A brief break

"Remarkable, but... are you a Sigil Mage? I overlooked the magical sigils on your hands because you didn't look in pain, but then I remembered Mages always speak words for spells, and Glyph Mages cover their skin with sigil-like tattoos." Koss asked with a puzzled frown.

[Quickly, make something up. We don't know if her self magic resistance is because of the retainer bond. We need to lessen as much suspicion around us as possible.]

-Let me try.-

"Uhmm... I once inspected this sword with an inspection gemstone. It showed an enchantment called magic negation. It's the ability to negate the effects of self-harm magic damage for a few minutes every day."

"This must be the reason why Ester can't get hurt then. But this power has never been activated until now. It seems used this priceless Artifact Grade sword as an ordinary blade..."

Vincent lied with a poker face, then he stopped for a few seconds and continued while scratching his head, acting as if embarrassed, "I feel a bit ashamed for treating such a powerful sword as if it was a sharpened piece of metal."

The lie surprisingly seemed sufficient enough for everyone, even Lupa, to believe him. Although Lupa knew Ester was immune to her own magic, Lupa's gullible innocence made her think the sword was more impressive than it already was.

Ester could now breathe comfortably. She didn't want to announce that her father was potentially a noble and the sword was a Birth Gift. She turned her gaze at Vincent and raised a light, comforted smile.

[I'm impressed. Your lies have improved, and I rate your poker face technique a ten out of ten. Your acting ten of ten and the love points relatively...]

-Am I a performance to you? Well, at least Ester's secret is safe since everyone is staring at the sword once again. As if it's Excalibur.-

"Thank you. " Ester said while peeking at Vincent with her cheeks slightly red. He hid her origin, showing how much he cared for her.

[I think we had enough fun for now. Let's wrap it up and leave this area. We might get attacked if we remain here.]

Vincent approached the frozen Soldier Ant. He grabbed the hiltless handle, but it wasn't freezing. It felt like the sword was starting to get cold, meaning it had an average temperature after Frost Sigil ended. The probability of sharing the self magic resistance seemed plausible.

Vincent yanked the sword up and down until the frozen area on the ant's head broke, releasing the hiltless blade. Everyone became amazed by how powerful the sword seemed to be.

The Soldier Ant appeared to be frozen to the point of its hard carapace becoming brittle. However, there was one thing the others didn't know. Ester unconsciously used most of her mana for a single Soldier Ant.

Elsir seemed it was made solely for Ester. Furthermore, the sword appeared to have increased the freezing powers since it didn't take a lot of time to freeze the ant's brain to death.

Vincent and Kazumi glanced at Elsir as if it was a legendary weapon before giving it back to Ester; however, the sword looked like an ordinary blade with no runes engraved on it. But no matter how much it was recently used, no scratch or dent appeared on the blade.

Before the group continued to walk the dangerous ant-infested area, they decided to take a breather.

Koss spent a few minutes talking with Tula. He later hugged his daughter and noticed that the armor and shield protected the weak Tula from serious injuries.

Koss thanked his brother for one more time before going to Vincent. He vigorously patted his shoulder as thanks for protecting his daughter.

Vincent wanted to say something, and Lupa as well. But Kazumi suggested against saying anything. He decided to follow her suggestion and told Lupa to say nothing.

Previously, while Koss spent a few minutes with his daughter to check her condition, Vincent, Ester, and Lupa did the same.

At that time, Ester mentioned how Tulip didn't try to help Tula. Kazumi checked the recorded memories of their surroundings and agreed with what Ester informed.

The four of them treated Tula like a little sister from the time they spent together. They sent a disappointed stare towards Tulip and decided not to care what happens to her.

Tulip didn't help when Tula was in need. If Koss knew... oh boy, she wouldn't need to be afraid of the ants anymore.

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[1x Small Earth Demonic Beast Rock (Rare Quality) gained.]

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Vincent decided to stop placing the rock in his pockets. He stored the rock after going to pick it up.

He noticed the two new recruits Culo and Hara, were inflicted with multiple light injuries. They were bleeding from a few places as some areas of the armor were penetrated. The ant's legs were something to be wary of.

'These young soldiers and I probably have similar strength. If my Inspection could show stats, that would probably be the case. But I can't believe how much of a power difference Overheat provides in the stats department. I wonder what the average stats look like.' Vincent quickly assessed.

Vincent and the new recruits had about the same strength. He felt like the strength standards of this magical world was different from Earth. He didn't want to think that he was as weak as a young kid when first arriving.

