The sound of rushed footsteps in the night and the dim light seeping through a rusty window jolted me awake.
BAM!!
I sat up as a loud voice echoed from outside—it sounded like a fight.
"Ignore it," the merchant said, calm as if this was nothing new.
"But..." Through the window gap, I caught sight of a brown-haired girl in tattered clothes, fighting against three bandits.
"Let me go!" she shouted, struggling against one of them who had a tight grip on her.
"Shut up! Tell us where your family is. Don't try to hide them," the bandit growled, squeezing her arm harder.
"I will protect my parents! Don't you dare touch them!!" She glared at them fiercely.
BAM!!
BAM!!
BAM!!
Three punches landed on her cheek, and suddenly, everything fell silent.
Watching from the window, my eyes widened. This isn't right.
I stood up, my chest burning with anger.
"Kid, where are you going? You think you can win? There are too many of them," the merchant tried to stop me.
I paused for a moment, my back facing him. "Sorry... my heart isn't as numb as yours."
With a forceful kick, I slammed the old door open and stepped outside.
"That brat... I can only hope he survives," the merchant sighed.
Outside, the girl was sobbing, her face bruised from the merciless beating.
"Hurry up and talk, kid!" one of the bandits barked.
"..."
She said nothing.
"Alright… if that's your answer…" The bandit raised his fist, ready to strike her again.
???
Silence filled the air.
The bandit froze.
His fist, inches away from the girl's face, was stopped by my hand.
"Sorry, I'm late. But I saw you trying to hit her," I said with a smirk.
"You don't understand the situation, do you?" The bandit glared at me.
BAM!!
A heavy punch slammed into my stomach from the bandit on my left, followed by another strike to my right cheek.
My grip loosened, and the bandit in front of me delivered a powerful mana-infused punch straight to my face.
They didn't stop. Punch after punch rained down on me.
The last hit—a direct blow to my solar plexus—sent me flying away from the girl.
"Hahaha! That's what you get for interfering!" The bandits laughed, celebrating their victory.
But then…
I stood up.
Calmly.
As if nothing had happened.
Their laughter died instantly.
"Physical enhancement magic…" I muttered, wiping the blood from my lip. "A type of magic that strengthens the body beyond normal limits…"
I smirked.
"But… do you know something? Magic has levels."
I took a step forward.
"And your level…" I stared at them coldly.
"Is the lowest."
Their faces tensed.
"Stop acting tough! This is between us and the girl's family!"
I glanced at the girl. She looked around 10 to 12 years old.
So cruel.
"Yeah. But now…" I cracked my knuckles.
"You've involved me. And you will face punishment from my righteous hands."
"Damn it!" One of the bandits drew his sword.
The others followed.
"Weapons?" I raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that… unfair?"
"Shut up! You're dead meat!"
Ah… the word 'dead' was so common among thugs.
I smiled faintly.
"Alright then…"
I disappeared in an instant.
Magic Flick.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
A precise, lightning-fast punch landed on each bandit.
They collapsed to the ground, trembling, their bodies twitching like fish out of water—unable to move after just one hit.
I exhaled slowly. "It's over."
I turned to the girl.
"...Sorry…" she mumbled, still afraid.
I knelt down. "What's your name?"
"...Yena."
I nodded. "Yena, are you okay?"
She wiped her tears. "Just some bruises..."
I reached out my hand.
She hesitated before finally taking it.
"Don't apologize. I should be the one saying sorry for letting you get hit earlier."
"You don't have to…" Yena shook her head. "This is normal."
I frowned. "Normal?"
"Yeah. This is normal for me… and for everyone in the village."
I clenched her hand tighter.
"Can you tell me… what's really happening here?"
Yena bit her lip.
Finally, she nodded.
"Because you saved me… I'll tell you everything."