The room was engulfed in silence. While while Chester and Blake was still cooping up at the fact Basil had just said that, Basil merely sipped his tea calmly. He didn't tell them anything, however he didn't tell them lie either.
He knew he could trust them, however he didn't want to involve anyone in his own problem. Nobody should know his own matters, as he would solve it by himself. Being helped is a good thing, but intervention will be unavoidable.
Clack.
"Do you have anything to ask me, Sir?"
Basil asked the silent Blake after he put down his empty cup down. Blake could only open and close his mouth repeatedly without nothing came out.
"Uhm.. that is.. I... Do you want more?"
In the end, Blake settled for a time out. He lifted the teapot and offered Basil to refill his cup. Basil nodded his head and accepted it gladly. He wasn't in a hurry. He had time to have a tea with them.
"Where is your Companion?"
"He is at Vyres Forest."
"Why is he there?"
"He needs to get fresh food."
"Ohh..."
Chester was too stunned by Basil's earlier answer that he had forgotten how to speak in their own language. In result, the conversation lasted only for a while. The silence was perceived once again.
Each of the two men were still trying to wrap their minds around the event. That conviction, tone, and deep look. They knew Basil wasn't joking. Only one question remained unsolved in their minds.
Just what makes Basil has to stand against the world?
The two men threw their heads at Basil. They had a determined look on their face. They seemed to have decided something.
"Shall thou extend thy hand, mine wilt grasp it." Chester spoke first. "No one can touch you under my watch." Then, Blake spoke right after Chester. The meaning of their words were the same.
I will back you up.
Basil smiled faintly at them, and that was the best he could do. He didn't nod as a sign of acceptance. He couldn't accept their help nor would he accept their help. He didn't want to stack another bodies in vain.
His matters were his matters. No one should be involved in his matters. The last time he had let someone got involved in his matters, he had gotten a massive disappointment and a lifetime regret.
Although it didn't mean he didn't trust Chester and Blake. He couldn't be sure whether they could still say that when the time came for Basil to really face against the world.
He didn't want to make them have a guilty conscience. Thus, it was better to keep them away from the beginning.
"Kuhum. Our point is, whenever you find yourself in a pinch, don't hesitate to ask for help."
Blake misunderstood Basil's lake of response was due to his confusion. Therefore, he felt the need to clear a few things up. Again, Basil smiled faintly. This time however, he nodded his head faintly.
"I actually need some help regarding something."
"Yes? Tell me, I'll help you!"
Blake was ecstatic that he could finally fulfil his promise to support Basil. Basil looked at that calmly and sipped his tea.
"I need a place to stay."
"I see... Should I pay your father a visit privately to clear things up?"
"No, you don't need to, Sir. The reason behind my banishment was more complicated than that."
"Very well. I won't ask you any further. If you want a place to stay, I can offer you one of my mansions."
"How much does it cost, Sir?"
At Basil's question, Blake looked at him absurdly for a brief moment. He waved his hand and chuckled in the next moment.
"You don't have to pay. There was a reason I called it an offer... Well, actually you still have to pay though. You can pay it by winning in the Regional Tournament!"
"Very well. I will take the offer."
"Ahaha! Nice to have a business with you."
Chester shook his head in amusement. Regional Tournament was a tournament held between Counties. There would be many Magic Academies representing each of the Counties participated in that.
The minimum requirement to participate in the tournament was being a Second-Circle Mage. However, to win it, one must be a Third-Circle Mage. Blake wanted Basil to participate in that tournament.
Chester had first thought Blake merely wanted to show off Basil to the world due to his Grand Circles. However, now he was sure Basil would be able to earn the three top spots. No, he was sure Basil would win.
"So, do you want another Class Advancement?"
"That will be better."
Thus, the matters between them settled just like that.
...
"Psst!"
"What?"
"Is it okay for me to follow too?"
"If you are unsure, why did you follow us?"
"Meh.. just asking."
Twitch.
Shirley's eyebrow twitched at her friend's response. They were whispering among themselves as they didn't want to disturb Basil who was sleeping in the carriage.
Right after the tea party with Chester and Blake finished, Basil had gone to meet Shirley who had been with Julia. He had wanted to bide them a goodbye, however they had insisted to follow him.
Currently, they were inside a luxurious carriage on their way to Basil's mansion that was given to him by Blake. Basil would have liked to go there on foot, however he wasn't alone. He was with Shirley and Julia.
The distance was quite far, and he believed Shirley and Julia would get their soul floating above their head, if he had decided to go there on foot.
Thus, he had chosen the most comfortable carriage he could find at that moment.
"Psst!"
"What?!"
"Eii.. don't mad, girl. I come in peace."
"Julia.. do you know what is the most romantic death?"
"What?"
"Being hugged till death!"
"Kyaa! Let go of me, wild lady!"
Shirley was goofing around with Julia, like usual. She hugged her body to the best she could while burying her head in Julia's chest. She might be full of laughter on the outside. However, in the inside she was crying.
'Why? Just why?! Why can't I have Julia's big mounds too?!'
