The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

On the other hand, the absence of a response from Desmond weighed heavily on Vesta, casting a somber shadow over her countenance. As the prime suspect in the case, Desmond's silence intensified Vesta's feelings of unease, causing her to wryly smile. The unexpected attack had caught Desmond off guard, adding to his profound shame.

This error was not just a minor slip-up; it possessed the potential to be fatal, jeopardizing Desmond's life. Fatigue overcame Vesta, and a sense of guilt washed over her. Compounding matters, Vesta had convinced the public that she had single-handedly eradicated all the beasts in the kingdom's territory. The repercussions were immense.

If Desmond were to perish, the kingdom would lose a Dual Class and a Master Witch, resulting in a substantial weakening of its power. Furthermore, the kingdom had yet to select a successor for the position of Grandmaster—a precarious situation in these peaceful times, bordering on the miraculous.

The attack's pattern hinted at a higher power orchestrating it. The sheer number of beasts surpassed what would be expected if any had survived the previous massacre. Vesta felt a lump form in her throat, the weight of the situation bearing down upon her. Should this news spread throughout the kingdom, her standing as a Guardian would come into question.

Upon reevaluating the village's strength, it became doubtful that they could withstand another attack of similar magnitude without Vesta's reinforcements and the assistance of the mercenaries. "It's not as simple as it appears," Vesta murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. Even with the village chief's comprehensive report, the previous attack should not have deviated significantly.

Could it be that the demon's presence alone had transformed the situation into a dangerous threat?

Meanwhile, the silence between Vesta and her young master, Desmond, began to unsettle Laura, who had initially been calm. She noticed the pallor spreading across her young master's face, causing her to waver. Were it not for Desmond's orders, she would have been inclined to rush to his side, escorting him back to their carriage or tending to his wounds on the spot.

Young master... Laura's internal thoughts were consumed by worry as her hand slowly reached out, nearly grasping her young master's shoulder. However, she quickly regained her composure, retracting her hand. I cannot! Only the young master's family is aware of my class, Laura argued within herself, her eyes fixed on Desmond with genuine concern.

Meanwhile, Diana stood in disbelief, her mouth agape and eyes bulging. The revelation of the village's plight, completely unbeknownst to her, took her aback. The weight of their conversation seeped into her consciousness, causing her pride as the daughter of the Guardian to ache.

Her mind drifted to her commanding of the soldiers, recalling the smiles they had given her, unaware that some of them may have been concealing grief for their fallen comrades. Diana whispered to herself in a hushed tone, "So, this village has been in crisis all along, while I've been relaxing in the carriage?"

However, what left Diana even more stunned was the fact that every word that spilled from Desmond's lips was validated and acknowledged by her own father, who even went as far as apologizing. Realizing that she had underestimated Desmond had her feeling deeply embarrassed.

Shocked, embarrassed, and filled with an overwhelming awkwardness, Diana's mind struggled to process the information that was flooding in.

On the other hand, Desmond, who had taken the opportunity to calmly assess his stats, glanced back at Vesta, who still had her head lowered before him. It had been 15 minutes, and Desmond could feel his body growing weaker with each passing moment. He fought to keep his consciousness from slipping away, a clear sign that his condition was spiraling out of control.

The silence was eventually broken when Desmond found himself uttering a word he hadn't initially considered.

"I accept your apology, but I also require compensation," Desmond spoke in a tone that carried neither arrogance nor anger, aware that his condition was nearing its limits. Hearing that his apology had been accepted provided Vesta with a sense of relief, and she let out a sigh, feeling a fraction of her burdens being lifted.

Although Desmond had forgiven her, Vesta knew that her negligence could not be overlooked. "State your request. As a Guardian, I will wholeheartedly endeavor to fulfill it," she declared, recognizing the importance of having a valid justification and an appropriate solution should the public inquire about the incident.

Vesta continued, "Moreover, due to my negligence, which nearly cost you your life, I will assign two of my finest soldiers to accompany you wherever you go until we reach the city." Her tone grew firm, brimming with a sense of responsibility.

She added, "Furthermore, I will provide proper compensation to the Steel Legion mercenaries for their role in protecting you, as well as compensate the Corps of Teleknights mercenaries for their dedication to protecting this village, an unconscious fulfillment of their duty to the kingdom."

Vesta's mind was in turmoil, as she could no longer find solace in the troops she had placed her trust in. She was determined to prevent any further weakening of the kingdom and recognized the need to focus on the existence of the Demon Imp, her gaze fixed on Desmond.

"Very well. If that is all, I request permission to return to my horse carriage," Desmond weakly requested, a faint smile gracing his face. His eyes briefly met Diana's, who had finally regained her senses and regarded him with a complex expression.

Agreeing to Desmond's request, Vesta nodded and summoned her soldiers, instructing them to accompany Desmond. "Yes, sir!" responded the captain and one of the robust-looking soldiers, who happened to be among the chosen escorts.

Desmond cast a brief glance at them before turning his attention to Laura, sending her a telepathic message. "Help me walk," he murmured weakly, while fastening his necklace around his neck once again.

"Of course, young master," Laura responded without hesitation, eagerly awaiting this moment. She immediately assisted Desmond in walking and opened the carriage door.

Observing this, the captain glanced back at Vesta, who signaled him to follow Desmond. Saluting, both the captain and the burly soldier exited the carriage, joining Desmond's side.

Meanwhile, as Desmond stepped out of Vesta's carriage, he noticed that nearly half of Vesta's soldiers were strategically positioned, guarding every corner of the horse-drawn carriage. It felt as though they were being assigned to watch over him, prompting Desmond to inwardly sigh. However, he realized that this arrangement might not be entirely undesirable after all.