Ryan didn't return Ellie.
The bigger the storm, the dearer the fish!
The girl had a rebellious streak, sure, but she was a Legendary-grade unit all the same. He had to at least try to see whether he could tame her.
His one worry was that she might be some reckless hothead who would put a knife in him even at the cost of her own life...
Nerves on edge, Ryan made his way to the Red Fox Tavern in the market, meaning to grab breakfast and pick up a commission to earn a little living money.
It was high summer, and at this hour the farmers were toiling away in their fields, so most of the tavern's patrons were mercenaries hunting for work, or idle layabouts and ruffians.
A few whores who made their living in the flesh trade stood in the corners, dressed to bare skin and heavily painted, throwing the occasional flirtatious glance at the hot-blooded young men in the room.
With the last ten copper coins to his name, Ryan bought two bowls of gluey rye porridge, then found a wooden table in the corner with Ellie and sat down to study the Codex feature he had just unlocked.
He was hunting for a way to raise her Loyalty fast, because Ellie was sitting across from him sizing him up, and who knew what crooked thoughts were turning over in her head.
Ryan had no desire to wake up with a few inexplicable stab wounds in the night.
Only a handful of portraits were unlocked in the System's Codex, mostly demi-humans Ryan had crossed paths with at least once.
Spotting Ellie among them, Ryan decisively tapped her portrait open.
[Species: Cat-Kin Demi-human
Species Notes: One of the oldest demi-human races on this continent, extraordinarily widespread — found everywhere from tropical rainforests to barren desert dunes.
They favor meat, move nimbly, have keen hearing and powerful perception, and excel at stealth and infiltration. Apex predators.
Current Codex subject: Ellie
Current Affection Level: 1
Current Loyalty: 0%
System Suggestion One: If you want to build a good relationship with Ellie, you might start by feeding her meat.
System Suggestion Two: Do not force yourself on her, because she can kill you with a flick of one finger.]
Ryan shot a glance at Ellie across the table.
Force himself on her? Who would dare? What if she snapped it clean off?
Still, her fondness for meat was a decent way in.
But Ryan was flat broke. Where was he supposed to scrounge up meat for her?
Ellie sat with her head drooping, staring at the cracked tabletop in front of her. Then, as if sensing his gaze, she looked up, and their eyes met.
Whatever else you could say, she really was a beauty — golden hair, blue eyes, skin like smooth cream, fine, sculpted features, a wasp waist, slim hips, and an enormous bust...
Apart from the lifelessness in her eyes, Ryan couldn't find a single flaw.
After the brief eye contact, Ellie lowered her head again, eyes fixed unblinkingly on the rye porridge before her.
Ryan guessed she was hungry. "Eat something first," he said.
Given the order to eat, Ellie didn't hesitate for a second. She picked up the bowl and dug in, wolfing it down as though she hadn't had a grain of food in days.
A few minutes later she had polished off every last bit of porridge, not leaving so much as a smear of gruel behind.
She licked the remnants from the corner of her mouth and sat there, staring into space.
Judging the moment about right, Ryan asked, "I'm Ryan. What's your name?"
The ears on Ellie's head twitched. Calmly, she answered, "I don't have a name."
"Your parents didn't give you one?" Ryan was puzzled — he had clearly seen her name on the status panel.
"I don't have parents."
Ellie's reply left Ryan momentarily at a loss for words.
So she was an orphan.
Ryan gave a couple of dry coughs and leaned back slightly. "Having no name is too much of a hassle. In that case, let me give you one."
He propped his chin in his hand, pretending to think, then after a few seconds said slowly, "How about the name Ellie?"
Ellie lifted her head to look at him. It was the first time Ryan had seen any other emotion in her vacant eyes.
"What? You don't like it?"
"No." Ellie lowered her head, staring absently at the empty bowl in front of her.
"Then from now on I'll call you Ellie. The name suits you, I think."
Ellie nodded and said nothing more.
At that moment, the System's voice returned.
[Ellie's Loyalty increase detected. Current Loyalty: 5%]
[Ellie's hostility toward the Host has temporarily vanished.]
Ryan let out a long breath.
Rank beginner that he was, he had somehow stumbled onto the right answer by sheer dumb luck.
For now, at least, he didn't have to worry about getting knifed in his sleep.
While his mind was wandering, a little red-haired girl ran up to him and poked his shoulder with the wooden toy in her hand.
A pair of pale-red beast ears stood up on the child's head, and behind her rose a big, fluffy fox tail.
Her name was Mira, the tavern owner's mischievous, adorable daughter, who looked only five or six. Every time Ryan came to the tavern he would run into the child scampering about, and this time was no exception.
Ryan leaned back a little and looked the cute kid over. "What is it, Mira? Running around again — careful your mom doesn't spank your behind later."
Mira looked up at him, hid the toy behind her back, and didn't say a word — just kept grinning foolishly.
For some reason, the child broke into giggles the moment she saw Ryan.
