Leila was in the guild office. Rekka had just left and as soon as he was out of the vicinity, Leila started taking long breaths. all this time she was fighting to keep herself calm.
She had worn a risky dress today to entice Rekka and be able to get the Soul stone out of him. To gauge how he reacts, She wanted to see if Rekka really had a façade all this time. Yesterday when she had seen him, she took note of Rekka's every action. even though she couldn't believe it, she just couldn't find any greed in Rekka. Even when she showed him that he would get a country's worth of money. After all the transactions were done, he just shrugged as if that was obvious and natural.. holding the cursed sword of destruction, it was sure that he would be buried in malice if nothing else, but he looked more honest than the whole world here.
Well the actual case was, he only wanted enough money to not worry about it when he needed it. But in reality, he actually had no need for it at all, in his thoughts he just felt that it was better to have it then to not. So no matter what amount he had, it didn't pose any regard to think over.
Apart from all that, she had only gotten one weak point about him and that too because of her junior worker Pamela.
"Hey GM, guess what I can tell. you can even bewitch the grandson of the Heroes." When Pamela had said so, Leila had asked why was that and gotten the answer that Rekka was interested in Leila as a opposite sex. Even as a kid being Melinda's grandson he was sure to grow up quickly. or rather it was unsual to see someone that grew up under Melinda being so gentle and down to earth.
then again, He's barely a teen does he even know about those things? That is what Leila had thought. But if that was really the case, why did Leila not find his gaze revolting? Rekka never showed the gaze that made Leila uncomfortable. Usually men looking at her with lust would make her want to kill them outright. In many cases till now she had even built up a reputation making her called one of the unreachable flowers.
Rekka Wolford hadn't offended any of those cases, and unlike other men, he didn't feel a burden to be around.
So now comes today, she had already seen the soul stone. it was a legendary material but she also saw that Rekka put it aside yesterday. She knew that it wouldn't be for sale.
That's why she had made this plan to entice Rekka to take out that soul stone. She dared to do such a thing when on the contrary she was known to hate all men. Now for that legendary Item, as taught by her best friend, she would entice him with her adult charms
'you can't go wrong! Men are infinitely the same, if you show some of your charm, he will even give you his life!'
Even now Leila remembers her friend who looks at men as if they are simple dolls made for her to play with. But as the scene had gone by, it was as if she herself was trapped in her own net, because Rekka had not only given her what she had needed, he had also taken what he had wanted.
He was the only man to get so close to her. He had been so fast, even faster than yesterday.
Her protection barriers were not even given time to activate. Her friend's advice to entice any man in the world might have worked but in this case, Leila had clearly been enchanted as the end result.
Someone who took her challenge head on and didn't take advantage of her… Leila felt glad that she wasn't seeing a façade until now. Just as he said, he wouldn't do this until he was sure of it...
Maybe he was even faster than Master Merlin. As she thought this, she remembered the time Rekka had come towards her; it made her heart skip a beat. What was this feeling? It wasn't disgusting at all. As Rekka had stood over her with a gaze that was intimidating but alluring too, Leila had no way to know just what was going over his mind. Rekka was calm as a cucumber.
Although…. Rekka had came to her with a look that all to well explained what he wanted, she could feel his desires, Leila thought for sure that she was gonna get paid for trying to tease Melinda's kin, but as he had seen Leila's desperation and slight fear, he had retreated without a word, the hunter in him retreated and the same old gentle face came out. Seeing a man who had so much control over himself was new for Leila, she couldn't get enough of the boy. Even while he had left today and hardly been able to see Leila for a significant amount of time, Leila was sure that Rekka might be the only one she could think of until then.
As long as Leila wanted to see his desires he showed them without any concern at all, and as soon as she didn't like the situation, he took a back seat again. As if he had moved at her whims but also made her move at his beck and call.
Could anyone have believed that one of the unreachable flowers in this country had been charmed on this day by a boy who had only reached his teens? That was just how irregular Rekka was.
What am I doing.. for for someone younger than mee…?! She was panicking but also at the end she was happy. Maybe in their third meeting she can redeem herself as she thought and made that point to herself, she wrote a letter to the Mansion Rekka was staying at.
…..
Rekka's monster materials were getting sold at a rate never seen before, those materials were not only top quality but they were also prepared by a master dissector. Leila's friend who saw this movement, made it so that the products get to fly off the shelf with lightning speed. She started to distribute the products to all corners of the human lands, even reaching other races.
As she did that, she also learned how Rekka was able to play with Leila's heart where that was the complete opposite of what she expected. A man who could best Leila… after learning that he had only exchanged words and not even a direct touch… it only made her even more confused.
Was there really such a man who could stay uninfluenced after making it close to Leila…? It was still unknown but Leila who had an unusual charm about her may come from a blessing. Although it wasn't proven, everyone knew how impactful Leila can be. More so when she is actually trying... and this type she had actually tried.
Wasn't men plain apes who moved at the whims of women?
As the merchant started to look at Rekka with greater favor, her thoughts to investigate the man not only changed the human lands power balance but soon it was going to form into a chaotic state that even she wouldn't be able to control.
