Summoned and Unwanted

Lupa’s question said with a slightly annoyed tone, took Vincent by surprise. Something interesting was happening for her to act as if she didn’t want Vincent to be bothered.

“Is Sakura in there?” Vincent asked. He leaned his head to take a peek at what was inside, but Lupa extended her hand and pushed him back.

[This looks interesting. I will go to take a peek, hehe.] The curious Kazumi said while leaving Vincent’s body.

“What is going on?”

“My mate can’t enter for now. Go do your human gathering stuff. We are busy.” Lupa said before closing the door.

‘Was Lupa sad?’ Vincent thought. He noticed how Lupa might have been asked not to let Vincent inside, even if she wanted him to enter.

Kazumi returned and teased Vincent about what was happening inside. However, no matter what she said, Kazumi never revealed how Maid Xu was busy fixing Lilith’s uniform and a midnight blue long dress.

Vincent shook his head. *Sigh* “I wanted to ask Lilith if she could paint Sakura green and visit the barracks together. But it looks like they are having fun without me.”

.....

Vincent left the mansion and asked Sofy if the horses had rested enough for more traveling.

Vincent received a resounding yes after he noticed Sofy peek behind him. As if she wanted to check if they were going to be alone again.

“Let’s go. ” Sofy said with a beaming smile.

The first destination was the south gate. After arriving, Sofy stopped in front of a group of soldiers, taking a break near the entrance to the barracks.

The soldiers stared at the noble’s carriage and thought a big shot was inside. They extended their necks to see who was inside, but Vincent jumped down and interrupted their moment of curiosity.

“Do you know these people and where I can find them?”

After Vincent told them the names of the six soldiers he needed to meet, one of the soldiers present raised his hand and asked respectfully why a noble needed him.

“I am Vincent Lionheart. The names of the soldiers I mentioned are people that I have an interest in. I would like to sponsor these six individuals by providing help.” Vincent explained.

Vincent soon noticed the soldier on the list begin to look pale. Vincent raised a friendly smile and reassured, “I will not force you since you are on my list because of two things. Good person, loyal, and need help that doesn’t involve money.”

The soldier became nervous when his friend looked at him with a frown.

Before his angered friends questioned the soldier about not telling them how he needed help, the soldier quickly said, “Let’s go, my lord. I know where the others are.”

The group of angered soldiers saw their friend and Vincent leave. They turned their gaze at Sofy and went to talk to her about what kind of person Vincent Lionheart was.

Later, Vincent and six soldiers following him entered a room.

The soldiers sat on a chair and looked at Vincent to notice all his expressions and their ears to hear every word and their tone. Gathering so many of them for sponsorship made the soldiers think this was a trap.

“As I introduced earlier, I am Vincent Lionheart. I recently married into the Lionheart family, and I am currently attending the Lusterfall Noble Academy. That means I can only visit every Sunday because of the special pass I have.”

When Vincent introduced himself more appropriately to the soldiers and also mentioned having a special pass to leave the noble academy, something only a few students did, they understood Vincent wasn’t an ordinary noble, even if he didn’t have a title and needed to spend years to receive one.

“Vice-captain Ganni, who my Lionheart family sponsors, told me that you six appear to be in need of help. Followed me instead of declining means you all have a situation and need help.”

Vincent spoke in a kind yet authoritative tone. He didn’t try to present himself as a weak person or overly friendly, of the suspicious type.

The six soldiers looked at each other for a minute to determine what the soldiers beside them thought about Vincent’s offer. Soon, one of the soldiers decided to talk.

*Gulp* “My wife is sick, and I used all my money to buy herbs. But I never thought herbs and having a herbalist turn them into medicine cost so much. I am in a bind with the loansharks asking me to pay on time.”

Vincent listened to the soldier in his mid-thirties explain his situation and asked, “I can offer free medicine if you agree to become sponsored by me. Then you will not suffer from a situation like this ever again.”

The soldier became happy to hear about this arrangement. It meant Vincent was going to let him and his wife have no need to worry about becoming sick.

The five soldiers didn’t think before telling Vincent about their problems for a long time. What they said made both Vincent and Kazumi frown.

When Vincent and Kazumi combined the collective information of the six soldiers with the soldiers Phil, James, Hop, and Ganni’s situations, both realized how there was a problem with herbalist shops.

In this world, herbalist shops are like pharmacies. The cost of the herbs is sometimes over five times the price they offer an adventurer in their collecting quest. That means the herbalist shops profit both from their clients and the adventurers.

Vincent had given a few ingredients to the adventurers guild, but he had to hold his anger at the thought of someone profiting from him by a large amount. He didn’t want to make the six soldiers in front of him think they angered him.

This was a red flag in Vincent and Kazmui’s eyes. There was probably a large organization protecting these shops to remain selling at these prices.

However, that was the first part of the red flag. If a person didn’t know how to apply the herbs, the herbalist would ask for a small prescription fee. The fee was meager, but it would start to add up if everyone asked for a prescription.

Furthermore, the herbalist would add an additional fee if the client wants to have the herbs prepared into a medicine. The client would have to pay for a container if they don’t bring one, and they would also need to pay for having the herbs mixed. Additionally, there could be a price increase if the medicine was difficult to make.

Although it was an understandable practice, the price to buy herbs, prescriptions, bottles, and herbs mixed by a professional would become expensive. People without much money saved, with low income, or with debt become burdened when their family members become very sick.

Vincent stood up and extended his hand. “The six of you have until this evening before I return to the academy with my herbalist wife to decide what to do. If you want to become sponsored by the Lionheart family, then bring the prescription and information about the symptoms to my gate guards.” He explained in a reassuring manner.

The six soldiers each shook Vincent’s hand and watched him leave alone. The six soldiers discuss what to do. After a while, they applied for an early leave.

Vincent returned to Sofy. She was frowning, and her whip was in her hand.

Vincent asked if something had happened to Sofy while he was gone, but she was only pestered by a few passersby and a few guards.

*Phew* “At least you are safe. Beauty always attracts attention. Come to find me if it becomes dangerous. Okay?”

Sofy became happy to hear Vincent calling her beauty and how he would protect her if she encountered danger. She winked at Vincent and seductively said, “I am feeling dangerously lonely. Will you save me with a hug?”

Vincent’s gaze landed on the whip. *Cough* “Let’s go to the next gate because time waits for no one.”

[Smooth subject change, hehe. But you take her offer. What’s the worst that could happen? A whipped body? Pffft Hahaha.]

Vincent swiftly sat on the seat and extended his hand. “Let’s go, Sofy.” He said while offering help to sit.

On the way to the next destination, Vincent started to feel angry at the city’s health care system and possibly the entire kingdom.

If the soldiers protecting the city were suffering and in the state of paying more than their budget could afford, then what about those living in villages with low incomes? And hours or days they have to travel to the nearest herbalist shop and back?

One thought flashed in his mind. ‘Am I helping the Lusterfall Kingdom’s soldiers instead of the kingdom they serve?’

Vincent wasn’t too far from the truth.

Only if the soldier can prove they are sick can the army provide some medical assistance. If soldiers require medical assistance for their family members, they get recommended to ask a noble to sponsor them.

Hours later, the carriage with the Lionheart insignia arrived at the west barracks. After repeating the same process, Vincent found out how things were the same for these soldiers.

One soldier even once bought a cleansing potion from the black market for almost half a year’s worth of pay. The cleansing potion cost fifteen silver coins, and it only healed his daughter once. Thus, forcing him to visit the cheaper alternative. The herbalist shop.