"What's so funny? Come here and let big brother pet your ears." The moment Ryan reached out, she dodged away. Most demi-humans considered ear-touching rude, and little Mira was no exception.
At most she would let Ryan touch her cheek; dare to touch her ears and he was sure to catch a punch.
Sure enough, the next second Mira's soft little fist arrived right on schedule, thumping lightly against Ryan's thigh.
Then she promptly hugged his arm and nuzzled it with her soft little cheek.
Demi-human children were almost all adorable, especially when they were being clingy. Those fuzzy ears and tails were simply too tempting — no matter what, they made you want to reach out and pet them.
A few other mercenaries saw this and teased, "Little Mira, is this the new daddy you picked out for yourself? Hahaha..."
Mira made a face at them and went on horsing around at Ryan's side.
But soon Mira noticed something, and her whole body gave a violent shudder.
Ryan followed her gaze and found Ellie staring at Mira, expressionless.
He had to admit, that stare was genuinely unnerving — like a wild beast fixed on a helpless lamb.
Mira's fur stood on end. She darted behind Ryan, peeking out with half her face to spy on Ellie, then bolted, vanishing into the back kitchen in a streak.
A few seconds later she was sneaking glances at Ellie again.
Mira was watching with relish when a hand suddenly seized one of her fuzzy ears, and the child began whimpering and pleading for mercy at the pain.
A woman with long auburn hair stood behind her, face like thunder, a note of displeasure in her voice. "How many times have I told you not to run off! Get upstairs before I do something about it!"
The moment she let go, Mira fled for her life.
Having dealt with the child, the woman sauntered back to the counter, hips swaying, and carefully counted the coins in an earthenware jar.
This was Mira's mother, Evelyn — the sultriest tavern owner in Caridon. Those alluring eyes of hers wore a lazy, seductive air most of the time, and her curly auburn hair always carried a faint scent of lavender...
Ryan was no lecher, but a love of beauty is only human, and whenever he came to the tavern for work he never failed to take a good, appreciative look at Evelyn.
The other mercenaries in the tavern egged one another on to go chat her up, but scarcely a one of them dared approach.
Ryan had heard that a few years back, Evelyn had chopped off the hand of a caravan guard.
The man had been new and didn't know the rules of the place. A few drinks in, he had recklessly tried to take liberties with Evelyn — and the instant he reached out, his hand was lopped off with a single stroke. From then on he could only hold a sword with his left.
Ever since, even the most shameless ruffian turned briefly courteous once inside this tavern.
But in Ryan's eyes, Lady Evelyn was nowhere near as harsh and cold-blooded as the rumors made out.
Because when he had first crossed into this world, the very first person Ryan met was Evelyn, and this seemingly icy woman had given him no small amount of help, sparing him from sleeping in the streets...
Ryan had just finished his porridge too. He walked over with Ellie and asked, as casually as ever, "Any work going?"
Without looking up, Evelyn replied, "Nothing suitable for you. Go try your luck somewhere else — it's still early."
Ryan gestured to Ellie beside him. "I bought a slave who looks pretty capable. You're sure there's really nothing I can take?"
She raised her eyes to Ellie, and worldly as she was, she saw the girl's origins at a glance. "You could afford a slave from White Mist Island?"
Ryan followed her gaze to Ellie, puzzled. "How do you know she's from White Mist Island?"
"Their eyes — once you've seen them, you never forget." Evelyn slowly lowered her head and went on, "So when you told me you didn't have a copper to your name, you were lying?"
Ryan flatly denied it. "No. It's a long story — I'll explain it to you properly some other day."
Back when he had first crossed into this world, he had been so starved his belly was pressed to his spine. If Evelyn hadn't given him a bowl of rye porridge out of charity, he might well have starved to death.
"I haven't the time for your nonsense." Evelyn lifted her head and looked at Ryan, getting down to business. "There's a commission that would suit you..."
Before she could finish, that mischievous child Mira came running out of the kitchen again, flashing Ryan a crooked little grin as she passed.
It was no different from dancing in a minefield.
Evelyn's brow creased, and she brought a palm down on the counter with a crack that rang through the whole tavern.
"Back. I won't say it twice."
The patrons' voices cut off abruptly. They looked at Evelyn and didn't dare make a sound, and only after a few seconds did the tavern's bustle resume.
Mira realized that if she didn't leave now her behind was in for it, so she tucked her tail and trotted obediently back to the kitchen.
Evelyn smoothed the displeasure from her face and continued, "There's a commission from a merchant guild. A fair number of goblins have turned up north of the city — twenty-odd of them — and yesterday they robbed a passing caravan. Someone needs to wipe them out. Will you take it?"
"How's the pay reckoned?"
"Ten copper coins per goblin."
The bounty on a single goblin was enough to feed Ryan and Ellie one meal; if he could clear them all out, it would be a tidy fortune for him.
Goblins weren't especially hard monsters to deal with — an untrained grown man with a pitchfork could handle two of them on his own.
He looked sidelong at Ellie through narrowed eyes.
It was the perfect chance to test exactly what she was capable of...