The bandits weren't idiots either. After finding out their buddies got taken out, they started moving around in pairs.
So I changed my strategy too.
'Where should I ambush them?'
The bandits were loading expensive items they'd stolen from the mansion onto an airplane. But there was a limit to how much the plane could carry, so they ignored bulky stuff like cars.
'Then the parking garage it is.'
I hid in the parking garage where the bandits wouldn't come. And waited for an opportunity.
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"Sis! We don't have time for this!"
"Just let me try it once. It's my lifelong dream."
"Your dream's too modest. We're rich now."
"We don't know that yet."
Two bandits were arguing in the parking garage.
They looked like sisters, dressed like cowgirls from a western movie and armed with pistols.
'Those look like pistols...'
Pistols.
Handguns characterized by rapid successive fire, quick reloads, excellent magazine capacity, and portability.
Two enemies armed with pistols like that.
'I'd get turned into swiss cheese in no time.'
I always check the enemy's weapons before fighting. Each weapon has its own characteristics.
Just knowing what weapon the opponent's using tells you how to fight. Unless this game's weapons have fantasy elements mixed in, making that knowledge useless.
Right then, a bandit shouted in excitement.
"There it is!"
"Sis. Is that the car?"
"Yeah! I'm sure! Let's hurry and try it!"
"Don't rush. The boss said to be careful."
"You worry too much."
"You don't worry enough."
The two women advanced slowly with their hands on the pistols at their waists.
I circled around and crept toward their rear.
"Hm?"
"Ah!"
Did she have good instincts? Did she see my reflection in the car window? The woman suddenly turned around and our eyes met.
'It's fine! Not too late!'
I pulled the trigger on the revolver I'd already aimed.
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[3]■■■■■■■(10%)
Bang bang bang!
I didn't hold back on bullets. Until the trigger wouldn't fire anymore. I knew from experience that headshots don't kill in one hit.
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One down.
I got hit too while shooting. But not as much as the bandits who didn't have time to take cover.
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And another one.
The gunfight that started with my ambush ended really quickly.
The sisters collapsed almost simultaneously.
"...That was actually dangerous."
Still, the risk was worth it. I gained another level in one go.
Got a new achievement too.
──────────────
Achievement: Double Kill (20 seconds)
Reward: Attack Power 20%
Description: You took down two in succession.
Rating: None.
──────────────
'Ha! There are buffs too.'
Double Kill.
A buff that increased attack power by 20% for 20 seconds.
Would that helper still insist this is reality?
Anyway,
"I'll put these to good use."
"..."
"..."
After quickly looting the dead bandits' pistols and bullets, I hid again.
***
New prey appeared in the parking garage.
A young couple in matching outfits like anyone could see, white t-shirts and ripped jeans.
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"The sisters got taken out together, huh."
"Those weaklings insisted on sticking together and look where it got them."
"Should we let the boss know? That we found bodies."
"Yeah."
Their weapons were kitchen knives you could find anywhere.
No firearms in sight.
'Why?'
Do they think knives are stronger than guns?
I gave up thinking about it. Questioning realism in games is stupid.
After positioning myself not too far and not too close, I gripped one pistol in each hand that I'd just acquired.
'Let's get to level 5 first.'
I aimed at the back of the woman's head, one level lower than the man, and the barrels spat fire.
Bang bang bang!
Bang bang bang!
I didn't stop shooting until the bullets ran out.
[5]■■■■□□
"...What?"
She was fine. Her shield barely went down. If level 5 is like this, level 6 probably won't even get scratched.
The bandits who spotted me waved their kitchen knives in the air and sneered.
"Kid. We're not using these because we don't have guns."
"If you get it, hand over those guns. They look pretty pricey."
"...Seems that way."
I tossed the two empty pistols. And pulled out the revolver from my pocket.
The man watched my actions with a dumbfounded expression and asked.
"You're gonna try again?"
"Something like that."
I charged first at him who was completely underestimating me.
"He's lost it."
Like a reflex, he swung the kitchen knife diagonally downward in a big motion.
I didn't care about his gaze, posture, or thoughts at all.
'As expected, tutorial.'
I couldn't help but chuckle at the honest movement that didn't betray my expectations.
After blocking the knife with the revolver in my right hand, I drove my left fist hard into the man's solar plexus.
[6]■■■■□□
It definitely had an effect.
'What the?'
But there was no impact. Like punching a soft pillow. Felt like I hit nothing.
"This brat's trying tricks...!"
Without showing any sign of pain, the man swung his knife again.
Another thoughtless attack.
I leaned back at the waist and easily dodged it.
"Swordsmanship is just tricks."
"Damn it!"
Fear started creeping into the man's face. The initial confidence was gone. He clearly felt the skill gap.
He stepped back little by little, creating distance from me.
"Die...!"
The girlfriend who hadn't noticed her boyfriend's change of heart aimed her knife at my back.
'They're exactly the same.'
Swinging weapons without thinking.
