Hi this is Benji Himura I am starting a new fanfic. I don't own Ragnarok online I also don't own the characters of that story or the plot; taking out the changes that I will make and the characters that I will create. I own Benji Himura and others characters that will show up in the story. It might be violence and sex in the story so if you are underage of seventeen are warned the content might be too improper to your age. Read by your own will and risk. In anyway enjoy the story.
Signed: Benji Himura
"Text"= Talked sentences.
'Text' = Thoughts.
-Text- = Sounds effects.
(Text)= Talked sentences in a foreign language
: Text: = Messages show in an electronic screen or written.
Text: something being recalled, flashbacks, scenes being replayed.
Text: a detail found in a location, scene, person, recording and images that originally wasn't there.
Chapter thirty four: Bragging rights
Junko settles in not ask more about who Benji killed, she is aware that he isn't cold blooded enough to kill someone who doesn't deserves it, no matter what image he puts out to others to see, if Benji killed then he had a good reason for it, and was enough for her. "What we do about it?" Junko asked to Benji. "If there are many more like us here we should try getting in touch with them, even if they are bad. We aren't in a position to be picky, and we should help out others."
"I have a bunch of ideas." Benji answered. "I am not sure if I will implement them, you know as well as I do that our lives aren't exactly easy right now." "I know but we can't just leave them to their own luck." Junko replied. "We got lucky, really lucky, we had natives that aided and supported us, but you know that not everyone is as kind as Itsuki or your Mana and Shina."
"I know, but if they got found by those bad ones how you think that they can contact us?" Benji asked seriously. "In the best case they are dead, in the worse became slaves in the true sense of the word, without any means of rebelling or asking for help. This world is much more closed than Earth, people doesn't care much about things like that unless they are directly involved, and even back on Earth slavery happens even nowadays without much trouble from the authorities."
Junko knew that was truth, but she doesn't want to accept and can tell that Benji doesn't want to either, but he is right, they have too much on their hands, they took leadership positions, Benji had a castle to run, alliances to keep and a small village to administrate all that above his duties as guild leader, not that she is in a much better position, and now they have two brand new outcasts to train.
"There is something else bothering you, right?" Benji asked after a while. "What is it?" "I think that things are escalating." Junko answered seriously. "I spoke to Elle who gave me the details, since you arrived you found three newcomers, and you are here for a little more than two years."
It was true, Benji knew that few months ago his stay there came to complete two whole years and that on that time he found Haruka, Maria and Aysu, not counting Makie who was there before him and Rein who just arrived. "In my years here I found a total of four, including the two that are back in the castle." Junko said seriously. "And not counting Rein and Riku, and the ones here who I met after they settled. I am sure of this Benji, the numbers are increasing and we are just finding a fraction of it, five new outcasts in two years is a lot, and I am counting the sisters as one incidence. But never before I saw a multiple arrival."
Benji knew that Junko was right; he also felt that something wasn't right, but the outcasts are so random in age, country and abilities that it was hard to come with a real pattern, still six outcasts in two years is too much. "And how many of us are Japanese or descendent?" Benji asked to Junko.
"Nearly all of us." Junko answered, that was something that Benji realized, every outcast that they met have Japanese blood to some extent, Junko is half Japanese and lived in Japan before she was taken to Rune, Benji is one quarter Japanese, Haruka is full Japanese, actually with some foreign blood on her family but her parents are Japanese, Makie was one third Japanese, so are Lucy and Jessica, for the surprise of Benji Aysu admitted that her mother was Japanese, and there was Maria who Benji suspected of having Japanese blood, but the girl is too young to know for sure details of her bloodline, and it was clear as day that both Rein and Riku are also decedents. "Rein and Riku have Japanese grandparents on the father side, both lived in France."
Benji's internal map of origins get another marker, Benji knew for sure that he came from Brazil, Haruka from Japan, a city near Tokyo, Makie lived in Germany, Aysu moved to Australia even though her father is Egypt where she lived most of her life, Junko lived in Japan, Elle and Jessica in the US, Maria lived in Portugal, Lucy in Japan, and there was Bethany and Juichi who like Benji came from Brazil.
Benji couldn't find much of a connection on anything, the landing sites where pretty random and scattered, the ages were mostly between mid teens to mid twenties, other than Maria who is by far the youngest, playing online games wasn't a connection either as Maria is too young to play anything other than kiddy games.
"I wonder if the others are Japanese related as well." Junko commented. "There is a good chance, but I know of two who aren't." Benji replied. "Or it might from a total different ethnic background. I wouldn't be surprised of that. We might be just trial units."
Junko frowned at the term, it was dehumanizing, even though she can see from where he was coming. "You might be right Benji." Junko said. "But change that term, we are humans."
Benji nodded but he wouldn't change it, it felt too odd that there was that many Japanese related people there, and there was Juichi and Bethany who aren't Japanese, and until a decisive day he haven't met Bethany, and Juichi kept himself hidden ever since he left Benji alone in the desert. It might be just a crazy idea but Benji felt like they are getting separated by ethnicity for some odd reason.
