494 Permission to leave with the Lionheart family
Jun Ye Rim became a little interested after hearing Plowâs explanation.
A couple of meters away from them was Iris in the garden she had created. There she was, training Zero how to walk on its small humanoid legs composed of tiny weak vines after spending most of its life rooted in the ground.
This subject caught Jun Ye Rimâs interest as she had a soft spot for learning how to take better care of her Soul Servant Blemish.
âI am not that interested in plants, but I have nothing else to do at the moment. I could come and take a peek since you have insisted that much.â The tsundere elf said as she stood up.
âLetâs go to one of that womanizerâs wives.â She continued after lifting Plow with one hand and heading to Iris.
Plow looked at Jun Ye Rim with a confused expression. She couldnât comprehend how asking a few times became insisting for a long time.
Later, Jun Ye Rim and Iris looked awkwardly at each other, yet unexpectedly, as time passed teaching together, the two of them hit it off with a subject both were interested in.
From today onwards, the two women of little words became more comfortable in each otherâs presence. Instead of a patient and doctor relationship, a bond of friendship was blooming.
Jun Ye Rim gradually became friends with Lilith, Iris, and Plow.
.....
*Day 146 â 01 November â Sunday*
The first day of November arrived, and the temperature was becoming colder. Some students were already preparing to wear their winter uniforms while Vincent and Lilithâs winter uniform was in their home.
Maid Xu was making adjustments to both of their uniforms. The uniforms werenât cheap, and it was practically free readjustments with Maid Xuâs professional hands.
Vincentâs uniform needed minor adjustments to his shirts and blazers.
Vincentâs physique grew a little bigger these past few months. His shoulders became slightly wider, and the muscles of his upper body also grew slightly.
Same with his lower muscles as Kazumi would tease Vincent not to skip a leg day.
On the other hand, Lilithâs uniform requiring a lot of work was an understatement after she lost a lot of weight. It was a time-consuming job to make a large uniform smaller while retaining an unmodified appearance.
Maid Xu was busy working as the Head Maid. Even with Yula and Sofy taking charge of different sections of the maid duties, Lilithâs uniform needed more than readjustments.
Fortunately, when Maid Xu went to Fabioâs fabric shop and explained how Lilith had lost a lot of weight, Fabio agreed to help for free at the cost of visiting with his two seamstresses and designing a dress for Lilith.
*Buzz, buzz* *Buzz, buzz*
Today was a different morning for a certain elf. Her academy student card vibrated and didnât stop until she woke up and looked at the card with a frown.
âSpecial Sunday Leave Permission Granted. â She read from her card.
A green wisp rushed into the bedroom. She swiftly went over to Jun Ye Rimâs shoulder and said, [I heard your card buzzing, and I came flying, hehe.]
âDid you know about this? You could have told me if so. I could have left the card in a corner and slept peacefully.â
[Not until yesterday night. But I didnât want to bother you.]
â...â
[Ester mentioned how Maira believed her teacher, who is the headmaster of the academy, might let you join us on our trip home today. I was curious if we would receive some kind of message this morning, and then I heard your card making a sound.]
âWhy do you look so happy with your tone and your gaze?â
âRegardless, I donât feel like going out and visiting the house of that womanizer.â
[Is that so?]
Kazumi landed on Jun Ye Rimâs lap and continued.
[No one can hear me at any given moment. Sometimes I feel I do not exist, and other times I feel like an unneeded existence when Vincent is busy with something or he is sleeping.]
[I have to use my power to have small talk with someone, and it makes it feel worse. Talking in the darkness all the time makes me feel confined. On the other hand, I feel free to talk with you.]
Jun Ye Rim crossed her arms and asked, âAre you saying talking to me makes you feel alive?â
[Yeah. It feels like a natural conversation, as if I am alive instead of a forced one in a dark corner.]
âAnd what does that have to do with me going to that place?â
[I could have someone to talk to while Vincent is...]
[Ahem. While Vincent spends some alone time with Sakura, his demon wife, I could have someone to talk to. Furthermore, you can meet with two other elves living in the mansion.]