Sob.
Julia looked down at the sobbing Shirley and couldn't help but drop a sweat in helplessness. It seemed Shirley was still salty about her late of growth.
Pat. Pat. Pat.
"There, there. They will grow just as big. Don't worry, puberty will hit you hard!"
"What are you saying you dork?!"
Shirley quickly shook her head right and left, making Julia's bountiful chest swayed. Julia was helpless with that as she could only let Shirley played with her chest. She sighed and looked in front of her. She instantly froze.
Basil had already opened his eyes and was watching the two of them calmly like a parent watching their children play. However, it was only for Basil's perspective. In Julia's perspective, it wasn't the case.
She couldn't help it. It was normal to think the other way. Basil was a young man, and he had seen them 'playing' after all! Any men would have countlessly dirty thoughts about that. Luckily, it was Basil.
"I am glad you can enjoy yourself, Shirley."
"Hiih?! B-B-Brother?"
Shirley was still unaware as she was still had her head buried in Julia's chest deeply. Therefore, she was shocked through her core. She was a respectable woman. Now that her brother had seen her unsightly behavior, he wouldn't treat her as such anymore!
"Thou hath to worry not. Thou art always a girl methinks."
"Don't say that cruel word coolly!"
"Pfft!"
Julia couldn't hold back her laughter as she also thought of the same thing as Basil. Shirley might act like a grown lady, however she was merely a girl inside. She was just a girl trying to act like a grown lady.
Shirley was about to retort when the carriage suddenly stopped. Basil quirked an eyebrow as he was sure they hadn't arrived yet.
"Sir, we have someone blocking our way."
"Is it a bandit?"
"Oh my.. bandits at this time of age?"
Although the girls were trying their best to look as calm as they could possibly, they were scared at the thought of meeting a bandit. They were sheltered enough to never face a bandit before. They threw their heads at the most dependable person in the carriage, Basil.
"Give me a second."
Without giving any explanation, Basil opened the carriage door and got out of it. Shirley and Julia were mortified and they couldn't help but to look at Basil's back from the carriage's window.
"Ho-oh, it's jackpot everyone! We got some girls!"
"Woo! We are blessed today. Hahaha!"
Bandits were never a normal people. All of them were Knights. Among the two Principals people practiced, Knight had the most varied 'occupation'. They could be Bandit, Explorer, Assassin, and many others.
It was due to their considerably slower development compared to Mage. They couldn't reach prominence alone. Therefore, they tend to group themselves, and things just happened.
"Oh my. Look at those disgusting looks those peasants sent!"
"Lowly creatures sending dirty looks at this lady. Insolence!"
Although their Noble like attitude was toned down to a certain level, it didn't change the fact the two of them were a noble. They still acted like how a noble should be sometimes.
"Let's just get this straight, boy. Just give us everything you have. If you want to keep the girls too, I demand 400 gold for each of them."
The surrounding bandits laughed as their leader's ridiculous words. They looked at Basil with predator gaze, fully intending to intimidate him. Unfortunately, it was all useless on him.
"400 gold for each of them?"
"Yes. Just 400. It's cheap right?"
"Do you think they worth that much?"
"Well, it's up to you if you want to raise the price. Hahaha!"
The men laughed once again along their leader. Basil shook his head faintly, and took Kusanagi out of his Spatial Bracelet. A heavy pressure that stopped any laughter descended upon the bandits.
"There is worth in someone, however you can never buy it."
The bandits trembled in fear. The words they heard from Basil seemed like a death sentence to them. They didn't know when, but their backs were already drenched in sweat.
With trembling hands, they reached to their weapons. Their leader was about to command them to charge forward when Basil swung Kusanagi in his hand.
Screech!
That was the last thing they heard before wind blades butchered their bodies to pieces. Basil preferred to do things in peace. However, whenever he saw it wasn't possible, he liked to turn his enemies to pieces.
Blood decorated the ground in a gruesome painting. Body parts littered the ground amplifying the terror it gave to people. There was no single survivor. All of the bandits were shredded gruesomely.
Basil didn't feel pity or any of it toward them. They had killed, robbed, raped, and many other bad things bandits did. They had taken many people's rights, therefore they had to be ready to get their rights taken.
Today, one of their rights, the right to live was taken by Basil. He didn't give the bodies any second glance as he turned his body and got inside the carriage. No one spoke to him. Even the considerably experienced driver couldn't utter any single words.
Basil could see the girls were shocked at what had just happened. They knew it was a normal thing. However, their innocent mind still couldn't bear the act of killing yet. It could be seen plainly on their pale complexion.
"Every human has rights on them. It is so vast that we could do almost anything. However, everything has a limit. Your rights limit is another people's right. Once you breached their right, you have to be ready to get yours breached."
At this point, the two girls had their eyes set on Basil. He looked at them squarely in their eyes and said, "Killing your enemies after they tried to kill you is the act of earning your right to live back."
The two girls could only nod their heads dumbly at Basil's deep gaze and tone that was full of conviction.