The three climbed out of the cave and headed back to the town after two days. Upon their return, they could smell the dead bodies of the people around them. When they reached the mansion, they immediately saw the head of Lavender at the doorstep, rotted and burned. As they headed upstairs, they found the dead bodies of Ayane and Hechalutz.
"Where is the body of mother?" Clementine asked.
"She was probably taken to be a sex slave," Xialdre replied. "As for father, I don't know."
"Right," Clementine responded, though she didn't seem to cry. Isayao, on the other hand, was crying over Ayane's dead body.
The three gave the bodies a proper memorial and then took what they could from the mansion. Isayao grabbed her bow and changed her clothes. Xialdre knitted a black uniform with a yellow necktie using his mom's knitting materials, and Clementine took more of her assassin's needles. Xialdre also wore the scarf his mom had given him for his birthday. He then walked to the stairs, broke a floorboard, and retrieved a small chest filled with platinum coins. After saying their last goodbyes, they left the ruined town.
Three days later, they crossed a river and decided to stay there for the night since it was getting dark. As night fell, Xialdre walked out of their tent to drink water from the river. As he did, the sky lit up, and a giant reddish rock flew across the sky. After it passed, the sky returned to normal and slowly darkened again.
I should be all-knowing, Xialdre thought, but I can't understand what that was. Probably because it was done by one of the Alpha Omega. To be honest, I'm not all-knowing anymore. Though I still have my intelligence as a god, that's probably it. I was split into seventeen lives by none other than Daemon Sultan. The rest of my lives need to die so they can come back to me because I'm the main body. As they return, my power will also return, and I'll probably team up again with Adonai.
The destination of the falling rock didn't seem to be close; it was only supposed to pass by. Xialdre yawned and made his way back to the tent. Just then, he heard a scream coming from the forest. He paused, reconsidering whether to check it out. Eventually, he ventured into the forest and found a clearing where a girl with ripped clothes was being chased by goblins, their tongues hanging out.
Xialdre realized the girl was a mage, possibly betrayed or the sole survivor of her party. She seemed to be about his age. As she tripped, she pointed her wand at the goblins but failed. Her wand was knocked away as the goblins forcefully spread her thighs. The goblin leader began to remove his shorts. Xialdre watched, deciding whether to intervene.
As the goblin leader pulled out his penis, a dagger came flying from the forest, striking him. The leader fell to the ground, and the rest of the goblins tried to escape. Xialdre leaped into the scene, killing the fleeing goblins with martial arts techniques like Karate and Muay Thai. Blood splattered onto his clothing. He kicked the last goblin in the ribs, killing it.
As Xialdre turned back, he saw the mage pointing her wand at him, clearly afraid. He looked at her with dead eyes and slowly walked towards her.
"Who are you? Don't get close!" the mage demanded, her voice trembling with both fear and exhaustion.
Xialdre didn't react and continued to walk toward her, getting closer and closer.
"Element of fire, Lord Daitrus of hell, give me this blessing as I will use it to attack the one who is slowly approaching. MAGIC X FIRE BLAST FLARE!"
As Xialdre saw this, he realized this mage wasn't ordinary. She summoned a fire laser as big as a dragon's breath. Xialdre quickly jumped out of the way. Looking at the mage, he saw she was suffering from mana exhaustion, already weakened and heavily wounded. She couldn't even stand up anymore and had crawled her way to her wand. The mage vomited blood, her left eye bleeding, as she tried her best not to fall. Her body was devastated, but she wouldn't give up. As Xialdre walked toward her, she struggled to keep herself up, suffering from nausea.
When he was about five feet away, she looked up at him with a pathetic expression. Xialdre looked down on her and said, "You look shameless."
"Who are you?" she asked again, her voice weak.
"Big talk after I just saved your life from those goblins who were probably about to rape you to death," Xialdre replied.
"I don't care if you saved me. What do you f*cking want?" she spat back.
"What I want? I guess you should probably already know," Xialdre said calmly.
"Do you want my body?" she asked, a note of resignation in her voice.
"Well, that isn't so bad, right?" he said with a hint of sarcasm.
"I guess all guys are ju—" she began, but she was interrupted by a fit of coughing. She knew that if she kept resisting, she would die. Her coughs came out with blood, her voice starting to go faint, her view darkening. The headache was unbearable, and she slowly fell to the ground.
Xialdre looked at her with a mix of pity and detachment. "How sad this is. To be honest, why should I care? I mean, you see me as an enemy, and if an enemy saves you, that wouldn't be too great, right?"
"H-hel-p m—" she stammered, her voice barely a whisper.
"Why should I? You don't want to die yet?" he asked, his tone indifferent.
"P-please," she begged, tears mixing with the blood on her face.
"What's your name?" he asked, leaning closer.
