The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

[The system detects new energy ...]

[New energy is given access ...]

[

-Status-

Name: Desmond

Gender: Male

Age: 7 years

Race: Half-Human (50%)

Class: 1st Swordsman / 0 st Dragonslayer

Occupation: None

Unique Energy: 32.78

Strength: 27.49

Agility: 20.4

Stamina: 6.35

Dragon Essence: 0

]

Desmond's gaze fell upon the status display, his eyes scanning the figures that denoted the return of his strength. A surge of relief washed over him as he examined his right hand, which now stood before him whole and unmarred by any signs of damage or destruction.

A burst of exhilaration erupted from deep within him. "My strength..." he exclaimed with uncontained joy, unable to contain his excitement. "Finally, my hand has returned!" Testing the limits of his newly regained dexterity, Desmond flexed his fingers, noticing a slight stiffness in their movements. "Perhaps," he mused, "this stiffness is but a side effect of its prolonged absence."

While he could now maneuver his shoulders and wiggle his fingers, finer actions such as bending his hand or grasping objects eluded him still. "At least my hand is back," he ruminated, shifting his focus to the illuminated screen in front of him. "Dragon essence?" Desmond muttered, his curiosity piqued.

Suddenly, an intrusive chime from the system notification pierced through his thoughts, drawing his attention to an additional screen that materialized beside the status display.

[Dragon Essence is the potent energy harvested from the life force of a dragon's direct or indirect descendant. This ethereal essence holds immense value for dragon slayers, enabling them to permanently enhance their attributes without succumbing to the influences of traits or abnormal conditions.]

A flicker of excitement danced in Desmond's eyes as he absorbed the explanation before him. "Does this mean that traits detrimental to one another won't afflict me?" he pondered, his mind whirling with possibilities. "And if it includes potions that sap one's strength... it could truly be a game-changer!"

The more he ruminated, the more the sense of fortune enveloped him. The concept of "Dragon Essence" presented itself as a double-edged sword—a venture fraught with risk yet brimming with rewards. He had endured a night of relentless torment, only to be bestowed with this auspicious boon for his future endeavors.

"This Dragon Essence holds incredible potential, but..." Desmond's eyes narrowed, observing the subtle alterations that unfolded within his very being. "How can I conceal this transformation?" The mere thought of concealing such a conspicuous change brought forth a burgeoning headache, threatening to cloud his mind.

"System," he implored, his voice laced with a mix of anticipation and trepidation, "how long until the first project is complete?"

[Processing...]

[

Project number: 001

Project name: Item without energy,

Description: The host hopes that science can help this process. An item that the host wants is functional but does not use its own energy.

Progress: 7/10 –

The system has collected some sample items that the host bought and some of the spells that the host learned; now, the system is trying to combine all these elements into one spell function.

Time Left: 3 years.

]

Desmond's eyes widened in sheer astonishment as a towering, transparent screen materialized before him, completely engulfing his field of vision. The deluge of information presented on the screen left him momentarily dumbfounded. "Seems like the system has undergone yet another upgrade without my knowledge," he muttered, his surprise mingled with a hint of suspicion.

Unlike previous upgrades, this one had transpired without any request or notification, catching Desmond off guard with its new functionalities. "Hmm, it's true that I've gathered these items, but purely out of my own interest in their form and function, not because of any system directive or suggestion," he pondered.

The system's ability to intuitively supply necessary data only deepened his skepticism about its true nature.

"But the system doesn't function while I'm conscious. That means..." Desmond's thoughts trailed off as he realized that if he were affected by the spell that transported him into the subconscious realm, the system would be rendered useless. "So that's why there's a defense mode..." he concluded, connecting the dots.

With that revelation in mind, Desmond proceeded to stretch his body, systematically evaluating his mental state for any signs of injury. To his relief, he found no traces of mental distress. He meticulously examined every inch of his body, from his toes to his head.

However, when his hand reached his head, instead of the usual cushiony sensation, it made direct contact with his scalp—Desmond was utterly bald!

"Thankfully, there's a spell to regrow hair... but..." Desmond paused, recalling a spell that he had previously dismissed as inconsequential. In hindsight, he cursed his own folly and arrogance for neglecting it. He had underestimated its significance, and now he paid the price. Fortunately, all his maids were capable of employing the spell.

"Seems like I'll have to learn all those lifestyle spells this time," Desmond sighed, fearful of similar events befalling him in the future.

Having ensured that everything was in proper order, Desmond became aware of the disarray that surrounded him within the room. Cracks marred the walls, and several sections of the floor revealed shallow holes. When he looked up, he noticed the presence of fissures in the ceiling, allowing streams of sunlight to filter through.

"So that explains why the room didn't feel entirely dark when the black dragon entered my body," he mused to himself, connecting the dots.

