Summoned and Unwanted

The woman raised her head and on her face was a grim expression. Vincent knew about her secret of escaping loan sharks.

“Why the terrified face? As I know, you bully others because you dislike, how shall I put it, filthy animal hair on your clothes.” Vincent whispered what Kazumi saw in the changing room.

The woman trembled and fell on her knees. “Please, I have nowhere else to go. Don’t report me.” She begged with a low voice.

“Treat others how you want to be treated. This is my warning to change your behavior.” Vincent said.

“Vincent. Did something happen?” Nick asked.

“Nah. The maid thought her button fell, and I helped her look. But it was a mistake since no buttons fell.” Vincent lied to keep what happened between them.

However, as Kazumi suspected, Vivid heard every last word. He secretly glared at the woman for not denying Vincent’s words before following Nick.

Soon, Nick opened a door. Above the door was a sign about the size of a large book cover. It was made out of gold, and it had both a cross symbol and the words no entry for both literate and illiterate individuals.

.....

“My lords, please enter and close the door behind.” Vivid respectfully said.

A well-lit enormous room welcomed their sight. There were many long tables with elegantly stitched cushions. On each cushion were various eye-catching items.

The thought of choosing one item for free made both Vincent and Kazumi suffer from the sickness called ‘How can I choose if I want everything in here.’

[What to choose. What to choose. Ahh, I might get a headache if I mull over if we should go for an item to sell later or an item valuable enough to help us.]

Nick went over to a sword. He lifted the cushion with the blade excitedly and said, “This is an enchanted sword with the rune of flame. I would choose this bad boy if I were you.

“Ahem. Master Nikolai. These gentlemen do not have the same preferences. I rudely noticed Lord Vincent, who is allowed to take one item looking at the items with a frown. I assume Lord Vincent wants something different. ” Vivid said after he noticed Vincent acting undecided on what he should choose to get.

“Ahh! Could it be that dying dried plant?” Nick rubbed his chin and looked at Vivid as if a sword should be the best option for a gift.

Such words caught the attention of Vincent and Kazumi.

“Can I see this plant?” Vincent quickly asked.

Nick looked at Vincent with a frown and *Sigh* ” We thought the noble who frequently buys exotic plants might buy it ever after the shipment’s delay made the plant less attractive to buy.”

“It’s unappealing, right? The sword looks better, in my opinion.” Nick said after Vivid brought the cushion with a well-decorated pot on it. The plant in this pot looked withered with one last leaf barely holding from falling. It was unappealing, as Nick said.

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[Name] Visk Vine

[Condition] Withering, Damaged Roots, Mana Dehydration (Minimum reached. 15 Mana remaining)

[Grade] Rare

[Description]

A vine-like flower that uses mana as a base for photosynthesis to survive for decades. It can store mana from its roots and grow leaves instead of petals while it doesn’t let mana leak. Visk Vine can’t live if its roots are damaged because it will harm its photosynthesis process, and it will be unable to absorb mana.

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“Yeah, it is about to die soo. Maybe today or tomorrow. But I want it either way because I like to collect rare and unusual plants.” Vincent decided. It was a gamble since the Visk Vine was in a bad state, and if it is missing too much for Iris to use Seed Rebirth on it. The chances of a loss were high.

[I hope Seed Rebirth could work with this plant. It might be able to make a Seed Guardian last for a longer time or permanent if everyone feeds it mana.]

-Really? I wanted to see Iris happy with a rare plant. I didn’t think that far.-

Vincent now had to get the plant no matter what and hope it could turn into a seed.

Leonis frowned, but he couldn’t say what was on his mind. It was a gift for Vincent to commemorate becoming friends with Nick instead of a wedding gift.

Nick went to bring an inspection gemstone. He saw the rapidly deteriorating condition of the plant and said, “You are right! This plant had two hundred mana yesterday, but now it only has eight mana remaining. I fear it might die in a few hours if it can’t absorb mana now.”

Nick felt grateful Vincent helped maintain the Graymoon reputation from being harmed by auctioning a plant that might die before the buyer returns home.

