Chapter 88: A honest man
Leon, Celes, and Alexandra took their seats in the driving seats, but only two looked over the horses, seemingly wanting to see a new village or maybe a city. While Leon and Alexandra sat down as though in an adventurer's mood, the vampiress laid herself on her master's arm, sleeping and dreaming of her beloved.
Alexandra held an umbrella for her, the order Celes had left to the dragon.
Leon held the reins and simply thought of a few things like he usually did here.
"How's your first face-off against the evil dragon?"
"It was an experience I have never tasted, Master… It felt really weird to talk with someone who looks like me… Ah, you know-" Alexandra chuckled and used her free arm to press her bent index finger to her lips, grinning more. "She was so angry that I didn't recognize her at first!"
Leon faintly laughed. He imagined the scenario of two dragons gazing into each other's eyes, recalling the famous meme from his world, and laughed more. He quickly looked down at Celes, but her gorgeous face remained the same, and she slept with a beautiful smile.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"I can see that." Leon added, then gestured to his dragon maid to continue speaking.
Alexandra's smile became weaker for a few seconds. "We have the same style, so it was like the battle would never end, and we argued a lot, too, but I know I have Master by my side. When I thought about it and your powers saving me, I felt a surge of mana and slapped the evil dragon's face so strongly she flew, twirling a few times." And now, she kept grinning.
Knowing that the original dragon had been suffering because of him, Leon showered the dragon maid with compliments, which made her smile deeper and blush. Leon encouraged her more and told her that the evil dragon wouldn't be able to affect her body if she were to continue with that progress.
Alexandra wholeheartedly agreed with him but still pressed her hand against her chest, declaring. "My maid duties are the most important, Master. I've thought about it after your words. To be honest with you… I wish to help the dragons and humans, but there are so many of us, and I lost against one evil dragon, so I don't know how to proceed. But I believe I will find an answer by following you, my master, my savior!"
"We'll find all answers to our questions in this adventure… You have just started yours, so don't be impatient and work hard." Leon genuinely spoke, not thinking about his words, sounding much better.
Alexandra took these to her heart and nodded a few times.
The adventure continued in silence until Leon spotted a man sitting by the intersection.
That man donned himself like a beggar, wearing worn-out robes and pants. He even had a sign [Stop or you'll regret it!], which was so ambiguous… After all, homeless people often used signs like that to beg for money, yet that guy wrote something much different.
Leon probed more and found out that this guy actually looked fine. He had a trimmed beard, clean skin, and even a weapon by his side.
He wasn't a beggar at all!
"You'll really regret it if you go south now! I mean, you will waste time if you don't listen to my advice! Looking at you, I'm one hundred percent sure you will regret that!" The man spoke in a mix of excited and jealous voices, peeking at Celes and Alexandra's beauties.
He kept his eyes on Celes more.
Leon gave him an odd look. "So?"
The man extended his hand forward, smiling. "Just a few copper coins will do!"
"Copper coins don't grow on trees, my friend." Leon smirked and shook the reins, his horses howling and going to the south again!
The man's lips crumbled, forming a troubled expression. He threw his sign away and ran after Leon's carriage, catching up to his driver's seat in a few seconds. He shouted some words, and no common human would understand him, but Leon and Alexandra did.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmLeon stopped the horses again; this time, his long-time partners wheeled to him, giving him an annoyed look. Now that the horses became irritated, Leon decided to take a break and went to the road's sidewalk.
Leon took Celes into his arms, giving her a more comfortable spot on him to sleep on, stroking her long hair.
He then wheeled to the man and began a new conversation while tending to the vampiress' needs. "You said something about wasting time… We're fine with it…"
"Ah, yes, of course! I can see why!" The man didn't even bother hiding his jealousy at this point! "But what's ahead of you will really irritate all three of you, so you should just buy some information from me! You shall not regret it! I'm one hundred percent sure of it!"
"You should practice your negotiation skills…." Leon squinted his eyes at this man, feeling like he was in a cabaret… Maybe this guy was one of the bandits and wanted to buy time for his buddies?
That also could be the case…
"Mate… It's so much easier to kill and plunder others, like villagers, you know? But I'm here doing the honest work of a man with principles and a good heart! Don't be like that, and believe in me!" The man dropped his nice tone, exasperated, and scratched his sweaty hair out of frustration.
He didn't know how those words struck Leon's heart.
It was tough to be a nice guy in this world, right? Overwhelming others with strength, then torturing or killing them to get desired stuff was so much easier! Leon knew that well since he'd enslaved the dwarf and kept absorbing that man's knowledge… And then, he had a dragon with a double personality now on his side…
Leon also killed people, but those had severely impacted his life…
"You're doing good work, then." Leon feigned taking out a coin from his inventory, then tossed a silver piece to the man, shocking him. "And I feel like rewarding those like you… will help me with my conscience, so you better be a good guy or…."
"I'm an honest guy, brother!" The man slammed his chest with his fist, then instantly conveyed the useful information. "There's a unicorn ahead of you, brother!"