Tenth Roll: START OF SOMETHING

I'm back from the store with the milk, guys! It took me soo long, because they were out of stock, you have to believe me guys! 

Anyhow, enjoy this chapter! After a few months....

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"Eh?"

I watched, in concealed amusement, of the Princess Knight. Up close she's undoubtedly beautiful, having a wild look to her perfect-skin; a ferocity that a certain schizo, idol fan, would very much like, a lean yet tone body – my appreciation of the female form is enhance by her sculpture muscles – and lastly her unique red-hair that brings out the feeling autumn.

"What got your panties in a swirl, Brynn~ " The queen of mercenaries, with the breath of alcohol, ask with a airy voice; clearly still under a bit of influence, "Hmhmm, now that I think about it you going out must be for this reason~ one big reason, hehe~"

I'm maybe a pervert, I will not deny that, but I appreciate those who take care of themselves with dedication. It is a shame she dressed like this though, like any other abomination this world's call an armor, her attire concise of a spandex with a huge V that taper down to her crotch, her cleavage is out in the open with the sorry excuse of clothes – hiding the sensitive.

I'll say this once again, why not just go naked? At least it is honest! Not this shameless choice of fashion

"Miss Maia, you're still drunk!" The young brunette stated the obvious, as begin to gently wriggle out from Maia's hands, "And get away from him, he was able to-"

Maia, clearly not listening to her knight, giggled with a tone that matches that of an anime girl in heat. I don't find that amusing, tilting my head up the moon is in the center of sky, I clicked my tongue.

"I see how it is~ my dear Brynn is now exploring! Just like I've said, I'm so proud~"

Brynn turned into a stuttering machine, a face as red as a tomato, and eyes desperately trying to look angered through all the embarrassment. These two are helpless, better do something now before another knight catches me being hands on one of the shields. Even if it's unintentional.

"N-no! I was just- arghh! You, get away from the lady!" Brynn shouted. I almost laughed at her, dare I say, adorable expression.

 Good opportunity. 

With a mocking salute, I step out, "As the superior commands."

Out of her embrace, Maia looked at me with a pouting expression, that honestly brings me a refreshing air. All of the Princess knights, Alicia and Claudia especially, have an air of rigid strictness that alienates everyone around them, aside from their knights obviously – coupled with the blessing of the goddess their aura is not inviting what so ever – particularly Alicia.

Always so serious to the point they look like machines at work, and that's not a bad thing in my book, if not for Alicia's blatant disdain for men – and Claudia's supposed blindness to that.

"Don't go, as I said I won't bite, "Maia purred, purred. As in like a cat, at me. Making me raise my eyebrows, and making the basically glitching brunette more frantic, "We could go back camp~ Share a few drinks, I'll even let you hit Brynn; seeing as my knight is quiet on-the hands with you, big boy~"

I got closer to the brunette, who is too occupied with her embarrassment; mumbling words of apprehension such as the like. I tilted my head to her ear for a whisper, and remained gaze at Maia whose grin grew larger.

"Is she usually this friendly? With people she just met, I mean." 

"Y-yes, unfortunately, " She realized my proximity, and blurted in surprise, "Why are you so close! Distance now! O-or I'll cut your head."

"D-don't forget your transgression with me!" Brynn tried her damn hardest to sound threatening.

I lean back with sword in hand. Alright that was stupid of me, a slip up.

Brynn finally caught her composure back, and walked up to her leader with a deadpan expression; The redness of her cheek betrayed her poker face, however. Amusement filled my mind as the poor girl flinched at the scent of strong mead, that I honestly found repugnant to say the least, I'm not fond of alcohol. Coffee is my preferred poison, and sodas are a close second.

"What? But, I just got here! Muu~ Brynn, are you afraid I'm gonna steal him from you?" Maia sounds like a kid, who got their stash of candy taken away from them.

"C-certainly not, Miss Maia! Why must you have the most scandalous of conclusions! I simply have this guardsman to the my bidding for a while," Brynn begins, I watched in interest and how she will talk of me, "A-and we need to go back and get rest, the moon hangs above our heads, and Miss Maia, you have an important meeting with the other Shields and the goddess!"

"Hehe, that's the Maia way – you've known this Brynn. Now let me enjoy this fine specimen in front of me~" She gazes at me, while I snorted, "And, the meeting will happen around noon? Close to it? Bleh, don't matter, just know it's not happening early in the morning."

"While, I do appreciate your compliments, Lady Maia. Miss Brynn has a point, the meeting she brought up looks to be important, it'll be a violation of my guardly duties to hinder that important assembly…" I stepped in, respecting my distance. Doing my best to make my face as serious as possible, "And I think my superior will be displeased by my bothering of a Princess knight." 

Brynn turned to me with an expression of conflict, it's clear that she was angry at my "owning" of her in that mock spar, the sharp fluctuations of her cursed energy is proof of that. However, perceptive as I am, the little glints of appreciation in her eyes manage to break through her perceived impression of me. 

A smile forms on my face, this girl might not be a lost cause after all.

"Arghh! You sound like one of those up-tight nobles up there! New rule, with me you must talk informally and casually – I don't want my new drinking buddy talking like a 50 year old scribe!" Maia puffed her chest, making her assets bulge. Brynn shook her head frantically at me.

Drinking buddy? When was I appointed to that occupation? Sigh, truly unreasonable.

"Yes, the guard is correct Miss Maia." Brynn quickly interjected. Facing away from me, she reasoned with the intoxicated Queen, "He will be in trouble…" She put a lot of emphasis on that word, making me roll my eyes, "If you happened to be late in the meeting, so please miss Maia, you don't want your d-drinking buddy punished do you?" 

