Chapter 325: Chapter 325

325 The five saviors

Vincent and Iris went to the lower district market area. People gathered, and stall vendors shouted to promote their wares and attract new potential customers.

Iris felt intimidated when she saw so many humans sometimes walking shoulder to shoulder in smaller paths. However, Iris felt fear when she saw two goblins and three hobgoblins slaves wearing rags and a heavy collar on their necks.

Vincent noticed where Iris’s gaze was stuck. He stopped, raised her head with his hand, and asked when their eyes met, “Do you know any of them? I don’t know how much they cost, but I can buy them so that they can live in peace with us.”

Iris didn’t know the goblins or hobgoblins. They were strangers to her, yet Iris recalled a past she wanted to forget now. A fear of being hunted and causing the suffering of the other just because she was born different and rare.

Iris was sorry for how they were getting treated, yet she learned the hard way how not everyone could be saved. Olive and Lian were lucky to have escaped and returned when Demel’s guards were no more.

*Slap* “Move you filthy monsters.” A bloated man wearing golden rings on his fingers slapped a hobgoblin male and then kicked him to the ground.

Vincent could feel Iris shiver. He turned his gaze at the man while his blood started to boil for the inhumane treatment.

However, a group of five soldiers saw the bloated man mistreat his slaves. They approached the bloated man and shouted, ” You again! Five! Five warnings! One from each of us, and you still disrespect the king’s law?”

One of the five soldiers angrily stated. “These salves will be confiscated and taken to the auction house where these slaves might find an owner that respects the king’s law.”

.....

Another soldier pointed with his finger at the goblins and hobgoblins. “Release them or go to prison and pay a large fine to get out.”

“I don’t think you Reddawn sponsored soldiers wish to mess with the Blackheart family, do you?” The bloated man said arrogantly. He raised a smirk as if he knew the five soldiers should back down as what usually happens.

However, this time was different. The five soldiers drew their blades and glared at the bloated man.

“We learned from the Lionheart misfortune how the Blackheart’s are as their surname means. Corrupt to the core with a dark abyss colored heart.”

“Yeah. Casually announcing being affiliated with them is like proudly saying you are worse than rats.”

“You! This will not be over!” The bloated man bit his finger with a furious glare, smeared his blood on the collar, and released himself from the owner status.

“Reddawn family, heh! I heard their future is bleak even if they pride themselves on their communication center. ” The bloated man left stomping in anger.

[Should we ask if we can take care of them? I recognize two of them. They were with Duke Biro Hawkin.]

“Iris, follow me.” Vincent held her hand and went over to the five soldiers.

“I know of an owner that will treat them kindly, and they can stay together as well. ” Vincent said.

“And who are you?” One of the soldiers asked.

“I am Vincent. I will be marrying Lilith Lionheart in a few days. Two of you were with Duke Biro Hawkins when Demel killed himself.” Vincent introduced himself and made the two men Kazumi recognized remember Vincent.

“It’s him! The one with green eyes I told you about.” One of the soldiers who recognized Vincent said.

“Now I remember. Yes. He is the man who talked with the Duke without looking nervous.” The second soldier remembered.

“Great. I came here to ask to do a good deed. Leonis and Teresa Lionheart will take good care of them.” Vincent hoped he would hear a yes.

The goblins turned their gaze at Iris standing behind Vincent. “Gaba?” One of the goblins asked.

“Gabu, gabo. ” Iris replied. She raised a smile and continued, “Not all humans are evil. I live happily with a human.”

The goblins looked at the soldiers and begged with broken words, “Ples. Tak. Us. Good. Huma. Plac.”

“But...”

The soldiers didn’t know what to do. This never happened to them. No one approached a soldier who confiscated slaves in less than a minute.

“Go to the Lionheart family main branch and ask if lord Leonis and lady Teresa want to take care of these five goblins.” Vincent looked at the goblins and raised a warm smile. “Tell my fiancee’s parents that Vincent hopes these poor five goblins can live with a smile on their faces.”

The soldiers looked once more at the five goblins. They could see it in their gaze how much the goblins wished to visit where Iris, a rare variant that would be mistreated worse than them, recommended trying for a new life.

