After explaining every detail to Freya, both of them joined Ray and Alex for dinner. Naturally, Ben put up some excuse to avoid eating human food.
'I don't understand what will happen if I eat food instead of blood?' Ben asked the system.
[ Not that you can't eat, but it will damage your digestive system.] [You may get diarrhea or maybe vomit your life out. ]
'So, what if I were to eat meat? Like human meat?' Ben pondered the possibilities.
[ You want to try that out?! ]
'No, just asking.'
[ You can eat raw flesh, although you won't get much energy from it.] But for a change of taste, it's okay.
'Hehehe, I might want to try that sometimes.'
[ You mentally incapable person, get me out of your brain !! ]
"So, Ben, what did you think about the proposal from earlier? If you are fit, you can start now." Ray asked, breaking him out of his thoughts.
Ben chuckled, looking weirdly, "I only need to guard the boundaries, right? Why do you sound so desperate?"
Listening to Ben, Ray let out a long sigh. "That's right, I am desperate. The deaths in the village are constantly rising, and while I may have people on my side, very few of them can use magic or have any combat experience."
"It's not like I am asking you to put your life on the line; I just need you to watch over, and if anything happens, ring the bell. That's all." Ray explained in short.
"It sounds good to me; what is the timing?" Ben asked.
"Not much; we will do it in three shifts from evening to morning. If you are up for it, just hold on from sunset to midnight. After that, Alex will take his turn."
Ray turned around to look at Freya. Sensing the magical power in her, he made a decision. "Since Freya is the weak one here, you can leave her in the residence; I don't need both of you to do the work; only one person working could feed them both."
Ben initially nodded in agreement until he sensed the sudden silence in the room. It was Freya who had stopped eating, politely putting her bowl back on the ground, before he looked Ray directly in the eyes.
"Who do you think you are calling weak?" She asked with a cold expression as if something inside her was being triggered. "If I guess correctly, your magic capacity is not even one of mine."
'Yo system, what are they talking about?' Ben asked, clueless in his mind.
Mana capacity is the amount of magical energy one person can hold within him or her. You will know it more clearly when you unlock your magic.
"Mana capacity isn't a sign of strength. It's also the spell, elements, and combat experience that counts." Ray responded in the same cold tone as hers.
'Can they see the magic capacity of one another? If that's the case, why does Ray think I am stronger than Freya?' Ben pondered, not interfering in their conversation.
[Maybe host, because you don't have any magic in you at all.] Normally, any living being in this world must have even a tiny bit of magic in them. If one cannot sense the magic coming from another, it means the other person is a proficient mage who can hide his mana capacity. [It is naturally stronger. ]
'The explanation stinks, but what stinks more is the current situation,' Ben's lips twitched as he looked at the matter in hand unfolding.
"Why do you think my element is inferior to yours? You have some serious superiority complex in you." Freya resorted.
"I don't think my magic is superior; I know for a fact that it is superior to anyone here. Wanna bet?" Ray said it with a sense of pride as if stating something obvious.
"Chill out, guys; we are on the same side." Ben tried to interfere.
Alex chimed in as well: "Ben's right, we are on the same side. And that's why we shouldn't have any sour feelings for each other."
"So, let's just settle things like warriors; we call it a friendly duel." Alex's smile widened, and he clapped his hand against the table twice, a sign of challenge in this world.
"I am ready for it," Freya said, her voice filled with anger.
"Well, guess what? I am not backing down either; let's do it." Ray responded in an even louder tone; unlike Freya, he wasn't angry or irritated but rather excited for battle.
"Do you guys have to do that?" Ben asked worried, but his concern was intentionally ignored.
[Don't be hasty, Ben; I believe this will work in your favor.]
'In my favor? What do you mean by that system?' Ben asked inside his mind, almost surprised by the system's response.
Think about it for a second, Ben. [Even if you were to guard the gate and Freya stayed in the base, wouldn't that restrict your movements by a wide margin?]
[If she wants to guard alongside you, then we will be able to explore more of the city and ruins without worrying about a 500-meter radius.]
'Well, now that I think of it, it does make sense to have her work alongside me. It's almost crucial for him to work alongside me. But will she be able to win the duel?' Ben said this with a small smile plastered on his face.
[She doesn't need to win; just proving her strength is enough.] [In comparison to Alex, the Ray person isn't that strong. ]
Freya's stance had opened up a new perspective for him. It was clear that she had her principles and didn't want to feel like a burden to anyone.
As Ben thought more about it, he realized that having her as a guard partner would indeed give them more freedom to explore and investigate the city and its ruins.
'Can you tell me about the current strength order in the room?' Ben was curious.
[Based on raw power, Alex is the strongest one here; he surpasses you in many factors, including agility, magic, and spells. ]
After him, you would be the second-strongest person in the room. Although, host, you are just slightly stronger than Ray, the result may vary depending on battle IQ.
'Me without magical abilities, still this strong?' Ben asked, surprised and a little flustered.
[ Your vampire physique and regenerative abilities make you naturally stronger than normal humans.] [Even without magic, you are twice as strong as any normal human right now. ]
'No wonder,'
[ Freya is currently the weakest one in the room, but her mana capacity is second to Alex only. If she has enough spells and a good IQ, she might come out victorious against Ray.