Chapter 80: An Idol always seeks the Spotlight!

“Can’t deny her pretty face and she would’ve been perfect…only if she shuts her damn trap,” with a rough jerk, Jasper pulled me closer to him and brought his face close enough to mine that I could feel his breathing. “Now that I think about it, ‘m’lady’, we haven’t been introduced yet, right? The name's Jasper, Love.”

Giving him the stink eye, I simply stuck my tongue out and smirked, thinking, Sorry, already know your name, buddy.

“See what I mean, Boss? Spoiled little noble brat. Thinks she’s so much better than us,” Jasper scoffed, pushing me towards his boss.

The huge rhinoceros-looking beastman placed two fingers under my chin to raise my head up, making eye contact as if he was appraising me, “True enough…Hmph, not even looking away, lass? You either have the confidence that we wouldn't do anything to you, or you're delusional from whatever your family told you to do in these situations. Jasper, give me her ID, I want to know who she is.”

“Sorry, can’t do that for ya, Boss. My lads already checked through her, we couldn’t find one nor any other identifications like those emblems nobles love to wear on their clothes. For some reason, she didn’t even have any shoes when we found her,” Jasper shrugged, swaying his mullet slightly.

Just to note, I did step on something wet when Jasper brought me here, and those bandits didn’t hide their horniness when they searched me through. I know how it feels to be grossed out by something disgusting but I gotta say that those were nothing compared to today.

I felt a primal rejection and an instinctual revulsion that sent a painful chill throughout my body as those men touched me. You know, when I volunteered for this job, I honestly didn't imagine this happening. Pretty naïve, yeah, but I also haven't watched my crime dramas for seven months now.

Also to note, I really should get some sorta footwear. I got so used to having scales covering my feet that walking around without them makes me question why humans were born without some natural feet protection. Like, honestly.

“…Doesn’t matter. The slaver probably knows who she is. Argh, fuck, can’t believe I have to get that slimy bastard back. He’ll probably try to fuck us over again by lowering the price of the prisoners, like last time,” the beastman complained.

"Boss, I like a fight like any other scrapper, but you really should have kept your cool back then. After that Dragoon bitch and her knights kicked us out of our old place, and then that merc ambush, our crew can’t go around looking for trouble before we get more lads,” Jasper stated with worry in his voice.

“Stuff it, I know that much already. We’ll sell all the prisoners to the slave trader and I’ll try to squeeze as much as I can from him,” the rhino then went to his desk, picked up a ring and directed it at me, a grin forming after a blue screen came out of the ring’s blue gem. “Whew, you’re pretty mysterious, lass, but I guess all the nobles from this kingdom are expected to learn magic. Never thought that you’ll just wander in here with a whole set of mana clothes. That’s already a goldite mine, if you ask me.”

How the hell did he find out about my clothes? Was it that ring? I asked myself, mystified at this new item so I immediately used [Identify] to quench my curiosity.

Identify Ring

A manatech in the form of a ring. Uses mana from the owner to activate [Identify Lv. 1 (Restricted)] to analyze an object. Can only analyze inanimate objects and skills

Identify Lv. 1 (Restricted)

Possesses the effects of [Identify Lv. 1], however, it can only be used on inanimate objects and skills

How fun that I was able to find a new type of manatech among a group of bandits, and it’s an item that can use a skill, too. An “Identify Ring” is exactly what I would expect when you combine technology, fantasy, and game-like systems. It makes so much sense to make an item like that to make the lives of people easier.

Still, considering that he didn’t mention the skills on my clothes, I would guess that the descriptions didn’t lie when it said that the level of its [Identify] was only level 1. The higher the skill’s level, the more information it can display.

“So, lass, the name’s Narube and I am the leader of this band of unlucky bastards. I got a person that will know your background anyway, so you want to spare him the trouble by telling us who you are? Gotta treat you right if you’re important, right?” Narube, the tall rhinoncerum offered me as he pushed his horn closer to my face, as if he was trying to intimidate me. “Otherwise, you’ll have to dirty your pretty ass with the commoners. You also have to deal with my men. I can tell them to not go too far, but just saying, a lot of them aren’t too fond of nobles.”

“Thew,” I didn’t even consider it for a second, my only response was to spit into his eye. “Sorry, I don’t like being in the good grace of a bunch of rapists, slavers, terrorists, murders, and tort-HUH! OOOF!”

As I was about to end my sentence, [Foresight] and [Danger Perception] erupted into action, warning me of an attack that was about to hit me. I could see it, I could react to it, but my body couldn’t move in time. I let my guard down, my body wasn’t in the position to dodge it, as something hard slapped my face, sending me crashing onto the ground.

