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Author's note: So in the previous chapter, I said I was almost at 800 followers, and suddenly there was a burst of people following me after I posted that chapter. Is there something going on behind the scenes 😂😂? How scary!

Anyway, I updated earlier than usual, enjoy!

"He looks just like you, Xue." Hana stated, looking at Leonaut, appearing concerned. "Is this another soul of yours? Will Cecil be alright fighting him? Because you are so strong..."

Xue nodded at Hana's question, however, his grey eyes were on Cecil the entire time. Even when a bandit charged at them, Xue batted him away easily without sparing a glance. His body towered over Hana, shielding her eyes from the violence.

"She will."

Xue knew Cecil could handle herself, she wasn't weak at all. And his other souls, on their own, weren't anywhere near his level.

"Come on, come at me!" Gom roared out with a guffaw. "You little puny thugs can't even touch me!"

Gom was still as rowdy as he fought with his fists coated in fire. His provocative words, fortunately, attracted more attention from the bandits. Thus, the bandits left Xue and Hana alone.

Hana noticed how Xue was seemingly fixated at Cecil heading straight for Leonaut.

"Xue, you keep looking at Cecil," Hana added, still concerned. "And you look worried."

Xue broke his gaze from Cecil after he heard those words.

"...I was looking at her?"

Hana nodded with a hum.

"And I looked worried?"

Hana nodded with another hum, tilting her head. "I saw it clearly, Xue!"

"..."

Xue was at a lost for words, he couldn't bear to growl at Hana for exposing him.

"Unconsciously," Xue let out a sigh, looking like he wanted to rest his forehead on his hand, admitting softly. "I was unconsciously doing that again."

Witnessing this rare sight of a somewhat embarrassed Xue, Hana couldn't help but laugh.

"You are laughing? At this moment?" Xue questioned, helpless.

It didn't help that the other voices in his mind were secretly laughing at him as well.

"But you are so cute, Xue!" Hana giggled.

Her words made Xue's face twist uncomfortably. "Cute?"

"Mother once said liking and loving someone changes people," Hana beamed. "I guess it's true!"

"...Hana," Xue widened his eyes at Hana, incredulous. "Wh--"

"Heh, you sure are carefree, chatting like nothing," a bandit barked out, rushing at them with his spear.

Hana panicked, wanting to defend herself with her shawl.

"Don't blame me for--"

Unlike Hana, Xue was quick to react, appearing in front of the bandit and went straight for the kill without hesitation. The bandit underestimated Xue, and the swift movements of Xue alarmed him, cutting his words abruptly.

The bandit released an involuntarily yelp, awaiting for the pain from Xue's spear.

"Don't kill in front of Hana."

"If you lose control again..."

Those words that Cecil uttered replayed in his mind, and Xue halted.

Hana blinked in surprise, already bracing herself to see a bloody scene.

The bandit who was waiting for his demise, opened his eyes. He was greeted by the sight of a fist. In an instant, Xue knocked him out cold.

"Xue..." Hana muttered out, astonished as she looked at Xue.

Xue didn't say a word, only ruffling Hana's hair and glancing back to focus on the fight. The other bandits had started to focus on them now.

Hana blinked in shock, before smiling and Xue fought off the bandits. However, since he didn't want to display any form of violence to Hana, he had no other choice but to spend more effort knocking them out cold.

***

Cecil furrowed her eyebrows, uncomfortable at the close distance between her and Leonaut.

She pulled back slightly.

She didn't want to create any more unnecessary distance, afraid that Leonaut would take that opportunity to slip away and rush to Hana. After all, she still wasn't sure of Leonaut's character.

To her surprise, when she started to pull back, Leonaut used his free hand to grasp at her wrist, his other hand still steadily holding his sword, resisting against her daggers. "Have you unlocked your element as well? Or are you just simply a beautiful woman that swings daggers around?"

"...none of your business," Cecil stated coldly. "And let me go."

The smirk still remained on his thin, enticing lips and he put pressure on his ice sword, causing Cecil to frown further.

He's strong, even with one hand...!

...this is what I should have expected from one of the soul fragments of the lord protagonist...

Eventually, Cecil crumbled under his strength, her hands aching and she involuntarily released her daggers and they dropped onto the gravel silently. Moreover, with her wrist still being restricted, it made things more difficult for Cecil.

At that moment, Leonaut dropped his sword too and tugged her closer with her wrist, flipping her hand so that he could see her palm. The symbol of an earth element hovered over her palm.