The only difference between Vincent, Culo, and Hara was the experience of fighting against the dread of death. To glare at the end while thinking of ways to survive. To think, 'It's your time to die, not mine.' Vincent believed.

The need to survive and the need to protect Ester, Lupa, and Kazumi was slowly changing Vincent to be fearless in order to think straight while being basked in the bloodlust of his enemy.

Vincent didn't receive a single scratch while killing two Soldier Ants, unlike the other two. He didn't move a lot, similar to Lupa either. She didn't get hit, but her hyper fighting caused her to get tired quickly.

Vincent became the second least tired and uninjured person from the group. The first place was reserved for Tulip since she did nothing other than trembling her sword while possessing suspicious thoughts.

"Attention, everyone, listen up. The Soldier Ants were more aggressive this time. These ten ants were clearly fighters. As I thought, the ants are tracking us..." Koss wanted to say something positive to raise the group's morale, yet he didn't have any words in mind. Taking his daughter home safe was stuck in his thoughts.

[I wonder what Kevin would say at this moment. He always looked at the positive side of life and opportunities. He would be a great leader at a time like this.]

-Yes, he was entirely too optimistic for me to handle... but you are right. I wish he were still with us.-

[Then how about you copy him a little?]

-I... I will try.-

"Ahem..." Vincent loudly cleared his thought and caught the attention of everyone. Then he proceeded to say, "I once was told that those that help themselves are the ones who are helped. If we don't try to move forward despite the danger, then who will carry us to Lusterfall City?"

"I'm afraid of death and watching those I know suffer, but as my best friend once told me, life is hard, so do your best since only you can help yourself most of the time."

"So remove the thought of running away and look at someone else to save your life. Only think about how to fight for yourself. How to block an attack and swing your sword to survive." Vincent said, filled with emotions. Some words were directed to everyone, some to Tulip for her behavior, and other words to himself.

Vincent had conflicted feelings. He wasn't strong enough to save himself if a strong enemy faced them, which made him feel weak. So he decided to speak similar to both his savior Kevin and his favorite Super Hero, The Green-eyed Hero.

[Now that's a speech I never thought you could possibly say. I'm impressed by your resolve to change and wanting to protect your harem.]

[Well, you can't be called a man if you can't protect your harem, hehe.]

-You...-

Kazumi suddenly made Vincent feel like the words he said with determination was nothing extraordinary. None the less, her words made him feel at ease and relax his tense shoulders.

Vincent wasn't leader material because he spent most of his life without a lot of socializing. The pressure from acting as a leader shortly faded as her words made him feel similar to an ordinary speech.

"Well said, my boy, haha. You heard him. Better swing those swords because I will only save my daughter, haha." Koss announced while laughing.

However, no one thought it was a joke. Tula felt reassured that her strong father wanted to protect her, but she felt slightly unhappy for not mentioning Ester, Lupa, and Vincent.

Culo and Hara gripped their sword and shield with an anxious racing heart. They had no choice but to continue, even if they only received a few months of training.

Tulip frowned as she thought her survival rate was decreasing by the minute. She then asked with her legs visibly trembling from becoming afraid, "Can... can we still go back?"

Koss squinted his eyes at the direction they traveled from. He shook his head and pointed his finger in the darkness.

When everyone focused on the pointed spot, a small pair of eyes sheening behind a tree were bearly visible. An ant was watching their every move from afar.

There was no need for more words on their next actions. Everyone now understood that their escape was sealed. Only to move forward following Lupa and fight when attacked was the only option remaining.

[I suggest buffing the party with a food buff like in games. The meat of the adult mudcrab will prove useful in this troublesome situation.]

-Good idea... I currently can't think straight about what is happening around us. The feeling of being watched by unknown attackers is making me a bit anxious.-

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[1x Cooked Freshwater Mudcrab Leg (Uncommon Quality) summoned. x0 remaining.]

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Vincent raised his hands and summoned the remaining of the cooked Freshwater Mudcrab Leg they previously cut before fighting the Demonic Nok Ape. The leg was still warm and good to eat. The delicious smell made quick work of Lupa's stomach as it shorty grumbled to eat.

"This... *sniff-sniff* is it the meat of the rare Freshwater Mudcrab monster?" Koss asked with a curious gaze.

"Uhmm... yes, but how did you know with the leg already half-eaten?" Vincent asked with curiosity.