Summoned and Unwanted

601 Life for a life

Vincent, Kazumi, and the female lizardman saw the baby smile at them. This view comforted their hearts and relaxed their mood. Shortly, Vincent and the female lizardman smiled back as if the baby’s cute smile was infectious.

On the other hand, Kazumi happily arched her eyes. Wolfie wagged its tail after feeling this was a happy moment. Freerie circled around them while flipping and turning as if it was an air show.

“Knowing this is better than knowing nothing, but... “*Sigh* “The child born with a destined fate to discover me and allow me to know my mutated blood can help the new generation of the lizardfolk.” *Sigh* “Now I feel sorry for those who weren’t the chosen ones to attract my attention.”

[Vincent, remember that you can’t help the lizardfolk carelessly. I hope you didn’t forget your mutated blood poisons the little one.]

“I know. We will need to find another way to help with the absorption of my mutated blood, or I will become the grim reaper instead of the savior.” Vincent said with a frown after thinking about the worst possible outcome.

The female lizardman still wished for Vincent to help her kind. She lowered her gaze to the dark bottom of less ground and moved her body as if she was about to lower to her knees.

Vincent placed his hands on her arms and stopped her. Regardless of kneeling or not, she looked at Vincent with her eyes about to tear and begged, “Please save and lead us, Shah Rak Tan!”

“...” Vincent’s mind became blank for a moment after he felt repeating Kevin’s hero story and become easily targetable.

[What do you think about this? We will help you take care of the baby. If she grows healthy without the need for treatment or Vincent healing her, then we will consider looking for other pregnant lizardfolk.]

.....

“Thank you, goddess. Thank you, Shah Rak Tan. But can I shamelessly ask for a favor?”

“S-sure. If I can do it, then I will try.” Vincent said. He was slightly nervous the favor could be more than he would expect.

“Can my people secretly know Shah Rak Tan has been found? They will understand and stop trying to find the Shah Rak Tan.”

[Does that mean what I think it means?]

“Probably yes. ” Vincent responded while looking at the female lizardman.

The female lizardman revealed a radiant smile. “Our search can now end. I feel blessed to be the one to found Shah Rak Tan and finally bear a child at last.”

*Sigh* ‘Does it mean the lizardfolk mate and bite others to follow a prophecy they weren’t sure was true? Even if their lives were at stake?’ Vincent pondered about the reality of the lizardmen race situation while feeling bad for the ones who didn’t find him.

[Vincent. How about we begin the test now? We know enough about how we can help, and time is passing by. I think we have a minute or so left.]

Vincent raised his hand and looked at his soul watch. “Yeah. Less than two minutes left.”

“Retainer tests begin. ” Vincent said while desiring to make both the mother and daughter his retainer and heal them.

.

[Notice]

[Soul Retainer Bond (Blessed) has been chosen on the two living beings without a name.]

[-40sp has been used to start the test. 0sp remaining.]

[Checking compatibility...]

[Checking personality...]

[Compatibility check done.]

[Personality check done.]

[Blessed Retainer extra test check done.]

[Seven deadly sins check done.]

[One unnamed being has failed the Test.]

[One unnamed being has desired to wait before passing the test.]

.

“Huh? What is happening?” Vincent questioned with a bewildered expression.

[Wait a moment! Who failed, and who is the one waiting to pass? Not having a name is more confusing than I expected.]

“I felt a strange power surging in my body, but I wanted to wait until my daughter became healthy. I think I am the one who passed.” The female lizardman said while looking at her daughter.

She raised her gaze to look at Vincent and requested, “Can my daughter retake the test? Maybe she can pass this time.”

Vincent and Kazumi understood the flaw of making someone their retainer.

Even if they could communicate directly with their target’s soul and overcome the language barrier hurdle, a newborn didn’t have enough knowledge in their soul to communicate.

“I don’t have any more Soul Power, but I can try again. However, probably one or two more times as I have to use my vitality.” Vincent explained.

[Have faith, Vincent. The little one might be able to pass the test this time. And if not, the third try is the charm.]

Kazumi tried her best to encourage Vincent and reduce the tension by thinking positively.

“Okay. I will...”

