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7.97% The Most Satisfied Reincarnate / Chapter 28: Aftermath

章 28: Aftermath

"System, end recording."

[Recording stopped.]

[Data Saved!]

[Mass of Demon Energy Detected!]

[Mass of Demon Energy Detected!]

"It seems I can absorb energy from other races as well." Desmond noted, realizing that all the notifications had vanished when he instructed the system to record the battle.

He gingerly touched the demon's lifeless form, and a prompt appeared on the screen.

[Does the host wish to absorb the energy? Y/N?]

"Yes."

[Commencing absorption... | Time remaining: 23 seconds]

Desmond observed the countdown on the screen and furrowed his brow. "This won't be easy. I'll be a sitting duck if I stay here attempting to absorb the energy."

In a moment of inspiration, he unsheathed his sword and severed one of the demon's fingers, placing it carefully in his pocket. "I hope this works... Please, let it work."

[Does the host wish to absorb the energy? Y/N?]

"Yes."

[Commencing absorption... | Time remaining: 23 seconds]

Yes!

Exhaling a sigh of relief, Desmond wiped the sweat from his brow. His plan had succeeded, as he discovered he could absorb the entirety of the energy from a single body part. He then cast a glance towards the remaining remains of the second demon's corpse and repeated the process.

After a few minutes of anticipation, the absorption process was complete.

[Energy absorption complete]

[Status updated!]

[-Status-

Name: Desmond

Gender: Male

Age: 3 years

Race: Human

Class: Swordsman

Occupation: None

Unique Energy: 5.6 → 5.83 → 6.19

Strength: 7.04

Agility: 0.44

Stamina: 0.20/1.63]

Desmond studied his updated status, his lips curling into a wide grin. "A fruitful harvest indeed. Perhaps I can slaughter more demons in the future." Greed flickered in his eyes, but then he remembered the harrowing brush with death.

"Let's wait a few years before reaping again." Desmond's gaze turned icy, his murderous intent palpable. He would never forgive anyone who harmed his family, even if it were a deity.

As Desmond made his way towards the outer city, a putrid stench assaulted his senses, emanating from his pocket. With a flinch of disgust, he swiftly discarded the fingers, covering his nose as he continued his walk. "Seems like I'll be needing a thorough shower," he muttered to himself.

...

On the outskirts of the North Kingdom's border, beneath the cover of darkness, two human figures concealed themselves behind dense foliage. From their vantage point, they kept a watchful eye on a village situated across the river.

Amidst the rustling of leaves and the distant roars of the night, they remained unperturbed, their eyes glowing with an eerie red hue.

*Squeak* Suddenly, a scraping sound reverberated from the bushes behind them. Their attention swiftly shifted, and they spotted a figure cautiously approaching through the undergrowth.

Exchanging a brief glance, one of them prepared to unleash a spell, while the other tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword.

A minuscule ice spike, no larger than a nail, materialized on the ground before the bush, poised to disrupt the enemy's movements. Suspended in mid-air, an ice spear hovered, ready to strike. The swordsman unsheathed his blade, primed for an attack.

Time ticked away, and at last, their vigil was rewarded. The once swaying bushes were trampled, revealing the intruder within.

*Creak* The intruder's foot unwittingly pressed down upon the tiny ice spike concealed beneath the undergrowth.

*Grunt* Pain shot through the newcomer as he looked down, realizing that he had stepped on an icy protrusion. Squatting to examine his injured foot, he suddenly felt a chilling sensation crawl up his spine. Raising his gaze, he found himself staring directly into the icy tip of the spear, aimed for his eyes.

"Please, cease your attack, Master!" he cried out with all his might, tightly shutting his eyes.

Those poised to strike against him halted their assault upon catching sight of his uniform. The individual before them wore the unmistakable attire of a soldier from the North Kingdom.

The soldier watched as the ice spear vanished into thin air, the sword being sheathed, and the nail in his shoe disappearing. It was clear that the danger had passed for now.

Before him emerged a man and a woman, stepping out from the shadows. The woman possessed an unparalleled beauty, while the man exuded a striking handsomeness. Together, they formed a perfect couple.

The soldier, momentarily lost in awe, snapped back to reality when he felt a slight pressure against his stomach. He realized the man had his sword pointed at him.

"I apologize for my impudence, but I bring important news from Master Noel," the soldier managed to say. He noticed the sword being sheathed and the tense atmosphere easing.

The woman, clearly impatient, spoke in a cold tone, "Speak."

The soldier, not daring to waste any more time, began to relay the message. "It pertains to your child. The rest of the information is in Master Noel's hands," he said, bowing his head, careful not to meet the woman's gaze.