[One elf is Lilithâs maid, and I have a hunch she might have been a noble once. The second elf was a slave all her life. She is ninety years old, and she is a courageous woman. Even after a long life of slavery, Sofy barely shows any signs of sadness.]
[I hope these two elves can help you choose what path you want to take moving forward.]
â...â Jun Ye Rim was at a loss for words.
Jun Ye Rim couldnât believe how someone who almost died at her hands was trying to help her so much. Furthermore, the payment was simpler than Jun Ye Rim imagined, yet this simple meaningless request meant differently to various people.
Jun Ye Rim felt like she was being paid to take a seat and offer a few words to Kazumi, yet Jun Ye Rim suddenly had the urge to want someone to exchange words with.
âI... I was going to be busy today. I wanted to train, rest, read a book in peace, and maybe go to the library. But after hearing you insist this much, I changed my mind and decided to follow you. â The tsundere Jun Ye Rim responded.
[ Haha. I knew you would be interested in coming with us. But whatâs with that frown?]
âI said I wasnât interested initially!â
[Initially?]
Jun Ye Rim blushed. She grabbed a pillow and covered her face with it. âPlease leave. Canât you see I am bothered?â
[See you later then, hehe.]
Kazumi said before leaving. She was in a good mood after having an entertaining talk without the darkness of the Soul Domain constantly reminding her she was dead.
A few minutes later, Jun Ye Rim heard a knock on the door.
âItâs me. Lilith. Can I enter?â
âOkay.â
The door opened. The three women and a little fox entered the bedroom. Ester, Iris, and Lilith entered to help Jun Ye Rim prepare while Plow relaxed comfortably on the bed.
Jun Ye Rim felt weird as she was being helped. She felt bothered because too many hands were touching her at once and annoyed because she felt a little helpless with one arm, yet she felt slightly happy she wasnât alone without showing it on her face.
After Jun Ye Rim was ready, they met with Vincent and Lupa in her white wolf form. Later, the group with one extra person left early in the morning.
Nick, Clair, Vivid, and Pussy now had the island all to themselves as they didnât want to be bothered by different forms of challenges.
Near the inner gate was Maria. She peeked from her usual spot and saw Jun Ye Rim.
âLooks like the carriage is going to be full today.â She sarcastically said.
Jun Ye Rim stopped. âI will leave.â She said while turning around.
*Sigh* âBeing full doesnât mean no more space remaining.â Maria signaled with her hand to approach and continued *Sigh* âDonât be indecisive, and letâs go. The carriage arrived a while ago.â
Lilith grabbed Jun Ye Rimâs hand and added, âCome. Our home isnât a bad place. My home is a happy place for me, so I think you will like it.â
Jun Ye Rim stopped resisting and let Lilith pull her to the carriage.
âAnother woman!?â Sofy was at it again. She didnât like the sight of the new woman.
âYeah.â
However, Vincent didnât decline this time. He casually sat on the coachmanâs passenger side and asked, âAre you coming?â
Sofy looked at Jun Ye Rim from head to toe. The elven beauty with eye-catching hair color caused Sofy to become nervous and wary of the new woman.
Sofy went to sit in her usual driverâs seat and looked at Vincent as if he had cheated on her. She frowned and became grumpy. She also didnât talk to Vincent while the others entered the carriage.
[Your womenâs problem drama is always a nice show to watch, haha.] Kazumi joked.
Vincent sighed and explained Jun Ye Rimâs problem on the way. He requested Sofy to help Jun Ye Rim and keep her company if she was alone.
Sofy wasnât too happy, but after hearing how she could learn from Jun Ye Rim about her parentâs homeland, Sofy became pleased Vincent didnât forget about her.
âI can offer maid nightly services if you want, as thanks for thinking about me.â
âNo need to force yourself. I am not that kind of man.â
â...â Sofy was rejected again.
*Emerald Lionheart Mansion*
The gate of the mansion came into view and beside Eliara and Fliara were two people wearing a coat. The visible clothes didnât look ordinary or cheap either.
Sofy stopped the carriage, and Vincent jumped down. He quickly scanned the two men approaching him and discovered how both of them had the alchemist class.