"This... this blade has a name and is magically linked to you." Vincent handed the short sword Elsir to Ester and continued with his brows raised, "Kazumi said how it became different after this fight. It might be the fact that this was the first time you held the sword while channeling Frost Sigil."

"W-what do you mean bound to me?" Ester stared in surprise at the ordinary-looking hiltless short sword.

She thought her mother was tricked after receiving an ordinary short sword as a Birth Gift, but now the story has changed. The blade itself is enchanted, and its value sky-high.

[You might be correct on your assumption. It could have been a special sword from the start and only activate after Ester awakened in a class. Like a hidden requirement.]

Vincent explained the effects and the crafter to Ester while cleaning the short sword Elsir and the rabbit's horn from the blood and viscera.

"Borgin Peachbeard... I heard how all of the dwarven race, be it nobles or commoners, possess a surname and all have the word beard in it." Ester said, feeling a bit strange by how her mother possessed a named short sword from the dwarven race.

"But... a named weapon is only possible with a legendary crafting class such as a Synergist. " Ester started to question who her father could possibly be. It wasn't an ordinary sword that helped them overcome the odds anymore.

"I know you have a lot to think about. Go and sit on the fallen tree. I will go to bring some water to wipe the blood on our bodies." Vincent decided to give Ester some space to organize her thoughts.

"You change your clothes for clean ones since I accidentally splattered a bit of blood on them. " Vincent said before he left to the cart.

[I had the suspicion of her stepfather being a low ranked or fallen noble for the knowledge he possessed. But I didn't think her biological father could be a very wealthy person, enough to afford a magical weapon crafted by what Ester refers to as a Legendary ranked class.]

-I hope she can feel better.-

[To that, I agree with you too.]

Vincent arrived near the cart. Tula seemed focused on catching the Ani Bananas that she didn't notice his presence. The cart had a couple dozen of Ani Bananas lying around.

Vincent filled the two wooden bowls with water, grabbed a piece clean of cloth, and returned to Ester. He found her sitting on the fallen tree with a set of male and female clothing folded next to each other.

Vincent handed the bowl with clean cloth and water. He removed his shirt and started wiping his blood-stained arms.

Ester didn't move a muscle as her crimson eye locked on his body. Her cheeks flared red. She flustered when their eyes met, causing her hands to drop the bowl of water.

*Thud

Ester "... "

"Let me help you clean your face. " Vincent approached. He raised the wet cloth and gently wiped the few blood stains on her face.

[This is nice. I wonder how you can do this with a straight face. I miss the nervous and shy Vincent.]

"I-I want to ch-change my clothes. P-please leave." Ester stuttered while quickly pushing his hands away in embarrassment.

"I will leave the bowl of water here. Call me when you finish. I will go and hide behind that dried tree." Vincent pointed at a nearby dried tree and left her alone.

[What a gentleman. But aren't interested in taking a peek at the goods?]

-Even if I wanted to, which I'm not denying. Ahem... -

-I won't satisfy your curiosity about what event might follow if I give into my lust.-

[Well, you are missing an excellent show if you don't peek. Ohh, look at that tender skin. That silky...]

-Stop!-

[Ok, ok. But what is she looking for? Ester is looking around for something. Did she perhaps drop something?]

"V-Vincent... a-are you still there?" Ester asked with a frightened voice.

"I'm behind the tree. I haven't taken a peek yet..." Vincent stopped after his mouth slipped a word he didn't want to let known.

'Damn... why did the last word slip!' He regretted.

[Yet? Haha. Now that's a good one.]

"C-could you clean my b-back? " Ester stuttered in embarrassment. She noticed her chest wrap was covered with blood and dirt after getting knocked back and violently slam on the ground.

'Wait... did he intend to take a peek?' She thought after telling him to approach.

Vincent moved away from the dried tree, getting out of hiding. The first thing his eyes laid upon was Ester with her bare back facing him. She sat on the fallen tree topless while covering her small chest.

[How bold. Well, at least your face is red. Enough to light the forest, hehe. As for Ester, she is quite bold herself. Why don't you tell her to become your girlfriend or your wife at that.]

Kazumi didn't miss this opportunity to hook Vincent with Ester and create the harem she is continually pushing him to create.

Vincent started walking to Ester at a turtles pace. His feet trembled on every step, and his heart fluttered nonstop. His eyes saw a sight he never thought possible, and Kazumi's words caused him to imagine different hookup scenarios with every few steps.

