Chapter 5: Soul Binding, divine realm and targets

"That maid? Is your mother?" I got surprised at Kiira's sudden words.

"I'm sure that it's her. I recognize that style of clothes, it's from my birthplace, forest of elves…" Kiira was trembling with sadness and anger.

"Well, whatever," I took Kiira's hand and pulled her away.

"Huh?"

"Have you forgot? You are MY family. No matter what happens, even if they wanted to take you back, I will stop them!"

"Leo…"

I stopped before my carriage and turned to face Kiira, "We are family, no one will EVER torn us apart. And if they try… well, I have «Space rupture» for those times," I smiled at her.

"Leo… I love you," Kiira hugged me with tears in her eyes.

'Loyalty have leveled up. Subject [Kiira] is now max level. Due to rare circumstances between subject [Kiira] and user, skill [Soul binding] have been aquired and established between the two'

[Soul binding] Skill that bonds the souls for eternity. Souls that have been bonded can use each other's unique skill once per day.

Name: Leonard Hirano Dragonrose
Level: 58
Race: Majin (unawakened)
Titles: Third son, Father’s boy, Reincarnator, Natural enemy of monsters, Favorite child of Skill god, Apostole of Skill god, Destroyer, Natural predator, Dragon slayer, Count, Prodigy, Thief of maidens hearts

Skills:

Unique: King of greed, King of wisdom, Loyalty, Spell weaver, Indomitable, Lord’s ambition, Soul binding

Supreme: Auto-heal (9), Magic power armor (9), Fly (7), Water manipulation (8), Water walking (8), Invisibility (6), Crate wing (7), Dragon breath (3), Nature manipulation (5), Iron stomach (4)

Exra rare: Increased mana recovery (10), Increased stamina recovery (10), Magic manipulation (10), Void magic (8), Space magic (10), Petrification gaze (10), Hide presence (10), Sense presence (10), Shock absorbtion (6), Light step (7), Shadow walk (6), Air walk (6), Nature magic (6), Intimidation (10), Angel flash technique (10), Demon sword technique (10)

Rare: Fire magic (10), Water magic (9), Wind magic (9), Earth magic (10), Ice magic (10), Lightning magic (10), Metal magic (10), Item box (10), Transmute (10), Apprisal (7), Analyze item (7)

Uncommon: Quick feet (10), Etique (10), Hereditary (10), Paralyze spore (5), Sleep spore (5), Taming (3), Sense temperature (8), Iron skin (10), Sticky thread (8), Charge (9), Ostilian slashing technique (10), Unmovable Kastena technique (10), Mist sword technique (10)

Common: Leap (10), Kick (10), hand to hand combat (10), Swordsmanship (10), Animal training (6), Dissolve (9), Marksmanship (10), Keen hearing (10), Spearmanship (10), Metalwork (10), Deffence shell (10), Long sight (10), Cooking (8)

Blessings: Magic goddess (8), War god (8), Merchant god (9), Skill god (10), Alchemy god (8), Water goddess (8), Fire god (7), Wind god (6), Earth goddess (5), Goddess of Love (4)

Sure enough, it's a unique skill. Also it seems that the goddess of love have her eyes on me now too… I didn't lost any SP by aquiring the skill, but it seems in order to use it with the others, I need to max out the level of their loyalty…

Loyalty sujects: Kiira (MAX), Tarumipemi (10), Ruzu (10), Golilgri (10), Alette (10), Tifaana (10), Nina (10), Lulu (10), Victina (9), Tina (9), Setto (9), William (9), Yuni (5)

So the level 10 isn't the highest? Also, Will have rather high loyalty even though we met each other only twice… Yuni… oh yeah, that girl that's head over heels for Will, I forgot about her again…

"Leo… kiss me. Kiss me now," Kiira looked up from my chest and I rised her chin up.

"How long do we have to wait?!" Taru's angry voice flew from the carriage while the doors got smash open.

From the carriage, Taru, Alette, Goli, Lulu and Victina were looking at me and Kiira.

"Let's hear your explanation, Leo," Victina smiled coldly.

