Seeing the four girls hugging and crying to each other furiously like there was no tomorrow, Kiel was stupefied too. 'This! Are these girls stupid? Who does that to patients?'
Seeing the girls becoming even more emotional, Kiel could not sit quietly. He has also seen many patients in his previous life.
"Hey, are you girls idiots? Stay still don't move around too much! I just patched you up. The wounds will open up if you move around like bunnies. So keep it down!
Kiel wanted to be gentle to the girls, but seeing the imbecile actions of the girls, his past habit of lecturing his subordinates came up to him. He couldn't help but growl at them unknowingly.
"Who are you calling an idiot? Don't think that just because you saved us you could slander us just like that! We are the escorts of my lady Tia from the dukes of the Waveduke Family. Many people just grovel before us just to become our servants. And from your clothes, you seem just like a commoner! Who gave you the right to talk to us like that!" The red-haired maid retorted Kiel the moment he spoke up.
Not only that, he could even see the hostility of the cold faced water maid. She had a deep hostile look in her eyes while looking at Kiel.
It was like she was a mother hen protecting her chicklets. She would jump at any moment if Kiel did anything suspicious. And not only her.
Although the other beauty Shina looked gentle, Kiel could also get the same feeling from her.
For a moment Kiel was really ticked off. It was like there were blue veins all over his face. These girls had no manners at all. Even though he had saved them, they didn't look all that thankful at all. And they were even berating him.
Maybe it was because of his hormones but he actually thought about it, wasn't Ruyu speaking right too? In this world, it was considered a great honour to even help a noble. So it was like Kiel who was the odd one out.
"Ehh… Fine. Do as you like. But I have to remind you like a doctor that your injuries have not healed properly. So stay put. And now that you are in good condition, I will take my leave."
Saying so Kiel bowed with his left hand in his chest and then turned his back to move.
After all, he was not like those main protagonists who would stay there all day listening to those girls hurling insults at him just to seek their attention when even he didn't trust them fully.
He had his own ideas on how to establish himself in this world.
"Kiel wait!"
At that moment he could hear Tia's voice from the back.
"Huh?" With a surprised look, Kiel turned back. But he had a face full of confusion.
Seeing him like that Tia chuckled a little and then carefully spoke out.
"Kiel where are you going? Won't you stay here with us? Don't mind about Ruyu. She is just a straightforward girl who always speaks her mind. You can stay with her here till they get better."
Tia seemed to be fiddling with her hands a little as she talked back. Seeing her nervous like this, Kiel felt a little awkward now.
"Mylady… this. You don't have to speak to a commoner like that. Isn't it his duty to stay and help us!" This time it was the cold beauty, Lia, to speak out her thoughts.
"Yes, My lady Lia is right!"
"Shut up you too. Don't talk to Kiel like that. " Tia turned back and scolded them. So they became a little quiet.
"Don't mind them. They are a little worried about my safety." Tia seemed totally earnest while speaking.
"Yes, little one. Don't mind these two idiots. We are really grateful for your help. Without you, we would have been… "
It was Shina the mature beauty this time who seemed to be one my side huh? As one would expect from a kind and gentle sister. Hehe! But the response came a little late!'
Seeing all the girls staring at him waiting for an answer.
"Eh… I don't mind them. It is a doctor's duty to help their patients. And now that they are awake and kicking, maybe we should call your guards so that you can all go back and have some proper rest. Also, my luggage is there too. Can't have anyone to steal it now can we?"
Kiel scratched his hairs while replying looking a bit shy.
Seeing what the kid was talking was rather sensible, they accepted Kiel's words.
"Alright!" Tia was quick to agree. However, just as she finished it was Shina who stopped him.
"Master Kiel, can you wait a little bit before we get our energy back a little more? We don't have much trust in the guards, so we would like to keep our injuries information as small as possible."
"Shina!!" Both Ruyu and Lia shouted at the same time, reluctant to tell Kiel such inside information.
"It's alright. Kiel helped us. So it's ok to tell him about the stuff." Tia still was the one to mediate the girls.
"Hnng… If my lady says so… " The girls seemed pretty comfy with each other. After getting Tia's assurance, although the girls still maintained their vigilance, they weren't hostile like before.
Kiel could understand their worries about the guards though. If one was from an influential family there were bound to be spies in guards. So showing your weakness was a taboo.
He could also understand their vigilance towards him. After all, he was an outsider. And coming from a rich household, there ought to be many cases where they were betrayed by their insiders. Much fewer outsiders.
And Kiel's appearance was rather abrupt. So from the looks, he could understand why they were wary of him. However, understanding was one thing and tolerating was another.
Though he didn't mind them, he didn't like their attitude towards him. From his standpoint, he was their saviour. If they could not thank him, no need to be rude too.
Luckily his future general was a cute angel. And Kiel likes ending the things that he started. So he didn't leave halfway and planned to stay a bit more with them.
***
"Alright! I will help a little and then go inform the guards to take you to the carriage to rest properly. After all, it's really not safe here, this deep in the forest. If it is as you all think, then staying here for a long time will arouse a great deal of suspicion." Kiel replied back after thinking deeply about it.
