Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Robbery (1)

Thoom!

Thoom!

Thoom!

As the heavy hoofbeats echoed, people on the road hastily scrambled to either side, clearing a path.

Some fled into the distance outright, while others ducked into buildings and barred the doors shut.

Thanks to that, the bustling city fell silent in an instant.

Creeeak...

Tension spread through the city.

Someone cautiously opened a window.

It was a little kid who lived in the city.

Despite the adults' warnings, curiosity had gotten the better of him, and he'd opened the window anyway.

Whoosh—! Whoosh—!

Thanks to that, the kid got to see it.

A bull-headed human covered in sword scars, walking with a massive wooden crate strapped to his back.

So that was the Minotaur he'd only ever heard about.

A bull-headed monster race that ate people.

And yet, the kid wasn't sure he understood it right.

According to the rumors, a Minotaur was a terrifying monster that devoured humans—but the Minotaur he was looking at now didn't seem all that dangerous.

Watching it haul a wooden crate bigger than its own body, it looked less frightening than pitiful.

If anything, the ones who looked dangerous were the trio walking in front of the Minotaur.

Those were the Bander Peddler Band.

Peddlers who came to the village on a regular basis.

The kid was too young to know what they actually did, but he did know that the adults hated them and feared them.

They seemed aware of that too, because every time they came to the city, they wore nasty, leering grins.

But this time, something was a little different.

Instead of their usual obnoxious smirks, they were talking with rather serious faces.

What on earth could they be discussing?

"We're taking a huge loss here. We paid good money for it, and it just up and died. Are you sure that Monster Merchant bastard didn't scam us?"

Ote, the youngest member and left arm of the Bander Peddler Band, grumbled. At that, the big man beside him voiced doubt.

"No way... He's not some small-time dealer. You think he'd pull something like that?"

It was Teros, the Bander Peddler Band's second-in-command and Bander's right arm.

"Come on, big brother. Isn't it precisely because it's not small money that he'd scam us?"

"Ah, you think so?"

"That's enough."

Someone cut their conversation short.

It was Bander, walking at the very front. The head of the Bander Peddler Band.

"The Monster Merchant is a dealer with credit. At the very least, that means he's not an idiot who'd ruin his reputation over the price of one snake. Don't get worked up."

At the leader's words, Ote and Teros shut their mouths. They trusted his judgment.

"Then that means whoever killed the snake is no ordinary person, right?"

Ote thought for a moment before offering a new opinion. If the monstrous Serpent was no ordinary creature, there was only one other answer.

"That's very likely. And he'll be in this city."

"What are you going to do about him?"

Teros asked, running a hand over the double-bladed axe on his back.

"He should still be in this city."

"What's there to think about? If he looks useful, we recruit him. If not, he pays back our losses."

"Ooh, is the youngest getting a way out?"

"It'd be nice to add to the family! And if not, no skin off our backs!"

Ote and Teros chattered loudly, caught up in their excitement.

Even so, the Minotaur at the very back kept its feet moving busily, drenched in sweat as it struggled to match their stride.

Thoom! Thoom! Thoom! The sound crept closer to the city center, and in time with it, the people there fled into the distance or hid themselves away.

At the sight, Ote flashed a fishy grin.

"Ha, that aside, this city really hasn't changed a bit."

"What do you mean? It's grown quite a bit, hasn't it?"

"Not in size. The atmosphere! The atmosphere! Everyone's skulking around with their eyes down like scared rabbits."

"Kik kik kik! Of course they're hiding. They saw what happens to anyone who defies us and crosses Bander!"

Teros laughed grotesquely. Right after the old Market died and a new one took the seat, Bander's group had come to this city.

They'd made their move before the new Market could properly inherit his dead father's connections. The plan hit its mark, and they successfully secured an exclusive trade agreement with the city.

Because the city's master had changed, the old backers who'd protected the city looked the other way, and the powerless young Market had no choice but to accept the terms they were offered.

Thanks to that, the Bander Peddler Band had come to dominate the specialty goods of the nearby villages, centered on this city, raking in a considerable profit.

Of course, they couldn't block every last petty transaction.

They could have if they wanted to, but it was too much hassle, and pressing too hard risked sparking a backlash. In the long run, it would be a loss.

Even so, the Bander Peddler Band wanted complete control over even the small dealings, and their clever solution was to buy the Serpent from the Monster Merchant.

Once a monstrous Serpent planted itself right in the middle of the road, people would have no choice but to rely on them in the end.

But with the Serpent dead, all those plans had gone up in smoke.

That was also why the Bander Peddler Band had come here earlier than scheduled.

To see with their own eyes exactly who was meddling in their business.

"Hm? What's that?"

Ote lifted his head slightly and furrowed his brow.

A carriage was parked dead in the middle of the road they were walking down. Daring to block the path they were taking!

There were two kids in the carriage, and it didn't completely block the way, but that wasn't the point.

The point was the simple fact that it blocked the road they were walking.

Ote, hot-tempered as he was, wanted to smash the carriage to bits, but it was a hassle, so he shouted instead.

"What's this, blocking the road! Move it, now!"

At Ote's bellow, the powerless city folk flinched.

The next scene played out in his head like a prophetic dream.

Them pulling the carriage aside, drenched in sweat.

But then a completely unexpected voice cut in.

"You go around! And quit making a racket!"

At the utterly unexpected shout, Ote's and everyone else's eyes around them snapped to a single spot.

