Chapter 336: Chapter 336

336 At the center of the rumors

“Maybe I can dance with it, hehe.” Ester winked.

Shortly they arrived in front of the fountain. Both of them stared in surprise the moment their eyes landed upon a man pulling a small two-wheeled cart and a person on it.

[This is copyright infringement! Your date with Lilith became a business opportunity in less than a week. Our business consultations aren’t free!]

“Hehe.” Vincent chuckled after hearing Kazumi become enraged. It wasn’t too often Kazumi would become upset.

Ester looked curiously at Vincent. “Isn’t that cart ride like the one you gave Lilith?” She moved her gaze again at the small makeshift passenger cart passing by.

“Yes, and Kazumi is pissed they took our idea, haha.” Vincent couldn’t hold himself from laughing at her irritation, which in turn made Kazumi so angry that she stopped talking.

“Hehe.” Ester giggled as she knew from the many times Kazumi visited her for a chat before going to sleep that she didn’t like to be at the end of the joke.

“I will tell Sakura about this transport cart. I miss the days of Lupa and I being pulled by you in the forest.” Ester turned her head and raised a beaming smile. “I felt a little bit jealous of Lilith. I wanted to experience that kind of feeling again, hehe.”

“I can...”

.....

“No need for today.” Ester interrupted Vincent as if she could read his mind. “We walked for a few hours, and it’s almost noon. Let’s go and have a drink.”

Vincent smirked and turned his gaze at the guildhall. There were a few adventurers with weapons attached to the hip, back, and held in their hands, talking in between the fountain and the guildhall entrance.

Vincent looked around and noticed more adventurers than usual walking or resting. It gave him a sense of security. He also recalled how adventurers try to act like a hero and promote themselves for fame and capture the interest of the wealthy.

‘I guess my actions have influenced a new wave of attention seekers and hand-pulled cart service.’ *Sigh* ‘I here I thought I might be able to keep it low-key.’ Vincent thought as he and Ester headed towards the guildhall.

Soon they arrived in front of the large open door. Beatrix waving her hand from a couple of meters distance, entered their sight. It was as if she knew they were coming and was expecting them to arrive.

[Looks like that troublesome girl has found her place here as the guild receptionist.]

Kazumi looked around and saw two to three small empty tables. Adventurers were drinking as usual. Only a bard or a solo musician was missing with the boisterous people.

[There are a few tables left, so you aren’t in need to hurry. Go to give Beatrix the quest for Razaros Mushroom and Tell Root Flower]

Kazumi exited Vincent’s body and appeared before him.

[I will take a look at the quest board and try to overhear some rumors.]

Kazumi left full of curiosity. She seemed happy to fill her belly with knowledge.

Ester tapped Vincent’s shoulder. “Is Kazumi talking to you? Vincent, you are spacing out again.” She asked as blocking the entrance worried her.

“She was, but she left to satisfy her curiosity, hehe.” Vincent chuckled. He and Ester went to Beatrix. “Hey, they Beatrix. Do you have quests about Razaros Mushroom and Tell Root Flower? I have a few on me.”

“This heroine is glad the wickedness is not affixed to thy person.” Beatrix greeted her straight unembarrassed face and her little snake peeking from behind her hair. “It will take but a fraction of a candle forming its first bead of melted wax that this heroine Beatrix helping lost souls finding...”

“Ahem.” Vincent cleared his throat to ask Beatrix to hurry up politely. He didn’t want to hear poems or chapter-long greetings.

“Humph!” Beatrix crossed her arms and pouted. “Wait for this heroine here.”

“Thank you, Beatrix.” Ester kindly thanked.

Beatrix smiled and went to look for the quest records in another room.

Ester gently slapped Vincent’s arm and said, “You could be a little kinder to her. She is adorable with her mysterious persona.”

“Eh?” Vincent looked at Ester with a puzzled expression. “That is fun? OH, but then again, this might be your first time meeting someone acting like this.”

“Did you know many people like Beatrix?” Ester became curious. She loved to know about his life on Earth.

Vincent nodded. “When people like me, or more specifically, people who couldn’t assimilate the mutation and it assimilated them in the end, they had it worse when it came to sleeping.”

*Sigh* “The worst cases would start believing they live in a different world or there are multiple copies of them. The dreams we experienced felt so real that it would change our perception of reality.” Vincent said. He looked unhappy, yet telling this to Ester gave him the courage to continue.