Junko was aware of Benji's theory, there would be a war between outcasts of different ethnic bloodlines and only one would surface victorious, that would explain why there was a natural alignment between them to separate leaders and subordinates, as well the instinctive way of getting a fortress, gathering troops and securing supplies. And they can only wonder why that.
"I don't know what to do." Junko admitted in a tired voice. "I want to try finding and helping others like us, but I am pretty scared of doing so as well. As much as I hate to admit you scalded me pretty badly, I am not as willingly to take in people as I used to." "I am not sure if I should apologize for that or not." Benji replied in a mix of confused and apologetic tone. "Let's admit it Junko we scalded the other pretty badly."
"I can't and won't deny that." Junko commented. "But I feel bad in not looking for others because I am scared of getting hurt again." "Admit it Junko you also have a lot in your hands." Benji said seriously. "You don't have the same freedom as you had before, hell there are days that I just feel like abandoning everything and running away."
Junko understood that all too well, she knew exactly what Benji was speaking about, she too have days where she felt too stressed and oppressed by her responsibilities and felt like abandoning everything, but was the price of the leadership and they both know it.
Junko shivers lightly and hugs herself for extra warmth, the night was quite cold when compared to the warm day. "You really should learn to walk with a jacket or with warmed clothes." Benji said while draping his jacket over her shoulders. "Thank you." Junko replied meekly, it wasn't the first time that something like that happened, but too much have happened between them, so she was pretty surprised with the consideration.
"Won't you be cold?" Junko asked seriously. "Nah, I am pretty used." Benji answered casually. "I was lost in a desert for months, this hardly feels cold, it is closer to refreshing when you compare to the desert nights." Junko nodded understanding and holds the jacket closer against her, she really have to start taking jackets with her, just her usual black trousers and white button up shirt isn't warm enough for some nights, oddly enough Benji was wearing pretty much the same and isn't showing any sign of cold.
"How is the sister?" Junko asked trying to make conversation. "She is starting to get really thirsty." Benji answered. "But is controlling pretty well, plus she settled with the semi isolation well, if things go well by the end of the month I will let her start walk around others."
"But you left her unguarded." Junko commented. "She is being watched." Benji replied. "She just doesn't know that, besides this little escapade will do wonders to her morale, she just needs some assurance that she can trust herself and that I trust on her." "But you don't." Junko said seriously. "I do, but not entirely." Benji replied seriously. "I know well how the thirst can be. Anyway how is in your side?"
"Riku is doing fine." Junko answered. "I am running her through the multi-class course, right now she is working as an archer, Itsuki and Lucy are helping her to level as well; she is very diligent and is progressing steadily. She got on eighty few days ago." It was an impressive mark and Benji was impressed, but he knew that Itsuki wasn't taking Riku to regular training areas, it was the only way to get that high that shortly.
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Rein was quite happy, it was the first time that she was granted such freedom to walk around, sure she had some boundaries but she was free to walk in the nature very freely and the sight was just stunningly beautiful, even more than the reverse garden. The air was so pure and full of life and freshness, more she walks around more and more she feels like that she can live there.
Her bliss is broken by the sound of crushed leaves, as a startled squirrel Rein suddenly whips her head in the direction of the sound, nervously trying to locate the source. Rein was sure that she was far from others, the castle was still in sight, she was within the boundaries set by her master for her walk, she is sure that she will be forgiven if she stumbles on someone and moves away quickly, it wouldn't be her fault.
Rein feels the hairs of her nape bristling at something, she instinctively tenses and scans the area even harder. Rein spots seven stalkers and three assassin crosses lurking out of the tree line, she could feel their enmity seeping out of them, rolling out like a wave. Rein wasn't exactly ready for the knife that flew at her direction, but her reflexes acted before her mind registered the action.
Without a yelp Rein blocks the venom knife with her left forearm, then she bolts towards the offending assassin, viciously clawing his face with her right hand. A stalker takes the opportunity and backstabs her. Rein cries in pain but twists her body slamming her left arm on the stalker's head, just then she realizes the pain, she hitted the stalker with the same arm where the knife is nailed on, and she just hammered the hilt of it against the stalker's skull.
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Junko was surprised, keeping up with Benji's speed was hard, and she knows that he is back to his regular limiting. She was pretty angry with whoever is behind the trespassing, she finally got in a nice mood with Benji and they were talking normally about stuff, it took her a lot of courage and time to get like that to see all that go to waste.
Junko gasped shocked when seeing the scene ahead of her, Rein was holding a stalker by the head with both hands, holding him away from the ground, and the stalker's right arm is missing. Around her a scenery of hell, several other stalkers and assassins cross lay in the ground dead and in pieces, it was something that Junko expected to see from Benji and not from Rein.
Benji was pretty impressed, nearing shocked, he never expected that much power to be transferred to Rein, all the adventurers there are transcended ones, and she dealt with ten of them all by herself. Benji can't explain the odd feeling of pride that he is feeling, but he can tell what Rein is trying to do, he did that himself plenty of times, crushing heads barehanded is quite hard and requires a lot of muscle.
However Benji is worried with the glow of Rein's eyes, he wouldn't blame her for relying on the lust and instincts to fight in her condition, but she might go too far if left alone. A crunch fills the air and Rein puts more strength on her fingers, but she realizes that she doesn't have the needed strength to do more than crack the skull, still she is pleased and drops the agonizing stalker, she might not have enough strength in her hands to crush the skull, but she has more than enough on her legs to do so.
