Despite their growing doubts regarding the state of the highway, the Frizion Army continued their march to rendezvous with the Rebel Army. However, the anxieties Ray and the others harbored soon proved well-founded.
"They're back! Coming from the woods beside the road! There are about fifteen of them!"
At the shout echoing through the ranks, the soldiers of the Frizion Army positioned near the forest immediately took up intercept positions.
"Hya-ha! It’s a payday!"
"Hand over the gold and the women!"
Howling these cries, the bandits emerged from the forest and launched an assault on the Frizion Army.
Of course, the Frizion Army was composed of elites, so a mere attack from bandits was of little consequence to their defenses. However, even for veterans, there was a slight delay before they could transition into an immediate counteroffensive. If these skirmishes were repeated often enough, the cumulative fatigue would set in, gradually slowing their progress.
Had they been able to simply slaughter the attackers, morale might have risen at the sight of tangible results. Instead, the enemy followed a frustrating pattern.
"Alright, let's move out!"
"Dammit, they’re too fast! They’ve already closed ranks!"
"It’s not a retreat, it’s a tactical withdrawal!"
The moment the bandits saw the Frizion Army ready their stance, they vanished back into the trees. To make matters worse, they fired a parting volley of arrows as they fled. While the pursuit was momentarily slowed by the distraction, the bandits disappeared into the shadows of the forest.
The soldiers asked their superiors for permission to pursue, but given how skillfully the raids were being conducted, there was a high probability of an ambush. Breaking formation to give chase would also leave the main body vulnerable to a flanking attack from a different angle. Above all, considering this was likely a ploy by Cabajid or Schuls, the commanders could not afford to act recklessly.
However, seeing the Frizion Army—a gathering of elites—continuously harassed by common thieves was beginning to eat away at their spirits. Morale hadn't plummeted yet, but it was clear that stagnation would eventually take its toll.
"Well, I guess it’s our turn. Seto!"
"Guruuuu!"
At Ray's voice, Seto let out a loud cry and took to the sky after a short, powerful sprint.
It was unclear exactly how the bandits were coordinating their hide-and-seek tactics, but Ray and Seto—possessing power comparable to an entire army—were the perfect tools to clean them up.
The commanders had debated deploying them earlier. However, fearing that Cabajid or Schuls might target the army the moment its strongest assets were gone, they had hesitated. Now, with the bandit raids threatening to stall their progress indefinitely, the decision was finally made to send Ray and Seto to eliminate the threat.
"Diving into the forest isn't a bad idea, certainly. But once you've made me and Seto your enemies, that advantage becomes meaningless. Right, Seto?"
"Guru!"
Ray muttered from high above as Seto flapped its wings, weaving through the air above the dense canopy.
The Frizion Army had many cavalrymen due to the influence of the White Rose Knight Order and the need for a swift march, but few of those riders could effectively navigate the dense woods. In that sense, the bandits had been clever... but they likely never dreamed they were being tracked from the sky.
Or perhaps they would have known better if they had realized Ray and Seto were with the army. However, the person who devised this plan would never have shared such critical information—news that might cause the bandits to flee in terror before the plan even started.
Tracing the bandits as they fled through the overgrown evergreens was only possible thanks to the Gryphon Seto. Even among the enemy Dragon Knights, few possessed vision as sharp as Seto's.
(Was this why they sent those Dragon Knights on a suicide mission? No, if we had our own Dragon Knights, it would make sense, but those knights were their own elites. Wasting them just to scout or distract feels like a net loss... what are they really aiming for?)
Regarding the bandits, Ray understood that their goal was simply to delay the Frizion Army’s marching speed. However, he still hadn't found an answer as to why the enemy had pointlessly sacrificed their Dragon Knights. Precisely because he couldn't understand the logic, and knowing the general competence of Cabajid and Schuls, it remained as a nagging anxiety in the back of Ray's mind.
"Guru?"
Seto must have noticed Ray's troubled silence. Without turning its head away from the target below, Seto let out a soft rumble as if asking, What's wrong? Ray stroked Seto's neck, conveying that it was nothing for the bird to worry about.
After tracking the bandits through the forest for about thirty minutes, they finally arrived at the enemy's rallying point. It was a sun-drenched clearing beside a flowing river. Over fifty bandits were gathered there, lounging about and boasting of their success.
"Now then, what to do... I can't just wipe them all out if I want to squeeze them for information."
If Ray merely wanted to end them, incinerating the camp with flame magic would have been simple. However, the autumn air was dry, and the forest was thick. If he used magic recklessly, he risked starting a massive wildfire. He would need to limit his scale, though the clearing was large enough that a controlled blast wouldn't be an issue.
"If I’m going to get info, I need someone who actually knows the plan. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to break them one by one. Seto, go!"
"Guru!"
With a sharp cry, Seto descended toward the ground, plunging straight into the bandit camp. Some of the thieves had sharp instincts; the moment they saw the Gryphon's shadow, they bolted into the trees.
