[A/N: This chapter is a bit heavy.]
Mukuro and Asuka approached at Toji's request, although they were mentally exhausted, at least their bodies could still hold up after the healing and the meal.
Toji pointed to the camp in the distance and said. -That's the camp of those bandits who came after you.
Mukuro and Asuka's faces immediately turned pale as Mukuro quickly pulled Asuka back, wanting to get away from that place as fast as possible.
-Are you going to run?- Toji looked back, raising an eyebrow at him.
Mukuro froze. Yes, he had followed Toji all the way there. Toji had easily dealt with those thugs, if he brought them there, he must have had a reason.
-Sir, why are we here?- Mukuro asked.
-Your second test.- Toji explained lightly, turning his gaze back to the camp, the sound of human voices could be heard from time to time, muffled by the distance.
-Second test?- Mukuro asked, surprised. It was then that he remembered Toji saying they had passed the first test, it was clear there was another one, and it was related to the bandits.
-Y-you don't want us to fight them, do you?- Mukuro asked, tightening his arms even more around Asuka.
-Only with those weak little arms of yours?- Toji mocked.
Mukuro wasn't offended, but he sighed with relief, at least they wouldn't be sent to die.
Toji smiled, seeing their relieved faces, then continued speaking. -You know, your situation is very common in this world, everything you and your village have gone through, even the neighboring villages, do you know the reason for that?
Mukuro was thoughtful, but didn't answer. Asuka hardly spoke, she could only curl up in her brother's arms.
Toji didn't wait for him to think much, he spoke. - Weakness.
-You are too weak, besides, you are just commoners. In the minds of those bandits, even the nobles behind them, your usefulness is low. They will continue to extort you, force you to live in subhuman conditions until all your value is extracted, and then they will throw your bodies to feed their dogs, extracting the last vestige of value you can offer.- Toji smiled as he spoke, painting a macabre picture to frighten the children.
His objective was easily accomplished, judging by the pain, despair, and remorse on the little boy's face. The girl didn't look well either, but she only trembled more and hid herself deeper inside.
She was already sniffling, but Toji ignored her.
-Now, I'll give you two options. Since you've managed to get this far, I can take you to a peaceful village where you can continue your lives. Perhaps you'll live to old age, or perhaps you'll die when another nobleman or bandit sets their eyes on you.- Yes, Toji was exaggerating a bit. Not every village was targeted for such direct extortion, most were small villages that were rarely visited.
He was painting a grim picture, but although he might be exaggerating, there was still a chance another nobleman would set his sights on them. Toji wouldn't take them to a big city if they refused, even if he did, those cities had their own 'ecosystem', who knows if they would be able to adapt or end up in an even worse situation.
-...or you can follow me, grow strong, learn to defend yourselves and stand on your own two feet, even punish these corrupt beings who insist on taking away your chance of survival.- Toji turned his eyes to them again, a sinister smile growing on his lips.
Mukuro looked at Toji with a conflicted expression, for a moment, he didn't know what to choose, he wasn't sure what Toji wanted from them, but at that point, Mukuro was tempted to accept.
That feeling of deep fear and helplessness... he didn't want to suffer that again.
-Sir, what do I need to do?- Mukuro asked.
Toji realized that he asked what he needed to do, not 'we', meaning he probably wanted to handle everything himself.
That wasn't going to work, Toji needed both of them, plus corrupting that little girl would be much more effective for his act.
-Accept my gift, kill them, and then follow me to continue purging this world of its malice.- Toji explained calmly.
Mukuro trembled with fear again, opening his mouth to deny it. After all, he was just a boy. Did Toji want him to fight adult bandits? As for the 'gift'? Mukuro ignored it outright, he didn't believe any gift would help him.
Toji turned to look at them, he had planned to give them the curse marks, but their bodies were too weak at that moment, so he wasn't going to do it now.
-Don't worry.- Toji said. -I only brought you here today to take a look. The second test can be done in the future. For now, just follow me.
Toji started walking directly towards the camp, although he wanted to let them massacre the bandits directly, Toji still maintained the idea that it was better to give them time to adjust, so today he only came to give them a 'clear objective', a reason why they should get stronger.
In the future, they could return here on their own, without Toji even needing to ask, he just needed to let them see what the world is really like.
They were scared, but seeing Toji move, they could only follow behind. After walking for a few minutes, they finally reached the camp, but while trembling with fear, especially seeing Toji enter in the open, they were soon surprised that none of the Bandits seemed to notice them.
Toji simply used genjutsu to make those guys ignore them, instead, he let them go on with their lives while Toji took the children behind them.
Mukuro and Asuka couldn't understand what was happening, but being near Toji gave them courage, so they quickened their pace.
Toji led them past the bandits, most of whom were drunk, gambling, or sleeping somewhere, there wasn't even a guard. Toji took them inside one of the huts, the largest one.
The interior was dark, the smell was rancid, and the continuous sounds and cries of pain made it clear what was happening inside.
Toji stopped not far from the door, allowing Mukuro and Asuka to see what was happening inside.
Women, covered in wounds and bruises, naked, thrown around randomly, some of them being raped by thugs, there was even one of the thugs holding a man while showing a scene of a woman being fucked from behind.
A burly bandit laughed as he looked at the man who was crying and trying everything to stop the event, but couldn't.
-Look, your wife is really very good. After I'm finished, I'll let my subordinates try. You'll really enjoy the show.- The bandit laughed excitedly, he barely seemed to pay attention to the woman. Instead, he became even more aroused watching the man cry in pain.
The woman on top of her already had lifeless eyes, blood covering her private parts.
Toji merely observed, but for Mukuro and Asuka, it was world-shaking, the two trembled continuously.
Toji looked at them, and inwardly, he felt his potion being digested slowly.
Toji thought that was traumatic enough, he turned and started to leave. - Let's go.
-Wait! Please! Help them! Please!- Mukuro shouted, running after Toji. He didn't understand how the surrounding thugs didn't realize what was happening, but at that point, it didn't matter anymore, he just wanted to help those people.
Toji stopped, turned his head slightly, and said. -No.