"An earth element," Leonaut widened his smirk, pleased at satisfying his curiosity. "Are you still in the first form? Or the second?"

Cecil tried to pull her wrist back but Leonaut kept a tight grip on it, causing her narrow her eyes.

"Come on, just answer this question," Leonaut probed with a mischievous tone. "I'm playing along with your distraction here, shouldn't you put in some effort too?"

"...you knew."

"Of course I would, do you think of me as some random thug with no brains?"

"Let go of my hand."

"After you answer my question," there was an impish glint in Leonaut's hazel eyes. "It's not everyday I encounter a beautiful woman that can fight. In fact, most of them scream in fear when they see me."

Cecil realised another thing about Leonaut at this moment.

He is too talkative! To even chat leisurely with his enemy in a fight, what is he doing?!

Cecil raised her other free hand, striking out and Leonaut caught sight of her hand movement, leaping back into the air. A rock slab shot out from the ground where Leonaut was previously standing, and Cecil didn't want to give Leonaut a break, immediately calling back her daggers to her hands and sheathing them.

Her hands ached a little, and Cecil knew she stood no chance in a physical combat solely using her weapons. Thus, she had no other choice but to shift to an elemental battle.

Leonaut landed beside one of his comrades and the same comrade glanced at Leonaut, before looking at Cecil.

"Boss, you need help?"

"What makes you think I need help?" Leonaut smirked as he observed Cecil rushing at him, preparing his ice sword.

"No, it's just--you don't really like to hurt women so..."

"Playing with them is a different thing."

"Uhh..." the comrade scratched his head. "Are they really different?"

Leonaut rolled his eyes. "Just do what I ordered when you have the chance."

"Sure, boss."

Leonaut rushed at Cecil right after that conversation.

She immediately brought out the rock Kai gave her, giving it a spin and aiming it at his face, to which Leonaut used his sword to defend himself. That small second of distraction allowed Cecil to conjure a rock pillar to strike at Leonaut, but he avoided it with ease, the corner of the pillar leaving a mark on his shirt.

Leonaut patted at the dirty mark on his shirt, raising his eyebrows. "That was close."

"..."

Cecil didn't understand how he was still talking in a fight.

She used the same method yet again, using her rock as a distraction and proceeding to attack him with the pillars protruding out from the ground. After a few times, Cecil managed to nick Leonaut on the arm, but he eventually managed to overcome it with his reaction speed.

"So this is how you fight? By utilising misdirection?" Leonaut smirked. "You are pretty smart as well, I'm beginning to like you more and more."

Hearing the last sentence, Cecil wanted to vomit blood.

My dear lord protagonist, even fighting can cause you to like me?!

Cecil felt like she would suffer from a trauma now, whenever she heard the word "like" from any alters of Xue.

What should I even do to not make them like me? Lie on the floor and pretend that I am dead?!

Leonaut could sense the sullen mood around Cecil, it was clearly reflected in her limpid, onyx eyes as well.

"You don't like hearing that people like you?"

Cecil didn't answer, continuing on to attack Leonaut. Seeing that she wasn't answering Leonaut just smirked and dodged her attacks, not once making a move to attack her.

Cecil realised this, and frowned, puzzled.

Why is he just dodging and not attacking me?

Strange guy.

Increasing the pace of her rock, Leonaut eventually stumbled and there was an opportunity for Cecil to attack him fully. Making hand movements, she pushed another stone out from the ground to hit Leonaut in his chest.

At that moment, the memory of her injuring the people in the alleyway replayed in her mind. She halted her hand, exhaling shakily.

Leonaut had been bracing himself to be hit, blinking in surprise at Cecil's hesitance. In the end, Cecil decided to launch him up into the air and he spun around adeptly in the air, landing safely on the ground.

"Are you underestimating me?" Leonaut raised his eyebrows.

"No, I am not," Cecil furrowed her eyebrows, clenching her fists when she felt her hand trembling slightly. "...I am not."

Leonaut looked down at her hands, a hint of smile playing on his lips.

Is this woman afraid to hurt people seriously? But she still wants to step in to fight?

This thought amused Leonaut, and he let out a short chuckle. "For someone around Hana and my original soul, you aren't what I expected."

Those words immediately registered in her mind, and Cecil was astounded. "Yo--you know who Xue and Hana are? And what you actually are?"

