Hearing Axel's demand, the one he was speaking to went silent. Only after she had had enough time to think did she finally speak.
"We… have nothing we can offer." She said sadly. "However, I'm willing to work for you as repayment if you share your resources with us! Even just a little is fine!"
Axel crossed his arms over his bare chest.
Of course, he knew that they had nothing to offer him, given their tattered state. However, there was one thing that caught his attention right from the beginning. Something that, thanks to the backlight, became obvious.
"You… are armed, aren't you?" He said, matter-of-factly. "How can I ensure that you aren't bandits and wouldn't rob me dry?"
"...!"
At this point, the woman moved her hand towards her waist, grabbing the handle of the sword hidden under her cape swiftly.
But just as Axel thought she was going to threaten him with violence… She chucked her sword over the fence and toward Axel.
"We mean you no harm, I promise!" She said, before lowering the hood covering half her face.
"Where's our manners… Let me introduce myself first."
She said as her golden hair cascaded down her back, reflecting the glinting morning sun. Her face, despite being covered with dirt and grime, still possessed unconcealable beauty and grace. Enough that Axel was flabbergasted.
"I'm Arianne von Plassus, Captain of the Klint Kingdom's first knight order." She introduced herself, a hand over her heart, as if in salute. "Behind me are all people of stature I swore to protect. They have no fighting ability, so rest assured."
"Kingdom? Knight Order? People of Stature?"
Despite being internally shaken by her sudden reveal, Axel continued to address the situation coldly. Businessman-like... bluffing them.
"Your kingdom's gone. Your knight order is lost. And you still dare introduce yourselves as such?" He spat. "If you think I'd fold because you're all nobles, then think again."
Hearing his hurtful but accurate guess of their situation, everyone's atmosphere turned somber. As if they were recalling the lives lost along the way.
One of them, the shortest, even broke down, crying, despite being dehydrated enough that no tears even fell. Even Arianne's expression soured in chagrin, biting her lips hard, unable to refute his words.
After biding his time, Axel then showed a thin smile.
"But well, I'm no monster either. I can help you guys… but you must help yourselves first."
Axel picked up the sword Arianne threw and drew it out of its scabbard slightly. The blade was a beautiful silver. Shiny and sharp. Although traces of bloodstains were visible, it didn't change the fact that it was a good sword… at least, based on Axel's amateur eyes.
"Here."
He said, throwing the sword back to Arianne.
"I don't care if you're a knight, a noble, or a princess. If you want to ask for my help, to join my camp, then you should work your fair share… Whatever you can help with."
"You…"
This time, it was Arianne who was lost for words. After all, previously, he seemed reluctant to help. But now, he has even returned her sword, which she gave up to show they have no hostile intent. She tried to think hard about his reasoning for doing so, and realized.
"I see." She nodded, smiling gently. "Then as long as you help us, I'd be willing to stake my life protecting this camp!"
Axel, hearing her knightly oath, let out a short smile.
'Nothing is easier than gaining the trust of someone who's cornered.'
Of course, everything was going according to his plan from start to end.
Showing a strong front, letting them know he doesn't trust them, then hitting their emotional weak spots, before showing kindness and "blind" trust. By doing so, the other party will recognize him as a "practical and benevolent" man, even if he wasn't!
It went so easily that he'd be laughing his ass out if he were alone!
"Great," Axel said before stepping forward and stashing the barricade between them into his inventory. "Then come in and have a meal first. Though all I have is water and tough bread."
The moment he did, all eyes converged toward his hand holding the said items. Their gazes filled with awe and shock.
"So you were a mage all this time?!"
"As expected. You were showing us mercy by not attacking us from the start…"
"A space element mage with inventory… how precious, how rare!"
His little extra display of ability, something he thought would just wow them at best, instead made him a "mage" all of a sudden.
Without intending to, his stock among the five strangers skyrocketed. It wasn't on purpose, but all's well that ends well. He just went with it, instead of denying the accusation!
"Nothing worth celebrating for," He shrugged, playing down their praise. "Anyway, come in. I'll be distributing your shares of food now."
Of course, he didn't take out everything he had. He simply withdrew one long French bread and a gallon of water for them to share. Given their states, eating too much could make their stomachs hurt instead. But the main reason was still to save his scarce resources.
And for a fact, he wasn't spending his food and water on them for free. It was an investment… and he plans to profit from it soon enough.
"Food… It's real food! Not rotten scraps or dried barks, but food!"
"Delifious… sniff… weally delifious…!"
But rather than looking disappointed by getting served plain bread, everyone was instead thankful.
Axel didn't have any idea how harsh their situation was, to the point that they were expecting to receive moldy bread instead. But what he presented was freshly baked bread, crunchy on the surface, and fluffy within!
"Sir mage… You don't need to push yourself serving us your precious stash… Just a bit of porridge would be more than enough for us."
Arianne even looked apologetic as she carefully dug into her share of bread.
Watching them fill their cheeks so voraciously, he was even worried they'd choke and die all of a sudden. Axel scratched his head before warning them.
"Stop calling me a mage, call me Axel. And that's all the food I have, nothing else. I'm not giving it to gain favor from you guys or anything." He said. "And also, after eating your fill and resting a bit, it's time to work."
Rather than receiving something for free, a proper exchange is lighter on someone's conscience. Arianne smiled, knowing that she could somehow repay the favor, and nodded.
Pounding her chest once again, she declared. "If it's something I could do, then don't hesitate and ask."
"Really?"
But her declaration... might've been done in haste.
"Then strip."
"..."
And with his command, the air froze.