The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

Seeing Vesta's back, Desmond's smile vanished, replaced by a deep suspicion etched upon his features. A sense of calm cloaked his expression, but underneath, a chilling sensation crawled up his spine.

It wasn't just his reaction that made Desmond skeptical; he considered it more than a mere coincidence. Perhaps Desmond's previous assumption, that Vesta didn't care about him or his subordinates, would have remained unaltered if he hadn't noticed the subtle change in her countenance. But this sudden shift in attitude was far from ordinary...

Could it be attributed to the battle they had just endured?

At this point, Desmond couldn't maintain his charade any longer. He gingerly cradled his injured hand with his free one, each step he took accompanied by a slight wince. Walking alongside him was Veronica, who carried Laura in her arms.

Desmond's sluggish pace seemed to test Veronica's patience, prompting her to hasten her steps and overtake him, eager to bring Laura to the village square for immediate treatment.

"Wait a minute, Ms. Veronica," Desmond called out, his voice a subdued murmur to maintain the illusion of weakness. While his words might not have reached ordinary ears, Veronica and Vesta, being extraordinary beings at the pinnacle of humanity, could certainly hear him.

Veronica swiftly turned around, her expression a mixture of panic and confusion as she regarded Desmond.

"Please take my maid to our waiting horse-drawn carriage. We have spare supplies there, specifically prepared for situations like this," Desmond weakly smiled, once again attempting to deceive her.

As they strolled towards them, Desmond stole a quick glance at Laura's condition. His keen eyes noticed the subtle but significant changes in the wound on her stomach, indicating a rapid but imperceptible healing process.

This is troubling... her wound is closing up far too quickly, Desmond thought to himself. After assessing Laura's condition, he turned his attention back to Veronica, finding a troubled expression gracing her face.

Veronica appeared conflicted, struggling to make the right decision, her fear rooted in the possibility of a situation similar to her fallen comrades.

"We don't have much time," Desmond reassured her, aware that time was of the essence. From an outsider's perspective, Desmond's injury appeared severe for a child his age, but Veronica seemed oblivious to the severity, nodding her agreement.

...

Upon their arrival at the village square, Desmond and Veronica immediately drew the attention of onlookers, particularly due to the person they carried.

Ray, witnessing the scene, hurriedly approached, seemingly intent on lending his assistance, only to be halted by the female members of the Steel Legion.

"Big sis!" Raina was the first to reach them, her concern evident as she beheld the condition of the person being carried by her leader. Her worried gaze shifted from Laura to Desmond, seeking answers in his eyes.

"What happened..." Raina's voice trembled as she covered her quivering lips. Unlike Veronica, who could swiftly regain control over her emotions, Raina remained lost in disbelief, witnessing a boy of Desmond's tender age bearing such injuries while maintaining an eerie calmness, accompanied by the wounded Laura.

"What are you all doing?! Call for your healer!" Ray, on the other hand, grumbled angrily, his eyes filled with reproach as he glared at the remaining female members of the Steel Legion standing behind Raina.

Unbeknownst to the incensed Ray, Veronica and Desmond had already departed towards their awaiting horse-drawn carriage, leaving the Steel Legion members dumbfounded and speechless.

The sight of their silent stares further fueled Ray's anger. He was about to unleash a torrent of scolding words upon them when a hand gently tapped his shoulder, halting his tirade.

"Leader, they've already left," Vaurz's voice resonated beside him, prompting Ray to cease his words and pivot around.

Confirming his friend's statement, a wave of embarrassment washed over Ray, causing his face to flush red. Luckily, his back was turned to the Steel Legion mercenaries, shielding him from their view.

Observing his leader's mortified expression, Vaurz shook his head subtly and then directed his gaze toward the direction where Desmond and Veronica had just arrived, standing before the open doors of the horse-drawn carriage.

...

"Please open it, Miss," Desmond requested, his injured hand gingerly resting on the carriage's edge, limiting his ability to exert force to open the door.

Veronica nodded in understanding. With her slender feet, she delivered a swift kick, causing the door to swing wide open.

*Bang!*

Fortunately, the door had been enchanted, ensuring its durability, and it seemed that Veronica had tempered her strength, preventing any damage to its structure.

Without the need for words, Desmond gestured for the dazed Veronica, who stood in awe of the carriage's interior, to place Laura gently upon the bed within.

"Please fetch me the plant from that box, Miss," Desmond continued, positioning himself beside Laura and pointing towards the storage box situated next to the bookshelf.

Effortlessly, Veronica opened the storage and immediately spotted the designated plant. In fact, she saw only one plant, leaving no doubt that it was the sought-after specimen.

"Thank you for your assistance, Miss. Now, please exit the carriage and allow me to take care of the rest," Desmond spoke with unwavering confidence, locking his gaze with hers. Veronica, though initially resistant, ultimately relented, sighing helplessly.

"Very well. Take care of yourself as well, Master Desmond." Casting a fleeting glance at Desmond's state, Veronica closed the door once again and stepped out of the horse-drawn carriage.

*Click.*

As the gray dot on the folder began to move away from his horse carriage, Desmond's tense expression gradually relaxed, a sense of relief washing over him.

"Wake up, Laura," Desmond commanded with a monotone voice.

To his surprise, Laura, who had previously appeared injured and frail, suddenly sat up in bed, albeit remaining still, except for the visible wound on her stomach.

"Good. Do you still have energy?" Desmond inquired, even though he possessed a system that could check Laura's stats, it didn't provide information about her current energy levels.

With a flushed face, Laura replied bashfully, "Um... I'm sorry... young master." Her voice was hushed, audible only to Desmond's ears due to their close proximity.

Heal.

A surge of natural energy enveloped Laura, forming a gentle green glow that caressed her body, gradually tending to her wound.

Meanwhile, Desmond, who had activated the spell, watched the healing process unfold with an expressionless face, his view partially obstructed by the system notifications.

[Host is penalized for using a 1st class spell.]

[The energy required to sustain this spell has doubled, from 0.10/minute to 0.20/minute.]

Nevertheless, for Desmond, who possessed an extraordinary and monstrous energy capacity, this increase posed no significant challenge. He shifted the notifications aside and focused his gaze on Laura's wound.

However, a slight twitch of his facial muscles betrayed his surprise at the healing effect. Not only had the energy consumption rate risen, but it seemed that the system had neglected to inform Desmond that the healing process would also take longer than usual.

[System detects Host is sharing energy with other entities.]

[Trait Effects are now being applied.]

[Effect Number [3] -10% decrease in the effectiveness of shared energy.]

Laura's wound, which should have healed within a maximum of 10 minutes, was now progressing at a sluggish pace of about 20 minutes, with her skin regenerating at a diminished rate and her injured ribs recovering at a snail's pace.

"Fuck my trait!" Desmond cursed inwardly, his frustration seething within him.