I Reincarnated as the Mob Flame User Destined to Die in the Early Stages of the Game, but When I Cleared the Event Before the Protagonist, the Heroines Followed Me

Chapter 20 – Battle Against Gills

I entered the bandits’ hideout just as it got dark.

There weren’t even any guards, perhaps they were still tired from the daytime battle.

No one would’ve thought that after a fierce battle, the bandits would be on the receiving end of a surprise attack.

I’ve been preparing for this day.

I’ve been thinking of a plan on how to wipe out the bandits.

This cave is narrow and has only one entrance.

If it were a game, not everyone would have been able to enter the cave, as some bandits would be in tents, but now that the number of bandits has decreased, everyone should be inside the cave.

I used all the sleeping potions I had and generated sleep gas. I also took out barrels filled with wood and oil from my Storage and lit them on fire.

“Fire!”

In an instant, I went outside and blocked the entrance to the cave with rocks. I had collected a large amount of rocks and soil in my Storage.

The reason my intrusion wasn’t noticed is probably because the number of bandits had decreased, and they probably don’t know which of their comrades died in battle.

It was a situation where it was easy to mistake my presence for that of a companion.

While setting up a pitfall trap outside, I kept an eye on the entrance.

[Level increased from 44 to 45]

Did I accumulate EXP from the daytime bandit battle and this stealth attack?

Boom!

The entrance collapsed and a human hand was visible.

I threw a barrel of oil into the entrance.

“Graghhhhhh! You coward!!”

A scream roared and the bandits were engulfed in flames.

The bandits had tried to kill me and everyone in the village. I’ll kill them all by any means necessary.

I especially can’t forgive them for almost killing Old Man Zes and Alicia.

As I looked at the red-burning entrance, the blockade was violently broken down and the Bandits’ Chief, Gills, came out.

“You! Don’t you dare underestimate me!”

“You look lively. You were just watching from the sidelines. Is that why you survived?”

“How dare you think you’ve won! You’re gonna die here!! I’m stronger than the axeman Godar! I’m stronger than the Black Wolf! I’m stronger than that golem! I’m the strongest!!”

“Buying time, huh? You caught your breath already?”

“I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you! I’ll rip you to pieces with my daggers!!!”

Gills pulled out two daggers from his scabbard and held them in a dual wielding position.

“Hah! I know what you’re thinking. You’re probably planning to bait me into a pit. But looking at the marks on the ground, I know exactly where the pit is! Thanks to you burning down the hideout and brightening it up, I can see the ground clearly. You’ve drowned in your own schemes, you coward! Hahahaha!”

“Are you done stalling?”

“I’ll kill you, damnit!”

Gills approached me, avoiding the trap I had set.

I hid a mace behind my shield and began to cast a spell.

It’s hard for Gills to see my magic because everything’s illuminated by the burning hideout.

On top of that, my mace was hidden behind my shield.

And Gills, avoiding the pitfall, was led towards me.

Perhaps his lack of oxygen was affecting his judgment.

I’ve been thinking about how to kill Gills since I was five years old. Since I was five years old, that’s 13 years now.

I know he’s quick and skilled.

So I focused on diverting his attention downwards with fire and pitfall traps, and I even thought about using fire magic without being noticed.

And just before Gills was about to slash me with his daggers, I released the spell.

“High Fire!”

Gills, who had lunged at me with great force, was stopped by a direct hit from High Fire.

“High Fire!”

Then, I used High Fire again for another attack.

Gills was blown away and rolled to the ground.

I swung my mace down, but Gills dodged it.

“Dammit, you bastard! I’ll kill you!”

Gills held out his daggers.

Suddenly, I felt like I heard Old Man Zes’ voice.

——Shield!

I blocked Gills’ dagger thrust with my shield.

Strangely, I felt no fear.

——Mace!

I ignored the other dagger attack and swung the mace down while being slashed at the arm.

I crushed Gills’ right shoulder with my mace, and I moved as Old Man Zes’ voice instructed.

——Shield! Mace! Mace! Mace! Shield! Mace! Mace! Mace!

I continued to receive small wounds, but I kept striking Gills and pushing him back with my shield.

“W-what the?! You bastard!!”

“Behind you is a pitfall.”

As Gills fell into the pitfall, I delivered the finishing blow.

“High Fire!”

[High Fire’s LV has increased from 39 to 40]

[Exfire LV1 obtained]

Jumping into the pitfall, I unleashed a powerful mace attack.

And with numerous strikes, I snuffed out Gills’ life.

[Level increased from 45 to 46]

Gills was a formidable enemy.

In the game, the villagers banded together to weaken Gills with a rain of arrows, and then the protagonists Dust and Alicia worked together to defeat him, who had been weakened after fighting Old Man Zes.

Gills had unique skills that allowed him to acquire skills quickly, and in the game, he was level 40.

However, this time, he was ambushed and lost his composure due to lack of oxygen, burns, and anger. He was too focused on the ground, resulting in an opening.

Large amounts of items were spit out from Gills.

Gills also has the Storage skill.

I put Gills’ treasure and the slightly burnt twin daggers in my Storage and was about to go home, when…

“Gett, w-we’re the only ones who aren’t tired, so w-we’ll join the fight!”

Three villagers were standing with their weapons ready.

The three of them were cowards, but they were meticulous and had the aptitude for scouting, as they noticed noises right away.

They must have come prepared to face death.

“It’s over now.”