"...Tch. Seto, you take the guy who just ran. Bring him back alive if you can. He might be the one in charge."
"Gururu."
With a low growl, Seto touched down and immediately bolted into the forest after the runner. The remaining bandits stood frozen in shock, letting the beast pass without resistance.
Watching them, Ray drew the Death Scythe from his Misty Ring, the massive blade gleaming.
"Alright, you have two choices. One: surrender quietly and tell me everything you know. Two: refuse to surrender and try to fight me. Personally, I’d prefer you pick the first one, but the choice is yours."
Ray swung the Death Scythe in a slow, intimidating arc. Even with his hood up, his physique was relatively small. He expected them to see him as an easy target without the Gryphon by his side.
However...
"Fine, I surrender."
"Me too."
"Yeah, count me in."
To Ray's complete surprise, many of the bandits dropped their weapons and raised their hands.
(What the hell?)
Though he was confused, a quiet surrender meant more potential sources of information, so Ray accepted. But not all of them were so easily cowed.
"What are you cowards talking about?! Surrendering to a brat like this? You’ve lost your damn minds!"
"Yeah! He’s just one kid! If we all jump him, we can take him easily!"
About twenty of the bandits spat insults at those who had surrendered, turning their weapons toward Ray. Over half the group had given up, but these remnants were determined.
"You morons! We’re trying to save your lives!" one of the surrendering bandits shouted back. "Look at him! You saw that Gryphon! A guy riding a Gryphon and wielding a Great Scythe... that can only be Crimson the Bandit Eater! You really think you’re going to win?!"
At the mention of that name, the bandits who had opted for resistance turned pale. Ray was equally stunned.
(The name 'Crimson' has spread pretty far, but what the hell is a 'Bandit Eater'? I haven't even fought many bandits since I came to the Bestia Empire. Why the hell...?)
He paused, and then the realization hit him.
(I see. Some of the bandits from the Kingdom of Mireana must have fled across the border and spread the story. ...Wait, does this mean my reputation as a 'Bandit Eater' is entirely my own fault?)
Shaking off the thought, he swung the Death Scythe once more. The whoosh of the air being sliced was enough to make every man in the clearing flinch.
"There are enough of you surrendering already, which means those of you who want to fight are surplus to requirements. ...Come."
He beckoned them with a flick of his fingers. The provocation worked; their blood boiled with rage. Three bandits exchanged a nod and charged Ray all at once.
"Don't mock us, you little shit!"
"Think you can take all of us?! Die!"
"Aaaaagh!"
They lunged with a club, a longsword, and a battle axe.
In the next heartbeat, Ray delivered a single Horizontal Slash. The Death Scythe's Strike was so fast it was a blur. All three men were severed at the waist, their bodies falling apart as blood, organs, and viscera spilled onto the grass.
The thick, coiling scent of iron rust filled the clearing.
To the surviving bandits, the Great Scythe's Strike had looked like nothing more than a flash of light. Despite their leather armor, their protection had been as thin as paper. Seeing their comrades cut in two so effortlessly caused the remaining resistance to collapse instantly.
"Anyone else want to try? Step forward. I’m not going anywhere. Though, I should warn you—I won't let you run, either."
Ray gave the scythe a sharp flick, sending the blood on the blade flying.
In truth, if the bandits had all bolted in different directions at that moment, a few might have made it. But after seeing that display, no one was willing to gamble their life on such poor odds. They were a disorganized mob; expecting them to coordinate a mass escape was asking too much.
If their leader had been present, things might have been different, but...
"Fine. You’ve all surrendered. Now, who leads this gang?"
Ray's question was met with bewildered glances.
"Wait... where’s the Boss?"
"He was just here a second ago..."
"That bastard! Did he run off and leave us?!"
From their confused mutters, Ray realized that the man who had bolted the moment Seto landed was indeed their leader.
(Well, at least he had good instincts.)
He had fled before the fighting even started. In this line of work, that kind of intuition was a survival trait.
"Too bad for him," Ray murmured.
The bandits stared at him, too terrified to ask what he meant. The stench of iron and the sight of the three corpses were far too real for this to be a dream.
"You’ll understand soon," Ray said, pulling a coil of rope from the Misty Ring and tossing it to the ground. "Tie each other's hands. One ties the next, and I'll tie the last one. If I find any loose knots, you’ll end up like those three."
Fearing the scythe more than the rope, the bandits began to bind each other. Once they were tied in a long chain, Seto emerged from the brush. In its beak, the Gryphon carried a man. He was unconscious but alive, exactly as Ray had ordered.
The bandits buzzed with fear at the sight of their defeated leader being dropped like a sack of grain. Ray ignored them, waking the bandit leader with a rough shake before tying him up. He then swept the camp's accumulated loot into the Misty Ring and began the trek back to rejoin the Frizion Army.