18 And the day goes on

After disposing of my pathetic thoughts, Lea began to talk.

-... It was a week before the invocation of the heroes, the leaders of the clan came to the castle, I was in charge to serve the dishes for the guests, however, when I went to the kitchen for the food, prince Michael was poisoning the dishes of the leaders with a flask of chimera venom, when I found him he threw the flask to my hands and accused me of a murder attempt, fortunately, Molly and princess Samanta trusted in my word, avoiding my execution in a trial, but I was degraded and the prince spread the rumor of me being a traitor that wanted to replace the actual leaders, that´s why the other servants, stoped to mix with me.

So that´s what happened.

-Did you tell anyone else about this?

-I tried to, but since the prince had a record way different to how he is now, lots of people didn´t doubt to suspect about me... That god damn prince... Spreading rumors so... Fucking stupid.

The chances that Lea was lying to me were very low, the tone of her voice, her frowning, how hard she was clenching her fists.

Speaking only about her personality, I can be sure that Lea is an honest person that hates lies.

Also, the behavior of the personnel and the conversations she had with Molly and Jeanne now makes more sense.

I could be sure about it.

Lea wasn´t lying.

And for that, I can feel great when I make shit that prince.

-I see, so it´s like that.

-... And? Asked Lea astonished.

-Hm? "And" what?

-Don´t you have anything to say?

-You´re in a fucked up situation, apart from that, not much.

-... Really? Don´t you think I´m lying to you?

-I can know when someone is lying, call it a sixth sense, and you Lea, are not lying, for starters, people who truly lie will never ask you directly if you think they are doing it.

-... Really?

-Hahaha, you´re thinking too much about it.

-...

Lea constantly displaced her eyes between her tea and my face, it was evident that she wanted to tell me something, but it seemed that she had trouble letting it out.

I decided to wait until she could say it, meanwhile, I telepathically talked with Fei Xue.

-Any novelty?

-The kids assist to a school in the east district, the elf girl is making the groceries.

-Any unexpected visit?

-Everything seems peaceful for the moment, I don´t think they will strike again in a while.

-Good, keep it on, I should arrive at the castle in some hours, there we will talk about your reward.

-Kukuku, I hope you see me with the same eyes you look at your friendly maids~.

-Don´t worry, I don´t have favorites.

-... That doesn´t make me happy at all.

-You were the one who wanted to be treated equally.

-... It´s surprising how you can be such an idiot sometimes master.

-... Go back to work.

I cut the mental connection and placed my hand over Leas, who was still in deep thought.

-You can tell me anything you want, I´m not going to judge, and if you don´t need an answer then I´ll simply listen.

Lea took my hand in response and let out a sigh, she accommodated her posture and looked at me with a gaze that was trying to catch much more than the outside.

-Roberto.

-... Yes?

-... Are you going back to your world?

-...

The question was easier than I thought, I almost instantly answer "Of course I am" but if I do that the confidence and affection that we had bonded would melt like snow in summer.

I wanted to help with her situation, in part because I genuinely liked her as a person, and in part, because the more allies I have inside the castle, the better will be my life until the moment those kids start to recollect the invocation materials.

I needed to be honest to avoid further unnecessary problems, but I also had to be tactful enough to avoid the hatred of Lea.

I wonder how my father would have dealt with this... Surely with money.

-Lea, you have a life made here, but mine is still in development in my world, like you have people that matter to you here, I have them there, leave everything for a moment of pleasure... Is not something I can do.

There was a short heavy silence for a moment, it was like if the entire world had a blackout and only us remained at this small table.

-... Do you like me?

-... Yes.

-... Do you think you can love me?

-... I...

My throat stopped working, and I couldn´t answer.

Lea took my hand and place it on her cheek.

-... I want to be with you, but if you still have doubts... You should clear them... You can give me an answer later... We can pretend that this never happened if you want to... Just don´t leave me waiting for too long.

A small tear fell from her eye, my heart trembled when I saw that, I didn´t think that this chat would have so much impact on me.

I simply nodded.

Lea released my hand, stood up, and walked to the door.

-C´mon, we need to go back to the castle.

-... Yes.

I said goodbye to Rufus with a wave of hand and left the inn.

Cling* Cling*

The sound of a bell and the smell of blood filled the obliterated streets.

Three persons dressed as acolytes were pushing a cart, inside, a bulge covered by a black blanket attracted the flies.

-What´s going on? I asked to the air.

