*blub*

Zoemi realized that he could actually be falling for whatever the youngest member out of the Great Ram sect was planning and certainly didn’t like the idea… but his doubts soon turned into shock when the defeated dark sect member at his feet started literally melting, and his gelatine-like flesh began making strange sounds as it was stripping itself out of his bones!

“What the **?!”

Zoemi gasped in genuine shock, moving back away from the rather gruesome sight.

“What did you do to him?!”

“Shut up, Bob. You are talking as if you never saw someone get consumed by the law of Scorpius before.”

A man from the Great Ram sect shouted in terror

at the confused Zoemi but got instantly silenced by the youth that did not seem to be particularly bothered by the demise of their companion…

“But… “

“I told you to shut up.”

The man called Bob tried to argue, but the youth cut him off without sparing him a glance.

The youngest member of the Great Ram sect’s group was staring straight at Zoemi instead.

“We almost killed a guardian monster for this region. We could do some mental gymnastics to blame this wanderer for hunting down other seven-limbed bears so that only one left matching the description – given by Zoey to boot – was a guardian monster… But look me in the eyes and tell me that the other sects would believe it and not think that we have fallen so low as to push the blame on some stranger with no means of defending himself.”

For a moment, the youth hesitated but then a sudden gleam lighted up their eyes and they turned to their people.

“Ah…!”

That argument resonated with not just Bob, but everyone, no matter how angry or troubled they looked over being suddenly beaten up and waking up to witness the death of their companion.

Honor seemed to be a big thing for the sect members, and if not for the rapidly decomposing corpse by his side, Zoemi would have laughed at the similarity.

“But what if he is from a dark sect?”

Finally, one of the tied-up martial artists asked the question that was worrying the black-haired man the most…

“Then why is that the only person dead is someone who killed himself using a law that was clearly too dangerous for him to attempt?”

“…”

Once again, the youth came up with the answer for him, and honestly – Zoemi was feeling quite content.

The problems seemed to be solving themselves right in front of his very eyes without him needing to speak a single word.

…but that in and of itself was bound to come with its own set of trouble…

“Wanderer. Innocent or not, you are partially responsible for the death of my bodyguard… which obviously left me with none. You also ended up attacking me other pupils of the Great Ram sect, which unfortunately cannot be ignored.”

“…there it is…”

The youth turned back to face Zoemi and spoke with an almost obnoxiously confident face, causing the black-haired man to let out a sigh.

It was only to be expected – no one would be that helpful to a complete stranger who beat them up if they didn’t have some ulterior motive…

“As I said, I lost a bodyguard. I of course could make a big deal out of it back in my sect, but why not make things simpler and just put you in that position?”𝒐𝑣𝗅xt.𝗇𝓔t

“Young Miss, you don’t mean that!”

The youth revealed with a triumphant expression, but their idea certainly didn’t sit well with her group…

“Who is a Miss, moron. I’m a man, obviously.”

The youth glared at the first person that misgendered him and proudly puffed out their chest… A chest that despite being on the modest side, was giving a completely opposite to his statement.

“Huh… even without seeing the unique shadows I got the feeling. That aside, young man, your proposition is intriguing, but not in a good way.”

Zoemi smirked to himself before making a more serious expression and raising his brow at the young martial artist.

“Oh, don’t wimp out now. You have nothing to lose here, wanderer. You aren’t connected with anyone from that village, are you? If it’s the hunting ground for training, I can assure you that practice duels with other martial artists are far more efficient than hunting monsters.”

The youngster declared with a proud expression – his pride seemed to be steaming from the reaction that his words caused the black-haired man to express.

Zoemi gritted his teeth and glared coldly at the young member of the Great Ram sect.

,m The words that the youth have used…

He wasn’t helpful or naive – the youth was clearly blackmailing Zoemi to join him using the lives of the villagers as a bargaining chip…

“Cheeky one, aren’t you? You are lucky that I like strong-willed people or I would have knocked you all again and ran away.”

