Chapter 195
"Hmm!! Dungeons are fun, but I guess you could say they're tiring after all."
"That movement looks just like Dad."
"Nel, want to try it too? Feels great."
"Really?"
"Yeah, like this—stretch it out."
"Ah, it really does feel good."
After escaping the dungeon, with the tension gone, I stretch my back thoroughly to loosen up my body. I wonder if she's saying I look like an old man, or if it's because Nel often sees her father Jinx, who sits making accessories all day, doing these stretches to relieve stiffness. When she pointed it out, I invited her to join, and Nel stretched her back too.
The reason stretching feels unexpectedly good is because some part of you is tired. Moving your body means something will inevitably get worn out. Kids tend to overdo things without realizing it.
"Speaking of which, I'm kinda hungry now."
While loosening up my body as a post-exercise stretch, I start feeling a bit peckish. It's not like my stomach is growling, but I can sense a slight hunger. At this rate, I probably won't last until dinner.
"Me too. But there's still time before dinner, right?" "No way I'll last that long."
Even though I snacked on portable rations while going all out in the dungeon, a child's metabolism and digestion are incredible. The food gets processed in no time, and their body keeps demanding more.
"...Then how about we grab something sweet on the way back?"
I do have the rationality to resist such cravings, but when Nel subtly holds her stomach and glances at me, I don't bother using that restraint.
"Sounds good."
I give a thumbs-up with a smile, deciding to indulge in some street food. Thanks to Nel, we're already halfway done with leveling. If we keep this pace tomorrow, we'll finish by then.
Completing half the planned work in a single day is way ahead of schedule. We’ve earned enough free time to use it meaningfully. I’m not sure if you could say the work is "done," but treating ourselves to a reward makes our steps lighter.
Leaving the coliseum, the thought of stopping by a food stall on the way back for something sweet quickens our pace.
"What do you want to eat?" "Hmm, there was this one stall I saw the other day..."
In the capital’s street food district, there are a few stalls selling sweets, though not many. Sugar is a luxury, but it's priced just within reach of commoners. There’s always demand for sweets—both men and women alike occasionally splurge on them, even if they’re a bit pricey.
"I want waffles." "Oh, nice choice."
While a bit pricey for a kid’s allowance, I’m technically earning now. Just selling the materials in my magic bag could fund a year’s worth of snacks. Plus, I’ve got spare cash stored in there too.
With no financial hesitation, I decide to buy some for Amina and the others as well and head toward the food stalls.
A spear-carrying boy and a fox girl with a large halberd on her back—this duo doesn’t get harassed. Weapons act as a deterrent. While brandishing them recklessly is a crime, using them in self-defense is legally justified. This world doesn’t recognize "excessive force"—whoever draws first is in the wrong. So, we can safely buy sweets and head home without trouble.
Now, why am I mentioning this? Because—
"Hey!? Wasn’t it that brat who bumped into me first!? Their stupid snack got my gear dirty!" "I sincerely apologize. But as you can see, your equipment has been properly wiped clean."
On our way to the stalls, we witness a scene where a thuggish-looking adventurer is harassing a tall, mild-mannered man.
"......Liberta, should we call the guards?" "Probably fine. People around here are already calling them. And... I think that guy’s strong."
The adventurer, clearly battle-hardened, carries a sword at his hip, exuding an aura that suggests he could draw it any second. In this world, it’s normal for people to pull weapons the moment tempers flare. The capital’s residents, knowing this, are quick to react when someone shows anger.
Bystanders watch from a distance, but some have already gone to fetch the guards.
The man being confronted is part of a family of three—a large but gentle-looking father, a slender woman, and a small girl. The father stands protectively in front of his wife and child.
Most commoners would cower in fear, but this man remains composed, apologizing for his daughter’s mistake despite the adventurer’s aggression. He isn’t intimidated.
"I get the gist of the situation. We shouldn’t interfere here." "...Yeah."
At the man’s feet lies spilled candy. The little girl is crying, and her mother holds her close.
From the flow of the conversation, it seems the child, excited about her treat, wasn’t paying attention and bumped into the adventurer—not that he’s making unreasonable accusations.
"Tch!? My gear got dirty—that’s the damn problem! Wiping it doesn’t change that! Hand over 10,000 zeni as compensation!" "My apologies. We’re travelers and don’t have that much on us."
The unlucky part was running into a scummy adventurer. Being upset about the mess is understandable, but extorting money under false pretenses is too much. The man keeps trying to defuse the situation calmly, but the angry adventurer isn’t backing down.
