"Morning Lilith" I woke up and stretched my body

'Morning Zeno'

I walked to the guild hall and ate my breakfast with Cynthia

"Cynthia...I need more juice.." I embarrassingly requested Cynthia

"All right" She quickly agreed

We moved to the forest behind the guild and started what looked like an S and M play wherein Cynthia kept using [Lightning] on my body while I only endured with a smile

It took three hours to completely recharge DK and my core to full energy, Cynthia, on the other hand, was tired and was taking a nap while leaning her body on the tree, I felt guilty so I ran to my room to grab a blanket and wrapped it around her body.

'Lilith, try to release some of DK's energy and wrap it around the scroll'

'Request acknowledged... releasing energy...2% of DK's energy is absorbed by the scroll, the scroll is emitting the same amount of energy...synchronizing...synchronization complete...alert, information received! Azazel can now use [Illusion strike]'

'hell yea, energy cost?'

'[Illusion strike uses .2% of DK's energy'

'How about the other skills?'

'Most skills use only 0.2-0.5% energy'

This is good, most of my skills still use the same amount of energy like it did in the past. Seems like it will take a while for Cynthia to wake up so I started practicing all of my skills, I practiced until lunch so I woke up Cynthia and grabbed a bite to eat at the guild hall.

"Let's go look for a simple job" I urged Cynthia

I looked at the quest board, I saw an escort job towards Regalia city. I looked at Cynthia to get her approval, seems like she didn't mind so we got it stamped and we went on our merry way to meet the merchants we were going to escort.

"Hello there, are you the ones who are going to escort us?" The merchant was a chubby guy with a friendly smile

"Yes we are, I am Zeno, and this here is my partner Cynthia" I introduced us

"Good to meet you guys, the trip will take around a week, you will be paid 100 silver coins per day if there are going to be problems like a monsters or bandits, each head will be 50 silver coins, agreed?" He went straight on point and explained

"These conditions are acceptable" It was already a good offer

"Okay then, let's go" The merchant quickly entered his carriage while I rode beside the coachman, Cynthia also entered the carriage but she came out soon after and urged to sit beside me. Guess the merchant pissed her off

We left the town and started our journey towards Regulus city

Five hours into the journey and butt already hurts, I should invent springs...

"It's getting dark, let's set up camp" I asked the coachman and he agreed

We pulled over and I started a fire. The coachman then tended to the fire as I gutted the chicken I caught

"Cynthia, do you want roasted or soup?" I found a weird joy in cooking

"Soup please" Cynthia replied

'Lilith'

'Request accepted, please follow this instruction to create a perfect chicken soup'

It took me a while and I had to walk back to the forest a few times to look for the herbs and spices that was on the recipe but...

"So good~" Cynthia loved the soup, it was worth it

Cynthia, the coachman, and I enjoyed the meal, The merchant didn't bother to go out because he actually had a maid with him

who prepared everything he needed inside the carriage.

"I'm first watch, Cynthia you go second" I requested

"Sure" She was quick to comply

It was eventless that night and in the next morning, after reheating and eating the soup we continued our journey. It was the third day of our journey when we met with some problems...

"Leave everything behind and run!" Four bandits surrounded our carriage

'Lilith, how many of them are there?'

'There's 1 more hidden behind the bushes at 8'oclock'

"Cynthia, be careful there's one more hidden...there.." I whispered towards Cynthia

"Ok, what's the plan?" Cynthia replied, the coachman fainted already

"Use [Lightning] on the hidden guy while I will take care of the rest"

"Alright"

I stepped down from the carriage, Cynthia used [Lightning] to grab everyone's attention. It worked like a charm so I took the chance and beheaded two bandits who were behind the carriage

"Damn it! ATTACK" The bandit leader finally recovered after seeing two of his men die in front of him

The other bandit tried to attack Cynthia but my blade reached his neck before he could even get close to Cynthia

"ARCHER!! WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?!" The bandit leader was panicking

"Oh lol, the archer? he's already dead" I walked towards him with Azazel in my hand

"Damn it!" He took out something and threw it on the ground, it's a smoke bomb

'Lilith switch to thermal'

'Thermal activated'

Even though he was covered from thick smoke, the heat of his body never escaped my thermal vision so I cut his body in half and took his pouch.

This ain't stealing if you took it from a dead person right?

'Correction, that is called Grave robbing' Lilith heard my thoughts

'He's not buried though'

'...I admit defeat' Looks like Lilith can't reply

"Are they gone?" The merchant stepped out and looked around

"Yeah"

"well then, that's four heads"

"Five to be exact"

"What?"

"here's the fifth" I walked towards the bush and pulled out a charred body

"Oh, Five heads"

"Let's go before monster's smell blood" I urge him to return to the carriage

He returned to the carriage and I took over the reins, Our journey continued

We finally arrived at Regulus city without any hitch, the merchant thanked us and gave us our pay before we parted ways.

"Let's go shopping" I spoke to Cynthia

"Sure"

We first went to an armor shop to upgrade my leather armor and upgrade her gear

"Cynthia?!" I heard a voice from behind so I turned around and saw a full armored knight

"Jack?" Cynthia seemed to know this guy

"Cynthia it is you! come on let's leave this place!" He tried to pull Cynthia but she shrugged off his grip and went behind me

"I am a slave now, he's my master"

"what?" Jack was surprised

"Come on man, tell me how much do you need so that you can release her" Jack quickly walked towards me and asked

"Not selling" you think Cynthia is some kind of a tool?

"what do you mean not selling?" Jack's face was smiling but I can feel his threatening aura

"You think Cynthia is something that you just sell?"

"Do you even know who Cynthia is?"

"Of course I know who she is"

"Then all the more reason to return her to me"

"Why would I do that?"

"Because I can protect her"

"Haha, I think she's more in danger when she's with you" you think Lilith can't detect the hormones you kept secreting?

"You... since you won't let hand her to me then I have no choice but to join your party"

"N-" I was about to decline but Cynthia tugged at my sleeves

'Are you sure?' I whispered towards Cynthia

'Yea...' She replied

"Okay then, I'll accept" I'll have to ask Cynthia about Jack later