After Crane sent the Lizardman away, he sat opposite to Orsted and Zarestia - in the hall.
Orsted: "So far, I can only say that a lizardman stole your light sphere. But, with just that, I doubt you're ever gonna find it back."
"No way...."
"So, tell me about this light sphere first." Getting a suitable reaction, Orsted inquired.
Struggling internally for a few seconds, Zarestia slumped her shoulder as if to give in.
"...Haa, alright. It's my anchor, most of my power has been stored in it and my soul is bound to it too. So, it wouldn't be wrong to say the me before you guys - is just a portion of my true self." Zarestia explained while wondering how to put it into words.
"Your powers are stored in it? Then, why do you think someone would try stealing it from you?"
"That....for revenge?" Zarestia replied unsure.
"Idiot, of course, it's for your powers!" Crane intruded, not being able to tolerate Zarestia's attitude.
"Anyway, if he took your light sphere for your powers, he would use it somewhere sooner or later. We just have to wait for it. Crane, can I leave it to you to gather information?" Orsted continued, before they started bickering.
"....I understand, I will inform you immediately when I find anything about it. Well, Sorry, but I will have to visit the mayor's mansion to explain the situation first." The Metia in Crane's hand was glowing at one point.
"No problem, we'll be leaving as well." Orsted got up, while pulling Zarestia along.
"That's all? So we just have to beat him up when he appears using my powers?" Zarestia asked after digesting everything Orsted said.
"Basically, yes."
A satisfied smile blossomed internally in Orsted's mind: 'All the pieces are moving. Phase two starts now.'
Even after two months of intensive thinking, Orsted had only perfected phase one of his plan to a degree. For phase two, he just prepared a kind of road map - since, it heavily depended on the result of phase one and the system reward.
The location of Zarestia's missing limbs, Orsted was planning on collecting them while hunting for her 'thief'.
'Since I'm acting as a temporary anchor for her, right now. Zarestia's foggy memory should also clear up soon. Then, I just have to lend the light sphere to one of my subordinates and I can lead her around anywhere I want.'
If there was a perfect bait in existence, this was it.
Watching the curious Zarestia following him quietly, Orsted warned her slightly.
"Most of the locals would come to hate you soon, so don't let your guard down near them."
It would be problematic if Zarestia got eliminated by one of the grunts again, a situation similar to her case in ancient times.
"I UN-DER-STAND....I said, I understand, ok?" Zarestia gave in to Orsted's scary gaze.
"Those lizards weren't that scared before, are they not affected by your curse?" Zarestia had been watching the reactions of people around her, everyone had a very bad expression once Orsted passed by them.
Some kids would even run away crying.
"Yeah. Any creature with a semblance of dragon blood is negated by my curse." Orsted replied back with a weary voice.
"Hmm, I see."
"Leave your footwear outside, in there."
Arriving into his house, Orsted pointed at one of the shelves in the entrance.
"Ow, Got it." Zarestia did as she was told obediently.
Once in the hall, Orsted gave a simple explanation on how to use some items and walked into the bedroom.
"You can stay in the hall and this room is mine. It's night time, so sleep in for now." Orsted began sliding the door closed.
"Wait, wait, WAIT! Don't you eat anything before sleeping?! And how am I even supposed to sleep here without a cushion?!" Zarestia easily held the sliding door in place, her face riddled with indignation.
"....Do you need to eat?"
Orsted just ate the air usually with dragon slayer magic, to erase his hunger.
"No...." Zarestia grumbled.
Taking out his own futon, Orsted gave it to Zarestia silently - he slept rarely anyway. And with her here, there was a possibility of her rampaging while having a nightmare too. He couldn't sleep at all with such a thought in his mind.
"Here." Orsted gave her a gold coin too, "You can buy some food with it, but don't eat outside. Bring anything you buy home and eat it with precaution."
Zarestia's eyes widened slightly, "You are actually a good male, after all."
Watching her smile with the futon and the gold coin, Orsted pursed his lips.
".... it's Orsted."
Slide~
Closing the door, Orsted felt a little more calm.
Every corner of the room was covered in eerie magic circles, glowing faintly in the dark. They were all barriers, simple magic circles from the world of 'Jobless reincarnation'.
Only with this much caution could Orsted's paranoid mind rest in total peace. Though he slept rarely, making use of every second efficiently, sleep was still needed once a week.
'I might have to use [Rewrite] this time around, since Zarestia is around....'
Sitting at one corner, Orsted controlled his system.
[You have obtained the Location of Zarestia's lost limbs, 2,000 dragon points, 100 years of lifespan and 2 gacha chance.]
[Do you wish to collect the reward?]
'Yes.'
A cool sensation spread through his body, his lifespan increased again.
Going through the information of Zarestia's lost limbs ejected into his mind, Orsted sighed in relief - seeing they were all in Kararagi fortunately.
[You have two gacha chance. Does the host wish to use them?]
'Wait, first show me the two new side quests.' Orsted decided to use them after going through everything.
[Side quest 3: Sign a permanent contract with Zarestia and help her recover all her lost limbs.]
[Reward: 1,000 dragon points, 50 years of lifespan and 1 gacha chance.]
[Time limit: 1 year]
[Side quest 4: Recruit Todd Fang as a subordinate.]
[Reward: 1500 dragon points, 1 gacha chance.]
[Time limit: 5 years.]
[Advice: Todd Fand would join a bandit's group in the Fortified City of Garkla in a few years.]
'Todd Fang? He was like the perfect counter against Subaru in Arc 7, he would be a good subordinate with his keen intellect and... paranoia.'
Todd Fang left quite an impression on Orsted, while he read Arc 7. He was literally spawn camping Subaru in every turn and he was even able to escape safely in the end - against every odds.
'If I remember right, he had [The divine protection of ambushing] too, I can train him to be an assassin.'
After contemplating for a while, Orsted decided to recruit Todd Fang, after joining hands with Roswaal.
"Now... Let's see what I get from the gacha."