Author: Krizzeir
In the open field over on the other side, the leopard-like beast continued plunging towards the group of girls after deflecting the arrows.
However, whenever it came within half a meter towards the group, red dazzling streaks of light would suddenly shoot up towards the fella like a bolt of lightning, whizzing straight toward the beast's vitals. The beast could do nothing but dodge them or deflect them.
And by chance, even if the beast came near the group it would meet with a few sharp gusts and cyan blades of wind, which seemed even more dangerous than the flaming arrows.
From the beast's attitude, Kiel could infer that it didn't mind the flaming arrows as much as it dodged the wind blades with extreme caution.
It was like a great enemy had shown itself when the beast came close, however it was just empty inside. The beast didn't much of a threat to the girls from Kiel's perspective. However, he could be wrong too. After all, he was not too accustomed to fights.
The flaming arrows were also deadly if they hit it in his vitals. So the beast avoided them as much as it could.
However, when he was unable to avoid it, the beast could only use its sharp claws to swipe against them, clashing against the red lights.
Dang! A crisp sound of metal clashing rang out. And Kiel actually saw sparks flying in the air. A few red arrows we're cut apart from the middle and a few wind blades that their momentum.
"Looks like the beast's claws are unusually sharp to even cut apart the flame and wind attacks. And the wind magic of the best seems to be more powerful than the maid using it. Great now it seems the beast is getting serious. However, the princess of the group hasn't made any moves. Hehe a good show indeed"
Kiel was also unusually excited from the various attacks and defences. He had never taken part in any serious fights. So this was a good opportunity to gauge the strength of the higher levels, to know what he will be up against in the future.
'However, I have not seen the princess using any moves. And from the big bottle around her back, the third maid seems to water the user. As only water type users carry something like that. So, fire, wind and water. Seems a godly combination to me. No wonder most of the beast's attacks are ineffective. And I'm guessing that the princess also has some nice moves too.'
Kiel sneered coldly as he inferred the tactics of the little girl. But he was quite impressed by her. Fire for destruction at long range. Wind for better attacks at close range. And if the beast overcomes everything, it still has to face the watertight defence to counter the beast's wind elemental attacks.
Under the violent clashes in the dark night, small streaks of light shattered into countless pieces, scattering in all directions. Meanwhile, the leopard-like beast let out a pained reverberating howl. This time however it went a little far like trying a new attack.
It was obvious that one of the maids among the girls was a swordsmanship expert with a wind element. The elegance and unique structures of the slashes were great proof of that.
And the archery skills of the fire mage were even more first-rate, to be able to fend off against such a powerful beast's attack and even aiming at its vitals most of the time.
This also made Kiel even more curious. What exactly was in this forest that made the all-girl squad and the beast battle on for such a long time?
But what could get him better to think about them? He would be better off closing the distance so that he could pick up more clues.
The Black Leopard beast innate attributes were associated with the wind. And as a beast, it could always manipulate elements inherently without the need to learn it step by step like humans.
Its nasal prowess was simply off the charts. Even if it was not a level 3 beast, it could still use the wind to pick up nearby scents fairly easily. And with the strong nose of a wild animal, how could it not pick off the scent of another party intruding its lair.
If it noticed Kiel and took him as a member of the all-girl squad waiting for an ambush, and targeted him instead, what would he do then? The girls would surely not help him right?
Unbeknownst to Kiel, the Black Leopard beast had actually noticed him when he approached this opening in the forest. It was only due to certain unknown reasons that it ignored him. And also maybe it never saw such a human with no magic powers as a threat. So it never wasted any time on him.
Just as Kiel was closing onto a big and oddly shaped stone, the princess girl suddenly yelled, "Focus you guys! This variant Wind Leopard is almost on the verge of breaking through to a 3 beast.
Usually, Wind Leopards are only grow up to level 2 beasts. But this one seems to be an oddball. So its beast core, as a quasi level 3 is the perfect tonic for my Meow. And from the looks of it, the information was right! It is in its weakest state before breaking through.
So don't worry about it running away because of the Beast Trapping Array keeping it in place. With big sister's magic boosting treasure, we can definitely beat it after exhausting its reserves. So try your best and don't lose focus. The last thing we want is to let it have a scoop at us!"
"Don't worry, Milady, we know what to do. As long as we bring down the Level 3 beast back, Milady can use the beast core to break through to help Meow advance to level 3. It will be a great help in the coming up Crowning Ceremony. We'll definitely not let that beast come swooping down at us!" The maid with the water shield on her quickly cheered the princess.
"That's right, Milady! We'll stop that beast even if we have to risk our lives!" The other maids also chimed in.
The other maids echoed out in agreement with each other. Kiel could even tell how excited they were from their voices.
But what he didn't expect was that there was no treasure at all. They were simply there for the beast core.