"M-my na-me i-s..." But before she could finish, she fell unconscious on the ground, slowly dying.
"A person who once tried to take my life but now seeks my help is the epitome of foolishness," Xialdre thought as he looked at the girl.
He picked her up and walked back to the tent, analyzing her age as he walked. "She looks younger than me, probably around fourteen," he murmured. "Although that attack she just used was an A-rank ability. Despite being younger, she is probably stronger than me. She managed to use that ability while heavily wounded and low on mana. She might be an S-class adventurer, despite her age."
As he looked at her neck, he saw a platinum necklace, indicating her rank. "I guess I'm stupid for not checking that earlier," he thought.
When Xialdre made it back to the campsite, he saw Clementine already awake. Since it was dark and Clementine had just woken up, the moment she sensed someone approaching, she didn't hesitate to throw an assassin's pin directly at Xialdre. He easily dodged it. Clementine kept her guard up until she realized it was her master holding a girl who looked like a mage.
"Master, I'm very sorry for attacking you immediately without even thinking!" Clementine exclaimed.
"Keep your voice down, it's alright," Xialdre replied.
"Sorry, master. But who is that girl you're holding in your arms?" she asked.
"This girl? I found her in the middle of the forest where there was a clearing after I heard a scream," Xialdre explained.
"A scream? What happened to her?" Clementine inquired.
"Well, when I finally got there, she was being chased by goblins. I just saved her, although she might have a bit of a lack of trust between us. Long story short, she fell unconscious before I could ask for her name," Xialdre said.
"Really? She seems to be heavily wounded and her clothes are stripped. Was she probably raped by those goblins and just managed to escape?" Clementine asked.
"I doubt that. Let's heal her first and then you'll check if she's a virgin or not," Xialdre replied.
"How?" Clementine questioned.
"You ask me? You're the girl here, why do you want me to check it?" Xialdre responded.
"No, master, but there is actually no way to find out if a woman is a virgin or not," Clementine explained.
"I see," Xialdre muttered. He thought to himself, "I'll probably just check it out myself, but for now, it doesn't matter if she's a virgin or not. Why would it be?"
"Anyway, let's fix her up together, Clementine," Xialdre said.
"Of course, master. I guess you do still have feelings since what you just did right now is probably something that one of the heavenly virtues would do," Clementine observed.
"I'm sorry, Clementine," Xialdre thought. "I didn't save her out of the kindness of my heart. Don't thank me. I only did it because she'll be another tool in my arsenal, just like Isayao and you, Clementine."
As the mage woke up, she immediately sat up, searching for her wand, which was lying beside her. Grabbing it, she analyzed her surroundings and realized she was in a campsite. Noticing she was naked, she found her clothes neatly folded and repaired next to her. Sighing, she slowly dressed, noticing the sunlight filtering through the tent.
Stepping outside, she saw Xialdre fishing by the river with Isayao, while Clementine prepared their eating area. Clementine noticed the mage had woken up and greeted her happily. This caught the attention of Xialdre and Isayao, who both looked back to see the mage standing.
Isayao walked over and handed the mage a rose, causing her to smile as she glanced at Xialdre. Xialdre stood up by the river and slowly walked towards her.
"Thank you guys for saving me," the mage said.
"Well, actually, Xialdre did most of the work," Clementine explained. "Even though he looks like someone who doesn't usually help others, he actually does. Xialdre is the one who healed your wounds, knitted back your clothing, and found you in the forest, saving you from the goblins. As you might have guessed, I'm the one who took your clothes off while Isayao and Xialdre caught fish for food."
Xialdre addressed Isayao and Clementine, "The two of you, get ready and cook the food. I want to talk to her alone."
"Of course," Isayao and Clementine replied in unison.
As Natalia looked at Xialdre, she realized he was still wearing the same expression she remembered from before.
"Follow me," Xialdre said.
Natalia kept her guard up as she followed him to the edge of the mountain. From there, she saw the breathtaking beauty of the world around them, with their campsite nestled among the mountains. As the wind blew, Natalia's hair swayed, mirroring the movement of Xialdre's scarf.
"Now, what's your name?" Xialdre asked.
"N-Natalia, Natalia Wasaki," she replied.
"I see," Xialdre said.
"Why did you bring me here?"
"Well," he thought to himself, "the world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper. There are mysteries and marvels in every corner of the earth, from the whispering forests to the dancing streams, from the silent mountains to the boundless sea. Each sunrise paints the sky with a unique palette of colors, and each sunset casts a golden glow upon the land. In the intricate patterns of a snowflake and the delicate petals of a flower, we find evidence of nature's artistry. The beauty of the world is not merely in its grand landscapes but also in the smallest details, inviting us to pause, observe, and marvel at the wonders that surround us."
