"But even if there were no survivors, it wouldn't be a great loss for Styg anyway, right?"
After realizing this, I said, "Besides your sword, your intelligence really impressed me!"
Styg's eyes lit up. "The things I did were all the things my father told me to do."
"Well, then, are you willing to help me?" Styg extended his hand.
"Of course, but with one condition," I said, extending my hand to him.
Styg looked into my eyes and asked, "What do you want?" I smiled and replied, "I want the bow and the quiver. Besides being a good warrior, I also have perfect aim."
Styg fell silent and said, "Are you sure?"
I was silent for a few seconds, thinking. "Obviously, I'm good. I have a virtual lab in my head, and with the help of the aim-bot, I'm able to hit anything, even if it's moving..."
But since I couldn't say that, I shook my head and continued, "Yes, that's my condition."
.
.
Some time later.
.
.
I was sitting in my usual chair, the one that gave me the perfect view of the world outside. The airship I was on followed its course, now over the green mountains, with trees that seemed to stretch up to the sky. The cool forest air hit the window, mixed with the strong scent of wet earth. The desert was already just a distant memory.
A month had passed since we had left that unbearable heat of the desert and the meeting with the students of the alliance I had formed.
The door opened, and Lana entered with a tray of food. Her forced smile didn't go unnoticed by me. She knew how much it bothered me, but she was playing her role.
"Dad... Eclivel, I brought food." She said, and that "Daddy" reminded me of how I had turned these two teenage girls into sex sluts, whom I could use in any way I wanted and they wouldn't complain. Lana and Luny were madly in love with me.
I sighed, but couldn't help smiling a little. What else could I do? I looked around, taking in the atmosphere of the room and took a piece of bread from the tray she offered me.
Lana was scantily clad, revealing her breasts as usual, her black skin, unlike Luny's, almost glowing in the light. Luny was lying unconscious on the bed, her expression calm but with an air of satisfaction that only a sexually satisfied person could display. They were willing to do anything for me. I was... their focus.
"Come, sit here on my lap and feed me," I commanded with a lightness that I didn't even notice. It was automatic, as if I had learned to maneuver this situation to my advantage effortlessly.
Lana quickly obeyed, moving her black hair from side to side as she settled on my leg. With one hand, she fed me, and with the other, she kept the tray balanced.
After I finished my meal, the taste still lingering in my mouth, Lana's voice broke the silence of the room.
"Eclivel... what's the situation? How many more days until we're out of these damn mountains?"
The question made me sigh, but I soon realized that the sound had woken Luny, who had been sleeping heavily in the bed beside me. She shifted in the bed, which caught my attention. The silence that filled the room was replaced by a slight unease.
"I think in a few weeks," I replied, trying to give a calm tone to my voice, while pulling Lana into my arms. Her warm and soft body fit perfectly, and I couldn't help but feel the touch of her skin against mine, despite all that it represented.
Lana seemed not to notice the gesture, or maybe she didn't care. She started fiddling with her hair, impatient.
"Eh! Good God, half a month left?! These are terrible days, I can't stand another single day in this place!" she said, pulling her own hair in frustration.
I laughed inside, but only for a moment. As much as she complained, I understood her suffering. I wanted to leave here too.
"Hey, cheer up, Lana. As long as you endure these weeks, when we get to our destination, there'll definitely be new clothes, soft bread, not to mention a comfortable bed and a hot bath. All of that is waiting for you!" I tried to cheer her up, but at the same time, I realized that my words were more for convincing myself than her. I also longed for a safe place, a rest. The weight of the mountains, the difficult journey, was already starting to affect me.
But before she could respond, a rhythmic knock on the door broke the silence.
"Knock~~ Knock~~"
The door opened, and Styg appeared. The goblin was wearing his knight's armor, the long sword swaying at his waist as usual. He had an imposing presence for someone of his stature.
"Hey, sir! Ladies! We have a short break here! If you need to relax a bit, come outside. Otherwise, please stay inside, after all, the outside is very dangerous..." Styg said in his usual tone.
The room began to stir. Luny looked at Lana with a red face, seeming undecided about what to do. I could tell that the two of them were in a dilemma, as always.
I shrugged and, without hesitation, grabbed my axe that rested beside the chair. I felt the need to stay vigilant. As a member of the guard, my responsibility was to protect those who were with me. Even if all I could do was maintain constant vigilance and call the servants if something happened.
I looked at Luny, who was trembling in the bed. Her expression was tense, but her words were firm, more than anyone could expect from her.
"I... I won't fall this time!" she said, but the tremor in her voice couldn't be ignored.
"Alright, then!" I replied with a slight expression of approval, pointing to Lana. — "Lana, come with me outside the room."
We left the room and headed toward the airship's upper deck. The fresh air at that height hit my face, and I stretched, feeling my muscles relax after the tense and exhausting days. The view in front of me was breathtaking. The lush mountains and vast forests stretched as far as my eyes could see, a beauty that only the height allowed me to see clearly.
If it weren't for the constant threat of danger, I would have loved that scene. But the reality wasn't so simple.
"How beautiful!" Styg said, gazing at the sunset with a satisfied smile.
I muttered, not taking my eyes off the landscape, but with a darker tone: "How beautiful indeed, but also dangerous!"
Styg laughed, tightening his sword with a light movement, as if he was always prepared for anything that might arise.
"There is danger everywhere, my friend! Disease, hunger, war. The world is full of such dangers. For us, this area is a threat to our lives, but for the White-clad Mages, it's nothing more than the backyard garden! — He said with a confidence that only someone with a long sword at their waist could have.
I knew what he meant. He was right, of course, but I didn't fully trust that view. I wasn't content to rely solely on strength to ensure safety.
"Are you trying to say that as long as you have strength, you can get both freedom and safety?" I asked, bluntly.
"Exactly!" Styg smiled, visibly pleased. — "Look at Luny in her bed, she has already lost her courage and doesn't want to leave the room. On this path to power, she's lacking the spirit to face danger. Even if she were to safely reach the Mage academy, it's unlikely she could become a mage. After all, studying magic is a treacherous path that is a hundred times harder than this mountain!"
After hearing Styg, I thought. Courage? But for those who pursue the truth, prudence is also a necessity.
Soon after, I shook my head. "Initiating scan..." Without hesitation, I gave the mental command to my virtual lab.
The response came instantly.
["Beep..."]
Inside my mind, a three-dimensional scenario began to unfold, showing a detailed view of the area around the airship. The "Lab" was running at full capacity, revealing the positions of everyone. The white stars represented the students, and upon closer inspection, I noticed that there were no injuries among them.
The servants were represented as blinking red lights, a threat to anyone who challenged them.
There was a mage dressed in white on the other side. But I wouldn't dare attempt to scan him, as any detection of magical energy could cause problems for me.
Not long after, the image of all sources of danger appeared in my mind.
"Even if it's a poisonous insect, they won't be able to escape the Lab's scan! From now on, this area is safe!" I said to myself.
...
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