Chapter 382
‘Being in the company of a friendly classmate isn’t a bad idea.’ She thought.
Clair gulped while trying to build a dose of courage. She stepped forward and said in a low voice, “I am... I am afraid of Nikolai Graymoon. I heard he hurts women... I am afraid he will hurt me...”
Vincent chuckled. It seemed Clair would’ve joined immediately if it wasn’t for Nick and his infamy. If Vincent could ease her mind, then she might join them.
“Nikolai told me his side of the story, but he could have told me a lie. However, from what I heard and saw, his parents appear to accept Nikolai’s words over those who spread the rumors. Furthermore, Vopor Sunrise remained his friend, and I could see he was sad to be in a different class.” Vincent said in a low voice.
“I... I don’t know...” Clair was still undecided as her safety for the next couple of years could be a nightmare or worse. She fears Nick will do something to her when her servant isn’t nearby.
“Nikolai told me how he became angry when the fiancees he met abused their slaves in front of his eyes. He was so angry that his temperament got the best of him, and he did a thoughtless act.”
*Sigh* Vincent shook his head and continued.
“Nikolai pleaded guilty to slap, push, and damage the clothing of a few potential fiancees. He said it was to bring justice to the slaves he saw humiliated in front of his eyes.”
.....
Vincent decided to end his recruitment pitch with, “Clair Reddawn, it will be your choice if you want to take a chance and believe his words or not. However, if you join us, then my wives and I will protect you from Nikolai if he attempts to harm you.”
“I... I want time to think.” Clair responded. She was hesitant to accept the offer, yet knowing that Vincent, Lilith, and as her mother informed her, Ester, Lupa, and Iris were going to help her if the rumors about Nick are true.
“Take your time.” Vincent turned around and left her alone to think about what she could decide to do next.
Clair approached Vincent, Lilith, and Nick about ten minutes later. It appeared after asking a few more times and getting rejected. She decided to accept Vincent’s offer.
Clair decided to place her trust in him and his wives. The team now had four members.
Fortunately, Nick and Clair attended the wedding. Now the situation became four against one to reveal Lupa’s secret. The last member to join them should feel intimated to reveal how Lupa isn’t a real familiar.
[There isn’t that much time left. I want to spy... ahem look around and see the teams. Maybe I can hear something juicy, hehe.]
Kazumi was bored, so she appeared next to Vincent, winked at him, and left to satisfy her curiosity. Only Vincent could see her floating in circles, and it brought a smile to his face. Kazumi looked happy even if she didn’t have a mouth on her wisp body.
Kazumi soon stopped near Jun Ye Rim. She was sitting alone, and a few students were glaring at her.
[I wonder what happened to this elf? Hmm, it is the job of detective Kazumi to find out, hehe.]
Kazumi floated beside a few students and overheard how the loner elf shooed anyone who tried to invite her. However, Kazumi found it strange. Only a handful of boys-only groups appeared to bad mouth her.
“Meh, I thought she looked cute, but her personality sucks.” One male student said.
“Maybe she thought we would take advantage of the elven rule.” Another male student said.
Kazumi went over to another group and overheard a couple of scraps of information.
[Hmm, so Sofy was right about elves getting stuck with one partner until their partner dies. It appears the elves would not be able to ascend to Dragon Heaven or whatever they go in the afterlife if they break this law.]
[... well, not to say the afterlife is fake since here I am, a soul floating about invisible to everyone but Vincent.]
Kazumi frowned and looked at the loner elf. She pitied Jun Ye Rim. Joining a team that desired to be the best caused the risk of blaming her meager combat power, and the worst could happen.
[Why did I have this disgusting thought... but if she was forced into a relationship, she might have to become theirs, or she would break the elven one mate per life rule for a good afterlife.]
Kazumi was staring at Jun Ye Rim while pondering about the rules and laws of the different races when a one-meter snake-like spirit with two pairs of wings suddenly appeared and locked its three eyes on Kazumi.
[Wait... don’t tell me it can see... me?]
Kazumi was shocked.
