Leon took a step back from Elena. If his face had not been composed of stiff, black bones alone, then the expression on his face would have been one of pure shock.
Leon had been in this world for just a bit less than three weeks now. In that time, he had been focusing so much on getting stronger that he had thrown everything else to the back of his mind where dust accumulated.
He was still very weak now. Too weak to even think of whether or not he would be able to return home to earth. So he had thrown all his memories of earth and whatnot to the back of his mind. He had never been a loved child, and his life had been relatively bland. There was little that waited for him back there. The prime of his life had been his job at Megan’s diner, and the short moment where he thought he would be working part time as a model and making big bucks.
When he saw Elena’s face up close, Leon realized just how familiar the young lady looked. Those large breasts, voluptuous curves, and pretty face struck him and pulled on his heart strings. The young lady looked exactly like Megan. Why had he missed something so obvious?
Megan’s position in Leon’s life was a bit complicated. She did not occupy any particular position in his past life at that moment, but he had still developed a crush on her. He would have even tried his luck at asking her out someday if he had the chance.
‘Is fate mocking me?’ Leon thought as he took a step back. ‘This must just be a coincidence.’ He said to himself.
“Who are you? What are you going to do with me?” Elena managed to form some words when Leon was silent for a couple of minutes.
“Nothing, of course. I don’t kidnap little girls.” Leon shook his head and waved his hand at her.
“What? I’m not- I’m not a little girl!” Elena sputtered, wanting to take a step forward, but remembering she was surrounded by monsters and undead, then taking a step back, all with a very red face.
“Yeah, whatever.” Leon sighed. “Follow me if you don’t want to be centipede chow.” Leon turned around and began walking. His undead millipedes circled Elena and snapped their mandibles to get her moving. She hesitantly followed after Leon, surrounded on all sides by the black millipedes. Up front, she saw the white millipede walk beside Leon, while the black robed mage was a step behind him.
‘Are all these monsters his subordinate? How strong is he?’ Elena thought. She wanted to escape, but she highly doubted that she would be able to do so. She was outnumbered, and outmatched. The mage alone could probably take her and win.
Leon led the way down the path that he and his minions had already cleared. There were a few weaker millipedes, but he quickly killed them to avoid wasting time. It didn’t provide him much experience, but it was still something.
Before long, they reached the cathedral at the center of the town. Leon led the group through the hole that served as their entrance and exit, and Elena followed.
“Sit down.” Leon ordered as he took a seat on the floor. Elena hesitantly did the same while putting a distance of roughly one meter between them. “Now, tell me. Where did you come from?” Leon asked her.
“A-A village on the outskirts of the Desolate Lands.” Elena chose to be honest. Even if this skeleton marched to her village, Baba Yaga was more than strong enough to fight and destroy him.
“Hmm, I see. And what brought you out here if you can not take care of yourself?” Leon leaned forward. His jaw bent in what was supposed to look like a smile, but it only frightened Elena.
“I’m here to become an adult.” Elena replied.
“That…” Leon looked her up and down. She already looked like an adult to him. “What do you mean by that?” He asked.
“When a member of my village turned nineteen, we have to go out and hunt. When we reach level 100, we will come back to get our first Class. That will make us adults.” Elena explained.
Leon held his chin in thought. If what she said was true, then he thought that she had come here to gain some levels and return back home to get a class. Aside from that, he had also gotten some indirect information.
Firstly, other people, aside himself and his summons had the system. He had suspected it, but had no way of confirming it before.
Secondly, their systems, or at least, the mechanism behind it, might be different. He had no ‘Class’. Only his Race. That was a difference that might have separated ‘monsters’ from other races.
“Okay, so you came here to kill monsters and level up, huh? I can help you.” Leon extended an offer. Elena, however, was hesitant. She was still wary of him and what he wanted from her.
“And what do you want out of it?” She asked.
“Haha, nothing much,” Leon laughed. She was not as naïve as he thought. “I just want you to take me back to your village with you. I can help you and protect you from the stronger monsters around here.” He said.
“Why should I trust you?” Elena was still hesitant.
“Why not? I don’t see anyone else around here offering to help you. And besides, I already saved you once before. I could have let you die then if I wanted to.” Leon stood up. The little Undead Millipedes ran around his feet before disappearing into his body.
“…I guess you are right. Okay, I will accept your help.” Elena nodded as she held a hand to her chest. She was starting to come around to the idea after seeing Leon’s control over the monsters. He really could have killed her if he wanted to.
“Good! Now, let us get some rest before we go out to hunt tomorrow!”