Even with all that, Rekka was still riding his luck quite well. Being able to subdue the lord's son who was the incarnation of evil in these parts that too so thoroughly had not only brought his name out in a single swoop but the people who saw the spectacle made it a point to let people know that Merlin's grandson was someone who had strongly inherited his sense of justice. And to enact it he could even follow through with cold hearted torture worse then death.
...…
I was walking through the town and now since I had money, I also tried some local delicacies. There were some good meat dishes, but the most eye-catching thing was the sweets. I actually found chocolates here and for some reason it was delicious too. still, the chocolates here were... well, as you guessed, it wasn't actually a sweet per say, it was more like a alcoholic drink, although the scent of the chocolate remained, that was all, it tasted completely different.
After I got out of town, I looked at the map I had borrowed from Pamela when I left the guild. She even said to bring something back for her. As I promised to bring something for her, I left the guild.
So…. After seeing the map, I could tell that I needed to be heading straight north and there were some mountains in the way, not a lot of forest though. I also would be able to find some good wild game on the way there.
I activated Spirit energy and my overall speed increased by 100%. I didn't make the 300% mark that I had done with Leila, since I was still getting used to the enhancements that I created with the system. In this journey I would like to do some experiments with them. Not to mention, I have hardly used magic all this time. Even if I can't use it to bend the world and create phenomena called spells, I could still use it as some techniques that work to enhance your movements and such.
"Okay ! let's see how this speed works.." I started running from slow to gradually faster and then speeding up more. The speed I gained this time was probably the fastest yet than all my trials. Yesterday's Dismantling work had made me think of this mode.
Yesterday I had been trying to move fast but with more finesse and the system had developed this technique. Since the system always takes the way that is the most efficient, I had a hunch it would perform things such as this.
My mind had been unoccupied again and I felt like it was something natural when the system took over the concentration work. In times like this, I truly do feel like those overpowered Mc's.
As my running reached full throttle and I could see the scenery go past me in a blur, I was nearly as fast as Gramps, I think. If I can master this technique, I can freely move at 300% of my speed. Although my strength wouldn't be that much. But there were some sword plays which went well with high speed so in that case, this should provide a good synergy.
I raced through the hills, I even got through some high roads, when I saw a carriage that was halted and surrounded by people.
Really, I just can't get rid of them can I.
There were highway robberies... that too in broad daylight.
"You... come out here, I see… hmm you got some good money with ya...and I can see some merchandise too, he he ha ha ha this a lucky day fellas I think we really got a good find." Said the bandits leader, if it was a merchant's carriage it was easy to say that the bandits were after the materials, but it seems there were people in there too.
"Yeahhhhh!!!!!!!" responded the trash that was there, they were talking about the money and the women that were in the carriage. I had already gotten closer to them and I heard the leader say that it was his lucky day.
Pfft... I couldn't help but laugh.
"Huh? who...who's that brat, was he in the carriage to…?!" He saw me laughing. I was now standing and leaning on the carriage so he assumed I was in the carriage. of course they didn't have any hostages, in that sense I for now was standing near the carriage so they wouldn't get any after all.
"No, I was just walking by and saw some low life's making a fuss, so I stopped and wanted to see what was happening."
"You! hey! kill that brat all of ya…!!" He made his typical line Hearing me chuckle even more, I saw his vain pop up in anger. As Amanori was in full display, he knew for sure that I was hostile, still, telling them to kill me as if it was no such crime at all… really, the bandits are the worst.
"No no boy, you should run, we are already doomed but if you can, please take my grandchild with you…?" I could see that he had lost all hope but he still said to save someone precious to him and give peace to his mind. Still, the fight was already over. When I was chatting, I had already snapped all the bandits' necks. Only the leader was alive. I also took care of the ones on the lookout before coming here.
"Don't worry old man, everything is in control. Is anybody here hurt..?" I said in a carefree voice the ones in the carriage were 4 young boys, a young man and the old man. Beside them there were 2 ladies maybe at the age of 20 and a small girl maybe 7 to 8 year old. The old man was probably talking about his grandchild before. And everyone was looking miserable, only the small girl looked composed and seemed to be assessing the situation.
"Wha…." Hearing me everyone in the carriage got confused besides the small girl, well they had to get confused since they couldn't see from the carriage.
"What did ya doooo…..!!!" The leader broke the silence, he was preaching about his comrades. They were all dead, 10 people lay on the ground motionless. It all happened in a second, so he had no way to know what had actually happened. I didn't let anyone go... I killed them in cold blood, although there wasn't a single speck of blood spilled, still, for a moment I wondered how meticulous I had become in killing.
"Oh don't worry, I just killed them, they weren't that important you know, But I can see. your real man. Yeah, you can give me info about your hideout can't you..?" I said looking at the man while smiling but my smile presented anything but what it was supposed to.
"No you monster! what did… when did you ...?" He was a big wuss. I saw he couldn't even try to run because he had slumped on the floor and his legs were quivering.
What? Are the bandits here this spineless…?
