Seeing this, Allen stopped paying attention to Rudy. He turned to look at the group of "children" before him, who used youth and so-called "justice" to disguise the malice in their hearts and the thrill they took in bullying others, then let out a heavy sigh.
He then unconsciously raised a hand and swept his obedient hair back from his forehead. The splash from the blade cutting through the water had landed in his hair, and combined with its stiff texture, it gave him the distinct impression of having used hair gel.
The sharpness of his demeanor made Rudy avert his gaze instinctively.
Allen had already stepped up to the tallest little fatty. The boy was only half a head shorter than Allen.
Though he had done as Allen said, his eyes were clearly defiant, especially after hearing that Allen was only nine years old.
"You don't seem convinced?"
"You're bullying us just because you have a knife!"
Allen smiled, lowered his head, and lightly patted the boy's face.
"You relied on your numbers and size to bully the weak. She was powerless to resist. Now I'm relying on a weapon to bully you. What are you going to do about it?"
Still patting his face, Allen grinned and leaned close to his ear. With the manner of a patient older brother from next door, he earnestly instructed him.
"I'm strong and you're weak. Isn't that only natural?"
The little fatty's face turned red.
"We weren't bullying the weak! She's a demon!"
Allen sneered.
"She's a demon, and I'm your dad. Come on, call me Dad."
The little fatty froze. He had never encountered such logic in an argument before. His face twisted a few times before he burst into tears with a wail.
"Did I say you could cry?"
The crying stopped abruptly.
"If I see you bullying her again, I'll twist your heads off and feed them to monsters. All right, cry if you want. Once you're done, get lost."
The little brats fled in tears and shrieks, running for their lives.
Allen curled his lip, turned around, and looked at Sylphy, preparing to admire the pretty girl's face.
The pretty girl's face and hair were both covered in mud, making her features impossible to see. She sat on the ground, staring blankly at him.
Beside her, the trench Allen had carved with his Battle Qi was only half a body's length away.
Sylphy had not been pelted with mud by the children this time, but Allen had splashed her all over instead.
Allen opened his mouth helplessly and turned to Rudy.
Rudy had been splashed all over as well. However, he had been staring at the backs of those little punks as they ran away, looking somewhat dazed.
Allen waved a hand before his face and said awkwardly.
"Um, Rudy, how about using Water Magic to clean her up? Uh... and yourself too, while you're at it."
Rudy turned his head and blinked at Allen in a daze.
".Okay."
Just then, Sylphy seemed to come back to herself. She suddenly jumped down into the paddy field. Under Allen and Rudy's stunned gazes, her small body waded through the water as she laboriously dragged Allen's sword back. After climbing ashore, she solemnly held the sword out to him with both hands. Yet she did not look at him, only lowering her head to stare at her dripping-wet shoes.
The loose strands of hair on her forehead were still smeared with muddy water, which dripped onto the ground one drop at a time with soft plops.
They matched the trembling rhythm of her pointed ears.
Allen blinked, took the sword, and sheathed it. Looking at Sylphy, who only reached his chest, he unconsciously reached for her head.
She flinched away, and Allen's hand missed.
His expression stiffened at once. Only then did he realize that he had acted entirely on the lingering resentment from his dream and had paid no attention to the system at all.
Oh no. There hasn't been any notification about her favorability. Did I scare the kid?
After instinctively dodging, Sylphy saw Allen standing there in a daze and seemed to become flustered instead. She held her head with both hands, quickly glanced at Allen, then timidly and hesitantly shuffled over before him.
She placed her head beneath Allen's hand, which still hung in the air.
Free Instant Task—Obtain Sylphy's Favorability: Completed. Time Taken: 4:23:17. Evaluation: Partner of justice, I shall call you the King of Children! Barrier Magic slot unlocked.
Smoke-like dust, almost tangible, crept over the Dragon Saint Battle Qi Core Embryo in Allen's abdomen. A carved buzzing sound, audible only to the soul, rang out. After a while, a new slot appeared beside the dull brown slot.
Its base was white, like a stalactite.
Allen blinked and came back to himself. He found that his hand was still resting on Sylphy's head. After all this time, Sylphy had merely stood quietly before him, blinking rapidly as she looked left and right at the ground, never moving away again.
Suddenly, a burning gaze fell upon his face. Allen turned his head blankly.
Rudeus was staring suspiciously from Allen's hand to Sylphy's face, then to Allen's face.
Over and over again.
Sylphy's features were exquisitely delicate. Even though Allen had been mentally prepared, he was still stunned by her beauty.
First of all, her eyelashes were long. Her nose was small but straight, her jawline smooth, and her long ears twitched now and then.
Most importantly—
Her skin was far too fair. Under the sunlight, he could almost see the faintly bluish veins beneath it.
Honestly, she looked much prettier than in the anime.
Especially her reddish-brown eyes, where highlights gleamed.
Eyes like those should not, and could not, be vacant and numb like God of Nothingness.
The owner of those reddish-brown eyes blinked and lowered her head to look at the grass before her. Her green hair fluttered through the air.
Tony, named Rudy, was styling her hair with a gust of wind.
When Rudy had helped Sylphy wash her hair earlier, he had already noticed that she did not have the red demon eye on her forehead. He had immediately concluded that Allen really had been playing the righteous hero.
Maybe Allen saw someone bullying this little boy when he came to the village. But why did he insist on dragging me along? Was he afraid he'd get his wages docked for acting on his own, so bringing me with him gave him a better excuse? Still, it's terrifying that he actually drew a sword on a group of children. All I can say is—
Well done, Lord Allen! Though it would've been even better if I weren't just background scenery.
But it's fine. We've gained another little boy as a companion now. That should make my future strategy of attracting girls in reverse work even better, right? We have more handsome-guy resources now. Hmm. Too bad this is a little boy and not a little girl. Otherwise, wouldn't this timid, unconfident appearance be perfect for my cultivation plans? Ah, sorry, I gave myself away. I'm kidding, really. Wait... is he actually a little boy?
Rudy looked downward. Sylphy wore rough linen trousers in a boyish style, unlike the skirts worn by other girls her age in the village.
Could it be! This is what Allen noticed! Damn it, you old fox! No wonder Allen and Paul keep making eyes at each other all day. So you thick-browed, big-eyed fellow actually swings that way!
Rudy indulged in this vulgar inner banter in the peculiar tone of a Niet from his previous life, but his hands did not slow down. Before long, he had finished drying and styling Sylphy's hair.
Sylphy blinked and stood up.
The three of them were on a small hill near the fields. There was only one tree on the hill, nearly reaching the sky, its shade lush and thick.
A gust of wind passed through, and the leaf shadows on the ground drifted with it as specks of light flickered between them.
Sylphy curled her toes and murmured in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.
"Thank you."
She glanced at Rudy, then turned her eyes slightly toward the back.
Allen leaned lazily against the great tree, his head tilted up as he gazed at the canopy overhead.
A patch of sunlight fell across the corner of his mouth, swaying together with his smile.
Softer than the wind.
Before you continue