Then the plan started.
Vanitas was running around the three bandits as they cowered in fear, rustling the branches and leaves as he passed them. Of course, it was accidental... not. Given his skills, there was no way he would have made any noise. Alas, he got bored at the appearance of the three bandits that were on the verge of crying…
The three idiots stopped cowering when they saw Vanitas’s petit form walk out from behind a tree.
Boss: Phew, it was just a kid.
Grunt 1: Boss... Look, it’s a beast-man…
Grunt 2: Looks like we got ourselves more money Boss..
Boss: … I can see that you idiots. I’m intrigued by the color of his fur. It’s not silver or grey, and it’s a child.*grin*
The two grunts remembered that not only are beastmen are known for being overprotective of their young, but can easily track them by their scent.
Grunt 1: Boss… W-what ever you’re thinking right now, i-it’s definitely a bad idea. These guys are good trackers.
Grunt 2: Listen to us for once Boss, If they saw their child kidnapped, what do you think will happen to us Boss, I’m pretty sure he’s been imprinted by his parents already.
Boss: Shut it, both of you. You two only need to follow my orders, got it?
Grunt 1 & 2: Yes Boss!
As the three were talking to themselves they saw the petite figure slowly backing away into the forest.
Boss: Our money is getting away… Go get it you fools!
Grunt 1 & 2: Yes Boss!
The two went after the Beast-man that was running away. The giggles returned without their realizing, and they just continued onwards. The mazelike forest was large and filled with trees of many different sizes.
Vanitas: “Bah!! Only two of them went after me... Well, time to get some precious supplies.”
While they were chasing the beastman, the boss was setting up camp, trusting his loyal underlings for a successful catch of additional money.
Boss: “Those two idiots should be strong enough to catch a child right? What could possibly go wrong.”
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As they were venturing deeper into the forest, the two grunts could barely keep up. Having to remain aware of the various marshes and roots beneath them, and the vines and tree branches that were in their way, they never stopped to consider why they were still able to somehow keep the small twerp in their sight.
Finally out of breath, they took a small break to regulate their breathing.
Grunt 1: Shouldn’t that kid have run out of energy by now, Marco?
Marco: Of course Krazko, There’s no way a kid can run like that for very long.
As soon as they calmed their rough breathing down, they noticed with disbelief that there was no trace of footprints made by the beastman and then they noticed the giggles again along with a rustling noise of the leaves scattered on the ground.
Krazko: T-This is nothing, we’ve got the strongest boss s-so we ain’t afraid of some giggles.
Marco: N-No s-sir, w-we ain’t afraid of noises of this level.
Vanitas was laughing by this time at the statement the two bandits gave, he gave it some thought and decided to finish one guy first.
Vanitas: *sigh* This is boring, lets kill one guy first then the other one. *grin*
The smile Vanitas gave was filled with happiness yet also with malice. He dropped down from atop the tree branch that he was standing on, and targeted Krazko as he was calmer than Marco.As he fell he used the natural force given to him by the fall enabling him to twist Krazko’s head in an unnatural way several cracking sounds can be heard if you listened closely and as he fell limp after a few seconds Marco noticed his partner laying on the ground and said.
Marco: Krazko!? H-Hey don’t joke around like this, s-shit no response.….BOSS!!!!
The grunt that was still alive ran for his boss who was resting at the nearby tree. While the boss was waiting for his two underling to come back with the goods for trading, he heard a scream from afar.
Boss: What now? Oi!! What happened, why are you so pale Marco?
Marco: B-Boss h-he died….
Boss: Died? Huh, who died?
Marco: Krazko died boss!!…. W-we heard the giggles. When it stopped h-he was dead.
Marco was already crying by the time he got back to the boss, stumbling along the way, with his tear-stained face, in an effort to reach the safety zone which was beside the boss.
Boss: T-those giggles? D-Don’t tell me that kid was a ghost that haunts here??
Marco: W-We don’t know... When we were chasing it, there were no traces of any kind left behind by the kid.
Boss: Tsk, This is wrong!! Everyone said that there are no demons or any settlements in this forest. That, maybe it, it is a ghost!
While they were panicking on how Krazko died a few minutes ago, Vanitas was rummaging through the supplies he got from Krazko.
Vanitas: Ah these will help me gather food for a few months or so. Hmm they said there was a kingdom near here, might as well go there once I finish getting used to this body.
The bandit boss was at a loss on what to do next. He thought that the kid he saw would bring in a fair bit of extra wealth due to the fact that his fur was black which is known only from legends and fairy tales.
Boss: We can’t get out of this forest yet. We just stole some important loot from a very wealthy merchant. Ah, that’s it! If I recall correctly, there’s gotta be some holy water in this bag.
Marco: R-Really Boss? T-Then we can just kill it by spilling some on our weapons and stab it right, Boss?
Boss: Ah it’s such a good thing your brain works fine once you start panicking, now then, lets hunt that ghost.