Silence enveloped the forest, amplifying the soldier's nervousness. He could feel his palms sweating and his throat dry, the weight of fear pressing upon him.

Finally, breaking the silence, the man spoke. "Seems like this time it's a serious matter, my dear."

The woman pondered for a moment before nodding. "You, guard, keep a close watch on the village," she commanded, her cold gaze intensifying the soldier's unease. It felt as though her eyes could pierce straight into his very soul.

Without hesitation, the soldier responded, "Yes, Master!"

...

Inside a tent, Noel sat upon a chair, her brow furrowed as she read the letter in her hand. The contents detailed the activities of Desmond and Alice, providing her with crucial information.

Knowing that Bastian and Leona frequently traveled, Noel had assigned her special forces to assume disguises and join the Bastian family's guard. This task had been approved by both Bastian and Leona, allowing Noel to gather valuable insights.

After a few minutes, Bastian and Leona entered the tent, greeted by Noel's presence.

"Noel."

"Leona."

Noel immediately approached Leona, and the two embraced in a heartfelt hug. Bastian, witnessing this, could only offer an awkward smile, refraining from joining the embrace.

As they released their hug, Leona's expression turned serious. She wasted no time in asking, "Tell us, what has happened with Desmond and Alice?" Both Leona and Bastian wore concerned expressions, eager to learn every crucial detail.

"Noel," Bastian called out, taking note of her hesitation, "Please don't hold back. We need to know everything."

With a sigh, Noel gathered her thoughts and spoke, "Your son has taken a life." Her voice carried a mix of concern and apprehension as she directed her gaze towards Leona, fearing her reaction.

Upon hearing the words, Leona suddenly collapsed to the floor.

"Honey!" Bastian rushed to check on his wife, noticing her lips and body growing cold.

"Stay calm, my love. Take slow, deep breaths."

Noel, wanting to offer assistance, saw Bastian's hand gesturing to stop her. "Allow me to handle this," Bastian said, his tone slightly cold, without even looking at Noel.

After a few agonizing minutes, Leona managed to regain her composure. She looked up at Bastian, her voice trembling, "Remind me, how old is Desmond now?"

"Three years," Bastian replied, his own shock evident.

Leona gasped, her breath catching in her throat. Before she could say anything, Noel interjected, "In this particular case, your son is not entirely at fault."

Leona's heart felt a glimmer of relief. Rising to her feet, she turned to face Noel.

"Please, tell us what happened. Start from the beginning."

Noel nodded and proceeded to recount the events. As she spoke, Bastian couldn't help but interject with worry whenever Alice's name was mentioned. Leona, in turn, had to soothe him and bring him back to calmness.

Finally, Noel concluded, "Rest assured, the situation has been resolved, and both Desmond and Alice are safe."

Though Leona and Bastian still carried lingering concerns, Noel offered them a reassuring statement.

"Alright, I grant you both a week of leave from duty."

The couple froze, overwhelmed by Noel's unexpected generosity. They couldn't help but tightly embrace her.

"Thank you, Noel. Thank you," they expressed their gratitude.

In that moment, Leona noticed Bastian's peculiar behavior. With a mischievous smile, she pinched his side.

"What are you up to, honey?" she asked playfully.

"Hehe, just expressing my gratitude," Bastian replied, returning the smile.

"Dismissed!" Noel's firm command brought their attention back to their duties.

"Yes, yes," they responded, acknowledging the order.


章 29: A Pain Without Gain

Desmond woke up from his sleep and, following his usual routine, made his way to Alice's room. However, upon arriving, he was met with a gathering of concerned servants outside her door.

"Ms. Alice, please open the door."

"We've brought your favorite food, Miss."

*Ahem* Desmond, who had been standing among the servants, grew impatient.

As the servants turned around and noticed Desmond's presence, they pleaded with him, "Young master, please help us." They had brought food, clothes, and various other items for Alice.

Raising an eyebrow, Desmond inquired, "What happened exactly?"

"We're not sure. The guards brought Miss Alice to her room, and she suddenly woke up, asking for you," one servant explained.

"Yes, but when we informed her that you were busy with something, she became frightened. She wrapped herself in a blanket and kicked us all out, locking the door for the entire night. She didn't even eat anything," another servant added.

The guards had been correct in informing Alice that Desmond was occupied with his own matters. He had been late returning home, having spent the night searching the alleys and encountering several demons. Desmond's motivation wasn't solely revenge; he also found value in absorbing the demons' energy, which posed less risk than harming humans. After marking the demon locations on his system's map, he finally returned home and took a shower.

"I see. Step aside; let me try to persuade her."

Desmond knocked on Alice's door and called out to her, "Sis, it's me. Open the door."

With a click, Alice opened the door, her head and body still covered by a blanket.

