Ester got up and noticed old dirty bandages in a small bucket. Ester understood Vincent must have already changed, and he should be waiting for her. She looked into a mirror and noticed her cheeks were red.
"My heart is beating very quickly. I didn't think watching Vincent like that would be so..." Ester then shook her head to remove dirty thoughts and continued, "But still... Vincent didn't look bad..."
Ester shook her head once more and decided to leave before more erotic thoughts flashed in her mind. She wanted to bury her face under a pillow when recalling the memories of what transpired.
Ester walked forward to leave, but she suddenly decided to peek from behind the door from nervousness. Looking from left to right, not a single soul could be found in the corridor. Ester started to think she was alone on the second floor.
"Vincent and Lupa didn't leave me here, did they? I hope we won't be late for the appointment." Ester worried. Then she quickly rushed down to the kitchen and saw everyone drinking water, juice, or tea.
"Big sister Ester is up! Wow, big sister looks pretty. Like a red fairy." Tula praised while soaking a cookie into a cup of tea.
Ester didn't reply. Instead, she looked at Vincent and noticed him smiling. Then she saw him pull the empty chair beside him and started pouring a cup of tea.
"Come. Take a seat and drink a cup of tea. Tea can calm your nerves." Vincent offered while mixing the tea and clanging the teaspoon a few times. "Tea is served. " Vincent said with a warm smile.
Ester didn't know how to respond. She simply nodded and sat beside him.
"Ester, you have a good man. Vincent was worried after you fainted because of being too nervous. Don't worry. The guild doesn't eat people nor gives harsh tests. Vincent told us about your class. I think you don't need to take a combat test since it would injure you." Yula tried to comfort the shy and flustered Ester.
However, it appeared Vincent didn't mention what exactly happened in the bedroom, how he groped her chest, and she later fainted from too much stimulation.
[Ester looks confused. I guess that's expected after you told them a different story. But I must say, why don't you inspect Ester?]
-Why?-
Vincent turned his gaze at Ester. He noticed her cheeks were still red and her hand slightly trembling from being too close to him. Vincent raised a smirk and inspected her stats.
[Name] Ester
[Soul Synch] 49%
[Condition] Healthy
[Class] Sigil Mage
Vincent and Kazumi became surprised. Ester was close to fifty percent because of what happened.
[There is still some time for the Adventurer's Guild appointment. Why don't you flirt or bang Ester for a new power?]
"What!" Vincent loudly exclaimed. He quickly stood up after getting startled by Kazumi's words. The chair fell and made a loud thud. Everyone's attention was now on him.
"What's wrong? Is someone attacking us?" Lupa prepared to fight.
Lenn and Renn clenched their fists after hearing what Lupa said. Vincent beat a notorious bully group last night, so this kind of thing wasn't impossible to happen. 'They might want revenge.' The twins thought.
Vincent noticed his actions caused a huge misunderstanding and reassured, "Don't mind what I said. I forgot that we need to go soon, but we are enjoying tea instead of preparing. I thought it's about time we leave. Nothing else."
The tension faded, and the adrenaline to fight subsided.
Lupa stopped growling and then glanced at Plow. The blue fox was sitting on the table, and it seemed to be enjoying a cup of tea.
Plow poked out her small tongue and slowly drank the tea one lick at a time. Plow also nibbed on a cookie and a small slice of Ani Banana that were beside the cup of tea from time to time. The little blue fox was being treated like a queen.
Lupa made a jealous pout at the well-treated fox and said, "Humph, let's go, my mate. We need to go out."
[My, my. You are getting good at lying with a straight face.]
Kazumi praised and teased at the same time.
'I don't want to take advantage of someone, but since there is only one percent left, I might as well...' Vincent thought before gently grabbing Ester's hand and help her get up like a princess.
Ester flustered, and her face became redder. She stood up with Vincent's help and then awkwardly stared at his face.
"Let's go, my love." Vincent flirted with a wink and a passionate smile. It was a critical hit, and Ester froze in place like a living statue.
Lenn and Renn blushed like the innocent teens they were. Yula chuckled at how Ester acted while Tula peeked a few times. Eating tea-soaked cookies seemed to take the most priority for Tula.
After Vincent noticed Ester became a statue, he held her by the hip and led her to the entrance. Ester took a step at a time as the situation was too surreal. Vincent never flirted openly and with people watching at that. Ester believed she was still dreaming.
"Why am I left out? I want to hear nice things too!" Lupa said while angrily pouting behind Vincent and Ester.
