A country on the western side of the East Continent.
*Every country claims that the continent they are on is the Central Continent.
The neighboring Tartarus Kingdom, also located on the west side.
McGillis and his group… it started with the illegal entry, and now they are in a war.
Using the border line as a shield, they repeatedly kill and are killed, repeating the cycle of enemy soldiers being killed.
Finally, when the commander thought the number of enemy soldiers had decreased, they deployed all reserve forces for a breakthrough.
A large town, some distance from the border line.
During the war, everyone except those tasked with maintaining public order has been mobilized.
This is the perfect environment for the impoverished and criminals.
“Gah?! Wait, kid—!”
“Beeeee♪ Who’s gonna wait for you—♪”
In front of a bakery and a shop selling food to eat on the go, there is a pickpocket.
They tackle customers who have paid.
Due to the surprise attack, the customers drop what they bought (one in three).
Then, the pickpocket quickly picks up the dropped items from the stone pavement.
If you’re wondering if the three-second rule exists in this world, it doesn’t.
The pickpockets are the young people from the impoverished.
They do this to earn today’s meal.
They don’t consider working for a salary or reward.
A tackle, and if it falls from their hands, they get food.
Compared to that, labor is easy.
The customer doesn’t pay attention to the dropped items.
There is a risk that they will grab their hand to stop them.
However, the reward they get is much greater than the risk.
“Snatched—!? Catch that person—!”
“Get out of the way—♪! If you don’t move, I’ll kill you—♪!”
These small-fry criminals.
Taking advantage of the small number of soldiers.
When the patrolling soldiers are gone.
They commit simultaneous acts in different locations.
They do cunning, devious things.
Earning a record high amount in a single day.
The soldiers responsible for maintaining public order.
To the higher echelons… the central command department in the Royal Capital.
They send a petition via Mato, requesting the return of those who participated in the war.
They continue to send it during their breaks every morning, noon, and night until they receive a reply telling them to withdraw.
The current situation is that the higher echelons only reply, “Somehow, deal with it with the personnel you have now.”
Yes, it can’t be helped.
It’s the middle of a war. If they lose, their territory will be taken.
The families of the fallen soldiers and the populace will not remain silent.
Therefore, those who were sent for reinforcements cannot be recalled.
Until the war is won.
Or, unless the other side seeks peace.
Beep! Peep!
The sound of a police whistle echoes through the great street of the town.
A criminal who has succeeded in pickpocketing weaves through the passing crowd, or forcefully pushes them aside, and escapes into the maze of back alleys with a smile.
“Heh, a lot today—but arrgh?!”
Just as they thought they had escaped the soldiers.
Something suddenly hits them in the face.
“We got you—!”
“Oww, ah!”
The pickpocket doesn’t have time to think about what flew at them or what hit them before they are apprehended by the soldiers.
“Ow, l-let go of me!? Let me go… Wha—?!”
“Behave yourself, criminal!”
At that moment, a person who successfully made the capture speaks up.
It was a child. For a moment, they suspected they were from the impoverished.
It’s due to recent hard work and mental exhaustion.
“And you are?”
“Y-you bastard… damn it.”
They are hit again.
The pickpocket is displeased at not being able to yell at the child.
At least they glare.
They convey a meaning like, “You really did it! You’ll regret this when I get out of the station!”
“I am an adventurer who helps people, by the grace of the God of Ball Games, called a meijā.”
“We are happy to help people, but you shouldn’t overdo it.”
The child, whose profession as a pitcher was revealed to them by God with a sleeping pillow.
They activated the skill called “Face Hit (Strike)” and hit the pickpocket’s face with a wooden ball.
The soldiers know that the child claims to be an adventurer, and that dangerous acts are their own responsibility.
It’s unavoidable if they die or get injured.
However, it would be bad for their conscience if such a young person who is doing good deeds were to die.
They know that offering words of concern is just their own ego.
“Well then, I’ll be going now.”
“Ah, thank you.”
“………”
The pickpocket glares at the child’s retreating figure.
And then they are taken to the guardhouse.
Hubbub.
Merriment.
From among the onlookers, a victim appears to retrieve their stolen currency pouch, and some of the pickpocket’s associates, having witnessed the entire scene, naturally disperse from the area.
A righteous kid showed up.
Because of that, one of them was arrested.
They are going to report this information to the boss.
The impoverished class.
The so-called slum district.
Carrying the food obtained from pickpocketing, they begin to eat with their families and those they are protecting.
They eagerly stuff the meager food into their throats.
They don’t know if they’ll get any tomorrow. This is their last supper.
They eat their own meals without tasting any flavor.
“Brother, thank you.”
“Don’t worry about it♪ I’ll get more for you tomorrow too.”
After finishing their meal.
They continue to talk about what happened today until they become sleepy.
Then, the topic shifts to how the pickpocket was attacked by a child of about the same age and caught by the soldiers.
“Whaaaat! Brother, you weren’t caught…?”
“Idiot, you know how fast my legs are♪”
Dispelling his younger brother’s worries, the conversation turns to rumors.
In the underground labyrinth near this town, there are rumored to be “Labyrinth Bandits.”
Evil doers who attack people within the underground labyrinth have taken up residence there.
Four parties went in and never returned.
“I’m scared, Brother.”
“Hahaha, it’s okay as long as you don’t go near the labyrinth♪”
Once inside the underground labyrinth, there is only one entrance.
No matter how fast you can run, if you’re ambushed, you can’t escape.
However, the labyrinth bandits cannot leave.
If they were to come out, they would be spotted by someone watching for monsters spilling out from the entrance.
Nearby, there are soldiers and adventurers waiting with considerable combat power to deal with them.
The labyrinth bandits chose the labyrinth as their place of death.
Or they lie low until monsters overflow outside.
Only a handful can escape in the chaos.
“Well then, let’s go to sleep♪”
“U-uh-huh.”
“………”
He drapes a ragged, smelly cloth over his younger brother.
He doesn’t mention the topic.
He thinks about the rumors.
A lone wolf, a small-time criminal, is forming a new group.
Moreover, is the boss leading them so competent?
Not a single person has been caught.
And because there are so many of them.
They audaciously raided a wealthy household.
The husband and children were killed, and the wife and daughter were taken away.
They are surely used as comfort and then turned into skewers at some human meat stall in the slum district.
We will absolutely not eat that meat. Not even leftovers, not even for free.
