30. Too Easy

After explaining the situation to the sisters, I watched their mood improve. We had a solid lead now and could further our plans.

I also proved that I could carry my own weight, though I had to admit that I had barely done anything in that fight. They had been too low-leveled for me to do much, and executing more of my techniques could prove dangerous to my weak body.

The leader whose name was Devon further explained what he did within the mansion, and why even his injured ear wasn't enough reason to not show up at work.

However, to ensure that he indeed said the truth, I made him take us to his house, which ended up taking a bit over an hour of walking to reach. A small cluster of shabby-looking structures with thatched roofs reached our sight. It looked like a village with that town.

Devon led us to his home after pleading that we did not hurt his family, to which Eiko swore that we would not.

He turned out to be telling the truth. He had an elderly mother who was over eighty. Her eyes had grown dim, but she could still see. She scolded him for getting into trouble and pleaded that we did not harm her lowlife son.

She had done this by prostrating before us. Devon's little brother who seemed only a bit younger than Nura also prostrated himself before us.

Utterly uncomfortable with the whole thing, Eiko had been quick to help her rise, to which the old lady had shed tears.

Feeling irritated that Devon would make his mother go through that, I asked a simple question.

"Where is the ear I told you to bring?"

Confused, he responded by pulling out a bloodied cloth from his pocket.

I took it from him and instantly felt a familiar sensation rise in my chest then flow into my palms. It had only been a guess, but it seemed that ability of mine could fix that problem.

Both sisters looked at me in surprise, but I nodded to the question in their eyes. They limited themselves to watching at that point.

"Next time... consider her, you Idiot!" I grabbed a hold of his collar, pulled him closer then slammed my right hand into his face which contained the detached ear.

Before he could wince in pain from my smack, Devon and everyone within the room watched a warm golden light burst out from my hand. His brother and mother looked on in confusion, while the sister felt wonder at that sight.

I felt vitality exit my figure and confirmed that it indeed worked.

Devon fell to the ground as my approach had been rather rough… yet. He placed his hand on his ear and felt all the hair on his arms rise from shock.

As though to confirm, his gaze landed on my right palm but found that it was empty.

"W-w-what is this?!" He asked, shaken.

"A gift for your mother, seeing as her son is too foolish to keep himself out of trouble," I responded, not answering his real question.

Our interaction fell into the background at that point. His mother had shed more tears than she did prior to then. I of course ensured that they promised to keep it a secret. Then again, who would believe them?

Eventually, we decided that Devon would fake a sickness the next day but in turn, I would replace him the day after.

Somehow, Eiko had talked me into doing it, despite how dangerous it was. But I guess my display of power had worked… too well.

Devon kept his side of the deal and I showed up with him the next day as proof that his post would not be left empty. I would work for three days. Meaning I had three days to find their brother and get him in on the plan.

Besides, Devon had confirmed that a person with his features lived within the mansion, leaving us with a certainty that allowed us to formulate a solid plan on how the whole thing would work.

This of course is what brought me to my current situation.

The soldier left me after explaining a few more things—I was to start immediately, and already; dung from during the night, was already waiting.

"If this isn't a proof of my goodwill I don't know what is," I remarked, walking into the stable. Horses stood on both sides and from what I saw that place featured exactly seventy-hundred horses.

How was one man supposed to deal with all this?

Nevertheless, I started my work.

Looking back to the past, had anyone told me I would one day do this, I'd have fought them to the death for such an insult.

Apart from the repulsive aroma of fresh dung, the amount of water needed was immense, and I only had three basins to work with!

This was unholy labor!

Drawing water took a lot of time, and that workload reminded me of the slave camp. The empire's core was the same no matter its location.

"How do I even find him with this mess on my hands?" I grunted, tired. Two hours had passed and I had only been able to clean thirty stalls!

Eiko's brother; Seinaru, apparently had a trait that allowed him to stand out, and that trait happened to be his blue hair.

Yes.

When compared to the mostly black or brown hair Yukovians possessed, that color indeed was as outstanding as mine.

"Will I survive this—" I wondered, dejected.

I was heading towards the well to get water when something caught my attention. The day was nearing noon, and the Empire's soldiers had started to frequent the training ground in the distance.

It was a round sand-filled portion about fifty meters in diameter. Those men took turns sparing themselves, and the trend had started a bit after I arrived.

However!

A bright smile blossomed on my face before turning into an excited grin."This is starting to get too easy."

Yes! Right on the field stood two men fiercely battling each other. Their spar was too violent to be considered one, since every time one committed a blunder in his movements, the other would move forward in what was an obvious attempt to grievously injure him. None succeeded, but It was clear they had bad blood between them.

The good part of that scenery was one of the duo happened to be a blue-haired young man.

I had found him!

My target.

And on the first day too!

How wonderful was that?!