629 The time to decide, to save or to abandon, is upon them
All of the eyes looking at Vincent saw a shocking scene. Even though Vincentâs arm was on the ground and he acted as if it was a meager inconvenience, another shocking thing happened.
Ester, a woman who loved Vincent dearly, ignored Vincentâs missing limb situation. She passed by Vincent and used her destructive ball of condensed wind to attack Vlad as if nothing had happened to Vincent.
Vlad became blurry and sidestepped away. He raised his rapier to stab Ester, but the ground underneath him rumbled, and vines emerged from the ground.
Vlad took a step back and raised both arms. The rapier parried Mimiâs lunge while the buckler, coved by Energy Flow, parried Vincentâs unbalanced slash.
The vines contorted and moved forward to attack the currently immobilized Vlad. Ester covered her body with shining earth sigil tattoos and charged her body to collide with Vlad at the same time.
Vlad frowned. He swiftly took a step back and moved his arms precisely to lead Mimiâs rapier and Vincentâs gauntlet to hit one another.
The vines moved around Mimi and Vincent while Ester used the air sigil on her foot to jump up high in the air. Vlad clicked his tongue before the vines pierced his body, and Ester landed with a heavy body protected by the earth.
Vlad appeared behind Vincent and slashed at the back of his neck. Vincentâs head would be severed if Vlad exerted more strength, but Lupa swiftly appeared and attacked him with her shining golden eyes.
Vlad became a blur, but Overload Vincent and Predator Lupa immediately saw his location.
.....
Both were the first to rush to attack. One was like a wild beast full of energy and rage, while the other was calm and collected while her eyes were on her prey.
While this was happening, Lilith looked at Anna. She saw Anna looking at Vincentâs arm and the steam rising from the stump.
âYour Highness. We arenât unhappy about Vincent losing an arm because it will soon regrow in his current state.â Lilith told Anna.
Anna was shocked to hear this the most. As a person who tried to learn all she could about ways to fix her legs, awakening the healer class in the process, Anna knew the true value of regenerating limbs.
âHow will it function?â Anna asked before asking again, âHigh Heal will not return all the functions as the original.â
Sakura rubbed her chin while recalling Vincent moving the arm that regrew after the fight against the Alpha Brown Grizzly Bear normally.
âI think his arm worked as if nothing happened to it.â She said.
Jun Ye Rim crossed her arms and said, âIt is not like I have to repeat someone elseâs words, but I feel everyone is begging to know.â
It didnât take a second for Jun Ye Rim to repeat after Kazumi. It was obvious she wanted to explain what was happening.
âIt is similar to going back in time and returning what was lost. This is why Vincent said your highness could not walk even if your legs regrow. He has experienced regrowing limbs, and they always regrow in the healthy condition his missing limb previously was.â
Anna could now understand why Vincent spoke as if he had experienced regrowing limbs multiple times. She tapped on Blikas shoulder and requested to place the wheelchair and her sitting on it to the ground.
Bilka wanted to wait to follow this request because it would take longer to lift Anna and leave rather than start running immediately. Lucas beside them was currently busy using his domination intent to protect those behind him.
Anna said, âPlease.â with a smile that was easy to tell was forced.
*Sigh* Bilka agreed to listen to Annaâs request and placed the wheelchair on the ground. However, her hands didnât leave the wheelchairâs handles.
Anna looked at the residents. Some were confused, while others were worried.
Anna wanted to see and understand their emotions regarding Vincent being the infamous invader from another world. Her decision to help or remain a spectator could change depending on their responses.
âBaroness Lilith Lionheart, can you tell these people the truth?â Anna requested.
*Gulp* â...yes.â Nervously replied Lilith. This subject caused her heart to race while doubt clouded her mind anxiously.
Not too far from them was Overload Vincent fighting viciously against Vlad. To explain Vincent wasnât a bad person became challenging at this moment.
However, Lilith wasnât alone. Sakura and Iris, with Plow between her arms, stood beside Lilith. It gave Lilith the confidence needed to speak.