.

[Notice]

[One unnamed being has desired to pass their passing grade to their progeny.]

[Soul Retainer Bond (Blessed) has been chosen on the progeny without a name.]

[Checking compatibility...]

[Checking personality...]

[Compatibility check done.]

[Personality check done.]

[Blessed Retainer extra test check done.]

[Seven deadly sins check done.]

[Gifted passing grade has been used, and the unnamed being has passed the Test.]

[One Blessed Retainer gained.]

.

Vincent and Kazumi couldn’t believe the passing grade could be gifted. While the two were trying to comprehend what was happening, the baby started crying, and the female lizardman started to worry.

“My daughter looks in pain.” She urgently said.

“The mark will be painful for a second, but since the time flows differently here, she will be in pain for one minute. ” Vincent explained.

[Before that. Vincent, let’s start another retainer test for the mother.]

Vincent nodded. “I will redo the test.”

The female lizardman shook her head. “Thank you, my god. My Shah Rak Tan.” She said while placing her daughter on Vincent’s chest.

Vincent reflexively held the crying baby. He was about to ask what the female lizardman wanted to say, but he couldn’t. No one could.

The body of the female lizardman wavered as if it was a hologram before fading. Kazumi feared the worst as she had never seen Vincent or anyone else leave the Soul Domain in that manner.

[Vincent! Return now! I am afraid we... we couldn’t save her...]

Vincent’s mind blanked for a moment. His shocked gaze moved on to Kazumi. “Did... did she die... we... we couldn’t make it in time?...”

While the two were distraught, the darkness started to fade. Vincent blinked, and the next time his eyes opened, he could see a baby floating in mid-air. She was shining green brightly while crying.

Vincent lowered his gaze and looked down at the female lizardman. However, he didn’t need to use Inspection to know she had passed away.

Vincent barely looked at the baby like the others were doing. Instead, he stared at the mother while the feeling of guilt started to consume him.

‘She had less than ten seconds of life left in her body, yet I let her explain everything before initiating the test. It is all my fault. She died because of me. Why couldn’t I save her...’

[It wasn’t your fault Vincent.] Kazumi said while noticing Vincent with his gaze focused on the mother instead of the daughter.

[We did what we could, and we didn’t know how long she was going to live. No one could, even with the Inspection skill. Thus, it is not your fault.]

[What happened happened, and we can not change the past. We can only change the future by the choices we make.]

“What is happening?” Asked Grace and Zefine.

“It is the same as what happened to Lady Lillith!” Yula exclaimed.

“Does it mean the child is awakening too?” Both Eliara and Fliara questioned.

“But... the mother passed away...” Sofy sadly announced. She placed a handkerchief to cover her face.

“Even though having a child born is a blessing, losing a life to gain another isn’t a pleasant sight to see. I feel sad even if I outlived many people I knew.” Mimi said with a saddened gaze.

“I am going to catch the baby. ” Sakura extended her arms for the baby to descend and catch her before falling on the mattress.

Vincent moved his gaze after Kazumi alleviated most of his guilt-riddled mind. He looked at the shining baby descend into Sakura’s arms. The thought of a life for life came to mind at this moment.

“W-what!” Sakura said before *Bam!* the baby not only mysteriously slipped from her hands but the baby was pushed to the side, causing the baby to fall to the floor with a loud thud.

Sakura froze from shock at the thought of dropping the baby and causing a grievous injury or worse. Her body shook from fright, and she felt like fainting.

.....

Yula was beside Sakura, yet she felt her body was heavy, and she couldn’t move for some reason. However, Yula could now move her body.

Yula swiftly lifted the baby and looked at her. A frown appeared on her face after finding out the baby was sleeping, as if the fall didn’t even wake her up.

“Is the baby all right?” The women in the living room asked.

Yula moved her head to look at every one. “The baby is... sleeping.”

“No wonder the baby is sleeping. Look at the floor. I estimate her scales are tougher than an adult lizardman’s scales.” Mimi said while pointing at the floor.

The eyes of everyone in the room lowered, and they saw a broken wood tile. It was similar to grabbing a heavy hammer and dropping it on the floor.