Kuuck, what the fuck…urgh, that actually hurts!

My head was ringing, my brain rattled inside my skull creating an intense headache. Whatever hit me was hard, as hard as getting hit by a metal slab. Nervously checking my Health and Mana, my eyes widened in shock when I saw my Mana wasn’t touched while my Health was lowered down to 2/3rd of its original.

That’s when I realized my mistake. I was under the assumption that my [Draconic Barrier] was in effect. “Why? Why was it not activated?” I thought in horror. I knew that my draconic abilities like [Spark Fang] and [Spark Fire Breath] were unusable but I thought something like [Draconic Barrier] would still stick around.

“Fucking hell, Boss! What the hell did you just do?!” Jasper shouted as I still limply laid on the ground.

“Shut it,” an unamused voice responded as loud, rumbling footsteps came closer to me, ending when a hand grabbed my throat and pulled from the ground.

“Urgh…, kragh, krrr,” I moaned, weakly grabbing my aggressor’s arm and trying to claw it off, instinctively thinking that I still had my dragonewt form’s sickle-like claws.

Hold it in, hold it in! Don’t go ballistic yet, Hestia! The others aren’t ready yet.

“You’re lucky that I know how valuable you will be, brat, otherwise that arrogance of yours would have meant your death today,” Narube callously stated. “Still, you’re used to combat, right? I saw you nearly dodging my hand back there, even when I wasn’t being serious. A mage and experienced enough to react, you’re pretty interesting, you stupid brat.”

“Nearly dodged it”, I don’t think so. That was not a glancing hit at all. I might not have taken the full brunt of that slap, but it still dealt a lot of damage to me, enough that I was even bleeding from my nose and what felt like a concussion. I guess I should be thankful that he held back, otherwise, I probably would have lost a tooth or two.

Still, why didn’t my [Draconic Barrier] activate? [Draconic Magics] is a dragon skill and it should be gone too while I’m a human but I could still use magic like normal. I had no problems hunting while in this form nor did I feel any difference from healing all those injured villagers and mercs.

Honestly, what is going on?

“Jasper, put the girl back with the others. Have Macklemor check up on her, while you’re at it. He wanted to ‘convert’ her, right?” Narube said, releasing his grip and letting me go. “Also, tell the lads to not drink too much and go to sleep early. We’re going once dawn comes to avoid anybody searching for the lass.”

“You got it, Boss,” Jasper responded with a nod, pulling me up roughly and essentially dragging me out of the tent. Once we were out, he began talking to me, “Damn, you got some guts to spit into a giant beastman’s eye, lass. If you weren’t a mana blood, I would have totally hit you up.”

I didn’t say a word. Instead of humoring Jasper, I was more pre-occupied with what happened just now.

Why can I still use [Draconic Magic] but not [Draconic Barrier]? was my main conundrum.

I can understand stuff like [Draconic Claw] or [Draconic Fangs] being unavailable but why [Draconic Barrier], too? I was relying on it to endure any retaliation from Narube. Tch, if I had known this, I wouldn’t have provoked him so much.

“Well, Love, have fun with the ‘commoners’,” with a push, Jasper put me back into the prisoner cages, leaving me here as he left the tent.

The moment he left, a man came up to me and anxiously called me out to draw my attention, “Miss Priestess, what have they done to you?!”

Like daughter, like father. Are all holy magic practitioners priestesses?

“Don’t worry about it, Sir,” with a simple snap of my fingers, three white circles appeared around me and started casting [Major Heal], healing my wounds in a white veil.

…Yeah, I also don't feel very fatigued from arcane corruption or anything. The amount of mana I use and regen is exactly the same as this morning, which means all of [Draconic Magics] effects are still active.

Draconic Magics

An ancient skill that embodies the intense power of a dragon’s magical capabilities. A combination of multiple skills that assists a dragon, who’s affinity over magic towers over others of its kind, in her control over the arcane. The skills combined are [Power of Mana] [Arcane Mind Lv. 10] [Arcane Corruption Resistance Lv. 10] [Chant Revocation Lv. 10]

Power of Mana

A skill that embodies the user becoming a source of mana. Combines [Mana Control], [Mana Recovery] and [Mana Efficiency] into one and awakens the true power of these skills

I wanted to continue brainstorming for why [Draconic Barrier] didn’t work, but my headache from that slap was still annoying me. For now, I’ll just remember this: Human form is shit for combat, don’t ever, ever use it to fight others.

