453 An unexpected gift from Zero

“Three of four families present are allies of the Griffinheart family while the other isn’t affiliated with anyone. As such, because of Vincent’s contribution, I was asked to explain the details of what happened to a certain degree.”

Maria soon noticed something was off with the five of them and asked, “Did something happen on the way here?”

They were surprised by Maria’s keen eye. After explaining what happened, they saw Maria laugh for a second for the first time they knew her. She looked quite happy with how Vincent treated the situation, it appeared.

“Ahem. One of Melissa’s teammates was expelled, and seven other female students for being involved in a plan to create chaos. However, that is all I am allowed to tell you all about what happened. Anything you five saw or heard must remain a secret.”

Maria showed how the problem was on a larger scale as this information was too little, yet too much. The words “involved in a plan to create chaos” meant the strange forced awakening from ordinary wild boars to Great Yok Boars was possibly their doing.

Vincent and Kazumi initially believed Melissa was the prime target. Both because of Melissa’s father’s position and because the three magic beasts coincidently were not too far from Melissa.

Not to mention Melissa’s three fainted teammates and Jun Ye Rim. Ollie said how he defeated two magic beasts. As if the culprit wanted to erase both the evidence and any possibility of survival.

However, the inclusion of the seven additional students affected what Vincent and Kazumi believed.

There was a chance the other seven expelled students attacked their teammates, similar to Melissa’s now expelled teammate. The other seven students might have also led the magic beasts to attack their teammates, yet there was no mention of any deaths.

.....

Something was amiss, yet Maria was hard to persuade. The chances of revealing more weren’t high. What happened didn’t involve them, so Vincent didn’t ask to find out the truth.

“I didn’t see Melissa nor her teammates today. Jun Ye Rim was healed, so they should be fine as well, right?” Vincent asked.

*Sigh* “Melissa is fine, but the three others have been sent home to recover with the condition of leaving everything in the hands of the headmaster of the academy.”

Maria took out two folded papers and gave them to Vincent. As Vincent read the contents of the papers, his lips arched a smile.

The first paper shows how grateful Darwin is for saving his daughter, her three classmates, and Jun Ye Rim from danger. Darwin also expressed how grateful he was for the hospitality we offered.

On the second paper is an invitation to meet with the potion maker of Paradise Island and receive potions. It appeared to be Darwin’s way of showing how grateful he was.

[A gift from the father and a favor from the daughter. I say we profited well this week, hehe.]

Vincent smirked while Jun Ye Rim frowned. She thought Kazumi was a bit greedy for taking advantage of others’ problems.

Maria got up and suggested it would be best to lower their expectations about trading their points for potions today. Not only the good potions were going to be out of stock, but the potion maker will be extremely busy.

Maria casually walked to the door and said, “Vincent. I heard how you are interested in visiting the library. It should be open tomorrow since there are not going to be any lessons tomorrow.” before leaving.

Vincent, Kazumi, Lilith, Nick, Clair, and Jun Ye Rim were at a loss for words.

Darwin left the explanation in the hands of the homeroom teachers. However, their homeroom teacher, the problematic Maria, didn’t inform Class A how the day after the test was going to be a day to rest without lessons.

Thus, after a week in the forest, the students of Class A were unwillingly going to their classroom for their monthly homeroom class without knowing how the rest of the day was free.

Kazumi was excited for the next day to come. She wanted to see the look on the student’s faces when they found out.

Nick and Jun Ye Rim planned to remain on Paradise Island while Vincent, Lilith, and Clair returned to team ten island.

As Vincent’s eyes opened next, Iris entered his view instead of Lupa waiting for him. She looked nervous and impatient, unlike her usual calm and patient behavior.

“Vincent. Can you come and take a look at Zero?” Iris asked.

Vincent agreed, and he followed Iris while Lilith went to see Ester, and Clair met Pussy halfway to her bedroom, snacking on a dried fish.

Zero entered Vincent’s view, and it looked quite different than yesterday’s night mutated blood-feeding session.

historical

Zero became five inches taller, and its vines became thicker. The leaves looked as if made of glass, and the skin of the vines looked more like crystals than plant fiber.

However, that wasn’t all the appearance change in Zero’s body. Its upper body was bloated, and its ribcage had more vines.

