The Strongest Villain Sets Out: Reincarnated into a Merit-Based Clan, I Become the World's Strongest Swordsman - Chapter 88: Motto

A rabbit beastwoman.

A race characterized by white hair and red eyes. Compared to other beastmen, their physical abilities were somewhat lower, but they had high intelligence instead—a special race.

Among beastmen, strength was revered above all. They’d apparently been looked down upon in the past, but according to my memory, one of the current Zora Federation councilors was this rabbit beastwoman type. Their intelligence was valued, and they were entrusted with prime minister-like duties.

Rabbit beastmen were also few in number. They were famous for rarely having children. When you added a familiar face to that, it was easy to imagine who the girl trying to body-slam me was.

“I never expected to meet you in a place like this… your name was… Ana, wasn’t it?”

“⁉ H-how do you know my name…”

The rabbit beastwoman’s shoulders jumped while she remained fallen on the ground. She should have played dumb there. Thanks to that, I knew the name wasn’t wrong.

She was Ana. The current councilor’s daughter. In the coup, she’d been killed by the lion beastman as an example. After being kidnapped.

“Whether I know your name doesn’t matter. More importantly, you’re keeping your customers waiting.”

“Huh?”

I glanced behind her toward the dim path leading to the alley. Several beastmen in black robes emerged from there.

Probably not the masked people Cornelia and I had been chasing hours ago. Though hooded, they boldly showed their faces.

“Eek! You’re still after me…”

Unlike with me, the rabbit beastwoman backed toward me with a pale face. Were we better compared to those guys?

“You all, quietly hand over that girl. We only have business with her. If you don’t get involved, we’ll let you go.”

“Hmm. I’d eliminate witnesses myself.”

Chronologically, this was right before she was kidnapped. I’d thought she was already kidnapped, but it was surprisingly close to the coup. Maybe they did it right beforehand so the rabbit councilor wouldn’t cause a big fuss searching for his daughter?

“No problem. Witnesses are meaningless anyway.”

“I see. Too bad, but we have business with her too. If you don’t want to die, you should buzz off.”

I glared at the black-clad beastmen from inside my mask. Though they couldn’t see through the mask’s obstruction, the beastmen were slightly flustered by the pressure I emitted.

“Gah! Do you intend to interfere with us!”

“So what? There’s no law saying I can’t interfere with you, right? Rather, anyone who interferes with me is in the wrong.”

“Then it can’t be helped. You all, kill everyone except the rabbit beastwoman.”

“Yes sir!”

The black-clad beastmen all moved at once. Being beastmen, they had high physical abilities, and all could use aura to some degree.

They surrounded us and attacked everyone including me and Cornelia simultaneously.

However:

“Not enough training!”

Cornelia bisected one bandit completely.

“For anyone other than Luka to try touching me… how disrespectful.”

Lucia burned two bandits, and:

“I’ll kill you without suffering.”

Sheila cut down bandits with wind magic.

Finally, I:

“Did you puppies think you could beat humans?”

In an instant, I carved up everyone except the leader-like beastman. Several dismembered corpses were created.

“Ah! Luka, it’s unfair that you killed so many by yourself!”

Seeing me slaughter more than half the bandits, Cornelia raised a protest.

“First come, first served. Bear with it, Cornelia.”

“Mmm… too bad.”

“More importantly, that guy’s trying to escape. Is that okay?”

Lucia pointed at the last one who’d turned to flee. Of course I shook my head.

“Obviously not. Hurt him enough that he won’t die. I’ll heal his wounds with Cornelia.”

“Roger roger. Then shall I use him as a test subject for new magic?”

“Oh, then I’ll also…”

Lucia created a whip from flame magic and entangled the fleeing beastman’s legs.

Lucia and Sheila lined up behind him. They probably looked like demons to the beastman.

“Good. I’ll leave that to Lucia and the others… hey, you.”

“Hiiiih⁉”

She backed up three meters just from me talking to her. How scared was she? I’d gone to the trouble of saving her.

“Calm down. I’m your benefactor, right?”

“Bene… factor?”

“I saved you from being kidnapped. I’m definitely a benefactor.”

“Tch. How did you know I was about to be kidnapped?”

Though trembling, she could speak properly. Quite clever indeed.

“I just judged from the situation. Those guys were trying not to kill you.”

“More importantly,” I continued.

“So we’re your benefactors. You have to properly repay benefactors, right?”

I slowly approached Ana, bent my knees to meet her eyes. She tried to flee again, but I was faster. I grabbed her shoulder and showed a personable smile.

“Negotiation time. My motto is to take everything that can be taken. Now… what will you bring us?”