"Shouldn't you stop her?" Junko asked to Benji worried. "It is better let her vent it." Benji answered, he is noticing the wounds on his 'progeny', she took a fair beating before the lust took over, perhaps even while on it, so until she tries to feed he will let her vent it all out.
Junko looks away as Rein crushes the stalker's head with her shoe clad foot. Rein pulls the venom knife from her arm and looks at the bloodied blade hungrily. Benji sighed and pulls a revolver from under his shirt, with a single shot on the knife Benji tore the knife from Rein's hands.
Rein with her hair bristled glares at the offender until she realizes who it is and quickly her hair settles down and she gets on a submissive posture. Benji walks towards the now meek and lightly scared girl. Rein feels like backing away but she can't move her feet to do so, she just closes her eyes in resignation in taking the punishment for offending her master flashing her fangs towards him.
So she was pretty surprised when feeling Benji's hand touching her head gently and stroking her hair. "Good girl." She heard Benji's voice saying to her in a gentle and pleased tone that makes her feel happy, Rein basks in the satisfaction of being praised for few moments, until the hormonal high that she is in fades and she realizes that she is being praised for killing humans!
Benji can tell when the fact sinks on Rein's mind, but there was something more pressing than that to worry about. "Dammit." Benji mutters when recognizing the sigil on the corpses. "Junko you are better return to your castle." Benji said seriously. "Make sure that you can't be traced, lock the gate and secure your people, worry about security and see if any of the ones spying here was followed even once when returning."
Junko nodded silently and leaves through a teleport, she doesn't have to know more, it was an enemy of Benji who would easily turn on others; it was all that she needed to know about. "Master…" Rein said in a low and sorrowful tone, regretting her actions and seeking answers.
Benji looks at the blonde, the confusion is clear on her face and eyes, Benji felt bad for her, he could see her purity, regretting very much what she just did. Benji pulls the girl to a hug, surprised Rein just remains stiff for few moments before her mind catch in and she hugs him back crying loudly and sobbing strongly.
Benji does his best to comfort her, he also had a harsh time adjusting to killing after his first time in the desert, when facing death killing becomes easy, but killing is easy, the hard part comes later. Rein was so distraught that doesn't notice when Benji picks her up and walks to the castle, of course Benji wouldn't leave the corpses there, so a couple of Alizas and Alices move to the area to clean it up.
The castle was pretty empty, the shot was quiet enough to not wake anyone, Benji makes way to Rein's room, as Benji expected the doors were open and the Valkyries aren't there, just as he ordered, Benji places the girl on her bed, Rein who felt much better lies down.
"Why you said that I was a good girl?" Rein asked while Benji stands up. "I killed that people without mercy." "They attacked you, right?" Benji asked back. Rein nodded confirming. "Then you did nothing wrong. That is why I said that you are a good girl, you protected yourself against a superior enemy that outnumbered you."
"But I killed humans!" Rein exclaimed. "So?" Benji asked casually. "They were attacking you with the intent of killing you, nothing wrong in killing them." "But…" "No buts!" Benji barked. "Listen and listen well, if you are attacked you attack back, if they want you dead you kill them first. In the instant that someone tries to harm you, you have every right to harm them back in the same level. They can be human but it was them who started, if you fight you have to be ready to die as well to kill, without that…"
Rein looks at him meekly, scared and clearly doubtfully, that goes against everything that she was taught. "Humans kill humans, period." Benji said seriously. "So we just play god and decide who lives and who dies?" Rein asked scared. "Hell no!" Benji exclaimed. "There is a solid difference in killing in battle and playing god."
Rein is confused and Benji takes a deep breath. "Look killing isn't playing god, society teaches us that because people are afraid of being killed." Benji said seriously. "Every living thing knows, can and most creatures kill in a daily basis. Lions kill zebras to eat, every animal eat another, plant eaters eat plants, they are killing as well, after all plants are alive, we live thanks to the death of others, you liked today's chicken right? Just earlier today it was walking around a farm. Killing isn't a godly right, is the most simple skill of any living creatures. We humans just say that is wrong for us to kill. As if our history is free of murder."
Rein can't deny that, human history was filled with wars, death and other events like that, and Benji was right, she eats meat, that means that some creature died so she could enjoy the flesh, and again he was right, it was humans who told that killing is wrong, while the bible says so it was humans who wrote it and it is very easy to the church add and remove stuff from it, even the bible is filled with deaths and 'just' killing, even though god said that killing is wrong.
Rein let out a little startled yelp when Benji pats her head again. "As long you never kill innocents you will be always a good girl." Benji said in a gentle tone. "Killing in battle, killing rapists, killing those who harm your loved ones is right. Never forget that, as long you don't kill innocents, killing is right."
"What about monsters master?" Rein asked while blushing, she can't understand why she likes his touch so much. "Monsters are a tricky issue, you can kill them, however there are some are too good to kill, I will teach you that when the time comes." Benji answered. Rein nodded content with his hand caressing her head.