"Yes, let's hear it," Alette, Lulu and Taru nodded with her.

"I-I would like to hear it too… if I could…" Goli said while blushing deep red.

This won't end easily… well, I have to reap what I sow. I guess I will have to take them on a date sooner or later this week.

♦

Meanwhile in the realm of Gods.

"Hahahahaha! You got in quite a predicament Leo!" the skill god started laughing at the situation in crystal ball on his table.

"You never change, spying on your followers like that," greator goddess sighed.

"Well, this guy is funny so I can't help it! I almost want to push some more people at him…"

"Sigh… you never change… Tell me, why did you gave him that skill?"

"Ah, you mean the forbiden [Soul binding]?"

"That one. If I didn't know you, I would thought you are trying to recreate 'That thing' from one thousand years ago."

The skill god pushed her hairs from her face and looked up at the creator goddess, "and why did I have to do that, do you remember?"

"Tsk," the creator goddess turned her head away.

"I should probably remind you. YOU were the one who decided who to reincarnate and where in that time. Due to that many people who shouldn't even be considered to reincarnation, like death row prisoners, were given second chance. AND becouse of that, the world almost ended. I had to use the 'Grand Apostole' in order to stop them. And don't make me start talking about those Apostoles the rest of the guys created afterwards to clean up after you. That created it's own mess alright."

Back in the golden age, the Creator goddess was omnipotent, but becouse of that, she made many mistakes which almost destroyed the world a couple of times (the rest of the gods stoped couting it already). And after the reincarnation of nearly 5 000 people at once, the new policy has been issued.

The Skill god created Soul binding to bind all the reincarnated people to the Grand apostole and then let him self-destruct in order to take those souls away from the world. Suprisingly, it had a side effect, a goddess of reincarnation was born from remnants of the Grand apostole and started reincarnating the souls and clensing them from their crimes at the very same time. By doing that, the souls of the dead were returned to the world as infants without memories of their previous lives.

One could say that reincarnation of souls from another worlds, like Leo, Kiira and Taru, are unique due to that nowadays.

"And now you created your own apostole. Just what do you plan to do with him if he goes off rails?"

"Stop your plans of course, and he won't go off rails that easily, mind you," Skill god smiled mischieviously.

"Urgh… this again… listen. The saintess has to die. There is no other choice, not even that apostole of yours can change it."

"You keep saying that, but I belive that young should experience as much as they possibly can… ...heheh, hey creator goddess. Let's make a bet."

"You wanna bet with me? About what?"

"You say the girl has to die, I say she deserves to live. If Leo saves her life from the danger you forseen, I will take away his apostole title."

"And if you win? What will happen?"

"You will give Leo your blessing. Level 9 at that."

"Tsk, don't you ask for too much? Are you seriously trying to risk so much for the life of one useless girl? You know that her death will save millions of lives? Are you really forsaking them?"

"I'm not saying I'm forsaking anyone. I'm telling you that Leo will be the beacon of hope for the people instead and no one will have to die."

"The road you are walking is as dangerous as a steep cliff, Skill god. Fine. If he manages to overcome the [Riders of hell], I shall give him my blessing, level 3 at best, tho," the creator goddess walked from the room without even looking back.

When she stepped in the hallway which conected rooms of the main quartet of gods: Skill god, Life goddess, Death goddess and her own, she took out a plushie from her item box-like storage.

"Fufufufu… I shall oversee your growth, my immortal boy," the creator goddess laughed for a while and as she went back to her room while cleaning her droll.

Only thing left in the hallway was one brown strand of hair.

♦

When I finally got back home, I had promised to go on date with everyone present.

"Urgh… nothing beats soft bed after long day…" I said as I dozed off.

"That's true," voice ringed out from under the sheets.

"Huh? Kiira? What are you doing here?!"

"I felt little down so I came to recharge my energy with some Darlingium!" Kiira smiled and softly tapped on the bed next to her, signalizing that I should join.

I reluctantly laid down and let Kiira snuggle to me. I could feel her small fingers on my chest and her legs locking me in position. Somehow I feel like I fell pray to anaconda.