[No it was because you released my aura. you know at the guild there were at least strong people but these low life's are just grouped up weaklings picking on the even weaker, so he lost his will with just a little burst of your aura.]
What...well then, I think this makes it easier to interrogate him… still, even when I didn't use my killing intent this happens eh... I need to lean more control over my aura...
"Oh my god! Look, look the bandits are really dead…" Said the young man who got down from the carriage first, he was older than me but his teen curiosity got the best of him. Following him, everyone got out too and they saw the slumped bodies of every bandit.
"Yeah that's incredible! we are saved!" Said everyone looking like they were saved from a plague. I really thought they would get scared by looking at all the heads of those bandits that were bent in the wrong ways. Really this world's people were very strong hearted.
"Umm so are any of you hurt..?" I asked since the bandit leader was already taken care of. I wanted to look at the passengers first. These bandits tend to make some victims seriously wounded to make the populace more scared. with ranged attacks they might have already injured someone.
"Young man, I can't thank you enough! no one was hurt since they wanted to sell these young ones. You saved us all.." The old man was crying and everyone got emotional too. They looked like all of them knew each other. I also had to agree; young people, even boys can be sold as slaves with good value.
"No worries, I was just passing by but shouldn't you have hired some adventurers for guarding?"
"We were coming for the same cause, our village didn't have any adventurers there, not even beginners, so we got in our carriage and were trying to sell some village products. We also had to find some adventurers who could stay at the village. But this happened. We don't have many people proficient in fighting. We are a small village where we farm and grow vegetables."
"Hmm I see, well I can say there are no bandits where you're headed, so you don't have to worry again okay then, bye.." I tried to leave but the small girl tugged at my pants to stop me.
"Don't want a reward ?" she was saying in a very child-like voice so I got down to her height and said.
"You want to give me a reward…?"
She nodded and looked at her Grandpa and all the others came forward.
"We don't know if this is enough but.." They were giving me a pouch. It had coins in them, but I didn't want to take them. They looked poor as it is but I wouldn't disappoint the little girl. She was adamant about giving me the reward.
As I saw there were fruits in the carriage. They looked really fresh, I went forward and took an apple in my hand.
"This should be Enough, you can't find fruit this fresh with just money can you.."
"Hmm I see, got a good eye.." The small girl smiled at my assessment. She was probably proud of her village.
"Is that really alright…?" Asked the old man, all the others looked more pleased since I didn't take the money but the old man probably thought that wasn't nearly as much. But I appreciate good food more than money so it was fine to me.
Maybe I should tell them to sell these things at our mansion. I think we can take all these. We have many people sooo…..
"Um, so are you guys going to sell those vegetables and fruits at Brandel…?" I asked, seeing their supply. They had to be heading to sell it. It's the biggest town here.
"Yes we can't produce much since it is a small village but we try to sell once in a while.." replied the old man
"Then go to the Hero's mansion and tell them to buy these okay..? Umm here, take this with you, they will understand. it would help me greatly if you did that." As I found their product to be of quite the high quality, I told them this and also gave them a letter that I promptly wrote, it could work as my identity since my writing was specially novel in this world which very few people have. I made the paper with my Miasma so Systy could recognize it was me. With this, my journey would probably be much more peaceful. I am sure everyone in the mansion would also be glad to hear from me.
"But then you would be helping us sell our stuff, how can that be a help to you?" Asked the little girl, I gotta say, she was intelligent for her age. Even as small as she was, she was probably the only one talking to me normally, the men and women here looked kind of reserved from talking to me. Well, I was holding the most sinister looking sword Amanori at my back and I had killed the bandits without a second thought, not to mention, I wore black outfit too. In a way this was probably what anyone's reaction would be. On the other hand, the old man was reserved for a whole different reason, he was practically talking to me as if I was a noble.
"No, since you will sell me good things at market price and also deliver my letter. It will help me send word to my family." I explained that to the girl. Prompting her to take a thoughtful expression.
"But who.." The old man was going to ask the difficult thing. I couldn't just say that I was the hero's grandson could I? the country even hardly knew about my existence.
"Also wait a little, let me extract some good info out of him then you can take him with you to the guild. He has a bounty, it will help you, okay?" I skipped past the former topic and binded the bandit leader. I interrogated him and he let out information like a waterfall. I didn't even have to say anything twice.
"Young man, you are doing so much for us.." The old man looked like he had appreciated my help. The young people were also looking hopeful, the bounty should more than help them to get some adventurers for their village.
"Hmm it's not a problem, we should help each other in times of need. okay then, if you show this letter, I am sure what I said will be done. bye then, I am in a hurry you see…" I started to run. I need to follow my schedule. I also wanted to hunt some good meat too.
"What's your name…" the small girl had come forward seeing me go and asked my name. I had forgotten to tell them my name..
"It's Rekka..Wolford Nice to meet you people! I'll see you again…" I said goodbye while leaving and in moments I was far ahead of the road. Since the bandits didn't do much damage, I thought it would be okay to leave them. Even if some monster came to attack them, they can sacrifice the bandit leader to get out of it.