Chapter 122: Raiding the camp
A few meters away from them, in the middle of the dense forest, stood a moderately sized wooden camp. Tall wooden fences surrounded its perimeter, keeping wild animals away while serving as a basic defensive barrier.
"Bis iz obr tamp," (This is our camp.) the bandit revealed, his swollen voice trembling with obvious fear.
Vlad struck the back of his neck, knocking him unconscious before climbing a nearby tree. Just as Victor had taught in his tactics lecture, he first surveyed the area, counting the enemies and searching for any abductees who might need rescuing.
His crimson eye calmly scanned every corner of the settlement, carefully noting the patrol routes and blind spots.
After a few minutes, he move down and quietly shared his findings with Chloe and Noah.
"There are a total of twenty-one bandits in the camp. The likelihood of more of them being out in the forest is low. There is only one path through this forest, and we already encountered the bandits stationed there. As for the abductees, I can’t say for certain, but if there are any, they’re probably being held in the large camp at the back."
"Their numbers aren’t the issue," Noah said, sounding serious for the first time. "The problem is that we don’t know their level. If they’re robbing people this openly just outside Velarum City, where the children of most noble houses are enrolled, then their leader must either be stupid or both powerful and stupid."
His blue eyes narrowed slightly in annoyance as he continued.
"This is more than what a B-Ranked quest should be."
"So... should we stop here and inform the academy about it?" Vlad asked, glancing toward the settlement once more.
"That should have been the most logical course of action... unless I wasn’t part of this party," Noah replied, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Now that I’m here, I might as well pull some weight."
He stretched his arms before shifting his gaze toward Chloe.
"Listen, gorilla. Quietly search for any abductees and rescue them while Vlad and I distract everyone from the front."
She ignored both the remark and the order, silently turning toward Vlad instead.
"Do as he says," Vlad told her. Ignoring the fact that Noah was a repeater, he was already a Candidate Grade, not to mention his S-Rank talent. Vlad had always felt that Noah possessed far more than he let on. He trusted both his instincts and Noah.
Only after receiving Vlad’s approval did Chloe nod in agreement.
She gracefully climbed a nearby tree before leaping from one branch to another without producing even the slightest sound. The dense canopy swallowed her figure within moments.
"Whoa... she’s like a monkey," Noah commented with mild amusement, causing a faint frown to appear on Vlad’s face.
He would have already confronted Noah for calling Chloe names, but he was hardly in a position to do so when Chloe herself had given nicknames to nearly everyone based on her first impression.
Perhaps this would teach her that what goes around also comes around.
"Vlad, prove to me what you’ve actually got," Noah said in a serious tone as he moved through the bushes until he reached the wooden fence.
"I have nothing to prove to anyone," Vlad replied coldly as he stepped beside him.
Without another word, he tightened his fist and drove it into the wooden fence.
Crash!
The impact shattered several thick planks, sending broken pieces of wood flying deep into the camp.
The loud crash immediately drew the attention of the bandits inside.
Dozens of them rushed out, gripping swords, spears, and machetes.
"Where did these kids come from?" one of them muttered, genuine confusion written across his face.
"Hey, brats. Did you lose your way?" another demanded, lazily resting a machete on his shoulder.
"With how they broke the fence, it looks like they came looking for a fight. Not that they’ll be leaving as freely as they came."
Noah facepalmed in annoyance, his brows furrowing.
"You have too much to say for cannon fodder. Just come at us already."
"Look at this cocky brat who doesn’t know his place."
One of the bandits stepped forward with a wide grin.
He casually began patting Noah’s head as he continued, "You’ve got quite a pretty face. We’re running low on women around here. I don’t mind a cake even if it comes with a candle—"
Slash!
His severed hand hit the ground as Noah drew his sword from the storage ring and slashed upward in a single fluid motion.
"Disgusting perverts!"
"Ahhhhh!!! My hand!"
The bandit screamed in agony, tears and snot running freely down his face as he clutched the stump of his severed wrist with his remaining hand.
"It hurts! It fucking h—"
A fist crashed square into his stomach.
The force launched him several meters backward before he rolled violently across the ground.
"So loud," Vlad muttered, slowly lowering his fist.
For a brief moment, silence settled over the camp. The surrounding bandits stared blankly at the scene, unable to process what had just happened.
"Kill them!" one of them finally roared.
The entire camp surged forward at once.
Vlad calmly unsheathed his sword, coating its blade with Mana Blade.
He shifted his attention toward the bandits approaching from the left while those on the right had already become Noah’s targets.
’Ren, activate Foresight Eye,’ Vlad ordered, taking a slow, steady breath.
This was not a duel like the one he had fought against Lorenzo. This was a real battle against multiple opponents. A single wrong decision or even a moment’s hesitation could cost him his life.
[Foresight Eye Activated!]
Crimson lightning flickered within his blood-red eye as his gaze locked onto the charging enemies. His grip around the sword tightened until his knuckles turned pale.
He was already adept at predicting an opponent’s movements by observing the slightest twitch of their muscles before they attacked.
But now, with the assistance of Foresight Eye, those subtle movements became even clearer.
The world around him seemed to slow ever so slightly as every incoming attack unfolded before his eyes with startling clarity.