Summoned and Unwanted

“The third thug, which was their leader and an earth mage, escaped outside. He heard your footsteps. He threw a stick vial at Ester and blocked the entrance.”

“While Ester was immobilized, Lupa went to destroy the wall blocking the entrance and became exhausted after overusing Energy Flow.” *Sigh* “Lupa then chose to run outside alone and exhausted instead of waiting for Ester to escape.”

Lupa lowered her ears, and her eyes looked down. “Sorry...” she said apologetically.

“I noticed your eyes were red, but I thought it was because of the cold since you have heightened eyes, ears, and nose.” *Sigh* Vincent slightly shook his head. “Rest your eyes the day. What happened happened, and now I am only worried about your health. I only hope you learned from this experience and thought twice before chasing someone alone.”

Ester placed her hand on Lupa’s leg. She gently patted her leg, saying, “How about we do better next time? Let’s wait for each other if it isn’t urgent?”

Lupa’s ears perked up. She became happy not receiving punishment or a long lesson about her mistakes.

“Okay. ” Lupa responded with a cheery smile. She suddenly acted as if nothing had happened, and her mood returned to normal.

“Either way, it was fortunate to meet with the soldiers looking for the man who reported pulling a woman by force. ” Vincent said. He looked at Lilith and continued, “I became surprised to hear you decided to do the talking. I am proud you are starting to win over your past self.”

.....

“Thank you, but speaking without feeling safe would have been scary. My sisters standing beside me gave me the courage to act like a Baroness instead of Lilith.” Lilith explained with a blush on her face.

Lilith was embarrassed to say these words while most of the people in the guest room looked at her. However, she didn’t mention how the anxiety and the stress exhausted her mind.

“Sister Lilith was dependable. I felt proud to hear her voice speak without becoming intimidated by the soldiers.” Iris praised Lilith while showing how Lilith was a dependable person if she could win over her anxiety one day.

Vincent became happy to hear about Lilith’s achievement, but the mood didn’t last for another second. Vincent returned to his previous pose and looked at Ester.

“Someone would have gotten angry and painted the street red.” He said after knowing quite well how messy Ester’s wind attacks can be.

‘Wouldnt you have done the same?’ Ester, Kazumi, Iris, and Lilith thought about the overprotective Vincent.

The Lionheart Girls knew quite well how angry Vincent would have become at the sight of Lupa fighting in a terrible state. Such a view would definitely incur his wrath and paint the street red.

“The thug saw he was outnumbered, so he rushed inside the building.” *Sigh* “Then the next dangerous part happened...”

Vincent looked at Iris. She was nervously fiddling with her fingers, indicating she knew revealing her Druid powers was banned for the moment, yet she did it anyways.

*Sigh* “Iris went inside and did the unthinkable. Iris sprouted and controlled two Seed Guardians.”

*Sigh* Vincent shook his head and continued, “I hope the soldiers, the adventurers, and the captured thug will keep their mouths shut because I will do anything to keep Iris from harm’s way.”

Ester, Lupa, Kazumi, Iris, Lilith, and Jun Ye Rim stared at Vincent. There was no need to feel Vincent’s bloodlust seeping from his body to know he would keep his word and protect Iris from people’s greed.

[Look on the bright side, Vincent. Many of the soldiers who were present will visit us to become sponsored by us. Not to mention they do not need a favor like the others. All they want is free medical treatment for their families.]

[Furthermore, the adventurers are probably interested in meeting us for a business opportunity, as the thugs said.]

-You mean we offer protection while they offer us a small cut of their quests?-

[Yes. We can also find lizardmen slaves. Many would definitely want to meet you from the rumor Mimi should be spreading right now.]

-Why do I feel we are not going to be saving them?..-

[How rude to think of me like that!]

[I was going to suggest buying them, nurturing them until they become healthy again, and training them to become stronger depending on what job they wish to have in the mansion. Then we can offer the adventurers a bodyguard for an extra cut.]

