Chapter 19 Hefty Pile of Coins

Her timid and passive nature was on full display, Lumi fidgeted nervously, unsure of how to respond to the confrontation. Her voice barely audible, she stuttered, "I... I... wa wa wa... what should I do?"

The scene unfolding before me felt like a page straight out of the manga I used to read in my previous world. I was a delinquent for a few years in the past, the experience equipped me with the skills to deal with scrubs like these punks. With a confident smile and a deviant glint in my eyes, I stepped forward, positioning myself between Lumi and the aggressive man.

"Oh! Oh! Oh! What do we have here?" I shouted, my voice oozing with a mixture of authority and intensity.

 "Seems like you're trying to bully someone who clearly did nothing wrong! Eh!? That's not very nice, you damn punks! Or what?! Next, you're gonna say that she hurt you by bumping into you! HUH!? Punk! Are you that weak that this little girl hurt you?! Ahh!?"

Lumi, while taking cover behind me, shyly whispered, "I'm not a little girl..."

The man's companions shifted uneasily, clearly not expecting someone to challenge their dominance. The tension in the air thickened as I continued, "She is with me, chumps! So you better scram while I still talk nice game!"

A flicker of uncertainty crossed the man's face as he hesitated, not anticipating resistance from someone they deemed weaker.

Lumi's eyes widened, her gaze shifting between me and the man, a glimmer of hope in her expression.

With my presence asserting itself, the bullies faltered, their initial bravado giving way to a realization that they had underestimated their intended victims. At that moment, I made it clear that I wouldn't back down, ready to protect Lumi from any harm that might come her way.

The tense silence stretched, broken only by the distant sounds of the bustling town. The three adventurers exchanged glances, their posturing waning as they weighed their options. 

Suddenly, the man clicked his tongue and said to his friends, "Tck! Forget the acting! Grab the girl and leave! We wasted more time than we should have."

My instincts kicked in as one of the men lunged toward Lumi. He completely ignored me and tried to run past me, it was convenient for me. Swiftly, I delivered a powerful spin kick to his jaw, catching him off guard and sending him crashing to the ground, unconscious.

 The second man attempted to retaliate, he took a fierce fighting stance. He threw a well-coordinated and precise straight punch aiming for my vital spot, but I swiftly dodged his attack and delivered a powerful liver blow with a devastating left hook. He crumpled to the ground, clutching his side in pain.

Though fortunate so far, I knew the main man would be tougher, judging by his firm and powerful-looking battle stance. He didn't resemble a regular brawler adventurer. Shifting to a more compact stance, reminiscent of a MMA fighter, I prepared myself to counter his attacks.

Before we engaged in combat, I cut through the tension with a direct question. 

"Enough games. Tell me why you attempted to kidnap Lumi!"

The man's defensive posture tightened, but a sinister grin curled across his face. 

"Heh! Boy! You should have walked away while you had the chance. But you don't need to know who sent us because your fate ends here."

 I pressed on. 

"Did Valerius send you?"

The man's surprise was evident, but he quickly composed himself and chuckled under his breath then whispered to himself. 

"Heh, so you know the name. Well, that saves me the trouble of spinning this tale."

His voice grew louder, his confidence bolstered.

 "Yes, it was Valerius! He paid us handsomely to carry out this job. A hefty pile of coins from Valerius himself!"

 I continued my questioning to get as much information as possible. 

"What does he want with Lumi?"

The man's grin widened, revealing a sinister glint in his eyes.

 "Valerius, that despicable man. He's nothing short of a twisted monster. He desires to lock her away in his room and treat her like a doll. Hahahaha!"

Before I could delve further into the depths of Valerius's depravity, the man launched himself forward, a blur of motion accompanied by a barrage of bone-shattering punches. Each strike carried a terrifying amount of raw strength, capable of breaking bones with ease.

 I knew that taking a direct hit would be disastrous, so I relied on my honed reflexes and agility to deftly evade his onslaught.

 It became increasingly clear that this man was no ordinary adventurer; he possessed a level of skill and precision that only reinforced my suspicion that they were indeed Valerius's hired assassins.

The man lunged forward, aiming to take me down with a powerful takedown. I, however, showcased my exceptional reflexes and agility, swiftly evading the attempt with a fluid sidestep.

