The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

After Veronica sheathed her sword, she slowly turned her head, casting a sorrowful gaze towards the lifeless body of her friend, Selena. Her voice quivered with a mix of determination and grief as she whispered, "Selena... Trust me, I'll return in just a few minutes and bring your body back."

Overwhelmed by a wave of heartache, Veronica summoned the strength of a seasoned third-class swordsman, her muscles flexing as she effortlessly hoisted Desmond's body onto her shoulder. The weight pressed against her, and she felt a jolt of discomfort as the lower part of his stomach collided with a solid object, prompting a pained groan to escape Desmond's lips.

His eyes, filled with helplessness, locked onto Veronica, who seemed too focused to notice the accidental contact his injured hand made with her ample breast.

Turning her attention to Laura, Veronica's gaze fell upon her gravely wounded companion, and a sense of desperation washed over her, temporarily numbing her mind and filling her eyes with fear. But that momentary lapse of composure swiftly gave way to an iron resolve as she lowered herself to a crouch, gracefully lifting Laura's unconscious form as if she were a princess in her arms.

Laura's lifeless weight rested against Veronica's chest, while Desmond remained perched upon her shoulder, resembling a hunter transporting a slain deer.

"Hold on tight," Veronica urged, her voice resonating with determination. Firmly planting her feet on the ground, her gaze locked onto the path she had traversed moments ago—the direction leading back to the village. Unbeknownst to her, Desmond discreetly opened one of his eyes, stealing a glance at Laura from the corner of his vision, their gazes briefly meeting in a silent understanding.

So far, they remained out of harm's way, and Desmond transmitted a magical message to Laura, prompting a nod from her before she closed her eyes once again.

With a swift swoosh, Veronica's voice faded into the distance, and Desmond's surroundings blurred as the world whizzed by. The speed at which they traveled exceeded the limits of what could be considered normal. Desmond's eyes flickered briefly before he squinted to make sense of his surroundings despite the rush of wind assaulting his face.

"This... is the epitome of the swordsman class," Desmond marveled silently within himself, awestruck by the sheer velocity at which they were moving. It felt as though he were driving a supercar at a blistering speed of 250 km/h, where surrounding objects blurred and stretched, pulled backward by an indomitable force that pushed against his body.

Curiosity piqued, Desmond shifted his head to steal a glance at the bottom of Veronica's feet. What he witnessed left him dumbfounded, struggling to comprehend the extraordinary nature of their current situation. "Unbelievable..." he murmured in sheer astonishment.

If the impact they experienced earlier was something he could have predicted or fathomed with his past knowledge, what he saw now defied all expectations...

Veronica's legs moved at a speed that didn't leave behind any discernible shadow or generate dust. From Desmond's perspective, her steps appeared normal, lacking any apparent special effects due to their incredible velocity. However, Desmond couldn't shake the feeling of his eyes twitching, a result of pushing himself to keep them open.

Eventually, he sighed and closed his eyes, not wanting to risk his sight at such a young age.

Time seemed to pass in a blur, and when Desmond next became aware, the pressing wind pressure that had surrounded them dissipated. Along with its absence, he could hear the distant hum of voices engaged in conversation. Slowly, he opened his eyelids, his vision still slightly blurred, likely due to the impact of their high-speed journey.

"What's happening?" Desmond managed to discern the figure of a middle-aged man in armor with a cloak billowing behind him, his height surpassing Veronica's, effectively blocking the sunlight that streamed in from behind.

"Sir, I discovered them in a severely injured state within the depths of the forest," Veronica's tone shifted, suddenly adopting a polite demeanor. Desmond didn't need further clarification to know who the middle-aged man was. It was Vesta, Desmond thought to himself.

As his vision returned to normal, Desmond locked eyes with Vesta, who wore a slight frown. "Hand that brat over to me," Vesta commanded.

Raising an eyebrow, Desmond stared back at him and quickly regained his composure. He responded, "Mr. Vesta." Unlike most people, Desmond addressed him directly, likely due to the complicated relationship between Vesta and his wife.

"Oh? You're awake? Good, then come with me," Vesta said, a smile gracing his lips, before promptly turning around without waiting for a response.

It was as if Vesta paid no mind to Desmond's condition or his maid. Desmond glanced at Veronica, who still appeared concerned, her gaze fixed upon him. He let out a sigh, tapping Veronica's shoulder to get her attention, signaling her to lower him to the ground.

Nodding in understanding, Veronica gently set Laura down and assisted Desmond in dismounting from her shoulder. She looked at him hesitantly and spoke, "Master Desmond, let me discuss this with—"

Perhaps due to the chaotic nature of the situation, Desmond no longer saw the authoritative aura he had once associated with Veronica. She resembled a village girl experiencing the death of a comrade for the first time, uncertain and wavering in her actions.

"Please wait, Mr. Vesta," Desmond interjected, his weak breath and low tone making it impossible for even a third-class swordsman with better hearing than his own not to hear him.

Vesta, already halfway halted in his steps, turned around nonchalantly, calmly fixing his gaze on Desmond, awaiting his explanation. Desmond couldn't discern whether Vesta had seen through his act or if he simply didn't care about him.

With a forced smile and a hint of pleading in his voice, Desmond continued, "Unfortunately, Mr. Vesta, I can't *cough* as you can see my current condition." His words carried an underlying meaning that was not lost on Vesta.

Unable to bear the sight of Laura's condition any longer, Veronica chimed in, her voice infused with fiery determination. "Sir, with all due respect, I will handle this matter." She cast an intense, burning gaze towards Vesta, clearly displeased with his callous demeanor.

Veronica surmised that Vesta's motive for summoning Desmond may be to prevent news of his failure as a Guardian from spreading, as he couldn't protect a mere child. She suspected that he wanted to silence Desmond through some form of bribe.

Hearing Veronica's response, Desmond inwardly grinned. It was true that a woman's heart could be easily swayed, especially considering Veronica's maturity and the possibility of her having children.

A discernible shift in Vesta's expression occurred when he heard Veronica's words. He glanced at Laura and Desmond, unable to find a valid reason to counter their plea.

"I may have pushed too hard," Vesta thought, realizing he had overlooked Desmond and Laura's current condition, caught up in his own concerns.

With a sigh of helplessness, Vesta relented, "Forgive my earlier behavior. You may take them away. If you require any assistance, you can speak with my subordinates." With that, Vesta turned and made his way through the village's main gate, his footsteps treading upon the corpses of several Dire Wolves.