"I… didn't expected to see mother here of all places…"

"Do you want to meet her?"

"No… it might be painful to do… I would rather be in dark about my past…"

Kiira, even though she is reincarnated like I am, possess memories from before she was reincarnated. She once told me that her first memory after reincarnation was that of the slave trader, dad bought her from, buying her from her 'Mother,' I'm not so sure that meeting that woman would be wise. I should ask dad to to talk to him about Kiira's past for me, maybe we will learn something…

I patted Kiira's head, "Okay, I understand, so for today let's just cuddle a little okay?"

"Hehe, you know how to work that tongue of yours Leo~ I like it~" Kiira smiled and dive into my arms.

The next day, we had free time so I assambled our group.

"Alright, everyone is here now? Great. For today, I have planned to gather information about our neighbourhood. There is something that bothers me a little. It's this organization called Golden Quince."

"Those criminals?" Alette asked.

"Two years ago, me and Kiira culled their numbers, but they seem to regrow in last two years."

"Wait, you culled them down? Does that mean you are that Golden eyed shadow?" Alette jumped up.

"Golden eyed shadow? Oh, yeah, when you use Petrification gaze, your eyes turn yellow, so that's probably why," Kiira deduced.

"So you two were fighting criminals back then? Are you some kind of superhero team?" Taru asked with unbelieving expresion.

"Yeah, we wanted to get some skills and do something good for public at the same time so… yeah…" I scratched the back of my head.

"Unbelieavable… you were just ten years old… but you were hunting criminals already…"

After that I showed everyone our planned spot for hunt today.

"As you can see, this is where we were active two years ago. I want to start looking from there and continue to circle around these two blocks."

"Hm… there are a lot of storages and small companies shops. Also it's right next to shopping district and warehouse district… those are some interesting places," Taru nodded as she scanned through the papers on the table.

"Yes. Now… «Satelite» «Overseer»"

"Were those new spells?"¨

"Yeah, Satelite is compound of space, void, wind and sound magics. It allows me to map and locate anything. Overseer on other hand allows me to see and hear any movement or sound in predeterminated area."

"Wait, did you said sound magic? What is that? This is the first time I hear about this type of magic!"

"Um... That's becouse I created it, Ruzu..."

Did he said he created magic type? was what everyone present thought.

"Fufu... as expected of our Leo," Kiira started laughing.

"Uh... you never stop to amaze me... this is absurd... good thing I don't have to report to sir Flik like when we were still in Roseburg..." Ruzu held her forehead with both hands, massaging her temples with her thumbs.

"See sister? I told you he will surprise us again!" Taru laughed same as Kiira.

"Um, would it be possible for me to learn it? ...I don't have enough magic though..." Goli still didn't give up on learning magic herself and was deep in thought.

Maybe I should get her magic skill orb...

♦

Later that day, we were looking at one of the potencial targets.

Said target was shop called Silver moon, a pawn shop of sorts. Today there were many people going in, much more then the capacity could allow.

"I got news master!" Tifaana jumped out of my shadow like an assassin in fantasy novels.

"Is it something interesting?"

"You bet master! There is underground hall where they prepare auction. It seems that in order to get in, you need to say 'May gold shine over quince tree for eternity.' Did I do good?" Tifaana said and started wagging her tail.

"You sure did," I said and patted her head.

"What's the plan?" Allete asked and gripped her sword.

"I'm using «Echo» and «Wind follow» spells but from what I've learned, it seems that there is at least twenty people in the front, probably customers. Also there are around fifty people who looks like guards... Okay, Tifaana could you take Taru, Goli and Ruzu with you to the back?"

"Sure thing!" Tifaana smiled and pulled the girls in the shadow space.

"Kiira, Alette you come with me. Do you have your masks?"

"The recognition inhibitors, right?" Alette asked.

"Yup. It's a magic item that hides your status. I only have enough for our team so please make sure you don't broke them. Their magic circles are complex and have a lot if anti-theft circles that when removed wrongly, makes the item selfdestruct."

