Chapter 648
648 The life-saving powder
“Please, Duke Lucas. Stop teasing Bilka.” Anna requested in a gentle voice.
“Sure, your highness.” Lucas peeked at Bilka while teasing, “I have to obey your request before someone becomes very very angry at me, hehe.”
Anna looked at the angry Bilka. “The destruction of change means to bring change by destroying what is already built. Or, in simpler terms, change what currently exists by time or by force.”
“Isn’t that bad?”
“There are two sides to a coin, Bilka. The good can not happen without someone feeling it is bad. Soldiers are good people to us, but to their enemies, they are murderers and family killers.”
“I understand. I understand, your highness.” Bilka said before continuing in a regretful tone, “I feel ashamed I to make the benevolent Princess speak such crude words.”
Lucas shrugged his shoulders. “Who knows? Vincent might bring a necessary change to the kingdom.”
“Necessary change? He already made a lot of enemies from the Aristocrat side.”
“Bilka... do you hate Vincent this much? Did you forget he is in good standing with the Sunrise, Graymoon, Reddawn, Griffinheart, Ponalis, Milloween, and Hawkins families?” Lucas explained by naming all the noble families on good terms with Vincent’s Lionheart family.
.....
“It is true Vincent has a lot of support, but...” Anna gently rubbed her chin and continued, “This is the first time an otherworlder chose to hide among us by becoming a noble. The closest we had so far was to create an underwater kingdom for themselves.”
“Haha.” *Clap, clap* “There is a first for everything, isn’t there?”
“I have the same thought. Hehe.” Anna pleasantly giggled. The thought of Vincent being a person who she couldn’t understand entirely fascinated her.
Anna believed it was similar to reading a report that needed time to decipher and comprehend. However, Anna could now know Vincent’s train of thought was vastly different than what is considered common sense in this current world.
Anna moved the small window curtain and looked at the dark sky illuminated by the stars and the moon. “We will have to see what Vincent can achieve.”
“And how he behaves.” Lucas looked at Bilka. “Am I right?”
“Yes! He needs to be leashed like the dangerous monster he is.” Bilka added.
‘The frosty clouds are gathering in front of the moon. To protect it or to take its place. Only we can guess, while only time can tell.’ Anna profoundly thought while staring at the moon.
*Day 184 – 8 December – Wednesday*
The next day arrived, yet the sun was yet to peak from the other side of the world. It was early in the morning when Vincent opened his eyes to the brand-new day.
Vincent yawned and stretched his arms after partaking in a good night’s sleep. Yet he didn’t know how many things happened while he fell asleep to recover.
Vincent leaned up and felt Plow rolling onto his lap. He moved his gaze after hearing footsteps and saw five wives looking back at him with tired red eyes.
“Good morning? Are you girls not feeling well?” Vincent asked.
*Yawn* “I couldn’t sleep well last night.” Ester responded. One after the other, Lupa, Iris, Lilith, and Sakura said the same thing. They couldn’t sleep after experiencing a long roller coaster of a day.
-It was because of me, I fear.-
[You got that right. First was the crises and almost your permanent death. Then the part with Anna. And later, the cherry on the cake, you told them about leaving them home while you went on a trip without them.]
[In other words, yes, it was half of your fault for not being able to sleep. Furthermore, Iris entered the bedroom not too long ago. She didn’t even have a shut eye.]
“...” Vincent was at a loss for words.
‘I need to recover quickly and make it up to them. Lilith’s birthday is soon approaching. I will have to start with her.’ Vincent planned.
Plow snuggled her head with Vincent’s chest. *Pho ?* “Plow can’t wait to have fun today.”
Vincent gave Plow a head pat.
‘Huh? Why is my hand heavy?’ Vincent looked at his long sleeve, be he didn’t see weights attached to the sleeve or his hand.
A frown appeared on Vincent’s face. ‘Is this the feeling of the soul-weakening debuff reducing my stats?’
“Here, Vincent, take this with you. I hope you will not need to use it, though.” Iris said before approaching the frowning Vincent with a small bag in her hand.
Vincent received the small bag. He curiously focused his gaze, and an inspection window appeared.
.
[Name] Blood Absorbing Hardener Powder
[Condition] Fresh
[Grade] Rare
[Description]
A power made by Iris Lionheart by using a finely crushed Limb Seed as the base. The powder will harden upon mixing with blood for one hour. The lesser quality of the power becomes, the less the hardening duration.