Nick instructed Vivid to place the cushion on the table and go to ask his parent about the Visk Vine. Nick remembered about a plant that is in another storage. It was going to be auctioned tomorrow.

“Vincent, I remembered of a plant that arrived yesterday evening. It also was imported from the Eastern Continent. However, this plant familiar that lives for a month at most. Do you perhaps want it instead?” Nick offered. He noticed Vincent with a puzzled expression and explained, “A person can have a couple of plant familiars, but not too much.”

“Don’t tell me it that dangerous Nimbus Nerve plant thing that must be put down a few days before it grows too old to digest blood?” Leonis asked.

“Yes, Lord Leonis is correct. It attacks its owner after it desires more blood than a person can give. ” Nick answered.

“The Nimbus Nerve digests and converts the blood of its owner into nutrients and mana. Their combat potential is based on the quality of blood it digests. Some nobles buy a plant to see how strong their bloodline is. However, only a few nobles flaunt about their Nimbus Nerve.” Nick explained. He hoped Vincent would choose the healthier plant over the dying one.

Vivid returned when Nick’s last word left his mouth. In his hands was a cushion with a pot on it.

The vine-like plant familiar Nick mentioned was in a pot, and it was around seven inches tall above the soil. It had multiple thin vines around its chest, forming a small thin ribcage quite similar to Iris’s Seed Guardian.

The Nimbus Nerve had two leaves and two vine arms underneath attached to the vine ribcage chest. As for its head, it was strange to call it one. A vine with two leaves as antennas was instead of a head.

However, the Nimbus Nerve looked like it was about to wither. Its color was faded, the vines started to crack from the dryness, and the four leaves were about to fall anytime soon.

“Master Nikolai. Lord Victor agreed to give Lord Vincent another gift, but the Nimbus Nerve is also in a bad state.” Vivid placed the cushion on the table and said before leaving, “I need to inform Lord Victor of this matter. I will find Master Nikolai in the VIP Balcony later.”

“What is happing all of a sudden?” Nick scratched his head as he clearly remembered the plant to be much healthier than currently.

“I hope it is a simple matter. I will ask your father later when the situation is under control.” Leonis said. He was worried this might be the noble faction attacking the royal faction. Vincent fanned the flames between the two factions by killing Demel Blackheart.

Vincent and Kazumi looked at the plant. They noticed one of its leaves slightly move when it felt an attentive gaze land on it. More leaves moved as if its instinct to survive was triggered.

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[Name] Nimbus Nerve

[Condition] Withering, Mana Dehydration (Minimum reached. 15 Mana remaining)

[Grade] Rare

[Stats] Strength 1 || Agility 1 || Perception 2 || Mana 15

[Description]

A vine-like plant creature that uses blood as food. It spends its life searching for food, and when it finds a live host, it will form a bond and follows the host until one dies. The Nimbus Nerve can grow stronger based on the blood it feeds off.

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Vincent approached the plant, but Leonis swiftly pulled him by his shoulder. “It will attack you if you carelessly approach it. I don’t want to see my little angel hate me for letting her husband get hurt under my watch.” Leonis honestly said.

“Lord Leonis is correct. Nimbus Nerve must be fed blood under the influence of submission, or it will latch on the nearest living being with blood.” Nick frowned, and his expression was one of fright. “It might suck more blood than your body needs to remain to function based on its near-death state. ”

“Yes. I remember when your older brother Ivan Graymoon lived in this city. We met a few times and conversed about recent trends since Ivan is a free-spirited man. He mentioned that a Nimbus Nerve can kill or disable vital organs from the sudden disappearance of blood if it is about to die from starvation.” Leonis said.

[Ohh. So Nick has a brother. He didn’t mention him, but we know how difficult it must’ve been.]

Vincent looked at both the Visk Vine and Nimbus Nerve. “Nick. Can I have both? My gray demigoblin wife would love to use the Visk Vine because she is a herbalist. As for the Nimbus Nerve, I will tame it with my blood. I have enough to spare for this vampire plant.” Vincent turned his gaze at Nick and asked, “Is it possible?”