Chapter 34: What year is it?

Louise woke up later than usual.

But that was natural since she'd gone through many events yesterday. Those briefly flashed in her mind, but they didn't exert any pressure as Louise became a stronger woman!

Instead, Louise found herself looking at her master's spot on the bed. It was empty…

Lifting her upper body instantly, Louise's fox ears twitched and bent a few times. She couldn't find him in the room and bathroom, so Leon was surely outside.

"Master must be busy… He got that vampire girl." Louise recalled Celes, whose presence triggered all yesterday's events.

She's a beautiful woman, someone Leon will spend time tending to, right? After all, that vampire girl had been enslaved with similar chains, and her name must have been once connected to The Human Emperor. It'd be normal for Leon to shower her with his attention.

"I don't like it." Louise pouted and left the bed.

With her adorable face contorted by jealousy she had never felt before, at least the current her, Louise ran to the bathroom and took a proper bath. She cleaned herself a few times, then sat close to the window, drying her hair and fox tails. While the sunshine tended to her needs, Louise opened the system window.

[You have completed your quest.]

[Follow your master's choice!]

[You have received: White Flame Robe(Growth)(Legendary), 10 levels, 20 stats, and a gold coin.]

Just like her master, Louise treasured the rewards she'd received from their bonding. The real rewards were her overcoming her fear, seeing the Human Emperor's hopeless face, touching the crimson chains, and the skill that had kindled her body!

The system's rewards were good, too, but couldn't be compared.

However, her eyes widened as Louise looked at the item's stats.

[White Flame Robe(Growth)(Legendary) - A part of White Flame Series. It's a growth-type item. It heavily relies on the user's fire proficiency for defense and mana aptitude. Its stats depend on the user. Find the second item from the White Flame Robe series to learn the White Fireball Skill.]

"I will be able to use external skills?" Louise whispered, amazed.

Though she wouldn't accept the item as better stuff than her development, Louise was genuinely impressed by this item and couldn't wait to try it out. Even though it'd only raise her stats and mana aptitude, it should look good on her.

It'd be best to have the second item, though…

She would be much stronger!

"I wonder where it is…" Louise commented while combing her hair, her eyes still glued to the system messages. She imagined many possible lands, guilds, and strong people with the White Flame Series in their hands.

Lacking knowledge about the broad world because of her amnesia affected her imagination, so Louise dropped those thoughts and focused on the matters at hand.

"Why did I think vampires have those items?" Louise wondered aloud, clueless about her heart.Instead of pointlessly wasting her attention on a far future, Louise decided to comb her hair and fox tails. Now that those were dry, thanks to the lovely sun, Louise focused all of her attention on taking care of her hair first.

After roughly thirty minutes, Louise moved one of her tails to her hand and brushed it.

Once again, Louise went against her usual schedule, spending too much time on herself.

At last, the door opened, and Leon stepped inside.

Louise dropped all her stuff and turned around. "Good morning, Master!"

Her voice was much louder and sweeter because Louise didn't see anyone else with her master. It was just him in the doorframe! But it was also intriguing — where was the vampire woman?

"Morning." Leon smiled at his partner, then dropped onto a chair. "I managed to get hands on what we need. But seriously, those villagers… They ask me questions, then suddenly remember that I wanted to 'hoard' all blue crocodile meat for myself…."

Louise laughed, looking at her master with shining eyes and a lovely smile. "Has Master met William?"

"Yeah, this guy is still fishing…." Leon shook his head with disbelief, not knowing what to think about that man.

He planned to talk with him about the outer world and learn more about guilds. It'd be nice to get a better picture from someone from the royal guild. Leon also believed William would love to talk with someone.

His buddies hadn't revealed themselves to the village at all.

But such strict work was somewhat expected from them.

"Well, we have more important stuff to do first." Leon stood up, stretched himself as though preparing for a spar, then took out the epic card from his inventory.

That card held Celes Diamante.

It'd be rude to keep her in this form. "Let's start a deal."

Leon put the card on the chair, then activated it. In an instant, it turned into a woman whose naked appearance narrowed Louise's eyes. She couldn't help but take a glance at her master's expression.

Nothing flashed in Leon's eyes, and he gazed at the girl with respect.

Leon took out a blanket from his inventory and draped it over Celes' body. He drew a desk closer to them, sat by it, and fished out three glasses and the best liquor he'd found in the village.

"I'm Leon Blade." He introduced himself while pouring the alcohol for everyone.

Celes already felt fonder of him. "Celes Diamante, the third general of Her Highness's Pure Army." She extended her hand for her glass, struck it with Leon and Louise's, then drank it in one go. "Ah…"

Louise couldn't take this woman seriously after this moan.

She tasted the liquor, too, finding it hot and bitter. "It's something I'd drink once in a while, Master.""Well, farmers drink it daily after work, but yes, you're right. We usually should drink to celebrate or on special occasions. Also, remember to eat while you drink." Leon voiced the best advice to avoid disasters.

At that time, someone knocked on the door. Leon stood up and went to answer.

A few seconds later, Louise saw the receptionist girl with breakfast. The plump lady did her best to form a good relationship with Leon, so she even answered his wish and brought him food to the room. But upon seeing Celes, she nearly dropped the plates.

Celes was too sexy. She has never seen someone that appealing!

Leon nimbly snatched the breakfast from her hands. "Thank you, miss."

"Yes, yes…" the receptionist girl ran away to start a new rumor.

Leon passed everyone the usual breakfast. "Now, let's have a good meal."

"Yes, Master!" Louise's stomach gently rumbled, so she gladly extended her hand for a fork. "Ah, I'm Louise. Nice to meet you, Celes."

The vampire woman wasn't someone Louise had expected, so her feelings toward her changed, and she even felt like becoming friends with her. They were similar, weren't they?

Celes faintly smiled and stretched her hand for her glass. "It's my pleasure. Let's start our friendship-"

"Well," Leon chimed in, stopping her, "I'm the bartender here."

They deeply gazed into each other's eyes for a few seconds before Celes gave up and leaned onto her chair.

Leon poured another shot for everyone, then the main talk started. "We have saved you. Though we have received copious rewards from fighting the undead, we also suffered losses. You ought to know what kind of power I wield, so I'll be blunt. Give me your skill, and I think we're even."

Louise wouldn't receive anything, but Leon would recompensate her well.

After Celes sloshed her throat with liquor, she tilted her head and pierced Leon with her red eyes. "You don't want me?"

Leon chuckled and shook his head. "What do you mean? I'd love to be friends with you. I thought you'd rather return home after getting your freedom."

"What home?" Celes scoffed while splitting a piece of bread. "What year is it?"

Leon knew that since he worked in the smithy. "7501."

"I lost my strength and became level fifty during the vampire's civil war. It was 6540. You think I have any relatives or even home at this point?" Celes gestured for another shot, which Leon felt obliged to fulfill. "That's how it is. If I haven't touched your feelings, I'll use brute force to stick to you. Your blood is tastier than the best booze I remember. You won't get rid of me unless you turn me into a card.

"You can expect a lot from me, though." Celes added, "I'm adept at alchemy and tracking."

Leon squeezed his eyes, "I'm just a blacksmith."

Celes blinked.

At the same time, Louise sat agape, looking too shocked. "7-7501?"

Leon and Celes wheeled at her. "Yes?"

Louise looked down and replied, stuttering, "I-I was born in 4504…."

"…"

"…"