"Is it safe to wear then?" Kiira said and added teasingly, "I would have to make you take responsibility if my face got damaged you know?"

I probably shouldn't bring up the Soul binding skill now...

"Sure thing," I waved my hand and started walking towards the shop.

Renewing their courage, Kiira and Alette started following behind me.

Seeing us arrive, the guard stood up, "From early morning–"

"–May gold shine over quince tree for eternity," I answered.

The guard nodded and let us enter the shop.

Inside, we were shown to separated table, where we could see the stage and auctioneer could see us.

So bronze plates are for gold coins and iron for silver coins, I see, I read on a prepared note

"Ladies and gentleman, dear sponsors, it's my joy to welcome you to our first auction after new year. I belive that we have something for everyone! Magic items from ancient times! Magic books and stones! Rare magic beasts! Cursed weapons! And what everyone is looking forward today... the RAREST of SLAVES!" the auctioneer tried to hype up people sitting in the hall, but failed misserably.

"Tsk, so they deal with in lives too, what a foul beasts," Alette let her feelings loose a little.

"Don't worry, Goli, Tifaana and the rest already encircled this place. We just need to give signal," I said in low voice and in the meanwhile the auction started.

The magic books sold for around 5-8 regular gold coins and they were mostly for intermediate magics.

From what I understood, majority of nobility with magical affinity have at least one intermediate spell, while most of commoner mages have one or two Basic magics. Advanced magics, like Space and Void are considered the rarest so many people with them are in relatively high position.

After that came tamed monsters and while they were rare, none of them had any interesting skills or strenghts, which would made me interested in them. Also, owning most of them was illegal.

No need to say that the magic items were pretty much on verge of destruction and cursed weapons are cursed weapons so I wouldn't buy them.

"I sincerely thanks everyone present for waiting this long, now we shall start main event. The first slave came from beast kingdom war two years ago. Many of you may know him as the one who lead his troops under first prince of that kingdom agains thirteen wands and failed misserably! BUT! This man managed to wound duke Netrose so badly that he had to releave his position as the Knight captain! The magic swordsman of Blazing blade, Volcanic Dragonfolk Idra!!!"

"UOOOOH!" the people got instantly hyped up.

After all, this man was the reason why my dad stopped being Knight commander and guardian of the king, of course people who wished to get gid of my father for good were still many among the smaller factions.

In one battle many years ago Idra inflicted father with curse that rend him unable to wield sword with his full power.

Sadly for Blazing blade here, the curse was lifted from my father when I brought Taru home from the Forest dragon subjugation, where her holy powers got exponential boost.

"Fifty gold!"

"I give sixty!"

"Here! I give eighty!"

People started calling prices over each other.

"Truely disgusting. We are moving out everyone. Prepare your magic swords," I gave the signal.

At that moment a flash blinded everyone on the room except for us.

"Wh-what's happening?"

I released Paralyze spore with wave of my hand and with Sticky thread I made everyone unable to move. After that I used charge to knock the auctioneer unconscious.

"Shadows three, four and five eliminate guards. Shadow one and two tie everyone in this room and then follow me."

I turned around and looked at the man before me. Unlike Sea Dragonfolk, Volcanic dragonfolk had red hairs with gray eyes and their face looked more like that of a lizard then that of a human.

"I won't thank you," He said with evil glare in his eyes.

"I don't need thanks from you anyway," I answeared him in same tone and knocked him out.

I continued to back, where Taru was guarding her post. She was using her water magic spells which I created for her.

Her hard work payed of, becouse anyone who tried to escape ended up asleep thanks to one of the recently created spells «Drowsiness field» Thanks to this spell, anything that stepped into this field started to doze off.

"How many you have there?"

"Six people in total! One of them is a slave! She needs medical treatment, can I take her out?"

"Sure, but return as soon as you are done."

"Understood," Taru nodded and warped away with girl in her hands.

After that, I tied the people hit with drowziness field and returned to the main room.

It's hard to belive that this place was run only by fifty people...

"So? How are our prisoners?" I asked Kiira.

