The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

*Slam!* The heavy wooden door swung shut as Shelty hurriedly entered the underground hiding spot. Without a backward glance, Laura swiftly closed it behind her, sealing off the outside world. Annie stood there, stunned by Laura's abrupt actions, her eyes widening in surprise at the apparent cruelty she displayed.

Momentarily taken aback, she couldn't help but stare at Laura, her face bearing a mixture of shock and confusion. However, Annie quickly collected herself, realizing the need to give Laura some space in that tense moment. Stepping away, she composed herself and redirected her attention elsewhere.

With Annie's gaze no longer fixated on her, Laura extended her hand and lightly touched the surface of the underground door. She began murmuring incantations, invoking a spell that would shroud their location in silence. "Basic Spell: Silent," she chanted, her voice soft and melodic.

Being a 1st class Witch, Laura faced no penalties in casting the spell, unlike Desmond, who struggled with his magical abilities.

A gentle breeze swept through the room, gliding through the narrow opening of the door, only to vanish without leaving a trace. "There, it's done. Let's return," Laura sighed with a sense of relief, stealing a quick glance at Annie. Annie nodded in understanding, and the two maids made their way back, leaving behind the closed underground door, its presence a secret shared among them.

As they reentered the dining room, the maids had completed their task of tidying up, leaving the space pristine. Desmond and the remaining individuals reclaimed their seats, ready to resume their discussions. Breaking the lingering silence, Vesta, the leader of their group, spoke up, his voice tinged with seriousness. His gaze shifted from person to person, making sure to establish eye contact.

The chaos had taken its toll, leaving only 8 out of the original 18 mercenaries standing. Among them were representatives from the renowned Corps of Teleknights and the formidable Steel Legion. Ray, the leader of the Corps of Teleknights, and the appointed representative at the meeting, displayed an indifferent attitude toward Vesta's warning.

With his striking white hair and an armor that spoke of opulence, Ray possessed strength that rivaled Vesta's own, causing him to dismiss Vesta's words as unnecessary. He believed his initial politeness sufficed, unlike the mercenaries of lower standing.

Contrastingly, Veronica, the leader of the female mercenaries in the Steel Legion and the chosen representative, responded with a warm smile. Despite sharing the same level of strength as both Ray and Vesta, Veronica exuded an approachable demeanor. Desmond held a favorable impression of her, grateful for the protection she and her guild had provided Alice during her perilous journey.

"Very well, let us proceed," Vesta declared as the maids reentered, carrying delicate teacups that they gracefully placed in front of each attendee. Simultaneously, Vesta summoned his trusted men, who rolled out a colossal scroll onto the table.

The parchment unfolded, revealing a rough outline of the northern kingdom, its intricate details a precious vulnerability that Vesta knew could not be exposed to their enemies.

No one expressed surprise at Vesta's announcement, and even as Desmond's maids served tea, they swiftly exited the room, intentionally avoiding any chance of causing unnecessary disruption. It was an interesting dynamic, with only Desmond brimming with excitement as his eyes remained fixed on the unveiled map.

For a decade, he had been essentially trapped within the confines of the city, yearning to venture beyond its borders. This prolonged period of confinement had stunted his knowledge of the surrounding lands, despite his attempts to acquire additional maps from various guilds and merchants. Unfortunately, the system seemed to reject these humble acquisitions, leaving Desmond's understanding stagnant.

Observing the composed reactions of those gathered, Vesta nodded with satisfaction. Placing the map gently onto the table, he carefully unfurled it, revealing its expansive details. Etched onto its surface were the two prominent cities—the capital city of the North Kingdom and Helmfirth, the human stronghold that had valiantly withstood the onslaught of beast races in the past.

Additionally, several smaller villages dotted the expanse between these major urban centers.

"We have two viable routes to choose from," Vesta began, retrieving a wooden stick with a blunted iron tip from a soldier standing beside him. "Firstly," he continued, "we head northeast, passing through several small villages. I have an obligation to station some of my soldiers there to monitor the situation." Vesta gestured with the stick, pausing at the symbol indicating a pile of earth.

"The challenge, however, lies in crossing the canyon that lies before us, in order to reach the city of Helmfirth." As Vesta withdrew his wand, a pathway materialized on the map, illuminating their potential journey.

Vesta paused, allowing a moment for everyone to process the information and reveal their thoughts through their expressions. "This path may prove somewhat arduous," he acknowledged, "as we must traverse dry forests that are susceptible to summer fires. However, it offers the advantage of expediting our arrival in the city of Helmfirth."

