Chapter 74 · BMMAW

Chapter 74

An Adventurer’s Essential Gear

When they were escorting the merchant group, the Red Sword party had been relatively quiet. They still tried to look intimidating—making themselves appear bigger or putting on fierce expressions—but they didn’t curse at people or pick fights.

Looking back, it was probably because of the mage party. Even without hearing the full story, it was easy to guess they had clashed with them multiple times and suffered for it. That was likely why they tried not to stand out.

But this—this was how they really fought. It didn’t matter who it was—every single one of them swore nonstop. Their language was even rougher than an old woman known for cursing.

Lizzy widened her eyes as she watched the Red Sword party clash with the bandits. She hadn’t lived an entirely peaceful life, but she always spoke gently. It wasn’t something she learned—it was simply her nature. She seemed more shocked by Red Sword’s language than by the bandits themselves.

Dorothy, on the other hand, had already stood up in the driver’s seat. But instead of watching Red Sword, she was staring at the bandits. She didn’t seem scared. Probably because of everything she had experienced so far.

Juhwan felt a little bitter. It wasn’t a good thing for a child to get used to situations like this.

Dorothy clenched her fists tightly and looked at him.

“Dad! Bandits! Bandits showed up! They’re bad people! We have to smash them!”

“…”

He made a mental note to tell her more beautiful fairy tales.

As Red Sword rushed toward the bandits, the loud clash of weapons rang out.

While they fought, Juhwan scanned the surroundings to check for anyone else. But there was no one hiding. It seemed like all seven bandits were already here.

The bandits were among the thinnest people he had seen so far. They were practically skin and bones, their eyes bloodshot. Rather than looking like criminals, they resembled wandering refugees.

Despite being attacked, Juhwan felt more confused than angry.

Still, Red Sword fought better than expected. They lacked strength compared to the men, but they made up for it with skill and experience.

After all, even if they were considered a weak party, they were still adventurers—Rank 5, not Rank 6. They must have faced situations like this many times.

Even though the bandits outnumbered them, it was actually Red Sword that had the upper hand.

The bandits, being pushed back by women, exchanged confused glances. The man who seemed to be their leader shouted:

“If we get pushed back here, we’re dead anyway! Don’t go easy on them just because they’re women! If they get hurt, it can’t be helped! If we don’t fight, we’ll die! Push forward!”

“UAAAAAH!”

The men suddenly screamed and began swinging their weapons wildly. It wasn’t proper combat—just brute force.

Still, their weapons were made of iron. No matter how clumsy, they were dangerous.

And although they were thin, their fighting instincts were oddly sharp.

Men in this world did almost everything themselves—farming, chopping wood, basic carpentry, even hunting and butchering animals. Some villages even fought off bandits with pickaxes. Even without formal training, they instinctively knew how to fight.

As time passed, Red Sword began to get pushed back slightly. They were holding their own, but the difference in strength and numbers was undeniable.

Then, seizing the moment, a few bandits broke away and moved around behind them.

That’s enough.

Juhwan stepped forward.

He didn’t even need to use his axe. As if guided by the wind, his body felt light.

In an instant, he reached behind the bandits and swung his fist at the nearest man’s head.

With the wind aiding him, his movements were smoother than ever—like skating across ice.

Thud.

The man collapsed forward.

Another man turned his head in shock—only to be struck across the face by Juhwan’s fist. He dropped instantly, unconscious.

Another one.

Another.

Three men fell in seconds.

Seeing this, the remaining bandits immediately threw down their weapons and dropped to the ground.

“Please spare us, sir!”
“Have mercy!”
“We were starving—we lost our minds! Please forgive us!”

Juhwan noticed a shallow trench dug across the road behind them.

Wait…

Surely not. It seemed too stupid to be true—but he asked anyway.

“Who dug that trench?”

The bandits pressed themselves even flatter against the ground, trembling. Their stomachs growled loudly.

The leader answered, his forehead pressed to the dirt:

“W-we dug it… please forgive us…”

Even Red Sword fell silent at this point. There was no anger left—only disbelief.

Juhwan sighed.

“You’re not going to die, so stop crying. But why did you jump out first if you dug the trap?”

The bandits exchanged glances before the leader spoke again:

“We thought only one cart would come… but there were two. If they crashed, someone could get hurt. There were women… and a child… if the cart flipped…”

“…”

Juhwan was speechless.

Are they idiots?