Rein feels a little disappointed when Benji pulls his hand back and looks up at him. "How thirsty are you?" Benji asked seriously, and Rein knew that he didn't meant regular thirst. Rein swallows hard and nervously. "It was endurable earlier." Rein answered meekly. "But now it is much, much worse."
Benji nodded understanding. "Open your mouth and stick out your tongue." Benji said while he walked to the wash bin and quickly washes his hand. Confused Rein obeys, wondering what he will do with her like that. After drying his hands Benji walks to Rein and bites his right index finger.
Rein watches surprised as he looks at the cut in the finger pad before moving it closer to her. Rein stares in fascination the dark red liquid that quickly stains his skin and start to form large drops. Rein is startled badly when two large drops falls on her exposed tongue.
"Keep it like that." Benji instructed seriously, Rein fights the first instinct of pulling away and start feeling another one that tells her to reach for the source of the blood for more. "Don't bite or do anything other than taking the blood inside your mouth." Benji said while pressing the open cut against her moist tongue.
With her eyes glowing in expectation and glee Rein accepts the treatment, feeling a great amount of pleasure while Benji lightly runs his finger over her tongue coating it with his blood. Rein could feel her thirst vanishing, the absurd pleasure of that simple act running through her body, the delicious taste of his potent and strong male blood filling her mind and mouth with an indescribable flavor.
Benji watches the girl closely as he feeds her some energy, she had done well, endured five days without anything, she deserved some relief, and she was doing well, just being there submissive letting him feed her not trying to bite and get more blood and energy. Rein let out a tiny whimper when Benji pulls his finger away.
"Feeling satisfied now?" Benji asked with a smile. Rein nodded blushing fiercely, she felt really aroused, but the thirst was gone. "Good." Benji commented licking his finger clean. "Eat something from the basket to rinse the taste away, then bath and sleep." Reni nodded at his instructions and watches him moving to the door.
"Master." Rein called before he leaves. "Thank you." She said when he turns back to her. "You are welcome." Benji answered. "Have a good night." Rein replied to that and watches him closing and locking the door from the outside. Still dazed with the experience Rein just lie in the bed feeling really pleased, and considering in dealing with the surge of arousal that she is feeling.
Even after Benji left Rein could still feel his touch and the sensations on her tongue and body, somehow she understood what happened, he was giving her energy through the touch of his finger and her tongue, as well making her connect the pleasure of it with blood, something that her rational mind tells that is gross, but she can't just mark it as such, it tasted too good to be gross.
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Back on his room Benji ponders on the situation, Juichi was getting too active and it was the second attack that he attempted in one week, Rein got her first experience in killing and tasting energy, wanting or not he will have to speed up her training now. But in the bright side it is the first time in months that he has the bed all for himself, so Benji marked the day as okay.
That until one hour of turning, tossing, moving and trying to sleep later. Benji wonders if he got too used in sharing the bed or was just something related to his current state, pondering a little Benji wonders in who he could visit at that time. 'Layla is with Raki tonight so she is out, Atsuko is with Maria, a bit surprising but I am glad that Maria and Atsuko are getting along so well, definitely not Haruka, I want sleep not sex.'
That left Erika, Mutsumi, his pets or his slaves. 'Erika steals the sheets too much…' Benji thought casually. 'Maybe Mutsumi…' A soft rapping on the door gets Benji out of his thoughts; it was quite odd since it was quite late. Benji is surprised in seeing Saki in her night kimono standing by the door.
"Is everything all right master?" Saki asked in a soft but worried whisper. "I know that it is late but I heard a shot outside and you talking with the lady downstairs." "It was solved." Benji answered with a smile, he had forgotten that Saki had pretty sensitive senses, much more than a normal human, even if no one else woke, she did.
"I apologize for intruding." Saki said with a bow. "I will…" "You can come in if you want to." Benji cutted her. "You have been awake for a while now, right?" Saki blushes at his words, he had figured that she was awake since the shot over an hour ago, and she was listening to him moving on the bed.
Saki excuses herself embarrassed and enters on the room. "If is all right I can make you company tonight." Saki said humbly. "It is." Benji replied gently caressing her cheek, Saki was too lovely, though sometimes she could have a little temper it only made her cuter, plus it has been a long while since he pampered any of his pets, and Saki above all the others deserved some.
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Atsuko finally got things ready for the tea, it took her a while to get everything done, especially convincing the others to let Helen and her friends to enter on the castle, while Benji didn't minded he had to consider the others' opinions first, especially since Atsuko also wanted to brag and show to Helen the bath.
Atsuko kind of missed the tea times with Helen, but the snack time of the legions was also nice, mostly it was the same thing, but on the guild there was much more variety of stuff to eat and drink, and most of the food was salty stuff or whatever else the person wanted to eat.
Pleased with the seven different types of cake, six of cookies and four pies Atsuko starts to get the tea leaves ready, Benji had offered her an Aliza to serve them and Atsuko intended to make full use of her, but preparations would be done by her and not the maid.
While Atsuko is busy getting ready to her friends' visit Benji was figuring out where to drag Rein to train, the blonde was refusing quite badly, but he would disregard her protests and drag her to train anyway.
