Fantasy Family Simulator

Hogus's expression remained unchanged, revealing no emotions. He said, "Count Rhett, the reason I'm telling you this is because I want to hear your true thoughts. Whatever decision you make—whether you choose to keep Carol or let her go—I will honor your request."

Rhett quietly exhaled a sigh of relief.

If it were anyone else, he might not have cared much, accepting them as just another source of information. But Carol was different. She was not only the wife of his good friend Gaile but also Trina's mother.

He valued ethics and also hoped that Trina's family could remain as intact as possible, without being torn apart one day.

Thus, he indeed owed Hogus a favor for this. Although it wasn’t of immense benefit, not everything in the world could be measured by profit.

Rhett placed his hand on his chest and said, "Thank you, Prince Hogus."

"You're welcome, Count Rhett," Hogus replied with a smile. "In that case, I should take my leave. I will send the mid-level alchemists and the promised supplies as soon as I return."

"Thank you for your generosity. I wish you a safe journey!"

Hogus patted his mount, which neighed loudly and began to move forward.

"Until next time, Mr. Zelos!"

"Perhaps the next time we meet, you'll be a Grand Mage."

"From your lips to the heavens, I hope I can achieve that."

Rhett then bid farewell to the other guards one by one, watching as Hogus and his entourage gradually disappeared from view.

Time passed quickly, and soon half a month had gone by.

On October 2nd, the air was thick with the chill of winter, and the winds signaled its imminent arrival.

Rhett took Raile, Tucker, and Taylors on a picnic deep into the branches of the Dark Eagle Mountain Range. They chose a spot far from Lonely Peak, in a clearing covered with golden leaves. The four of them spread out a large picnic blanket, each sitting at a corner.

Taylors sat on the edge of the blanket, his left arm and side pressed against it. Holding half a block of cheese in his left hand, he pointed at Tucker with his right, complaining:

"Tucker, I think your butt is bigger than a stone giant's! You've taken up so much space on the blanket that I'm about to be pushed off. Why don't you make room for your youngest brother?"

"Taylors, your outfit looks fantastic," Tucker replied.

Taylors paused, then laughed, embarrassed, "Oh, really? I bought this new outfit in Dark Eagle City last month. A top-tier tailor arrived there, and I guess you have a good eye, Tucker..."

"Oh no, Taylors, you misunderstood me. What I meant was... the color scheme matches this picnic blanket perfectly. You could take it off and lay it on the ground."

Taylors' smile froze, replaced by a look of indignation. "Tucker, you must be crazy! Why don't you take off yours?"

"Heh, my space is already enough," Tucker grinned.

Taylors glared at Tucker's smug smile and gritted his teeth, "Tucker, you're bullying me! Don’t get cocky. When I become a level two mage, I'll challenge you and show you the power of dark magic!"

"Sure, but by then, I'll be a level three knight!" Tucker said, unconcerned. He added, "Taylors, if you want to show me the power of dark magic, why don't you try the power of an iron fist now?"

"Are you threatening me?" Taylors scoffed, showing no fear as he glanced disdainfully at Tucker.

"Unless you're daring enough to challenge me right now, then I'd admire your courage!"

Taylors didn’t respond to Tucker but instead turned his pleading eyes toward Rhett:

"Father, did you hear that? Tucker, the big oaf, is trying to bully his younger brother. Surely, you wouldn't want to see our family harmony ruined by this brute, right?"

Tucker's face fell immediately. He never expected Taylors to snitch on him to their father! Nervously, he looked at his father, forcing a smile:

"Uh, Father, I was just joking. I wouldn't actually do that..."

Sitting opposite them, Rhett watched his youngest sons bicker daily and shook his head with a smile.

"You’re both at fault. It's just as well that we forgot to bring black lotus powder this time. Tucker, you're punished by finding ten black lotus herbs for our barbecue seasoning. Taylors, you'll catch a Bloodhoof Boar and a Flame Rhino for today’s meal. I recall both magical beasts can be found nearby."

