07: Maria's Feeling

"Loyalty points?" Darius asked.

"Uh-huh. By acquiring Loyalty Points, you can exchange them for knowledge that you need to improve your village's civilization. For your information, this planet's civilization is currently at Type 1 Civilization while your village is Type 0.1. You need to work hard to catch up with the other cities."

Alexa continued, "The greater the civilization, the more knowledge, and wisdom are needed to keep the balance. Besides, this Library also needs something in return for the knowledge that it has to offer."

"Ah, I see! It's the same as money! I just need to buy the needed knowledge from the Library! Why don't you say so?" Darius said.

'He's utterly dumb! Goddamn it!' Alexa cursed inwardly.'

"Yes, exactly."

"Okay…" Darius nodded. "By acquiring subordinates? Like… make them pledge their allegiance to me?"

"Indeed… But of course, it's not limited to mankind. Beastkin, Dragons, Magical Beast, Elves, Dwarves, Undead, Demons, Angels, or even Gods themselves! Make them kneel before you, and the Library shall grant you everything." Alexa stretched both arms as she said this.

Darius was stupefied upon hearing it. Making someone else to pledge their allegiance and fealtiness was one thing.

Taming the high-rank beastkin and dragons? Even Rank 3 Mage would have a hard time accomplishing such a feat!

"Alright, I understand. Therefore, I just have to make someone put their trust in me, right?"

"Yup! That'll sum everything up." Alexa jumped to his side. "Don't worry, reading people's minds and their psychology is my forté. I'll give you some tricks and tips to use other people to your advantage."

"Alright, I'll see what I can do tomorrow."

Darius finally returned. Although it seemed like hours inside the Library, Darius only spent a couple of minutes in reality. He didn't pay much attention at first, but he then realized the water was still warm when it should've gone cold a while ago.

"Alexa, how long exactly am I inside your realm?"

[About four hours or so. Which is equivalent to 10 minutes in real-world time.]

"H-how come?"

[...]

Alexa was silent, unwilling to explain the details since she knew it would be too much for Darius to understand the whole concept of time dilation.

[Anyway, I sensed your beloved one is dejected. Perhaps due to the trauma that happened recently. You might want to check up on her and take advantage of her. She's a perfect candidate for your first loyal subordinates.] Alexa remarked in a cold tone. She was indeed an engineered intelligence after all.

Though it might sound heartless, Darius couldn't argue with the fact that Maria was the closest person he had right now. With her current state of mind, it would be so easy to manipulate her thoughts to pledge her allegiance to Darius.

Even so, although becoming the strongest he would shed their humanity bit by bit, Darius aimed to retain his heart and stay true to himself and the people that he cared about.

Afterward, Darius put his pajamas on and went to Maria's bedroom. He knocked on the doors before he entered.

"Maria, are you okay?"

No answer, only a faint sob was heard from the other side.

"May I come in?"

"En," Maria responded with a faint voice.

Upon entering the room, the hearth had almost died but there was some amber left, making the room even colder. This wasn't Maria that he had known for 13 years. She would not neglect the hearth and not be fed with firewood so the room would stay warm all night long.

Now that the kids were gone forever, her bedroom felt more spacier. Darius could only imagine the agony that welled inside her now.

After he relit the hearth, Darius went over to her side. She curled her body under the blanket, tears wetted her pillow.

"Is it still painful?" Darius asked, and Maria understood what he was trying to imply.

"Not really. It just—"

"What happened?"

"Albert and the others saved me. It's all my fault!"

"It's not your fault or anybody else's, Maria."

Maria hugged herself, hugginh her hands against her breasts.

"Darius, in the name of Roseflame, I shall take my revenge upon the Baron. I'll set his city ablaze with my flame!" Maria said.

"Sure, but don't let your feelings take over your mind, I don't want you to kill the innocents. Revenge is a dish best served cold. We need to get stronger, not just us, but the entire village too. War is not always about violence and blood. I have a better plan for the future of this village. Would you join me?"

"Darius…" Maria's eyes glistened in tears, staring at him deeply. "Of course! I promise I'll get stronger too!"

Darius then hugged the red-haired girl from behind. He could smell the sweet fragrance that permeated from freshly washed hair. It was a bit damp, but it was nice to the touch.

Maria gradually became restless, she had waited for him for so long to hug her like this. She turned her back, facing him directly, she then kissed him and took him by surprise.

It lasted for a couple of minutes until the two of them were out of breath.

"Maria… W-what was that for?"

"Hah… hah…" Maria's face blushed, her pale white skin tinged with a pinkish hue. "I am sorry, I shouldn't have done it."

"I mean, it's okay, I'm just a bit surprised."

"So…?"

For a decade, Darius never saw her as a love interest and he thought of her like his own sister. But of course, he was not a naive person, he knew this day would eventually present itself when he had to choose to take her as his woman or remain the same for the rest of their life.

He caressed her face and then returned the kiss. Darius only went as far as he was allowed to, he didn't want her to feel any pain just yet.

Even though it was just a make-out and kisses, the CE System chimed cheerfully.

[You have received 1.000 Loyalty Points!]

[Maria Roseflame is now under your wings!]