章 153: Bumping in a strange woman
The familiar merchant took this opportunity by adding, "How about one gold coin?"
Vincent was stunned by the price. His frown quickly displayed a displeased expression and shouted for the people to hear, "One gold for a crippled fox? Outrageous! Do you think I'm blind? Not only is the fox unable to fight when it grows up, but you barely fed it! It might die when I take it home from starvation!"
[Don't tell me you want to buy the fox? We don't have much money to spare. Please remember this.]
-...-
[Hey, Vincent. Are you feeling okay? You feel a little bit too much angry from your raised voice.]
-...-
Vincent didn't respond. A mysterious gleam reflected in his eyes, and a surge of unquenchable anger arose from the bottom of his soul.
Vincent felt similar to when he got angry at the Moldy Snail after it made Lupa afraid because of its stickiness. It was like he was possessed by anger yet different at the same time. He felt in control this time, but he didn't know what to do with this abrupt anger.
Ester became surprised by Vincent's sudden outburst of emotions, but she felt he was acting a bit strange. She assertively examined him and his actions to try to understand if something was wrong.
Lupa felt conflicted as her mate was defending another female, animal or not. She felt his anger, so she glared at the merchant thinking they were going to fight.
Lupa didn't understand how humans bought and sold things. She only experienced one interaction at the trinket stand. Lupa thought humans duked to out to lower the price like a different kind of haggling.
On the other hand, Tula nodded while wishing for Vincent to buy the poor small blue fox.
The merchant flustered when he noticed many people turning their gazes on them and the potential bandaged customer with a glare as if he is about to grab him from the throat.
The merchant wanted to keep the reputation of his importing company. Only then would nobles trust and buy from him. He wanted to sell the remaining blue fox, yet not for a low price. However, he had to choose his words carefully, or the little blue fox might never get sold.
A fruit stand next to them sneered, "Poor little fox. It has been in that cage for a whole month now. You know quite well no one wants it. Do you wish for another familiar merchant to take your spot? Haha."
The merchant became furious that his rival in sales mocked him in public and also told the potential customers vital information to reduce the price to the ground.
Merchant, "F-fifty silver for the fox."
Vincent, "One horribly mistreated crippled fox, one silver."
Merchant, "Please customer, forty silver."
Vincent, "One silver."
Merchant, "You... twe-twenty silver. Final offer!"
Vincent's eyes gleamed in anger. He took twenty silvers out and slammed one coin after the other on the table. Then he started removing one silver coin after the other while saying, "One silver for the emotional damage caused to the little fox. One silver for the mistreatment it received. One silver for missing days of food that it can barely keep its eyes open."
"Customer, please. Don't do this to me!" The merchant acted as if he was being robbed in broad daylight, but no onlooker tried to help him. Instead, some started to pity Vincent for getting scammed. One silver for a useless, hardly breedable, and ill-treated familiar was overpriced for them. They would only buy the blue fox at a few copper coins.
Vincent removed the last silver coin, leaving only one silver coin on the table. "Profit can be gained and lost. I saw you make a large profit with my eyes. However, a living life is different. One silver coin will be used to buy one life. I don't want that cage. You can keep it."
"..." The merchant didn't know what to do, but he had to take a few silvers of loss if it meant keeping his company's name trustable.
It's currently difficult to import new familiars since the ant situation isn't entirely resolved. To pay the reservation fee when he had nothing but an unwanted fox to sell made him decide the following action to take.
"Take the damn fox and don't come here again!" The merchant finally gave up. He felt he was scammed and blackmailed at the same time by a man covered in bandages. However, he wondered how Vincent knew about the actual condition of the blue fox.
'He isn't a rare mage with Inspection, is he?' The merchant pondered while taking the silver coin before Vincent tried to reduce the price even further.
"Yey! Can I hold it, big brother?" Tula quickly asked with an excited expression. She wanted to hold the little blue fox.
Vincent gently took out the blue fox from its cage. The blue fox was small. It was probably a couple of months old, but it's hard to tell with its current condition.
The little blue fox had a stinking yet fluffy fur. Vincent felt the mysterious anger subsiding after he gave the fox to Tula and saw her excitedly embracing the little fox while Ester and Lupa looked at the fox in her arms.
"Don't worry, little blue. Tula will feed you lots and lots of food at home." Tula spoke as if the fox was already her's.
[You look calmer. Can you hear me now?]
