Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: "I Shall Strip You of Everything!"
Gokigenyou. I am Violia Nico Fortesia. Right now, I am leading a group of bandits and putting my heart and soul into the bandit business.
Hunting is a noble's pastime. And after trying it, I've realized that there isn't much difference between hunting beasts and hunting humans. In other words, the bandit business is also a noble's pastime. Q.E.D. Ohohohoho.
"Now, now, now, now! If you value your life, leave your valuables behind!"
"W-what is this woman! Hey, guards!"
"It's no use! They've already been taken down! Run!"
...I have realized something.
Weak nobles who are forced to hire guards are very convenient marks.
Due to House Fortesia's educational policy of 'it's a waste of money to hire guards,' I, Violia Nico Fortesia, have mastered martial arts far superior to those of the average day-laborer guards around here.
From my perspective, young noble masters and ladies who cannot even protect themselves are, well, the best marks.
"N-no—! Help me!"
"Oh, there was a woman inside the carriage. I shall strip her of everything immediately!"
If I took them to a slave market, I could probably get a decent price for both men and women, but I don't have those connections right now. So if I'm to travel light, it's best to just strip them of everything and leave them on the road.
"H-how cruel... why, why are you doing this...?"
The noble girl said such things while I was stripping her. Well, honestly, she has no choice but to lament her own lack of preparation and her conceit. She should have hired better guards or trained herself.
"If you are a noble too, you should be prepared to be squeezed and enjoyed by others the moment you slip up, if you're going to squeeze taxes from your subjects to live in luxury. Or at least, do not neglect to take thorough measures so that doesn't happen."
"W-what are you talking about! Besides, who are you!? This..."
There, the noble girl's face suddenly changed.
"Y-you! That voice! You're Violia from House Fortesia!"
"Oh, excuse me. Who might you be?"
It seems my identity was revealed by my voice, but unfortunately, I have no memory of this girl. I have no end of things to remember if I were to recall every minor noble, let alone the useful ones.
"I-it's me! Me! We were together at the Academy...!"
"Ah, I remember now. You're the young lady who poured water on my textbook while shouting, 'House Fortesia is nothing but a collection of vulgar, nouveau riche pigs.'"
When I saw her desperate expression, I remembered. Though, the other party might have preferred I hadn't.
"How wonderful for you. Now it's your turn to become a vulgar pig!"
Since my identity has been revealed, I cannot just leave her be. I'll strip her of everything quickly. I should be able to get quite a bit of money if I collect her accessories.
"And you lot! You can have this woman! Do as you please!"
"We did it! It's been a while since we had a fresh woman!"
"As expected of the Boss! You really understand!"
"She understands a bit too much, it's actually scary..."
I handed the noble girl over to the bandits. I'm sorry, but if I let her go here, word of my sighting will definitely reach the castle. Reflect on yourself for noticing me, and further, for letting me notice that you noticed me.
So, I'll strip the guards of their belongings as intended.
As expected of those doing it as a profession, they have good equipment. They don't have many valuables, but the equipment is appreciated.
After all, I was wearing the equipment of a castle soldier. Rather than equipment that would be immediately suspected at a glance, it's better to have proper armor, a helmet, and weapons, even if they are mass-produced.
"Oh! This is a quite a good bow! It's a design I like! I'll take this, if you don't mind?"
"Yeah. Take whatever you like, Boss! We're satisfied just getting the leftovers!"
"We've been quite well-off since the Boss arrived, after all...!"
"Strong, beautiful, and understanding! Yeah, Boss! You're the best!"
"Even though we were almost killed by that Boss once?"
The bandits have completely come to prostrate themselves before me. To lead such underlings, you just have to prove your strength and make them understand their position, and then give them bait like this. It's a simple thing. After that, as long as there is a clear alignment of interests, I just have to keep proving my usefulness.
I smiled as I counted the gold coins I got from the noble girl's bag while fully outfitting myself.
"Now, you lot! It's time for a meal! Eat your fill!"
I butchered the deer I hunted in the mountains and roasted it over a bonfire. Since I started playing at being a bandit, our meals have mostly consisted of beast meat.
The bandits bring back nuts, and sometimes we get food from our marks, but meat is the foundation of a meal, after all.
The bow I just got was immediately useful. With this, I can take down deer, boars, or bears without a scratch. I won't have any trouble hunting for food anymore.
"The Boss has made almost nothing but whole roasted meat since the first day..."
"N-no, she occasionally makes wild herb sautés and stuff."
"W-well, as long as we can eat, it's fine."
"Meat's good."
The evaluation from the bandits is also excellent. I'm gathering more and more popularity.
"Boss! A magical beast is coming from the top of the mountain!"
"Oh. Then I'll kill it."
...Or so I thought, and I'll end up gathering even more popularity. A monster chasing the fleeing bandits... is it a Killer Grizzly? Or a Sakenikuware Bear? I can't tell the difference, but for now, I fire an arrow at the bear-type monster.
The arrow pierced the monster's head, but it still didn't stop. Monsters are truly terrifying. They don't seem like living creatures at all. Well, I suppose they are living creatures, though.
"Then it can't be helped."
I pulled out another arrow and slid my finger across the arrowhead. Blood oozed from my cut fingertip and stained the arrowhead.
I notched that arrow and fired.
This time, it pierced the monster's eyeball.
I have a wonderful skill with the bow, even if I do say so myself.
...And then, the monster convulsed on the spot and collapsed to the ground.
"Amazing, Boss! What was that just now!?"
"You didn't know? Blood is one of the most primitive tools for strengthening magic."
Saying that, I immediately set about skinning the monster. During my time at the Academy, my weekend hobbies were exclusively practicing magic or hunting. I'm used to skinning. It won't take much time.
"Boss! Let us help!"
"Don't touch my prey."
I drove away the bandits who approached with a backfist. These guys have become completely attached to me recently and try to take the lead in helping me. But it's a hundred years too early for them to touch a monster I've hunted!
"This is my prey! You lot go over there and stuff yourselves with deer meat."
"U-understood!"
Having successfully driven off the bandits, I set about skinning the monster's fur in high spirits. It's fun to skin when the condition is good! I wonder how much these will sell for! I'm looking forward to it!
...It was about ten days after I had started the bandit business.
Warriors with some interesting things entered our territory.