The hidden passage creaked shut behind Ryan as he slipped back into the palace, the goblinette trailing close behind him. Her bare feet scuffed against the cold stone, and her yellow eyes darted nervously at every shadow, clutching the silk shift he'd draped over her like it might vanish.
"Keep quiet," he whispered, glancing back at her.
She clenched her hands into fists. Ryan knew she might not be able to understand him—goblins in general were of low sentience. But he still nodded in satisfaction at getting a reaction from the beauty.
Then, he became a bit contemplative.
The pouch of gold clinked softly at his side—eight coins left after the goblinette's purchase. Enough to stir trouble later, but for now, his focus was simpler: food.
They emerged near the kitchen, its warmth spilling into the hall long before they reached the arched doorway. The scent of roasted meat, fresh bread, and simmering herbs hit him like a wave, and the goblinette's stomach growled louder than before.
Ryan smirked, removing his hood and pushing the door open.
The kitchen was a cavern of activity even at this mid-morning hour—cooks bustling over steaming pots, maids darting with trays—but it quieted slightly as Ryan stepped in, his royal presence impossible to hide.
A few bowed hastily, others averted their eyes. He ignored them, zeroing in on a wooden table laden with leftovers from the morning's feast: slabs of glazed pork, crusty loaves, a bowl of bruised apples.
They were all made with some magic involved as well!
So they tasted absolutely mouth-watering.
"Sit," he said, nudging the goblinette toward a stool. She hesitated, then scrambled onto it, her bony frame nearly swallowed by the oversized silk. Ryan grabbed a plate and piled it high—meat, bread, a handful of fruit—before sliding it in front of her.
"Eat."
Her eyes widened, flickering between him and the food. Then, like a dam breaking, she lunged. Clawed hands snatched the pork, tearing into it with jagged teeth. Grease smeared her chin as she stuffed bread into her mouth, crumbs tumbling onto the table. She grabbed an apple next, biting into it with a crunch, juice dripping down her wrist. It was chaos—feral, desperate, as if she expected him to yank it all away any second.
"Hey, slow down or you'll swallow too much for that little mouth," he said, voice low but firm. "I'm not taking it away. There's plenty more where that came from."
She froze mid-bite, a chunk of meat dangling from her lips. Her yellow eyes locked onto his, searching for a trick. When he didn't move, she resumed, slower this time, though still rough—tearing rather than chewing, swallowing half-choked bites.
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.
This wasn't just hunger. It was survival, etched into her bones from gods-knew-what kind of life.
Minutes passed, and plates emptied one by one.
The goblinette reached for more, but her arms trembled, her body swaying. With a soft groan, she toppled sideways off the stool, landing on the floor with a thud. Her stomach bulged slightly under the silk, her breaths shallow and ragged. She'd eaten herself into a stupor.
Ryan snorted, crouching beside her. "Told you to slow down, didn't I?" She blinked up at him, dazed, and he shook his head. "Alright, you're a mess. Let's get you cleaned up."
He straightened, turning to a nearby maid—a stout woman with flour-dusted hands who'd been watching the scene with thinly veiled curiosity.
"You," he said, jerking his chin. "Take her to the baths. Get her scrubbed down and find her something proper to wear. Don't treat her like a damn animal."
The maid nodded quickly, scurrying over to hoist the goblinette up. The girl didn't resist, too full to fight, and stumbled along as the maid led her out.
Ryan watched them go, his mind already drifting.
She'd need a name, eventually. Something better than "goblinette." But that could wait.
He was about to grab a piece of bread for himself when a shadow loomed behind him. Before he could turn, an arm—feminine, fair, but also strong—clamped around his neck from behind.
His breath hitched, body tensing as a familiar voice hissed into his ear.
"Ryan," the attacker said, voice low. "I heard you bought a slave."
Ryan's heart thudded, but he forced a grin, tilting his head just enough to catch a glimpse of her.
Seraphina Armedius—his older twin sister by a few minutes—stood behind him. She was his twin, but other than her face shape, almost nothing resembled Ryan. Her red hair was in a chaotic mess, forehead still damp with sweat from training, and her contrasting silver eyes glinted with something between anger and suspicion.
Her grip tightened, not enough to choke, but enough to promise she could.
"Why'd you do that?" she pressed, her tone sharp as a blade. "Did you need a slave for something?"
He swallowed, mind racing. Seraphina wasn't just his sister—she was strong, a prodigy through and through. A renowned figure in the capital, she was both a Mage and a Martial Artist. Level 25, at least, in both. She was also a woman who'd been breaking bones in the training yard since she could walk.
