NOVEL WEB Chapter 24
Objectively speaking, I was indeed a failure.
To embody the characteristics of a nation’s savior, they included the worst physical drawbacks considered unacceptable: ‘frail’ and ‘chronic illness,’ ‘slow recovery.’
Except for the penalties from physical defects like being handicapped in arms or legs.
Among the physical penalties that a healthy body could have, this was at the worst level.
Just trying to pull the buried Lumina from the ground would strain my lower back ligaments to the limit.
Damn it, where is the person who collapses because their back is out while saving someone?
If it weren’t just me, I would have burst out laughing.
My endurance and muscle mass were abysmal compared to what they should be.
Without a scale, I couldn’t measure it accurately, but considering I had even been offered a temporary trainer position at a gym I used to frequent, I could roughly estimate just by looking at my body.
Even simple training would easily tire me out due to my poor stamina.
Plus, since the base design was inspired by Westerners with skeletons, the clothes fit fine, but when you look closely, I was as skinny as a sardine, clearly underweight.
In contrast, those punks had extremely robust physiques. They must have eaten well with the money extorted from kids.
But there was no need to be intimidated.
Street fights aren’t determined by weight classes after all.
“Why don’t you show me that confidence you had earlier?”
Smirking, I provoked them, and the remaining two backed off. Of course, we were in a dead-end alley.
“Shit…!”
One of them gritted his teeth and lunged forward. It was always the same pattern.
Despite witnessing the difference in skill level, they wouldn’t kneel down and beg but still charged in like moths to a flame. That’s how much their bodies were controlled by pride.
I blocked his attack by grabbing his inner arm and twisted his joint.
“Aaaah!!”
The punk was quickly subdued, screaming in pain. The trembling muscles were clearly visible.
“This is fighting.”
Although my current body might differ physically from my real one, the way I move is the same.
That’s why, during my time in the military, the techniques I learned from ‘Krav Maga’ through constant abuse stayed with me naturally.
“There are no rules in street fighting.”
Crack!
“Ah! Aaah!!”
With a horrible sound, the punk’s joint was twisted outward. I turned around and kicked the whining guy’s back, knocking him down.
“Coughh!! Hwuuu!! My arm!!”
“It’ll take some effort to put that back properly.”
Being weak isn’t a problem in winning a fight.
Even if you lack strength, hitting vital points accurately or quickly dislocating joints can immobilize your opponent just the same.
“Hiiik.”
Finally, the last remaining punk lost all will to fight and sat down.
After all, I had already let everything go.
There was no point in continuing to beat up those already on the ground.
I rotated my creaking shoulder and gestured gently towards the shocked child.
“How are you feeling?”
“Ah… Yes, I’m fine.”
About ten years old. Bruises from the beating covered various parts of the child’s body.
‘These bastards…’
As I glared at the remaining punk, he raised both hands and kept bowing his head.
“I’m sorry!! I won’t bother anyone again! No, I won’t even show myself!”
Alright, it’s settled.
He has completely lost his will to fight.
The two collapsed ones were hit in the temples and jaw, so they would remain unconscious for a while.
I didn’t want to vent my anger on those already incapacitated. That could turn into a serious issue.
“Never walk alone in places like this.”
“I had no choice, it was for errands…”
“Still, make sure to come with an adult next time.”
I brushed off the dust-covered child’s clothes and said. Sergeant Bella Meyer quickly approached and extended her hand to the child.
Subsequently, the blue mana flowed slowly into the child.
A healing spell called ‘Cure,’ which treats minor injuries and bruises.
“You’ll be fine now.”
“Thank you…!!”
“Let’s get back quickly before any more of them join.”
I put on my coat and picked up my bag.
The characteristic of these punks is that they travel in groups.
Since they can use magic, it doesn’t matter if a few join together, but using magic without reason on civilians would surely result in punishment.
Even if we manage to avoid trouble now, using magic probably wouldn’t fly.
“Yes, understood.”
Sergeant Bella Meyer also understood the meaning and took the child’s hand, leading them out of the alley.
Only when we reached the crowded street did the child cautiously let go of Bella’s hand.
“Thanks for helping me. I can go on my own from here.”
“Where’s your home?”
“Over there, at the herbal shop.”
I checked the store the child pointed at. It seemed to be an alchemy shop dealing with potions and such.
‘I remember holding something like alchemy materials.’
Since it was for errands, it made sense.
Given that some alchemy materials cost several gold coins for just a few grams, they were perfect targets for punks.
“Alright, then be careful getting home.”
“Yes! Thank you very much!”
The child bowed deeply at 90 degrees.
Even at that age, the manners showed in their body suggested how much emphasis was placed on family education.
Waving back, I watched the child enter the shop.
“Then let’s head back.”
*
“Ugh… Aaaah…”
“Who was it?”
“The officer, I think. He was from which unit…”
“Idiot!”
Slap!!
“Guhk, Ck!!”
A punch sent red blood streaming from the man’s nose, likely broken.
But the man neither resisted nor screamed in pain. He only lowered his head in fear.
“That’s exactly what you should have known. What were you doing while kids were getting beaten up like this?”
“Sorry.”
The man’s body trembled. Blood dripped from his nose to the ground.
Captain Raulo.
He was the middle boss of ‘Gabial,’ a gang that tightly controls the back alleys of Chernov City, and the twin brother of the city’s chief of police.
Unable to contain his anger, Captain Raulo growled. One of the gang members cautiously spoke up.
“Captain, I heard from local merchants that he was with a single woman.”
“A woman?”
“He said she had short black hair and red eyes. She might be a female non-commissioned officer from the 3rd Battalion. She often walks around the city.”
“So what’s this guy’s deal?”
“The merchants say they’ve never seen him before, so he seems to be a new officer.”
“Damn it, so they were causing havoc in the city.”
A new officer from the 3rd Battalion.
Raulo thought about the names of neighboring units to Chernov City.
“3rd Battalion… Isn’t that where Rex is?”
“Probably.”
“Tell that guy to look into that officer. If he made our kids suffer like this, he deserves to pay.”
Generally, neighboring units cooperate with each other.
However, in terms of actual authority, the city ranks higher than a battalion.
So, by intimidating city officials, pressure could be applied to military units.
That’s why punks could act freely against soldiers in Chernov City.
There’s no fear when the second-highest rank, the chief of police, is covering for you.
Of course, as a soldier, you can’t be punished without reason, but…
What happened today crossed the line.
Especially since it was a new officer? This was practically a declaration of war against Gabial.
Raulo, who would crush whatever rose against him twice as hard, said:
“Come on, I’ll make you half-dead.”
His eyes burned with rage.
“I’ll contact the city guard too. Tell them to alert us as soon as the new officer from the 3rd Battalion arrives.”
“Right. Speaking of which, wasn’t that woman officer from the 3rd Battalion too?”
“Probably.”
“3rd Battalion. An interesting unit. After dealing with that officer, we should ask the battalion to apply some pressure.”
Beat them up thoroughly, make them the laughing stock of the entire gang, and use them as an example for others.
And make sure the female non-commissioned officer never sets foot in the city again.
Apply pressure to their battalion and transfer them entirely, that would be perfect.
“Let’s show them exactly what happens when they foolishly provoke Gabial.”