"It's okay. I'm here to rescue you. I killed the guy who abducted you. He didn't do anything sexual to you did he?" I said.
She shook her head no.
"Ok. Well, I'm going to undo this chain. I got the key off the guy," I said. "Please don't attack me when I undo this."
She nodded. I undid the locks on the chain to give slack and then I undid the shackles. She took off the shackles and rubbed her wrists.
[Good Deed committed! You rescued a woman]
[Rewards incoming]
[Choose an ability]
[Muscle Builder: Build muscles and strength 10 times as fast as a normal person]
[or]
[Team Builder: Members of your party get stronger in whatever they pursue 10 times faster]
[or]
[Experience Plunder: Gain 10% of all future experience and stat increases gained by everyone within a mile radius]
Oh I immediately knew which ability I was going to choose. Experience Plunder of course! Now this was the golden finger I was hoping for! Besides it's just 10%. It's not like people are losing that much, but I'm gaining immensely from it.
'I choose Experience Plunder.'
[Skill granted. Dark aura increased by 20]
'Of course.'
"Why would you save me? How did you even know I was down here?" she said.
"He had blood under his fingernails. I questioned him about it and I knew he was lying, so I figured he hurt someone. He admitted it when we were fighting, when he thought he was about to win," I said, lying. I'm not going to tell her about my system. I'm not telling anyone about that.
"Oh. So you actually fought and killed a man, just because you suspected and then knew that he had kidnapped someone? Are you crazy? What about your life? Your safety?" She said.
"I didn't really consider that. Besides there's not much of a life to consider. I woke up in the middle of the street with no memory of who I was or how I got there, and I had no money. I was going to starve to death on the streets, so why not die for a cause?" I said.
"You're a weird one. But a helpful one. I thank you for this kindness. I will soon repay it," she said.
"How?" I said, raising my eyebrow. "Please don't try to repay me in sexual favors because that would make me deeply uncomfortable."
"No! In money and honors," she said. "I am a princess after all. That's why I was abducted in the first place. I'll take you to meet my father and he'll pay you handsomely and probably even give you an award!"
"Oh! That sounds nice," I said, in an uncertain tone. That didn't sound anything like the kings I read about in history. Kings didn't reward people for good deeds. They put them in dungeons. "Are you sure that's what he'll do?"
"Why wouldn't he? You saved my life!" she said.
"Because kings don't usually reward peasants. At best they'll just send you on your way and say thank you. At worst, they'll put you in a dungeon or kill you," I said.
"He would never do that!" She said.
'If he did, would you actually defend me, or would you just watch it happen?' I asked her with Soul Inquiry.
'I would defend you!' Her soul said.
"Ok, let's go then." I said.
I realized this meant I had to follow her out. What I really wanted to do was check the basement for a hidden stash of money the baker might have had, but the princess probably wouldn't like that, and I needed to stay on her good side.
"Ok," she said. "I'll follow you out."
I showed her the way out. I put the body of the baker behind the counter. She shuddered when looking at it. I opened the front door and let her out, and then locked it behind me.
She guided me this time. We went up a series of stairs and through a series of gates which always let her through once they realized who she was. We made our way to the castle at the top of the hill, overlooking the city.
The guards tried to stop us at first because they didn't recognize who she was. They just thought she was some dirty homeless peasant, but when she raised her voice at them and called them by name, they let us through.
When we got to the throne room, she ran up to the king sitting in his throne and hugging him. She talked with him a bunch. I stayed back so I couldn't hear much but from what I could hear, she just told him what happened and how I'd saved her.
"Sir, what is your name?" The king said when he addressed me. He leaned forward and put an elbow on one knee.
"Tom. Tom Ketchup, your majesty," I said. I made sure to bow. I didn't know the customs here but that's what I vaguely remembered you were supposed to do from history and movies.
"Ketchup? I've never heard of that surname before. Where are you from?" He said.
"I genuinely don't know, your majesty. I woke up in the middle of the street today, dressed like this, and the only thing I could remember was that my name was Tom Ketchup," I said.
I activated Soul Inquiry. 'Can you tell that I'm lying?'
'No. You seem utterly sincere in everything you say.'
Oh yeah, the Absolute Sincerity ability. It made it so everyone believed that I believed everything I said. That was going to be so useful.
"I'm sorry to hear that, Tom. However, for saving my daughter from that dastardly baker, who made really good bread, I will reward you with a sum of money and a medal of bravery. Also, assuming you don't have a place to stay, you can stay in one of the guest bedrooms for now," he said.
A guard came up to the king and handed him a sack of money and a medal.
"Come here, so I can give you the money and place the medal on you," the king said.
"Thank you, your majesty," I approached him. He handed me the sack of money which was far too heavy to put on my belt. Then he put the medal over my head and around my neck. It was a little chunky and heavy, but it fit just fine.
Now I had to figure out what to do with myself. It was still the middle of the day. I couldn't just go into my room and sleep. Maybe there was a place I could get new clothes and an adventurer's guild where I could register as an adventurer.
"There doesn't happen to be an adventurer's guild in this city is there? Also, do you know somewhere I can get decent clothes? I look homeless," I said.
"Yes, you do look quite homeless. But you are homeless, are you not?" The king said.
"Yes, your majesty, but I don't want to look like it," I said.
"I suppose that makes sense," he said. "Yes there is an Adventurers Guild nearby and a decent tailor. Abigail. Please escort our new guest to the tailor and the Adventurers Guild."
"Yes, father," she said. "Come, Tom. I will show you the way."