Even if I ignore my friendship with the members of Soul, just seeing a girl like Ciri getting singled out and bullied is something I can't ignore, so I step forward in front of Ciri and muster up the courage to confront the brawny thug.
[player]There are so many of you bullying a weak woman, so I naturally...
I thought that like what usually happens in anime, the thug would mouth off at me for a while before warning me again...
Unexpectedly, as I say that I'll be fighting on the same side of Ciri and thinking about what to say next, the baseball bat flies directly toward my face.
[Brawny Thug]I'll give you what you want then!
Why is this happening? This isn't like what I see on television at all! All I can do is watch as the bat approaches at lightning-fast speed, giving me no time to dodge... Suddenly, I hear a sharp sound as a whip flashes past my sideburns and collides with the baseball bat in front of me.
I freeze on the spot and don't even dare to tilt my head as I'm afraid the whip might hit my face when Ciri pulls it back.
Even if it hits me hard, the pain will only be temporary, but I'll be affected for a lifetime if it ruins my looks.
Ciri appears beside me after taking a brisk step and instantly engages the several people facing us. The long whip in her hand, which she rarely uses when taming animals, makes swooshing sounds every time it flies through the air.
At this moment, I finally realize that Ciri's whip is used to train people, not tame animals, and that Ciri is a superwoman, not a weak woman.
As I watch Ciri holding her own against her enemies, I suddenly remember that the last time I saw a woman dominating enemies with a whip was in a movie about a superhero... Is it possible that Ciri grew up with the Amazons?
Looking down, I see the baseball bat Ciri knocked down lying there on the ground. I pick it up and feel pretty good after swinging it a few times. Since Ciri has already engaged them, I can't let myself be outdone, so I join the battle with the baseball bat.
Although I'm joining the battle, my main task is to assist Ciri by dealing the finishing blow with the baseball bat, ensuring that no one can get back up after Ciri knocks them to the ground.
I would normally be scolded for doing something like this in games, but instead of scolding me, Ciri sends me encouraging and appreciative glances when I'm hitting our enemies, which kind of feels like she is praising me for having a promising future.
This fight starts fast and ends fast. After a little over 10 minutes, Ciri knocks down the leader, the thug with the crew cut, and makes them squat in a line at the corner. I walk over with the baseball bat in my hands and start interrogating them.
[player]Who are you people?
[Thug with a Crew Cut]I'm "Shishukara." In my line of business, people call me their aniki.
[player]"Shishukara?"
[Thug with a Crew Cut]It's "Shishukara."
[player]Er... It still sounds like "Shishukara."
[Thug with a Crew Cut]Geez, it's so tiring talking to people like you. I told you it's "Shishukara."
Seeing how hard he is trying to correct me, I suddenly have a flash of inspiration.
[player]Wait... Are you saying you're called Shijukara, like the bird?
[Shijukara]Yes, that's me. In the future, you can also call me...
[player]Hmm?
[Shijukara]Um... Just call me Shijukara. As for who we are, I guess it's okay to tell you. We're members of Raven.
[player]Well, this Raven... Did I get it right? Well, I already heard you say this before when you threatened me.
[player]The question is, 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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