The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

From his pocket, Desmond withdrew something slippery and wet. With a casual flick of his hand, one of Weston's body parts plummeted to the ground, replaced swiftly by a small piece of flesh he plucked from the earth. He examined the grimy remnant of Weston's flesh, a trace of disdain crossing his features.

"Quantity outweighs quality when it comes to absorbing energy," he muttered, his dissatisfied gaze drifting towards his stats.

Hovering alongside his stats, a notifications history window panel materialized.

[Absorb completed!]

[Gained 1% of the target's total energy!]

[Randomly gained 10% of the target's total strength and agility!]

[-Status-

Name: Desmond

Gender: Male

Age: 10 years

Race: Dragon

Class: 0th Dragon Slayer

Occupation: None

Unique Energy: 91.29 ⇈

Strength: 69.00 ⇈

Agility: 68.00 ⇈

Stamina: 18.00

Dragon Essences: 0]

His stats already surpassed those of an average 3rd class swordsman, and with his custom skill, he could transcend the realm of a 4th class swordsman. His total energy rivaled that of a 4th class wizard, if such a being existed.

However, all those conventional classes were absent, replaced by a solitary sentence that encapsulated his essence—a Dragonslayer class.

"At the time, I chose this class for its regenerative ability, to restore my lost hand and prevent a life of disability," Desmond murmured, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. "But now, I find myself stuck, devoid of any further knowledge about this class." He sighed, muttering in desperation.

The book that held information about the Dragonslayer class only contained instructions on advancing to the 1st class. Everything else had been lost to the annals of time. And there were countless challenges awaiting him, from gathering dragon essences to reclaiming his expended lifespan, not to mention unraveling the mystery of how these fantastical creatures had found their way into this world.

"Come to think of it, that book was written in the language of the elves," he reminisced, his thoughts drifting back to the encounter with Shelty. Suddenly, a realization struck him. "From her appearance, she might have a connection to my class."

Desmond, who had either forgotten or deliberately disregarded Shelty, then shifted his gaze to the map. As he journeyed toward the city of Helmfirth, he noticed a lone, diminutive blue dot inching along at a slow pace. The dot had covered only a quarter of its intended destination, and it seemed to be Shelty.

"She's too far for me to reach physically, but I need to tap into her memories," Desmond contemplated. Although Annie had already wiped Shelty's memories using familiar scenes or perhaps by returning her to her abode, there was a chance that her lost memories could be retrieved.

Desmond closed his eyes, focusing his mana on permeating the air. Controlling and expending magical messages was effortless when the target was in close proximity. However, with Shelty still lingering near the Capital City, a vast distance of over 5000 kilometers separated them.

It would be a futile endeavor for anyone, Desmond included, to attempt such a feat unless they possessed a massive energy reserve comparable to that of a 3rd class mage.

Recalling Laura's contact with Annie, it was Desmond who had facilitated the transmission of messages. Despite his limitations when it came to sharing or lending energy, it had worked with Laura's energy as the foundation.

A pallor gradually washed over Desmond's face, his body perspiring profusely. The sweat trickled down and solidified into tiny droplets as they made contact with the ground. His brow furrowed deeply, a slender strand of energy emanating from his form, visibly extending towards Shelty's location.

After several arduous hours, the sky remained shrouded in darkness, yet Desmond abruptly opened his eyes.

"Shelty, it's me, your master," he projected mentally, awaiting her response. As he waited, Desmond noticed his clothing was drenched in sweat. Despite his focused connection with Shelty, he remained vigilant of his surroundings, ever watchful.

Glancing over his shoulder, Desmond noticed the girls had forgotten about their guard duty. Shaking his head in mild exasperation, he observed that the abandoned buildings lacked roofs and doors. This arrangement allowed Desmond, who sat across from them, to maintain a watchful eye on their surroundings while keeping an eye on the girls.

With a desire to shield them from the cold wind, Desmond attempted to conjure a spell to create a protective barrier around the house. However, before he could complete the incantation, a voice echoed in his mind.

"Young master?"

The sound of Shelty's trembling voice reached him from the other side. Desmond could sense her fear and unease, evident in her tone.

"From the way you speak, it seems you already understand the situation, right?" he asked, seeking confirmation.

There was a brief silence, and then Shelty finally responded, her voice laden with exhaustion and uncertainty. "Yes, young master. I-I don't know where to go."

Desmond could hear the despair in Shelty's voice, understanding the toll her long escape and separation from the people she had known for years had taken on her.

"Lady and lord sacrificed themselves to ensure I reached you. Carlie, she died amidst a barrage of poisonous potions," Shelty revealed, her voice filled with sorrow.

Desmond patiently listened to her tale, his expression shifting with each word, especially when the names of the combat maids were mentioned. After several minutes, Shelty's sobbing gradually subsided.

"Y-Young master? I'm sorry! I didn't mean to..."

"It's okay, I understand," Desmond reassured her. "In fact, my parents are like pillars of strength. It's impossible for them to perish in such a pathetic war," he spoke with confidence, basing his words on the numerous blue dots he had observed on the sear near the Capital City.

"R-really?" Shelty's voice trembled with a mix of hope and uncertainty.

"Of course. Now, let's leave it at that. I, along with the others, have already fled from Helmfirth City. You should head to the outer beasts' territory; we'll try to find temporary refuge there."

"W-wait, young master!" Shelty's voice rang out urgently in his mind, followed by a brief silence as she muttered something to herself.

"Outer... Outer, ah! The outer beasts' territory," she exclaimed. "From what I can see here, this is your escape route, young master, and it leads to the southwest of Helmfirth City."

Desmond listened to her with amusement. Shelty's ability to assess the situation from his perspective, despite her memory loss, was impressive. She could deduce his intentions and pinpoint locations.

"Young master? Young master? Can you hear my voice?" Shelty called out, her excitement evident.

"Ah, yes."

"Great! Are you heading to the southwest of Helmfirth City? Am I right?!"

"Exactly. You're doing a great job," Desmond responded, finding a bit of amusement in teasing the pure and innocent Shelty. Unlike Annie and Laura, Shelty's mind remained untainted due to her memories being wiped, and conversing with her helped alleviate some of the burdens on his own mind.

However, when it came to practical matters, Annie and Laura proved to be more useful.

"Be careful on your journey. Simply follow the map and try to minimize interaction with people. Your appearance, with your figure and long ears, tends to attract attention from merchants."

"Yes, young master!" Shelty replied, her voice filled with enthusiasm.

From her cheerful tone, Desmond could sense her excitement at the prospect of meeting him again, although he knew it would be a long time before that could happen.