[Effect]
*Rapid hardening (60 Minutes)
.
Vincent and Kazumi became thrilled by Iris’s creation.
The product in his hands could be a lifesaver to a person like Vincent. A person who scratches his arm regularly to feed his plant familiar. A person who also has a vampire feed from his neck.
Vincent could now see what Kazumi meant by saying Iris didn’t enter the bedroom to sleep. It was obvious Iris was the most exhausted person in the room. She had spent an all-nighter after receiving the eighteen Limb Seeds.
In Vincent’s hand was a product that could sell for an exorbitant price, yet it would also reveal the existence of the Limb Seed and the creator.
Vincent wanted to see what the miraculous first aid powder looked like. Upon opening the bag to see what was inside, a scent of burnt wood and a slightly pungent smell entered his nose.
Vincent heard Plow and Lupa sneezing because of their sensitive nose. He promptly closed the bag and stored it inside his Soul Dimensional Storage.
Vincent tried to get out of bed, but he soon realized his arm and hand weren’t the only limbs feeling weaker.
‘What is wrong with my arms and legs? Why do I feel like I am wearing a heavy suit?’ Vincent pondered before noticing everyone looking at him. ‘I better act normal, or they will get worried.’
Vincent got out of bed and immediately became uncomfortable standing up.
Vincent stretched his body while yawning to cover the fact he felt strangely weak. His frown was also covered as the more he stretched, the more effort it took him to move.
The door opened, and Sofy entered with a tray trolley. On the tray were cups, a pot of boiling water, and assortments of tea leaves and coffee beans. The smell was relaxing in the morning.
“Good morning. ” Sofy told Vincent with a warm smile before she took tea and coffee requests.
After giving Ester, Lupa, Iris, Lilith, and Sakura something warm to drink, she made a cup of tea for Vincent.
“The usual. Enjoy the tea.”
“Thank you, Sofy. Can I ask you to prepare the carriage?”
“Hehe.” Sofy seductively giggled. “Yesterday, I heard what your plan for today was going to be. The horses are fed and prepared. The carriage is cleaned and ready to be used.”
[It was I, the great Kazumi, who made the arrangements with Jun Ye Rim’s help. I also concluded it would be best to travel from the west gate since we didn’t get to travel that far, unlike the other sides.]
[Ahem. We will need to compensate Jun Ye Rim for acting as my voice. I am saving a lot of mana because of her. Furthermore, she is like a portable charging station, hehe.]
*Sip* -Jun Ye Rim might feel sad to hear you calling her a commodity.-
[Yeah... I guess I should tease her less for letting my voice be heard without too much hassle.]
*Sip* “This tea is great. Thanks.” Vincent told Sofy while placing the cup on the tray.
“Maid Yula also knew about your interest in traveling in the cold forest with snow-covered ground. By the time I left the kitchen, I believe you have enough food for two days’ worth.”
“Does Plow have food too?” *Pho?*
Sofy smiled. She gave Plow a head pat and responded, “Yes. I saw a lot of meat plates ready for Vincent to keep them warm.”
“Plow is going adventuring!” *Pho ?* Plow wagged her tails while jumping happily on the bed. Out of everyone in the bedroom, Plow was the happiest currently.
*Sigh* “Could you tell Yula to take it easy? I have a lot of food remaining in my storage.” Vincent requested
“Yes.”
“Sofy. You can leave the trolly with the warm kettle here. You can go to prepare.” Offered Lilith.
“Yeah. The faster my mate leaves, the faster he will come back home. Don’t keep me waiting.” Lupa added.
Ester, Iris, and Sakura chuckled after hearing the impatient Lupa mention how she wanted Vincent to return home when he was still in front of her eyes.
Sofy nodded. She left the bedroom and headed to the kitchen first.
While Lilith was making warm drinks for everyone, Vincent pondered about Yula and her passion for making nutritious food.
‘I hope I did not give Yula a lot of work. She likes to go overboard when it comes to nutrients.’ Vincent thought before realizing how dangerous it was to go to the forest in the cold and snowy season at that.
“What is on your mind, Vincent?” Asked Sakura.
“I feel terrible to leave you all here. I feel selfish...”
“I don’t mind as long as you can return safely. ” Sakura interrupted Vincent.
.....