Hello everyone~ I'm Pupil. I might as well go by "Lady Pupil" now. If you're wondering why I changed my name to a feminine one, it's simply because I'm currently wearing Aerin's dress, which is two sizes too small.

"Are you sure this is fine???" I asked, looking at the team leader with a face full of confusion, annoyance, and anxiety.

"No problem!! It's the perfect blend of beauty, manliness, and idiocy!" The team leader said, his face contorted from holding back laughter.

"Relax~~ I'm already used to Pupil like this," Aerin said, covering her mouth and snorting with giggles.

"You can't hold it in anymore, can you!!!!"

"Husband!" Tia called from behind me.

"What is it???" I turned around.

"I won't look down on you for this," Tia said, her face completely expressionless.

"Tia... ..." Could she have been serious all along when calling me husband? Because even now, she didn't laugh at me.

"Pfft." Tia suddenly made a weird face.

"............" I gave her a speechless look.

"..............." Tia stared at me blankly. Then, "Pfft!" she made another strange expression.

"Tia, just laugh if you want to," I said, taking back my earlier words.

"How could I possibly laugh at my husband??" Tia replied with a poker face.

"Alright~~~ then I'll go seduce the bandits first." I really wanted to blast the gate open with my Magic Staff.

"Be careful." After I turned and walked a short distance, a burst of wild laughter erupted behind me.

Damn it!! Unable to endure any longer, I grabbed my Magic Staff and headed straight for the bandit hideout, ready to blow it up.

I crouched in the bushes near the gate, raised my Magic Staff, and prepared a massive destructive spell. But I hesitated. If I cast it now, this place would be leveled, and everyone inside would die. Aerin's friend might still be in there. Even if no captives remained, these bandits had families. What would happen to them?

Though I'm in another world now, killing still deeply unsettles me. My inner moral voice screamed not to do it.

"Hey! Stop hiding!!! Come out now, and I might spare your life!" An abrupt voice shattered my thoughts.

"Uh... don't get excited~~ I'm just a passing adventurer," I quickly sheathed my Magic Staff, raised my hands, and stepped out of the bushes.

"Pfft...." Every bandit guard outside the hideout made the same stunned face upon seeing me.

"Hahahahaha~~~~~ What's with this guy??" A short bandit laughed until he was bent over.

"Wakaka kakaka... Is this the new fashion trend now????" A headscarf-wearing bandit cackled hysterically.

"What are you laughing at? Isn't this just a girl?" A tall bandit stared at them, confused.

"Are you stupid!! This is no girl!!" The short bandit slapped the tall one's butt while laughing.

"I am a girl!! I'm absolutely a girl!" I was so immersed in the act, I almost believed it.

"Cousin! He says he's a girl!!" The headscarf bandit howled to the short one.

"Then prove it," the short bandit gasped, nearly choking on laughter.

"Prove it??? How??" Do I have to drop my pants? But I'm a guy!

"If you don't prove it now, I'll cut you down with my sword!" The short bandit snarled fiercely.

How to prove it!!??? Dance!! I stuck my Magic Staff into the ground and started pole dancing around it.

Twist~ twist~~~ I swayed, lifting my skirt hem with one hand.

No music played, but I danced energetically. This must be the definition of an awkward dance...

"............................................"

"............................................"

The entire scene froze in stunned silence.

"So beautiful..." the big, dumb bandit muttered, staring blankly at me.

"Are you an idiot!!" The short bandit jumped up and slapped the tall one's head hard.

"What's all the noise outside??? What's so funny!!??" Someone inside flung the gate open and stuck their head out.

At that exact moment, a fireball from behind slammed into the opener's head.

"Trouble!! It's an ambush!" The headscarf bandit yelled.

"I knew something was off," the short bandit chuckled.

"Enemies!!! There are enemies!!!" The tall one bellowed at the top of his lungs.

Before they could shut the gate, adventurers and guards charged in. Melee fighters rushed inside first; mages covered them from behind.

"Damn it!! What was the point of dressing like this!!!" I ripped off the dress and pulled on my usual brown leather jacket.

"Husband, you danced wonderfully," Tia praised, standing beside me.

"Are you comforting me?? But why do I feel even more hurt?" I never wanted to pole dance in women's clothing!

"Watch out!!!" Aerin shouted, stabbing a bandit about to attack me.

"He's dead!!!!" She yanked her spear free, blood splattering everywhere.

"Stop fooling around! These are bandits. If you don't kill them, they'll kill you??" Aerin glared at me, sweating heavily.

Only then did I realize I was the abnormal one. Even in this cheerful world, it's survival of the fittest. If we don't kill these bandits, we might all die. I'm level 200 with godly gear, yet I can't shake this aversion to killing.

"Aerin, husband seems very resistant to killing. Don't be angry," Tia said calmly.

"Is that so?? I don't know your past. But now, it's them or us. Killing is wrong, but remember—these are evil people! In this lawless place, if they live, more innocents will die because of them!" Aerin snapped at me, unusually furious.

I understood her. Her best friend might already be dead at these bandits' hands. Her anger was justified.

"Husband, don't blame Aerin. Her parents died at villains' hands during a mission," Tia whispered.

"No wonder she's so worked up." Now I truly grasped her pain.

The battle raged fiercely—magic flared and blades clashed. But with all of Landton City's forces gathered, we held the advantage.

Just as victory neared, something unexpected happened.

Fighters who charged inside the hideout were suddenly hurled out like ragdolls.

The ground vibrated with each thud.

"Thud! Thud! Thud!!"

A giant over two meters tall emerged. One arm was a steel prosthetic; the other gripped three tightly bound captives.

"Lulu!!!!" Aerin screamed and lunged forward.

"Danger!!!" The guard captain blocked her.

"So you came to save them?" The giant's voice carried crushing pressure.

"You're powerless now! Surrender obediently!" the adventure team leader shouted.

"Powerless?? Heh~~~ Hahahahaha! Do you think you greenhouse flowers can touch me??" The giant roared with laughter.

"Let's play a game! You have Gold-rank adventurers, right? All your Golds fight me. If I lose, I free the hostages and surrender. If you lose, you all become my slaves!!!" he declared sinisterly.

"We'd never be your slaves!!! Everyone, attack now!" At the leader's command, fighters swarmed the giant.

In an instant, he swung his arm—everyone flew backward.

"One more chance. Send your strongest," the giant growled, scanning the crowd.

"Bronze and Silver ranks can't beat him, no matter how many," the guard captain whispered to the leader.

"So we agree to his terms???" The leader hesitated.

"Don't worry. You, Tia, and I are Golds. We might still win," the captain said honestly.

"Might win...." A cold sweat dripped from the leader's brow.

"Heh, just stating facts," the captain replied with a bitter smile.

After a quick discussion, the leader stepped forward with Tia and the captain. "As you said—we'll send three to duel you. If we win, release the hostages and come with us to face justice."

"Duel?? All at once!!!!" The giant arrogantly beckoned them closer.

This guy was ridiculously cocky. Curious, I focused on his stats:

Name: Hank

Level: 60

Class: Mechanical Fist Master

Equipment:

- Mighty Steel Arm Guard

- Mechanical Power Vest

- Cowhide Trousers

- Combat Boots

Level 60??? Oh no—previous bandits and adventurers were only level 20. Such a huge gap! I checked Tia, the captain, and the leader. Tia was level 30; the others only level 35. We'd lose.

I should step in. I've stayed silent too long. I resist killing, but knocking out is fine. But before I could speak, the battle began.