I took out Luna from my pocket and questioned.
"Luna, I know that it has not been long since we met but... Do you trust me?" She didn't even think for a second and nodded her head rapidly.
"I am glad"I muttered inaudibly and looked at her.
"The quest is more dangerous than I first thought and I may not be able to protect you so I want you to stay here" I said seriously.
"Kyuu~ Kyuu~ " she shook her head just as fast and rejected.
"Luna, please understand that it was for your own safety and if something happened to you, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself" I said pleadingly and she appeared conflicted.
"Don't worry about me, I am strong so I can take care of myself.I will come back very fast, I promise. " I joined my forehead with hers and gave her a reassuring smile and she finally relented.
I looked towards the old man who was just observing us quietly. "I know that it is selfish of me but I have a request to make".
" Dont worry, young man, I will take care of her" He said. I wouldn't entrust Luna to just anybody but I can sense his spirit with my haki and he is a kind person so she will be fine.
"Thank you. I will make sure to come back successfully" I expressed my gratitude and said, more to myself than him. I also gave him a communication lacrima and asked him to contact the rune knights to come here.
"Good luck, young-, no good luck Elior" He said and I nodded at him before turning into light and rushing towards the bandit lair. It took me only 2 minutes to reach there.
I used my haki and sensed about 100 people partying and also a very strong presence. It's different from a human, it's darker and more sinister but I disregarded them and moved silently towards another part of the lair where I can sense 40-50 women.
'Those must be the village people"
They were kept in a dark and cold cell kept unguarded, probably because of the last going on. The women had lifeless eyes as if they had given up all hope of making it out alive.
I covered the whole cell in a barrier made of light magic but they didn't even react to that. It is to protect them from the aftermath of the battle. The barrier can tank any attack up to A rank and a single S rank attack. It will also remain active as long as I am alive.
I left them there and moved toward the bandits. As soon as I reached there, I fired a light beam at the nearest bandit.
Thud~
and all of them stopped and looked at me. The boss got up from his seat and ordered.
"A twerp? What are you gawking at. Surround him"
All his minions surrounded me while pointing their weapons at me. The boss started walking towards me and stopped a few feet away.
"I don't know what you thought when coming here, but don't think of going back alive now"
"I have a question"
"Hoh. Go on. I will grant it as your final wish".
"Why did you do this? All of this" I asked my numbed emotions moving a little.
"Pfftt Hahahah, did you guys hear what the twerp said"and the rest of the bandits also started laughing.
"Fine, I will tell you. It's because.... it's fun. Law of the jungle, survival of the fittest. I am stronger than them so I decide their life and death" He proclaimed as if he truly believed that.
"That's your reason. You killed so many people for such a stupid reason" the shock of the tragedy has mostly passed away and what was left in its place was anger. An unbridled rage at the sheer disregard of human life.
"HOW DARE YOU" and it was directed at them, all of it at once and-
Thud~ Thud~ Thud~
one by one, they started falling unconscious till only the leader was left standing.
'Ah, Conqueror's Haki'