We had been welcomed by the sect master into the palace rather easily, as she greeted us with a very gentle gesture and a gentle voice as well. The other Elders had tried to stop her, however, as she had ended kneeling and thanking us. Honestly, I couldn't help but feel like seeing someone so dignified as her kneeling felt wrong to me.
Although I still couldn't agree with the elders because I felt like they had to be more grateful, but kneeling wouldn't do any good to me to be honest. I am not one of those people that get a high over others paying respect to me, I prefer physical gifts, if possible, hehe…
Of course it would be quite bold to ask for stuff to this sect which had barely hanged out from being completely destroyed… however, the subject over them having let all those people die against the Shadow Beast in the previous wave was still there. It was a fact which we couldn't easily forget about, it was something quite terrible, in fact. I don't know what to think about this other than feel a bit conflicted with myself, but I guess we'll leave it up to them for now, we can adress this later.
"Sorry, I didn't meant to look bad to you…" sighed the sect master. She was very polite, surprisingly polite for someone that let hundreds to die to the wolves.
"Well, don't worry about it. We had come here looking for a new sect to make some market deals and sell our goods, but we ended finding this entire thing and we decided to help in a whim, we have learned from some informants that you let hundreds of mortals die in the previous shadow beast invasion though." I said. I immediately decided to drop the bomb.
"W-What? How did you know!?"
"T-This man knows this?"
"It can't be… T-There was nobody else watching!"
"T-This is bad… If the righteous faction knows we did such an atrocity…"
"So you admit you let it happen." I said.
The Elders felt shocked once more. Some of them suddenly began to unleash their Mana Auras, foolishly beginning to desperately believe they can silence me.
"W-We have to do something, kill him!"
"We can't let this go…"
"T-There's no other way…"
"W-Wait! You fools, what are you even thinking?! Stop at once!" roared the sect master, as she stopped the Elders from doing something very foolish, attempting suicide by attacking us. She's very benevolent to realize that committing suicide is pointless.
"Don't worry about it, we are not going to talk it to anyone else, it is disgusting to even talk about it." sighed Benladann.
"What you did is your own problem, not ours." Said Miranda.
"However, that doesn't mean we can simply be okay by keeping this a secret, hopefully, coupled with proper gratitude for our aid in this battle, we can get great support from this sect." I said with a smile.
"S-Support…?"
"What does he means by this?"
"Sect Master Drake, make yourself clearer, please."
"We don't get it."
"You guys are really slow. I came here to make an alliance with you guys, your sect has very close ties with the righteous faction, right? We are mostly a nomad sect that moves around the continent, we really want to make up connections, your help in that regard would be appreciated… Did I made myself clear now or you need me to explain it with drawings?" I sighed.
"S-Such insolence…"
"But he's right, it's not something overcomplicated."
"So he wants our help in making ties with the righteous faction?"
"A-As long as he doesn't speak out… Its fair."
As the Elders began to discuss how to bargain this even more by trying to ask me for stuff to give them back, Mikohime nodded and happily agreed.
"Sure thing, Drake! This is of no problem to us, even by doing this, we are still deeply grateful for you, not only by saving this shameful secret from the sect, but also from saving our lives and maintaining our legacy alive… I want to tell you that I will be forever grateful for this." she said, as she looked at me with a smile filled with honesty form the depths of her heart.
She slowly stood up and walked towards me, sitting on her knees before me.
"I want to offer you all of my life and body to you, Drake, you've done something so great there is no other way to be thankful than this. Please, take me as your bride." She said.
"Huh?"
"Eh?"
"Ah?"
Benladann, Miranda, and I were left speechless as we looked at Mikohime. She was so grateful the only thing she could think that could be worthy enough of a payment was giving me her damn body and make herself my bride?! That doesn't make any sense! What kind of stupid harem situation is this?
The Elders already began making a fuss, going crazy over it as if they were losing their minds with what she said, and honestly, I am also losing my mind, she said some serious insane shit right here, and Benladann and Miranda were looking at her with angered expressions. It results that Miranda is practically Benladann, so both of them are overprotective and jealous of any other woman that tries to get close.
"Y-You…! You dare offer yourself to my husband?!" roared Benladann.
"This is not okay; we won't let you do as you please." Said Miranda.
"Uwah!"
Mikohime was overwhelmed by the powerful auras of these two girls, feeling as if she was being pressured by a gigantic shadow.
"Sorry but no! I refuse to make you, my bride. Please, find another man." I said.
"Huh?! R-Really? You don't… want me?" asked Mikohime in shock.
"No, no, no, I am fine with what I have. I mean, you're pretty, I admit it, but I already got two pretty ladies here, this is more than I could had ever bargained for, so please, find another man, I implore of you. I don't want you, really," I said.
I saw Mikohime's expression, she looked pale.
