The carriage appeared over the horizon and Alex helped the girls pack up their things so they were ready to move again.
"That wasn't very appropriate of you. What if Kailey was awake and came over to you?" Eva glared at Alex unable to hold back her frustration any longer.
She realized her niece was fond of this man but she wasn't very happy with his actions. Although this was a very serious situation for them, he played it off as just a casual stroll. She wasn't aware that he had spent almost a month in this forest by himself, otherwise she wouldn't be so critical about him.
"Sorry, it just kind of happened. I really didn't mean for that but she's something else and I'm not just talking about her body." Alex smiled at the girl next to him who was clinging to his arm.
The aunt in his arms glared at him and the "slut" next to him.
"Do you remember the first time you realized you were in love? I'm not sure myself since I've never experienced it but I think it might be that." Alex asked her suddenly.
He voiced his thoughts honestly since he was on cloud nine right now. Eva just looked at him in shock. Of course, she remembered the first time she realized her love for her late husband. It sent butterflies throughout her stomach just thinking of it along with horrible guilt and sorrow for his death.
Was this man really feeling that for a slave girl?
Almost like he read her thoughts, he read her face and sighed.
"I'm sure you think differently since nobles are a 'breed above the rest' but love is a strange thing so it's not that hard to believe someone could fall for another who isn't their equal, to put it lightly."
Eva felt bad for judging so she didn't question more. In fact, her late brother, and Kailey's other uncle had married a commoner for love. He was stripped of his right for taking over the head of the household but the man didn't care.
Her brother truly loved his wife and even though they were both gone now, Alex had shown her around her dead friends and family despite breaking into tears the whole time. She wanted to know how their end was so she could later leave a report for her father, and the current head of the Mantrigeld family.
There were many things she had to think about and the consequences of the loss of pretty much every eligible heir to the household was a big hit for them.
The girls and Alex waved down the carriages as they came closer into view. They eventually slowed down and Alex could even recognize a few of the miners in this carriage from the inn. The driver brought the horses to a stop.
"Can I ask what you lot are doing blocking the road?" He was polite but there was also a hint of ridicule in his voice.
Alex ignored him and spoke out loud toward the miners.
"You guys recognize me? Its the Freeloader. I've got a request for you."
Several of the miners poked their heads out of the carriage to get a better look and the driver's mouth twitched.
"Look here kid! You should respect your elders so why are you ignoring thi- hey! Where are you going!"
The driver stopped and yelled as Alex ignored him and went toward the back where the miners were. Most recognized him but none were willing to help, mostly because of his reputation.
However luck was on his side today as the old man who told him about the heartwood drink was there. Maybe he was some sort of protagonist with all this luck. However remembering all the times he almost died, he shook his head.
"Ah its you kid." He grumbled coming up to where he was after pushing through the crowd.
He saw the lovely lady in his arms and another with huge tits next to him as well as a little kid clinging to his pants. He narrowed his eyes.
"You better not be makin' a harem or somethin'! I don't want ta see miss Alicia's heart broken you bastard!" He gritted his teeth and shook a fist at him.
"It's not like that old man." Alex shook his head while Grace looked at him with narrowed eyes.
Was Alicia another slave to compete for his attention?
"Its Ben not old man kid!"
"And its Alex, not kid or freeloader Ben."
The two went back and forth a bit before old Ben slapped his knee and laughed out loud. He didn't realize how brazen the young man was and started taking a liking to him. After all, he reminded old Ben of a younger him.
After calming down he looked at Alex curiously.
"So? Why ya carryin' a beaut in your arms? Also, ya better not be doin' anythin' to that kid there or 'll kill ya." He glared and Alex explained all that happened.
The other miners near Ben widened their eyes after all they heard. This freeloader was actually a good person? Did he really not take advantage of them and cause this mess himself?
They found it hard to believe but Eva and the girls testified for him and Kailey gave a very expressive and over-the-top superhero story of how he swooped in to save her. The old men in the carriage had their hearts melt after seeing the little girl remind them of their own kids and grandkids.
Many of them started crying like big babies and even Old Ben wasn't free from the waterworks curse.
*sniff!* "Alright Alex, 'll help ya. Ya just need 'em ta git ta Mr. Setter safely right?"
Alex nodded and felt a huge weight lifted off his shoulders.
"Miss Evelyn here is severely injured and needs immediate medical attention and I think only Sharla could help her." Alex said revealing her wrapped legs that were covered in blood from underneath a blanket.
Many of the miners paled and Ben's gaze turned serious.
"Alright git her in comfort. We won't be able ta hold all the girls safely so we'll wait wit ya fer the other carts ta explain."
They cranked out how they would spread out the girls so they were safe while the miners waited for the other carts to explain the situation. Several sad stories later, the other carriages were ready with their rescued girls.
"Here, take this." Eva gave Alex a medallion with a golden heart on it.
He was curious and she answered him.
"This is the coat of arms of my Mantrigeld family. If you find yourself in trouble this can get you out in most cases. However, if I find out you use it for nefarious purposes..." She said glancing at Grace, "I will hunt you down and kill you myself even if you are our savior."
