I extend my sincere gratitude to "Shadow_Vamp" for the generous gift of a "Car." Your kind gesture is deeply appreciated. Thank you.
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"I agree with Mother here, big sis. You've been neglecting your health too often lately, and it won't be good if you keep pushing yourself like this," Ava's concerned voice echoed in the room as she addressed her older sister, Rose.
Ava had noticed how Rose often sacrificed her own well-being for the sake of her duties, and she was genuinely worried that something unexpected might happen if Rose continued like this.
However, the current situation was even more critical, considering Rose's recent battle against vicious monsters alongside Yuan and his wives, which left her completely drained and exhausted.
With a heavy heart, Rose acknowledged the truth in their words. She hadn't shown her exhaustion on her face, but she was well aware of how close she was to her limits. The soreness from her previous battles only added to her fatigue.
"Well, I suppose I don't have much of a choice but to comply," Rose sighed inwardly, realizing that taking a rest was necessary for her own well-being. Moreover, she understood that she could entrust the village affairs to her capable family members.
'Alright, I guess I have no choice but to listen to them. I'll take a few days to rest, and I'll trust them to manage the village in my absence,' she pondered.
After a moment of contemplation, Rose finally conceded, "Alright... You guys are right. I will take a few days to rest, and I trust you all to handle the matters of the village."
Hearing Rose's decision to prioritize her health, Madam Layla and her other children couldn't help but smile with relief.
"It's good to see that you understand the importance of taking care of yourself, my child. Leave the work to us; we'll handle it until you've properly rested," Madam Layla said warmly.
"Don't worry, big sis. We'll take care of everything. Just focus on resting well," Ava reassured her with a cheerful tone.
Julie chimed in, "Absolutely! We've got you covered, big sis," and James nodded in agreement, sitting right beside her.
Hearing their words, Rose couldn't help but smile warmly at her family's genuine concern. It had been a while since she had felt such support from them.
Ever since her father fell gravely ill, she had been burdened with heavy responsibilities, leaving little time for personal connections.
"Just take care of your health, dear," Madam Layla reiterated with a smile.
"Very well," Rose nodded appreciatively before excusing herself and heading to her bedroom.
In her room, Rose began to remove the protective armor designed for female mages. Mages, being physically weaker in close combat, often wore such armor to safeguard themselves from powerful monsters' attacks.
Once the armor was off, she undressed, discarding the clothes stained with monster blood into a laundry bucket for the servants to clean. Moments later, she slipped into a warm bath, feeling the exhaustion seep away as the water embraced her.
A relaxed smile appeared on her face as she sank into the comforting water. "Finally, a nice relaxing bath after such an exhausting day. It's as if all my worries have disappeared with the fatigue," she mumbled with contentment.
Lost in her thoughts, Rose couldn't help but reflect on the events of the day. "If it weren't for Yuan and his wives lending us a helping hand, I can't even begin to imagine what would've happened to our village... Everyone might have perished by now."
But thanks to Yuan and his wives, everything had changed. They had defeated the threat, ensuring the safety of the village with minimal casualties. It was a triumph worth celebrating.
As her mind wandered, her thoughts inevitably turned to Yuan, causing a faint blush to grace her cheeks. "I can't believe I've fallen in love with a man who already has multiple partners... Fate works in mysterious ways."
After her relaxing bath, Rose donned a comfortable nightdress and dried her hair with magic. Snuggling into her soft mattress, she found herself unable to stop thinking about Yuan, who had captured her heart.
"Is this what being in love feels like?" she wondered aloud, contemplating the newfound emotions swirling within her. Soon, a gentle smile spread across her face as she drifted into a peaceful slumber, her thoughts filled with the enigmatic man who had entered her life.
Meanwhile, as the news of the Wyvern's defeat by a few individuals with god-like abilities spread throughout the kingdom of Windfall, it ignited a frenzy of disbelief and astonishment among the people. They found it hard to fathom that such an impossible feat had taken place, and the news quickly engulfed the entire kingdom in turmoil.
Conversations buzzed with skepticism as the incredulous news passed from one person to another.
"Have you heard? They say a few individuals killed the Lord of the Mountain at Pine Mountain! That Wyvern was on the verge of ascending to the unrivaled S-rank!"
"Yes, I heard it too, and I can't believe it's true!"
"Apparently, it all happened in Pinebrook village. My wife won't stop talking about it since she heard it from our neighbor. It's starting to get irritating. But I've asked around, and it seems the news might be true."