To everyone's astonishment, it was Ray, the leader of the Corps of Teleknights, who broke the silence and provided his opinion. The collective assumption of his arrogance and pride had been shattered as he now earnestly articulated the advantages and disadvantages of this particular route. Upon concluding his explanation, Ray suddenly became aware of the newfound hush in the atmosphere.

Raising his head, he discovered that the eyes of everyone present were fixed upon him, each gaze bearing a distinct meaning.

*Clap!* *Clap!*

"An excellent insight, Mr. Ray, as expected from a renowned mercenary," Vesta applauded, his hands coming together in appreciation of Ray's contribution.

"Hump," Ray scoffed, averting his gaze and subtly raising his head in a defiant manner.

"Does anyone else wish to share their opinion?" Vesta inquired, redirecting his question to the individuals present in the room. His eyes settled on Veronica, who appeared somewhat hesitant. Immediately, Vesta pointed towards her.

"Eh? Me? No, no," Veronica stammered, taken aback by being chosen. She politely declined, slightly lowering her head. "Actually, I'm not particularly skilled in this matter," she added, her voice barely audible.

"Too bad. Then, what is the opinion of the Master Witch?" Vesta turned his attention towards Leona, who exuded an air of unwavering composure.

Leona calmly responded, her gaze meeting Vesta's. "I have no objections, as long as the journey ensures the safety of my son."

Vesta found himself in an awkward position, momentarily unsure how to react to Leona's words. "Alright, let's move on to the second route," he stated, retrieving his wooden stick and shifting it towards the southwest on the map. "The second route is relatively safe, as we only need to pass through the guard fort, traverse a few forests, and ultimately cross a river to reach the city of Helmfirth.

Furthermore, my troops and I have crucial responsibilities along this path," Vesta interjected, expressing his own opinion.

Concluding his explanation, Vesta withdrew his wooden stick, causing a glowing path to materialize continuously on the map. "So, what do you all think of this second route?" Vesta's gaze immediately settled upon Ray, the only person capable of providing a satisfactory answer.

"What? Do you think I'm someone you can manipulate?" Ray, feeling Vesta's gaze upon him, responded with a curse.

"But I do have an opinion," a voice interrupted, rescuing Vesta from his disappointment. He turned to the source of the sound, his excitement rekindled. "In my view, we should choose this path. Not only is it relatively safe, but it also aligns with the tasks that need immediate attention," Veronica stated assertively, her voice ringing with conviction.

Meanwhile, as Desmond listened to the various opinions being shared, he grew increasingly irritated. "What the fuck is with that arrogant young master's opinion?" he seethed inwardly. "Forest fires? What a joke! Do they think we've studied spells for mere amusement?" His frustration simmered beneath the surface as he cast a fleeting glance at Vesta.

"And look at this Guardian," Desmond's thoughts continued to swirl with frustration. "He should be the one providing guidance, given his direct order from the king, right? Why does he seem to relish this opportunity to let us decide?"

Despite the turmoil within his mind, Desmond made a valiant effort to suppress his anger, his clenched fist hidden beneath the table's surface. While the other members absorbed Veronica's words, they were left dumbfounded by her audacity. Was she oblivious to the fact that she had essentially echoed Vesta's sentiments and shamelessly imposed her opinion on everyone else?

Desmond couldn't help but speculate that she would have chosen this very route when escorting Alice. It seemed blatantly obvious, even to the most oblivious observer, given the expression etched upon Veronica's face.

Desmond's thoughts veered to comparisons, pondering how Veronica's outward appearance, thoughts, and alluring physique seemed to exist in complete contrast to one another. He couldn't help but draw a parallel between Veronica and Clementine, albeit with Veronica exuding a significantly hotter aura.

"Thank you all for sharing your opinions," Vesta uttered with a wry smile upon hearing Veronica's response. "Allow me to reveal the plan: with the king's approval, we will proceed along the first route."

This declaration left everyone pondering why Vesta had initiated this discussion session in the first place and sought their opinions.

"Hehe, you must be -"

*Slap!*

"Ouch!" Before Vesta could continue, a sharp blow landed on his head, causing him to flinch in pain.

"My dear, that's not funny," Clementine addressed him with a smile. However, her smile failed to possess the enchanting allure it once had, instead emanating a chilling aura that sent a shiver down Vesta's spine.

Clementine promptly apologized to the Desmond family and the mercenaries. "Please forgive my husband's behavior; he has a tendency to be like this. Since the discussion is now concluded, let us prepare ourselves."

"Hahaha, it's alright. A little jest to alleviate the tension before we depart," Bastian, who had remained silent throughout the exchange, suddenly spoke, accompanied by a forced laughter. His gaze then shifted towards Ray, whose face had turned a deep shade of red as he glared at Vesta with undisguised anger.