Chapter 9 Nier’s Shock

Another three days passed and Leonardo kept to himself, simply resting with his eyes closed. Dew and leaves accumulated over his body periodically for the past few dusks and dawns, but the women at his side voluntarily and tentatively cleaned him up. Of course, minor conflicts were inevitable when there was just about so much work to do, but they didn't dare make a scene and settled it with hostile eye signals.

Pandora felt indignant that the elf was making use of being naked to subtly service Leonardo with her body and sultry skin, but the latter didn't as much as grace her with a glance, much less a reaction.

On this day, the female elf's internal energy began to operate naturally after the medicine wore off. Also at this moment, as though he could sense it, Leonardo's eyelids lifted open, revealing the usual pair of lifeless eyes.

Both girls sat to either sides of Leonardo; Pandora to his right and the elf to his left.

He turned his head to look at her before asking, "You're no longer incapacitated in terms of energy."

She responded by lowering her head and keeping silent, not knowing what to say. Eventually, she leaned forward and lowered her head to the ground, pleading with a trembling voice, "Just allow me to stay by your side, I truly have nothing left to my name other than my personal strength…"

"Weren't you some sort of a princess? Just go back to your castle or whatever." Leonardo responded flatly, not wanting to risk having a level 40 mortal at his side while he was barely a level 25.

He stopped considering Pandora as his guardian after the cave episode and sensing her killing intent periodically on their escape route. Thus, he turned her way next and said, "You're no different either, I could tell you had a suppressed urge to kill me from behind. I didn't bother mentioning it because I wouldn't have been able to put up any resistance whatsoever. Aren't you an experienced veteran when it comes to planetary invasions? Go ahead, make do without me."

Leonardo's words stabbed into both their hearts as regret gnawed their nerves. The elf didn't even bother lifting her head as she explained, "I used to be a princess! My father was forced to abdicate to my uncle, who then proceeded to claim my mother as his concubine before taking control of the royal court. I have nothing left anymore, this secluded garden is something my mother built in her younger years, we're nowhere near the capital, let alone a palace that'd be no more than a deathbed for me if I went back now!"

"Please! I wanted to force you to fight my uncle for me at first. I admit I'm wrong— but at least allow me to become your follower from here on out!"

Pandora also went down on one knee, lowering her head in shame while confessing, "I deserve death for harbouring such thoughts as a guardian! I shouldn't have blamed you, I was merely angry because of my selfish sentiments. Please reconsider having me by your side, I promise absolute obedience no questions asked!"

Both women had their own problems and goals, goals that they wouldn't mention now or in the near future due to how volatile the situation was. However, both their confessions seemed sincere.

This reminded Leonardo of that time he was forced to take that one step following after Nier, and that's precisely because she grasped his weakness.

Now, he grasped the weakness of these two.

Was this what she felt back then? The feeling of being in absolute control without lifting a muscle? It doesn't matter to me whether they stay or leave, but it makes a world of difference to them. That's why they're on their knees, begging.

If she asked me to go down on my knees and beg to help my mother, would I do it?

What if it wasn't Nier, but someone I absolutely loathe, yet I would have to kneel for them, would I do it?

These questions bombarded Leonardo's psyche till his body began trembling. Eventually, he gritted his teeth and spat out in a low voice, "I don't trust you two."

Both girls had their eyes shine with an unknown light for a moment. While Pandora hesitated, the female elf didn't bother second guessing her decision before planting her fingers into her mind's eye, extracting what looked like a jade crystal but not; a green seed but also not.

She presented the seed-like crystal to Leonardo and explained, "This is my soul seed. It should have been kept in the main palace as a countermeasure to prevent rebellion, but my father passed it down to me before his death."

"You can feel its connection to me if you just as much as simply hold it. With this fused into your mind's eye, my life and death are but a mere thought away."

Leonardo looked deeply into the elf's eyes, though he said nothing. She seemed to remember something before she blushed at her own stupidity before speaking out, "I forgot to introduce myself— My name is Juvia. Please, let me follow you!"

Leonardo thought for a moment before taking the seed. As previously elaborated, he could feel a mysterious connection between the seed and Juvia.

Without wasting a moment, he planted the seed into his forehead before his mind's eye consumed it. A moment later, Leonardo could feel a mystical telepathic link between himself and Juvia, albeit it was one sided in his favour.

He then silently looked over at Pandora. The girl hesitated no more and drew her short dagger before cutting the vein running through her left ring finger. Then, dark red blood flowed out. In fact, it was a single drop, but Pandora's face went pale.

She then split the drop of blood in two portions, one of them consisting of 30% which she returned to her finger, and she directed the remaining 70% to tunnel its way through Leonardo's skin like a red bullet and into his heart before he could react.

A moment later, Leonardo felt as though Pandora's heartbeat fell in sync with his own. No, more accurately, he was subconsciously commanding her heart to follow along his heart's rhythm. The effect was self explanatory, Pandora didn't need to mine words at all.

"Since you're both so adamant about it; alright." Leonardo finally agreed to their selfish, and somewhat foolish requests. He knew their goals revolved around sainthood, and their sainthood revolved around him, meaning their temporary display of allegiance might just be another ploy.

However, it didn't matter. He will make sure they wouldn't attain sainthood before he did. During his ascension, he would merge Pandora's blood essence and Juvia's nascent soul into himself, forever binding their life and death to his own.

Only then would he feel comfortable allowing them to ascend into sainthood.

Looking at Pandora's current condition, Leonardo chose to stay for a few more days while Juvia explains the general situation in Arcadia.

According to her, this planet is controlled by three races; humans, elves, and beastkin. The three forces balance out each other while simultaneously going through intense internal competition.

They are currently near the sky mountain range, a mysterious place on the edge of the western region in the forbidden domain. It is called a forbidden domain due to the treaty of the three races; this is forever a land without an owner. In a sense, the forbidden domain is shared among the three races.

Since both Juvia and Pandora suffered losses to their blood essence one way or another, Leonardo didn't question them much and allowed them to rest while he simply closed his eyes.

…

Meanwhile…

Somewhere in the starry void of the upper realms, Nier and the old man were walking through something that resembled a tunnel but did not, resembled a bridge but did not, seemingly real but also not.

"We should be arriving at the Interstellar Supreme Court's headquarters soon, young lady." The old man muttered softly. Nier nodded her head, gently opening her palm to reveal a grey vortex spiralling with bloody lines.

Who could have guessed that kid to be a virgin? I actually obtained the essence of his unique martial intent, giving me a chance for a secondary divinity! Of course, when Leonardo is strong enough, he might comprehend some of House Hestia's bloodthirsty intent, albeit the chances are too slim.

Nier chuckled lightly to herself, thinking of ways to settle this debt and unintentional gain. Suddenly, she felt nauseated and felt like vomiting.

The old man was somewhat alarmed and quickly scanned her body. The next moment, he was frozen stiff, much like Nier who did a self inspection out of habit. They both felt the initial pulse of a tiny life radiating from Nier's lower abdomen.

"This… Impossible…" Nier touched her lower abdomen in a daze, a strange expression on her face. She couldn't believe it, she was actually pregnant! With Leonardo's child!

She not only got the essence of his martial intent because he was a virgin, but the kid also knocked her up!