316 The sisterhood decided

“Really! Big sister can talk to plants?” Tula’s excitement reached the sky.

Iris nodded. “I can’t hear this one because it is still a baby. But I feel these are the word it would say. ” She said.

“Did... did big sister lie?” Tula looked unhappy after getting used to not being lied to, but it didn’t last for long.

“I-I didn’t l-lie. I-I can only speak to old trees...” Iris stuttered. Iris saw Tula not looking convinced, so she added, “O-one time I think I can. M-my powers are new.”

“I knew big brother Vincent had a cool, truthful, and kind big sister around him. I am very happy to be with big sister Iris, hehe” Tula looked content.

“Let me sing a nice song for the little baby seed. I, mommy Tula will take care of you very much.” Tula gently patted the soil like as if she was giving Plow a head pat and started singing an ear-piercing song.

“I am sorry Iris. But I’m out of here.” Vincent turned around and ran away before memories of Tula singing for hours until her voice became hoarse.

Vincent, Ester, Lupa, and Kazumi deemed Tula’s tone def singing torture when traveling together in Aero Forest. Tula was a mighty foe whenever she felt cheerful enough for a song.

[I hope Iris is lying about talking to plants. The seed would tell Iris to end its misery. Oh, sorry. It sounds grim now that I am saying it.]

.....

“...”

Vincent moved through the mansion and sat on a sofa. He leaned his head upwards and gazed at the ceiling while thinking to himself, ‘I can check my stats now that it is quiet. I haven’t done so after so many problematic events.’

“Overheat. ” Vincent uttered as he raised his hands. He watched the mutation process take place.

Later, Vincent used Inspection and quickly glanced at all his stats. Overheat only had a couple of seconds left for the day, so he had to hurry.

.

[Name] Vincent Agius

[Race] Human

[Age] 32

[Condition] Healthy, Tired

[Soul Power] 0sp

[Traits] Blood Tempered Body Stage One, Mana Body

[Class] Soul Hero

[Class] Soul Mutation

[Stats] Strength 74 || Agility 73 || Perception 73 || Mana 81

.

[Class Soul Hero]

*Soul Retainer Bond (Blessed)

*Inspection (Addons) – Soul System, Third Eye

*Soul Spells – Minor Heal – Soul Reset

*Soul Dimensional Storage stage one 13xCubed (2/10 | 8)

*Promised Quest (4 quests active.)

.

[Class Soul Mutation]

*O?e4/0ad

*Overheat (Stage Three) – Overflow (Shared) – Sub-Familiar Mutation (Shared)

*Mutation Trait – Pain Mitigation stage one (9/10 | 9%), Minor Acid Mitigation stage ten (Max | 100%)

.

[Soul Reset description.]

[The host can cause his soul to absorb [Soul Power] and initiate the reset cycle. The Mutant Class timed skills will have their timers reset.]

[The stacks will increment by one stack on every use until a natural [Soul Reset] occurs.]

[The amount cost is twenty [Soul Power] per stack. The amount is additive instead of multiplicative.]

[A non forced natural [Soul Reset] will reset the stacks to one no matter how many the stacks have incremented.]

.

Vincent was impressed by the high numbers in his status window.

Six retainers give him a total of plus sixty in all stats. It made Vincent on the same level as C Ranker now. However, he is far stronger because of his pain resistance, enhanced bloodlust, and ability to heal.

.

[Overheat duration ended.]

[Host Race returning to human.]

.

“Well, looks like I used it all on Sakura.” Vincent lowered his eyes and locked his gaze on the skill Soul Reset. “I wonder what it will do if I...”

.

[Notice]

[Does the host wish to use [Soul Power] to reset mutated class skills?]

.

[Yes (Unavailable. Not enough SP)] [No.]

.

“Obviously no. Not even if I have the points to do so.” Vincent said. The Soul Reset skill window faded. “This is an emergency-only skill. I will treat it as a costly consumable.”

[Soul Reset was a high-cost skill to acquire. One hundred and twenty-five days of saving, to be exact. I think you would’ve died if you tried to learn the skill in one sitting while enduring the after-effects of paying with your body, or however it works.]

“Yeah. I tried my luck... I mean, I gambled my life and Overload activated. I and everyone else would have died if it wasn’t because of the mutation in my body.” *Sigh* “I want to grow strong without using the mutation class, but I guess it is impossible for now.” Vincent expressed that he wasn’t too happy depending on the mutation that killed his parents. ” But at least I have about the same stats as a low-rank soldier with the Warrior Class.”