-Yes... was I unable to hear your from anger again?-
[It seems it has happened again, but I must say, you looked pretty cool haggling for the fox. At least you didn't punch the merchant in the face. I noticed your fists clenched after all.]
[However, the price and the wellbeing of little blue is all that matters. At least we got it for a low cost, but don't do this too often if you can. Also, please don't give in to anger, or we will get in trouble.]
-You're right. I should try to keep my emotions in check.-
As they walked next to one of the benches circling the large fountain in the middle of the lower district square, Ester asked Vincent, "Will you make a bond with this familiar? I don't think it can help us that much."
"I bought the little fox on the spur of the moment. It reminded me of the first time we met Lupa. Who knows, maybe it can regrow its leg after it becomes my familiar." Vincent replied.
"I thought so. " Ester revealed a bright smile, blinding away any unnecessary thoughts Vincent had.
"I noticed how you became angrier than usual for some reason, but now I know it's because you are you." Ester quickly left to sit beside Tula and the frowning Lupa.
"What does that mean?" Vincent questioned.
[Ester is more assertive than we thought. She figured out you weren't in complete control of your emotions. I just hope it won't become worse and cause an unnecessary commotion.]
Vincent agreed with Kazumi's judgment. He didn't know how it happened, but his only guess was experiencing a situation that makes him angry. The mysterious anger seems to drive Vincent for the wish of blood.
Vincent looked at the peaceful sight before him. Tula sat on the middle of the bench with Ester and Lupa sitting beside her.
Lupa was cupping her hands, and the reflection of fountain water caught Vincent's attention. Lupa tried to help the little blue fox even though she didn't look too happy that the fox was a female. Maybe it was an animal thing.
Unfortunately, the fox remained with its eyes closed.
Ester then took out an Ani Banana from her Gender Bound Bag Of Holding and peeled it open. The little blue fox's nose twitched from the scent of the banana. The beneficial effect of animal growth might also be why the fruit attracted the attention of the weak fox.
The weak fox slightly squinted open its eyes. As it noticed the fruit in front of its small mouth, the fox started weakly nibbling.
"Look! The little fox is eating. Are you seeing this, big brother? It looks so cute." Tula expressed joy after seeing the fox starting to eat.
Vincent felt reassured that the little fox started eating. He could conserve twenty Soul Power from healing and save the points for emergencies only.
Vincent wanted to take a good look at the lively city square while Ester, Lupa, and Tula fed the little blue fox, and Ben hopefully returning soon.
Vincent took a few steps back until... *Thud* He bumped against something soft.
"I'm sorry." Vincent turned to apologize when a familiar woman entered his vision. It was the clingy woman the fat young man shoved, then ran away with a frightened expression.
"I, the heroine Beatrix, can see over thy disguise, wicked one. None shalt escape mine void seer eye of reckoning. Thy sinful deeds revealed themselves as the brightness of the morn day. Inflicting pain on this heroine shan't persuade this heroine from fleeing thy wicked presence." The clingy woman announced her identity as a heroine named Beatrix. Her speaking manners surprised any who heard her.
"Huh?" Vincent became so surprised he couldn't utter a word. He simply turned to apologize, but a strange woman puked a chapter of words.
Ester and Lupa gazed at each other and simultaneously lowered a frown at the appearing good looking woman. On the other hand, Tula giggled at the unusual manner of talking while happily feeding the little blue fox.
The woman before them wore an eye patch on her left eye. The right uncovered eye was golden like the braided hair almost covering her pointy ears. Their size was similar to Abigail's ears.
A strange thin silver rope covered her neck, and the woman with an attractive body calling herself the heroine Beatrix stood still with an unusual silly stance. She stared at Vincent as if he caught her interest and wanted to get a better look.
[Wicked? Don't tell me she has a special power and has discovered your identity this soon? Better use Inspection on her since she's calling herself a heroine.]
Vincent thought the same thing after he didn't know how to answer the mysterious half elf looking woman. His heart raced to know the real identity of the woman in front of him.
.
[Name] Beatrix
[Condition] Healthy
[Class] Beast Master
.
[Class Beast Master]
*Tame
*Vision Share
*Beast Boost
.
[Notice - Upgrade Inspection for more details.]
.
Lupa perked her ears when she saw Vincent and Beatrix stare at each other. She thought it was one of those women that wanted to mate with Vincent.
Unlike Ester, who kept an eye on Tula and the little fox as she believed Vincent could take care of this situation alone, Lupa wanted to help Vincent shoo the woman away. Lupa tossed the water on the ground and rushed over to Vincent's side.
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