"We have tied them up and prepared them for extraction, Lord Kogane," Kiira bowed while kneeling.

"Huh? Um, erm, yes, good work, Shadow one," I got from myself and walked to the auctioneer.

He had some very nasty titles so I decided to start with him.

"For your crimes against the living, you shall bear the responsibility. As the one to judge you, I shall take away your skills."

I placed my hand on his forehead and activated Skill extraction.

First skill I took from him and crystalized into Skill orb was [Contract] skill. It's a skill he was using to enslave people against their will.

"UGHRAAAA!!!" the man screamed out.

"Sadly your skills will not suffice for all your crimes, henceforth, after I take them... no... it will be better if you don't know."

With that I took away skills from everyone present, even the customers.

I also checked their status, so I would know who I should be wary of in the noble society. As it turned out, some lower ranked nobles or servants of middle ranked ones were present as well.

"Sir! The guards have arrived!" Tifaana reported.

That was slower then I expected. Well, I already took all their skills and their SP is low enough to keep them alive while not being able to learn any skills.

As I found out, around 10 SP is gained when people level up. If people don't level up they won't gain any SP. That's all what I found out.

"I see. Let's leave these people to them. I already have their skills anyway."

"What about those slaves?" Kiira asked and rised Blazing blade with one hand above her head.

"Ah... we should take them too. They MAY be useful in the future," I answeared Kiira and we left the room to go to back stage.

"Oh, ten slaves and five magic beasts remaining, you don't see these that often. Where are the sold ones?" Taru nodded as she was healing their wounds.

"In the next room. Is there something interesting for you?" Ruzu asked.

"That white tigerfolk child looked familiar, doesn't she?" Goli answeared instead of Taru.

"You know her?" I asked.

"I'm not sure becouse we've met only once, but I think she's Daika De Baule, one of illegitimate daughters of king of Beasts."

"Whoa, you sure?" Kiira got surprised.

"I know that white tigerfolks are rare and she never appeared in public. After all, Daika was called White demon by her mother, which tried to kill her numerous times. Also the king of beast personally tried to hide her from her mother. The time I met her, was to give her blessings, you could call it a fluke," Taru shrugged.

"Well, let's see her, we won't be able to do much by standing here doing nothing," I shrugged too and walked into the room.

The stench of human wastes was bad in the first room, but it was even worse here. I even got feeling like I smell blood and death.

"What a nasty smell. «Air cleaning»"

The stench got little better and Alette used «Light ball» to create some light for us.

What we saw was a mass of bodies in corner of the room, probably discarted slaves that died due to some kind of illness. On the other side of the room were chained up people who were sold today.

Five finfolk, two catkin girls, the white tigerfolk girl, three dragonfolks (one earth and two volcanic) one foxkin one rabitkin and two dwarves.

"Everyone, I will cut your restraints now—"

"P-Please! Take just me and let the rest go!" the tigerfolk girl spread her arms to protect the kids behind her.

"Uhm... we already finished up the people from the auction so they won't be able to go after you. But there definitely are still people in this organization remaining. If you come with us, I can guarantee your safety," I looked her in her eyes.

"Miss Daika, please do as he says," Taru removed her mask and smiled: "we came to help."

"L-lady Tarumipemi?! The priestess of Sea dragonfolk temple?" the girl got surprised.

"I'm no longer priestess. The king burned the temple to the ground after all. Now I serve under new master," Taru placed her hand on my shoulder.

"«Dimension home» this is my spell, if you enter it, I will be able to transport all of you to our base."

"I– I will trust you... for now," the tigerfolk girl bowed deeply, still trembleing weakly.

Either way, all fifteen kids boarded the dimension home and I was able to close the opened entery. After that we put the cages with magic beasts in the dimension home with the rest of the slaves. Lastly members of my team boarded the spell and I waited for the guards to enter the room.

I took a bar chair that was near the pult on the stage and was overlooking the people.

In that moment the doors on three sides bursed open and soldiers stormed in. Among them I was able to recognize father of William, the current count Kilten.

