562 I want to stand by your side

Lilith sat on the bed. She looked at Vincent with a warm smile.

“I know we want to help Jun Ye Rim seek justice. I know if we take the easy way out and give them the money, my family might have to face ridicule for letting me marry a dangerous man. But my darling, can’t we make it seem shameful to send powerful opponents against us?”

[Hahaha. Lilith is right. I overlooked how bright of a woman Lilith is. When she isn’t anxious, she is the second commander of my... our harem.]

“Kazumi agrees with you. Your suggestion caught us by surprise.” Praised Vincent.

“Hehe. ” Lilith giggled and pursed her lips. “I think my suggestion demands compensation. Don’t you think?”

Vincent became surprised to watch Lilith flirting with him at this moment. He was preoccupied with the right decision. To choose a choice of protecting his women was taking all of his thoughts. Flirting was not on his mind.

“It is nice to see you improving. I noticed you were less anxious this morning.” Vincent sat beside Lilith.

“You are giving me the courage and motivation to change. I need to become responsible as the Baroness of the family.” Lilith gigged before continuing, “I don’t want Lupa to take my place as your main legal wife, hehe.”

Vincent looked at the pair of mesmerizing sapphire-colored eyes covered by a pair of slightly steaming glasses. He smiled and said, “I guess I need to reward my wife for her growth.”

.....

Maria and Nick returned to the island. Nick went to talk to Clair while Maria went to find Vincent.

Maria went to ask Ester. After arriving in their usual training space at the side of the mansion, Maria saw Ester spinning in the air and falling elegantly on the ground as if she was a puppet being controlled to dance by a master puppeteer.

historical

*Clap, clap* Tiffi clapped with a bright smile. It was obvious she desired to move her body as Ester could.

*Sigh* “Are you two playing around? Did you two forget what could happen if the families of those noble bastards accept judgment by combat? It is a life and death fight. Why are you two acting as if nothing is going to happen?”

Ester and Tiffi looked at Maria. They became shocked to see Maria grumpily frowning at them. Maria gave the impression of a person worrying for them, yet they acted carefree like any other day.

“Sorry, teacher Maria. I was training...”

“Training? All I saw was playing around!” Maria angrily said.

“Please calm down, teacher Maria. I asked Ester how she was going to train. She said it would be best to move while controlling her spells. Ester was trying to master the control of her sigils.” Tiffi said, hoping to calm the angry Maira.

*Sigh* “Really?” Maria questioned with her arms crossed.

“Y-yes. ” Ester responded nervously. This was the first time she saw Maria so angry.

*Sigh* “Go and find Vincent. Let’s train to catch Ice Lance like usual.”

“Okay. ” Ester said before leaving.

“Teacher Maria. I have sent a letter to mother Karta. Maybe she can help Vincent. I can’t let the person who saved my life become bullied.” Tiffi clasped her hands together and slightly trembled. “I am starting to feel afraid if a thing like this can happen in the academy.”

Maria hugged Tiffi and patted her back. “Remember to tell me any that happens to you. I will freeze anyone who touches you. You have my word.”

“Thank you. ” Tiffi responded. She felt safe with a strong person like Maria offering help. It made Tiffi recall Karta doing the same whenever Tiffi felt down the weather.

‘Teacher Maria is kind and caring in her own way like mother Karta. I like Maria more now.’ Tiffi happily thought.

Later, Vincent, Ester, Lilith, Maria, and Tiffi gathered in front of the mansion.

Lilith and Tiffi stood at the side. Nick and Clair shortly joined. Iris followed after an exciting running Plow joined them too. As if Lupa could smell an activity similar to a fight, she rushed to join the audience while Vivid followed behind her.

Vincent looked at the audience. He raised his gaze and saw Pussy resting on the roof. She was waving at him as if she wanted to see their training.

Vincent moved his gaze at the kitchen window. He noticed Jun Ye Rim at the corner of the window. She was also observing the training.

“Ester. It looks like everyone is interested in watching our training. But Maria looks somewhat angry. Do you know anything about her behavior?”

“I think headmaster Darwin didn’t give teacher Maria a good response. She was grumpy and even complained about my training.”

“Are the two of you ready, or are you going to keep whispering? I don’t have all day, you know.” Maria angrily said.

[I think it is better to get this over with. Helping Maria relieve some of the stress would be the best option.]

