บท 31: Chapter 28: The Young Girl

The private room felt suffocating after Alex finished his tale. Silence pressed down on them, heavy and charged. Leena rubbed her forehead, her fingers leaving trails of worry in their wake.

Finally, she spoke, her voice low and measured.

"Alex," she started, her gaze firm but not unkind,

"Do you realize how reckless you were? It's one thing to have a long-range attack, but pushing your limits against such odds…" She trailed off, leaving the unspoken reprimand hanging in the air.

Alex, his head bowed, offered no defense. He knew she was right. The thrill of his new abilities had clouded his judgment, leading him down a dangerous path. Recognizing his mistake, Leena shifted her focus, her voice taking on a practical tone.

"Where are the bodies of the fallen adventurers?" she inquired.

With a flick of his wrist, Alex summoned the corpses from his storage ring – a simple silver band that masked the true magic at play. The sight drew a curious glint to Leena's eyes.

"Sometimes," she began, her voice playful,

"I wonder about your origins, little brother. What secrets hide within that ring of yours?"

A tremor ran through Alex's frame, barely perceptible. He'd learned the hard way not to reveal such things. Leena, recognizing his reluctance, chuckled warmly.

"Alright, alright," she conceded, turning back to the fallen.

"Max and Ava, huh? Tragic. Just reunited after so long."

A shadow of sadness crossed her face. Alex, intrigued, prompted her for their story. Leena recounted their tale: childhood sweethearts, Max and Ava, yearning for adventure. Bound by love and dreams, they'd set off as adventurers after reaching adulthood. But fate played a cruel hand. Ava's ailing mother forced her to stay, delaying their reunion. A year later, she finally joined Max, now a seasoned E-rank adventurer. Their time together, though short, was filled with love and the shared pursuit of their dreams. Today, on the anniversary of their reunion, their lives were snuffed out in the maw of the goblin horde, leaving a bitter emptiness in their wake.

"This is the life we choose," Leena concluded, her voice heavy with acceptance.

"A life where death stalks every corner, a constant companion." She paused, her gaze unwavering.

"Let me see the leader's corpse," she requested, gesturing towards the hidden monstrosity.

Alex swallowed hard, a wave of apprehension washing over him. He carefully retrieved the rare species, its grotesque form a grim reminder of his encounter. As he presented it to Leena, the weight of his actions and the secrets they held pressed down upon him, heavier than ever before.

Leena's eyes widened like moons, nearly bulging from their sockets.

"A rare species?!" she shrieked, the accusation hanging heavy in the air. Her fury crackled, setting the private room abuzz with palpable tension.

"What were you thinking, Alex? Did you court death itself? We could have strategized, called for backup! Instead, you charged ahead like a bull in a shop!"

Alex, the brunt of her tirade, winced but remained calm.

"I understand your concerns," he replied, his voice measured. "But as you can see, I survived. Rest assured, I'll exercise more caution in the future."

Leena, though mollified by his promise, still held a spark of curiosity in her eyes.

"Speak plainly, Alex," she pressed, her tone softening slightly.

"What gift allows you to inflict such wounds on a rare species?"

A tight smile played on Alex's lips. "That," he declared, his voice laced with a touch of defiance, "remains a secret."

Leena's smile was playful, almost predatory. "You little rascal," she chuckled, her gaze twinkling.

"Don't fret, your secret will find its way to me eventually."

Alex raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What do you mean?"

Leena's smile deepened, enigmatic. "Let's just say," she purred, "curiosity is my most trusted companion, and it rarely goes unsatisfied."

The conversation shifted, Leena informing him of the Guild Master's imminent summons - the gravity of encountering a rare species demanded attention. As Alex departed, she sighed, a hint of worry clouding her features. "Monsters are stirring more frequently," she mumbled to herself, the words seeming to echo in the now empty room.

Suddenly, a disembodied voice materialized, its tone amused. "Quite the reckless young one, wouldn't you agree?"

Leena chuckled, a knowing glint in her eyes.

"Indeed," she conceded, "but his recklessness is matched by an intriguing potential. He'll be an interesting one to watch, wouldn't you say?"

The voice let out a soft chuckle, before disappearing as quickly as it arrived.

Unbeknownst to Alex, a hidden observer had witnessed his encounter with Leena. Silveria, his ever-present digital companion, remained silent, judging the situation safe. The third presence held no immediate threat, yet the shadow of its existence cast a subtle unease upon the narrative.

°°°°°

When Alex exited the Adventurer guild, he could feel the burning stares of jealousy from Diaz and his companions. The sun had set, and darkness began to envelop the town.

As he walked, Alex made a stop at a familiar store. He purchased a meat stew that resembled a kebab and continued on his way, eating it as he went.

However, just as Alex left the store and glanced around, he witnessed an unexpected scene. A young girl was being forcibly dragged into a back alley by three menacing-looking individuals who appeared to be delinquents. It seemed they had been chasing her.

"Hey! Stop right there!" Alex shouted, ready to reach for one of his Black Bettie weapons strapped to his leg. But before he could take action, Silveria, his companion, intervened.