I’m too accustomed to all the conveniences of being a dragonewt. I already said it once, but I really want to emphasize how shit it is to be a human. So fragile…

His 2421 Strength against 1/3rd of my original 1781…I needed to stay with the prisoners for the plan to work but I bit off more than I could chew.

“Phew, see? All is good, anyway, could I possibly have your name, please? I'm not so sure how to address you besides 'Lorena's father' or 'Sir'," I said with a smile once I wiped the blood off my nose.

“Oh right, of course! Dear, come here,” he said, calling for his wife to come closer. “My name is Glenn and this is my wife Linda. W-We don't know how to thank you for what you did for our daughter. Thank you so very much for helping her, although, it would've been fine if you had left us. Somebody as young as you shouldn't have sacrificed yourself like that.”

“Sacrifice? Now hold on, I think I did mention that help is coming, right?” I responded with a brow raised.

“Yes, but isn’t this too much?” Linda, Lorena’s mother, replied in her husband’s stead. “Miss Priestess, please, once your companions arrive, just slip out and run. It’s been a month of nothing but gruel and leftovers for everybody here. You granted a bit of the ‘white grace’ but we can’t run. We can’t escape with you.”

“Besides, young Miss,” from the corner, a male mercenary further remarked. “You just met their Boss, right? You should have an idea of how strong that beastman is. None of us mercs could fight him properly, even after we ganged up on him. He took all our arrows and swords like they were nothing. That guy is a monster, even with a limping leg, we stood no chance.”

"The guy who escorted you and the fire mage are also strong," in support, the female merc beside him mentioned. "We lost a few comrades against those two. That Jasper can slit your throat up in an instance, while that fire mage, well, you know how fire mages are. All they can do is destroy and burn, but they’re really good with it.”

Come on, I don’t always go around causing trouble. I’ve also never intentionally burned down…wait, didn’t I do that when I fought the garms? Uhhh,…I’ve got nothing more to say.

Jokes aside, are those guys really that strong? Macklemor had some interesting things ‘cause he’s a mage but Jasper was barely worth mentioning. Their combined stats were pretty much the same. The only one who is dangerous is that big asshole.

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“Oh, don’t you worry,” I answered in response to all of their arguments. “Like I’ve said. We got a few B rank strong people outside, waiting for my signal. I also won’t run away but thank you for your concern. I promised Lorena and Colwyn to bring everybody back if I could, and I don’t forget my promises. Every prisoner, of course.”

There was a mix of reactions amongst the group of prisoners. The ones that I was transported with were clearly elated, praying and smiling, holding onto the rope of hope that I gave them. However, on the other hand, those that were here before us showed obvious hesitation. Did they not believe me about Mister Kushlek’zar and Saori, or were they that concerned about Narube?

Frankly, I experienced how strong that guy was, but he also took me by surprise. No matter what you told me, our victory was guaranteed.

As I was standing around in this awkward mix between happiness and uncertainty, my [Detection Sensor] informed me of somebody approaching the tent.

“Excuse me,” a croaky voice uttered before revealing a lanky man in his late twenties entering the tent. “My Lady? Could I have a word with you?”

The person that came in was none other than Macklemor, the fire mage that made that “bonfire”.

“My Lady, please don’t look at me like that, I am only here to talk to you,” he stated, uncomfortable from the glare that I was giving him.

Well, I wasn’t the only one who showed him that he was unwelcomed here. Those who were captured by the bandits today, who had to see their wagons be set on fire while having their food supply stolen, weren’t hiding their hostility at all. They were furious.

“Not interested,” I replied flatly.

“No, please, it isn’t what you think,” he pleaded. “Ah, where are my manners, I must introduce myself first. I am Macklemor, a fire sorcerer and a loyal servant of the Origin god Danterno, the God of Fire and Destruction. May I have your name, please, my Lady?"

“Hestia,” I responded. He said the magical word, after all.

“‘Hestia’, a beautiful name if I must say so myself, my Lady” Macklemor bowed, attempting to seem courteous. "Now, I would like to immediately get to the subject at hand, as I presume you would like it too. Please, could I convince you to accept Danterno in your heart?"

Huh?

“Hu-Wait what? Is that all that you came here for?” I asked flabbergasted.

“Affirmative, Lady Hestia. I saw your pendant, you are a follower of Plesia, the Water Origin Goddess, correct?” he remarked, causing everybody behind me to make a loud ‘Huh?’ sound before he continued. “However, I don’t think you know how much potential you possess as a fire mage.”

No, I’m pretty sure I know that very well.