[I know! How about treating the mutation as a tutorial? Or like the training wheels on a bike?]

Kazumi said. She tried to help Vincent realize how to survive. One has to utilize all the tools available to them, she believed.

“...”

“Yeah.” *Yawn* “I feel tired. I am going to take a quick nap. Wake me up if something important happens.” Vincent leaned on the sofa and closed his eyes. The quiet small guest and dining hall calmed his mind.

[Hehehe.]

historical

‘Huh? I can hear Kazumi giggling. It is the same sound as when she sees something amusing. Did the others return?’ Vincent thought. He opened his eyes and saw fabric for a ceiling. He was in a different place.

“Huh! Did I teleport?” Vincent opened his eyes and leaned up quickly. Soon, Lilith applying to make-up entered his sight. “Why am I on the bed? I only took a quick nap.” Vincent questioned when he noticed he was in Lilith’s luxurious large bed.

[Hehehe. Sakura brought you here.]

Kazumi kept giggling when she saw Vincent with a flustered look. She was keenly waiting for Vincent to wake up by himself or get woken up with Lilith on him. However, Kazumi ended up waking Vincent herself.

Lilith turned around. “Did I wake you up? I wanted to surprise you. But oh well.” Lilith got up, and *Bam* she jumped on the bed.

The bed squeaked under the sudden force. Vincent rushed to catch Lilith as she started rolling to the edge. He didn’t want her to fall or get hurt.

“What is this all about, and why do you look like you want to seduce me?” Vincent asked. “I thought you were going to get hurt with that dangerous maneuver.”

Lilith balanced herself and sat on the bed. “I... I wanted to imitate one of my favorite scenes...” She said with a blush on her disappointed face.

“The sisterhood decided to each spend a night alone before our special date. The girls told me I would be first, so I prepared myself to leave a lasting impression, but...” *sigh* Lilith blushed and averted her gaze. ” The competition for you is very challenging for me to leave a great impression with this obese body. I can’t even...”

“Yeah. You are right about that.” Vincent bluntly said with a straight face.

[Vincent... are you mocking Lilith?]

Lilith didn’t speak. She looked at Vincent, and her heart raced in chaos with worry. ‘Does Vincent hate how I look? But I need to cure my curse before I start losing weight...’

“I am disgusting...” Lilith muttered.

*Sigh...* “It’s all about how you look with you, Lilith. You don’t know the reason, do you?” Vincent asked after a long sigh.

“The others are beautiful, unlike me... what else is there? I don’t understand. Are you unhappy about me, or you do not like me anymore?” Lilith was on the verge of tears.

However, Lilith’s cheeks soon blushed, and her heart skipped a beat the moment she heard Vincent say, “My dear Lilith is quite hard-headed.” *Sigh*

“Lilith. You want to imitate all the romance books you read, but that is not you. Don’t imitate others, Lilith. Be yourself. Be the Lilith who I decided to place my secret and my life in your and your mother’s hands.”

Vincent raised his hand and gently pinched her cheek.

.....

“You are a good enough woman for me. No one can replace you if you don’t imitate others and become your own woman. Your appearance to me isn’t important. I showed you that already, my dear Lilith.”

Vincent raised his hand and gently tussled her brushed hair unevenly. “It is your life, Lilith. Live how you want instead of how others want. You can wear a blanket instead of clothes, and we will still treat you the same.”

“Then.” Lilith raised a beaming smile and crawled over to Vincent like a predator excited with the prey in its eyes.

It was at that moment Vincent realized he had unleashed an unstoppable beast.

[Ohh, my. This is new.]

*Day 70 – Morning*

A new day arrived for the residents of the mansion. Vincent opened his eyes and saw the rays of sunlight entering the bedroom. He stretched his body and turned his head.

“Good morning, dear. Hehe.” Lilith said when their eyes met. She woke up not too long ago and looked at Vincent’s back with a smile on her face.

Lilith looked happy for once again being accepted even if she hated how she looked. Noblewomen are taught that appearance is vital to marry a high-rank noble and have a bright future. Such teachings made Lilith constantly feel miserable until she met Vincent.

Later, Vincent and Lilith went downstairs and saw a line of four women looking at them. Lupa quickly nabbed Lilith’s hand and pulled her outside. Ester, Iris, and Sakura greeted Vincent and left.

[Did they steal Lilith for. Hehe. An interrogation?]