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"This place is more impressive on the inside than in the outside." Aiko commented while looking around the halls of the castle. "I still find hard to believe that he just bought this so easily." "It wasn't all that easily but he did bought it." Atsuko replied. "Whatever I am dying to try those bath things, you are gloating about them for months." Aiko said casually. "Later we will get there." Atsuko said with a smile. "The tour and the tea first."
"This is the office." Atsuko said while opening the door of Benji's office. "So that office." Aiko commented. "Is anything naughty going on in it?" "I think that it is." Helen replied when seeing Rein struggling against her chain that is firmly attached to Benji's belt while he is casually picking stuff from a hidden closet.
Atsuko looks at the scene a bit confused. "Hun you said that you would be leaving." Atsuko said casually while Rein frantically tugs on the chain trying to flee. "I am about to." Benji replied. "I am just getting some extra stuff. Plus it took a while to put Rein in that outfit."
The outfit is a simple girl archer suit, but it isn't the cause of Rein's struggle, she just don't want to kill anything. "I don't want to go!" Rein exclaimed. "I don't like killing!" "Hush you!" Benji replied while holstering a black pistol on his left side. "Since you are here let me introduce you." Atsuko said to Benji. "These are my friends."
Helen waved a greeting that Benji replied in the same way, while they aren't in bad terms they aren't friends either, Aiko in the other hand is confused with the scene. "What is going on?" She asked. "This puppy here." Benji said while tugging on Rein's chain. "Is going out to train, but she is making a fuss about it."
"You shouldn't just force her if she doesn't want to." Aiko commented. "It is for her own good." Benji replied. "She needs to learn. Anyway I am done." Benji closes the closet, the stone wall returns to the place and so does the bookshelf. "I never knew about that." Atsuko commented.
"I keep small stashes like this in places where I often hang out." Benji explained. "Keeping every piece of equipment in the same place can be as much dangerous as convenient." Atsuko can't deny that, but still seeing that secret stash in the office that she also hanged on a lot was a little disturbing.
"Have fun outside." Atsuko said before giving Benji a kiss. "You too." Benji replied. "Try not to brag too much as well." "I won't make promises." Atsuko said with a chuckle. "Bye dear." Helen smiled at the scene, sure it was a bit odd but still was heartwarming to see it.
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Defeated Rein dejectedly resigns to following Benji as they leave the castle, not that she was against going out, and she was pretty much used to the collar and the leash, but she don't want to kill anything, while she still remembers everything that Benji told her in that night about killing, she just don't want to, but she is too powerless to refuse her master.
Rein wasn't fond of the idea of training, at least not how Benji explained it to her, just going out to a very dangerous area filled with dangerous and aggressive monsters and killing them for several hours, and doing so gaining valuable real combat experience. Benji was aware of Rein's unwillingness that is why he isn't taking her to a regular area where the monsters are reasonably esthetically pleasant to the eye, but to a forbidden area with real monsters, the type that you know that you are doing a favor to mankind when killing.
Benji's mood improved a lot after they entered in the outskirts of his called training grounds. The trees looked evil and dead, the forest was everything but welcoming and beautiful as the sakura forest next to the Silver Moon castle, the ground covered in fallen dead leaves, a chilled and damp wind blows through the naked trees.
Rein felt like countless horrors could just jump out from nowhere to attack them, actually she pretty much knew that it would happen sometime soon, but a the same time the presence of her master seemed to be scaring away most of them dangers that lurk in that evil forest. Rein doesn't notice how she clutches the heavy automatic shotgun that Benji handed to her before they left the castle, getting some comfort on its sturdiness and weight.
While Rein felt safe with the big gun on her hands she wonders about her master, she knew that he was armed, but his biggest weapon was a sword, she can't understand why selecting something like that when having firearms on his disposal, she saw him picking up pistols.
Rein froze when a large dark castle comes to view. "Master please tell me that we won't train there." Rein asked meekly. "You won't train there." Benji answered. Rein let out a relieved sigh. "You will train in the guest hall next to it, it is considerably easier than the castle itself."
Rein whined at the idea, the castle was eerie and scared her, she doesn't want to see how it is in the inside, but Benji continues to lead her towards the castle, now she could hear creatures moving, circling around them but not approaching more than that, and that makes Rein even more scared.
And even with the monsters circling them nothing happened to them and they reach the castle walls. Rein was pretty impressed the castle was somehow gothic styled, but very scary and doesn't look as abandoned as she first thought that it was, but it was every more menacing closely than from afar.
Benji points to a three story building after they walked around the courtyard, Rein looks warily at the building, it wasn't a guest hall as Benji initially told, but an employee's quarters, a quite large one. "Go on and have fun." Benji said to Rein while he pushes her through the door. "Stay in the first floor until I say otherwise, and if you really need help you can call me."
Rein protests and whines but Benji is far stronger than she is and she finds herself inside the dark building with the door closed behind her. Without other choice but do as told Rein tries to reassure herself that everything is fine, she has a large bore shotgun and enough ammo for it to start a war.
Rein's reassurance only lasts until a decomposing butler walks towards her wielding a large knife. Only the sturdy sling prevented Rein from dropping the gun as she frantically tried to wield it, tangling her hands on the gun, yet she regained the control before the undead butler got close and shot him in the upper chest area.
