Leading the young lady I picked up astray, making her the happiest girl in the world!

"Hey, hey sir!"

"Mmm?"

As he was confronting the men, the shopkeeper approached him.

Going out of her way to go outside the store, she whispered to Allen.

"These guys are part of a group that has been causing a lot of trouble around here lately. Run away before you get in trouble. I'll take care of it."

"But that would cause a problem for you."

"Don't worry about me, just protect your companion."

"Sorry, but both are important. I won't bother you, so please stay away."

"Well... I don't know anything then."

The shopkeeper looked concerned but backed away.

But if she was right, then Allen and Charlotte have been targeted by troublesome people.

For now, the one who bumped into Charlotte was Rogue A. The other would simply be classified as Rogue B.

Rogue A sized Allen up with a grim face, a rude and impolite look in his eyes.

"You don't look familiar... Are you a newcomer?"

"I guess they don't even know we're the Cavern crew."

"I don't remember that name at all."

It was a standard practice for adventurers to get together to form a group.

Some parties were as large as a platoon, with a large number of people gathering together. Such a group would be well known... but there was no way for Allen, a recluse on the outskirts of town, to know about such things.

The man huffed arrogantly.

"But I'd appreciate it if you'd go easy on me for the time being."

"Oh? What's with that attitude--"

A blue streak appeared on the temple of Rogue A.

But it quickly disappeared, and instead, he smiled with a mocking smile.

"Fine, I'll forgive you. But on one condition."

"Thanks for being so quick to talk. How much do you want?"

"It's much simpler than that."

Allen tried to get his wallet out, but Rogue A looked over at... Charlotte.

"That girl. Lend her to us for one night."

"... What?"

Allen froze.

The meaning of the words was clear. It was understandable.

But when processing it in the brain, a serious error occurred. Heat receded from his fingers and he stopped breathing altogether. Why did he react in such a manner?@@novelbin@@

Rogue A and B ignored Allen and turned their vile glances to Charlotte.

"From the looks of it, she's rather beautiful. I was getting tired of playing with business women these days."

"What do you think, little miss? Have you had your first experience with your boyfriend yet?"

"Huh? First experience? What's that?"

"Stop joking! There are still women like this these days?!

Unpleasant laughter overlapped and echoed in the traffic.

The passersby stopped and looked at us. Everyone seemed to sense an unusual atmosphere but was hesitant to offer a helping hand.

The rogues were not concerned.

One of them reached out to grab Charlotte.

"Hey, come with us. We'll buy you some better accessories than those cheap ones."

"Hey... no, please stop this."

"Don't be shy now. We'll show you heaven with our best technique--"

The lines of that nauseating speech suddenly broke in the middle.

Subconsciously, Allen had sunk his fist into the cheeks of Rogue A.

It was as if time had been stretched out, the man's face slowly contorted. The eyes of Charlotte, the store owner, and many other passers-by widened in astonishment.

Ah, I finally did it.

Although Allen harbored a wee bit of regret--

"You damned ground beetle!"

Allen swung his fist without hesitation again.