I rotated 180 degrees on my left foot while deflecting the knife to the side. Simultaneously smashing her temple hard with the revolver.
[5]■■□□□□
The woman's head turned to the side and she glared at me fiercely.
"Ha!"
Ridiculous.
Does this game even ignore human anatomy?
The temple is one of the thinnest parts of the skull, a vital point. Even light impacts can easily cause concussions and internal bleeding.
But she's fine?
'Here we go again!'
Complaints later. My attack wasn't over yet.
While pulling back the right arm that swung the revolver, I smashed her opposite temple with the revolver too.
[5]■□□□□□
But it was weak. Slightly insufficient.
The woman judged it dangerous and backflipped away, creating distance.
I hesitated at the unconventional movement you'd only see in action movies.
"Just you wait!"
"Not happening."
I didn't chase the woman trying to plan a next time.
I aimed the revolver.
"Ah..."
"Bye."
I pulled the trigger smoothly.
Bang!
The bullet pierced the center of her chest as she'd been ignoring guns. Her white t-shirt turned red.
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[4]■■■■■■■(75%)
"I'll put this knife to good use."
"..."
I quickly picked up the knife the woman dropped when she died.
Since guns don't work from level 5 onwards, I decided to change weapons too.
[6]■■■■□□
Far away, I saw the man's back getting smaller rapidly.
'That's really too much.'
He ran away while his girlfriend drew my attention. I guess his own life is more precious than love and friendship.
I chased immediately.
"D-don't come!"
"You stop first."
I'd already scoped out the parking garage's layout. Why else would I lure him here? I led the man into a dead end.
Realizing there was nowhere left to run, he started spouting nonsense.
"We promised each other a future!"
"Oh really. Then why'd you run?"
"Th-that's... die!"
The man who'd squeezed out some courage charged at me.
But my swordsmanship wasn't sloppy enough to get hit by a knife swung without a plan.
I pulled back my left foot while bending my waist like a bow.
Whoosh—
The blade passed over my head.
[4]■■■■■■■(75%)
The man who'd sliced empty air with the knife had his center of gravity shift forward.
He burst out in frustration.
"Ugh! Just get hit already! Why can't I hit you...?!"
I did lead him into it, but I couldn't help chuckling at how he couldn't balance himself and was stumbling.
"Use a gun next time. If there is a next time."
I slashed the neck of the man whose upper body leaned forward while kicking the back of his knees.
Without time to catch his balance, his knees buckled and he lost even more balance, rolling on the ground.
[6]■■□□□□
The opponent was too weak. Street thugs would fight better than this.
I even went to an academy to get good at games, to compete in tournaments. I professionally learned how to kill people there.
My skills aren't what they used to be now that I'm older, but I'm not so bad I'd struggle in a tutorial.
"D-don't come closer!"
The man who crawled on the ground to create distance threatened me by slashing at empty air with his knife.
"Let's finish this."
I crossed through the space the knife had slashed and dove in. Slashing the man's completely exposed side.
[4]■■■■■■■(75%)
[6]□□□□□□
"Aaaah...!"
The man screamed in pain, dropped the knife, and clutched his side.
Bright red blood gushed from the waist I'd slashed.
"What? You're not dead?"
"Please spare me! I was wrong...!"
The man prostrate on the ground begged for his life while streaming tears and snot.
"You, why are you alive?"
"What?"
"Your shield's depleted."
I pointed at the status window above his head with the knife tip.
[6]□□□□□□
"Shield? Oh! This is my shield!"
"Ah, it was a shield."
There was a reason the impact from hitting and slashing felt weird.
I naturally assumed it was vitality, but it was a shield that absorbed damage.
'Shields? Haven't seen those in forever.'
It's not a common setting, so I didn't notice until now.
"Thank you!"
"For what?"
"Huh? For sparing me..."
"When did I?"
I never promised to spare him if he answered my questions honestly. Unless I've got dementia!
"You promised!"
"I didn't!"
"You did...!"
Fire spat from the revolver barrel aimed at the chest of the man who got angry and charged again.
Bang!
The bullet pierced through the man's body without a shield.
[6]□□□□□□
[5]■■■■■■■(64%)
No buff. Probably because it took too long since the man abandoned his girlfriend and ran.
Still, there were gains.
I leveled up and escaped from the misconception about vitality.
'Shields. Very important information.'
Shields and vitality are distinctly different.
With shields, there's no worry about combat power decreasing from bleeding or injuries. No pain until the shield disappears.
This difference completely changes combat style.
"Is this right?"
A game where gamers have to guess the system?
Definitely not a game I'd pay my own money for. I'm past the age of buying hardship.
Right then.
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[8]■■■■■■
[7]■■■■■■
"There he is!"
"Finally found him!"
"Prepare yourself!"
So many bandits swarmed into the parking garage it felt like the real thing was just starting.
'Got me good.'
The guy must've called for help while his girlfriend fought for her life. I praised the dead man's judgment.
This is why groups are annoying.
"...Well, fine."
It's just a game anyway. Let's kill until I die!