The wind had stilled after the fight, and the scent of blood lingered in the morning air. The three rookie girls, Hina, Rika, and Yuzu sat by a tree, huddled together with Selena and Lio beside them, resting and tending to wounds. None of them noticed that Red had quietly dragged the unconscious bandit into the forest, far from the clearing.
Red moved with purpose, his black cloak trailing like a shadow behind him. He dropped the bandit against the trunk of a gnarled tree, bound him tightly with leather cords, and knelt in front of him. The man stirred with a groan, blinking through the pain.
Red: Wake up,
Red said coldly, flicking water into his face.
The bandit jerked upright, fear instantly coloring his eyes.
"You! you're that black swordsman! The one from the warfront"
Red: Speak less. Listen more
He crouched, his blade resting gently against the bandit's cheek. The edge of the sword shimmered, hungry and cold.
Red: I'll ask you once, Who sent you?
Red said, voice devoid of emotion.
"I—I don't know," the man stammered. "We...we're just a group, man! No one sent us!"
Red: Wrong answer.
With one clean motion, he sliced across the man's left boot, drawing blood from the top of his foot.
"GAHH! What the hell!"
Red: That's a warning. Next time, I'll cut deeper.
"I swear! I swear, I'm just muscle! I don't know anything!"
Red's voice turned colder.
Red: You and your twelve friends were waiting in ambush. You were too well-armed for common raiders. No loot was taken. You were waiting for something… or someone. Who?
The man trembled. Sweat poured down his temple. He looked around, as if hoping someone might save him.
Red didn't blink. His blade pressed lightly against the man's throat.
"Fine! Okay! I'll talk!"
Red didn't move.
The bandit exhaled shakily. "We—we got word from a handler in Ashgarde. Said to expect 'rich rookie targets' heading north through Elderholm. Said there'd be 'interesting prey', maybe even from Silverhaven. Some bounty hunter bastard named Krayle gave us orders."
Red: Krayle, A bounty hunter?
"Y-yeah. He's no normal hunter though. He's ex-guild, he used to work for the Royal Adventurer's Guild in Eastmere, before he went rogue. Heard he takes contracts from nobles… and others who want people dead without official notice."
Red's eyes darkened.
Red: Targets?
"We weren't told names," the man said quickly. "Just told to make sure no one survived. Get rid of rookies heading north, especially anyone traveling with a 'black-clad swordsman.' That's it, I swear!"
Red stared for a long moment. His silence felt heavier than any sword.
Red: So, someone's already tracking us, And they know who I am…
The bandit dared a hopeful look. "That's it, man! That's all I know! Please...let me go! I...I can disappear. Change my name. I've got a family"
Red stood.
The man's begging intensified. "Please! You said you wanted information—I gave it! You got what you needed, right?!"
Red sheathed one sword, and drew the other.
The second blade was darker, older. It hummed with a cold, unseen energy.
Red: I gave you a chance, But I never said I'd let you live.
Red: If you really have a family, think twice, no, hundred times before you do something stupid.
The bandit's face twisted into horror. "No...no, wait! You can't!!"
Red: I can, Because people like you don't just rob travelers. You extort, you kidnap, you ruin lives. You're the root of corruption festering in this land. One kill at a time isn't justice.
He raised the blade.
Red: It's cleansing.
The bandit screamed, but it was brief.
Red stood quietly as the man's head rolled to the side, the forest claiming his final breath. Blood soaked into the earth, muted by moss and fallen leaves.
He cleaned his blade in silence.
When he returned to the clearing, Selena was laughing with Hina and Rika, while Lio sat on a log listening to Yuzu explain her fire magic, with far more interest in Yuzu than the magic.
Selena noticed Red first and jumped up.
Selena: Hey! You're back! Did the guy talk?
Red: He did
Selena: And…?
Red looked to the north trail.
Red: We keep moving. There's more to this quest than goblins.
Lio: Wait, what do you mean? Wasn't this just a routine extermination?
Red didn't answer. Instead, he handed Lio a small map, marked with scribbles in old ink.
Red: This was on the bandit leader, It leads to a hideout. Krayle's probably using it to coordinate hits on rookie adventurers.
Selena: Krayle?
Red: A bounty hunter. Rogue. Dangerous. Knows we're coming.
The three rookie girls looked nervously at one another.
Hina: Maybe we should go back to Silverhaven,
Red: No, You're with us now.
Rika: Wait, what?
Yuzu: We didn't agree to that.
Red: You fought well. You're not dead. You'll learn faster with us.
Selena: Are you seriously recruiting people mid-quest now?
Red: They're safer under our watch. That's enough.
Lio scratched his head.
Lio: I guess it wouldn't be so bad…
Selena: Fine, but they're not allowed to sleep near you.
Lio: I didn't! I wasn't!
The group gathered their things. Red took one last look at the path behind them, the trail stained by justice and blood, and walked north again, eyes forward, blade ready.
The roots of corruption had been found. Now, they'd be burned to ash.