"Hehe ok, Brother Kiel. Come I will introduce the girls to you!" Tia grabbed his hands after getting Kiel's affirmation as she began introducing the girls to him.
Kiel again felt a little uncomfortable with the bland responses from the girls, but as they started talking bit by bit, he realised that they were not bad to get along.
And he also got Tia to address him as a brother. Being an orphan from his previous life, these small things bought a pleasant warmth to his heart.
Even Shina started addressing him as Master Kiel more casually. Maybe it was maybe to show the respect that he could be so talented at such a young age.
'Well, I could be narcissistic in my thoughts too' As they were talking and Kiel was contemplating, Shina suddenly asked Kiel about helping them.
"It may be a bit difficult for you, but can we ask Master Kiel how did you learn such a great skill at such a young age! After all, from what we can see Master Kiel doesn't seem to have any mana within you. SO you should have awakened not much before."
Hearing the question, Kiel was stunned for a moment. He didn't think such a scenario would come up so straight.
But looking at the stares of the other girls Kiel could not help but feel uncomfortable. After all, if he had to explain truthfully, he had to mention his Chakra. And he could not say anything about it. Could he?
"Shina! Don't talk like this! Kiel was the one to help us. "
As Kiel was thinking how to clarify his things, TIa suddenly spoke up about his support. However he knew if he could not clarify it properly, later he may face trouble.
But if he wanted to clarify his thoughts like studies about magnetism, they would think that he was giving excuses to hide some motives.
For a moment Kiel felt like there would open up a choice box in front of him telling him to Choose from the three options or face disaster.
"It's ok Tia."
Kiel then turned towards the three maids, "Although I don't like how you question things from your saviour, I killed the bear waiting for its weakest point by using a needle throwing technique. "
"And that was Life Induction with which I saved you. It is my inherent skill that I awakened in the Awakening process."
Inherent skills were special skills some might awaken during their Awakening process and grew in power with their owners.
Although they were a little rare, many talented ones had their own. You could consider it as differentiation of the talented ones. So it was not a big deal.
His Life Induction could also grow with him and worked similarly. So even if they use some lie detection skills, he was speaking the truth mostly.
Pausing for a bit Kiel finished up with a smile, " I think I have the right to hold the operation of the skill as a secret right?"
"I understand! And I apologise for any inconvenience caused by us. Although we don't have any extra money with us, you can tell us where you stay to allow us to show our gratitude. I hope you can understand that it is needed to be vigilant for my lady and I apologise again if I sounded rude."
Although the other two maids wanted to speak up something, Shina blocked them to become hostile again and even bowed her head with a polite reply.
"I don't mind it helps Tia," Kiel said while tousling Tia's hair a little who was staring at him with wide-open eyes like a kid.
A kind and gentle beauty bowing her head to you and apologising. Also, a cute loli staring deeply at you. What else could the main characters want more to pledge to protect the princess safety and go on to a battle of love?
However Kiel was no main character and moreover, he didn't have any masochistic tendencies.
He just replied to them politely and then silently stood up to bid his goodbyes. He was not narrow-minded but some things were better to only look at from a distance.
Kiel stayed with them a little longer and then took his cue to take to leave.
"Well it is getting kinda late and I am feeling tired with all these things. And my things are in the carriage. So I better get going. Also if I stay here for longer, others may interpret it as something else"
Seeing what Kiel was saying was indeed true, they didn't stop him but Tia still called out. 'Ah, what a sweet girl.'
"Kiel!"
"Hmm?" Kiel turned around only for a beep to surprise him.
[Beep… Tia Waveduke wants to form a Blood-Soul COntract with you. DO you accept? Y/N]
'Again? This girl doesn't learn. Last time I declined her. But it looks like she is adamant.' Kiel could see the determined look on the girl's face. He could only sigh as it was still not the time yet to make a move.
'I refuse.'
[Beep… Contract Declining… ]
As he declined, Kie noticed that the little girl perceived his intention.
"Why?" Kiel could see some tears at the edge of her eyes which were sparkling a moment ago?
'Did I break the girl's heart?'
He took his right hand out and patted her head. "Silly girl. It is not the right time. Now it is only your gratitude speaking. Go home and give it a thought. If you still have the same thoughts, then I would gladly oblige."
Tia closed her eyes for a bit seemingly deep in thought and then replied cheerfully again "Ok! But then you better accept it. Otherwise, I will beat you to a pulp."
"Hehe. Bye!" Kiel quickly took his hands back, as the stares of the three maids were getting a little uncomfortable for him. It felt like the dialogue from his hometown 'If looks could kill they could have killed me a thousand times by now.'
Slowly turning around, Kiel took his leave under the girl's gazes.
He walked slowly talking with his system gazing at the earth's field lines to go back. Luckily it helped a lot for a direction blind person like him.
***
As he slowly encroached the campground, Kiel could feel a dreary silence and a deep uneasiness permeate him. Walking closer he could smell a foul stench permeating his nose too. It looked like a familiar stench.
"Gerry Unc… !"
However as he reached his destination, the scene before him filled him with such dread that he even forgot to speak. Only a bone-chilling cold remained to fill his very self!