-Kazumi... I didn’t think you created a future business deal before the first meeting ever happened.-

-But I think a team bodyguard for rent would be an interesting service, yet I do not know if the lizardmen will want to risk their lives, even if they help F Rankers do F Ranked quests or E Ranked gathering quests.-

[We will save and give the lizardmen a new life in the mansion. Even though they will still be branded as slaves where ever they go, we will give them an almost ordinary life like Leah, Clara, and Beth.]

-The slave curse makes them forced to obey their owner’s orders, yet they are living beings.-

-I want them to choose out of their free will on their future instead of forcing a life they do not desire.-

[I know that, hehe.]

“My mate, you are taking too long with Kazumi. Are you done thinking? Because I heard footsteps similar to that Russo human my mate is looking for.” Lupa notified.

Ester, Lupa, Iris, Lilith, and Jun Ye Rim looked at Vincent while waiting for his expressions to stop and for his mouth move to speak. Only Jun Ye Rim knew one side of the conversation, and she pondered what Vincent was telling Kazumi telepathically.

Vincent swiftly stood up. “I think you girls need more time to accept adopting Shana as our child.”

Vincent looked at Ester and Lupa and suggested, “The two of you need to rest. Mostly you, Lupa. Go rest your eyes.” He looked at Lilith and continued, “You also need to rest your mind.”

“Thank you.” Ester and Lilith responded.

On the other hand, Lupa crossed her arms as if she was given a punishment while thinking, ‘Humph! I still have the energy to spar with the two lookalike humans.’

Iris revealed a being smile and her hand tumped on her chest. “Leave sister Lupa to me. I made a new eye recovering drops to help sister Lupa recover a little bit quicker.”

“Lupa will be in your hands then.” Vincent nodded and glanced at Jun Ye Rim, looking at him as if she was left out. “Jun Ye Rim, enjoy your stay.” He continued before leaving the guest room.

Jun Ye Rim blushed and moved her head. She lowered her gaze and touched her chest.

‘Why is my heart beating quickly all of a sudden? They were only words. It is not like I am happy not to be forgotten or anything like that.’ She pondered.

Vincent shortly arrived near the entrance. He heard footsteps and later saw Russo moving his head as if looking for someone or something.

“Lord Vincent, did you need me for something? I met Zefine, and she told me I was needed.” Russo explained after seeing Vincent approaching him.

“Yes. Let me explain what happened.”

Vincent explained to Russo the location of the illegal slave trading business. The news brought a frown to his face.

Then Vincent continued about the meeting with the Blackheart-sponsored soldiers escorting a carriage with a lot of boxes. Later, Vincent concluded about what happened to the five slaves he bought and the newly born Shana.

Russo took a step back and nodded, saying,” Okay, okay, okay. I will do my job as an officer and remove the filth from the streets. I will take the small number of people who I trust to raid the location you informed me about. Later I will secretly investigate the carriage.”

[Can’t Russo take all the Lionheart-sponsored soldiers to raid the place?] Kazumi suggested.

Vincent liked the idea. “Why don’t you make use of the Lionheart-sponsored soldiers to raid the place? Vice-captain Ben is also on good terms with me. He can also help.”

“Thank you for the insight, and I will ensure they will all be captured. The rescued slaves will be sent to the Graymoon family. They will be registered as legal slaves, and if they have a family, they will be able to return, but...”

Russo paused while a frown appeared on his face. “If a High Cleanse can’t remove the curse, they will have to live with their families with the slave curse.”

“I heard Sofy had been cured of her slave curse. I must’ve been a medium curse since High Curses can only be Cleansed by the legendary spell Blessed Cleanse.”

[...] “...” Vincent and Kazumi couldn’t say a word. They couldn’t say Vincent used his Hero Class power to remove all negative conditions Sofy suffered from.

However, from this exchange, Vincent and Kazumi learned why if a person becomes afflicted by the curse of slavery, they will most of the time never be able to get rid of it.

“By legendary, do you mean no one has reached the level of Blessed Cleanse?” Vincent curiously asked after pondering if people like kings could have such people beside them.