"Bye and good luck." Was the last thing Vincent, Ester, and Lupa heard before the door closed.
"Do you want to walk, or do you want me to princess carry you to the guildhall?" Vincent whispered into Ester's ear.
Ester jumped and declined, "N-n-n-no. I-I-I can walk."
"Vincent, not fair! I want to taste what Ester had!" Lupa said in a tantrum.
Vincent sighed. He barely made any progress as luck didn't seem to like him very much, and challenges found him at every corner. Spending time to make sure Lupa feels like a winner every time was starting to become time-consuming.
Vincent knew he shouldn't remain a pushover. He needed to find a way to find a solution. That's when it hit him, and he decided to plan for the foreseeable future.
"We will celebrate after becoming adventurers. What do you say for a private party between us three? What do you wish for? Food? Clothes? Or perhaps a pillow to hold instead of my arm?" Vincent suggested.
"Yes! I want to eat and to sleep on a big bed. The bed is comfy but is also small. I can't spread my legs without touching the floor." Lupa expressed what she felt without showing a hint of embarrassment.
"Then... we will look for a cheap place to call it our temporary home and get a large bed to sleep without complaints. How's that sound?" Vincent offered.
"What are you waiting for? Let's go!" Lupa grabbed Ester's hand and started pulling to hurry.
[Ahh, you sly dog you. Don't think I don't know what you just suggested. The special night event might happen soon, hehehe. ]
Kazumi giggled for a long time, but deep inside, she felt a bit jealous for not having a body.
Later, Vincent and Lupa pulling Ester by the hand, arrived at the south lower district square, in front of the fountain. Many eyes locked on the three, but this time, it was without Beatrix and her attention catcher chuunibyou persona.
Many glanced at Lupa, pulling Ester to hurry up and not move at a snail's pace during the half-hour walk to arrive near the Adventurer's guildhall stone building.
A few men turned their heads the moment Ester and Lupa passed by them. Some of them even secretly whistled. A second later, they were met with a man dressed in black with a bandaged neck and wrists. Vincent glared at them with an annoyed frown.
Vincent now knew that he couldn't have it both ways. He couldn't have Ester and Lupa dressed elegantly or nicely without people looking or fawning at them.
The guildhall door opened. A man and two women entered the premises. Many adventurers turned their heads to take a peek at the new people entering the guildhall.
A few women looked assertively at Vincent as he appeared to have a fit body, yet the bandages offered mystery to any onlooker. On the other hand, the men and mostly the drunk ones looked at Ester and Lupa as a fine catch to take.
In front of the entrance was a large open area. There was a member pub on the side and tables all filled with adventurers noticeable because of their different or unique outfits and equipment.
On the opposite side was a large quest board with a small number of quests. It seemed the emergency lockdown caused most quests such as transport protection or herb gathering temporarily unavailable. Only a few odd job quests remained posted, but only those short on money or low rankers take such quests.
Vincent noticed large bags next to a few adventurers enjoying a group drink. Momentarily, he remembered how not many people could afford a bag of holding, making it more of a precious commodity afforded by the few.
Vincent walked forward, ignoring all the gazes directed at them. He wanted to finish quickly and leave as the gazes were starting to bother him. No one could tell if those that looked at Vincent, Ester, and Lupa were interested or uninterested in them.
Vincent approached the reception area. It didn't give a grand impression as he hoped it would. A long reception desk fit between two wide pillars and a few frames with pictures drawn by talented artists.
The reception area didn't look imposing nor elegant. It looked simple and to the point of what a reception area should look like without trying to intimidate the patrons.
A young female receptionist flustered upon seeing Vincent. She greeted, "G-good day." with a nervous voice.
"Good day. We have an appointment to do our registration. City Guard Vice Captain Ben should have made an appointment on our behalf. " Vincent said.
"I'm sorry, but I didn't know about an appointment." The receptionist girl noticed Vincent's confused expression.
The receptionist girl couldn't guess if Vincent was someone important or not after he mentioned knowing a Vice Captain. She felt an imposing aura about Vincent, and the two women next to him made him feel like a playboy.
'He is not a noble trying to become an Adventurer as a hobby like many try to do, is he?' The receptionist girl thought.
"I need to confirm your identities, and then I can register you now if you wish." The receptionist girl decided it would be best to confirm her fears and ask for assistance if Vincent was a noble.
The receptionist girl then quickly placed a familiar red jewel and one thin wooden needle. It was the Blood Runed Stone.