“I hated myself, and although these dreams didn’t affect me that much, I didn’t have the courage to take the first step. I kept wishing for a new life, a new start, or going back in time and saving my parents. In the end, I was given a rough new start and a new life the moment I met you and later Lupa.”

Vincent felt relieved to have someone other than Kazumi to know a piece of his past. However, he noticed how his words caused a tiny tear on the edge of her eyes to appear.

“I’m.”

“Don’t apologize after confiding in me. I am both happy yet sad to hear of the pain my loved one had to suffer.” Ester wiped her tear and showed a determined gaze. “Kevin was the one who helped you, right? My sisters and I will help search for his offspring. I got acquainted with my sisters enough to know they will help you with your goal.”

“Ahem! This heroine dislikes flirting in her benevolent presence.” Beatrix placed two quest forms on the desk. She pointed at the forms and continued, “Is this the request my honorable brother Ollie’s friend has conveyed.”

Vincent glanced at the quest forms and smirked. “I promise to take the quest of finding Razaros Mushroom and Tell Root Flower.” He activated Promised Quest, and two quest windows appeared.

.

[Promised Quest: Razaros Mushroom]

[Complete the agreed promise by delivering a Razaros Mushroom to Beatrix.]

[Quest conditions to be met.]

*Razaros Mushroom [40/5] (Met)

[Rewards]

*Perception stat roll +0 to +1

*90 Copper coins for each promised item (Price subject to change.)

*Reputation – Adventurers Guild +1

.

[Promised Quest: Tell Root Flower]

[Complete the agreed promise by delivering a Tell Root Flower to Beatrix.]

[Quest conditions to be met.]

*Tell Root Flower [20/1] (Met)

[Rewards]

*Perception stat roll +0 to +1

*1 Silver and 10 Copper coins for each promised item (Price subject to change.)

*Reputation – Adventurers Guild +1

.

[Promised Quests changed to auto-accept option.]

[2 new quests have been accepted.]

.

“This heroine is always surprised by the promise maker Vincent.” Beatrix looked at Ester and asked, “Does thee crimson-haired woman promise as well?”

“Haha. No, no, Vincent is the one who wants to promise.” Ester flustered slightly as she wasn’t used to talking with Beatrix’s unique language.

.

[10x Tell Flower Root (Rare Quality) summoned. x10 remaining.]

[20x Razaros Mushroom (Rare Quality) summoned. x20 remaining.]

.

Vincent summoned half of his stock to the reception desk. He tapped on the desk with his knuckles and said, “Promise complete heroine Beatrix. You can count the amount and quality of the materials.”

Beatrix was surprised at first. However, she followed the procedure and scanned each material with an inspection gemstone. Later, she signed the documents and went inside the back room with the materials and to bring the money reward.

.

[Promised Quest: Razaros Mushroom Completed]

[Rewards]

x4 Perception stat roll +0 to +1

x4 90 copper coins for each promised item

Reputation – Adventurers Guild +1 (Total reputation is 4)

.

[Promised Quest: Tell Root Flower Completed]

[Rewards]

x10 Perception stat roll +0 to +1

x10 1 silver and 10 copper coins for each promised item

Reputation – Adventurers Guild +1 (Total reputation is 5)

.

.....

[Perception stat roll start.]

[14 rolls of similar value have been detected. Singular result will be converted into a total result.]

[2 Roll Success and 12 Roll Fails.]

[+2 Perception stats gained. Perception stat increased to 15.]

.

Kazumi returned after seeing all the quests and overheard a few adventurers talk. She saw the Promised Quest window in front of Vincent and Ester looking at him curiously as if she wanted to know what he was looking at.

[I returned, but not much to say other than congratulations for the stat increase.]

-So nothing interesting then.-

[Well, some people mentioned a large noblewoman being pulled and then continued about a new trend of transport being used by nobles.]

[I heard about the nearby Blackheart mansion changing owners after the husband’s death. I heard them say how it was given to his gravely ill wife and how they don’t know when the wife will pass away.]

[I also heard about a man who used his intimidation aura in a quarrel and hurt a few people. They also mentioned how the losing party was taken to prison for illegally possessing slaves.]

-So it is all about us...-

[Yep. Vincent, you are the hot topic in this city, and they don’t know you just passed by them. Hahaha.]

“Vincent, are you feeling okay? I saw you smile, but now it became a frown.” Ester asked.

Vincent looked at Ester and smiled. “I gained two perception stat increases from the quests, but then came Kazumi with the rumors around the city. And guess what.” *Sigh* “I am in most of them.”

“That’s nice. My man is famous, hehe.” Ester positively said while giggling.