7 Chapter 7

With a burst of speed, I activated the merged Whirlwind Step technique despite not having used it before, my 1000 hour amulet makes it easy to make my stumbling first step into something good.

my body blurred as I weaved through the crowd, closing the distance between myself and the fleeing thief.

The onlookers gasped and stumbled aside as I passed, a whirlwind of motion that seemed to defy the laws of physics by summoning wind around me, which pushed me forward into the path the thief was taking.

In the blink of an eye, I was upon the thief, my hand reaching out to snatch her by the collar of her jacket.

She slipped out of her jacket leaving her in a tube top, but i had enough time to draw my sword and bring it to a few centimeters from her neck.

"Gotcha," I said, a smirk playing on my lips.

She raised her arms in defeat, a look of panic in her eyes.

A few guards approached with a pair of manacles now that they could catch up to the thief running at a fourth the speed of a bullet.

I ignored the blonde thief who was cursing in my general direction, as the half-elf candidate approached me.

I handed her the black token with the red gem, and she looked at me warily. "Thank you, I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't intervened."

I smiled, and nodded, "No problem, it would be pretty horrible if the only reasonable candidate would be knocked from the selection."

Emelia tilted her head, "what? The only reasonable- what do you mean?"

"Let's just say," I began, my voice taking on a serious tone, "that I believe in what you stand for. Equality, though just a start of what you could do, is an ideal worth fighting for."

I paused, my gaze sweeping over the bustling marketplace, the faces of the people who would be caught in the crossfire of the royal selection.

"But the only reasonable-" She started, but I interrupted her.

"From the rumor mill, I have heard these words. Crusch Karsten," I continued, my voice laced with disdain, "is a pragmatic dictator who would rule with an iron fist, sacrificing individual freedoms for the sake of order and efficiency. Priscilla Barielle is an arrogant, self-serving tyrant who cares only for her own power and glory, killing or enslaving anyone in her way or who just disagrees with her. And Anastasia Hoshin is a greedy manipulator who would turn Lugunica into a marketplace where everything, even human and demi human lives, has a price."

I turned back to Emilia, my eyes meeting hers with unwavering conviction. "At least you, Emilia, would be trying for something admirable."

A look of surprise and gratitude spread across Emilia's face. "I...I don't know what to say," she stammered, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Thank you, Sir. Your words mean a lot to me."

"Actions speak louder than words," I replied with a smile. "And I intend to prove my support through my deeds."

My smile turned into a grin and I continued, "I would like to offer my services as a bodyguard."

Emelia paused, and then nodded, "I am Emilia," she introduced herself and paused, though it seems you already know that.", offering a warm smile. "May I know the name of my rescuer?"

"Tereda Chouju," I replied, bowing slightly. "It was an honor to be of service."

I realized this was a necessity after hearing all the rumors. I lived here now, and I didn't want another earth-bet situation- or worse.

That and her spirit would literally kill everyone if she died.

I would still prop her up if that weren't the case though.

She nodded, and opened her mouth seemingly to agree and then-.

A small silver furred cat spirit popped up out of nowhere and said. "Oi Oi! How can you say all that stuff truthfully and mean them even having not met any of the other candidates yourself?! I mean, not that they're not true, but. Well, screw it, I can't look a gift-earthdragon in the mouth. Lia, say yes! He actually means what he's saying and is pretty strong too! Rem and Ram would have a hard time beating him together, I can tell!"

Emelia nodded and she held out her hand. I shook it, and smiled.

Puck held out his tiny paw, and shoving all my absolute terrified fear into the absolute back of my mind, I shook it.

"Now, let's talk about expenses."

—

After a short negotiation about wages that I didn't actually need, but would make it suspicious if I didn't ask for any, we eventually found our way to a gorgeous blue haired maid standing next to a carraige.

My eyes widened and my heart skipped a beat, but I calmed down a moment later.

She was beautiful, yes, but now wasn't the time for flirting.

"Mistress Emelia." She said with a deadpan. "You seem to have been kidnapped by a ruffian of some sort. A vagabond in fancy leather armor." I noticed a twinkle of amusement in her eyes.

Before I could give a playful retort, A pink haired maid, with the same bob-cut hairstyle and an aura of sass exited the carriage and immediately spoke in the same deadpan, "Indeed, Mistress Emelia must have been stolen away by some brigand in fancy leather armor." She didn't even look at me the whole time she was speaking.

I shrugged and played along, "Mistress Emelia, I am being courted by two beautiful women who seem to not know how to express their absolute adoration for me, what shall I do?"

The Blue haired one's eyes light up, recognising a challenge. "Indeed, Mistress Emelia, I seem to have been violated by this brigand in fancy leather armor within his own mind, you must avenge my chastity by throwing him into the mabeast forest."

A smirk played at the pink-haired maids lips, she opened her mouth to continue the teasing, but Emelia intervened. She leaned forward to speak. "I would have you nincompoops stop this nonsense! This is my new bodyguard, Sir Tereda Chouju, please treat him nicely."

"Sorry mistress Emelia, it shall not happen again, mistress Emelia."

Emelia nodded, with a satisfied smile and then began to speak again. "Please introduce yourselves."

I went first, "Hi, My name is Tereda Chouju, wanderer, fighter, swordsman, and martial artist. My likes are sushi, a dish from Kararagi, training," Now's the time for flirting, indeed "and cute blue haired maids with a good sense of humor and a kind nature. My dislikes are those who cause harm to others without thinking of the consequences, Nobles who abuse their position, and people or organizations who I consider to be harmful to society. Please take care of me."

The blue haired maid's eyes blinked twice in stunned silence. Her probable sister elbowed her lightly in the ribs with a smirk on her lips. Only then did she speak up. "Oh! Yes, I am Rem, A maid who serves Mistress Emelia in the duties around the house. I am also quite strong so I serve the second purpose of a battle maid. My likes are people who are kind and heroic, my sister Ram, and trying to learn to cook, despite my sister being better. My dislikes are-" she paused, a momentary look of rage on her face, "Certain evil organizations, and people who are prejudiced against the demi-races. Please take care of me." She bowed, and we moved on to the girl with the pink hair.

She glanced at Rem for a moment, seemingly surprised that Rem spoke so much about herself to a new hire who is basically a stranger.

I could tell a conversation went between their eyes.

One ending with Rem blushing pink all the way up from the bottom of her neck.

She retreated to the inside of the carriage, and Ram introduced herself with a smirk.

"I am Ram, I am a maid serving the Roswaal estate where Mistress Emelia is currently based. My likes are my sister, who I absolutely will kill for if anyone hurts her. No one will ever find the body. I dislike a certain evil organization. Please take care of me and Rem, or I will turn you into a blood cloud."

She enters the carriage leaving me stunned.

"What just happened?" I asked.

Emelia pouted and said, "I don't know, but I'm going to find out."

Puck then popped into existence behind her and immediately went into what was extreme distraction mode. "Hey Lia, we should-"

A large ice construct appeared behind her. It was in the form of a thumbs up.

It evaporated a moment later.

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