I nodded, gesturing that I agree with her towards Maia, who in turn looked at me with a pout bigger than before. Honestly, if I'm stupid enough, I might mistake her for an ordinary – but not average – girl. With her highschool sweetheart behavior.

"Mmmhmm, you two are against me, that's unfair! But, I guess you're right Brynn," Ah, the lingering intoxication is fading it seems, "...Being late for the round-meeting will mean Alicia will be at my ass again! And that creepy Kaguya will also join in the scolding, I hope that flower bud Prim will be there to control her cousin!"

Maia begins to contemplate that consequence if she is caught lacking, making Brynn smile; Making me chuckle in amusement.

"On second thought pretty boy, I'll catch you tomorrow, "She winked at me; I might blush if I was a wimp…

But she's trying on the wrong person.

"Hope to find you Lady Maia, your personality is radiant," I bowed, I heard her snort.

"As I said, no formalities like bowing or some-shit, that ruins my mood! Just say goodbye, like how you would Brynn~" she wriggled her eyebrows, as she flirtatiously hooked her collar with her finger.

A misunderstanding that I wish not to prolong. I shook my head, truly their bunch is the most annoying to deal with – and this is my first time interacting with a shield personally.

"Miss Maia, it's time for us to go!" Brynn grabbed her superior shoulder.

"Wait, Miss Brynn," The brunette stopped, and turned at me with a stoic expression; it's clear she's still butthurt, "I hope you don't take our 'spar' as disrespect to you, I very much respect your skill – I hope this bumpy first impression will not cause of bitterness, cause I would like to spar with you again."

And what I said is not a lie. She might be quite bitchy, but from that fight I manage to assume that she is quite the competent fighter. Even with more provocation she managed to last, and more so if she was not consumed by fury at that moment, her handling of the sword is comparable to most swordsmen that occasionally train us guardsmen – having a sense of lethal purpose embedded in each strike.

Not to sound like a bootlicker, or worse, a simp, she's capable – if not a little short-fuse but that's all knight here. Maintaining a positive relationship could bring me benefits, not mentioning the privilege if I manage to befriend a close knight of a Shield, this acquaintanceship is a good investment for my training. Having a skilled fighter as training partner is a thrilling prospect, one that could stimulate the fighting spirit required to be good at Jujutsu Sorcery.

And, I'll say this, no matter how people may make you think – it's not good to create enemies every turn, if it's harmless or even beneficial why not turn to friendship? 

"..." 

She was quiet for a while, as she stood in her spot. Maia was not talking as she remained facing front. 

"... If that's an apology, then it's not accepted," Brynn begins. And I could hear Maia chuckling, "That stunt you pulled, if it were any other knight your head will be plastered on the soil, that kind of disrespect is not tolerated. H-however, seeing Miss Maia took a fondness to you, I will let it slide this time!"

I smiled.

"Awww~ you two are such love-birds it makes me jealous~ Hey, Albert is your name right?" I nodded, " If your relationship doesn't get to that point, you could always bet on me!"

Brynn shouted, in which the Queen of Mercenary boomed in laughter. Watching them fade into the distance was a relief really, it was stupid situation I was in – and thankfully the one I had offended, even if I did no wrong, was merciful. I could've had my head cut tomorrow if it was any other knight.

I shook my head, as I began cleaning off my body. The sound of the system echoed in my head, a sound that brings dopamine in me.

{DING!!}

{The binding vow has been completed!

Accept your rewards?

YES/NO

}

With a small huff, I spoke out loud, "You know the answer to that!"

…

BREAK

…

Inside one of the Castles' washing room 

(GENERAL POV)

After tending to his duties, Albert is given the respite to finally sleep. It's been a long day for him, and while most of the time his superiors are stuck-up and demand the very-best of work, the rules Celestine has imposed are greater than any egotistical higher-ups' words. For that Albert is truly thankful for the goddess reborn, even if she's quite neglectful inside her own kingdom.

Albert chooses to use this break to clean himself, inside one of the many washing rooms the castle offers. And while it's no 5-star sauna, it does its job well – and it has a wooden tub that Albert could use and relax his nerves with hot water.

"System, use the Silver token to roll."

{Affirmed! }

The sound brings both great anticipation and dread, like bells clanging to each other, in Albert's head. Maybe if he was not in the bath he would be clenching his cheeks, however with the relaxing hot-water he waited patiently for the cognition of the spinning wheel to land on of the blurry slots.

"Something good, please. Like limitless or Idle transfiguration, please Gacha gods bless this foolish mortal of ye's grace!" He raised his arm dramatically.

[🎉CONGRATULATIONS, YOU HAVE GAINED "BLACK BIRD MANIPULATION!!"]

"... That's not bad actually. Wait, that's good!" Albert stood up from the bathtub, his bare buttchecks obstructed by the steam of the water.

Albert smiled manically

"Not only do I have another summon that I could use for surveillance, It could potentially be a one-hit attack if I performed that binding vow that Mei-mei abided by." 

Albert almost slipped from the joy of his feeling, as he barely restrained himself from summoning the crows here. This technique is basically just an extension with his Ten Shadows, and has the potential to be fight-ender if Alber fights himself in a perilous situation. So in that way, he will have a trump card other than summoning mahoraga!.

"I couldn't believe my luck! What's the next system?"

He couldn't contain himself as he watched the wheel slowly stop.

[🎉CONGRATULATIONS, YOU HAVE GAINED "MEI-MEI'S PANTIES!!"]

Albert's excited smile dropped, and his eyes went dead.

As if a cruel mockery of his previous luck, the undergarments of the strongest groomer of today falled on his hands.

It's black, and it smelled of a pleasant fragrance. It's sexy he would not lie, but….

"It smells of liquid…" His nose wrinkled as a new odor attacked his nostrils. 

He turned towards the floating screen.

"Fuck you."