When everyone deviated from the main road and walked onto the mountain path, Asta had already started checking the surrounding situation.
"Two on the big tree to the front left, two behind the boulder, five crouching in the grass on the right, and ten following behind. The number is a bit small. I hope that when we reach the proper place, one or two hundred people will pop out!"
Asta was slightly disappointed. Not only were there few people, but this clumsy hiding technique was enough to prove that these people's magic power was not high. However, even a small fly is still meat. He had to earn back the points spent on the healing potions from these people no matter what!
"Brother Keer, why do I feel like someone is following us?"
A boy walked timidly to Keer's side and said.
"Yes, Brother Keer, are there bandits nearby?"
Several more sensitive boys couldn't help but gather toward Keer. A heavy atmosphere suddenly condensed in the group, and the three girls became even more nervous.
"Finally someone noticed, not completely hopeless."
Asta glanced at Yuno and didn't speak, but Yuno seemed to understand Asta's meaning and immediately pretended to be indifferent. At this time, although everyone was already on guard, it was already too late. If Asta hadn't followed, these boys and girls would all die today!
"It's just some wind blowing through the grass, don't be nervous."
Keer said casually.
"But, I feel like there are people!"
A boy said nervously.
"I remember your name is Cheke, right? Do you know why I wanted to unite everyone? It's precisely because the mountain road is not safe that we need to travel together. Now that there are so many of us, and we are all proud children of heaven who are going to participate in the Magic Knight Squad exam, I believe that even if we encounter a few blind bandits, we will easily solve them. So you shouldn't be afraid. Could it be that you want to show off as a coward in front of the three beautiful ladies and lose face?"
Keer said in a spring-breeze manner. It must be said that he was quite good at coaxing people. Under this flattery, he immediately dispelled everyone's fear.
"Exactly, Cheke, you are too embarrassing. With so many of us, what blind bandit would dare to rob us!"
"Now I almost want to encounter bandits!"
The boys began to try hard to draw a line with Cheke, as if this could show their bravery. Some even wished they could encounter a few bandits right now to show off their strength.
"Pfft..."
The three girls also chuckled, and the previous terrifying atmosphere vanished instantly.
Keer walked to the front of the group, and a cold expression slowly solidified on his face. In his view, these ignorant boys and girls were as weak as lambs, simply waiting to be slaughtered at will!
Asta glanced at the fat boy who said he wanted to encounter bandits, thinking to himself that even if this kid cried for his father and mother later, he wouldn't save him. Just let him show off his bravery in front of the beauties!
Keer led everyone for a while longer, and this time they finally arrived in the depths of the mountains. The bandits who had been hiding their figures just barely didn't even want to pretend anymore and walked out from the shadows one after another.
These people included those who were missing an arm, missing an eye, and those whose faces were full of terrifying scars. They were all in their prime, and from the moment they appeared, they carried a very strong smell of blood. This was the aura that one would only get after killing to a certain extent. Judging from their aura, they were all bandits who licked blood from the edge of a knife!
"People!"
Cheke's terrified voice became shrill.
"Are there really bandits?"
"Brother Keer, what do we do now!"
The group of boys' faces all changed. Some boys even had their legs go weak and collapsed to the ground just by seeing the ferocious appearance of these bandits, let alone taking out their grimoires to fight.
And the fat boy who had been shouting about fighting the bandits for three hundred rounds was now trembling even in his facial fat.
"Brother Keer, hurry and lead us to resist!"
Seeing that everyone was about to be scared to death, a boy said anxiously. If this continued, I'm afraid they would be defeated without the bandits even needing to make a move!
"Resist? Are you telling a joke?"
Keer suddenly laughed in a weird way, as if he had heard a huge joke. He turned his head and looked at everyone mockingly. At this moment, his face was a bit distorted, and the noble air he had pretended to have instantly turned into viciousness. This change of face made everyone's heart tremble.
The three girls who had been interested in Keer earlier were shaking all over, feeling that this world was too scary. A person who was refined just a moment ago could turn into a thug in the blink of an eye!
"Are you with them?"
Cheke said while collapsing on the ground, but he realized it a bit too late.
"Hahaha, the surprise moment has arrived. Welcome everyone to the temporary camp of our powerful Fierce Dragon Bandit Group. As the saying goes, a fierce dragon does not cross the river—our bandit group has just arrived in this country and really doesn't have any decent gifts to offer, so we will use you twenty-seven youths who are about to participate in the Magic Knight Squad assessment as a sacrifice!"
Keer stood on a rock, having completely torn off his mask. While he was speaking, members of the Fierce Dragon Bandit Group kept walking out from the depths of the jungle. All in all, there were already over a hundred people!
"You actually want to sacrifice us?"
Keer said in terror, feeling that this world was just too terrifying!
"That's right, this is the only way to make a name for our bandit group. Of course, there are three beautiful young girls among you. My precious ladies, rest assured, the ritual awaiting you will involve some bleeding, but it won't take your lives!"
After Keer finished speaking, he laughed perversely. At the same time, the members of the Fierce Dragon Bandit Group who had walked out of the forest also laughed unscrupulously.
"Well done, Keer. At least your pretty face wasn't for nothing!"
A tall, burly man walked out. His physique was very sturdy, and he even had children's skulls hanging around his neck. The moment he appeared, it was like a horn of doomsday had been blown. The youths who had originally wanted to put up a fight fell into despair. With the enemy's vast numbers and the fact that they were all adult bandits who lived by the blade, how could they possibly fight back!