As the man unleashed a flurry of powerful punches, each one aimed with precision, I focused on his movements, searching for an opening. And there it was - a split-second opportunity. I seized the moment and delivered a swift counterattack. My clenched fist connected with his face, the impact rolling through my hand.

To my surprise, the man stepped back, a grin spreading across his face. 

"Heh! Not bad for a small guy like you!" he said, acknowledging the strength behind my blow.

Rubbing my slightly throbbing wrist, I couldn't help but remark.

 "You seem alright yourself," I said, a hint of respect in my voice. "You took my punch to the face and you're still standing."

Deep down, I knew that I couldn't afford to underestimate this man. His fighting prowess and resilience were evident, and I had to bring out my strongest attacks if I wanted to secure victory.

Without giving me a moment to strategize, he launched another relentless assault, throwing a hail of punches and mixing in swift kicks. However, his speed paled in comparison to Alitia's during our previous dual. I focused on defending myself, waiting for the opportune moment to deliver a devastating counter that would incapacitate him.

Lumi, a few steps behind me, sought refuge behind some boxes stacked against the building's wall. Her flustered demeanor was evident, I heard her muttering anxiously under her breath.

"Go, go, Kazuki! Take down the villain! Execute the 'Lariat,' Kazuki! Or even better, unleash the 'Atomic Elbow Slam'!" Lumi chanted fervently, her voice was a whisper.

As an opening presented itself, I delivered a sharp knee strike to his midsection, followed by a swift uppercut that connected with his chin. The force of the blow sent him staggering backward, his balance wavering.

Lumi watched in awe as the fight unfolded before her eyes. Her fear transformed into a sense of admiration and trust, knowing I would do whatever it took to protect her. 

The crowd started to gather, the man looked nervous as people started to show up and whisper in silence.

With haste, the main man regained his footing and charged once more, attempting to overpower me quickly. But I anticipated his every move, expertly dodging his strikes and countering with precise strikes of my own. I swiftly dodged his jab and retaliated with a lightning-fast one-two combination, landing a solid left hook followed by a powerful straight right. 

Not wasting a moment, I pivoted to the side, delivering a sharp uppercut to his chin, lifting him off his feet. Seizing the opportunity, I unleashed a rapid barrage of hooks and crosses, aiming for his body and head precisely and quickly.

 My fists started to hurt from all the hits I delivered but I had no intention of letting up. I closed the distance once again, launching a devastating combination that began with a powerful right hook to the body, followed by a thunderous left hook to the head, and concluded with a crushing right uppercut.

 The force of the blow sent him reeling, struggling to maintain his footing. Despite the relentless barrage of hits I delivered, the man refused to go down. Stepping back, his legs trembled slightly, signaling his realization that he couldn't defeat me in a swift encounter. My heart sank as I glanced at his recovering goons, realizing the dire situation I was in. If they were to gang up on me, it would undoubtedly be my end.

However, to my surprise, the man's next words changed the course of events.

 He shouted, "Get on your feet and split up! Meet at the designated location, go now!" 

In a sudden shift of strategy, he turned on his heels and made a hasty retreat, urging his comrades to do the same. His buddies swiftly sprang back up, each taking off in different directions. I watched how they change into dark capes before disappearing into the abandoned alleyway.

Although the instinct to chase after them tugged at me, a greater responsibility took priority. I couldn't abandon Lumi, leaving her vulnerable and alone. With a determined resolve, I chose to prioritize her safety over pursuing the fleeing assailants.

Rushing to Lumi's side, I extended a reassuring hand to her, making sure she was unharmed. "Lumi, are you alright? Did they scare you?" I asked, concern lacing my voice.

Lumi acted all proud and brave but her legs were shaking contradicting her words, her eyes reflecting a mixture of relief and gratitude.

 "I-I'm okay, Kazuki. Ch-chumps like that d-don't scare me! Hahahah!" She laughed nervously. 

I squeezed her hand gently, offering my support. 

"You did great Lumi. Your so brave."

Lumi stepped forward, her voice filled with gratitude and admiration. 

"Kazuki, you... you saved me. You're the brave one here."

I smiled warmly, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. 

"I promised to protect you, didn't I? No one messes with my friends. And especially with the girl I like."

Lumi blushed and I realized that I just confessed that I like her.