Chapter 11: Chapter 11: An Unexpected Guest
"Oh, meat, meat!"
A girl entered the cave, wearing a salivating expression.
Victor quickly observed her.
She appeared to be around his age but slightly shorter. Her face was oval, her skin bright under the firelight, and her hair was tied into a ponytail.
She wore a red top, black cargo pants, and expensive boots. A knife was strapped to her side—probably for combat.
No, it wasn't just a knife. It was extremely sharp.
Victor's bronze sword seemed far inferior in comparison.
Immediately, he became alert. The girl was strong. And she had a good weapon too.
She could be a tough opponent if she turned out to be an enemy.
Of course, he wouldn't pick a fight unnecessarily.
The girl's red lips curled into a playful smirk as she noticed Victor's wary expression. Her eyebrows flicked up mischievously.
"Are you done checking me out? I'm strong, right?" she teased, stepping forward.
Victor didn't deny it. "Indeed. But who are you, and why did you enter my cave?" he asked calmly.
He sat still, unblinking.
As she moved closer, her gaze fell on Victor's unusual features. His hair was unnaturally white, his irises a striking shade of red. His torn clothes and the worn-out bronze sword at his side made for an odd combination.
He looked both battered and formidable.
The girl scoffed, crossing her arms.
"Your cave? I don't see anyone's name on it. Since I'm the strongest here. Naturally, it's mine, including the meat," she declared with a domineering tone.
However, her eyes betrayed her as they fixated on the aromatic meat, and she swallowed hard, clearly tempted.
"Tell me, do you have any objections?" she asked as he pointed her dagger at him.
Victor met her gaze without any fear. "Yes. Even though the cave isn't mine, the meat is. And I'm going to eat it."
With that, he took a deliberate bite, chewing slowly as he savored the tender flesh. Despite the lack of seasoning, the meat was surprisingly flavorful, its natural juices making it both rich and fragrant.
The girl's eyes twitched as she watched him eat, her stomach growling audibly.
"Hey, don't eat it all! Leave some for me too!" she protested, stomping her foot on the ground like an impatient child.
"No, can't do," Victor replied, shaking his head dismissively.
She pouted. "Why not?!"
"Because, I don't believe you made it all the way here unharmed without storing any meat in your inventory. So stop acting, little girl," Victor said, continuing to eat without sparing her another glance.
The girl crossed her arms, huffing in annoyance. "Hey! It's true that I encountered magical beasts, but their meat wasn't edible. That's why I'm still hungry!"
She suddenly paused, her expression shifting as something clicked in her mind. Blinking in confusion, she tilted her head. "Wait… Did you just call me 'little girl'? Aren't we the same age? Why are you talking like an old man?"
Victor simply shrugged. "You wouldn't understand. And I don't want to waste my time on pointless arguments."
The girl narrowed her eyes at him, clearly not satisfied with his response.
"Tch, acting all mysterious, huh? Fine, be that way," she muttered, before glancing back at the fire. "But seriously, just give me a piece already! I'm starving here!" She said in a pleading tone, understanding her tough act wouldn't work on him. She didn't want to fight over food either.
She sat down before him with a plop, her chest bouncing slightly with the movement.
Victor noticed it but remained calm. He had long passed the age of being moved by such "extra soft flesh." Moreover, she was a lot younger than him—in mental age.
Glancing at her from the corner of his eye, he saw her pouting expression as if she were being bullied.
Victor sighed in resignation and met her gaze.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Bad manners. Tell me yours first," she replied stubbornly.
"It's Raizel..."
He deliberately left out his full name as a safety measure. Part of him considered using his real name from his past life, but he dismissed the idea as it wasn't that necessary.
Instead, he chose to keep his predecessor's identity alive. It was a small price to pay in exchange for this second chance at life. Besides, the fate of the original Raizel was still a mystery to him. Had he truly died? Or was there something more to his disappearance?
Regardless, maintaining his identity—at least for Raizel's parents—felt like the least he could do as repayment for inheriting this life.
Kierra's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Ohh... Raizel? That's a good name. Anyway, I'm Kierra. As for my family name, I am not sharing it, since you didn't."
Victor shrugged. "Fair enough."
"So, Kira, right?" he asked casually.
"Hmph! It's not Kira, it's Kierra," she huffed, clearly irritated.
Victor smirked. "Alright, alright. Kierra it is. Now, listen closely."
She leaned in slightly, her curiosity piqued. "Mm-hm... I'm all ears."
"I can give you some meat to eat, but do you have something to trade for it?"
Her eyes lit up for a moment before narrowing in suspicion. "Trade? Are you seriously trying to do business over a piece of meat?"
Victor smirked. "Nothing is free in this world. You want food? Then give something in return. It's simple as that."
She huffed, crossing her arms. "Hmph! You really are stingy!"
Victor simply shrugged and continued to eat.
The girl eyed the roasted meat in his hand, swallowing her pride along with her saliva. "Fine! What do you want?"
"If you have any extra weapons, I'm open to that. If not, any valuable information will do. You seem to come from an influential family—you must know something useful," Victor stated plainly.
Kierra was impressed with his observation and wits. He was an interesting boy, that she must admit. He wasn't like any other normal boys she had met in her life.
Still, she didn't even hesitate to speak. "Weapon or information? Then I choose a weapon."
Victor raised an eyebrow. "Why not information?"
Kierra grinned, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Because..." she paused for a second before replying, "I don't want to."
Her playful tone made it clear—she knew something valuable but had no intention of sharing it. Whether she was keeping a secret or just messing with him was anyone's guess.
Victor was intrigued, but he wasn't the type to pry or force others.
"Very well. It's a deal.