One Han City is an internationally famous metropolis that has always been known for having good public order and low crime rates. A situation like this might not happen to someone even once in ten years, let alone to me, a good citizen who always follows the law.
My rational self tells me to read the situation instead of acting impulsively, such as by asking myself if I'm really capable of fighting these opponents.
After all, this is a real fight involving hand-to-hand combat, not a game of mahjong. If Ciri and I aren't strong enough to fight them, our best option would be to retreat immediately.
While I'm hesitating, Ciri reaches out and pushes me to one side.
[Ciri]Stand over there and don't get in the way.
I see her walk up to the thugs and think they will mouth off against each other for a while before deciding to fight now or fight another day like in the anime I've seen... If that happens, I still have time to think about how I should escape with Ciri later.
To my surprise, the moment Ciri stands still, she flicks the whip in her hand to attack the brawny thug right opposite her.
I've almost never seen her whip any animals with that whip in her animal-taming performances, but she doesn't hold back at all when using it in a fight. The red welts that form on the thug's skin after he is whipped are visible to the naked eye. In fact... they are so red that they even look purple.
The battle starts immediately. Although there are only around four to five people in total, the fight feels like a chaotic battle between a dozen people in melee combat. Although Ciri is outnumbered, I see that she can still handle her opponents with ease and doesn't need my help. In other words, I don't need to get involved and add to the chaos. Now that I'm no longer worried, I back away from them.
As we all know, an "onlooker" could end up with the worst injuries, so I act extremely carefully. My most important goal right now is to not get involved in the fight.
[Ciri]PLAYER!
I suddenly hear Ciri shout out my name when I'm stepping back carefully. Looking up, I see a baseball bat flying toward my face. The next thing I know, Ciri sends her whip in my direction to try to stop the baseball bat.
Our ancestors must have coined the phrase "too far for a whip to reach" based on historical events. After a loud bang, I black out as I faint.
I knew it. The most dangerous activity in this world is watching people fight.
By the time Ciri manages to wake me up, the fight has already ended. The bruised and battered thugs are squatting in a line next to the wall, and I find out after talking to Ciri that she had already interrogated them just now.
The leader is called Shijukara, and the others are his men. They are all members of an underworld organization called Raven.
I rub my muddled head, then I pick up the baseball bat that had fallen next to my feet, walk over to Shijukara, and squat down in front of him.
[player]Tell me. Why are you people making trouble for her?
[Shijukara]Huh? You think we're making trouble for her?!
[Shijukara]Brothers, who can tell me what's going on?!
[Shijukara]Who is making trouble for who? We were minding our own business here when she rushed over and whipped me.
What's this? I'm very shocked to hear this. The story is completely different from what I imagined.
I thought that Ciri encountered these thugs from Raven while going to Soul to perform, and they made trouble for her.
In reality, Ciri encountered these thugs from Raven while going to Soul to perform, and she made trouble for them.
[Ordinary Thug]Aniki, there's no point wasting your breath on these two. They picked this fight!
[Thin Thug]That's right, aniki! We're members of Raven. We can't suffer a loss like this!
After realizing that I don't actually know the whole story, the people on the ground start protesting to their leader, Shijukara. After all, I wouldn't be happy either if I got beaten up when I'm in the right.
[Shijukara]Shut up! Do you think I don't know that? Do you think I would explain myself if we won against them?
I must say, there is a reason why Shijukara could become the leader of these thugs. First of all, he is sensible and knows where he stands.
[Shijukara]We were originally just passing through here to do something for our boss. And you know what happens next.
[Shijukara]If you're gonna keep making trouble for us, well, Raven isn't an organization of pushovers.
[Ciri]Hah!
Ciri makes a cold snort of disdain beside me. She picks up her whip and flicks it twice in the air as if she is about to continue "educating" them. Seeing this, I quickly stop Ciri.
[player]Heroine, let it go.
[player]What grievances do you have with them? Why don't you tell me so I can mediate for you?
[Ciri]Hmph! Ask them yourself!
I suddenly feel helpless, like when you're passing on messages for two NPCs who are right in front of each other in a game. It looks like I'm doomed to be haunted by this kind of task unless I stop being an enthusiastic citizen.
[player]Um... Shijukara, what were you about to do?
[Shijukara]I won't betray Raven's secrets to an outsider.
Upon hearing that, Ciri raises her hand with the whip in it again.
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