372 The first day at the academy begins
Vincent saw Zefine nervously move her right hand to hold her left arm, but her right hand was too low. She ended up touching her waist as more than half of her left arm was missing.
Zefine looked depressed. She couldn’t hold both arms in this stressful and frightful mont in a room with people she had never seen in her life.
“Oh, you do not need to worry about your arm and any future injury-related complications.” Vincent looked at Iris and continued, “My beautiful wife, Iris, has a lot of knowledge when it cos to herbs. In fact, she took care of you the most when you were on the brink of death.”
“Now that you have a rough idea of what’s happening, let fill you in with what happened, starting from when you cooked for us and ending with how you woke up just now. ” Vincent said to let Zefine know and let her rest.
Zefine beca shocked when Vincent ntioned the Great Gray Wolf and her previous injured state. Later, Vincent ntioned what the elder of the village said. An angered yet depressed expression appeared on her face after the people she spent all her life with treated her like dirt because she had nothing left to offer.
Zefine didn’t know how to respond after hearing what had happened. She wanted to doubt the validity of Vincent’s words, yet she felt he was saying the truth deep down in her heart.
The man in front of her spoke kindly after introducing himself as a noble. He beca worried when talking about her injury and angry when he ntioned how the villager would’ve treated her if she had been left in their care.
He saved her life, treated her wounds, and he is now offering a place to live and work. It sounded too good to be true. Zefine held her head as she felt a little bit dizzy thinking about this.
Iris quickly brought a glass of water from the table and a hand-ford pill-sized ball made out of relaxing herbs. “Please take this. It will help.” The nurse Iris said.
.....
[This is sothing new, hehe. Iris isn’t shy when it cos to treating a patient. She is speaking comfortably instead of stuttering.]
-Really? I almost forgot since Iris isn’t shy around anymore.-
Zefine decided to place her trust in the people who stated to have saved her life. Not that she had anything else to lose other than her life, she believed.
*Gulp* Zefine took the dicine Iris gave her. Soon, she gradually felt a little better.
“I don’t know how... to live or work with only one arm... I will not be mistreated?... because I am now useless...” Zefine spoke much better after taking the ball of dicine. Her voice wasn’t as raspy as before.
“Ahem. My na is Xu Xao Long, but everyone calls Maid Xu or Head Maid Xu. Miss Zefine, you will be my responsibility if you decide to work as a maid. We do not discriminate nor punish those that make mistakes. Our three little maids broke a few plates up until now, but I never scolded them.” Maid Xu approached Zefine and sat on the bed. She held her hand and continued, “This hand is enough to do simple work. ”
“Zefine, I am sorry we can’t give you a salary at the mont, but we will pay you with a place to sleep and at least three als a day. ” Vincent said in a friendly tone after having no stable inco to pay her for her services. Food, shelter, and protection were the three things he could offer.
“You do not need to accept imdiately.” Vincent raised a slight friendly smile and continued, “but do tell us when you decide to stay or to return to Okan Village when you beco healthy.”
[Vincent. I am curious. Could you ask her about her story? I want to know what kind of past she had.]
“I...” Tears welled in Zefine’s eyes. She had nothing left, but now a noble asked to work for him and when she has a missing arm at that.
“Take it easy, Zefine. We will leave you alone to rest here and decide on your future alone.” Vincent could feel Kazumi emitting a serious case of curiosity. He had to ask. “But before I forget, I am a little bit curious about you. Could you tell us sothing about yourself? Can we know the reason the elder said all those things?”
Zefine wiped her tears and looked at everyone in the room. The warm, kind smiles encouraged Zefine to talk about herself in front of strangers.
Zefine ntioned how the villagers weren’t always the kindest people. Everyone acted kind when her parents were around, but the villagers beca distant after her parents passed away for so reason.
Zefine has a brother, and both had to fend for themselves after their parents passed away five years ago. Zefine was twelve years old, while her brother was one year older.
