The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

Desmond's gaze shifted back to Diana, his eyes widening as he observed Annie delicately pressing a single finger against Diana's forehead, her lips moving in a whispered chant. A surge of reddish light erupted from Annie's fingertip, capturing Desmond's attention. He marveled at her control, witnessing the light seep into Diana's skull without so much as a drop of blood or a trace of a wound.

"What the fuck..." Desmond muttered, his surprise palpable. Internally, he couldn't help but think, That was astounding! This technique is befitting of a revered family legacy.

As Annie's index finger penetrated Diana's head, a pained groan escaped Diana's lips. Desmond empathized, knowing all too well the sensation of agony. He fervently hoped that Annie's technique wouldn't claim Diana's life immediately, as such an outcome would undoubtedly invite a torrent of complications.

Annie's expression grew increasingly serious, sweat dripping from her brow and forming tiny droplets that fell onto the floor. Her widened eyes delved deep into Diana's mind, as if peering into an ethereal realm concealed within.

Seconds ticked by, and exhaustion began to etch itself onto Annie's countenance. Her complexion paled, her hands trembled ever so slightly, and her breath became labored, causing her chest to rise and fall in rapid succession.

In a swift motion, Annie withdrew her finger from Diana's forehead, prompting a muffled cry of pain from the unconscious woman. She swiftly double-checked Diana's condition before wiping away her sweat and turning to face Desmond, her usual cold and impassive demeanor softened by a faint, weary smile.

"Young master, it worked," Annie breathed, her voice faint but filled with relief.

"Good job," Desmond responded absentmindedly, momentarily captivated by the rare sight of Annie's smile. He instinctively activated a spell, placing a hand on Annie's shoulder.

"Basic Spell: Heal," Desmond muttered, invoking a surge of natural energy that coalesced within his palm, radiating a soothing green glow.

[Host is penalized for utilizing a 1st-class spell.]

As expected, the system penalized Desmond for employing the spell, a familiar occurrence that he had grown accustomed to. However, the subsequent system notifications jolted his memory, reminding him of something crucial.

[System detects Host sharing energy with other entities.]

[Trait Effects are now being applied.]

[Effect Number [3]: Decrease shared effects by -10%.]

Meanwhile, Annie watched in astonishment as her young master unleashed the spell without uttering an incantation. Her initial shock swiftly gave way to a profound warmth that emanated from Desmond's hand. The fact that he willingly employed a 1st-class spell solely to improve her condition overwhelmed Annie with gratitude.

In the room, only three figures remained: Desmond, Annie, and the unconscious Diana.

If someone were to walk in at that moment and witness Annie's transformed expression, they would undoubtedly be taken aback and left in a daze. The once seemingly cold and expressionless Annie now adorned a warm and genuine smile aimed solely at Desmond. However, Desmond remained completely oblivious to this change, preoccupied as he was with the realization of his trait's effects.

"So, this is my first time attempting to share my energy with another person," Desmond pondered inwardly, his mind racing. Over the years, he had never received any notifications regarding his trait, causing him to forget about the existence of the trait system in this world entirely.

After thoroughly absorbing the effect of his trait, Desmond's attention shifted to Annie, who had lowered her head. Doubt filled his voice as he inquired, "What's wrong? Is it working?"

Desmond suspected that Annie was purposefully hiding her face to conceal her laughter. Given the penalty he had incurred and the added trait effect, he believed that the healing spell would prove futile. In his mind, the spell merely emitted a greenish glow and a pleasant sensation of warmth, lacking any substantial healing or improvement.

"It's working, young master," Annie replied in a hushed tone, her voice barely audible as she kept her face concealed behind her blonde locks.

Had Desmond not honed his senses as a swordsman, he might have missed her words entirely. Nonetheless, he managed to catch the faint sound. "That's good to hear," he responded, determined to continue activating his healing spell on Annie.

As Desmond focused on his task, Annie remained silent, still keeping her head bowed. The awkward atmosphere hung in the air, though fortunately, it dissipated after a few minutes, interrupted by the sound of a maid opening the door to Desmond's room.

"Apologies for the intrusion, young master," the maid entered the room, her sweat-soaked form and panting breath indicative of her rushed arrival. Her gaze remained lowered, reflecting the exhaustion she felt.

Observing this, Desmond's brow furrowed. It wasn't because of the maid's disregard for protocol, but rather the possible news she carried. "What's wrong?" he inquired, his tone laced with concern.