The butler's upper body is destroyed and he falls on the ground, turning in a quickly rotting mass of flesh and bones. Panting as if she had ran a marathon Rein looks at the decomposing monster and the fuming gun at her hands. She had killed it, she haven't really aimed the gun, only pointed it, but the death mesh of its load was enough to kill the monster, being automatic the rifle had already chambered a new shell and is ready for further use.
More rotting butlers and now decaying maids enter on the hallway for the dismay of the shotgun armed blonde. 'But they aren't alive.' Rein realized as her frantic mind slows down and starts to get used to the situation. 'They are already dead and rotting away, they are just like dummies.' With that in mind Rein shoulders the shotgun and fires away.
Outside Benji smiled pleased, he could clearly hear Rein's thoughts, sure he had to influence them a little but she was pending to that resolution otherwise it wouldn't be so fast to get her moving, that odd telepathy was convenient he would be able to tell if she is in a real danger.
"Well she is getting the hang of it." Benji commented while closing his coat. "I wonder how much of that is my influence and how much is original from her. Anyway it has been a while since I could fight like this." Drawing his sword Benji looks at the fully armored monsters that are getting near of him.
"Away from prying eyes, without worrying about allies, just relentless killing everything." Benji grins while looking at the creatures that he knows that are so close but very different from humans inside their metallic armors. "This will be so good." With those words Benji charges at the horde.
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In the castle Atsuko is happily chatting with her friends, the small tour in the castle had impressed them all, and that made Atsuko happy. "I still can't accept that the diamond order make stuff like this." Atsuko commented while helping herself with a slice of an elaborate cake.
"It is just normal." Helen said casually. "My order makes some gorgeous scarves and robes." "I am in an embroidery club." Aiko added while munching on a cinnamon cookie. "Adventuring is okay, but there are more things in life than that." Lynn pointed out. "Regular knights work as escorts for normal merchants or as law officers in cities when they aren't adventuring."
"But money make adventuring by far surpasses of those side jobs." Atsuko said seriously. "No discussion on that." Laura said casually. "But it is nice to do other stuff than killing other stuff, besides those side jobs usually give money towards the guild or order, plain adventuring pays only the adventurers."
"Sure the guilds can ask for the adventurers to go on a task for them and take around seventy percent of the loot." Aiko added. "But that happens less often, it is too much work to gather a party and convince them to give away the loot, most adventurers are pretty selfish. Besides no one wants only to be able to fight and kill, look at Vana, the guy was practically a Bapho of so strong, but other than fighting he couldn't do anything else."
Atsuko recalled easily of the almost monstrous man and how his life ended at Benji's hands in a battle that is being sung by bards all over Rune. "Vana was very powerful and focused only in being the strongest fighter." Helen said pouring herself more tea. "In his old age he found himself alone, with his strength slowly fading away, unable to live in any other way. That is why he attacked this castle; he decided if he was to die then it would be a glorious death in the battlefield."
"Kind of sad if you ask me." Lynn commented. "If Vana had considered in teaching a newer generation of swordsmen his final days could be far different." "I am not sure if swordsmen would want to be like Vana." Laura replied. "Or could, Vana was huge, most if not all of the guys are slim, the closest one to Vana's build is Atsuko's boy toy and he is pretty much monstrous as he is."
The others nod agreeing and Atsuko can't even deny that, Benji could be pretty ferocious at the times, she saw that herself plenty of times, but she doesn't complain of that, it was pretty good in bed. "Still baking cakes?" Atsuko said bringing the conversation back to the tracks. "Layla seems to share the same interest with the diamond order."
"Well she might be trying to please Benji." Aiko commented. "She might be trying to show him a softer and more feminine side of herself, plus showing that she can take care of the house as a housewife, she wouldn't be the first female knight to give up the knighthood to wed."
"Yeah my mom was like that." Lynn said with a smile. "And when I was a kid she was always teaching me how to fight." "While adventuring is fun it isn't something that I want do for the rest of my life." Aiko commented. "It can be pretty boring as well, besides what is the harm of doing other stuff?"
"The time that you are using to do other stuff could be used to level up." Atsuko replied. "Can't deny that, but just leveling is pretty boring." Aiko said casually. "And fighting isn't fun, there are more in life than that." While Atsuko can't contest that she also can't agree with it.
"Anyway I thought that this castle would be bursting with activity." Lynn commented. "But we haven't seen much other than locations." "The tour was to some of the common areas." Atsuko explained. "Most of the girls are out taking care of their business, some are training in the training areas, others are just killing time or doing their own stuff in the castle, plus is a big castle, there are lots of places to stay, we can go a whole day without seeing a more familiar face here, it is all about timing and placing."
Helen nodded understanding. "So what you do here when you aren't with your boy toy?" Helen asked curious. "The term is lover." Atsuko replied. "And it depends, if I am not training with someone I am reading or tending the garden, there is lots of stuff to do, there is helping out with the paperwork, laundry, cooking, cleaning, and tons of stuff. We have a schedule."
"For what?" Aiko asked. "Nearly everything." Atsuko answered. "Chores placements, who is in charge of what in the day, training hours, leveling hours with the lower levels, paperwork, and among the five of us who share Benji's bed who will stay with him on a particular night."