'Sigh! What a disappointment! I thought that they are after some treasures and I can be the fisherman for once, grabbing the treasure at the most opportune moment and running away like those pros in novels. Sigh! But looks like I overestimated these kids!'
Lamenting at his lost opportunity, Kiel seemed to have neglected the fact that a level 1 beast core sells for 10-50 silvers.
The green-eyed snake that he caught previously in the Virakali mountain range was only at the lower end of the spectrum. And it didn't even form its beast core. That's why he only got 1 silver in return. Otherwise, how could a little kid hunt it? It was only enough to show off to the villagers. In the towns and cities, the beasts without beast cores lose their values pretty easily.
Only when a beast forms its beast core can it be considered a real threat.
{A/N: Green-eyed snake is the level 1 beast that Kiel caught for a silver when he was about to travel to Raai. If you forgot it don't! Concentrate on the story!!!}
Also, in the cities, there were no copper transactions. Trades and commerce were actually executed by silver and gold coins. And for high-end transactions, they were carried out in platinum coins. As 1 white gold coin equalled to 10000 gold coins. Why so much difference regarding other coins? Hehe, white gold coins were only used to signify status and wealth.
{A/N: if you have forgotten
1oo copper coins= 1 silver coin
1000 silver coins = 1 gold coin
10000 gold coins = 1 white gold coin}
Sometimes even gems were used in transactions. But the value of gems varied greatly. So they were only considered in some special occasions.
But coins are only worldly possessions. For a practitioner, coins lose their values. That what they taught him in the class. But they teach many things in the classes. Do we follow everything?
'Most protagonists would find such treasures like picking up cabbages. But here I am looking at four sexy maids ravaging a beast! Looks like I am not suitable to be the main character… '
Kiel sneered off at his bad luck. But although he was talking bullsh*t, he had already arrived at his destination. The fight was still going on, so he only needed popcorn to enjoy the free show.
'I even over speculated about the reasons behind the beast not going away. It was mainly because of an array. If I could only use my mana sight… A pity that I have exhausted my mental capacities.'
If those girls could hear him speak now, they would definitely through the magic arrows to him instead.
"Dude do you actually know how much a beast core is? And what do you think, if it was a treasure only we four would be here? And are treasures like roadside mushrooms? You could pick one at your will?"
Kiel could not even afford one beast core even if he wanted, and he was the one to talk. Even the base price for a level 2 beast core was 1 gold coin.
Let's not talk about the beast variant which was at the verge of breaking through to level 3.
"Or maybe they could even die due to excessive blood loss from anger! That would be good. I can take all their treasures and run then!"
[Beeeeeep! Host have you gone mad talking to yourself now?]
As Kiel was being immersed in his delusion of being a fisherman, suddenly a high-intensity beep sounded inside his head!
For a moment Kiel felt like his veins popping open and he was about to shout his lungs off. But luckily he had a good mental capacity. Otherwise, instead of fighting among themselves, he would be the first to be torn apart.
Coming back to his senses, he was drenched in cold sweat all over.
"Phew, luckily I am mentally sound! Otherwise, I would be dead from the noise itself. But what was that?"
Kiel wanted to know where the mysterious beep came from, but he quickly realised that he had been so engrossed in the fight ahead that he forgot about his system. And by the vigour of the sound attack, he was sure that she had gone mad from anger!
"Bloody hell! System is that you? Are you angry with me?"
[Host must be delusion! I am merely a system without any emotions. How could I be even angry for being ignored for such a long time! I am definitely not angry! Definitely not]
He was now even more drenched in cold sweat. From the looks of it, he was not going to be forgiven anytime soon. The grumpy voice of the system was definitely proof. But now he could definitely need some extra help.
If he could not get any treasure, he could at least go for the most opportune moment to help the iron girls group, to build a good relationship. It may help sometime in the future.
Or maybe some gold coins. He could then start his industrial revolution! Also, he remembered hearing a few beeping notifications in his mind earlier. So the thing he needed the least now was the system ignoring him.
So he took the dare and pursed his lips
"System! Sorry, it was my fault. I… I… will never do it again!"
[...]
"System?"
Seeing that his efforts were in vain Kiel's head drooped down. And no he was not acting.
Although he was an old man by his mental age, after getting his new body, various hormones and other chemicals from the new body were still influencing him. So he was upset for real. Upset for forgetting someone close to him.
But what could he do, it was his habit. If he was immersed in something, he would easily forget everything else. He definitely couldn't tell it to the system. Wait system sounds kinda bad! Maybe he should give her a name!
Kiel was no good in persuading, patching up with or pursuing girls. In his previous life too, he just had to say yes and there would be a long line of girls. But he never cared about them as all it mattered to him was his work. But not now. He was a kid now. Although the system was not a human, it still acted like a girl.