Just like this 4 days passed~
Life in the village was really chill, without any worries.
As the village lord promised, I was provided with free breakfasts and dinner.
At the time of the meal, some maid from lord's mansions would bring the tiffin.
"Okay, let's wear a good shirt."
"It's time for my evening patrol."
-You must look good and domineering enough while patrolling.
In the last few days, I met the so-called miscreants, one was trying to rob a merchant openly on the main street while the other was plainly-threatening an underage girl to sleep with him.
Without any substantial effort, all those outlaws without any cultivation base were mercilessly beaten by me.
I made sure that more than half the bones in their bodies were cracked-broken so that in the future they dare not think about committing such a crime again lest I would directly kill them.
By now, almost all the villagers recognised my strength and regarded me as a reliable police officer, and all the usual activities in the village returned to their normal routine.
Wearing a red floral shirt and suiting blue pants, I walked out of my house.
-All the people in the cultivation sect disdained and mocked me thinking- I was too immersed to part with the mortal way of life that I can't even dress properly.
According to them, there's no need to wear such stylish and colourful clothes as it will just distract your mind, just wear simple-looking plain and loose clothes.
But I never cared about their opinions, wear what you like, and don't give a damn about other's' opinions.
"Laaaa La...…."
-As I was humming one of my favourite songs, I heard a girlish voice asking for help.
"Hmmm? Someone screaming for help?"
"Seems those outlaws still haven't learned their lessons."
As I reached the place of the incident, three fat men had surrounded a young- delicate girl.
They seemed to be trying to drag her somewhere but she was resisting with all her might. As a result, some pieces from her shabby cloth were already torn from the corners.
"Hey, what are you guys doing?"
-Hearing me speak so domineeringly, all three of them paused their action and looked toward me.
Their eyes quickly changed from being expressionless to panicked as they realized my identity.
"Why? Aren't you aware a new guardian has decided to live in the village?"
"Molesting a girl in broad-daylight? Seems, I need to make sure all the bones in your bodies are broken."
-That was the golden rule I had adopted, for first-time offenders with simpler crimes- beat them up and make them bed-ridden for a month or so.
For a second-time offender, or someone who had done a big crime- no need to beat around the bush, just kill them directly.
Hearing my serious tone, all three guys got scared.
Without wasting any second, all of them knelt on the ground.
"My Lord, you are mistaken. We didn't commit any crime", said the one who was the fattest.
"Yes… My Lord, this girl had taken a huge amount of debt from us. It is already 9 days past the due date and she still hasn't paid back the cash."
"According to the agreement signed between us, in case she fails to make the payment and has no capital to pay back, we are entitled to sell her in the slave market to recover the amount."
-The second person who was kneeling on the ground too quickly opened her mouth to add in.
'Oh, the situation seems really different.'
I looked at the girl lying on the ground.
She heard our discussion but didn't refute their claims and only kept her head down in embarrassment.
'Judging from her reaction, it seems these three are speaking the truth.'
"How much money did she borrow?"
"My lord, W-What?"
-The fattest person couldn't decipher my words clearly so I spoke again putting some pressure on my voice.
"I asked."
"How much money did she borrow from you guys?"
This time, finally understanding my words, the fattest person quickly replied.
"She borrowed 9 gold coins from us!"
'Oh 9 gold coins? This should be the normal monthly income of a well-abled farmer in this world.'
"Are you sure, you guys are not lying?
-Hearing my stern voice all three lying on the ground had their shoulders shuddered.
"No, how can we even dare to lie to a noble person like you", they spoke meekly, still keeping their head down and kneeling on their knees, showing their utmost respect.
'Hmmm, Currently I have 12 gold coins with me.'
'Should I pay this girl's debt or not?'
-As I pondered over whether I should help that weak girl or not, I decided to take a final glance at her.
As I moved my gaze to the weak girl, I noticed at some point she too lifted her head and was looking at me.
She knew that her fate to be sold as a slave somewhere was already sealed.
But this boy interferes in her business..
Will he save her?
She was lost in her thoughts, she dared not ask for help because she had nothing to pay back to her helper, only a big-debt.
Her eyes which were anticipating, started losing its shine as she realized I may not help her.