“I-I see.”

The three slumped as if all their strength had drained away.

“I-I’ll… I’ll tell the others!”

“Me too!”

The three of them regained their energy and ran back home.

When I entered the village, it was already morning, and all the villagers were there to greet me.

“Did you defeat the bandits?”

“Yeah, everything’s okay now.”

“Well done! Gett is a hero!”

“We’re all grateful.”

Everyone praised me. I received even more praise when I donated some of the treasure that Gills had to the village.

However, someone pushed through the crowd and came in front of me.

“It’s a lie!! Gett is lying!!”

“What are you talking about?”

“Dust, that’s enough. Just stay back!”

“Jealousy isn’t good!”

“I was supposed to defeat Gills! You were supposed to die and I was supposed to defeat that damn Gills!!!!”

Dust was screaming and chaos ensued.

The injured Old Man Zes and Alicia came forward.

Alicia seems to be feeling better, but Old Man Zes still seems unwell.

Ignoring Dust, I talked to my father.

“These are the Twin Daggers Gills had, but they got a little burnt. I want to fix them and give them to Alicia as a present.”

“Leave it to me! I’m happy to help!”

“Hmm, those handles, they sure are from the Twin Daggers Gills had. This is solid evidence. Dust, I understand you don’t want to admit it, but Gett is stronger than you. And he defeated Gills. Reflect on yourself and start your training from scratch.”

“In the end, Dust only talks big, nyaa. It’s Gett who saved everyone, nyaa.”

Zes-ji and Alicia lifted me up and dropped Dust down. That caused Dust to lose his temper.

“…I’ll use it.”

I didn’t catch it at first, so I asked again.

“What did you say?”

“I’ll use it! I’ll use the Karma Ticket! You’re supposed to die! It’s your fault that I can’t be praised and I’m in this mess! It’s all your fault! Karma Ticket, activate!!”

Dust took out a Karma Ticket from his Storage and pointed it at me.

Did he just use the “Storage” skill?

After all, Dust is a hero and has the talent!

My body glowed and I received a bad status.

[You will continue to be affected by the monster summoning status debuff for 30 days]

“I received the monster summoning debuff for 30 days. I can’t stay here anymore.”

“Gyahahahahah! You’re destined to diesel!!!”

“Dust! What are you doing?! You’re not part of this village anymore! Leave!!”

Old Man Zes tried to grab Dust’s chest, but Dust blew the weakened Old Man Zes away.

Everyone who was watching this yelled at Dust all at once, making it impossible to understand what he was saying.

I stepped in between and readied my weapon to protect Old Man Zes.

“Hah! I’m leaving this village!!”

Pushing people aside, Dust ran away.

“I can’t cause any more trouble for everyone. I’ll leave too.”

“Hah…hah… Gett, I’m sorry. I couldn’t do anything.”

“Old Man Zes, that’s not true. Thanks to Old Man Zes, I’m alive now. …There’s no time left, I have to hurry and leave.”

Dust and I left the village.

However, our reasons for leaving the village are completely different.

As I left the village, Dust followed me. Then he drew his sword.

“You put a debuff effect on me and now you’re drawing your sword? We’re about to be attacked by monsters right now! We can’t afford to fight!”

“You’re destined to die! Hah! You’re weak now, aren’t you? You fought before the sun went down, and then launched a surprise attack after nightfall. I can easily kill you now.”

“I didn’t think you’d go this far.”

Dust turned to Alicia, who had followed after us.

“Alicia! Come with me! We’ll have great experiences!”

“Alicia, is your wound okay?”

The reasons for Dust and me leaving the village were completely different. The words Dust and I said to Alicia were completely different.

And without saying anything, Alicia came to my side.

And as the grass and trees swayed, monsters approached. A large number of monsters have gathered around us.

What’s more, Dust’s behavior is unpredictable.

Though it wasn’t the time to fight with monsters approaching, he was trying to kill me at an impossible timing.

Did he want to kill me with the Karma Ticket? Perhaps he wanted to kill me directly with his sword?

No, this is the kind of person he is.

“Gett!!! I’ll kill you myself!!!!”

Dust is a Hero.

Although his movements may seem awkward, I can’t let my guard down.

I have to take him seriously!

I blocked Dust’s attack with my shield and attacked his stomach with the mace.

“Aaaargghhhhh!!”

Dust was blown away and fell to the ground, raising a cloud of dust.

“Huh?”

I was surprised that I blew Dust away so easily.

Still, monsters had gathered around.

Dust quickly got up and used the shock of being blown away to quickly leave the place.

And with his impressive Stealth skill, his presence faded away as he blended into the scenery.

Damn it! The monsters have gathered!

That damn Dust…

He used up a Karma Ticket just for me, he also tried to attack me at an impeccable timing. He also has that talent of being able to learn skills easily, and to top it all off, that personality of his.

Stealth and storage——when Dust uses them, it’s like he’s part of a bandit’s guild.

It’s too troublesome!

Dust ran away while shouting loudly.

“It’s over for you now!! You’re going to die here!! Serves you rightttttt!!”

Dust’s voice grew fainter.

That guy, he can run away fast!!

“Alicia, it’s dangerous to be with me.”

“Gett protected me before, nyaa. Now I’ll protect Gett, nyaa.”

Alicia grabbed my right hand with both of hers.

The monsters are closing in! It’s time to go!

Alicia and I started on our way, leaving the village together.

[Dust’s POV]