Apart from feeling the weightlessness in his surroundings, Desmond also sensed a heaviness weighing upon his eyelids. Letting out a yawn, he admitted, "I haven't slept all day. I wonder how the maids would fare without any orders." Rubbing his eyes sleepily, Desmond began to navigate his way unsteadily towards the exit of the dungeon, eager to find respite and slumber.

Step by step, the sound of footsteps echoed through Desmond's backyard as Laura and Annie approached the concealed entrance to the cellar, nestled behind the overgrown bushes. A creaking sound filled the air as the door swung open, revealing their young master emerging from within, looking visibly drowsy.

"Welcome back, young master," Laura greeted Desmond warmly, her smile radiant. Meanwhile, Annie, who had remained silent, couldn't help but gasp in astonishment as she noticed the complete restoration of Desmond's right hand.

"Good morning," Desmond responded with a gentle smile, taken aback by Laura and Annie's prompt discovery. "Hmm, with Laura's perceptive nature, it's impossible for the maids not to notice," he mused to himself.

Desmond hadn't kept the existence of the dungeon a secret, although he had intended to conceal it for a while longer. Seeing Laura's affectionate smile brought him joy, but when he realized that Annie had yet to greet him, a furrow formed on Laura's brow.

Following Annie's gaze, Laura's eyes widened as she noticed the shock etched across her fellow maid's face upon witnessing the miraculous recovery of Desmond's hand.

"You...ng...M..as.ter," Laura stammered, her hand instinctively rising to cover her mouth. "Oh? You've just noticed?" Desmond had already caught sight of Annie's expression as he emerged from the dungeon. Perhaps Laura hadn't been attentive enough, preoccupied with greeting him.

"It's not a big deal; I'll explain the details later," Desmond assured them, his tone turning serious. Directing his gaze at Laura and Annie, he continued, "For now, let's keep it a secret from outsiders and prepare a meal for me."

Leaving Laura and Annie bewildered, Desmond strode away, leaving them blinking in surprise. "Young master looked so cool just now!" Laura thought, a sense of admiration filling her heart. On the other hand, Annie couldn't shake off the feeling of fear that had gripped her when Desmond had locked eyes with her. She couldn't help but imagine herself standing before a poised lion, ready to pounce.

"Hey, Annie," Laura called out, interrupting Annie's reverie as she held her cheek and shouted, trying to regain her attention.

"Huh?" Annie tilted her head, still caught in a daze.

"Let's go fulfill the young master's order," Laura said, taking hold of Annie's hand, oblivious to her companion's distraction. With a firm grip, Laura guided Annie towards the kitchen, much like a puppeteer leading her puppet.

Annie's mind remained blank, still under the influence of Desmond's penetrating gaze. She simply followed Laura's lead, her movements guided by autopilot.

Meanwhile, as Desmond made his way towards his room, he encountered numerous maids who approached him with greetings as he passed through the kitchen. Concern etched across their faces, one of the maids couldn't help but ask, pressing a platter against her chest, "Young master, are you alright?"

Desmond's pallid complexion and pronounced dark circles beneath his eyes stirred worry among the other maids. However, they hesitated to voice their concerns, fearing that it might make him uncomfortable.

"I'm just a little tired. If you could please step aside," Desmond replied, his voice weary and drained. Unbeknownst to him, as he spoke, a peculiar phenomenon occurred—simultaneous bursts of fire and an icy chill emanated from his body, enveloping the surrounding maids.

Startled, the maids instinctively took a step back. However, instead of fear, concern flickered in their eyes as they witnessed their young master's condition undergoing a subtle shift. And in that same moment, their astonishment renewed as they beheld Desmond's restored right hand.

Just then, a melodic ring interrupted the tension in the air, capturing the attention of the maids. They turned to find Laura entering the scene, dragging Annie along like a doll. "Hmm? What's happening here? Why are all of you gathered?" Laura inquired, her gaze shifting towards a maid who gestured towards the side.

"Well, since you're all here, I wanted to discuss something," Laura responded, choosing to disregard the maid's question, her focus fixated on her beloved young master's retreat to his room.

The other maids found themselves at a loss for words. If Laura was already aware of the young master's condition, why wasn't she showing any signs of worry? They pondered silently amongst themselves. And what about the state of his hair? Had it not been for the weariness etched across Desmond's face, their growing concerns might have been replaced by stifled laughter.

Slowly navigating his way through the gathered maids, Desmond moved like a somnambulist, his body slouched, and his hands moved in sync with his lethargic stride. The sound of a creaking door filled the room as he pushed open the entry to his bedroom with a final exertion of strength. Upon entering, he cast a quick scan of his surroundings, ensuring that nothing had changed.

Satisfied with the familiar environment, he made his way to his bed and stretched his arms outward.

A soft thump resonated in the room as Desmond's body sank into the welcoming embrace of the mattress. "Ahh~" he let out a contented moan, relishing in the comfort of the bed. As the weight of his eyelids grew heavier, his eyes finally closed, and Desmond succumbed to a well-deserved slumber.