Episode 18 Rabbitgroup

(TN:Nousagi = Japanese hareLepus brachyurus thats what it originally were but I like to use rabbit for that better)

Uwaaa!

My senior whose sword I knocked out of his hand, immediately turned around to run and began to scream.

My other senior who immediately understood the situation followed him.

The coordination between these two seniors of mine is wonderful as expected.

Reus

I call Reus, the Salamander child, in my heart.

I had the Oricalcum sword in my right hand and with my left hand, I quickly drew the seals.

Lets show them that my practice with Knopf wasnt for nothing.

Fire Wall!

A wall of flames emerged from the ground before my seniors when I pointed my left hand towards them.

The seniors in front of whom the firewall appeared wore the same surprised face at the same time.

Those aligned movements, kind of villain-like.

As expected of my seniors, Ill study hard.

The other day it was a magician and todays companion is a magic warrior!?

To my seniors, yesterdays Carlo and todays me are completely different people.

Well, its convenient for me.

Some of the others decided to follow them but were also stopped by a firewall.

I knock the weapons out of the still eager ones hands, taking their fighting capabilities.

Looking in Crescent Moons direction it seems like shes almost finished.

Waaah

The young girl among the men started to cry.

If adults are fighting close by its scary after all.

Did the seniors kidnap her from somewhere like Mirea-san and Lucia-chan?

Remembering that made me angry.

Its alright already.

When I approached her to cheer her up I heard Crescent Moons voice just then. (TN: *sigh*)

Akatsuki, dont let your guard down!

Tch!

At that moment the girl stabbed a knife towards me.

I barely avoided it.

You saved me, Crescent Moon.

That fellow is a female Hobbit, not a child. Dont be deceived by her appearance.

You said something unnecessary, you goddamn amateur!

She wore an expression of vexation and definitely not the one of a child.

Aah~ Aah~ I failed. I lost, do whatever you want with me.

The girlNo, that Hobbit threw away her knife and sat down while sulking.

The other men were gathered together in one place.

We lost. Its our defeat. Do with us whatever you like. Kill us, hand us over to the authorities or whatever.

That is what my senior said. They completely gave up.

What manliness, Senior.

I dont intend to kill you or hand you over.

When I said that my seniors looked at me doubtfully.

Crescent Moon seemed surprised, too.

My name is Akatsuki. As you can see Im a magic warrior working as a mercenary. You probably witnessed my skills.

Yeah, youre amazing. We couldnt even put a scratch on you.

Senior answered my words.

You all, become my subordinates.

What do you mean? What are we supposed to do?

I came here on a request by the guild today. Because there seemed to be suspicious people in this area we were tasked to patrol around here. Youre already being watched. Its only a matter of time before you get caught even if I overlook this right now. Crescent Moon, what will happen if they get caught?

Those guys are kidnappers, right? Im guessing you already attacked a caravan. Theyll definitely get hanged.

Though I knew about that, everyone else is holding their breath at Crescent Moons words.

Thats right, if youre caught youre done for. Before that, wash your hands of this job and become my subordinates.

No way, if we do that well lose or means to earn our livelihood.

My seniors really good, everybody was nodding.

For this to not happen I will give you a job. Surface work and behind-the-scene work. Surface work would be a horseman messenger connecting Braham and the castle town Rue Ann. Ill put a station at the middle of the highway where you can tie your horses and carry messages and objects at high speed. This is profitable by all means

The post-horse system, in other words, a relay system.

For the circulation of information, speed is key.

If Carlo gets information a little faster than anyone else it will be a huge benefit.

The behind-the-scene work is information gathering and acting as a thief like before.

Information, about what kind are we talking here?

I answered the thin seniors question.

The information should include rumours about the Franz royal family and the nobles, the things popular in the castle town Rue Ann, agricultural methods and foreign trends, so every information available in castle town Rue Ann. If there where strange incidents or monster appearances I want you to report that, too. Ill buy the information you collected with money.

Didnt you tell us to wash our hands of being a thief?

I did. Keep your hands off Brahams people and products. This is an order. I will kill the person who breaks this rule with my own hands. There are exceptions, though. You can attack the caravans not coming from this frontier town without a trafficking permission. Rather absolutely attack them.

With the exception of the ones coming from this frontier territory a caravan from outside has to pay an importing tax, to be allowed passage they have to pay a toll.

By attacking caravans trying to get in without having paid that tax the smuggling rate should decrease.

Is it really fine doing something like that?

After all, my seniors are also afraid of being hanged.

Its fine. I have connections with an influential person in this frontier territory. Thats why Im collecting information. If youre useful to this frontier territory no one will ask after your crimes, rather youll get rewarded. So, how is it? Want to do it?

Rather than having connections to someone influential, Im the feudal Lord.

Crescent Moon, who stood to my side, smirked as she heard this.

Ill do it. Ill become Akatsuki-samas subordinate.

My muscular senior lowered his head.

M, me too, Ill also follow you. You can order me anything.

After my thin senior lowered his head the hobbit woman and the other man also lowered their heads at once.

Good. Whatre your names?

Just call me Bass. Thank you for your consideration.

So my thin seniors name is Bass, huh?

I tried asking my muscular senior.

Im called Drum. Ill be in your care.

Drum and Bass, huh?

Bass, Drum, take care of the others. Hobbit woman, your name?

Im Pick. I dont fall behind anyone when it comes to stealing and lying out traps. Master Akatsuki, best regards.

She looked like a young, pretty girl of elementary student age, but she seems to be rather crafty and useful.

However, now that I think about it; because bass and drum came out does that mean shes a guitar pick?

Or is it Pick from pick-pocketing?

No, seems like all the members names have something to do with Rock, a rather easy way to name characters.

Id like to have a talk with the author, seriously

Pick, youll be responsible for the communication between me and those guys. Youll go back and forth between me and Braham.

Akatsuki, are you actually a Lolicon? Is that why youre not making any passes at me? (TN: Lolicon = Lolita complex. Liking little girls)

I looked at Crescent Moon as she uttered some outrageous things.

Thats not it, I didnt tell her to come because I had that kind of hobby!

You guys, does your group have any kind of name?

We dont have one in particular. Usually, people call use things like Highway thieves.

Theres nothing exciting about that.

Okay, then I will give your group one. From today onwards youll be the Rabbit group. Got it?

Thats punishment for hurting Mirea-san.

Its an uncool name.

Rabbit group, you said?

Its a fine name, isnt it? You were happily jumping at me just now, so it, indeed, fits.

My seniors seemed to be pleased.

What kind of hobbies do you have?

Akatsuki, youre a pretty bad person. I got a better opinion of you now.

I was praised by Crescent Moon.

Its a strange feeling, but its good that I come to seem more like a villain.

Drum, Bass, use this as reserves. Buy horses and build a station. Report to Pick when youre done

I gave the remaining four white gold coins to my two seniors.

(TN: . bye bye money again.I feel like I got stabbed)

He, Head, is this fine?!

Amazing, white gold coins. Thats the first time I saw one. Head, thank you very much. Well be in your care from now on.

Yeah, well then, Im leaving. Pick, come with me.

I decided to take Crescent Moon and Pick with me leaving the Rabbit groups hideout.

Before I left I noticed a suspicious individual I saw for the first time, I got interested and tried to talk with him a little.

What was your name again?

My name is Flute. Ill be in your care

Its not even a rock instrument.

Thats so half-assed!!!