“Zero... What happened to you all of a sudden? How did you suddenly grow this big?” Vincent asked.

[Gift. For. Master.]

“That’s what Zero kept saying when I came to the garden. I brought you here because Zero doesn’t want to give me the gift meant for you or whatever it is.” Iris explained.

Iris knew quite well how big, and grown plants get harvested. She feared Zero was ready for harvesting. To Iris, being harvested was the only gift Zero could give directly to Vincent.

[You better prepare Vincent. If Zero has become more mature and demands more blood, then it might try to attack you.]

Vincent didn’t listen to Kazumi’s warning. He lowered to one knee and extended his hand. “I am ready to receive the gift.”

*Crack* The ribcage of vines opened while making cracking sounds as if the vines weren’t flexible anymore and they were breaking. Faint glittering dust could be seen at certain angles from sunlight.

A pear appeared. However, it was no ordinary pear. It was a rainbow pear.

Coincidently, Zero grew bigger when the rainbow pear grew to its normal size in a night. As if growing the rainbow pear helped with its growth.

“That!” Iris exclaimed. “Isn’t that the fruit made from the magic seed I fed you?”

Iris looked at Vincent and continued, “Zero kept saying hungry and thirsty, so I gave it a magic seed to nom on. Zero asked to eat more, so I gave it another magic seed. That was the only time Zero ate seeds as far as I know of.”

[Gift. Gift.]

Zero said again. It appeared Zero only allowed its master to pluck the rainbow pear himself. Iris felt a little bad after she took care of Zero.

.

[Name] Rainbow Pear [Mutation Variant]

[Condition] Fresh

[Grade] Rare

[Description]

A Rainbow Pear with the body and taste of an ordinary Rainbow Pear, but with the nutrition values of Rainbow Pear and Thyme Flower.

[Effect]

*Minor Mana Regeneration

*Mana Increase +0 to +1

.

Vincent and Kazumi couldn’t believe what was shown in the item inspection window. Zero took more than one month to combine to magic seeds and their properties into one.

Iris was surprised to hear about the rainbow pear in Zero’s body. Although the pear had slightly green glittery skin, it looked like an ordinary rainbow pear.

Vincent plucked the pear and gave it to Iris.

After knowing Iris is already tasked to grow multiple Sage Apple trees and increase their growth rate with her mana, he said, “I feel bad to ask you to grow another tree.”

“Can we plant this seed together?” Iris asked after swiftly turning the rainbow pear into a magic seed.

“Sure.” Vincent agreed.

Iris revealed a beaming smile, and her cute dimples appeared. They planted the seed and later tried to feed Zero two magic seeds, but it didn’t want to eat at the moment.

Vincent checked Zero’s stats, and it was as he expected. Zero was nearing the hundred percent mutation mark.

.

[Name] Zero

[Race] Nimbus Nerve

[Condition] Healthy, Blood Bond (Vincent Lionheart), Mutation (80% – Mana Body)

[Stats] Strength 1 || Agility 1 || Perception 2 || Mana 192

[Description]

A vine-like plant creature that uses blood as food. The Nimbus Nerve can grow stronger based on the blood it feeds off.

.

Zero closed its vine ribcage, and it didn’t look interested in doing anything after the rainbow pear was removed. It lazily basked in the sun and photosynthesized.

After using teleportation twice, Vincent didn’t have much else to do, so he spent the day taking turns to be with Ester, Lupa, Iris, and little Plow.

*Day 119 – 5 October – Monday*

Morning arrived, and everyone woke up. They headed to their classroom when it was eight o’clock. One after the other, the students entered.

Many gossiped on Kilo while peeking at Vincent. Others spoke about the potions and how the least desired potions or the ones considered useless remained in stock. Everything was to be preordered or wait for the next batch.

A while later, Vincent noticed Melissa enter the classroom alone. It was an unusual sight as her four teammates always followed her.

Melissa acted differently. She ended the sentences of the questions with a few words and excused herself by saying how she wanted to rest.

Maria entered the classroom a minute later. As if Melissa and Maria were together before arriving.

“Looks like everyone that can be here is present. A few are sick after experiencing how to survive on their own.” Maria said in a mocking tone.

*Sigh* “Now let me fill you in with the details.” *Sigh* “Because I was reported multiple times for not being an ~adequate~ teacher.”

.....