"I did wonder about that one." Lynn commented. "All of you in the same bed is too crowded, right?" Atsuko nodded confirming, Benji's bed was big enough for all of them and even more, but could get uncomfortable to move around in that mess of bodies and limbs.
"Besides it gets too hot." Atsuko added. "Six people in the same bed makes a lot of heat and I don't mean that. We keep one night of the week like that, and we all wake quite sweaty even with light clothing." With the conversation getting in the personal area the visitors pay even closer attention to it.
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Benji puts a straw on a bottle of grape juice and drinks from it. 'Ah this is good…' Benji thought as the cool juice refreshes his body, he is idly sited over a pile of armored corpses, his sword is resting against his legs and the courtyard is once again quiet, though the sound of distant gunshots can be heard from the employee's building. "I wonder how she is doing in there." Benji idly mused while looking at the building, he closes his eyes and let out a long breath.
Inside the building Rein is frantically shooting at a large group of maids with reasonable success in killing them, but they are far too many, only the rather narrow hall and the fact that she is using a shotgun helps Rein to kill so easily. 'That thing is automatic.' Benji said to the blonde. 'Just hold the trigger and point at them.'
"MASTER?!" Rein exclaimed surprised, she looks around confused not seeing him anywhere, yet she can hear him sighing. 'Keep your focus on the maids.' Benji instructed. 'You are using a large bore automatic shotgun, it is a rifle with a high rate of fire, you don't have to pull the trigger every time, at least not on this situation, just hold it and fire away. You don't need to aim well on this situation that is why I gave you that.'
"Yes master." Rein said doing as told, the shots are now continuous and she barely feels the recoil. "Uh master." Rein said meekly. "How we are talking like this? Is some kind of telepathy?" 'Pretty much it.' Benji replied. 'It just work in slaves though.' "I am a slave?" Rein asked feeling her spirit leaving her body. 'The process of saving you was pretty much the same that I use to get slaves.' Benji answered. 'Yet you are more dependant and problematic than they are, I still haven't figured how to call what you are. But it isn't slave in the way that we learned about it.'
That did made Rein feel a little better about herself. "So this is how you said that I could call you in case of need?" Rein asked. 'Yes.' Benji answered. 'While I can easily see through your eyes you can't do the same to me, it is more complex than it looks like. Anyway it can be quite handy as well.'
Rein nodded agreeing sure she felt inhuman but still was neat. 'You seem to be doing well.' Benji commented. "I guess that I am." Rein replied. "But I got wrapped by some sort of light several times now, what does that mean?" 'You leveled up, don't try to understand just accept it.' Benji explained. "Okay…" Rein replied uneasy. "What it does?" 'I explain later.' Benji said. 'For now just keep killing.'
Rein sighed and nodded, she was getting too used to it, reloading the now empty gun she keeps looking at the hall, she killed more than she could count yet the undead staff keeps coming steadily without diminishing their numbers, as if for every one that she kills another comes to take its place.
Rein feels odd, part of her mind was telling her to run away, to not kill anything, yet another is telling her to kill whatever threatens her and the worse is that she is doing too well for her liking, she wasn't doing much than reload and shoot but still she was doing well and was getting excited about it.
Benji could feel what the girl is feeling, it is the adrenalin rush caused by combat, it took him time to find balance on that, without that balance he would turn into a junkie not much different than Dante who only seeks battle and danger, it was alluring and seductive, but Benji had grounded himself and found balance on the situation, he doesn't like fighting, while he does find sparring with the girls fun he was able to keep in control, just letting go once and a while.
Standing up Benji moves towards the building, Rein was getting close of falling on sheer bloodlust and she is too new and inexperienced to keep herself in control on that state. Inside Rein keeps firing, waiting, just waiting for an opening to close the distance and use that heavy gun that doesn't feel heavy to beat her enemies to a bloody pulp.
And that time finally comes, a gap of a couple seconds between the waves of undead servants, in that short time Rein had covered the dozen meters that separated her from the undead, beating them with the solid stock of her gun Rein smashes open the heads of them. Striking left and right, with stock and barrel Rein fights with glee at the never ending wave of enemies.
Benji doesn't have problems in killing the undead, he still doesn't like the feel of cleaving skin, muscle and flesh, but he was used to it, and he could cleave steel so cutting rotten flesh is easy. With few well placed fire walls Benji cuts the access of the undead the area, and he finds Rein in the middle of a group of undead hitting them as if there is no tomorrow.
Sighing Benji looks at the dirty girl, she was being careless, just few steps away from sheer savagery, ignoring the rotten blood and brains that splashes on her, yet she was moving with a flowing grace somewhere between a feline or a snake, Benji felt a bit bad for interrupting but with a small series of fire bolts he clears the area and dashes towards the distracted girl.
Too busy bashing a maid's head in to notice Benji's Rein doesn't react when Benji grabs her head with his right hand, the rifle with the left hand and pushes her hard against a wall. Growling and snarling Rein struggles trying to break free of her capturer's grip, trying to hit him with her arms until she realizes who it is when she sees him at the corner of her eyes.