There, a blond man sat crouched, looking their way.

"Those things under you are called legs, aren't they? Use them and go around. Stop making a fuss."

---

Everyone around was stunned.

Not just the Bander Peddler Band themselves, but even the people on the street who hadn't managed to flee in time.

There was no one in these parts who would say such a thing to the Bander Peddler Band.

Whether he knew that or not, Anagin spoke to Ote, who was staring at him in shock.

"What, didn't you hear me? Want me to say it again?"

Just as Ote was about to flare up at the provoking question, the Old Man apologized.

"I'm fine, really... I'm sorry. We'll move right away."

"Too late. You've got some nerve—!"

Ote stepped forward, about to explode, but Bander blocked his chest and calmed him down.

"That's enough... It's not hard to go around a little, is it?"

Ote stared at Bander with a startled look.

And no wonder—it was none other than Bander who had set Ote to act this way.

It was a kind of unleashing of a mad dog.

To seize the upper hand in negotiations, Bander indirectly signaled Ote to throw a fit.

Make things difficult for them, and they'd be more obedient. But doing it himself would cost him face.

So Bander pushed the tantrum role onto Ote, letting him protect his dignity while still reaping the practical benefits. This way, by reining Ote in, he could elevate his own standing and play the magnanimous one.

Ote knew this too, which was why he gave his assigned role his all.

What else could he do? That was the youngest's job.

But now Bander stopped Ote and yielded a step first.

True to his word, Bander didn't touch the parked carriage, going around it to approach Anagin.

Even with him right up close, Anagin stayed exactly as he was, crouched down.

"You're a face I haven't seen before. A settler?"

"This is our first meeting. Is there any reason I should tell you that?"

"Ha, fair enough."

Despite Anagin's crooked attitude, Bander conceded with a show of composure.

If anything, the comrades flanking him in front and behind glared at Anagin with sour looks.

"Please, come in, everyone."

As Bander's men and Anagin glared at each other, a familiar voice cut in. It was the Market, Rio, stepping out of the building.

"Market."

Bander greeted Rio with proper courtesy, and Rio returned the greeting in kind.

"Bander."

The difference was that while Bander's was a formality, Rio's was delivered with every nerve on edge. It was obvious just from how he watched their every move.

"You've come earlier than usual."

"I heard the news."

"News, you say..."

"That a monstrous Serpent appeared on the road in and out of the city and has been causing trouble?"

"Word travels fast."

"Giants aren't just strong—we've got good ears. Anyway, I came because of that news. If our trading partner runs into trouble, it's trouble for us too, so I figured we'd exterminate it for you... But it seems you've already taken care of it. Is this the man?"

Bander pointed at Anagin. Just from a glance, he'd recognized that Anagin was the one who'd dealt with the monstrous Serpent.

"Yes. Thanks to him, our headache was resolved quickly."

"Hooh, a monster's carcass would fetch a good price. You have it?"

"We do. Only the body, though... He asked us to sell it on his behalf."

Bander turned his head to Anagin, asking with his eyes. Whether that was true.

Anagin looked back and forth between Bander's and Rio's faces.

In their eyes were, respectively, suspicion and mockery, desperation and resolve.

Anagin answered instead by silently shrugging his shoulders.

"So it's true... How much do you want? I'll give you whatever you ask."

At the unexpected attitude, Rio's eyes wavered.

He'd assumed that a man who'd appeared out of nowhere during his father's funeral, harmed the guards, smashed up a building, and forced a deal would surely demand an outrageous price. So it was startling to hear him so calmly agree to pay.

Soon enough, he understood the motive.

"Either way, when it comes to money, there's plenty of places to fill. I'm fine, you see."

Bander twisted his words blatantly. It was a warning.

I know all about your little scheme—picking up some naive Giant and trying to start a fight with me! I won't dance to your tune! You'll pay dearly for your tricks! That was what it meant.

Looking at Bander, who'd seen through his scheme so easily, Rio felt a stiff ache in the back of his neck. Had he underestimated him?

Bander clapped his hands together and steered the conversation along.

"Now, now, let's move on to talking about other business. Especially this deal—there's a lot we'll need to hash out—"

"—Does that mean you're screwing us over on the price of the goods here?"

Like a stone tossed into a still lake, Anagin dropped the words flatly. Naturally, everyone's attention snapped back to him.

Bander was no exception.

"...Are you talking to me?"

"Is there anyone else here?"

Bander let out a scoff.

"What, are you some apostle of justice?"

"Come on, no way. Do I look like one?"

Anagin smiled a fishy smile, as if it were absurd.

"If not, then good. Means you're not an idiot. And since you're not an idiot, you know that haggling over prices is one of a merchant's jobs, right?"

"That's why I hate merchant types. Just from hearing about them."

"......"

"But I've got to say, I'm a little surprised. I figured you were an Ascetic."

Bander showed curiosity, as if he found it unexpected.

"I'm an Ascetic too. A Merchant and an Ascetic. How'd you know? Did the Market tell you?"

"No, I could smell it."

"?"

"Sniff sniff. The smell of a failure struggling because God never chose him. I'm curious, so let me ask—are you really dressing up as a merchant and robbing people just to catch God's eye?"

"......"

"I'm trying to become an Ascetic myself, but I'm having second thoughts. Every Ascetic I meet is a failure, and it makes me wonder if this is really the way to become a God."