After a long, pleasant chat with Rafaela, and after finishing the glass of fresh fruit juice her mother had offered. Benedict finally felt it was time to leave. There were things he needed to take care of.
He rose from his seat and straightened his posture.
"Well then, I should be heading back now," he said calmly.
"Eh? Already?" Rafaela asked, still sipping her juice through a straw.
Benedict nodded, brushing the cookie crumbs off his clothes.
He made his way toward the front of the shop.
Rafaela, still full of energy, quickly stood up and followed him to the door.
Rafaela's mother, who was busy wrapping up loaves of bread, looked over at them.
"Heading out already?" she asked kindly.
"Yes," Benedict replied with a small smile.
Rafaela looked up at him, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
"Thank you… for complimenting my cookies, and… for talking with me."
She hesitated for a moment, then added softly.
"It was… nice."
Benedict smiled. His eyes gently closed for a moment as the corners of his lips curled upward, a smile that felt warm yet carried a hint of mystery.
Rafaela chuckled lightly at the sight.
"You really do look suspicious when you smile like that."
Benedict opened his eyes, glancing at her with an amused glint.
He let out a chuckle, then turned toward the door.
His hand reached out toward the doorknob.
But before his fingers could touch the cold metal, Rafaela called out.
"Wait! I… I still don't know your name."
Benedict paused, looking back at her.
He considered whether or not he should say it.
"…Benedict."
Both Rafaela and her mother froze in shock.
"Benedict Veritas," he added.
Rafaela's eyes widened.
She hadn't expected that the boy she'd just spent the past hour chatting with was the son of a Duke, the very one surrounded by all kinds of rumors.
Benedict noticed her reaction. He had expected this. Even commoners like them had heard the gossip.
"What's wrong? Surprised?" he said, his voice calm but edged with irony.
"Turns out the guy you've been chatting with is not only a noble but also the rumored womanizer everyone loves to whisper about."
Rafaela flinched slightly, realizing it just now. Still, she tried to smile, though it came out a bit nervous.
"W-well… yeah, a little. But… you're not like what the rumors say," she said honestly. Everything about him had felt the opposite of the rumors.
"Exactly. So don't go trusting everything you hear."
Benedict's smile softened.
Seeing that gentle, sincere smile somehow eased the tension in Rafaela's chest. He was right. Why let rumors decide what to believe?
Benedict met her gaze, and just then, he decided to test something.
[SSS Hypnosis Skill Activated – Target: Rafaela]
[SSS Hypnosis Failed – Rafaela does not trust you yet.]
He glanced at the red error message in his system.
Well, worth a try.
"By the way, I never got your name either," he added smoothly.
Rafaela blinked. Right, she hadn't told him.
"Rafaela."
Benedict smiled.
"Beautiful name."
Rafaela blinked again, stunned. A rosy hue crept up her cheeks, deeper than before.
That was progress.
With that, he stepped outside, leaving behind a stunned Rafaela and her mother, still trying to process that they had just spent the afternoon chatting with the Duke's son.
----
The soft orange glow of the late afternoon sun warmed his face as he walked away. People bustled by, each busy with their own lives.
But Benedict wasn't heading back to the Veritas mansion.
He had something else to do.
Eventually, he stopped in front of a run-down little shop and pushed open the door. A bell rang out, followed by some rustling noises from the back.
A short, round man with a bald head and a scruffy white beard emerged from the side.
"Ahh, welcome, customer! What can I get for you?"
Benedict glanced around. Weapons of all kinds lined the walls.
Yes, he was at a weapon shop.
He needed a weapon. Nothing too fancy, just something basic, something useful for a beginner.
"Do you happen to have… a hatchet?"
The old man rubbed his chin, then nodded. "Yes, just one left." He shuffled off to the back.
Benedict waited as the man returned with a sturdy hatchet, wooden handle, iron blade. Solid enough for what he needed.
"How much?"
"Normally, it's 200 Essence Points. But for you… let's say 150."
Benedict cursed inwardly.
He hadn't unlocked the Essence System yet. He hadn't even killed a single monster.
"…Can I pay in silver coins instead?"
The old man raised an eyebrow. It wasn't common for someone buying weapons to pay in silver coins, usually they pay with Essence Point.
But after a sigh, the man relented.
"Alright then… five silver coins. Just for you."
Perfect.
Benedict pulled out five silver coins, money he'd earned from selling one of his old noble coats.
The man accepted the payment and handed over the hatchet.
Benedict walked out of the store, slipping the hatchet beneath his cloak.
Now, only one thing remained.
The forest.
Where the Brutes and Grunts roamed.
It was time to unlock his Essence System.