Jun Ye Rim had a surprised expression on her face when her Soul Servant appeared without her permission and looked somewhere.
The Soul Servant few away in a rush without her command. She flustered, stood up, and followed after it in a hurry.
Kazumi became afraid as they never had to fight against a soul like her before. She feared the snake-like spirit was after her to devour her.
Vincent stood up when he saw this happen. A glare appeared on his face when he saw Kazumi rushing to him while being chased. He was thinking similarly to Kazumi because a spirit’s weakness might be another spirit after playing many RPG fantasy games.
[Help me!]
This was the first time Kazumi called for help. Bloodlust seeped from Vincent’s body.
The two sitting beside Vincent thought it was strange for Jun Ye Rim’s Soul Servant to fly their way. However, after watching Vincent urgently stand up and emit a bone-chilling murderous intent, Nick became alert while Lilith became worried something terrible was about to happen.
Vincent climbed on the table and leaped from one table to the other. He caught the attention of all the class. Many wondered what was happening because Vincent and the one-meter-long spirit looked like they were about to attack each other.
“What is happening?”
“Is that loner elf attacking someone?”
“The elf has the audacity to attack a human!”
“But a spirit can’t deal damage, right?”
“I heard it can, after years of practice to infuse it with mana. But it becomes like a familiar in the end.”
“Ahh, so it is nothing special, hehe.”
The students were confused about what was happening, yet no one moved an inch while gossiping about what was happening. They remained watching as if whatever happened, they didn’t care. It was side entertainment for them.
Vincent soon stopped and extended his hand. Kazumi entered into his Soul Domain, and she was now safe. However, the boiling anger Vincent felt couldn’t be satiated.
Vincent’s hand became enveloped with a layer of mana. He opened his hand and caught Jun Ye Rim’s Soul Servant by the neck. His eyes gleamed, and his bloodlust enveloped the room.
“Submit!” Vincent said.
The Soul Servant trembled uncontrollably and dematerialized after losing its control to maintain its form. The particles quickly returned to Jun Ye Rim’s body, and after her Soul Servant completely returned to her, she fell on her knees and trembled.
“What is happening now?”
“I heard how Soulmancers link a portion of their senses to their Soul Servant.”
“Ahh... so that is why she looks like she is about to soil herself.”
The students revealed through their gossip why Jun Ye Rim was on the floor covered in a cold sweat and holding her neck as if she was strangled. She glanced at Vincent as if he was her worst nightmare.
“Vincent, what happened?” Lilith approached and asked.
“It was following Kazumi, and I lost my temper. I thought it was going to eat her. But Kazumi is safe now.” Vincent replied in a low voice.
Lilith felt angry, but after taking a glimpse of Jun Ye Rim up close, she could see how the complexion of her face didn’t look too good. She looked pale as if she suffered from a horrible fright.
It reminded Lilith of how she was before being saved. She felt sympathy for the elf.
Lilith approached Jun Ye Rim, and what she did next surprised Vincent and the frightened Kazumi.
“Are you okay? Let me help you get up.” Lilith offered to help Jun Ye Rim.
Lilith was acting naturally while dozens upon dozens of gazes looked at her. This was the first time in the last ten years that Lilith managed to ignore all the gazes on her.
“I don’t need help. Go away.” Jun Ye Rim rejected the offer. She placed her trembling hands on the floor and stood up by herself. She glanced at Vincent and left to sit alone in a corner.
Lilith shortly began to notice the gazes directed at her. She became anxious and went beside Vincent before she suffered from a panic attack.
It was for a moment, but Lilith showed signs that she could win the fight against her anxiety.
“The intent wasn’t directed at us, but did you feel that?”
“Yeah, is Vincent a veteran adventurer or something?”
“Did you forget old he is? He might have fought and killed others to have this much frightening intent.”
The students gossiped about what happened. Some became afraid of Vincent, while others thought it was a pity they couldn’t join his team as he had the infamous woman abuser Nikolai and Clair with a class that, in their opinion a servant’s class.