"Lady requests your presence in the front yard," the maid responded, now standing straight as she regained her composure. She glanced at Annie, who stood just behind Desmond, and noticed a slight tinge of red coloring her ears—a subtle detail that intrigued the maid momentarily. Her gaze then shifted toward Diana, who lay unconscious. "The Lady also mentioned that you should 'return' Diana."

A dark cloud seemed to pass over Desmond's face. He had previously made it clear to his mother that he shared no special relationship with Diana. Without uttering a word, Desmond cast a brief, scrutinizing look at the maid before walking past her, making his way toward the main door, his mind consumed with thoughts of what awaited him in the front yard.

The maid stood frozen in silence, fully aware of Desmond's simmering anger. She understood all too well that attempting to engage in conversation with him now would be foolish and ill-advised.

Noticing the maid's hesitation, Annie followed Desmond's lead, whispering to her friend by the door, "Take her too." A grateful smile played across the maid's lips as she glanced at Annie's back. She now knew precisely what needed to be done.

In the front yard of Desmond's residence, Clementine and Leona had just arrived, summoned by a message from their respective maids. As they beheld the scene unfolding before them, shock gripped their senses.

"Oh my god," Leona exclaimed, her mouth agape as her face unconsciously contorted into a state of sheer astonishment.

Clementine, on the other hand, was taken aback but managed to conceal her amusement behind a fan she held, which effectively hid her stifled laughter.

A congregation of renowned mercenaries had gathered right in their front yard. If it had been a group of ordinary mercenaries, Clementine and Leona would have reacted differently. However, the sight before them featured famed and even legendary mercenaries.

A total of 18 individuals formed the group, representing five different mercenary companies. Among them stood the Corps of Teleknights and the Steel Legion—two esteemed guilds led by formidable leaders, including a 3rd Swordsman who could rival even a Master Witch or Wizard.

Yet, despite the imposing presence of these mercenaries, an eerie silence enveloped them, as if they were awaiting instructions. Their gazes shifted toward a woman donned in guild attire, making her way towards Leona and Clementine.

"Hello, are you Mrs. Leona?" The woman, young and sporting a pair of glasses, held a scroll in her hand while offering a warm smile to Leona.

"Yes," Leona responded, still somewhat dazed, her gaze lingering behind the woman. "If I may ask, what brings the guild here?"

Leona adjusted her stance, smoothing her clothes and assuming the dignified posture of a true Witch Master. The transformation in her appearance was remarkable.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Katrina, a guild staff member," the woman introduced herself, extending her hand for a handshake.

Upon seeing Leona's astonishing transformation, Katrina was momentarily taken aback. She hadn't expected the rumors to be true, and Leona's incredulous expression brought a small chuckle to her lips. Approaching Leona with newfound confidence, Katrina finally managed to regain her composure.

Katrina couldn't help but be impressed by Leona's transformation into a true Witch Master. Gone was the image of a beautiful yet clumsy woman, replaced by a graceful and powerful figure capable of taking on ten 1st swordsmen simultaneously. "She really is a Witch Master," Katrina thought to herself, admiration evident in her mind.

"We are here at the request of your son, Master Desmond," Katrina continued, cutting straight to the chase after her introduction. She briefly glanced at Clementine, lowering her head and offering a friendly smile in greeting.

"My son? Wait..." Leona's mind raced as she pondered Desmond's words while taking in the scene before her. Unconsciously, she took a step back, her hands instinctively covering her mouth. "Oh...my..."

Recalling Desmond's mention of "hiring a bodyguard," it now seemed as though he possessed the ability to summon and employ these mercenaries at will. The realization struck Leona with a mix of awe and astonishment.

Turning her attention to the maid by her side, Leona swiftly issued an order. "Quickly, call my son."

Meanwhile, Bastian, observing the unfolding events, let out a languid gaze. "That's our wine... our wine..." he murmured repeatedly, feigning tears.

On the other hand, Clementine, standing not far from Leona, overheard the conversation. It was too unbelievable to comprehend. How could this be?

Initially assuming that Leona had invited these individuals, Clementine's mind came to a halt when she learned that it was Desmond who had arranged their presence. She still struggled to wrap her head around the unexpected turn of events.

In a moment of clarity, Clementine noticed the maid preparing to rush off and call Desmond. "Bring Diana here as well!" she called out from behind her fan, her voice carrying a sense of urgency.

Clementine's exclamation caught the attention of the mercenaries. They too were taken aback, much like Katrina had been earlier. The sight of a Witch Master residing within this household, married to a Guardian of the kingdom, was a rarity they seldom witnessed. In fact, only a select few were even aware of the Guardian's wife's true identity.