Vincent finally reached the end of the destination. He gulped as he stood behind her naked back. He suddenly froze in place while Kazumi enjoyed every second of this event.

"Y-you know... I-I was a bit afraid when you left me alone to change my clothes. I-I think I have gotten used to being around... a-around you." Ester stuttered in utter nervousness.

"I-I don't want to be alone... anymore." Ester felt as if her heart was about to burst out of her chest after saying these words.

"I will always be there for you. Our souls are linked, and a dangerous secret connects us. You are a part of my family." Vincent replied while he mustered all his courage to say these words.

Vincent could relate to the feeling of being alone. He lived with this kind of feeling for a few years while Ester for at least ten years.

*Eek

Ester yelped in surprise. She felt a trembling wet cloth touching the soft skin of her back, slowly moving up and down with great nervousness.

"I'm sorry about all this. I made your life harder after you met me." Vincent tried to change the subject, yet his lips uttered what his guilty conscience truly felt.

"Y-you saved me. Lupa said t-the cabin was going to get attacked with or without you." Ester responded.

"If... if you want... if you trust me... let me take responsibility for your life." Vincent said, intending to protect her from harm. He didn't think he could get luckier than this.

Never going out with a woman lowered his expectations of finding a girl to go out with him. However, he forgot one thing. Now his body became attractive and athletic instead of skinny.

Ester suddenly froze at the words "take responsibility for your life." as it repeated in her mind. While her thoughts went wild and the wet cloth felt relaxing, multiple memories resurfaced.

None of them were of hating Vincent for abruptly changing her life and how her understanding of this world as she knew changed by the impossible feats he performed or created.

Instead, the resurfaced memories were of how much she wanted to live an ordinary life. To fall in love, to trust her life in someone else's hands, and to live most of her life smiling.

Ester never thought that someone would go through such lengths for her. The person she pointed her knife towards protected her, took great care of her when she was sick, and healed her when required without hesitation.

"I-I don't mind this new life with you... but how will you take r-responsibility?" Ester turned her head with a pair of bright blushing cheeks and said with all her courage on the line.

Ester soon noticed that Vincent's cheeks were glowing red as her hair. His determined words and face showed different feelings.

Vincent suddenly froze at this question while a pair of shy crimson eyes waited for an answer that could change their relationship. To advance further, halt or worsen.

Vincent didn't know how to respond. Kazumi kept quiet as she had already told him what to say. She lay on the soft emerald grass while impatiently waiting for him to say the crucial words.

A few minutes passed with no word spoken from both parties. Ester felt embarrassed for setting up this situation by mustering all her courage while her upper body remained naked.

"B-by responsibility. Do you mean to m-marry me?" Ester uttered with her trembling lips. She held her chest tightly, preparing for the worst outcome. In her entire ten years living in the wooden cabin, Ester felt that she had nothing to offer as a woman.

Vincent gasped at her bold last attempt to hear an answer. He could hear Kazumi giggling as if she was the one being asked this question.

"Ahem... would you like that?" Vincent said, dragging this situation even further. He was ready to pinch his cheeks if she said yes.

[For the love of...]

"I-I lik... like you..." Ester averted her head after confessing to Vincent. She had to close her eyes and hold her chest before her fluttering heart ran away.

Vincent couldn't believe what his ears heard. It was the first time a woman confessed to him.

He didn't consider Lupa since she threw the words "like," "love," and "lets mate" as if they were candy.

"I like you too. You are kind, caring, and reliable. I will happily marry a beauty like you. My fiancee, Ester." Vincent quickly grabbed the clean male clothes on the fallen tree and left before his fluttering heart flew out of his body.

[You did it, my boy. Number one in the house, yey. I don't need to ask if both of you are happy since your faces are saying everything. However, I wonder what Lupa would say.]

Ester couldn't believe Vincent agreed to marry her. She felt thankful to Kazumi for telling her the truth about how Vincent felt.

Before all of this event happened, Ester wanted to clean her back. As she looked down at her chest, she remembered Vincent telling her that a woman's chest is every man's dream. Kazumi's words were next to pop in her thoughts.

Ester considered asking Vincent since she didn't know when their last day alive would be. The fight against the Demonic Beast opened her eyes to their situation. She wanted to at least die as a woman in love.