Even if we split it five ways, that’s 50 million each. Not bad for a little side job," another adds.
"Don’t get too cocky. She’s a woman, but she’s worth 200 million Gist."
"True, but isn’t that because she tricked an imperial prince or something? I don’t even feel any magical aura from her."
"That’s what I’m worried about. Why isn’t she running?"
"Maybe she’s set a trap?"
They start whispering to each other as they get out of their vehicles. Their cautious approach isn’t entirely misplaced, but it’s a bit late. Normally, when targeting a high-value bounty, you’d do thorough research first. You’d follow them to gauge their abilities and then strike unexpectedly.
They should have known better. If they had investigated the Kikyo Society’s fortress-like headquarters and the other members, they would have realized it was a bad idea to take me on.
I don’t mind their enthusiasm, but it seems they’ve misunderstood the reason for my high bounty. They think I’m some wicked woman who tricked a prince, not someone who single-handedly repelled a large imperial force.
Think about it. The prince and his army losing to a small group of women would be embarrassing. They probably fabricated a twisted reason to put a bounty on my head.
"Anyway, if we kill her, we won’t get the bonus. Let’s surround her and take her down," one of them suggests.
"Wait, that calm demeanor is worrying. Let’s try to immobilize her with magic and check for traps," another advises.
"Same old trick. It seems a bit much for just one woman, doesn’t it?"
"With that kind of bounty, it’s worth it."
"Right, let’s get it over with."
They’re more cautious than I expected. From their whispered conversation, I can tell what they’re planning. No problem. I start walking away to keep the Bloomstar Galaxy out of the fray.
They scatter and surround me, mistaking my calmness for an attempt to flee. I focus on their magic while keeping my own hidden. They form a circle around me, and without a signal, they begin their attack.
"Blinding sandstorm, huh?"
First, a strong wind mixed with sand hits me. It’s not powerful enough to cause serious harm, but it can disrupt concentration. As I raise an arm to shield my face, the other four start their attacks.
I’m not worried about their simultaneous magic attacks. My reaction speed and combat skills far surpass theirs.
One of them uses a sixth-tier fire spell to burn the surrounding grass, likely to destroy any traps. There are no traps, of course. I let the low-level fire spell hit and ignore it with my Active Armor.
Another targets my feet with a rare water spell, probably to immobilize me with its sticky properties. I block it with my shield. If I hadn’t, it might have been a bit troublesome.
The last two use magic items. I intercept their thrown objects with iron balls, which are much faster than their best efforts.
The destroyed items release weak electric shocks, likely their activation condition. It’s an interesting toy, but it doesn’t affect me. My high ponytail, tied with a velvet black ribbon, is a lightning-warding magic item that can even repel high-level spells.
"Nice try, but it won’t work on me."
Their coordinated attack to blind and immobilize me wasn’t bad. They fought well for their level. If they weren’t up against me, they might have had a chance.
After a few seconds, the men stare in shock at my calm stance.
"Your turn. I assume you’re ready?"
I tighten my Special Gloves and face the man in front of me. He hesitates, sensing the danger instinctively.
The leader, looking pale, opens his mouth to speak when another man’s magic flares up.
"Cut the crap, amateur! Just because your trick worked, you think you’re ready?"
"Wait!"
They can’t see through my advanced and ultra-fast defenses. I didn’t hide them, but they might assume I used superior magic items.
One of them, blood rushing to his head, ignores his friend’s warning and charges with a sword. If ranged attacks don’t work, he thinks close combat will. Good thinking.
The fight has just begun. The spectators probably thought it was over, but these guys are still in it.
They don’t abandon their comrade’s reckless charge. Long-range support is pointless, so they all rush in to help.
They’re honorable fools. I have to admit, I like that.
"Bring it on, I’m ready!"
I’ll show them what it’s like to fight a true powerhouse. I face the sword thrust from the side with my gloved palm. Just by extending my hand, I deflect and send the sword flying. The man is knocked off his feet, likely feeling as if he had hit a massive rock.
The next attacks come from swords. They’re well-used Mithril blades, not cheap imitations. But without enough magic, they’re useless.
I spin and strike their swords with my fists and kicks. This is a destructive attack, not just a defense. The Mithril blades shatter, and their wielders suffer significant damage.
Without waiting for the four to react, I close in on the first man who fell. He might understand the power gap, but I’ll show him it’s even worse than he imagines.
I step forward and crush his dropped sword underfoot. Taking another step, I grab him by the collar of his light armor and force him to stand. I slip my hand into the gap in his chest armor.
The man panics, unsure what I’ll do next.
"Hmph."
Ripping the metal armor is a powerful performance. Even a fool can see the difference in strength. The torn remnants crumple in my grip, and I throw them at a nearby rock, shattering it. This should break their will to fight.
I haven’t touched their magic items, though. They might still try to use them for a last-ditch effort. But they’ve realized they can’t win.
That’s fine. There’s no point in persisting in a losing battle.
They mistook me for a simple bounty, and their misunderstanding about my bounty is their misfortune. I’ll let them go, but not without a price.
I address the silent men.
"If you keep this up, I’ll tear off an arm. You’re free to run, but leave all your magic items behind. It’s a small price to pay for your lives."
Their rare, aggressive magic items are likely a result of recent regulations from the Magic Item Guild or underground magic engineers. Either way, they’re interesting.
If aggressive magic items become legal and widely available, it will change the game.
"Hand them over. All of them."
They hesitate, valuing their expensive items. But they’re more surprised by my leniency.
Their fidgeting is just annoying. I repeat my demand, and they finally remove their equipment and flee like cowards.
"Still, to think my bounty is for tricking a prince... What a joke."
Whether it’s intentional or a misunderstanding, it’s frustrating. If more people with similar misconceptions target me, I’ll make sure they understand my true strength. Eventually, the misunderstanding will clear up.
I check the scattered magic items for any hidden dangers. There are about a dozen small items of unknown use.
Picking them up would be a hassle, especially with the audience still watching.
I glance around and catch the eye of a curious boy. Even through my sunglasses, he can tell I’m looking at him.
Thinking it’s a good idea, I beckon him over. The clever boy runs over fearlessly.
"Hey, can you gather those things and follow me?"
"Sure."
The obedient boy collects the items and follows me. Good kid.
"Put them in here."
"Okay."
The touring bag attached to the rear wheel of the Bloomstar Galaxy has enough space for the confiscated items.
"Here, take this as a reward."
I give him a bag of candy from the other side. He takes it without complaint and seems genuinely happy. I watch him leave, leaving only a loud noise behind.
Sigh, this is frustrating.
If I had interesting opponents, I could enjoy the challenge. But these misunderstandings are just a hassle.
I should thank the Medek-Legisamo Empire for this at some point.
This was just a minor side episode in my daily routine.
It’s the calm before the storm. Next chapter: "Let’s Get Moving, Girls!"