Chapter 561: Chapter 561

561 To fight or to escape. Soon, a choice has to be made.

Melissa looked at Vincent. She crossed her arms and questioned, “But are you sure you are interested in requesting judgment by combat if all else fails? Are you strong enough to compete against B Rankers or higher in power?”

[It is a risky move, but we need to show the people not to mess with us. Additionally, only family members and their servants are allowed to participate.]

[I don’t think an S Ranker would love to become their slave. Not to mention their nobility rank isn’t high enough to have powerful slaves.]

Vincent stood up. He grinned and patted his chest. “If a man can’t protect a woman in need, he isn’t worthy of being called a man.”

“Humph! Stop boasting and tell me a suitable answer.”

“If our opponents would be B Rankers...” Vincent rubbed his chin and spent a few seconds thinking about how the fight would go. “We should be able to win.”

“Win against B Rankers!? Are you saying you have a strong team of servants working under you?”

“No.” Vincent shook his head. “The only servant that can fight doesn’t have a class.”

“You! Are you planning to fight ourselves? I read a few old books from my father’s study. When a book spoke about judgment by combat, nobles would never participate because they would be risking their lives.”

.....

[Intresting. This is some good info. That means there will not be any powerful mage fighting against us.]

“Your father said it was possible the fight would be five versus five. But I only have three fighters on my side.”

“Aren’t you friends with Nikolai Graymoon? He could sell you two powerful slaves.”

“It looks like you are interested in the fight. ” Vincent questioned with a curious expression.

“Humph! I just want those who played with my maiden heart to suffer. I saw you kill the magic beasts when you saved me, and I know it wasn’t a dream.” Melissa averted her gaze while continuing, “I want to bet on justice instead of those five bastards.”

“Huh? Why are you extending your hand? Are you expecting something from me?”

“Aren’t we friends now? What do you think, Lady Melissa?”

Melissa spent a minute looking at Vincent’s hand. Later she sighed and shook his hand. Their current relationship changed. Melissa decided to let Vincent have the spotlight until the matter was resolved.

*Team Ten Island*

After Vincent followed Kazumi’s advice and helped Melissa with various suggestions of what she could do, Vincent later returned to the island.

“Vincent! You have returned!” Said Lilith promptly. It appeared she was waiting for him to arrive.

“I talked to Melissa. She agreed to spread malicious rumors and also speak to her father about helping our stance that we demand an apology for what happened.”

“That’s great, but we have a problem...”

“Problem?” Vincent asked with a frown. Kazumi was also nervous about what could have happened now.

“Teacher Maria and Nick left a few minutes ago. I think they went to meet the headmaster. I think I heard them say they will support our cause... or something like that.” Lilith looked conflicted as she said the news.

Vincent embraced Lilith. He warmly rubbed her back and said, “The situation is stressful. You can lean on me when you can’t take it anymore. I am here for you.”

“But it is dangerous to fight to the death with people we do not know. We don’t even have enough fighters to participate. What if your identity gets discovered? Shouldn’t we...”

“Lilith, calm down. How about we think about life away from the city instead?”

“... are we going to run away?”

“If our opponents are too much for us, it isn’t shameful to choose life over death. What do you think?”

Lilith smiled after hearing Vincent show their lives were more important than the pride of a noble. She was glad Vincent wasn’t going to compete if they didn’t have a chance to win.

Vincent released the embrace. He gently pinched Lilith’s cheek and said, “I still have the plan to search for the whereabouts of Kevin’s son or daughter. We can become nomads and find a place to live together in peace.”

“Hehe.” Lilith giggled. “That is romantic. I would love that.”

[So you are already planning to leave the city. I here I thought we were going to enjoy the life of a noble for a few years. Maybe you could have managed to do what Kevin did and miraculously have a child.]

[Ahem. But we aren’t alone. She has overheard everything since her face looks pale from shock.]

Vincent looked around and saw Jun Ye Rim behind a nearby tree. As Kazumi guessed, Jun Ye Rim overheard everything.

“Jun Ye Rim...”