Leonaut widened his eyes at Cecil's response, and he dashed at her so fast, Cecil couldn't react. It was only after he appeared in front of her and grabbed at her shoulder, pulling her close, Cecil gasped.

"You know as well! Who the hell are you?" Leonaut questioned, his smirk gone. "How do you know about all of this?"

"Be-because I've been with Hana and Xue for a while." Cecil stuttered out, telling the truth partially.

Leonaut only stared at Cecil, not responding.

A shadow of a pointed weapon aimed at Leonaut's arm at that second, and Leonaut reacted swiftly, withdrawing his hand from Cecil's shoulder. The shadow moved, aiming straight for Leonaut's chest and Leonaut blocked the attack with his ice sword.

A man stood beside Cecil, his ash blonde hair gleaming in the sunlight, contrasting against the stormy look in his grey eyes.

Leonaut shot his head up, narrowing his eyes.

"Hands off." Xue stated coldly.

"Xue, you--" Cecil widened her eyes, glancing towards Hana. "You left Hana--"

"I got rid of most of them," Xue interrupted, staring at the parts where Leonaut touched her. "She's safe with Gom."

Sure enough, Hana was protecting herself well, and Gom was attracting the attention of the remaining bandits, protecting her properly too.

"Oh," Cecil sighed in relief. "As long as she's safe."

When Leonaut recognised it was Xue beside Cecil, he widened his eyes at Xue. "You left Hana's side willingly?"

Leonaut then glanced at Cecil, seeing her in a different light.

Cecil was still gazing at Hana, concerned, not realising the bizarre stare from Leonaut.

Xue didn't bother to answer Leonaut, charging at him. Leonaut recovered hurriedly, defending himself from Xue's fierce attack.

Hearing the sounds of weapons clashing behind her, Cecil knew they were fighting against one another. Nevertheless, she didn't feel safe leaving Hana alone with just Gom, running toward them while fending off some bandits easily.

***

"I'm surprised," Leonaut said, defending himself with ease. "You actually left Hana's side on your own."

Xue remained quiet, avoiding Leonaut's sword as his ice sword sliced the empty air.

"Is it because of that black-haired woman?" Leonaut nudged his head at Cecil, who was running towards Hana. "Maybe I shouldn't steal just your money and Hana..."

Xue withdrew back, not reacting to Leonaut's words. He flipped his spear once and surging forward at Leonaut. The attack was quick and fierce, Leonaut defended himself but he was still hit hard, grunting.

Despite that, there was still a wolfish smirk on his lips. "...maybe I should steal that black-haired woman as well."

At those words, a fire ignited within Xue and he inhaled sharply. Flames lined the pointed part of his spear, and his attacks becoming faster and stronger.

Even Leonaut found himself becoming overwhelmed, the smirk gone from his face.

"You are...reacting more--" Leonaut chuckled as he defended himself from Xue with difficulty. "Than when I said--I wanted to steal Hana from you!"

He didn't have a chance to counterattack Xue at all.

His ice sword started to crack under the pressure and Leonaut clicked his tongue. He withdrew quickly, wanting to repair the ice but Xue didn't stop, chasing after him.

Xue leaped, aiming straight for Leonaut and Leonaut didn't have any other choice than to block. The ice sword broke into pieces, and he was forced onto the ground. He pulled back before his flute was hit, rolling out of the way.

Unfortunately, Xue saw through his movements and the spear looming in on Leonaut's neck. Leonaut halted abruptly, the spear penetrating the ground next to his neck, and he could still feel the heat from the flames around the spear.

Leonaut panted, beads of sweat sliding down his face, his eyes wide.

"You won't have any chance," Xue took out his marble, but it was blue in colour this time, a chilly look in his eyes. "You'll disappear before that happens."

Leonaut only laughed breathlessly after listening to Xue talk, the playful smirk back on his face.

Seeing his amused reaction, Xue furrowed his eyebrows.

All of a sudden, Xue heard Hana screaming out.

"Cecil!"

***

Pt. 1

《 start 》

This guy...left Hana's side willingly?

My original soul left Hana's side willingly? For this black-haired woman?

I would never expect this in my wildest dreams.

Just who exactly is this woman?

The more I look at her, the more I find her interesting.

《 stop 》

***

Pt. 2

《 start 》

Stop touching her as you please.

Even if you are "me", I will not allow you to touch her.

...taking her away from me?

I will not allow that either.

Anyone that dares to takes her away from me, I'll kill them.

Cecil Lan belongs to my side, and no one else.

《 stop 》

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