Grey checked the stances of these seven middle-aged men. They didn't seem like they were good fighters. It was more like they were thugs with random objects in their hands.
Even though he didn't receive professional training, Grey had learned to use the sword. Also, he had been fighting against monsters at least once a year, each year for the last five years.
Even though he used an axe, he at least had training, unlike these thugs, who never left the slums, according to Viola's information.
"Please let me pass. I don't mean any harm. I will research and go back silently," Grey tried his chance one last time.
"What should we do?" one of the men whispered to their supposed leader.
"What do you mean, what? We were ordered not to let anyone pass. We will attack."
"But, what if-"
"Shut it! It doesn't matter. If we let them pass, we are dead anyway."
The others nodded involuntarily and readied their weapons, the random objects and the bats in their hands, to attack Grey.
Seeing this, Grey also took a stance.
Sigh... I would need to kill someone someday anyway.
He didn't think he could kill a human and just live with it. But, since the day he learned about the Arts and this world, he was preparing himself.
Of course, it still wouldn't be easy, but the sooner he got it over with or got used to it, the better it was.
The thugs started running toward him, and Grey activated his Art of Source.
The thugs' bodies, or Grey's vision, were covered with black rings.
Huh? Isn't this too easy?
Whether it was because he was using the new sword or because the thugs were too easy to deal with, only black rings appeared, meaning Grey could easily handle them by hitting the black rings.
It was also his first time using this Art against humans. So, maybe humans were easier to deal with than the Orcs.
He soon understood that that wasn't the case.
The leader stood back as three others attacked Grey at the same time. One came from the front while the other two took the sides.
A fourth one was trying to roam to his back, but Grey realized it and started retreating while defending against the three.
Of course, he wasn't running away. He just made sure to keep the fourth one where he could see.
The mistake in his thought was a rookie mistake. He didn't know his Art too well. The rings he saw only show the weaknesses. So, it would mean anything only if he could hit the target.
The reason for the black rings was that the human skin was thin and humans died more easily than orcs.
If he could hit the neck, the thug would die instantly, unlike the Orc Chieftain, whose neck didn't fall with only one strike from an axe. But, humans defended themselves better.
Also, he forgot to calculate that humans were stronger in a group. They also used to hunt Orcs in a group.
But Grey didn't think he would lose. Killing with a one-shot wasn't the only strategy in a fight.
The man in front of him swung a wooden bat while the one on the left and right used pipe-like batons.
Grey smirked.
The thugs seemed to be gaining confidence since it didn't seem like Grey was using an Art that could waste them right away.
At that second, Grey swung his sword not to defend, but to attack the man in front of him.
The man used the wooden bat to defend himself. Unfortunately for him, the bat he raised was split in two easily, and the man fell to the ground.
He wasn't dead, but he had received a serious blow to somewhere between his shoulder and neck, meaning he was dying.
Seeing this, the others hesitated.
Grey was waiting for this moment. He instantly slashed one of the black rings above the knee of the man on his right.
Thankfully, his Art showed the rings according to Grey's weapon. So, it wasn't surprising that the man's leg was sliced instantly.
The man on the left was smart, so he jumped back. No, he went back to the others who were watching with shocked eyes.
Even the leader didn't seem to be able to control his face anymore.
At first, Grey didn't seem like he had an Art for using the sword. But then, he sliced a bat, one of the men's shoulders, and another's leg, each with a single swing of his sword.
"I tried to give you another chance, but you didn't take it."
It was an obvious bluff from Grey. But the thugs didn't know it was obvious.
I need to learn something strong. I can't be lucky to fight against people or monsters who are using wooden tools all the time.
He could use the element of surprise by using his Art of Wood to cut the only thing the enemy was trusting to defend their life.
But it wouldn't be possible unless they were using something made of wood.
For example, if all three of the thugs were using the pipe-like batons, it wouldn't be this easy.
The leader frowned after hearing Grey's bluff. He still wasn't sure how strong Grey was. There was no reason to give him another chance, but he had really cut down the bat and two of his men.
Is there a condition to activate his Art?
If Grey wasn't just straight up strong, this was one of the possibilities. But he couldn't leave his men to die either by risking it.
One of his men was already dead, on the ground, while another was shouting in pain and bleeding. He could save the one bleeding at least if he were to stop.
Thankfully, he had a great idea.
"Please, stop. Don't kill him." The leader said, looking at Grey.
Grey wasn't going to kill the one bleeding anyway. He couldn't stomach killing someone who wasn't fighting. At least not yet.
Still, he couldn't say that. "Aren't you too late? If you wanted to save your man, you should have acted before sending them to their deaths."
"You are right. I didn't know you were a strong opponent. It was my mistake, so please forgive him."
Grey thought a lot of thug lines from his past lines like 'Will you take his place, then?', but he decided not to take that route.
If he said something he couldn't do, it would be worse for him.
"Sigh... Then, what will you do for me if I leave him be?"
"I will help you find your money."
Of course, the leader was smiling inside. Grey seemed like a young boy. Well, he was a young boy even though he was counted as a grown-up.
But the leader knew that he wasn't experienced and could easily be deceived.
What he wanted was to watch Grey and attack the moment he lowered his guard.
This was the best way they could win against him...