Vincent agreed with Kazumi. He activated Overheat and became surprised to see a new detail on his mutation process window.

.

[Overheat activated.]

[Mutation starting to alter the host...]

[Vitality mutated to Mutated Vitality for its duration.]

[Mutation process finished.]

[Race altered to mutated human for its duration.]

.

Vincent used inspection on himself and saw how his Vitality actually changed to Mutated Vitality. He used third eye skill to check the description and his lips arched a smile.

.

[Mutated Vitality description.]

[The body is blessed to recover quicker from injuries, ailments, and exhaustion.]

[The recovery rate is increased by 0.1% per blessed retainer.]

[Vitality] passively boosts the recovery rate from injuries by 0.5%+0.6% per minute.]

[Vitality] passively boosts the recovery rate from ailments by 0.5%+0.6% per minute.]

[Vitality] passively boosts the recovery rate of stamina by 1%+0.6% per minute.]

.

“Did something good happen?” Questioned Ester.

“Yes. Lilith’s trait is compatible with Overheat, similar to yours. Lilith’s trait can become stronger the more you know what I have while you gave me the ability to process mana and learn Overflow.”

“Hehe.” Ester giggled while looking at Lilith. “No wonder I found the two of you acting lovey-dovey.”

*Tsk* “Don’t blame me for attacking when you two are flirting.” Said Maria while holding her wand and preparing to say a quick chant before casting her spell.

Vincent and Ester swiftly stood beside each other. Vincent extended his hands to catch the Ice Lance while Ester prepared her Frost Sigils to hold the ice.

“Ice Lance!” Exclaimed Maria, shooting a larger and more potent Ice Lance than she normally shoots. Inside, the ice was packed with more magical destructive power, and it traveled faster than usual as well.

Vincent smirked and caught the Ice Lance. His feet only dragged on the ground for a few millimeters. His strength had increased enough to catch and stop an Ice Lance with more mana inside.

Ester felt ashamed she wasn’t fast enough to help Vincent catch the Ice Lance. She looked at Maria and saw her raise a sly smirk. Her hand was still raised, and her mouth started repeating the chant.

[S-she is about to shoot a second one! Isn’t this supposed to be the usual Ice Lance absorption training? Why is mana surrounding her, and why are her lips moving to chant another spell?]

Vincent frowned. He tightened his grip, piercing the ice with his fingers and causing it to crack.

The next one was about to be shot. However, Ester went in front of Vincent for some reason.

“Ester, why?...”

“I didn’t want to always be protected by you. I want to stand by your side and protect you as well.” Interrupted Ester with a brave speech.

“Then let’s do it together. ” Vincent said a second before the second Ice Lance was shot.

Ester felt strange all of a sudden. The Ice Lance moved at a snail’s pace. After hearing how Jun Ye Rim felt falling an endless fall, Ester immediately understood Kazumi was inviting and canceling Soul Invite and boosting both Ester and Vincent’s perception of time.

During this time, Ester planned many ways to alter the Ice Lance’s path. Behind her was Vincent. She couldn’t simply avoid it. She had to act and protect her man.

‘What!’ Ester thought. Her back felt a pleasantly warm chest touching her. She moved her eyes and saw Vincent’s hand extending to catch the Ice Lance.

‘Vincent. I understand.’ Ester thought. She decided to help Vincent catch the incoming Ice Lance. The closer it approached, the faster Ester tried to force her arms to extend and slow the impact for Vincent to catch.

“HAA!” Both Vincent and Ester shouted while catching the Ice Lance. For the two of them, the Ice Lance took half a minute to arrive, while for the others, it took one second to travel from point A to point B.

Ester was so focused on catching the powered Ice Lance without the desire to move an inch that it triggered a headache.

Ester unconsciously used Wind Sigils to destroy the Ice Lance in Vincent’s hands. She fell to her knees and held her head.

Maria stopped chanting the third Ice Lance after watching Ester on her knees and Vincent gently rubbing her back while asking how she was feeling.

Lupa, Iris, Lilith, and Plow rushed to check on Ester promptly. Nick, Clair, and Tiffi felt terrible not checking on Ester’s condition, so they went after them.

“Do you have a brain freeze?”

“Are you okay?”

“Are you injured?”

While Ester held her head, she felt all her concerns fade from the support she received. Hearing many caring voices asking how she was feeling helped Ester endure the change she felt.