Rainer's brow furrowed slightly, looking perplexed. He had never heard of such a Roman province in his previous lives. But he decided not to dwell too much on it.
Not with two lovely women before him.
Seeing that Nantosvelta was out of reach, and her so-called special daughters were away in some mysterious province. He decided to redirect his charms back to his original target: Veliona.
Having that thought, he licked his lips, sitting confidently on Redshade before shooting her a suave smile.
"And what would it take to have you?"
At that question, everyone froze and a few gasps were heard. It felt as though Rainer had poked a beehive dangling precariously on a branch.
*Sssss.*
The clouds were moving faster now, and the mountain breeze had begun to push down on them, kicking up dust.
Velonia blinked back, eyes wide and head slightly tilted in disbelief. She clearly wasn't expecting to be propositioned, but she smiled, a slow, predatory smile.
Rainer would have felt pleased with himself for making her smile—If it wasn't so feral.
"The men in my village were never so bold."
She gloomily remarked, brandishing her sword in an arc as she looked solemnly at him.
"My hand has always been simple. Defeat me."
A fierce aura surrounded her, and though her words were spoken lightly, the bloodlust in her eyes made Rainer feel endangered.
There already seemed to be a smell of blood in the air, and she reacted to this, smile slowly widening like a shark in deep waters.
Rainer took a deep breath and grinned, savouring the chill that went through his bones.
'Damn! She's crazy! Just my type!'
But then he hesitated.
'Though with the amount of bloodlust she exudes, she might actually kill me. Hmm, I can't back out now, though.'
Flavius prodded him with his spear and shook his head.
"Don't do it, Rainer. It's not worth it."
He whispered in disapproval.
"We can go find a sweet servant girl at Apulum later if you're so pent up."
Rainer shook his head and glanced back at Veliona's anticipating smile.
"It's no longer about that, Flavius. This goes beyond mere human pleasures. It's now a Qegon thing."
Flavius appeared confused.
"Qwagon? What's that?!"
Rainer untied the ropes around his torso.
"I have been offered a challenge. My title as The Champion requires that I honor it."
He took off his heavy spear and shield, muscles straining in the process. Then he dropped them with a light grunt.
*Dunn!* *Don!*
They banged loudly against the ground with heavy metallic thuds, not even bouncing; they dug into the soil.
There was a moment of silence as everyone mentally calculated the weight of those things with wide-eyed wonder.
Rainer stretched and cracked his back.
"Unfortunately, I just arrived in this world. I haven't trained enough to fight with those weapons, yet."
He casually remarked and the women couldn't help but raise an uproar.
"What!? Are those even weapons?!"
"Even men cannot wield such arms in battle!"
"By his speech, does he intend to use those in combat one day? Folly!"
The mercenaries chattered, mocked, and laughed. But Veliona silently watched the weapons with a neutral expression before looking up at him.
"What then will you fight with?"
She lowly inquired and Rainer looked to Flavius.
"Friend. May I borrow your spear?"
Flavius' expression was grim and he looked away.
"No."
Rainer slumped, letting out a sigh.
"What? Would you rather I fight with my bare hands? I mean, that would be exciting, but this body is a little too rusty for that."
Flavius frowned.
"You shouldn't do this."
Rainer rolled his eyes and reached for the spear.
"I don't think I can beat her anyway. I'm just going to take it easy and test my current skills, trust me."
He winked with a smile.
Hearing that, Flavius could only let out a helpless groan and hand it to him.
"Hope no one accuses me of plotting to kill you when that mad woman runs you through."
Rainer scoffed and slid down the horse.
"The only one getting run through is the deputy over there—in my bed—tonight, after I defeat her in a few exchanges."
Flavius looked betrayed. He had a face that screamed, You can't be serious!
However, Rainer was already walking toward Veliona, absently twirling the spear around as he got a feel for its weight and length.
Veliona took off her cloak and was about to slide down when Nantosvelta grabbed her, looking into her eyes with a solemn gaze.
"Do not kill him like the others."
Veliona gently took her hand away.
"My hand has been requested, Lady... For posterity's sake, I will not hold back anymore."
With that, she hopped down.
Meanwhile, Rainer had frozen in shock, having overheard their whispers.
'What do they mean, "like the others" eh!? Perhaps I should head back to camp before it's too late?'
Veliona walked toward him and stopped a respectful distance away.
Rainer was average in height for a man, but he discovered that she was not much shorter. He didn't mind this however, since he fancied tall women, and after observing Veliona's nice features again...
Let's just say Nantosvelta's whispered warnings were the last thing on his mind.
"Shall we begin?"
Veliona inquired and Rainer blinked back, returning to his senses. He readjusted his grip on his spear and shifted his stance.
"Anytime."
–––
"Haahaa~"
A legionary officer panted running, across the dark forest with terror in his eyes. His lorica segmentata was worn and in shambles with a few plates missing.
The side of his imperial gallic helmet had three jagged claw marks, marks which peeled the gilded crest indicating his attachment to Legio I Adiutrix.
He tugged on his back a sack, but when he brushed past a purple bush with spindly thorns, it snagged.
With a frantic tug, it came loose, but it tore, allowing several scrolls and parchments fall out. But he didn't care. He kept running; he couldn't be caught; he had to pass on his message.
Luckily, he soon came upon a small clearing with a lit wooden watch tower brightening the area. A legionary who had been standing guard spotted him and was momentarily on guard. However, when he recognized him, he immediately ran to him.
"Tribunus!"
The officer collapsed in his arms, panting.
"Le–legionary."
He looked up at him and glanced back into the forest in fear. The legionary became worried and glanced back at the watch tower for his partner before turning back to the officer.
"Tri–tribunus?"
"Ta-take this!"
He handed him the sack.
"Run back to Legate Maximus! Tell him. Tell him..."
Tears ran down his weathered face, kissed orange by the tower's torches
"Legio I Adiutrix—is no more."