The slightly irked-off black-haired man snorted and approached the tied-up group, reaching his open hand towards the youth’s face.

“Aww, thank you. But since you are clearly not doing that, does that means that you accept my proposal?”

The youth giggled in contentment, thinking that things are going his way.

“What’s with that hand though? Do you think I am a cat and want to pet me? Quite condescending, don’t you think?”

He added, glancing at Zoemi’s palm beside his face.

“When traversing the forest for one and a half years my most used method of killing monsters was crushing their heads.”

“…!”

The black-haired man did not threaten the youth directly, but the implication that his words and his extended hand were making was enough to wipe off the confident expression on the youngster’s face. Although to the youth’s merit – he did not look away from Zoemi’s cold glare.

“You! Don’t; you dare to try and harm the young Mi… young master!”

The angered members of the youth’s group raised their voices in exasperation.

“You are telling me to stop but not actually doing anything to stop me yourselves though?”

Zoemi looked away from the staring contest with the youngster and furrowed his brows specifically at the martial artist that shouted.

“Ghh…!”

The could only grit his teeth as clearly none of the star power at his disposal was enough to break through the thick rope that was normally used by the lumberjacks to make it easier to transport the ancient trees that they cut down.

“If that’s the average strength of a marital artist in your sect, I kind of see why you want to outsource your bodyguard, young man.”

“Shut up. Great Ram sect specializes in the law of Aries which is the pure defensive power. It’s not surprising that my sect members cannot break through it.”

Zoemi scoffed, shaking his head and sending a mocking smile at the youth, who despite being annoyed at his group was certainly not going to let others badmouth them in his presence.

“No. Law of Aries id toughness and endurance – both of which can be used offensively. From my perspective, your words are words of a slacker.”

“!!!”

The black-haired man shrugged his shoulders, angering the youth so much that he ended up being at a loss for words.

“With that, I assume that your offer is no longer viable, isn’t it?”

Zoemi breathed out, turning his palm to the side, about to knock out the apparent young master of the Great Ram sect.

“Huh? No. If anything, you just proved to be even more fitting for the role I have in mind for you.”

“…what…?”

Truth be told, Zoemi was about to incapacitate everyone from the Great Ram sect’s group and carry them far into the forest so that the villagers would be given a chance to evacuate if they would be willing to, so the confused tone of the surprising answer that he received was that much more flabergasting.

——————

“Since you agreed on becoming my bodyguard, the introductions are in place. I am Alan Ramis, eighteen years old, currently the only son of the second son of the Great Ram sect’s leader Bennedict Ramis.”

As the Great Ram sect’s group was leaving the lumberjack’s village with one less gifted student but one more hired wanderer, the youngest martial artist of the bunch said to the black-haired man walking by his side.

“…”

The introduction that Alan made caused more than half of the martial artist in his group to roll their eyes or scoff, but still, no one dared to actually say anything to the youngster’s face.

“Nice to meet you, Alan. My name is Zoemi Benevi Banemor. I’m quite interested in why you were so keen on hiring me. And while we are on the whole hiring thing – we need to discuss my pay and benefits.”

Zoemi nodded his head at Alan and introduced himself politely before adding with a very serious expression.

“Hmm… Long name, not very long introduction, even I told you more about myself… Although I get that you are worried about your livelihood… let’s just say that I will cater to your every need as long as it will be something within my power.”

“I will have to have it written down.”

Alan furrowed his brows, tilting his head and making a bothered expression before going back to smiling confidently – to which Zoemi responded with a coolheaded statement.

“Sure, once we get back to the sect.”

The young man didn’t seem to be particularly bothered by the lack of trust and just agreed with a dismissive shrug.

“While we’re at it… what are your talents, Zoemi?”

Alan seemingly could stay quiet for too long, especially not while having Zoemi prime for questioning in such close proximity.