Let me wash you

Belialthorn made the spell bigger then released it, white light flashed and the Vores screamed as the spell hit them. Clearing out the three monsters at once. The smell of burnt hair and flesh rose in the air.

Rota blinked up at Belialthorn. "Where are the monsters?"

"I killed them. And you looked like you were dragged through a barn." Belialthorn said, giving her a look over. He blinked the notification telling him he killed level 3 Vores away.

Rota grunted as she forced herself up, glaring at Thorn. "Dragged through a Barn? You dragged me through death! Those monsters wanted me dead."

"Of course, that's what monsters do but you didn't die though, you even gain a level. Unlike me." Belialthorn hadn't gained a level but he could feel the rush of power as EP flowed into him as he killed the monsters. "And your wounds will heal soon."

Rota checked, then grimaced, she had indeed climbed a level but still! "You shouldn't have pushed me like that!"

"It helped you didn't it? You would have been frozen until eaten otherwise." Belialthorn looked at the dead monsters, they didn't get them all, some had ran. "Now get the tip of the Vores tails to show we have completed the Bounty."

"Where is the knife?" Rota asked and Belialthorn pointed at the log house and she sighed. "Isn't that stealing?"

Belialthorn didn't reply.

"One silver each for the six tail and two for taking up the bounty." The Hunter's Association attendant said passing the coin to Belialthorn over the counter.

"Ok," Belialthorn said and turned to go but the attendant continued speaking.

".....the Association advises all level one Hunter to level up to at least level seven before taking any bounty. You can pay to instructors here who will teach you how to fight and manage your class." The man adjusted his glasses. "Staying in this town guarantees an increased level so you can just wait till you reach a higher level to continue on bounties."

Belialthorn waved his hands already turning away. "Alright, alright."

"Why don't we do as he said? We almost die today, we should gain some levels before going." Rota said.

Belialthorn fixed her with his blue eyes. "No, Rota. Only you almost died, also do you know how much an instructor costs? We don't need all that waiting when we could level up through battle with monsters."

"But I heard the death rate of leveling up through fighting monsters is high!" Rota shouted, drawing the attention of people in the hall. She lowered her voice. "We should just level up through the mana in the air."

"Leveling up that way is only good for maybe lower Grade 1 not for higher Grade." Belialthorn led the way outside.

"What is Grade?" Rota asked.

"How to know the power level of Hunters ot any Class. From level 1 to 20 is Grade 1 and Grade 2 is from 21 to 40," Belialthorn said.

Rota frowned. That meant Grade 1 was made up of the first 20 levels that would add another 20 at Grade 2. That would mran a Grade 2 is a level 40 Hunter.

"So we are Grade 1 Hunters?"

Belialthorn snorted. In his Demon form, he was Grade 15 but as a human, he was Grade 1. "Technically yes but even each Grade has low, middle, and high. We are low Grade 1 Hunters."

"Well, that doesn't mean anything still! We should still see an instructor." Rota insisted.

"Just believe me and do as I said." She still looked doubtful so Belialthorn went lower and said casually. "Well, you can look for another partner if you don't want to follow me."

Rota flinched as if she was slapped. Nobody had ever looked at her all the time she had spent coming to the Hunter's Association and now she might just lose the only one who helped her. "Of course let's do it your way! Leveling through battle is good."

Belialthorn hid a smile, he counted out four silver coins and gave them to her.

Rota stared at the shining metals in her hand. She had never held this many coins before and it was all hers. She had already begun calculating the food she could get with it and how she would pay for a place to stay.

".....yes Rota?"

Rota jerked her head up. "What?"

"I'm talking about how much you stink, haven't you ever heard of a bath? Also your clothes, you should get new ones. And wash your hair. Maybe I will do all this myself!" Belialthorn looked at her, his blue eyes taking her in. "You need food too."

Rota flushed deeply and spluttered. "You will....dress me?"

Was that why he chose her? Because he wanted to... Rota flushed again and looked down. Belialthorn was too pretty, too good-looking for her. Why would he choose someone like her? He could get any women he wanted.

Belialthorn frowned at her, why was she looking down? Didn't she want to wash and dress in something new? Maybe she was afraid of it. If that was the case then Belialthorn would have to wash her himself.

"Don't you want me to do that?" Belialthorn asked.

Rota looked up. "Of course not...I meant yes... yes I won't.....no"

She cut off looking anywhere but at Belialthorn's face. "You can do what you want!"

Belialthorn frowned, he really couldn't understand what was happening with her. Why was she suddenly getting hot? Humans were really weird.

"I should go, I need to look for a place to stay the night." She said hurriedly.

"Look for a place to stay?" Belialthorn asked her.

"Yes, my old rent is due and I don't have any money to continue the rent. With these coins, I should be able to find somewhere to sleep the night." Rota's rent had been due for a while now and she had been sleeping anyway she saw.

Belialthorn thought about it, then spoke. "I should be able to fix your problems, at least bath and food for tonight."

"Thank you!" Rota was glad she wouldn't have to worry about all those tonight.

"Follow me."