Desmond greeted her with a smile, "Good morning, Ali—" However, before he could finish his greeting, Alice grabbed his hand and pulled him into the room. She promptly locked the door again, preventing anyone else from entering.

Inside the room, Alice swiftly pushed Desmond to the ground, leaving him lying on the floor while she rested on his chest.

Desmond remained patient, waiting for Alice to speak.

However, several seconds passed in silence, with Alice tightly embracing him. He also noticed the wetness on his shirt, indicating her tears.

Before Desmond could say anything, he heard Alice's sobs.

*sob* *sob* "I-I'm s-sorry, Desmond."

Desmond gently moved the blanket from Alice's face, revealing her tear-streaked cheeks. He tenderly stroked her hair and reassured her, "It's alright, no need to apologize. Just be more careful next time."

Alice continued to mumble through her tears, gradually calming down.

Looking into Desmond's eyes, she recounted the events of the previous day. As Desmond listened to her, he felt a sense of relief for having taken action against the shop owner.

"Alright, I understand now. Please eat your food," Desmond said, urging her to take care of herself.

Alice nodded, still clinging to Desmond.

"Now, I need to return to my practice, sis."

Desmond gently moved Alice aside and stood up.

Before he opened the door, he heard Alice's voice, "Thank you, Desmond," spoken softly but audible to him.

Leaving the room with a smile on his face, Desmond glanced at the waiting servants. "You can go in now," he informed them.

The servants immediately entered the room to attend to their tasks.

As Desmond made his way out, the servants began to gossip among themselves, "The relationship between the young master and the young lady is becoming closer and closer."

"What are you saying? Isn't that just a normal sibling relationship?"

"No, my own brother never treated me like that. I think we should report this to the Lord and Lady."

Hearing their conversation, Desmond pretended not to have heard and continued walking toward the yard.

.

.

.

At noon, after finishing his training, Desmond laid on the grass in the garden, contemplating the strange events that had unfolded. He pondered the significance of his connection with Alice and the unique bond they shared.

Time freezes?

Is this an innate ability?

Desmond commanded the system to replay yesterday's events. As the recording played, just seconds before the tail could impale Desmond's eyes, the image on the screen turned pitch black for a few moments before returning to normal.

That was peculiar; even the system couldn't capture that moment.

"Status."

[Scanning the Host's Body...]

[Scan Complete!]

[-Status-

Name: Desmond

Gender: Male

Age: 3 years

Race: Human

Class: Swordsman

Occupation: None

Unique Energy: 6.19

Strength: 7.04

Agility: 0.44

Stamina: 1.63]

Desmond frowned, a sense of unease creeping in. "Nothing has changed, but something feels off."

Numerous possibilities raced through his mind. Lying on the ground, he shifted his gaze upward, fixating on the graceful birds soaring across the sky.

Suddenly, time seemed to slow down. "No, this is entirely different." Time swiftly resumed its normal pace, leaving Desmond with a slight soreness in his eye.

The incident from yesterday felt like time had slowed down tenfold compared to this, and its duration had been considerably longer.

Frustration etched across Desmond's face, the veins on his forehead throbbing.

Damn it, I despise this sensation.

"System, can you analyze yesterday's incident for me?" Desmond was aware that the system couldn't, but humans were inherently curious creatures.

[Creating a Task...

1 Slot Used

Status: Working 0%]

[Working 50%...]

It worked!

Desmond awaited the completion of the progress bar, but after a few seconds, it seemed to be stuck at 50%.

[ERROR | Reason: Insufficient Information]

[Saving to Database...]

[Saved Data!]

"I knew it, ahhhhh... this is so frustrating."

Standing up, Desmond brushed off his clothes.

He attempted to focus on an object once again, only to witness time slowing down momentarily before returning to normal.

Desmond's subsequent experiment involved running while fixating his eyes on an object, yielding the same result as before, albeit with increased energy consumption.

After several attempts, the sky gradually darkened, as daylight slowly faded away. Unbeknownst to Desmond, dusk had already arrived.

Turning around, he discovered his food in its usual place.

"Ah, it appears I was too absorbed. The first day ended in failure."

Curiosity blazed in Desmond's eyes. He would rather meet his demise at the hands of an enemy than succumb to the torment of unanswered questions.

Observing his surroundings, he noticed an absence of shadows within the forest.

"System, scan the area."

[Creating a Task...

1 Slot Used

Status: Working 0%]

[Working 50%...]

[Status: Completed]

[Saving to Database...]

[Saved Data!]

[System Conclusion: No individuals detected within a 1000-meter range.]

Hmm? Has the secret guard been assigned elsewhere?

Forget it. It's of no concern to me.


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