Summoned and Unwanted

“No wonder you are a slave trader.”She added while frowning. “That is the only plausible explanation for placing enough food to feed over twenty people on the table.”

“Huh? But I placed six plates on the table. Furthermore, I am not a slave trader. I cheated all this food from a person who badmouthed one of my wives.” Vincent honestly responded while showing a puzzled frown.

[Yeah. There is enough food for maybe seven people if they all decide to share a piece of their food with the seventh person.]

Vincent’s response made Awa loaded with more negative questions than before.

It made Awa believe that if Vincent cheated a wealthy person out of their food, wouldn’t it be easy for Vincent to trick Awa and make her his slave before she noticed?

“Did you also cheat the water out of someone too? You offered me about half a day’s worth of water. Don’t tell me the water was also cheated out of someone’s home. That is the only way a person can offer water as if it is nothing.” She asked skeptically.

“What do you mean?...”

*Gulp* After mustering her will, Awa questioned nervously, “D-d-did you perhaps w-wash m-me in drinkable water too?”

.....

*Sigh* Vincent gently shook his head. He smiled while responding, “One of my women is a water mage. As long as she has mana, she can create fresh drinkable water at any time she desires.”

“Additionally, even if the water becomes undrinkable, the herbs are natural. Throwing the water outside will not harm nature. My wife loves nature, and she told me that nature will be happy with the herbal water.” Vincent added while chuckling in the end.

Awa stared at Vincent with a frozen expression. The way Vincent put it made Awa reaffirm her belief the man in front of her had a woman slaving her body to give him abundant amounts of water.

-Hmm... why is Awa acting as if the answer wasn’t suitable?-

[The be honest, I found it a little confusing not to hear Awa pass a comment about her current appearance.]

[It made me think her body was already thin. The current appearance didn’t frighten her, as if she didn’t see a significant change from her previous appearance.]

-Wait. Are you saying the Dullahans might be starving?-

[How else could the food you presented and the water you used cause Awa to react in this manner? She is speaking similarly to someone poor enough not to afford to buy food.]

[You know how everyone has different values. What is enough for us is too much for Awa. It means what you casually offered is a thing they greatly lack, making Awa react in this manner.]

Vincent understood Kazumi’s assumption. No one would normally voice their opinion after receiving a lot of food and water. Not to mention being called a slave trader because they must be rich to own that much food and water.

“How about this, then? ” Vincent asked while touching the first plate out of the six in front of him. The plate and the food on it shone green before dematerializing and entering his palm.

“Let’s play a game.”

“And make a bet.”

“The loser will have to pay.”

“I pay with one plate half full of food or water worth one cup.”

“You pay me with information you deem acceptable for me to hear. ” Vincent said each time he touched a plate, causing the tasty food to disappear from Awa’s view.

Vincent stood up and summoned four cups of water in front of Awa. “I will take a quick nap. I hope you can reach a decision after I wake up.” He said while going to the sofa.

Awa saw Vincent leaving the kitchen area. She heard a sound and moved her gaze. Plow’s plate was empty and licked clean. Plow was also not there.

Awa moved her gaze in Vincent’s direction. She saw a little fox walking toward Vincent while swaying her tails happily. After a good meal, sleeping on Vincent’s stomach brought Plow bliss.

“Are they going to leave me alone?... I can’t escape... he left that humanoid plant guarding the door...” Awa contemplated in a low voice.

Awa looked at the food in front of her. The food was still warm as the temperature inside the cabin was warm because of the fireplace.

Awa moved her gaze to the cups of water next. She had time to eat and drink at her own pace.

Despite the good situation Awa was in, she started to contemplate what she should do. The more bets she won, the more food and water she was going to win, yet it meant the more she lost, the more information she had to provide.

‘I need to remember the books I read. But trying to recall the contents of the books is making my head hurt.’Awa lifted the fork and gulped. ‘I need to eat and become stronger because I need to win at all costs. I can’t let him learn who I am that easily... I do not want to become a slave and not see my parents ever again... ‘

After gazing at the food for a minute or two, Awa started eating. Her eyes were burning with resolve. It appeared Awa arrived at a decision regarding the matter.

*Three hours later*

*Yawn* Vincent woke up, feeling more refreshed than before. He stretched his body and brushed Plow’s fur to wake her up.

[How do you feel? Three hours of sleep isn’t that great, but it is better than nothing.]

-I feel better, thanks. How was Awa while I took a snooze?-

[She ate the food and only drank one cup of water.]

-Only one cup?-

[Yeah. What I saw Awa do shocked me, to be honest. Not even a starving person would drink water so slowly and so preciously. She even chewed the food slowly to consume little to no water.]

[It is obvious Awa lived a life with the mentality to conserve as much food and water as possible. It also cements the thought that Awa’s place is a place with low food and water supply.]

-Thanks for your great observation skills, Kazumi. I can confirm my decision of the betting game was the correct choice now.-

[Correct choice? Does it mean you intended to give Awa food and water...]

[Wait. Does it mean you want to escort Awa to her people by letting her win food?]

[Half a plate of food means a lot of meals to her. The more plates and water she wins, the more food and water she needs to transport back home.]

“Hehe.” Vincent chuckled. As he expected, Kazumi understood Vincent’s plan quickly.

-You guessed my intention right off the bat. As expected of the great Kazumi.-

The praise made Kazumi happy. She was also pleased with the growth Vincent was undergoing. Vincent became more competent the more experiences he encountered and overcame.

[Ahem. Let me change the subject by talking about what Awa did while you were sleeping.]

[I saw Awa trying to stand up on her own. She failed many times, but I assume her proud nature wasn’t going to let her be satisfied with the results.]

[Awa started trying to stand up one time after the other. Awa surprised me when she managed to stand on her legs. As if it motivated Awa to succeed, she kept on trying until she stopped trying at the twenty-second mark.]

-Twenty seconds of standing without support? That is a lot, considering the previous and current state of her body. Furthermore, it means I will have to carry Awa wherever our next destination will be.-

[I also agree Awa’s perseverance is astounding.]

-What did Awa do next? Three hours is a long time without doing anything.-

[Awa remained sitting, yet her perseverance didn’t disappear. I was curious, so I went beside her. I became surprised to see what was happening under the table.]

[I saw Awa raising and lowering her legs one after the other to start with the recovery of her hamstrings. It was obvious Awa was trying her hardest to build the strength of her legs and walk on her own.]

Vincent became interested in Awa’s progress after hearing this much. He placed the sleeping Plow on the sofa and got up.

When Vincent turned his head toward Awa, Vincent’s curious gaze met with Awa’s cautious gaze. Awa was acting as if she was trying to cover her quickened breathing from exercise.

Awa didn’t know of Kazumi’s existence yet, while Vincent knew all she wanted to hide during his three-hour nap. Nothing escaped Kazumi’s curious gaze when she was around and greatly curious.

-I commend her resolve for trying her best, but recovery is a slow process, even if I gave her numerous potions.-

[Yeah, we used too many potions on a person we do not know. But the more she acts like this, the more unlikely she will accept to be carried.]

-...- Vincent could already imagine how difficult Awa was going to be if he mentioned anything remotely close to giving a piggyback ride.

Plow felt different after noticing she was on something that wasn’t as warm and as comfy as Vincent’s stomach.

Plow opened her eyes and noticed Vincent standing and looking at Awa. *Pho?* “Why is Vincent Vincent looking at Awa Awa?” She asked.

“I was wondering if Awa is thinking about the betting game I offered right now. ” Vincent responded while his gaze remained on Awa. “So. What is your answer? Awa.”