Big merchants meet big bandits. Small travelers meet small, poor, foolish bandits.

The balance of the world seemed… oddly fair.

Juhwan sighed again.

“Look, being bandits doesn’t suit you. Quit.”

The bandits immediately bowed repeatedly.

“We had no choice…”
“We were farmers… but the taxes kept increasing…”
“We couldn’t pay the poll tax last year…”
“My wife was taken because of it…”
“My children are working like slaves…”

They cried as they spoke.

Karin from Red Sword finally stepped in.

“Then join the Adventurer’s Guild.”

“But the poll tax…”

“It’s fine. If you join the guild, they give you about a year to pay it.”

“…Really?”

“If you still can’t pay after a year, then there’s nothing to be done.”

“Thank you! Thank you!”

The bandits bowed repeatedly, their heads hitting the ground.

One of them hesitantly asked:

“But… we’re bandits. Won’t we be executed?”

“Only if you have a bounty on your head. You don’t, do you? We’ll overlook this. Just go to the guild.”

And just like that, it was over.

Juhwan told them to fill in the trench, and they immediately began working.

As the group left, some of the bandits bowed deeply toward the carts.

Lizzy, sitting beside Juhwan, muttered:

“The poll tax is really terrifying.”

“How much is it?”

“12 Lina. One silver coin per year. You have to start paying from age sixteen.”

For Juhwan, it wasn’t much. But for commoners, it was a heavy burden—especially for entire families.

“If you can’t pay, many people become slaves,” Lizzy added softly.

“Just for missing one payment?”

“They can buy back their freedom… but slaves can’t own money. So it’s basically impossible.”

Juhwan fell silent.

People sold their children. Their wives. And if that still wasn’t enough, they ran away.

Lizzy gave a faint smile.

“Some women live like slaves just to avoid becoming actual slaves.”

Juhwan looked toward the horizon.

The sky where it met the land seemed unusually bright—and painfully distant.

After several peaceful days of travel, they finally arrived at the Adventurer Village.

They had already completed their escort job, so there was nothing urgent to do. Juhwan thought about resting for a few days.

But Karin suggested otherwise.

“It’s a bit out of order, but you should take a herb-gathering request tomorrow. That’s the most basic thing for adventurers.”

Not all adventurers fought. Some focused on gathering herbs or using other skills.

“But everyone starts with herb gathering,” Karin explained.

“Even though you’re a healer, Juhwan, you should still know basic herbs—like ones for fever or wounds.”

Mary and Jessie nodded in agreement.

Juhwan accepted.

Later, after dinner, he carried the drowsy Dorothy toward the weapon district.

Lizzy’s eyes lit up.

“The karambit… we’re picking it up, right?”

“Yeah. It should be ready by now.”

At the shop, the owner hurried out with a small box.

“Finished!”

Inside were four karambits, each slightly different.

Curved like claws, with ringed handles. Light and well-balanced.

“Lizzy, try one.”

She picked one up, her eyes sparkling.

One was too big—but the other three fit her perfectly.

“It’s… really comfortable.”

She smiled brightly.

They even came with leather sheaths.

When Juhwan asked about payment, the shop owner grinned.

“No need. I’ll make more money selling these later. Just come back if you want something new.”

After buying a belt, Lizzy equipped the karambits.

She looked like a proper adventurer now.

“Juhwan… how do I look?”

“You look amazing. I might fall for you all over again.”

Her face turned bright red.

Juhwan felt satisfied.

Unlike Dorothy, Lizzy knew she had only joined the party because of him. It weighed on her. She wanted to contribute more.

But she already did. Just being there gave him strength.

If this helped her gain confidence—even a little—it was worth it.

Dorothy, now awake, stared at Lizzy.

“Mom became an adventurer.”

“Do I look like one?” Lizzy laughed.

Then Dorothy suddenly said:

“Mom, I want one too. I’m an adventurer too.”

She looked up at Juhwan.

“Dad, when do I get one?”

That night, Lizzy secretly made her a belt out of cheap leather—and even crafted a small fake karambit.

She worried Dorothy might reject it.

But the next morning—

“Oz, you’re just a baby, so you don’t have a belt. Poor thing! But I’m an adventurer, so I have one!”

Dorothy proudly showed it off nonstop.

Even Oz eventually flattened his ears and pretended to sleep to escape her chatter.

Lizzy watched the scene and giggled quietly