"I see. No money, huh?"
The adventurer smirks, eyeing the wife with a lewd grin.
I instantly understand what he’s implying.
"Then hand over the woman for the night."
Just as expected, the predictable demand leaves the onlookers disgusted.
"I’m afraid not. She is my beloved wife. That is out of the question." "Parents are responsible for their kids’ mistakes, right? I’m being generous here! If you can’t pay up, hand her over!"
There’s a limit to false accusations. Demanding money would’ve been bad enough. But he crossed the line.
"Ugh, that guy! I can’t stand him!" "I won’t stop you from punching him, but wait a sec." "Why?"
I stop Nel as she grips her halberd, ready to charge. For a split second, I think the father glances our way, reacting to Nel’s fighting spirit.
It feels like he’s telling us not to interfere.
Then, the previously apologetic father’s demeanor shifts.
That adventurer just stepped on a landmine—and doesn’t even realize it.
When I hold Nel back, she looks at me questioningly, but I keep my eyes on the man, whose aura has changed.
"That adventurer thinks he has the upper hand, but he hasn’t noticed the other guy’s mood shift. One more step, and it’s over."
The crowd grows restless, murmuring about where the guards are.
"Fine. I’ll say it one last time, out of kindness. If you can’t pay, leave the woman and get lost." "My apologies." "Yeah, yeah. Ignoring my generosity, huh? Don’t regret this!!"
With that, negotiations collapse. The adventurer’s patience snaps, and he throws a punch at the father’s face.
Hotheadedness leads to ruin—this scene embodies that saying.
I can only grimace.
Despite his experience, the adventurer failed to realize his opponent was out of his league.
Blinded by anger, his fist flies toward the gentle-looking man’s cheek, aiming to knock him down.
But—
"!?" "......Are you satisfied?"
The punch doesn’t land.
The mild-mannered man, now expressionless like a Noh mask, catches the fist against his cheek.
Slowly, he raises his own fist.
"Don’t get cocky just ‘cause you blocked one hit with a skill!!"
Declaring the block a fluke, the adventurer throws another punch. This one, a full-powered strike, lands before the father’s raised fist completes its motion. A solid impact rings out.
A desperate attempt to erase any doubt—his strongest blow.
"Guh!?"
But excuses don’t work here.
No hesitation, no arrogance.
The adventurer’s full-powered strike—
Yet the expressionless man doesn’t even flinch.
"The first hit was an apology for my daughter’s rudeness."
When your attacks don’t work, fear sets in.
Whether it’s a skill or raw stats, the fact remains—his punches are useless. The adventurer’s fighting spirit crumbles.
"T-Then let’s call it even, yeah?"
He starts trembling like a condemned criminal.
"If you hadn’t thrown the second punch, maybe."
He could’ve fled, but adventurers’ pride rarely allows retreat. Especially not in front of a crowd—it’d ruin his reputation.
But the man isn’t done.
"However—you demanded my beloved wife. You frightened my precious daughter. And above all, you attacked us without cause. As a husband, a father, and the head of this family, I cannot forgive these three sins."
Calmly listing the charges, he raises his fist for judgment.
"Thus, I shall pass sentence."
An eye for an eye.
A fist for a fist.
The punch lands squarely on the frozen adventurer’s cheek.
"Bwuh!?"
I note how well-trained that fist is.
Different from Claudia’s style, but refined beyond the thug’s wild swings.
The adventurer goes flying, nearly crashing into the crowd, but they scatter in time, leaving him to tumble across the ground.
"Wow." "That was a clean knockout."
Evil meets its end—this is that moment.
Given he took two punches first, no one’s blaming the father.
But who is that guy?
Someone that strong should be a named character.
Then again, my knowledge is based on the game’s timeline. If things changed in the past, I wouldn’t know.
Plus, there were no NPCs traveling as families in the game. Sibling or parent-child pairs existed, but never a full family unit.
Maybe he was cut content?
"That guy’s strong. An adventurer?" "If he were, they’d settle this at the guild. Probably not."
Either way, in the grand scheme of FBO’s world, most people are strangers to me. No point overthinking it.
"True. No use worrying. Ugh, I’m starving. Let’s splurge and get two today!" "Make sure you still have room for dinner." "Don’t worry! Ingrid’s cooking is too good to miss!!"
Still... I can’t shake the feeling something’s off.