The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

After that, a group of villagers hurried over to lend a hand to Sam in gathering the materials Vesta had requested. Lost in his tasks, Sam failed to notice Vesta's watchful gaze scanning the surroundings with a hint of concern. Vesta's eyes shifted back to his carriages, where he beheld the mercenaries sprawled on the ground, while the disdainful gazes of the villagers lingered upon them.

"Divide these items in half and store some in the other carriages," Vesta commanded, his finger pointing towards several soldiers who stood at attention. Asserting his ownership of the carriages, he made it clear that they were his possessions, even if others had temporarily occupied them.

"Yes, sir!" responded the captain with a grin, recalling the haughty expressions worn by the servant and young master. Acting upon Vesta's orders, the captain directed several soldiers to accompany him and carry the goods towards Desmond's carriage.

Observing his subordinates' actions, Vesta chose not to reprimand them and instead shifted his focus to the wounded soldiers who were receiving care. Vesta couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment in his subordinates' abilities, as they had only been defeated by a group of bandits.

However, he quickly recognized that it was only natural considering the presence of a wizard amidst the bandit ranks. In close-quarters combat between a group of swordsmen and wizards, the outcome was all too obvious.

Lost in thought, Vesta continued to stroll through the village, his mind pondering the situation. However, his attention was soon drawn to a wooden bench nestled beneath the shade of a tree, adorned with fallen leaves. With a swift motion, Vesta cleared away the remaining foliage and settled onto the bench, crossing one leg over the other and leaning his back against the wooden support.

The presence of a wizard among the bandits troubled Vesta greatly, as it was uncommon for a spellcaster to willingly join a bandit group. Though money might be scarce, a wizard could easily find work as a freelancer or assistant, aiding fellow wizards in their experiments.

This revelation raised Vesta's suspicions further, especially when he noticed that the bandits were not only well-equipped but even carried spare weapons.

"This isn't your average bandit group," Vesta contemplated, stealing glances at the expressions worn by the other villagers. The presence of a wild wizard was just one of the many problems he faced.

Vesta's gaze shifted towards a couple—a mother and a young boy—resting and chatting amiably with the mercenaries, and a sigh escaped his lips. "Looks like this situation is more troublesome than I anticipated," Vesta thought to himself.

While he didn't mind having additional guests, the previous events he had witnessed and the firsthand account he had heard about their destination added to his concerns. Not everyone willingly extended help to others when they themselves were in dire straits. And now, with his daughter by his side, Vesta couldn't help but worry even more.

But in that moment, Vesta's attention was captivated by something intriguing. His gaze narrowed as he observed his subordinate approaching the front of Desmond's carriage. The arrival of the captain and several royal soldiers also drew the attention of the mercenaries lounging below.

Curiously, instead of growing tense, the mercenaries found themselves amused by the captain's presence, recognizing his talent for entertainment. It seemed that the captain had a history with the pair of young masters and their servants, as news of their previous quarrel had spread among the mercenaries.

Not only had they rejected the captain's well-intentioned offers, but they had also callously turned down accommodation for a mother and child. This callousness had left the mercenaries devoid of sympathy or pity for the young master and his servant, save for one compassionate mercenary among them.

At the end of the road, a young woman gazed anxiously at the group of royal troops, her worry mirrored by the women around her. Raina, approaching her elder sister, voiced her frustration, gripping her shirt hem and biting her lower lip. "Big sis, should we help him?" she asked, annoyance etched on her face as she stared at the royal soldiers.

Veronica shook her head, gently placing her little drum aside. "No, just because we heard the story from Miss Alice doesn't mean they are familiar with us," she explained, pausing briefly as memories of their escort mission three years ago resurfaced. She offered a wry smile to her best friend. "Besides, Miss Alice didn't explicitly ask us to assist him, did she?"

"I know, but..." Raina mumbled, her words contradicting her expression.

"Alright, if the situation worsens, we'll lend a hand, okay?" Veronica reassured, her hand cupping Raina's cheek as she flashed a mischievous smile.

"Ah!" Raina yelped, stepping back and shooting her friend an angry look while clutching her chest in response to the unexpected pinch on her nipples. Veronica couldn't help but chuckle before redirecting her gaze to Desmond's carriage.

...

*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*

"Young master..." Laura, standing at the door inside the horse-drawn carriage, regarded Desmond with concern.

"I know. Put the belongings in the rear carriage," Desmond replied in his usual manner. He continued, "And if any trouble arises, handle it with caution, unlike before.

We mustn't reveal our powers recklessly, especially while the Guardian is still watching our every move." His eyes shifted to the transparent map on the side, locating Vesta's position, which happened to be not far from his own carriage.

"Yes, young master," Laura acknowledged, opening the door of the horse carriage. The thought of the kingdom's shock if they were to discover that all the maids in their household possessed formidable combat skills and the ability to wield magic crossed Desmond's mind. The concept of a household filled with both skilled swordsmen and accomplished witches was undoubtedly a surprising revelation.

A few minutes passed without any noteworthy incidents. To Desmond's surprise, once Laura had accepted their request and courteously guided them, the captain seemed to have lost interest in causing trouble. Desmond couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, realizing that he might have been overly concerned. Perhaps it was his trust in the inherent goodness of humanity that led him to feel this way.

Moreover, Desmond couldn't help but draw parallels between his current situation and the times when his parents had long stays at their estate. Just as they had to follow certain rules and couldn't rid themselves of particularly bothersome individuals, Desmond found himself facing similar challenges.

The ongoing investigations that had persisted for years continued to annoy him, even making him wish to eliminate the investigators entirely. He had hoped this journey would offer him a sense of freedom, but the reality turned out to be more painful than his imagination had conceived.

With the ever-watchful Guardian present, Desmond felt as though he were being observed by unseen eyes from the depths of darkness.

Squinting against the bright sunlight, Desmond cast his gaze upon the vibrant blue sky. "The day is still young; perhaps I should go out and enjoy some fresh air," he contemplated, considering the possibility of venturing outside to rejuvenate his spirits.