Lilith, Iris, Sakura, and sometimes Plow took turns revealing the truth about Vincent and explaining how Vincent is a good person like they have always seen. The current Vincent was only seen randomly and only when he was in danger of ceasing to exist, both body and soul.
-Is it okay to let them explain?- Jun Ye Rim told Kazumi via telepathic message because Kazumi was currently recovering in her body.
[We built a house on rocks, sticks, and sand...]
[Those who know about Vincentâs secret like you are stable rocks...]
[Those who trust Vincent but do not know the truth, they are sticks that can break at any moment...]
[The sand are people like the Princess... They are a variable that can bring the whole house if the truth is found...]n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
-But arenât they helping us?- Jun Ye Rim questioned.
[I didnât see what was happening while I kept Vincentâs soul from dimming... But from what I am seeing and hearing, could...]
âThe princess knew about Vincent all along?â Jun Ye Rim spoke out loud instead of sending a voice message telepathically to Kazumi. She was still a beginner at telepathic messages.
The residents who heard Jun Ye Rim say this, Iris, Lilith, Sakura, Plow, and Maria, looked at Anna and Bilka standing behind her.
If Jun Ye Rimâs guess hit the mark, it meant the kingdom had the idea of the seventh otherworldy hero arriving early and keeping an eye on him. This was what passed through their minds at this moment.
However, they didnât need to ponder as Annaâs lips moved, and her weary yet pleasant voice said, âWe had an idea Vincent was the retainer of the previous hero, or as people called him, invader.â
âThe one who saved Vincent showed great interest in Vincent. He is a man who has seen a lot, and he will not be impressed with the ordinary, or so Duke Lucas said.â
âAfter a profound investigation while watching all of his moves and those around him, the more of a conclusion we drew about Vincent being a retainer or the son of the late beastman otherworlder.â
âVincent telling us he was looking for the son or daughter of his friend could mean looking for his separated sibling, or so with thought. But all was made clear with the appearance of Vlad, the fifth Guild Master of the Adventurers Guild.â
âThus...â Anna looked at the residents and asked, âHow do you all feel living with the people who the history state are the bringers of the end? The cursed invaders and their associates who will bring ruin to our world?â
Tula pinched her legs. She courageously stood up with a pair of trembling legs and said, âBig brother is a good person. Big brother saved me many times. Big brother is kind, and he treats me well. â
Lenn and Renn bit their lips. They licked their blood, and the taste of blood made them realize how weak and powerless they were.
Vincent and Lupaâs bodies became a blur from time to time. It meant the twins were so weak that they couldnât perceive their movement.
The twins grunted and stood up slowly. Lenn said, âWe knew Vincent was not from our world.â and Renn continued, âBut Vincent, Ester, and Lupa brought our elder sister and the items our father had without showing greed.â
Lenn said, âThey are better than most people in this world.â and Renn continued with a frustrated frown, âIt is embarrassing to agree with his sad truth.â
Yula saw her children bravely stand up and convey their stance around Vincent to the Princess of the Lusterfall Kingdom.
Yulaâs daughter and two sons said the opposite of what Vincent told them to say in case of emergency. Instead of abandoning Vincent and sparing their lives from persecution, they spoke favorably about Vincent.
Yula stood up with Shana sleeping after she cried herself to sleep. She looked at Anna and said, âMy children spoke the truth. Vincent has reunited me with my daughter. He also persuaded my sons to become soldiers and work a job more dangerous than gate guard.â
Yula turned her gaze to Vincent. She saw him aggressively attack Vlad with both arms as the severed limb had regenerated.
âDoesnât anger make others appear as monsters? But the reason why the anger is being exhibited must be confirmed before determining in a person is a monster or simply an emotional person doing a stupid thing in the heat of anger.â Yula lightly chuckled after recalling Koss knocking a person unconscious when they were in a bar once.
âThat is what my late husband told me.â Yula continued while looking at Anna with a warm and welcoming smile.
Anna understood those were surely the words of a soldier who did their job well. After reading a lot of Lucasâs reports, Anna had gotten good at telling if a report was done by a soldier who did their job properly or if they were leaching the army funds by doing the bare minimum.