'Judging from her demeanor, she is a strong girl who will always pay back the favour….that's why she is not asking for help. She knows since she borrowed, she must pay the equivalent price.'
-I gave a deep sigh~
"Fine, I will redeem her."
"You said 9 gold coins, right?"
-Without giving any room for discussion, I took out gold coins from my pocket and threw it at those three people.
Those three at first, couldn't figure out what was going on, but when they heard the sound of gold coins falling on the ground, they woke up to the reality and hurriedly started collecting the gold coins.
"Thank you!"
"Thank you, Sir."
-one by one all three of them expressed their satisfaction.
"With this her debt is settled, right?"
"Yes", replied the fattest one which seemed to be the leader.
Just as they were about to walk away,
"Wait, Aren't you forgetting something?"
There was confusion on their face.
"Since her debt is paid by me, there must be a legal proof of the transaction, right?"
"Oh yes, yes!"
"Look how clumsy we are! Don't be angry noble Sir,
When we go back, we will issue a new document after stamping it with our seal that this girl has paid all her debts."
I nodded at them.
After getting the coins, those three went their own way.
I started walking up to the girl which was still lying on the ground.
"Hey, What's your name?"
"Saharika", she replied in a very meek and feeble tone.
"W-Why?"
"Why did you save me?"
"I have nothing to pay you back."
-Even though her clothes were ragged with a somewhat malnourished body, she still had her rationality.
"Yes, you are right!"
"Nothing is free in this world."
-By now, I was kneeling on the ground with only a few meters between us.
Her shoulders trembled as she thought that maybe I too would do something bad to her.
"Chill, don't overthink."
"I will be direct."
"Those three creditors said your mother died and now you don't have any other family members or even a house left with you."
"Like you, I am also alone…."
"I too, don't have anyone to rely upon."
-My voice got a bit soft as I spoke, successfully catching her attention.
Yes, that's what I planned to do, first, get closer, talk about something with a common interest and lower the girl's guard. Then put your condition decisively after giving suitable justifications. You should present your case as if the other party wants you and not the other way around.
"If you think that I redeemed you to make you my slave or some maid to sleep then you must be delusional."
"Just look at yourself, with such a skinny body and childish figure…Even if it's to satiate my lust, Why should I sleep with such a girl when I have enough money to sleep with a damn gorgeous woman!"
Hearing my words, she unintentionally looked down at her flat chest and breasts which had lost almost all fat due to not eating properly. She felt ashamed.
My trick to get closer to her was almost done, her psychological shock was too great to handle when she understood that she was not worth even satisfying my lust.
"I have been living alone for quite some time now, on this road I want someone to accompany me."
"Since you too have no place to go, come with me?"
"Build a beautiful home with me?"
"Huh"
"….."
-Saharika was taken aback by the sudden request and couldn't open her mouth out of shock.
"What are you saying?"
"But won't that be equal to becoming husband and wi-wife?"
-With stuttering words, she completed her sentence.
"Yeah, that's what I meant."
"I am asking you to be my wife if that's okay?"
Her eyes were rounded, it was so fun to watch.
To be honest, since the time I came into this world, I felt my world-view completely changed. Almost all the females I saw seemed to look like those fairies and Goddesses you read in stories. I was pretty sure once this girl is well-fed and looked after, she will recover her glow.
"So lady, will you give me the chance?"
-To put more impact, I held her left hand with my right hand.
Saharika'a heartbeat suddenly escalated.
As a smart girl, she had already thought of countless possibilities- being raped, forced to become a sex-slave, forced into some hard labour etc but clearly, this possibility in front of her was something she never expected.
"I-I…."
"It's too sudden."
Seeing her still hesitating, I decided it was time.
Since she did not refuse my touch when I held her hands, it meant she didn't have that much opinion.
My dad used to say that girls are often shy and rarely take the initiative. Therefore, as a boy, when you see a girl hesitating, just take the initiative yourself. Her not expressing anything already means a green signal for you.
With my other left hand, I held her waist while my right hand went under her knees as I lifted her in a Princess-pickup pose.
"Kyaaaahhhhhh"
-Saharika, who was startled by the sudden action, quickly held my back with her slender fingers tightly so as not to fall.