"Relax, Sera," he said, keeping his voice light despite the pressure on his throat. "It's just a goblin girl. Cheap, harmless. I couldn't stop myself. If you see her, you'd understand—she looked pitiful."
Her eyes narrowed, unconvinced. "Did you touch her?"
"No, hell no. What do you think of me?" He pried at her fingers, but they didn't budge. Damn, she was strong. "I'm serious. She's just… a girl I thought I needed to save. Something to keep me busy. You know I've been bored lately."
Seraphina's grip loosened slightly, but her stare didn't waver. "A big savior you are," she repeated, skeptical. "A man who can't save himself. You even slipped away from Barbezz to go to the fucking slave market—mom won't like that at all."
Ryan shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "I didn't want a babysitter."
She released him abruptly, stepping back with a huff. He rubbed his neck, wincing at the faint ache her fingers left behind.
He complained. "Look, your sweat is all over me now."
Seraphina crossed her arms, lifting her bountiful assets. "Ryan, she is a goblin, and they have a reputation." Her gaze became a glare. "You are at an age where your hormones are awfully active, so don't lose your way due to them. If you are a man, you should be able to remain unphased in the face of temptation."
Ryan's eyes twitched. Who was she acting so wise for?
And aren't you the same age as me?
A few moments of silence.
Then, he asked, "How's your training going, by the way? Mother said you got banged up yesterday."
Her scowl deepened at him changing the subject, but a flicker of pride crossed her face. "Nothing I can't handle. Broke a few ribs sparring, but that awakened a few of my Martial Body's Runes. Master Maya is a bitch, but I landed a hit on her."
"She is pretty, though, don't hurt her face."
"She is not going to let you hit bro," Seraph said with a smirk. "No need to praise her."
Ryan glared at her.
She gave him one last hard look, then turned on her heel, stalking out of the kitchen. "Anyway. Come to my room at night through the hidden paths, I have things to tell you about yesterday's incident. And don't get your hopes up, it's nothing good for you.
"Oh, and you smell nice."
"Yeah, you stink though."
She laughed. "That's your big sister for you. Working hard and stinking like sweat when you are fresh and lazy."
Ryan squinted at her back with a grin.
Appraisal!
[Mage] [Martial Artist]
[Level???]
[Skills???]
Appraisal level insufficient.
Then, Seraph was gone. The air felt a bit less lively without her presence, and Ryan's mind slowly fell into procastination.
Seraphina was too sharp—she'd sniff out his secrets eventually if he wasn't careful. Not to mention that she was always around one way or the other.
But… thinking about it. Should he just reveal his new Class to Seraph?
She'd wholeheartedly help him train, she was that type of sister.
A woman with a tough exterior and very soft insides.
With her help, covertly getting more people to plunder skills from would become much easier.
Ryan glanced at the empty plate on the table, then at the doorway the goblinette had disappeared through.
The pink system appeared in front of him.
[Mana: 14/16]
The Appraisal had reduced a bit of his already scant mana, but the hours that had passed had also replenished the few he used at the slave market.
Hm, how long does gaining mana back take?
[Regeneration Speed: 1% Mana per Minute]
Eh, that's so slow.
Ryan grew contemplative.
Should I tell Seraph about it?
He needed to understand more about this world—Ryan hadn't bothered learning too deeply about the world until now, but that couldn't go on anymore. He needed a clear plan. The Plunder Sucker class was his ace, but it would be nothing but a disaster if people learned about it.
One more person in the know was one more percent of potential danger. He trusted Seraph with his life, but she was a woman who liked her alcohol. And alcohol caused people to spill secrets.
Lysandra was better, but she was not exactly a fighter.
But even she could help me by showing plunder targets and such. Maybe even helping me hide my tracks.
Ryan became even more hesitant.
Then, he decided not to spill his secrets for now.
I want to surprise Seraph one day. One day, I will be the one wrapping my hand around her, doing things she can't resist. I want to prove that I can do without their help.
And that should come as a surprise to her.
It was true that her help would make it all much easier, but he wanted to gain at least some strength before asking her.
But I can't keep going to the slave market.
Ryan contemplated deeper.
He had learned a lot of things from intelligent web novel main characters. From dumb main characters, too. If you use your cheats too much in front of one person, they will start noticing it and covet it.
So if the slave market was out of the question, where should he go next?
I will have to think about that.
Moreover, this was a horizontal level up scheme. He will gain new skills this way, but not level up. He needed to learn how he can level up his existing skills—how did that work?
"Time to walk around a bit," he muttered, snagging an apple and biting into it. The crunch echoed in the quiet kitchen as his thoughts turned to the next move.
For now, he decided to leave this place first to open up his mind in a better setting.