She wasn't sure if she would see him again before leaving this inn they were headed for. It confused her why they didn't go to the church but she wasn't aware of the situation in Floren. Alex thanked her and reassured her as Kailey tackled him.
He patted her hair as she looked at Alex with watery eyes.
"Will I see you again Mr. Prince?" Her words made all the old men's hearts melt before they glared at Alex.
He smiled wryly and reassured her they would meet again. He didn't put a time frame on it since he preferred not to go to the noble capital city where there were sure to be a plethora of young masters.
They waved goodbye once more before they left first so Eva could get the medical attention she needed. The other carts that were stopped to help explain the situation to others as the last girls got on and Alex was explaining to Grace this was goodbye for now.
"No! Grace won't leave you, Master! What happens if Master dies?! How can Grace live without Master?" She cried and showed the most emotion he had ever seen from her so far.
His heart tightened and gave her a big hug.
"Don't worry Grace, I'll come back soon. I just need to finish something here before coming back. I promise." He gave her a gentle kiss on the lips, making the miners watching feel awkward and strange considering she was calling him master.
Was it some sort of kink? They couldn't be sure. He helped her up into the carriage and glared at the men in there. The aura of what a 3rd almost 4th Ring person could create emitted into the area spooking the weak horses and people.
"If I find out any of you touched her, I will make sure you regret living. You protect her with your life got it?" His demonic aura burst out and many of the grown men wet their pants or passed out. Grace also wet her pants but for a different reason.
'Master is so strong!' She praised and bit her lips while fidgeting.
*SLAM!* Alex dropped one of the chests he had with him in his ring and opened it in front of the men. Their mouths dropped open drooling at the extreme amount of wealth in the chest. They all had greedy eyes, completely forgetting about how strong this young man was as they looked at Alex who smirked.
"I'm not asking you to do this for free. Split this between each other evenly and keep her safe. I'll find out if you aren't fair with each other." Alex glanced at Grace who quickly got what her master meant.
The carriage soon left with Alex watching his girl ride into the distance. Hopefully Alan would realize what he was doing and help them out. He knew that man was a sucker for his wife so he wouldn't be able to put up a good fight.
Also since they were in bad condition, he wasn't going to deny them. Some of the adventuring patrons may even help out.
With a sigh and a stretch, Alex disappeared and quickly worked with the last remaining light of the day. He managed to also convince a cart to take all his monster parts back to Alan with some more gold and jewels as payment which they happily agreed to.
Alex had too much wealth now anyway so it didn't matter to him. He quickly began running back and forth from the bandit campsite to an area near the entrance of the forest that was still well hidden.
After a few hours of running back and forth, he then used his superior strength and speed to create a big hole and buried all his wealth. He chuckled feeling like a pirate burying his booty. After that, he cleaned up the destruction from the attack and covered up the dead members of the caravan with sheets from the bandits, and labeled their burial for those who came seeking them.
He then left the bandits to rot by hanging them on trees with their weapons in their skulls after checking to make sure he got everything and move on. He managed to change his clothes into something nicer and gained several new weapons. They didn't seem to be as good as Alan's but they were still better than having nothing.
He sighed and camped in the bandit area for the night before leaving in the morning for his old base which he had a hard time finding after everything that happened.
It was now time to hunt for a Basilisk.
- - -
A few days ago:
In a grand villa in the middle of the capital, an older gentleman sat in his office chair smoking a pipe and doing paperwork. He had a head full of white hair and a fluffy beard that made him look like a certain chicken corporate mascot.
He was humming to himself a little as he worked before he heard the sound of glass breaking. However, instead of the sound coming from around his study, it was coming from inside his mind.
His heart skipped a beat as he waited, thinking he heard something wrong. Instead, his body trembled as 4 more large "glasses" broke in his mind followed by many smaller ones. It all happened in quick succession that he couldn't react properly.
He sat in silence as his pipe went out before a man with a pale face burst into the room.
"M-Master Winslow! Something terrible has happened!" Before this young man could even react, an extremely potent aura erupted from the older gentlemen and swallowed up the entire estate. All maids or butlers working outside or in the house were not safe.
Even people walking on the street outside their gates paled and fell to the ground as they looked toward the villa.
The young man paled and had blood coming out of his mouth as he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
"Master Winslow..." The man said weakly before falling unconscious.
Master Winslow ignored his state as he had something even more serious to worry about. The aura of a 7th Ring warrior erupted from the Mantrigeld estate that was felt by most of the city.
The old man's hands trembled as tears came down his face.
'How did my entire family die in an instant?' He thought, not realizing that one of those loud glasses and a smaller glass had not broke in his mind.
"Send out 'Pride' this instant. Find who killed them and bring them to me alive." The old man spoke almost in a whisper, barely containing his rage and sadness.
A shadow appeared next to him completely wrapped in black kneeled beside him.
"Yes sir." The slight feminine voice said before disappearing again.
The capital was in an uproar as the Master of the Mantrigeld household released his full strength causing chaos. It was found a few days later by the noble houses that something happened horrible happened to the Duke family, leaving the Mantrigelds in a period of mourning and weakness.
None were sure quite yet just what exactly happened, but it would be revealed to them soon enough.
The predators of the capital all began grinning from ear to ear looking at the Mantrigelds like it was wounded prey.