Chương 12: Heroes Have It Rough

Allowing her cat instincts to take over, Mina managed to land on her feet without injuring anything. Her eyes focused on the confused mouse running towards the bandit chief who is about to strike.

In her peripheral vision, Mina saw the sedge hat tilt slightly in her direction. Focusing solely on Tarou, Mina set off at top speed.

Just when she captured the terrorized mouse with her mouth, she felt an impact which sent her flying towards a nearby shrub.

Clang!

Releasing the mouse abruptly as she yelped in pain. Annoyed, she growled after spitting out the mouse. The mouse she just saved stool still, his paws positioned as if he's holding a piece of cheese. She was supposed to be a spectator, waiting for these men to show who deserved her favor.

Looking at the bandit chief who fell on his back with his sword lying on the ground, she seems to have escaped with her pride intact. The man spared her a quick glance before scowling at his opponent.

The man with the sedge hat approached the bandit chief, kicking the sword to the side as he came closer.

From her new vantage point, Mina could make out a lean, rugged face under the sedge hat. His eyes crinkled in the corners and his lips moving upwards in a smile.

"Commandant, you never fail to surprise me."

Mina would have been amused too if not for the kick. Extending his hands towards the bandit chief, the mysterious man continued.

"Still careless."

The bandit chief accepted his hand and pulled him towards the ground. A sudden squeak caught Mina's attention momentarily. The mouse, who was now alert, had his eyes on the two men.

When the cat shifted her attention back to her potential subjects, the chief already had his feet clinging tightly on his opponent's neck. The man's conical hat was at an awkward position on the back of his head. She grimaced, imagining how painful it would be for something to dig into the back of her neck.

Thud!

She didn't even blink but the scene changed abruptly.

'Whoa! What just happened?'

The mysterious man overpowered the bandit chief, pinning him on the ground. With the hat thrown to the side, the mystery man had more freedom. She was so surprised that she didn't even have time to focus on the man's appearance.

Gritting his teeth, the bandit chief struggled against the man's hold. The two rolled on the ground. As the bandit chief tried to raise a hand to strike the mysterious man, he was pinned back down. A silent but intense battle continued on the ground.

Mina focused on the tangle of hands and legs. Holding her breath, she anticipated how this battle will unfold as neither of the two wanted to yield.

Right then, she felt something scratching on her fur. But she couldn't peel her eyes away from the scene.

Mystery man now had his arms around the bandit chief, who sweated profusely while trying to throw off his opponent.

Everything was still except for the sounds of labored breathing. She held her breath too.

The bandit chief attacked the man's leg, a punch hovering in the air. But, before he could launch another attack, he felt a forceful hug from behind. Rolling on the ground, the two continued to struggle.

Mina felt a little paw on her fur again, roughly brushing it off this time. With her tail wagging slowly, she kept her eyes peeled on the scene before her. But it was impossible to keep track who landed more kicks or punches as the two men grappled on the ground.

Finally, the mystery man gained some advantage, splaying his body to force the bandit chief to settle down, keeping him down with both arms. Mina could only gasp as the tumbles continued.

Both men eyed each other panting heavily. The mystery man threw a leg over his neck, quickly locking it down with the other leg. As the chief continued to resist, the man's legs tightened around his neck, keeping him down.

Groaning as he struggled, the bandit's face was all red. He continued to fight him off but the mysterious man did not budge. Right then, the bandit chief lightly tapped his foot on the ground.

Without knowing, Mina held her breath too. Releasing it only when she heard the tap.

The mystery man relaxed his hold on the bandit chief but continued to pin him down. The bandit chief stopped resisting and a few seconds later, the man loosened his grip gradually.

On the ground, the bandit chief clenched his jaw while controlling his breathing.

"Commandant, your king is dead. You have no kingdom, no troops."

The bandit chief replied with a glare. The mystery man extended his hands again only to be slapped away by his opponent. Undeterred, he continued.

"The princess needs my protection."

Getting up on his own, the bandit chief stared at the man. Tilting his head back, he looked straight into the man's eyes.

"Will your protection keep her safe?"

In a stoic voice, the man replied, "It's not advantageous for her to die."

Unmoving, he gauged the man before him.

"I am no commandant."

The mysterious man gave tilted his head towards the bandit chief.

"My orders include your capture."

"I will surrender. In exchange, keep the princess safe."

Not too far away, a black cat listened to everything intently. She didn't have to think about anything. The mysterious man, whose face was hidden under a sedge hat again, will have the pleasure of serving her.

After reaching a verdict, she finally took the time to glance at Tarou.

The mouse had a concerned look while running his paws on his whiskers. Realizing Boss finally paid attention to him, he couldn't wait but squeak in succession.

"Have they... finished doing it?"

Mina looked at the mouse, confused at the odd question. The two men who stood close to each other, but were no longer at each other's throats. Looking back at Tarou, she nodded.

Mumbling, the mouse rushed back into the place where Mina picked him up looking for something. Finally emerging outside a pile of leaves about two feet from where the men stood, Tarou sniffed them and regarded them with curious eyes.

Shortly after, the mouse was back by her side. Mina had no idea what Tarou was holding but the "thing" resembles cheese.

"Boss, you like things like that?"

Mina looked at the mouse with a puzzled expression.

"Mouse senses are exceptional except for sight."

Mina still had no idea why Tarou was boasting of his abilities. He almost turned into compost and he had the gall to tell her he's good at almost everything. Her ears swiveled, waiting for the mouse to get to the point.

"I felt humans falling on the ground."

"I clearly heard panting and gasping."

"I could smell sweat mingling with each other."

Her tail swished as Tarou continued.

"Just now, I took a closer look and confirmed both of them are men."

Finally realizing what the mouse implied, her tail moved faster.

"Boss, I've been nagging to ask since earlier... did you snatch me out of their way so you ... can see the action up close?"

When the mouse concluded his speech, her ears rotated backward, flat against her head. She felt sharp claws reveal themselves under her paws as her cat instincts kicked in.

She wanted a certain mouse's meat for dinner.

Well done.

Preferably charred.

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