The caravan slowly made its way out of the city, the wooden wheels creaking over the stone-paved road that stretched toward the horizon. The late afternoon air was cool, and though the journey would take about a week, the atmosphere within the group was fairly relaxed.
Ren sat on the side of one of the wagons, listening to the gentle rumble of the wheels and the rhythmic clatter of hooves pulling the caravan forward. Beside him, a burly middle-aged man sitting in the driver's seat glanced at him with a curious expression.
"By the way, are you a new adventurer?" the driver asked, his deep voice carrying no hint of condescension.
Ren glanced at him before giving a slight nod. "Something like that. I registered just a week ago."
The man raised an eyebrow slightly. "That so? But this mission is for Rank C and above. Are you—"
"Yeah, I just ranked up to C," Ren cut in casually. "I've been taking a lot of monster hunting quests, so I ranked up quickly."
The man's eyes widened slightly before he let out a small chuckle. "Heh, that so? Well, that is the fastest way to rank up. Hunting monsters racks up points faster than escorting or gathering missions."
Ren simply gave a faint smirk. (Of course. As long as you can hunt efficiently, ranking up is no problem.)
During the week-long journey, Ren didn't simply sit idly by.
He used the time to familiarize himself with some of the people in the caravan—but always in a measured manner. He wasn't the type to engage in pointless socializing. If someone had no value to him, he wouldn't waste time getting close.
However, there was one group he found worth approaching—the merchants.
(In this world, power isn't just about combat. Connections and resources are far more valuable.)
Merchants were the ones who transported rare goods, had access to information that most adventurers didn't, and frequently traveled between cities. If he wanted to acquire special materials, establishing connections within the merchant circles would be incredibly beneficial.
Thus, throughout the journey, he spent more time conversing with the traders, listening to their stories about commerce in different cities, the types of goods that fetched high prices, and the most dangerous trade routes. At first, some of them were hesitant to share too much, but once Ren demonstrated his understanding of business and spoke in a language they were familiar with, they gradually opened up.
"As long as you have money, anything can be obtained," said an old merchant with a long beard, sipping his warm tea by the campfire one evening. "The key is knowing where to look and who to buy from."
Ren leaned back against a wooden crate they were using as makeshift seating, his eyes watching the flickering flames. "That's exactly why I want to learn more about trade routes. I need materials that can't be acquired through ordinary means."
The old merchant gave him a knowing smile. "You've got an interesting ambition, kid. Just make sure you have enough coin and the right connections when the time comes."
Ren smirked slightly. "Don't worry. I know how to handle that."
###
The sun had risen to its highest point in the sky, signaling that their caravan journey was only half a day away from reaching the next town. A warm breeze swept across the vast fields of grass stretching on either side of the dirt road they traveled. The atmosphere seemed peaceful—but to Ren, nothing in this world was ever truly safe.
Sitting on the edge of one of the wagons, he narrowed his eyes, carefully observing an unusual movement among the tall grass. The gentle breeze should have made the grass sway in a natural pattern—yet some areas moved differently. The motion was out of sync with the rest, as if something was deliberately hiding beneath it.
Ren didn't act recklessly. He took a slow breath, then turned slightly toward the driver guiding the wagon. In a low but sharp voice, he whispered, "Psst… Do people usually crouch in the grass around here?"
The man furrowed his brows. "What!?"
But before he could ask further, Ren raised a hand, signaling the others.
The gesture was clear to anyone with experience—it was a warning of a hidden threat. The once-relaxed adventurer guards instantly tensed up, their hands moving toward their weapons. The merchants, who had been casually chatting, now exchanged uneasy glances.
A lightly armored adventurer stepped closer. "Are you sure?" he asked, his tone serious.
Ren kept his gaze locked ahead. "The grass isn't moving naturally. Something's hiding in there."
The tension thickened. One of the guards cautiously stepped forward, attempting to get a closer look at the suspicious area—
Srekk!
In an instant, a group of ragged men leaped out from the tall grass, their weapons drawn.
"ATTACK!"
The shout became the signal for dozens of bandits to emerge from their hiding spots on both sides of the road, armed with swords, bows, and clubs.
The adventurer guards immediately sprang into action, drawing their weapons and forming a defensive line around the merchants. Shouts and the clash of steel filled the air, transforming what had once been a peaceful road into a battlefield.
Ren, still seated, let out a short sigh.
"So, this is my first time facing human enemies in this world…"
His hand slowly reached for the weapon strapped to his back, wrapped in thick cloth like a large battle axe.
But as he stood up and unraveled the covering, what emerged was not an axe—but a long, jet-black barrel with an unfamiliar design for this world.
An assault rifle.
With steady movements, Ren raised his weapon, took aim, and pulled the trigger.
Bang! Bang!
The sharp, piercing cracks of gunfire rang through the battlefield, a sound far different from the hum of arrows or the clang of swords. The fighting momentarily paused as both the adventurers and bandits turned toward Ren, stunned by the unfamiliar noise.
Meanwhile, the first bandit hit by a bullet collapsed, clutching his now-bleeding leg. His face paled as pain struck suddenly—so fast he couldn't even process what had happened.
Ren remained calm, his rifle still raised, the barrel lightly smoking. His gaze was cold, yet his aim was precise—he wasn't shooting to kill, only to incapacitate. Each shot that followed struck a shoulder, a leg, or an arm, causing bandits to lose their balance and drop one by one.
The tides shifted almost instantly. What had started as an ambush quickly turned into chaos for the bandits.
"W-what the hell was that?!" one of them shrieked, eyes wide with terror as he watched his comrades fall without even understanding how.
"Is he using magic?! There's no chant, but his attacks are instant?!" another cried out, his body trembling as he saw their advantage crumble in mere seconds.
Seeing the panic begin to spread, Ren didn't let the opportunity slip away. With slow, deliberate steps, he moved forward, his rifle still aimed at the remaining bandits.
Then, with a firm, commanding tone, he spoke—turning their fear into his weapon.
"HEY! IF ANY OF YOU STILL FEEL LIKE FIGHTING, PREPARE YOURSELVES—BECAUSE MY MAGIC BULLETS WILL KILL YOU INSTANTLY!"
The standing bandits swallowed hard, sweat dripping down their faces.
Ren continued, his voice growing sharper. "IF YOU DON'T WANT A HOLE IN YOUR HEAD, THEN DROP YOUR WEAPONS AND GET DOWN ON THE GROUND!"
Silence fell over the battlefield.
A handful of bandits immediately threw down their weapons and dropped to the dirt, their faces drained of color. They knew they had no chance against someone who could strike with the speed of lightning and without a single incantation.
But a few still hesitated, their pride as bandits refusing to let them surrender so easily.
"D-don't be scared! He's alone! We can still—"
Bang!
A bullet struck the dirt right in front of his foot, kicking up dust from the impact.
Ren turned his gaze to the man, his expression cold and sharp.
"Go ahead. Say that again."
The bandit froze, his body rigid as a statue. Within seconds, he dropped his weapon and raised his hands, surrendering just like the others.
Now, the battlefield had completely flipped.
The adventurers who had witnessed the entire event stood motionless, still processing what had just transpired.
Finally, a female adventurer broke the silence, her voice a mix of awe and fear.
"…What did we just witness?"