My Guardian System: The Trader

"Shut up, old hag!" The rebel leader angrily yelled at Sister Ann. "We don't have the time to waste on useless crap like you!" He added coldly.

"Your action is more suited for bandits, not for rebels!" Meir snapped. Her hands were holding the hilt of the sword that was hanging on her waist. Although it was only a normal sword, it was better than none.

She could be wrong about rebels, but. Based on what she understood about them, they were an anti-government group whose sole purpose was to overthrow the current government.

But perhaps, these rebels have a different agenda that is different from others. 

"Right! Do rebels degenerate to such an extent as the bandits?" Hope also screamed in agreement to Meir's statement.

Although both of them were scared, Meir and Hope tried their best to calm themselves.

"Heh~" The leader just sneered at them. Then, he ordered, "Do it, boys, before those fools at the town noticed our presence."

They could not waste more time with needless chatter. If those soldiers on the town's gate would notice them, there was a high possibility that they would send a group to rescue these people. That's why he immediately ordered his men to conduct their mission. Their mission was to abduct the three ascender humans.

Panic rose immediately after the rebel leader announced it.

"Wait! Spare the children!" Sister Ann tried to persuade them, but. 

"Well, goodbye, sister. Hehe!" One of the rebels pointed his palm to the nun.

Meir and Hope widened their eyes when they noticed a bright blue floating glowing ring materialized on the person's wrist that resembles a magic array.

That ring symbolizes the power level he had. It also meant that he had already achieved the first level of power attainment.

"A level 1 attack is incoming!" Hope alerted.

Sensing a foreboding feeling, Meir hastily leaped in front of the nun while at the same time calling in a panic. "Sister Ann!"

"Meir! Sister Ann!" Hope also shouted their names.

Meir directly unsheathed her weapon and fortified it.

A wave of magical energy was fast approaching them. The nun widened her eyes; her face was ashen.

Meir slashed the incoming wave of energy using her fortified sword. There was a confrontation, but it only happened in a split second before Meir was thrown away.

The sword was knocked away and disappeared from her hands. The power of the enemy's attack was too much for someone like her. The disparity between a leveled ex-human and the under-level ex-human was like opposite ends of the straw.

"Meir!" Hope and Sister Ann hastily ran to her side.

"Ngh…" Meir groaned in pain as she tried to get up.

"GAHAH! GAHAH!" She coughed blood. 

"Meir, are you okay?!" Hope asked worriedly. 

She gripped on Hope's dress to gain an invisible support. "Y...yeah, I… Am fine…" she said in difficulty.

Hope and Sister Ann shot angry looks at the rebels. At this point, Meir understood that they were no match against these people.

They have yet to regain their energy after the battle with the Green Gobs. Their physical strength was also yet to recover. On top of that, their enemies were too strong for them. And they also have the advantage in numbers. So basically, it was already a checkmate for them.

"What do you want?"

Sister Ann raised a question again.

But the leader just glared at her. "Heh! We're not interested in an old hag like you, but. We do want to take those three ascenders with you. Ehehe!"

The leader scoffed and scornfully announced their motive.

What…?

Upon hearing the rebel leader's declaration, everyone's heart sank as fear began to creep out from within their souls, shuddering their bodies in that instance.

"Now, everyone, take those three ascenders and kill the old hag and the coachman."

After hearing it, the coachman, who was silently cowering on the carriage, turned pale.

Hope glanced around her. Amid a tense atmosphere, Hope found her eyes a target, she looked at him, unaware of the expression she was making. She was the boy she just met, but there was an indescribable nostalgic feeling she couldn't explain that time when his voice resonated in her ears.

With teary frightened eyes, "Sorry for dragging you along with us, Jem. Please, bring Sister Ann and Meir with you and escape this place," she asked him in a voice just enough for him to hear.

"Wait, Leanne, no. Please, Mr. Jem. Please bring these two with you and escape from here!" 

"W-What are the two of you talking a-about. H-hey! P-Please, I… I beg you. Bring these two along with you and escape here!" Although she felt pain, Meir was still able to say the words.

"....."

The boy who was receiving it just stood there with a bored face.

However, after hearing that single word, there was a sudden change in the atmosphere around him.

He didn't want to save these people. Nor, did he want to get involved with them? No, that's nothing like that.

But after hearing the word escape, it triggered an old memory in him.

Hey, do you know?

It was about his past in which a person he trusted escaped away along with others, leaving him alone in that danger-laden place.

Jem slowly tied back his medium-length hair to the back of his head. His face was overcast with shadows, so it's hard to tell what expression he was making on his face. But, since it was him, he probably had that poker face again. It was Hope's honest thought as she was looking at him with wide eyes and gaping mouth. 

"No, Jem! Don't go there! Please, escape from here!" She was urging him to escape. If it was him, perhaps he had a chance to escape and call help.

After hearing their leader's order, the two rebels began approaching them.

However, before reaching them, one shouted a warning.

"Watch out!"

"Eh!?"

Fwoosh! Fwoosh!

Two knives were tearing the space as they traveled in the air at a hard to perceive speed.

GAH!

Plop! Plop! Plop!

Blood dripped.

"What?!" A surprised utterance from the person who had his shoulder pierced by a knife. "How did--"

Everyone was stunned at the sudden development.

He wasn't able to finish his words because another knife pierced his throat.