Summoned and Unwanted

Blight light flashed, and Vincent, Lilith, Nick, Clair, Jun Ye Rim, and Maria returned to the island. Maria left to meet with Ester and Iris while the rest went to the kitchen.

Vincent took a seat and explained why he wanted them to have a team meeting. This was their first time in almost two months, making Nick, Clair, and Jun Ye Rim nervous.

“I pondered a lot today, and I decided it would be best not to participate in a ranking match or surrender when the match starts.”

Nick, Clair, and Jun Ye Rim had spent some time in Maria’s lesson pondering if the ranking matches would be dangerous for them. Vincent’s words made their uneasy feeling reemerge, yet hearing the suggestion to surrender eased their nervousness regarding the matter.

“I see that my thought might be somewhat similar to yours. Yes, it is as you are thinking about. We have two fighters and three non-combat support.”

“Not to mention the matches are in the capture the flag category. If I go on offense alone, then Nick would need to protect our healer, food buffer, and scout.”

Lilith, Clair, and Jun Ye Rim were hit the most with these words. They felt somewhat useless for the inability to at least properly protect their team’s flag.

Nick noticed Clair looking sad. *Gulp* “H-how about we all go on the offense and capture the flag?” He suggested, hoping his words could change Clair’s mood.

.....

Vincent shook his head. “The same problem will remain.”

“Lilith and Clair can only use mana for support. Furthermore, Jun Ye Rim can only use one arm. Thus, they will be the first to get targeted and possibly injured.”

Vincent looked at Nick and continued, “I don’t think we should strive for success at the cost of our team members getting injured. Not to mention how difficult it would be to participate against the best of the best in the grand alliance tournament.”

Nick glanced at Clair, and the thought of her getting injured made him on the same page as Vincent. Similar to how Vincent didn’t want to see Lilith injured, Nick didn’t want to see Clair getting injured.

Nick nodded and said, “I agree with you, Vincent. It is not like we are starving for fame.”

However, even if Nick agreed with Vincent, he believed it was partially his fault for not being strong enough to become an attacker or defender on the team. A team meant synergy instead of dumping everything on Vincent.

Lilith looked at Vincent with a sad gaze. ‘I feel terrible for not being able to heal injuries. But I also feel terrible for Vincent. He has the power to win by himself, yet winning one versus five would turn a couple of heads. Many might also start to question how a human could ever have a class like him.’

“Don’t put yourself down, Lilith. It’s not like I am saying our team will surrender because we have more support than offense.” Vincent smiled warmly and continued, “Cheer up. We are here to learn and not get hurt, right?”

“Can we try to win once?” Clair asked.

Clair became nervous. She gulped and said, “I want to show my mother how she does not need to worry about me. I want to show her how we can take care of ourselves. Losing might make my mother worry...” *Gulp* “I think.”

Nick became inspired by her words. He looked at Vincent and asked, “Can you let me spar with Lupa? You do not need to worry. I will not hurt her.”

Kazumi found this amusing and laughed. On the other hand, Vincent tried his best not to burst out laughing.

It was Nick who should worry about his life from less combat experience and stats, both believed.

“What about you, Jun Ye Rim. Do You want to win?” Lilith asked.

“I don’t really care about human activities. I can only scout, so I am useless to help any more than that. If you all want to win, then win with my insignificant help.” Jun Ye Rim bluntly responded.

Vincent couldn’t hold it any longer. “Hahaha.”

Jun Ye Rim frowned. She didn’t think Vincent would laugh out loud from her response. She felt mocked, and her heart felt a pang.

“Ahem. Sorry about that, but Jun Ye Rim’s joke of being useless cracked me up.”

“I didn’t joke... I am really useless.”

*Sigh* “Don’t you know information is key? Your scouting will offer us the locations of our opponents and their flag.” Vincent praised. He hoped Jun Ye Rim could comprehend how valuable information is.

Jun Ye Rim blushed, and the tip of her ears became red. She crossed her arms and averted her gaze to feign ignorance about liking being praised.

“It is settled then. We will try to win one match, but we will surrender if a member of our team is about to get...”