"Why were you even in the forest anyways?" Xialdre asked, breaking the silence.
"Well, it's a long story," Natalia replied.
**Flashback**
Natalia, a Class S mage, was renowned as the strongest mage in Satra's Country and ranked the 32nd strongest mage in the history of the Satalias continent. She lived a peaceful life, happily adventuring with her party across the world. However, one fateful day, everything changed when Satra invaded her hometown and imposed harsh taxes on everyone there.
When Natalia learned about the situation, she immediately returned to her hometown with her party. She arrived just in time to witness her parents and the villagers tied to crosses. Her heart sank as she watched her parents being stabbed in the heart with spears. Despite the pain, they smiled at her before dying. Enraged, Natalia went berserk, attacking Satra head-on. She easily bypassed the guards, but her party, fearing the confrontation, abandoned her.
Fighting alone for her hometown, Natalia managed to get close to Satra, but the Golden Knight intervened, beating her mercilessly. Her body was heavily wounded, and as more recruits arrived, Satra escaped the scene. Natalia eventually defeated the Golden Knight, but it was too late. Satra was gone, and her body was on the brink of collapse.
Desperate, Natalia used her wand to fly away, pushing her mana to zero. Mid-flight, she fell from about four hundred feet but managed to cast a slow-falling spell before losing consciousness. When she woke up at midnight, she was starving and struggled to stand. An ogre appeared and beat her up, but she managed to defeat it with her Magic X Fire Blast Flare. Exhausted and devastated, Natalia kept falling unconscious.
When she woke again, she found herself in a dense forest. Searching for food, she ate some fruits that looked edible but were not, causing her to pass out once more. Struggling to survive, she was eventually captured by a group of goblins who tied her up and carried her away. Regaining consciousness, she used explosion magic to blow herself and the goblins up. Though her wand remained intact due to its pure platinum construction, her body was covered in wounds, and part of her clothes was burnt. She grabbed her wand and ran, healing herself just enough to survive, but depleting her mana to zero. Pursued by more goblins, she made it to a clearing on a mountain but tripped on a rock. Struggling to stand, she was surrounded by goblins again.
**Present**
"And that's where you came in to help" Natalia finished her story, looking at Xialdre, who seemed to have no reaction to her heartfelt tale.
"So, that's what happened," she said, her voice tinged with sadness.
Xialdre remained silent for a moment before speaking. "I see. You've been through a lot."
Natalia nodded, still unsure of what to make of Xialdre's stoic demeanor.
Natalia pondered, "I see you don't really care about it that much."
"How could you say that?" Xialdre countered.
Natalia explained, "Your expression remained unchanged throughout my story."
Xialdre sighed, "I've never been one to change my expression. I've never smiled in my life."
"Really?" Natalia asked, surprised.
"Yes," Xialdre replied. "Though your past is devastating, do you still want to return to your party?"
"No," Natalia admitted. "Even though it's my fault they betrayed me, I can't bring myself to rejoin them."
Xialdre suggested, "Want to join us then?"
Curious, Natalia inquired, "Who are you anyway?"
"I'm Xialdre," he introduced himself. "The girl with yellow hair is Clementine, and the other is Isayao."
Natalia questioned, "What's the catch if I join you guys?"
Xialdre's response was blunt, "Become my slave."
Natalia's expression hardened. "Why should I?"
Xialdre calmly stated, "I saved your life. You owe it to me."
"I don't agree," Natalia retorted. "I never asked for your help."
Xialdre acknowledged, "I understand."
Natalia was taken aback by his response. Despite her protests, she knew he was right. She had asked for help, albeit unconsciously.
"Let's head back to the campsite," Xialdre suggested.
Unsure, Natalia questioned, "Are you really going to give up that easily?"
Xialdre challenged her, "Would you agree if I asked again?"
Natalia hesitated before replying, "Well... I mean..."
"I thought so," Xialdre remarked. "Just eat with us before you leave."
Natalia grappled with her decision to reject Xialdre's offer, realizing that despite her refusal, she had unconsciously sought his help. With nothing left to live for—her parents dead, her party rejecting her—she contemplated the possibility of accepting his offer, even if it meant enduring both appropriate and inappropriate treatment. Tears welled in her eyes as she grappled with these thoughts, unnoticed by Xialdre until he gently tried to wipe them away, his gaze filled with understanding.
"Sometimes, what appears to be a setback or a closed door is actually an opportunity in disguise," Xialdre spoke softly, his words penetrating Natalia's turmoil. "Not every offer that seems unfavorable is truly bad; it might be the unexpected path to something greater."
"Are you telling me that becoming your slave is a good thing?" Natalia asked incredulously.
"Yes," Xialdre affirmed. "The hardest things in life are not always the obstacles we face, but the decisions we must make along the way."