Marco: Yes Boss!
The two remaining bandits returned to the location where Krazko had died, and as they saw the place where it happened, his equipment was gone.
Boss: What the hell is this! Tsk, maybe some bandits are hiding in this forest to let their heat die out.
Marco: N-No Boss, t-there’s no bandits in this place. W-we even confirmed it.
Boss: Hoooh, So you’re telling me the ghost took the equipment?
Marco: I-I don’t know Boss… I-I ran to you as fast as I could j-just to r-report what happened.
Boss: Is that s……
The bandit boss head was flying and blood was spurting, Marco was shivering from fear from what had just happened. Everything happened too fast. His companions died because they chased after a kid that turned out to be a ghost. Behind the falling dead body of the bandit Boss stood the ghost that they thought that was roaming the place, covered in blood while licking his new found knife from Krazko’s equipment.
Marco: Y-You! You’re the one behind a-all of t-this !?
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Vanitas: My my how careless of me... I forgot that there’s one left *grin*
The last thing Marco ever saw was the figure of the kid they chased wearing the smile of a predator that carefully hunted it’s prey. While this was happening, someone was watching the entire event unfold.
Mia: Oho~, Merciless as ever.
The God of Darkness was enjoying the show her hero was creating for her. She was smiling happily by the show, when suddenly, someone barged in inside her realm. Her smile that was as bright as the sun turned into a frown when she saw who the intruder is.
???: What’re you watching there little sis.
Mia: Tsk, Dante. what are you doing in my realm?
Dante: Awww, you don’t have to be so stingy when your big brother is just trying to visit his little sister.
Mia: Hmpf, the punishment of that bet I lost will be over by next year.
Dante: That’s why I’m trying to comfort you. *Grin*
Mia: Yeah yeah, says the one who’s the mastermind of the game.
While they were having that conversation Dante noticed that his little sister was watching someone and his face began showing a big grin filled with mischief.
Dante: Ara? Who’s that boy?
Mia: He’s no one, big brother.
Dante: Heeeh, It’s impossible for my little sister to be interested in a nobody, unless he’s ‘that’ soul.
While Dante was taking interest on his little sister’s suspicious behavior another intruder came inside her realm uninvited.
???: Oi ! Dan give my hero back !!
Dante: Oh shut it Phantas!, can’t you see our little sister finally brought soul!
Phantas: Oh, is it the soul that caught her full attention?
Dante: Yes and it looks like he’s in our world already.
Phantas: Little sis ! Give me your hero !
Mia: No and go away!!
Phantas: Give it to me, pretty please?
Dante: *sigh* Just look for another soul Phantas.
Phantas: B-But it’s unfair that she gets to dote on her first soul.
Dante: Whose fault was it that huge influx of souls were brought into Utopia all at once, eh Phantas?
Phantas: I-It wasn’t me..*whistles*
Dante: Why you! *sigh* nevermind, so where’s Endo?
Phantas: He’s sleeping. He said not to disturb him unless there’s a great threat.
Dante: That is so like him...He only wakes up if it involves teasing her or a great disaster.
Phantas: Well his heroes can fend off those stupid heroes of the normal Gods anyways..
Dante: I wonder what this new soul will do in this world..
Phantas: We will see in the near future.
While the two of them were having that conversation they noticed a killing intent which was directly aimed at them and made them shiver as it got closer to them.
Mia: So my lovable brothers will you please get out of my realm now?
Dante: You’re so childish when it comes to ‘that’ one huh.
Phantas: Spoil him too much and he won’t last long.
Mia:Shut up idiot brothers!
The two Great Gods were having fun teasing their youngest sibling among them while having a mischievous grin on their faces. This only made their little sister angry and this little show continued on for hours and hours.
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While all of that was happening, Vanitas was checking out the loot he got from the bandits.
*Ding*
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You have acquired new items.
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Silver sword(Common)
Damage: 30~40
Durability: 63/100
Effects: None
(3 Items same stats)
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??? Inventory Bag(Mythical)
Slots occupied: 41/100
Effect: Weightless
Contractor: None
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Vanitas: Contractor? Hmm, I’ll really have to go to a kingdom or a village for more information.
Vanitas explored some parts of the maze like forest filled with overgrown trees. It took him 2 months of exploration just to get to where the kingdom is located.
Vanitas: For the past two months it seems like this body is greater than the one I used to have, The overall power and potential in this new body seems to be much greater and the limits of the human body in my previous world will be easier to surpass in this body with further time.
He was finally out of the forest after a span of two months. The first thing he saw made him stare in awe, for he saw people in robes flying in the sky, and various races chatting with each other. As he drew near where the gate was located he noticed people were flocking on a certain area as he saw what was happening he...
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Authors Note: So I revised this one, this version here of chapter 2 in rrl is rather different than the first so as usual this is made by noob writer and this is noob fiction with no plans on being a pro or whatsoever as longs its understandable.