"What?"

Both Tucker and Taylors protested.

"Father, can't I catch the Bloodhoof Boar and Flame Rhino instead? I promise to get them quickly!" Tucker scratched his head, not wanting to search for black lotus herbs.

"Yes, Father, let me handle finding the black lotus herbs. They’re dark-element plants, and I can sense them better with my dark element affinity!" Taylors added pitifully, his eyes full of hope.

"No, punishment is punishment. If you disobey my orders, there will be severe consequences!" Rhett said firmly.

"Alright, but can I hunt different magical beasts? Bloodhoof Boars and Flame Rhinos are tough—they have thick hides and great strength. Even if I sneak attack them, my dark magic might not be effective!" Taylors pleaded, hoping for a change. "Wind wolves or fire-maned dogs are also delicious. How about you try something different, Father?"

"Wind wolves and fire-maned dogs don't have enough chew or flavor. I prefer Bloodhoof Boar and Flame Rhino," Raile, who had been silently gazing at the sky, suddenly interjected.

"Oh, Raile, you can't be serious! Last time we ate wind wolves, you said the meat was crispy and delicious!" Taylors said angrily. "You’re deliberately siding against me. Aren’t we supposed to be on the same team as brothers?"

Raile smiled slightly, "I’m on the same team as Father."

Rhett chuckled, "Raile is right. Besides, Tucker has a big appetite. Only a Bloodhoof Boar and a Flame Rhino will suffice."

"It's settled."

Seeing his father's firm stance, Taylors pouted and reluctantly stood up, his expression turning solemn:

"Alright, then I'm off. If you don't see me later, don't be surprised—it means I've ended up in the belly of a Flame Rhino or Bloodhoof Boar."

"Oh? Isn't it more likely that you’ll be napping in some quiet spot?" Raile teased with mock surprise.

"Raile reminded me of something. There's a time limit for your punishment tasks. If you delay our barbecue, I'm afraid you'll never see the next chapter of Coiling Dragon," Rhett added.

Taylors' solemn expression vanished instantly, replaced by the look of a startled cat. "No way, Father, you can’t do that! I’m going right now!"

With that, wind elements swirled around Taylors. Like a gust of wind, he dashed across the golden leaves, producing a series of crisp crackling sounds as he darted into the dense forest.

Tucker, though not as talkative, sighed and reluctantly headed off. He despised tasks that involved searching or thinking—real men were meant for exhilarating combat...

Before long, only Rhett and Raile remained in the golden forest clearing.

Raile’s expression shifted, and he said, "Father, I can sense it—Nina is about to appear..."

Rhett, though expecting it, feigned delight, "That’s wonderful! With Nina's arrival, you might have a chance to advance to a level three mage!"

Raile nodded, looking excited, "It's possible. I'm currently at the peak of level two, and I’ve been stuck. I wonder if Nina’s arrival will help me break through this bottleneck..."

Rhett patted Raile on the shoulder, encouraging him, "Believe in yourself and in Nina!"

Raile’s eyes filled with determination. "Understood!"

The two of them waited eagerly, gazing up at the blue sky.

At that moment, Raile felt a deep, mysterious calling in his mind becoming increasingly active and intense. He tried to send his thoughts back, attempting to communicate with Nina.

A few minutes later...

Finally, Raile's spirit trembled as the familiar feeling returned to his mind.

He focused intensely, scanning the sky, and detected Nina's presence—not just a vague sense, but a real manifestation in the world!

He smiled and greeted her, "Happy winter, Nina!"

"Happy winter, Raile!"

Accompanied by a voice only Raile could hear, he smiled even wider.

In the next moment, a slight chill filled the air, an icy breath that pierced to the bone.

Raile quickly communicated with Nina, asking her to avoid causing a commotion to prevent attracting unwanted attention.

After all, they were in the Dark Eagle Mountains, not at Young Eagle Town. There could be extraordinary individuals nearby who might sense something unusual, so he needed to maintain secrecy.