-Lately the demonic beasts have been increasing, they were the victims of one.

Who answered me was one of the guards that patrolled the streets, he had short blonde hair, blue eyes, and feeble aspect.

-... Is that a motive to laugh? Asked Lea angrily.

-Hm? Oh! Please excuse me, my face tenses so much when I´m nervous that it looks like I´m smiling.

-... That must cause lots of misunderstandings.

-Jaja, you have no idea.

The guy was disturbing, I could probably deal with him without a problem if we were alone, but that wasn´t concerning, what bothered me were his eyes.

Maybe his mouth said that it was a bad habit, but his eyes didn´t lie, he was enjoying the view, there was certain excitation in his gaze that reminded me of the junkies.

-It´s a shame, Don't you think? The arrival of the demon lord is inevitable and the demonic beasts are increasing, at this rate we won't stand a chance.

-... I wouldn´t be so sure about that, after all, the kingdom can invoke heroes from another world.

-Jajajaja! What can a bunch of kids that don't understand war can do against the demons?

-Who knows, this kingdom was made by heroes, it wouldn´t be strange that it´s saved by the new ones.

-Jajaja, I like your enthusiasm friend. Said the guard offering me his hand.

There was a tiny magic circle in his palm that he tried to hide, but thanks to my eyes I could see it.

-Thanks, it´s one of my charms. I answered covering my globe with mana.

After shaking my hand, the guard tried to hide his disgusting smile.

-Well, I must patrol, have a nice day.

-Sure, see you later.

The guard gave me a small bow and walked away from us at an accelerated pace.

-Are guys like that in the capital guard? Asked Lea to herself looking cautiously at the back of the man.

-All a mystery, ah, Lea, Could you go to the castle without me? I remembered I have something to do real quick.

-Hm? What are you going to do?

-I´m just going to pay a debt, it won't take long.

-Mmm, fine, But hurry!

-Haha, sure, sure.

Lea began to walk to the castle, meanwhile, I walked to an alleyway with no people.

I quickly established a connection with Fei Xue.

-Problems, come to where I am now.

-I´ll shortly be there master, Can you tell me what happened?

I rested my back on a wall and took off the globe that I used to greet the guard.

-I think I found our assassins.

Since I have made a layer of mana over the globe, the effect of the magic circle didn´t immediately activate in me, but it wasn´t long before it did on the globe.

The purple glowing of the circle didn´t give me any confidence at all.

I needed to find the effect of the spell, but using it in a person would be too problematic.

Something alive, but not too noticeable... I guess it´s a good moment to prove "that".

IIISSSSSSHHH* HAAAAHHHH*

I deeply breathe and prepared myself for any pain that may come.

-Life detection.

By activating the skill, a black liquid started to pour down my feet, it looked like tar, but its behavior was more like water. If it wasn´t because the day was so bright it would be practically transparent.

The liquid extended in a five-meter radius, and then it divided into almost invisible tiny threads.

The threads went to the people and tangled with them.

In their knees, in their wrists, in their necks, their fingers, their tails, if they had one.

All those threads were attracted by them, by their breathing, by the beats of their hearts, by the movement of their limps.

And I could see the silhouette of everyone.

Trough the walls, under the ground, or in the skies.

If they had one of my threads, I could know where were they and what they were doing.

But the skill didn´t limit to only people.

The rodents entrenched in the shadows.

The insects crawling in the ground.

Or the birds that were resting on the roofs.

Nothing could hide from me once my thread wrapped them.

It doesn´t look like there's a maximum limit to the numbers of living beings that the threads can cover, the range expands the more I focus, but I can´t do anything else while it does, definitely is not a skill I could use in the middle of a fight.

Among the sea of living possibilities, I got close to a wall with holes and covered one of the holes with my hand.

-Freeze.

I controlled the ice that came out of the magic circle in my palm so it only freezes the surface of the hole, I didn´t want to covert the guests inside into popsicles.

Squeak* Squeak*

The squeak of the mice that lived inside the hole was getting closer.

When they were about to come out from, I put the globe, catching the little beasts with the size of a finger.

For a moment the mice went crazy inside the darkness of the globe, but seconds after they stopped shaking and pushed forward in one concrete direction.

I have my guides now.

Fuuuuushh*

-It´s about time.

After a blast of cold wind, the woman with mythical beauty arrived.

-Kukuku. If three minutes is too much for you, then I don´t want to know which is your ideal time.

-Follow me, it´s time to work.