The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

Veronica's hand rose gracefully in the air before resounding with a crisp clap, causing Desmond to blink momentarily before fixing his gaze on her. Her mischievous smile lingered as she addressed him, breaking the silence. "Alright, let's put an end to this staring session, Master Desmond.

Is there anything else you require?" She cast a playful wink in Selena's direction, adding a touch of flirtation to her demeanor.

Desmond's faint smile remained, and he turned around, gesturing for Selena to follow him with a beckoning hand. "Then we shall proceed, but for now, that will be all."

With Desmond no longer looking at her, Selena's previously brave and resilient facade crumbled, and her eyes welled up with tears. She turned her head back to her leader and called out, her voice choked with emotion. "Leader?"

Veronica let out a sigh and gently patted Selena's head, comforting her. "It's alright, my dear. The soldiers assured us that the forest is safe." The nod of affirmation from Selena reminded Veronica of the hardships they had endured during past missions in the forest.

Unnoticed by Selena due to her shorter stature, Veronica's gaze lingered on her, filled with concern. But as soon as Selena nodded, she turned around and followed behind Desmond at a distance of approximately one meter.

Meanwhile, Laura, walking beside her young master, observed everything attentively, her eyes fixated on the unfolding scene.

In a different context, the captain of the royal troops felt conflicted upon witnessing Desmond's departure. Although his subordinates had thoroughly checked the forest, the captain couldn't shake off the underlying danger that still loomed. Despite his personal grudges against Desmond's personality, he understood the need to set them aside while on duty.

Seeking assistance, the captain turned to his Guardian, hoping to assign him the task of escorting the young boy. However, he was met with disappointment as he found his Guardian leisurely enjoying the breeze under the shade of a leafy tree.

Glancing back at Desmond, who was accompanied by only two women, the captain let out a helpless sigh. Clenching his fists, he muttered to himself, "Tch, I can only hope I receive this month's salary…"

Meanwhile, inside one of the houses in the village, a particular room had been designed as a gathering place, with a grand round table positioned at its center, surrounded by chairs.

Devoid of windows or any form of openings, the room was entirely shielded from the sun's rays. Instead, the air within was heavy and humid, carrying the scent of melting candle wax that clung to the wooden walls.

As darkness swallowed the room, one could observe that the ceiling differed from the typical bamboo, wood, or clay roof. Instead, it was constructed with bricks, creating an eerie impression akin to that of a basement.

However, the glow seeping through the door of the room painted a different picture. Illuminated by the flickering candlelight, shadows danced and swayed, casting an eerie atmosphere over the five individuals gathered around the round table.

Among the group, one figure stood out immediately to Desmond or Vesta—Sam, the village chief. His presence was unmistakable, a familiar face that would catch their attention instantly. The remaining four individuals consisted of three men and one ordinary-looking woman, all appearing as typical villagers.

Suddenly, a loud thump echoed through the room as one of the men, possessing a slightly muscular build and a thick beard, violently slammed his hand onto the surface of the round table.

"Sam! We must drive them out! What if they're merely disguising themselves?!" The man's voice snapped with anger as he glared at Sam.

"No, we cannot simply cast them aside. Judging by their attire, they truly seem to be from the royal army," argued the woman with blonde hair, her gaze coldly fixed on the furious man.

"But..."

"Enough!" Sam, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke up, his voice booming as he stared down the two individuals. "Even though I have never personally met the Guardian, I believe these people are genuine!"

Sam paused, taking a moment to catch his breath. "Furthermore, they mentioned their departure this afternoon. What harm is there in offering them a temporary haven? Not to mention, they have assured us that the kingdom will compensate us for any supplies they require."

As Sam finished speaking, his voice grew hoarse, the strain from his outburst evident in his rough breathing. He scanned the faces of the villagers, noticing the man who had initially protested now staring back at him, his face twitching.

Witnessing this, Sam sighed and addressed the man, his voice softer. "Speak, Jon."

Jon, meeting Sam's gaze, hesitated before responding. His eyes darted to the other villagers, who wore a mix of expressions.

Gritting his teeth, Jon steeled himself and lifted his head. "Sam, even so, we cannot trust others so easily-"

"Spit it out clearly; your words are as indecisive as a woman's," interrupted the woman who had previously dismissed Jon, her tone filled with disdain.

Jon fell silent, glaring at the woman with a seething hatred. "Send-"

A sudden click broke the tension, drawing the attention of the villagers. "Village head, someone has entered the forest area," another villager exclaimed, panting from the haste of their arrival.

Meanwhile, Desmond, accompanied by Laura and Selena, had just exited the village through its main gate. Venturing a short distance away, Desmond lifted his hand to shield his eyes from the sunlight. As he surveyed the unclouded blue sky, a faint smile curved upon his lips.

"A fine day for a walk," Desmond remarked, his eyes wandering as he took in the surroundings. The sun bathed the forest in its warm glow, casting a golden aura on the lush green leaves. The melodic sounds of the forest added to the serene ambiance, amplifying the natural beauty that surrounded him.

In Desmond's eyes, the scene appeared calm and peaceful, reminiscent of his cherished vacation days in his former world. With the two women following him from behind, he ventured deeper into the forest. There, he encountered a sight of natural wonder—a towering rock illuminated by the gentle caress of sunlight.

Its presence seemed almost magical, especially with a frog perched on top, lending an air of sacredness and ancient history. Yet Desmond was aware that this was merely his imagination, as the rock was likely formed through the gradual accumulation of mud rather than any mystical forces at play.

As Desmond took another step forward, a rabbit darted past him, leaping over his feet and disappearing into the thicket. Although the forest did not possess the same breathtaking beauty he had experienced during his time as a dragon, it still brought him a sense of contentment and served as a refuge from the weight of past events.

Sitting atop a fallen tree branch, Desmond exhaled deeply, his eyes closing. "What do you guys think about this?" he asked, breaking the silence.

His question caught the two women slightly off guard, and they exchanged glances before turning their attention to him.

Desmond opened his eyes to find Selena standing there, seemingly lost in thought, her gaze directed downward. Meanwhile, Laura met his gaze with a smile.

Did something happen between them? Although he found it peculiar, Desmond adhered to the adage of "Never interfere in women's affairs" and refrained from probing further.

"I think this forest is magnificent, young master," Laura replied, her smile unwavering as she brushed off a few fallen leaves that had settled on her hair.

To her surprise, Desmond's gaze seemed fixed on her back, casting a somber shadow over her mood. Unbeknownst to Laura, he was actually focused on the trail of dirt imprinted on the sole of her foot.