“You must have heard so many outlandish rumors about us fire mages, that we only seek destruction and carnage, burning everything down wherever we go. I can tell you this from my 18 years of experience that they are all wrong,” he said firmly, revealing his pendant.

No, I’m pretty sure I caused quite a lot of trouble in the Belzac forest. Trouble also found me, so that also counts, I think.

Macklemor presented to me his pendant, which depicted a sprouting seed covered in flames, "Our magic is indeed powerful and destructive, but we don't do it purely out of pleasure. Every flame that we nourish to its fullest potential is our way to show our loyalty and faith to our God of Fire. Destruction amounts to rebirth, the church of Danterno doesn't seek wanton and unjust carnage, but a precise control over flame to promote the revitalization of the world. Fire purifies corruption. Fire consumes fire.”

This…This is starting to sound like a sermon. He is preaching to me, literally! What the hell, I was first getting threatened by a wolfkin, then by Jasper, after that by their boss, and now some fanatic is actually trying to convert me to his religion? Jeez, sneaking into this bandit camp has been a real adventure.

"Uh, ok, and why are you doing this then?" I asked, confused. "Your boss Narube is planning to sell me off, so won’t all your efforts become useless once that happens?”

Frowning, Macklemor slammed his hand at my prison bars, fervently responding, “No, I won’t let that happen! Lady Hestia, if you were to accept my proposal then I can buy your freedom back. My…estranged family, the Talsyn, isn’t a noble house like yours, however, that doesn’t mean that we aren’t influential. Not only is my family quite wealthy in Davi and magical knowledge, but we also have a good amount of influence as we are retainers of House Morgiana, one of the seven dukes who support our Kingdom of Artorias, as you should know.”

No, I don’t know that fact as I am not an aristocrat from this country but thank you for telling me anyways.

“House Morgiana?” I asked, acting surprised.

“Exactly, the current Grand Duke of Arcane Affairs. I heard what you did back there with Boss, extremely unwise if I may add, so the chances are high that he would do his best to make your life hell. That man is terrible when it comes to handling his emotions,” the fire mage explained. “He won’t allow you to get back to your family, however, I can intervene. I can pay for everything using my connection to my family. I can give you back your freedom if you wish. You won’t have to stay here any longer the moment you accept my proposal, I swear this on my mortal soul.”

Wait, what did he just say?

“You’re actually trying to help me here? B-But…why? What do you get out of this?”

I didn’t expect that at all. From the moment I was captured by these highwaymen, everything I experienced during my captivity was maddening. Their lecherous gazes that could kill a girl from disgust, the cruel treatment they gave their prisoners, and the general lack of concern for the well-being of others.

My impression of them was filled with an unbending rage that was further tempered by that sucker-punch Narube gave me, flaring up my will to show that guy who he messed with. I had nothing but contempt for every single person here, helping me to make up my mind to fight. I wasn’t gonna go on a murder rampage, I had enough sense, but breaking some bones would provide me with much-needed catharsis.

So, you can guess that I wasn’t exactly expecting somebody like Macklemor to appear. I honestly thought he was as bad as everybody else from what I heard from the prisoners.

“I already told you, Lady Hestia. I want to convert you to Danterno’s religion. I don’t know why I am feeling this way but I feel something within you that is calling for me, that I should do all I can to convert you to a fire mage,” Mackelor stated. "As you know, we fire mages aren't popular but that is just because of everybody's ignorance. They don't understand us. There are bad eggs in every group but that doesn't give people the right to persecute the entire group because of them. Unfortunately, we can’t ignore reality as the fire mage order receives fewer novices every year…but that can change with you, Lady Hestia! I can assure you that you will become-Huh?"

In the middle of his ramble, Macklemor suddenly stopped, standing still as he looked at something with widened eyes. I asked, “What is it?”

“Y-Your ponytail, it’s flailing about,” he pointed out.

Holding on to it, I could confirm that he was telling the truth, my ponytail was swinging around like crazy, “Mister Macklemor, before I give my answer, could you answer mine first?”

“Of course, anything you must know, I will answer!” he replied without hesitating.

“Thank you. First, why are you with these… ‘people’? You are clearly educated, and you don’t strike me as a psychopath like the others,” I asked with a frown.

“…It’s not a pleasant story, I must say. I-I committed a crime due to my emotions. As a mage, I shouldn’t let my emotions control me at that moment, but I just couldn’t help it. Jasper…he was a friend I made at our capital and he was also the one to save me from my impending death,” Macklemor replied with a distraught face, pained from having to remember it. “You see…I’m not a particularly talented mage compared to the rest of my family. It also didn’t help that I rejected my family’s custom spells and converted to fire magic. I’ve nothing against nobles like everybody else here, as I have grown up with them, but I can’t deny that some are…unpleasant. Their mockery was harsh.”