"Welcome guards of the royal capital! For this day let me give you this gift of slavers and their sponsors!" I spread my arms theatrically while standing up, making my cape open dramatically.

"Who are you?" count Kilten called out to me while the guards were encircling both me and the criminals.

"I am no one interesting, but last time, you were calling me Golden eyed shadow. Henceforth! Let me introduce myself! I am known as Kogane!" I dramaticaly extended my right hand and after a while, I added: "Now if you excuse me, bye~"

I activated Hide presence skill and then I warped around the city until finaly arriving home.

There, I let everyone out, except for the magic beasts.

"Everyone should take a good night sleep. We have prepared some rooms so please use them after you get out of bath. Kiira I will leave the rest to you and the others."

"Yes... but what about those three?" Kiira pointed at Blazing blade and the two dwarven boys, the only males in the group.

"Ah, yes... Well, I will take care of those three."

I signalized to the three to follow me and we entered my office. There I sit in the chair and looked at them.

"I will give you a little heads up," I removed my mask and hood of my coat, "My name is Leonard Hirano Dragonrose and I'm a count in Ostillian kingdom."

"You're a kid," Blazing blade sneered at me.

"Yes, I'm only twelve years old, but I am still able to knock you out in one hit. You really are weaker then I thought after listening to fathers stories from battlefield."

"Father? Was he someone I fought with?"

"Well yes, of course. I think you didn't forget duke Flik Almont Netrose, right?"

"Y-you are... that demons..." Idra stuttered.

"Calling my father demon isn't really nice, but it's true that he really is powerful."

"So what will you do now? Give me to your father on silver plate?"

"Why should I do that?" I asked little annoyed.

"But... I'm his worst enemy... I even put a curse on him. On your father!"

"Yeah, I lifted it, no worry."

"Huh?" Idra became completly speachless.

"I mean, you saw Tarumipemi on our way back, right?"

"Uh, yes. Although I thought that she was dead after king Helion's attack."

"She survived thanks to her sister Golilgri, but they were turned into slaves and I bought them."

"So Goli is alive too? That's good to hear," Idra fell back to his seat visibly releaved.

"So you two know each other?"

"You can say that. I'm her godfather, you see. Well, she lost her noble names when she joined the temple knights so it doesn't really means much," Idra seemed releaved a little.

"I'm sure you have a lot of catching up to do so I will give you some time... now as for you two..."

"Sir! I'm Reidur and this is my brother Raidur!"

"We also go by Rei and Rai! And we are magic blacksmiths!"

""Please let us work for you!"" the two bowed to me.

Both brothers had short beard and both were really simmilar, yet they were one year apart from each other. Reidur had Material alchemy skill, which is higher alchemy skill, which specializes in separating materials from each other and combining them. It's mostly used to separate metals from ore and other metals to get 100% pure metals.

On other hand, Raidur, the younger brother have skills called [Magic smith], which allows him to imbue magic into weapons he forge. Also the description from King of Wisdom told me that it's a skill rarely seen among dwarven royalty.

Better to keep watch over these two.

"Alright, I will give you some work," I noticed Ruzu giving me signal that the bath is ready, "Let's go enjoy the bath."

♦

Later, when I got out of the bath and send the dwarf duo and Idra to their rooms.

I returned back to my room and took out all the skill crystals.

Supreme: Wind reading (*1)
Extra rare: Ghost magic (*1), Hide presence (*3), Increased mana recovery (*2), Increased stamina recovery (*1), Magic manipulation (*3), Light step (*5), Shadow walk (*2), Contract (*1)
Rare: Fire magic (*3), Water magic (*3), Wind magic (*6), Lightning magic (*1), Item box (*1)
Uncommon: Harden skin (*5), Iron skin (*2)
Common: Swordsmanship (*35), Spearmanship (*10), Marksmanship (*10), Hand to hand combat (*20), Leap (*10), Kick (*10)

"So many skills... but only [Wind reading], [Ghost magic] and [Contract] are new. All the rest I already have... um... tomorrow... I have to...zzz" I doze off sitting on the chair.