The pair of siblings needed the aid of adults to learn how to do business. The paynt for such aid cost them a commission fee. It took so ti and doubt for the siblings to notice sothing was amiss. The deceptively kind villagers grew distant, the less help was needed.
To make matters worse for Zefine, her brother awakened one year ago. He left his sister, promising to make a lot of money, but still hasn’t returned.
Zefine occasionally went with a villager transporting their work to the city on a cart. It was safer and quicker than traveling alone.
Zefine would ask for her brother’s whereabouts. She felt happy and relieved every ti she heard he was okay. However, the receptionist lost track of her brother a few months ago. The alarming news devastated her.
Zefine was about to cry after she ntioned her brother.
[There was another’s person na included in the Promised Quest reward. The person nad Kris was going to receive a high amount of reputation with us. I think he might be her brother.]
“Is his na Kris by any chance?” Vincent asked after Kazumi reminded him of the quest reward.
“Yes...” Zefine answered. She looked at Vincent with an expectant gaze.
Zefine hoped Vincent knew sothing regarding her bother’s whereabouts after casually ntioning his na. This train of thought was because he is a mber of the Adventurers Guild.
[I knew it, hehe. Nothing escapes my eyes.] Kazumi proudly boasted.
“Your brother is alive, but I can’t tell you how. ” Vincent ntioned a part of the reward the Promised Quest was going to provide when Zefine becos healthy.
The na Kris appeared in the reward section. It ant a person involved in Zefine’s life nad Kris was still alive unless Vincent could gain a reputation increase from dead people.
“I know I might sound as if I am not giving you a choice, but I told the villagers I was bringing you to the property owned by the Lionhearts. Furthermore, the Adventurers Guild isn’t as far as one to two days of travel. You can ask the receptionist Beatrix every day.” Vincent stood up and placed the chair in its place. He went for the door and said, “Your brother could one day co to you if you leave a ssage with the Adventurers Guild.”
“I will leave you to rest. My wives and servents will keep you company for now. ” Vincent opened the door and left.
Ester, Lilith, Iris, and Maid Xu remained a little longer. Ester and Maid Xu did most of the talking. Iris barely squeaked a word as she kept an eye on Zefine condition. On the other hand, Lilith spoke a few words, and she was starting to get comfortable around Zefine.
About less than half an hour later, Zefine was so relieved she closed her eyes and fell asleep. Her body was exhausted, and after she woke up, the situation was nerve-wracking. Both body and mind wanted to rest.
It was night, and everyone had to prepare for the next big day. The residents of the Erald Lionheart Mansion went to sleep one after the other...
Well, one man staying in a different bedroom than all his wives couldn’t... a particular lavender-skin demon needed a mory to rember her husband. They were going to be eight days apart because the academic year was going to start one day before to let the students settle in and form a team of five.
*Day 83 – 31 August – Morning*
Vincent opened his eyes after a rough night. The first thing he did was touch his body with a puzzled frown. He wasn’t feeling tired or sore.
[Are you feeling the stat boost from the completed quest?]
-Quest? Which one?-
Ti slowed down to a halt, and his vision turned dark. Kazumi, Wolfie, Freerie, and the patch of crystal grass appeared in front of him.
Kazumi giggled cheekily as she approached him. She used her ability to display a mory image of the Promised Quest activating at midnight.
.
[Promised Quest: The First Step To A Harem Lord Completed]
[Rewards]
*Strength stat 3 (Total 19 Strength)
*Agility stat 3 (Total 17 Agility)
*Perception stat 3 (Total 19 Perception)
*Ester Soul Synch 5% (Total 55% Soul Synch)
*Lupa Soul Synch 5% (Total 59% Soul Synch)
*Iris Soul Synch 5% (Total 31% Soul Synch)
*Lilith Soul Synch 5% (Total 35% Soul Synch)
*Sakura Soul Synch 5% (Total 33% Soul Synch)
.
[Are you seeing this? The quest was completed because it seems all your won felt satisfied in the past few days.]
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