"To take down a half-dragon Wyvern... Those individuals must be unimaginably strong. Just defending against such a creature is incredible!"
"I heard the news too, and I couldn't believe my ears. It's just mind-boggling."
"A few hunters who came by said those individuals claimed to descend from the heavens. Can you believe that nonsense?"
"Absolutely not! Flying in the sky? That's too much of a stretch! It's all just exaggeration and made-up stories!"
Despite the news spreading rapidly, the local folks remained skeptical. Even if it were true, they couldn't bring themselves to believe something they hadn't witnessed with their own eyes. The idea of individuals descending from the heavens and defeating a formidable creature like the Wyvern seemed far too fantastical for them to accept without concrete evidence.
In the pursuit of identifying those extraordinary individuals who slayed the Wyvern, the nobles and high-ranking mages were engaged in a silent competition. Whoever could make contact with these mysterious individuals first would undoubtedly gain a powerful ally for their kingdom or the mage's tower.
"Teacher Silas, any progress on finding them?" In a room filled with papers, an old man with a long beard, Headmaster Ashcroft, asked Teacher Silas about their progress.
Shaking his head, Teacher Silas replied, "No luck yet, Headmaster Ashcroft. It's like they appeared out of thin air."
As Headmaster Ashcroft heard this, the room suddenly turned to silence.
A minute later, Headmaster Ashcroft turned to a beautiful woman donning tight, revealing attire that accentuated her hourglass figure, asking, "Teacher Rowena, any news from your side?"
Regrettably, Teacher Rowena responded with a dejected tone, "I'm afraid not, Headmaster."
Frustration lingered in the room, and both teachers awaited further instructions from the headmaster.
Headmaster Ashcroft sighed, "Keep searching tirelessly. We can't afford to lose to those nobles. Rumors suggest they are exceptionally talented mages, and if we can recruit them to our magic academy, it would boost our reputation greatly."
"Yes, Headmaster Ashcroft!" Both teachers nodded in agreement and promptly returned to their work, determined to uncover the identity of Yuan and his wives.
"We cannot miss the opportunity to have such gifted mages as students at our academy," Headmaster Ashcroft muttered to himself, emphasizing the importance of their quest.
Unaware of the commotion surrounding them, Yuan and his wives were sound asleep at the Monroe manor, enjoying peaceful slumber while cuddling each other.
Meanwhile, a middle-aged man rushed toward a grand, majestic door with an urgent expression. He appeared to carry grave news that demanded immediate delivery.
The guards at the door intercepted him, blocking his way. "Halt! You may not proceed any further," one of the guards commanded, brandishing a spear to halt the man's progress.
With an air of arrogance, the middle-aged man retorted, "Step aside, fools! Don't you know who I am? I bear crucial news for His Majesty that cannot be delayed."
The two guards' eyes widened in shock as they recognized the person they had stopped from entering the throne room. Fear gripped their hearts, and their legs trembled with the realization of their mistake.
'Is this how we are going to die?' they thought, their bodies drenched in sweat.
'We failed to recognize Lord Ivan? How could we be so foolish?' they wondered, fearing the consequences of their actions.
After all, Lord Ivan was the king's only adviser, and offending him could have dire consequences.
"L-Lord Ivan... Please forgive us for not recognizing your Lordship. We're ready to receive any punishment, please don't kill us..." They immediately cleared the path, begging for mercy from the man they had stopped.
Lord Ivan let out a soft cough and responded, "Alright! Since I'm in a hurry, I don't have time to punish you lowlifes. But if this happens again, I will skin both of you alive..."
"W-We understand Lord Ivan... And we promise that it won't happen again," they both said in a trembling voice, bowing in gratitude for not meeting a gruesome fate.
"It's good that you both understand. Now step aside; I have an urgent matter to deal with." After his words, Lord Ivan proceeded into the throne room.
As Lord Ivan left, the two guards let out heavy sighs of relief, taking deep breaths to calm their nerves.
"I thought I was a goner. Thank God I'm still alive..."
"Me too. It seems that Lord Ivan was in a good mood today, despite his serious expression."
"Let's have a small beer party at the Pink Paradise later to celebrate being alive after offending Lord Ivan."
"Sounds like a great idea..."
They both rejoiced in the moment, grateful to have survived an encounter with such an influential figure in the kingdom.
Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.c(o)m