Kenta was now in a full-on sprint, he couldn’t remember when he ran as fast as he did right now, he had to catch the thief after all.

 “Huff, huff, hey! Stop right there, return the goods you’ve stolen back to the store or else!” 

 “Or else what, fatso!” The thief was surprisingly fast, he swiftly ran into a side alley and began running down some stairs. What was even more perplexing is that Kenta was able to match the pace of the thief, now also running into the same side alley and down the stairs.

 -how is he catching up to me?- The thief had to think something up quick, he had no idea how Kenta was catching up to him, to be perfectly honest, Kenta also had no idea why. 

 ****

 “Sister!” said Mai “how is Kenta able to run like that?”

 “Haha! I just put a speed-up skill on him, I want to see what he’s capable of with a little bit of help from my side. Now come with me, we must follow them” Heisha quickly picked up Mai without any problems and she leaped onto the rooftops of nearby houses.

 ****

 The chase brought them to the poorest parts of the town, every house was run down, almost every window boarded up, people were visibly malnourished and had only some old rags as clothes at the most. Just as Kenta had almost caught up with the Thief, he had taken a sharp turn to the right, Kenta followed right after him, but… the alley was empty?

Loud footsteps could now be heard coming up to Kenta from behind him, Kenta turned around and saw the thief, now with two more men standing behind him with some wooden clubs, they were much taller than the thief, almost towering next to him.

 “Now, what are we going to do with you? I don’t know you were able to keep up to me, but your luck runs out now.”

 Kenta had no idea what to do, he didn’t think about what he would do when he caught up to the man, but now he had to deal with three people at once, he had no chance of coming out of this unharmed.

 “H-hey, Gentlemen, maybe we could strike a deal here…? Listen I’m sorry for chasing you and all and I don’t want to get beaten up, hah ha.” Kenta was nervous; will he get battered by the men standing in front of him?

 “Too late for that now, why did you follow me? Did you want to play the hero? Huh?”

 “Um, to be perfectly honest… I don’t know why I followed you… isn’t it just normal to try to catch a thief?” Kenta tried to not show how nervous he was.

 “Don’t play with me, tell me the truth! How did you know about our operation?” 

 “Listen, don’t know what you’re talking about!” 

 The thief’s fuse broke, he had no more patience towards Kenta he ordered his men to dispose of him. “That’s enough! Boys, get him.” 

 “Hey! Wait, there’s no need for that I—” Before Kenta had finished his pleading, a woman jumped down from the rooftops, “Kenta, don’t tell me you were pleading to some small-fry thieves! Your training will be more intense if you did!” 

 It was Heisha, carrying Mai on her back, she first put her down, and then she threw a sword towards Kenta. “I bought you this on the way here, it’s an enchanted blade so you should be able to beat them with ease.” Heisha grinned at Kenta as continued “I never had to chance to see how you handle a blade, so go all out!”

 Kenta was reluctant to pick up the blade, he never used one before, he of course had no reason to, but now he was in a do-or-die situation.

 “Mr. Kenta I believe you’ll beat them with ease!” Mai looked at Kenta with anticipation, she hoped that he would win without getting hurt.

 Now, surer of himself he picked up the blade, a yellow status window suddenly popped out.

 『 

      Sword of Fire’s Desire | Quality: Superb

      A sword crafted possessing the Desire to burn everything

     With a hot blue flame, the quality is of the highest

     Craftsmanship, a small sapphire is embedded on the handle

     Of the sword, it’s the source of the flames.

                                                                                                                    』

Not equipped with an adequate weapon, Kenta was ready to begin the battle against the two thieves, the only problem was that he had no idea how to fight with a Sword…