Lilith moved her gaze where Vincent was looking and gasped when she saw Jun Ye Rim close enough to hear their conversation.

“Why... why do you have to do so much for me? I am a cursed abandoned elf. Now you and your family might have to abandon everything because of me. I... I am not worthy of such benevolent actions.”

Vincent, Kazumi, and Lilith stared at Jun Ye Rim for a couple of seconds. They couldn’t believe she was still treating herself as a person unworthy of living or a person unworthy to receive kindness.

“Why don’t you take responsibility then?” Asked Lilith out of the blue.

Vincent, Kazumi, and Jun Ye Rim stared at Lilith for a couple of seconds. The word responsibility had many meanings, yet the three of them had a similar guess as to what Lilith intended.

“M-m-marry!?”

“Yes, Jun Ye Rim. Become my sister. I would love to have you around if we have to leave the city. Not only will it make Kazumi’s words easier to hear, but the five families might look for you if we escape the city. You would be safe with us.”

[Hmm... Lilith has a point. Jun Ye Rim will be their next target if we leave. I agree with Lilith. I would like Jun Ye Rim to become one of us.]

[By that, I mean join the harem, hehe.]

Jun Ye Rim blushed, yet she didn’t decline. She turned around and ran away.

Vincent placed his hand on Lilith’s shoulder. He chuckled and said, “Kazumi told her to join the harem. Telling a woman to marry a man with many women is not a choice many would accept. Not to mention if the wife is making the offer with her husband present.”

“Hehe.” Lilith hugged Vincent. “What is wrong with a fine man like you? Being able to watch romance in front of me is very enjoyable.”

‘Is my life a romance drama for Lilith to enjoy?’ Vincent pondered.

[Don’t look at me, Vincent. I didn’t ask Lilith to grow your harem. But it is nice to have someone with similar thoughts, hehe.]

‘These women are going to be the death of me...’ Vincent thought while slightly shaking his head.

Vincent and Lilith went to tell Ester, Lupa, and Iris how the talk with Melissa went. Vincent also told them the suggestion of escaping the city if their opponents were going to be too strong for them.

Vincent and Kazumi became puzzled to see Ester, Lupa, and Iris run out of the study room. The faces of the three women were filled with the willpower to compete and keep their current life.

Ester liked how she finally had a place she could call home. She desired to become stronger and never ever again lose her home.

Her biological father abandoned Ester, and later, her stepfather and biological mother perished while losing the first place she called home.

A mysterious injured person appeared one day. He looked at her with a blush on his face as if he had fallen in love at first sight. The person helped her survive when the second place she called home was destroyed. The same person saved her after becoming a slave.

Ester was filled with determination not to lose her current third home. In this home and current pleasant life, Ester wanted to keep meeting the residents of the Emerald Lionheart Mansion. She also liked meeting with Lilith’s mother from the few times she visited them.

Lupa was also filled with the determination to fight. However, after living a life in the wilds, Vincent was Lupa’s home. Where ever he went, that is where her home was. Regardless of the different perceptions of what a home is, Lupa wanted to fight for the honor of her mate.

On the other hand, Iris could be considered very strong because of her Seed Guardians and how immensely powerful they could become when combined with her version of Overload.

However, Iris couldn’t reveal her class. The five noble families would be nothing compared to the people seeking to steal Iris for themselves. Not only was Iris of a rare goblin variant and a new race, but she was a Druid who lived a human lifestyle. She was a Druid reason with.

Iris went to create various seeds and let Zero represent her as Vincent’s familiar. The Droplet Of Life was already working wonders in helping Zero grow taller and its limbs thicker with the variety of vines growing from the Amalgamation trait.

“Plow also wants to grow stronger!” *Pho* “Plow will go out and train picking sticks.” Plow announced while looking for Vincent as if she wanted to be praised.

Vincent chuckled and lifted Plow. He kissed her forehead and said, “I want to see how strong our cute little fox can become.”

Plow wagged her tails vigorously. She licked Vincent’s hand and jumped on the bed. *Pho* “Plow will show Vincent Vincent how foxes are better than stinky wolves.” She said before jumping on the floor and leaving cheerfully.