Benji was impressed with how submissive she got when she recognized him, she was panting mixed tired and lustful breaths, aware of how the bloodlust a trigger another lust Benji just keeps the hold of the panting and sweaty girl. 'She doesn't feel as tired as she should given the time that she was fighting.' Benji thought as the girl keeps taking short and quick breathes with her body pressed against the wall.
"Master…" Rein gasped sweetly and tiredly. "…Thirsty…" "It is okay." Benji said in a gentle tone. "Just get your breath back." Benji pulls a bottle from his pocket and puts a thin straw on it before he let go of Rein. Rein pushes away from the wall and looks at him over her shoulder.
'I wonder if the ability of look sexy and arouse men is innate in women.' Benji mused, a little dazed with how sexy the blonde looks. Casting an ice spell Benji creates a stall and makes the girl sits on it. Rein just follows the lead hoping for a treat, while it comes it isn't what she expected or wanted.
"Drink slowly." Benji said while handing to her a bottle a pinkish looking liquid, Rein nods and tries to suck the liquid from the straw, and for her dismay it is hard to draw it from the bottle with the straw, however instead of pointing it out to Benji or even complaining about it Rein focuses in sucking on it even harder, trying to draw the sweet tasting concoction, while she haven't tasted it the little air that she got from the straw tasted sweet and she could tell that the concoction was sweeter.
Benji notices how concentrated the girl got with the drink and was content that the trick worked, the idea was simple, kill the thirst psychologically, meaning making her work for the drink, drink very little and yet feel like she drank a lot, to achieve that the opening for the straw and the straw was very thin, and the drink was thick, making it hard to be drunk with a straw.
A squeal of glee signals that Rein succeeded in sucking enough of the drink through the straw to taste it, chuckling Benji wonder how angry she would be if he revealed to her that the drink wasn't anything other than a mixed fruits smoothie with sugar and never melting ice. Energetic contents zero, but potential energy content high, just as regular food.
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Feeling too good to care Helen admitted to Atsuko that the bath was everything that she had said and more. Atsuko was just content in getting the admission from Helen and enjoys the soak like she always did. "What is up that little mount over there?" Aiko asked pointing to the namely mount in the bath's landscape.
"The cold spring." Atsuko answered. "It is great in hot days, just soaking there in the cool water is so refreshing and relaxing, sadly the pool is small so in really hot days it is very hard to get in it. But I wouldn't enter there if I was you." "Why?" Aiko asked sitting back down, she wanted to take a dip on that one as well.
"This is Benji's side." Atsuko answered. "In the female side the cold spring is cool, here it is freezing." "Why that huge difference?" Lynn asked confused. "Benji threw bath salts on the water and then added a considerable amount of never melting ice." Atsuko explained. "He uses it mostly when he is sore or wounded as it helps with the pains. Anyway thanks to the salt and the ice the water is either close or bellow freezing point most of the time."
Even inside the hot spring the others shiver strongly at the idea of sitting in such cold water. "Your boy toy is crazy." Aiko commented curling under the water to warm herself. "It isn't all that bad." Atsuko replied. "Depending of his mood or wound he removes some of the ice and add hot water on it making it less cold, we used it a lot these past months, feels even better than the regular cold spring, and the salts makes the skin really soft and supple."
Atsuko could tell that the others doesn't agree with her at all as they look at her with 'I so don't believe in you' expressions on their faces. "Still this is one hell of a view." Lynn commented looking at the distant cherry valley. "It is no wonder that you people held this caste so fiercely." "That was a major part of the reason." Atsuko said with a chuckle, it was true after all.
End of the chapter thirty four:
I am sorry that took this long to update, between writer's block, work related issues and keeping the chapters unposted to alter it to match things in other advanced chapters I stalled a lot the release of this one.
Author explanation corner:
Conversation and theories about outcasts: I had long decided to show some theories and ideas that I had while making the story, not all of them are going to be show as truth, some will be just theories. And just to make a point clear, Juichi and Bethany aren't Japanese related, even thought I named Juichi with a Japanese name.
Rein fighting, thirst and other side effects: I wanted to show how Benji's energy influenced her, so I threw some fighting on her direction. By instinct thanks to what she got from Benji she can fight well before her brain realizes what she is doing, then she gets reluctant or might fall into the bloodlust since she still isn't used to fighting and killing.
The thirst is hard to explain, so I won't linger on it for too long now, imagine when you are really, really thirsty, craving for a particular drink and you can't find it no matter what, and after a long time you find it, it becomes by far much more delicious, quenching and satisfying than normal. Now just multiply this for a high number and you have an idea of how bad it is.
I threw the telepathy there because I wanted something more convenient, private and unique than the messaging system that bonded Benji with Rein, as well the other slaves, Benji can use that with every slave that he has. I decided to show it now because I felt like and would help to develop her, the same reason that I threw Rein in a undead filled mansion, they are inhuman enough to anyone be able to kill without remorse. It is much easier to kill a rotting and ugly zombie than a cute kitty.
Atsuko's tea: This scene was bothering me for a while so I wrote it down, it still came a bit different than I wanted but it came good enough. Mostly it was to develop Helen and Atsuko a little as well to have Atsuko bragging about the castle to her friends.