"Master, what do you plan to do? Are you acquainted with her? Do you know her from somewhere?" Silveria bombarded Alex with questions, leaving him speechless.

"No, but..." Alex stammered, unable to find a proper response.

The girl fought desperately against her captors, but they gradually cornered her deeper into the alley. When her eyes met Alex's, her gaze pleaded for help.

"If it's not your concern, Master, I advise you to leave it be. Don't involve yourself in troublesome matters," Silveria warned, trying to dissuade Alex.

Infuriated, Alex shouted back, "How can you say that?"

Silveria countered, "Master, incidents like this happen all the time, in every era, even in your previous world. Are you planning to intervene every time? It won't be enough, no matter how many lives you have. Those who can't defend themselves are simply prey. It's the way of life. Even if you help her now, she'll only find herself in the same troubles again. Or do you plan on taking care of her for the rest of your life?"

Alex had no reply. Silveria's words held truth, and he was no hero or protagonist of a grand saga. He was just an ordinary person who had stumbled into some luck. He was a weak Adventurer, lacking power or influence.

"You're right, Sil. Everything you say is true. But I can't just stand by and watch them take her away like that. I have a feeling I'll regret it if I do. I'm not trying to become a hero, but I can't close my eyes and pretend I didn't see anything. I'm not heartless. Let me be selfish this once. Who knows, maybe this girl will repay me in the future when she becomes successful," Alex declared firmly.

Silveria sighed and conceded, saying, "I knew you would say that. Do as you wish, Master. I'm here to support you."

Without hesitation, Alex summoned Silveria, who was already equipped with a Silencer. She was a reliable partner indeed.

The thugs continued their menacing threats, urging the young girl to give up and obediently follow them. One of them warned her not to struggle, threatening to beat her if she did.

Tears streamed down the girl's face as she pleaded, "No, please let me go!"

Witnessing this cruel scene, Alex could no longer stand by. When the second thug raised his fist, Alex swiftly aimed the muzzle of his silver gun at the thug's arm and pulled the trigger.

In an instant, a bullet disappeared with a flash of bluish light, piercing through the thug's fist. The thug cried out in pain, causing the other two to be startled by the sudden turn of events.

Before they could react, Alex aimed his gun at them and pulled the trigger twice. Each time, a bluish flash illuminated the alley, causing the men to scream in agony and collapse to the ground.

Confused and in pain, the leader of the thugs tried to intimidate Alex, shouting, "Who the hell are you? Do you even know what you're doing? We are the Babato's Brothers!"

Alex smirked like a devil and replied, "Never heard of you, and frankly, I don't care. Your name sounds too lame anyway. You're probably just third-rate bandits."

With a sinister smile, Alex pointed his gun at them once again and fired three times, this time aiming for their legs. The thugs screamed in agony, sounding like butchered pigs. After intimidating them for a while, Alex threatened to inform the guards about their actions and ordered them to leave, or else he would shoot them again, this time aiming for a more delicate area.

Fear washed over the thugs as they turned pale, realizing that if they were caught, their fate would be far worse than death.

The alley reeked of fear and dust. The thugs, limping and wide-eyed, vanished into its depths, fleeing as if chased by demons.

Alex, his breath catching in his throat, spat out a ragged sigh. No remorse gnawed at him, no guilt for the bullets he'd fired. It was unsettling, yet he pushed the thought aside. After all, he hadn't killed them, merely wounded.

Looking around, he realized he was alone except for the girl. Huddled against the wall, her clothes disheveled, she watched him with unwavering intensity.

Concern flickered within him. He kept his gun trained on the alley's shadows, his senses on high alert. Novels were rife with tales of hidden accomplices and backstabbing allies. Vigilance was key.

Thankfully, his unease subsided. Relief washed over him.

Now, under the dim light, he could truly see her. Despite the grime and tattered clothing, she was undeniably beautiful. Petite, with fiery red hair mirroring her crimson eyes, and skin as flawless as porcelain. Yet, her fragility was evident, her clothes ripped and her lips chapped, hinting at hunger.

With a soft bow, she whispered, "Thank you, big brother, for saving me."

Her voice, like tinkling bells, was unexpectedly soothing.

"No problem," he replied, his voice gruff. "Let's take you to the guards. They'll get you somewhere safe."

But her voice trembled as she pleaded, "Big brother, please... I have nowhere to go. Don't leave me alone."

His heart ached. Her sincerity was undeniable. He was at a loss, about to seek Silveria's counsel, when the girl swayed and collapsed.

He lunged, catching her before she hit the ground. Her weight was disturbingly light, her body frail. Hunger seemed to etch itself on her face. With a troubled frown, he cradled her unconscious form.

Silveria, finally breaking her silence, spoke telepathically, "Bring her to the inn. Let her rest. We can decide what to do tomorrow."

After a moment's thought, Alex hefted the girl onto his back and headed towards the inn, unaware of the secret Silveria had gleaned from appraising the girl, a secret that had prompted her unexpected suggestion. There must something he wasn't aware of, well he would eventually find out.