Natalia smiled through her tears, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. "Like seriously, how are you saying all of that with that expression?"
"Don't worry, I'll try my best to show some expressions someday," Xialdre replied, eliciting a giggle from Natalia as she gazed at the sky, embracing the beauty of the world.
"Well then, will you become my slave?" Xialdre asked once more.
"Sure!" Natalia agreed eagerly.
"Then let's start our contract, but first, let's head back to camp," Xialdre suggested.
As they walked back, Isayao spotted them from a distance and hurried over, eager to introduce himself. However, to his surprise, Natalia already knew who he was.
"Your Isayao, right?" Natalia addressed him, prompting Isayao's confusion.
"Big brother, did you introduce me to him yourself? You're terrible!" Isayao complained to Xialdre.
"Well, too bad," Xialdre shrugged.
As they sat down for dinner, Natalia struck up a conversation with Clementine and Isayao, learning about their roles as an assassin and an archerist, respectively.
"I hope for us to be good allies, okay?" Natalia expressed her desire for camaraderie.
"Ally? What do you mean?" Clementine questioned.
"She's becoming my slave, just like you, Clementine," Xialdre clarified.
Clementine was taken aback. "Another slave? Wait, can't I be your only one!?"
Confusion ensued, but Clementine quickly finished her meal and left for a bath in the river, leaving a lingering tension in her wake.
"What's happening to her?" Isayao wondered.
"Was she acting like that because of me?" Natalia asked, concerned.
"Yeah, so you should probably chase after her. Sorry for the trouble, Natalia," Xialdre apologized.
"No worries, Xialdre. I'll make her feel better," Natalia assured him.
As Natalia headed towards Clementine, Isayao expressed his desire to join them, but Xialdre intervened, causing Natalia to trip and fall to the ground.
"Big brother, why did you do that for?" Isayao demanded.
"This conversation shall only be fixed by the one who was envied and the one who envies," Xialdre cryptically replied.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Isayao protested.
"Just shut your mouth and finish your food, unless you don't want me to scold you," Xialdre warned sternly.
Meanwhile, Clementine sat by the river, lost in thought. Natalia approached her gently.
"What are you thinking, Clementine?" Natalia inquired.
"Oh, umm, Natalia, hi," Clementine greeted, her demeanor guarded.
"You're having a bad time, right?" Natalia pressed gently.
"Well, umm, this doesn't concern you," Clementine deflected.
"Now, now, Clementine, do you really want to continue like this? I already know who is causing this bad time for you," Natalia persisted.
"If you do know, why don't you fix it then?" Clementine challenged.
"I can see you want to stay alone as the only slave of Xialdre, but you need to understand that if he does find more people like me or you to become his slave, you need to comply and shouldn't envy others who he loves the most. The best solution is to accept the others whom your master accepted," Natalia reasoned.
"Are you actually telling the truth?" Clementine questioned, her skepticism fading.
"Of course. Having a second slave should probably benefit both you and me," Natalia assured her.
"And on top of that, if Xialdre found new slaves, it doesn't make you inferior to them, and it also doesn't mean Xialdre wants to replace you," Natalia added.
"Wait, are you sure?" Clementine's eyes widened in realization.
"There you go, looks like I've just found the source of your problem," Natalia smiled.
"Hehe, I guess you did," Clementine chuckled softly.
"Xialdre is not replacing you; he's just loving both of us now, okay?" Natalia reassured her.
"Right!" Clementine nodded, her spirits lifting.
Natalia raised her wand, and a calm, refreshing breeze swept through, causing flowers to bloom.
"Now then, shall we head back to camp?" Natalia suggested.
"Sure!" Clementine agreed, her mood brightening as they walked back together.
As the two headed back to camp, Xialdre and Isayao had already packed up and were now just waiting for Clementine to return to her senses.
"Now, Clementine, I'm sorry for making you feel that way," Xialdre apologized.
"Don't worry, I'm okay now," Clementine reassured him.
"Natalia, now which part of your body do you want to sign the contract on? Where can I put the writing?" Xialdre asked, addressing Natalia.
Natalia blushed in shock at the unexpected question.
"Wait, what!? Umm, umm..." she stammered, unsure how to respond.
Isayao and Clementine chuckled as they watched her struggle. Seeing her discomfort, Xialdre intervened.
"Why not on the back of your neck? It will be covered by your long blonde hair, and besides, Clementine has hers on her thighs, so at least that is more appropriate, right, Clementine?" Xialdre suggested.
"Ehh, master, please don't say that so casually. It's embarrassing," Clementine protested.
"Sure, on the back of my neck," Natalia agreed, relieved to have a decision made.
"Looks like you've found your spot then," Xialdre remarked, satisfied with the choice.
After finalizing the contract, the trio, now a quartet with their new ally, set out on their journey together.