The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

Seeing Desmond's departure, Vesta instinctively raised his hand, signaling for one of the soldiers who unexpectedly emerged from the dense foliage behind him to halt. "Hold on a moment; I want to prove my daughter's words as well..." Vesta's narrowed eyes fixed on Laura, who remained eerily composed, seemingly unaffected by his remarks. It struck him as peculiar.

Meanwhile, at the gathering spot of the mercenaries, Raina tugged nervously at the hem of Veronica's shirt and whispered, "Big sis, it looks like he's headed this way."

"Mmm." Veronica cast a brief glance at Desmond before redirecting her attention to the woman by her side. "He doesn't appear to harbor any ill intentions." A mischievous smile played on her lips as she lightly licked her lower lip, sending a shiver down Raina's spine.

Simultaneously, a gentle voice, tinged with underlying motives, resounded loudly in the ears of the two girls, causing them to involuntarily turn their heads. "Hello, ladies." Contrary to their expectations, Desmond stood before them, his warm smile radiating kindness. With his 5'3" stature and long hair tied back, he exuded an approachable aura.

Raina blushed instantaneously upon locking eyes with him, while Veronica assumed a confident stance, crossing her arms beneath her ample bosom, accentuating her formidable curves. "Hello, Master Desmond," she greeted him, using the term commonly employed by boys under 15 years of age hailing from affluent backgrounds.

However, this context differed from the usage of "Master" when addressing adult witches or wizards. The public would find it perplexing to encounter a young boy from a wealthy family who also possessed the talents of a second-class wizard. In fact, historical records contained no mention of such a prodigious individual, not even someone like Sieg.

Simultaneously, Desmond's warm reception of them was accompanied by Veronica sensing the provocative gaze emanating from the maid positioned behind him. "And who might this lady be?" Desmond inquired, his curiosity piqued, while his eyes meticulously scanned the individuals behind Veronica.

With the exception of the woman standing in the rear, who was met with disdainful gazes, the rest regarded Desmond with a mixture of curiosity and excitement. Three individuals belonging to the first-class witch category, huh? Furthermore, it appeared they had achieved mid-class status.

Through his unique abilities, Desmond effortlessly accessed the system, discerning the energy levels and statistics of each person present. A low-class first-class wizard or witch typically possessed an energy range of 20.00 to 29.00, indicating their novice status within the realm of magic.

On the other hand, a witch or wizard classified as mid-class within the first-class category boasted a total energy ranging from 30.00 to 35.00, indicating their seniority and mastery over their elemental abilities. Conversely, high-class first-class individuals possessed energy levels that nearly rivalled those of master-level magic users, ranging from 36.00 to 39.00.

While the disparity between high-class and mid-class might not be significant, energy levels played a crucial role in battles between first-class practitioners. Density, released damage, and the spells mastered all hinged upon the amount of energy at their disposal.

Having completed his observations, Desmond shifted his gaze back to Veronica. "I'd like one of you to accompany me for a stroll through the forest," he proposed.

Veronica studied Desmond's face for a moment before responding with her characteristic smile, "Alright, give me a moment. I'll discuss it with my group." Although Desmond refrained from singling out any specific individual, he keenly observed Veronica's actions. While it might appear that their discussion would consume a considerable amount of time, Desmond remained patient.

Besides, he had deliberately chosen not to approach the other mercenaries, the Corps of Telekninghts, as men tended to possess more fiery tempers compared to women. Unlike regular civilians, members of the Steel Legion had weathered numerous perilous missions, making them more composed and adept at handling unexpected situations.

Ultimately, Desmond was just a typical young man, inclined to prefer the company of a beautiful woman over a muscular or handsome man. Lost in his thoughts, Desmond failed to notice the peculiar expression and disdainful gaze emanating from his maid, Laura, directed towards the group.

"Selena," Veronica's sweet voice called out, snapping Desmond back to reality as he turned his attention to them.

"You will accompany Master Desmond," Veronica commanded with a firm tone, causing a momentary tremor in the girl standing before her.

"Yes... big sis," Selena replied, her compliance evident. The other two members didn't object, but they each provided different forms of reassurance.

"Hmph, just don't go overboard."

"Don't worry, Selena. You've got this."

Veronica refrained from intervening in their exchange. Instead, she patiently waited for Selena to approach her before whispering something in her ear. "Let me know if anything goes wrong." She concluded with a wink, playfully slapping Selena's backside.

*plak*

"Ouch...ch!" Selena couldn't help but smile at the gesture, adjusting her expression as she approached Desmond. "Hello, Master Desmond. I'm Selena, a first-class witch. Rest assured, I'll ensure your safety in the forest!" She felt compelled to reassure him, seeing Desmond as more of a child despite his height.

"Hello," Desmond greeted her, his gaze narrowing slightly as he observed the young girl standing before him. Judging by her appearance, Desmond estimated her age to be around 14 to 16 years old. In his mind, she resembled the type of character who often met an unfortunate fate early on in the novels he used to read.

She possessed petite proportions, barely reaching Desmond's chest with a height of approximately 4'11 feet. Her long blue hair was neatly braided, and her light blue eyes showed no hint of fear as they met his gaze. She wore a typical tunic worn by the local residents, complete with a small pocket hanging from her waist.

Desmond couldn't help but activate his system to scan Selena, not because he doubted Veronica's judgment, but rather because he believed that even for a simple "walk" in the forest, it would be prudent to consider someone who appeared more dependable.

[System, scan.]

It didn't take long for the scan to complete, revealing Selena's details:

-Status-

Name: Selena

Gender: Female

Age: 21 years

Race: Human

Class: 1st class Witch

Occupation: Mercenary of the Steel Legion

Unique Energy: 32.00

Strength: 5.00

Agility: 12.35

Stamina: 6.35

"What..." Desmond gasped in surprise, causing Selena, Veronica, and the other members to exchange confused glances. Collecting himself, Desmond took a deep breath and regained his composure. His expression reverted to its usual calm and impassive state as he refocused his attention on the girl—no, woman—before him.

So, this is what they refer to as a 'legal-loli'?