“D-Deek.” Shao called out shyly.
“What is it?” I asked.
“It’s just… have you always looked so good?”
“What are you saying? After having my soul ripped apart, I’ve been weak as a kitten. I’ve spent the last three days recovering. Even with healing spells, I feel really frail.”
“No, actually, Shao is on to something.” Terra said.
Lydia nodded. “When Master turned into a girl, your features smoothed out considerably. Drinking the potion that turned you back into a boy didn’t get rid of that. As a result, you have a certain… beauty.”
“That’s right!” Miki said. “You’re very pale, and your body is really… dainty!”
“You’re one to talk!” I said accusingly at Miki.
Actually, as her spiritualism increased, her once pale and weak body had grown much stronger. She was still small, frail, and pale compared to the other girls, but if compared next to me, I might look even weaker!
“Are you girls saying that the result of my soul being cut is that I’ve become an ikeman?” I said in disbelief while checking myself in the mirror.
It was true, from my appearance, I had lost most of my masculine features, and had a more delicate looking body now. Plus, my sickly pale skin gave me an almost ghost-like feel. Was I really more attractive too? It was hard for me to notice such things. It had even taken me months to accept I was no longer fat.
After I finished getting ready, the group of us headed to a room that I had started to call the war room. This was because it was filled with maps and other important information, I had even laid out a map I had drawn of the countryside. It was a combination of my own personal Map mixed with the most updated maps the capital city had. It still included various towns and villages that likely no longer existed thanks to the bandits in the south.
“What is the plan?” Salicia was already waiting there.
She had a severe expression on her face, and it looked like she was out for blood. I couldn’t blame her. I felt angry at Lord Reign too. He had caused me trouble time and time again, and now I knew for a fact he was selling Aberis out. He also had a powerful backer, possibly someone from the Imperial Cloud Meadow, who was able to take me out in almost a moment. If I wanted a chance of defeating him now, I needed to act quickly and coldly.
“It is time we start building an army to take out Lord Reign. First, we’re going to head to the village we resurrected. By now, they should at least have an idea of how many people are in the countryside. They might have even saved a few.”
“You want to return to attacking bandits?” Salicia frowned.
“Last time we did that, it didn’t turn out too well.” Shao warned.
“We’re not going after the bandits this time. We’re going pure extraction. My original plan was to build a revolt and have the people themselves defeat the bandits with our support. We no longer have the luxury of doing that.”
“Then, are we abandoning the south to the bandits?”
“Regency won’t hold much longer,” Shao reported. “I give it a week. Even with the grandmaster there, their forces are just growing too thin.”
“No… we’re not abandoning the south.” I shook my head. “We’re going to recruit the bandits!”