“Ples...” The smallest goblin begged with tears in her eyes.

“Fine.” A soldier said. “We will ask the Barron and Baroness if they accept.”

“Gabu~” The goblins thanked Iris for showing them that her words that not all humans are evil might be true.

Later, Leonis and Teresa accepted the goblins to live with them. Lilith’s parents employed one or two old loyal maids and one or two old loyal butlers. The goblins awakened to hobgoblins, and the five of them became maids or butlers.

They lived happily in the end, working in good conditions for Lilith’s parents.

Iris raised on her toes and landed a peck on his cheek. “Thank you.” She told Vincent.

“I could help this time because of the soldiers. ” Vincent responded. He looked at the soldiers taking the five goblin slaves for a new life with Lilith’s parents and continued, “Kevin, my best friend, and savior, helped as many slaves as he could. In the end, it became his bane. He was hunted, and most of the slaves who managed to survive and are hidden somewhere.”

*Sigh* “I have a family to protect... I can’t save every slave I see... Iris, I hope I don’t look like a bad person to you.”

[I do not condemn your thinking, Vincent. Do not blame yourself. Some situations can’t be helped. Maybe we can help in the future, but we need money and more people we can trust first.]

-Sponsor soldiers of our own?...-

[Not a bad idea.]

Iris looked at Vincent. He had a frown on his face. “Vincent is my chosen one. I am happy you are my chosen one, and I will help when I can.” She knew Vincent was doing his best to protect them and, if possible, help others.

‘I understand why sister Ester doesn’t mind getting hurt to train and become stronger. We can not depend on Vincent to protect us all the time. We need more power.’

Iris became determined to help her new family and pull her weight.

Vincent gave Iris a head pat and said, “It is reassuring to hear my shy Iris saying brave words.”

“So, how about we move. I don’t like how the people are looking at us.” Vincent held Iris’s hand and blended in with the crowd.

“You!” A man exclaimed after watching Vincent and Iris pass his stand.

Vincent and Iris turned their heads. Vincent recognized the man. “Good day. How have you been after the incident?” He said to the apple vendor.

“Great, thanks. You help me to sell all of the apples from my trees. Many might have gotten spoiled before I could sell them all. Only nobles buy in large batches while everyday customers only buy a few.” The apple vendor said. He tapped on the table and continued, “Now I am selling corn cobs and sweet potatoes.”

[It’s great to hear, and he looks grateful to us.]

-And you will probably say.-

[Maybe we can get free stuff... Hey! Don’t make fun of me. You die out of starvation, and I die with you.]

[Humph. And here this great Kazumi was worrying about you.]

Vincent chuckled. He felt calling him the apple vendor didn’t make sense now that he isn’t selling apples anymore. “My name is Vincent, and this is my woman Iris. Ester and Lupa enjoyed the apples. I bet they would be glad to hear you aren’t in a tight spot anymore.” He asked as it would be weird to use Inspection on the apple vendor and call him by his name without verbally hearing it.

“Great to make your acquaintance Vincent and new woman...” *Cough* “I mean Iris.” He averted his gaze. “My name is Jack. Some customers like to add their most purchased product before or after my name. The last regular customer I gained calls me Jack Bean. So, you may call me Apple Jack or Jack Apple, haha.”

Jack tried his best to change the award subject he mistakenly brought up. This was the first time he had a customer who openly showed multiple women.

Vincent glanced at the vegetables on the table, but none stood out. At least their condition was stated as fresh. “I will take a dozen of each. Also, are there any unique summer crops I can find in the marketplace?” He curiously asked.

“Hmm... Rainbow Pear. It is the sweetest pear in the world, and it shows a multicolored reflective skin when the sunlight lands on it. There is also the Sweet Green Orange. The more unripe it looks, the tastier it is. Ahh, I almost forgot about the Dark Grapes. The darker in color the grapes are, the sweeter they taste. High-grade sweet wine is made of these grapes.” Jack informed while setting a dozen corn and sweet potato for Vincent as he remembered about the mysterious storage that turns objects into green light and disappears.