“Considerably injured.” Lilith interrupted Vincent. “I don’t want to see any of you getting injured and taken to the infirmary.”

Nick stood up. “I like the idea.” Before looking at Vincent, he continued, “I will look for Lupa and ask her to spar with me for a few minutes.”

“T-then I will practice on stat buffing food. ” Clair said before standing up and heading for her bedroom.

Vincent and Lilith looked at Jun Ye Rim. She was still awkwardly crossing her arms when one of them was still broken.

“It’s not like I want wanted to train or anything. But I feel like taking a walk.” Jun Ye Rim stood up. Her cheeks blushed again as she said, “I-I like the cool breeze, ok!”

Jun Ye Rim turned around and left outside.

“I want compensation for helping you. ” Cheekily said Lilith with a grin on her face. She covered her face with her hands and continued, “I felt offended for being called useless, you know.”

[My, my. Lilith has suffered from emotional damage. I guess she needs to be given compensation, even if it sounds like a scam, haha]

*Sigh* “Fine... ” Vincent accepted.

Outside near the mansion was Plow training alone. She used her tails to pick and lift a stick with as many tails as she could control, hoping to gain better control of her third tail.

Plow’s ears tilted, and she heard a footstep not too far from her location. She twitched her nose and took a whiff, but an unhappy expression appeared on her face.

Plow quickly realized how this could be the chance to have someone another person like her. That way, she could be more favored than Lupa in her white wolf form.

*Pho* Plow cutely barked to garner attention. “Jun Jun. Are you going to train?” *Pho*

Plow waged her tails and acted cutely. She was using her skills of being cute to have Jun Ye Rim pet her.

However, to Plow’s disappointment, Jun Ye Rim responded, “No. I’m just taking a walk. Who needs to train to later see no results.” with an unaffected gaze.

Regardless of the answer, Plow was determined to gain another pair of hands to pet her fur. She saw Jun Ye Rim leaving, and so she decided to follow her.

A few minutes later...

“Why are you still following me, little fox?” Jun Ye Rim asked.

“Plow likes cuddles the most. But Plow is not greedy. Plow will accept a head pat instead.” *Pho*

“Huh? Why do I need to give you a head pat?”

Plow saw Jun Ye Rim starting to act confused. Plow sat on the ground and licked her emerald paw while trying to look as adorable as possible.

“It seems you do not need a head pat. You look satisfied enough licking your prosthetic paw.”

*Gasp* Plow couldn’t believe Jun Ye Rim didn’t fall for her cuteness. The elf before her was a formidable opponent, but Plow realized it too late.

Plow had no choice but to beg for attention. She approached Jun Ye Rim and cuddled with her leg.

When Jun Ye Rim tried to push Plow away with her hand, the trap activated. The soft fur caressing the skin on her hand was too challenging to resist.

Jun Ye Rim stopped pushing and lifted Plow instead. She cuddled and petted Plow with a smile on her face. Jun Ye Rim looked happy playing with Plow.

‘Once you go Plow, you can never go Lupa, hehe.’ Plow happily thought of a phrase she learned from Kazumi as a joke.

A few minutes later...

Jun Ye Rim arrived near the mansion. She placed Plow on the ground carefully with one hand. “That is all for today.” She said with a satisfied expression.

*Pho!* “Jun Jun, promise to play with Plow another time?” Plow wagged her tails happily while asking if Jun Ye Rim would want to spend some time with Plow again.

“I promise to play with you next time, little fox.” Jun Ye Rim responded with a smile.

The door opened, and Vincent appeared. He couldn’t believe how cute Jun Ye Rim’s smile was. “It’s nice to smile sometimes. A cute smile should not remain hidden all the time.”

*Gasp* Jun Ye Rim became blushed and ran inside while covering her face with one hand.

[Smooth pickup line Vincent.] Kazumi praised.

*Bam* Jun Ye Rim closed the door behind her. She sat on her bed and summoned Blemish.

The time she spent with Plow allowed her to understand better how to take care and plat and increase the affection of their bond. The stronger the bond, the more efficient can control of her Soul Servant could become.