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Part 4

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“So, you want me to join your guild. And be under you?” Sonia nodded enthusiastically when I repeated her words.

“Why?” I never had any interest to join any guild even in LIXXO and I’d plan to do the same here too.

“I just like you.” Sonia clung to my arm. I had a bad feeling that if I rejected her, all hell would break loose. She might be what people call the yandere type. A woman with strong powers like her tended to have psychotic tendencies.

“But I don’t like you!” Elly snorted and pouted at her. However, Sonia just brushed her off. I could not proceed with what I wanted to do if I did not tell Sonia off.

“Are you a yandere, Sonia?” I asked her with certain bluntness to my words. She stared at me blankly as if I had said something weird. “What’s a yenderi?”

I could not even correct her. However, the meaning must be made clear. “It means, if I reject you right here and right now, will you kill me?” Once I said that, Elly’s face turn pale and she started to draw her weapons out. However, Sonia diffused the situation with a loud laugh. Her funny bone was tickled somehow.

“Hahahaha!! Silly boy! I could never do that.” I crossed my arms and look at her.

“Really now?” I could not let down my guard, even for a moment.

“Look, I said I like you. I have fun partying with you since you are not like the other men who would only gawk at me and doing nothing else.”

“Wearing something like that sure gets you all the attention. Serve you right for trying to be a bimbo.”

“HumppHH! What I like to wear has nothing to do with men who are useless when it comes to the real thing. Besides, these are my ‘weapons’ too you know.”

“Make me clear, Sonia. I’m losing you.”

“You are different, Ghost. From the moment I lay my eyes on you back the camp to the way you handle yourself with Brutus. Even though he was an NPC but I did not like that Father-complex brute.” Sonia paused for a little while. “Besides, your eyes are extremely focused even though I was trying to flirt with you. It’s like you have something else in your mind other than women, boobs and asses.”

“So?”

“I’m interested to know you more, that’s all.”

Nice warming words but I just shook my head. There were more to this ‘I want to know you more’ thingy. And I was not going to be taken for a fool. Though it was thanks to her that I could now finish my quest in less than half the time needed, nonetheless I had my grounds and positions to make.

“Well… there’s one thing…” Sonia answered while fidgeting around; something that I never saw her do before.

“Spit it out. I’m all ears.”

“You know… I could do with a new… member in my union for things to come.” She then turned around, her back facing me.

“What do you mean?

“You will know it if you decided to join me.” She was a little hesitant. But I was clear about my intention nonetheless.

“Well, sorry but I can’t join you.” My answer was short and direct.

“Awww… I really hoped that you will say yes.” She shrugged her shoulder and looked away from me. But, I was unmoved. I continued to shake my head, telling her my intention.

“But can I count on you when I need your help?” She did never give up, didn’t she? I could not help but to admire her tenacity a little.

“Since you had gone out of your way to help us, I would be obliged to return you the favour.”

“Good! That’s why I like you.” Sonia turned to face me and then stuck out her tongue. After a couple of giggles, she waved her goodbye. “Don’t forget, please. I really need your help.”

I did not stop her from leaving the party. She had helped us until the end of my two quests unbeknownst to her. At least I could have thanked her by helping her next time. As I saw her leave, I thought to myself that she was quite alright minus the flirting. I could not help but to give a wry smile. As I saw her continuing to wave at me at a distance, I turned my attention to the other two girls.

“Come, girls. Gather some of the springs around here, especially near the Idunn’s statue. We need to complete the gathering of the Goddess Tears.” I beckoned the Elly and Rose to start looking as I continue to identify the content and purified it to 100% purity.

Before long, I had gathered all the necessary items; 7 keys from the Old Gods statues and the whole of 99 Blood Wrym Soil and Goddess Tears all at 100% purities. And it was done with a few days of the real-time left. With a huge sigh of relief, I looked at the other two who were excited as I was.

“Let’s head back.”

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