That stung deep. Although our situation wasn’t the same, I kinda sympathized with him. My memories from my past life, the time when I was bullied and ignored by my fellow dance trainees due to my family’s background, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.

"I was supposed to be executed but Jasper got me out of there. He saved my life. W-We didn't exactly plan to join a bandit crew but…it just happened. Life just brought me here," he continued. "At first, it was quite fun. I could finally do what a fire mage should be doing, burning down the old so the new can flourish. I couldn't be happier…but I quickly realized the reality of it when I accidentally killed a bystander while I was possessed by joy.”

Macklemor heaved a short sigh before raising his head, "I love fire, I can't help it when a magnificent flame grows before me…but I take no joy in all this bloodshed. Danterno doesn't preach needless bloodshed!" He then turned his gaze to the women that he captured today. "I am sorry. I apologize as a worshipper of Danterno but also as a fellow believer of our Goddess, Aurena. I am a sinner. I couldn't stop them from taking your neighbor's lives, nor could I help myself from feeling delighted from burning their corpses. I deserve nothing but your anger."

Silence, nothing but silence. The women he dedicated those words to didn't say a word, simply glaring at him with reddened eyes caused by weeping for their fallen and unconscious men. There was no forgiveness despite how sincere he sounded. It may be silent, but the atmosphere was filled with rage and sadness, permeating the very air with a thick cloud of emotions.

A good man made a mistake and landed with the wrong crowd.

“…If you were given the chance, would you escape from this place?” breaking the silence, I asked Macklemor my last question.

Staring at me, he wept, mouth agape as he tried to form some words, “I-I cannot.”

“Are you serious?” I replied in shock. “Then what was all of that then, huh? What was that heartful backstory of yours supposed to do then? You’re even shedding tears, but you say, ‘I cannot’? Why?”

“Lady Hestia, I owe Jasper my life. If he hadn’t been there then I would have been executed for my crimes. I can’t abandon him, he’s my friend,” he said with a wry smile, tears still flowing. “If that is all your questions, then please accept my proposal. I can get you out of here unharmed, I promise. Your family doesn’t have to pay for your release. However, I will only do that if you accept becoming my apprentice. Become a Danterno worshipper. You don’t have to give up on your other faiths.”

I stared into his eyes to confirm his intentions, let out a sigh of exasperation in response, and then freed my ponytail with my still tied-up hands. After a few seconds, a booming explosion suddenly resounded, terrifying everybody in the tent, besides for me.

My fellow prisoners were in a panic, questioning what it was, while Macklemor simply left the tent.

With him outside, I strained my arms and broke free from my bindings, easily tearing through the thick rope. I then cast [Flame Spear], grabbed it, and morphed it with [Pyrokinesis] into a blade to slice through the prison bars like butter.

““Miss Priestess?!”” Lorena’s parents asked, surprised at my actions.

“Mr. Glenn and Mrs. Linda, please call me ‘Hestia’. I’m not a priestess,” I answered.

Not stopping, I then cast a few green and brown magic circles around the cage and a single giant white one under us. Seeing all these magic circles, the villagers and mercs quickly stood up, mesmerized by all the colors that were appearing before them, “T-Then, who are you then?!”

Before I could answer that, Macklemor stormed back into the tent, sweat flowing down his forehead, “Lady Hestia, something happened! I have to ask you to…stay here.”

Giving the anxious fire mage a short glance, I dispelled the [Flame Spear] that I was holding and began emitting a mana cloud from my body, covering my whole body.

[Humanized (Moderate)] inflicted on [Young Spark Inferno Dragon, Hestia Atsuko]

Once my vision returned, I flaunted everything about myself. My horns, my claws, my fangs, my scales, my tail, and even my slit dragon pupils. Like a curtain, the mana cloud from [Humanization] hid me behind it, eventually revealing the ticking-time-bomb that was waiting to blow.

“Sorry, Mister Macklemor but I can’t stay backstage,” I said with a grin. “For I am an Idol! And an Idol always seeks the spotlight! Terra Wall, Wind Blast, Air Shield!”

Gusts of wind and walls of earth erupted from the ground, sending not only the cage but also the tent into the orange sky. While my barrier of wind slowly enveloped over me, protecting the villagers and mercs, another explosion rumbled the bandit camp, sending the already alarmed bandits into another round of hysteria.

Time to own this night.

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