Fortunately, Nina seemed more lively this time and quickly understood Raile's intentions.

In no time, the atmosphere returned to normal.

Quietly, a small snowflake, carried by a gentle breeze, landed on Raile's hair.

Poof.

The next moment, the snowflake transformed into a cute little snowman.

Rhett, who had been watching closely, was captivated. Ever since reading Archmage Timus's notes, his curiosity about spirits had only deepened.

He tried to observe the mystery behind Nina.

Unfortunately, despite his focus, he couldn't see how Nina had transformed from a snowflake into a snowman. All he sensed was a faint fluctuation of water elements, seemingly linked to a profound secret.

Nina seemed especially cheerful, her crystal-like eyes squinting as she joyfully danced around Rhett, floating up and down.

Raile gently stroked her twice before closing his eyes.

The infusion of power from the void made his mental strength surge, repeatedly crashing against the invisible barrier.

Seeing Raile close his eyes, Rhett knew he was preparing to break through to level three.

He stood up and paced around, guarding Raile to ensure he wasn’t disturbed.

Half an hour passed.

Rhett grew a bit bored of walking and sat back down.

He noticed that Nina’s form had become more robust compared to last year, indicating her abilities had improved significantly.

He wondered if Nina could evolve over thousands of years, eventually turning vast areas into icy wastelands.

Though that sounded impressive, it still seemed far inferior to the blood spirit of the Blood God Cult...

While Rhett pondered, the little creature Nina suddenly leaped onto his head, playfully hopping around.

At that moment, Raile, having just stabilized his mental power, felt immense joy as he sensed the surge within him.

He opened his eyes, only to see Nina misbehaving. His expression changed as he quickly admonished, "Nina, come down! You can't play on Father’s head like that!"

"Hehe, it's fine," Rhett chuckled, looking at Raile. "So, did you break through?"

"Yes, Father, I’m now a level three mage!" Raile exclaimed, filled with excitement. He couldn’t believe that in just a few years, he had advanced from a level one mage, now only a step away from becoming a magus!

"Congratulations! At this rate, becoming a magus won't be difficult for you."

"I'm not that capable," Raile said modestly, smiling at Nina. "It's all thanks to this little one..."

"Indeed," Rhett agreed, lifting Nina down and playfully pinching her round head. He smiled, "Little one, we’re going to have a barbecue later, so don't put out our fire..."

As Rhett and Raile played with Nina, Tucker and Taylors were running all over.

"Where are these black lotus herbs hiding? I've been searching for half a day and found just one. This is so frustrating!" Tucker groaned, holding a single black lotus herb, his voice trailing off as he lamented loudly.

The sound startled the birds, and even the hibernating squirrels awoke, shivering as they clutched their acorns for comfort.

"Stop yelling, Tucker! Even if you scream your lungs out, black lotus herbs won’t jump out at you."

A teasing voice called from a nearby bush.

Rustle.

The dry grass parted, and Taylors emerged.

"You? Taylors, shouldn't you be dealing with the Bloodhoof Boar and Flame Rhino? What are you doing here?" Tucker asked, eyeing Taylors suspiciously, wary of his mischievous brother's intentions.

"I came to see how you’re doing, Tucker. After all, black lotus herbs aren’t easy to find," Taylors replied casually, glancing at Tucker's hand. In an exaggerated tone, he said, "Oh my, you’ve only found one black lotus herb? Don’t tell me that’s all you’ve got after half a day!"

"Of course not!" Tucker blushed, but he tried to sound confident. "I even asked Flano for tips on tracking in the wild. Finding something like this can't be that hard, right? I just hid the others first..."

"Really?" Taylors looked doubtful.

"Really." Tucker's voice grew stronger. But then, he noticed Taylors slowly bringing his hands from behind his back, revealing what he was holding. When he saw it, Tucker's eyes widened. "Black lotus herbs? Taylors, you brought me black lotus herbs?"