He quickly opened the system shop to check and indeed, there were two sound elemental spell. One was of grade three like his Caladis Brachium and other one was grade five.
Finding the solution to her problem, Max's mood, that wasn't good due Bartan's escape, improved quite a bit.
'If she is willing to be my woman, I can give these spells to her.' Max thought. After all, they weren't of any use to him and if she became his woman than it was his responsibility to take care of her which naturally included giving her what she needed.
After that, he asked others if they were alright. Apart from Rima and Leticia, others were fine and had only exhausted their mana and stamina.
They then searched the two dead bodies of Bartan's teammates. The lean man's spatial bag had thirty mana stones and different types of pills which included 20 grade two healing pills, 30 grade two mana recovering pills and a few dozen poison enhancing pills which were beneficial for poison elemental mages.
As for the shield which he used to defend Max's attack, it turned out to be a grade two magic artefact but because he couldn't activate it properly before getting hit, it had a few cracks which made it useless. Even so, it still could fetch some mana stones after selling. Therefore he stored it in his inventory.
The man killed by Belen was turned out to be poor, he didn't even have a spatial and was using a normal pouch. However he had 40 mana stones, ten more than the lean man and a few healing and mana recovering pills.
After burning their bodies, everyone went inside the cave where Rima was sitting in meditation. They rested until she was finished before Max distributed the spoils of war among them.
"Maybe we should rob more people. It's very easy to earn mana stones this way." Leticia said in excitement after receiving her share.
Everyone looked at her laughed, which made her blush and laugh in embarrassment "I-I was only joking. Hehe."
…
Night time…
After they had dinner, everyone was cultivating with the exception of Rima who was standing outside the cave, staring at the stars.
Sigh!
'Maybe this is my destiny to not able to become strong.' She thought and sighed, depressed.
Step! Step!
Just then, she heard footsteps behind her and turned around to see Max coming towards him. She put on her usual smiling face and asked "Done cultivating so soon?"
Max shook his head "No. I just came out for some fresh air." He then asked "What about you? Why aren't you cultivating?"
Rima smiled bitterly before looking at the stars twinkling in the sky "What's the point of cultivating? Only my realm can improve but my strength will stay the same and i'll continue to be a burden to everyone around me. There is no hope left anymore. Sigh!"
Max stood beside her and also looked up into the sky. Watching the twinkling stars, he slowly said "There is always hope as long as you don't give up."
Rima only laughed lightly but didn't say anything. Max then looked at her and saw that her eyes had become misty and she was barely able to hold her tears back.
"Do you remember what I asked you in the morning?" Max suddenly asked.
"Huh? Yes, I remember." Rima nodded and a tinge of shyness appeared on her face and before Max could say anything, she continued in a calm voice
"You know, the reason I joined your group was because I liked you and I know that you've got some way to help us become strong like you are helping Belen and Leticia. However, I'm not interested in that since I know that without some spells, I won't be strong enough and would be looked down upon by everyone."
Then her face became a bit red as she looked into his eyes and said "But I still want to become your woman because I like you."
"Oh!" Max exclaimed. He was taken aback by her words. Since he didn't expect her interest in him to be genuine and not driven by the benefits he could provide.
A smile appeared on his face and he suddenly hugged her tightly.
"Ahh…" Rima was surprised but didn't resist and hugged him back.
"If you really want to be my woman even after knowing that I've other women, I'll not only help you improve like others but also help you find a spell of your element. However, you'll forever be my woman from the moment you agree." He whispered in her ear.
"Whaattt?" Rima exclaimed loudly and come out of his hug and looked at him in utter shock. She suddenly grabbed his hand with both of her hands and asked in a trembling voice "A-Are you telling t-truth?"
However, after a few seconds, her shock subsided and she released his hand while shaking her head "You don't need to lie to make me feel better."
Max smiled bitterly. She had really lost all hopes of finding a spell suitable to her.
He cupped her face between his hands and made her look into his eyes "I'm not lying. You've seen my new spell, right? Tell me, will the academy give a new disciple like me such spell assuming that they even have it to begin with?"
"N-No. They won't." Rima said. She has seen how powerful his new spell is and know that it was even more powerful. The academy definitely won't give this kind of spell to a disciple, especially not to a new disciple.
"But I still have it. So, believe me when I say that I can find a sound spell for you too." Max said, caressing her soft cheeks.
Rima didn't say anything immediately. After thinking for a while she nodded lightly "Un. I'll believe you and I'm willing to be your w-woman."
Hearing this, Max smiled and gently put his lips on her seductive red lips and kissed.
Rima hadn't expected him to kiss her the moment she agreed. However, how could she know, how much Max waited for this moment. Since the day he saw her and noticed that she was interested in him, he had decided her to make her his.
