"Nero… wake up. Don't sleep on the couch."
A gentle shake pulled me from the depths of sleep.
"Come eat dinner, then go sleep in your room."
Groggily, I opened my eyes, my mind caught in the hazy state between sleep and wakefulness.
Rafaella leaned over me, her hand on my shoulder, gently shaking me awake.
She looked like she had just bathed, with damp hair cascading over her shoulders and a fresh, soft pink nightgown clinging to her hourglass figure. My half-conscious eyes betrayed me, drifting irresistibly to her chest.
As she bent over, her tits hung straight down, swaying back and forth as she moved. The hint of cleavage revealed by her neckline was icing on the cake.
Before I could even think about looking away, she caught me staring.
Strangely, she didn't scowl. She didn't snap. There was no outburst, just a brief pause before lifting a hand subtly to cover her chest and straightening herself. Then, without a word, she turned and walked toward the kitchen.
That was it.
No snide remark, no disgusted glare.
And just like that, she was gone.
The entire interaction played out in fleeting moments, but the glimpse of her soft, enticing curves shook off every ounce of drowsiness from my system.
I let out a breath and rubbed my eyes.
Pushing those thoughts aside, I forced myself up, quickly washed my face, and walked to the dining table.
Already seated at the head of the table, like a silent stone statue, as usual, was Alvin. I took my place across from him.
Right then, the kids burst into the room, spotting me, their voices bubbling excitedly.
"LOOK! Big brother, we got a magical beast!" Ivan shouted, rushing toward me with Irene close behind him.
They stretched their hands forward, proudly presenting their grand prize, a tiny, relaxed creature.
A kitten.
Its fur was unusually deep, metallic black, sleek, and glossy under the warm lighting. Its eyes were a striking rich copper shade with black irises that gave it an almost mystical look. The little thing let out a sleepy mewl, stretching lazily in their grasp, completely unfazed by the excitement of two eager children parading it around.
Before I could even take a good look, Rafaella's sharp voice cut through the moment.
"I told you both not to bring the kitty to the table," she scolded, setting a tray of food down. "Its fur and dirt might get into the food."
"But we washed her!" Ivan protested, holding the kitten closer like a protective guardian.
"It doesn't matter. Put it back in your room and come eat." Rafaella's tone left no room for argument as she began setting plates.
"Eh, I don't want any," Ivan shrugged, still focused on the kitten.
Rafaella's gaze narrowed. "Why? Because you're full?" She paused before continuing in a low, questioning tone. "I told you not to eat junk from the stalls. Did you?"
Ivan faltered. His grip on the kitten tightened slightly as he shifted under her scrutiny. Before he could fumble for an excuse, Irene quickly piped up.
"No, we didn't!"
"Yeah, we didn't," Ivan echoed immediately, latching onto his sister's confidence.
Rafaella's eyes flicked between them, searching for cracks. But seeing the kids letting nothing slip up, she sighed after a long pause.
"Good. Then, put the kitty away, wash up, and eat. Don't go to bed on an empty stomach."
The kids exchanged a glance before nodding, then dashed off, cradling the kitten protectively.
Silence settled into the room without the kids, and we started eating quietly.
"I'll be leaving tomorrow to conduct the Ascension ceremony in other villages," Alvin announced suddenly, breaking the quiet. "Don't try anything funny while I'm gone. Just focus on your work and don't slack off."
Realizing the message was for me, I merely nodded in response, keeping my expression neutral while my mind began churning.
If I wanted to escape to Agroville, this was my best window for the next six months. I'd have to scout for traders tomorrow, someone willing to offer me a ride among the caravans. If I left at dawn, like we had when arriving, I should reach Agroville by nightfall. Assuming my luck isn't awful and I run into anything dangerous.
There was still the question of how I was going to explain myself to Granny once I got there, but I intentionally decided not to dwell on it.
This is mostly because if I can confirm that Lissy or someone else is a doable choice within the next three days, then I'd stay. I could endure it here for the entire year. And if I can't?
I am getting the hell out of here.
Six months more under Rafaella, without any good reason, was completely out of the question.
As the meal continued, the kids returned, but they barely ate anything. They were too busy whispering to each other and giggling about their new pet.
When they finished playing with their food and excused themselves, I pushed my plate away.
"You're done?" Rafaella's voice held a slight edge as she saw me getting up. "You barely ate anything. You should eat better to mitigate the effects of the pill, especially after exerting yourself."
She reached for my plate, trying to serve me more, but I shook my head.
"I'll be fine," I replied evenly, standing up.
I could see her face clouding over my detached tone, but she bit her lip and held back whatever she wanted to say.
I slouched onto the couch, arms folded, letting my thoughts drift when Ivan and Irene rushed over again, this time more composed, presenting the kitten to me like an offering.
"Big bro, will she become a real magical beast one day?" Irene asked softly, stroking the purring fur ball.
I glanced at the kitten, taking a closer look.
The short answer? Very unlikely.
The key factor in determining a monster's progress and potential was its bloodline. Monsters with strong bloodlines tend to mate with creatures at a higher or similar ascension stage, preserving and strengthening their lineage.
As a result, ordinary beasts have little to no chance unless they have a fortuitous encounter or possess rare mutations that provide them a solid foundation in vessel, mind, and spirit to attempt awakening.
However, there are always exceptions in nature. A monster with a strong bloodline can leave offspring in lower creatures under certain circumstances. Mutated creatures attempting to awaken also tend to procreate wantonly, driven by an instinctive desire to leave descendants because of the high likelihood of death during awakening.
Experts have also observed that creatures create descendants in an attempt to reduce the powerful Dao laws imprinted within them to manageable levels.
All these meant there was a glimmer of a chance for anything in the wild, which resulted in a thriving industry for poachers and scammers.
Selectively grooming and breeding creatures to produce magical beasts was hard because they required significant investments. Kidnapping offspring from powerful monsters is also a terrible option because you would get a painful death if you didn't have the means to save yourself. But do you know what is easy? Stealing offspring from ordinary creatures in the wild that bear remotely similar features to powerful creatures or disguising spawns to look unique and appear as beasts with powerful bloodlines.
These assholes are notorious for tricking gullible buyers into believing they had the next legendary companion.
I am not denying that there are legitimate hunters and tamers in this line of business, but the odds of them selling a magical beast around these parts are practically zero.
But explaining all this crap to the kids would kill their excitement. And I couldn't bring myself to do it.
"Let me see," I said, reaching for the kitten.
I lifted it to eye level, inspecting its features closely. Running my fingers through its soft black fur, I felt the unusual smoothness of its coat. The kitten mewled in appreciation, pressing into my touch.
"Such a deep, metallic-black coat is rare for ordinary cats," I mused aloud, watching their eyes light up. "Especially with this combination of copper and black eyes."
I tilted its tiny head side to side, pretending to assess it with great expertise.
"I don't sense any strong mana fluctuations," I continued, "but this little one has a solid spiritual foundation. No magical beast from the Panthera species immediately comes to mind that fits this description… except maybe a Helcurt."
The kids inhaled sharply.
"If she is a descendant of a Helcurt," I said, rubbing the kitty's head, "then she might have a small chance of awakening in the future. It's a rare possibility, but not impossible."
I was bullshitting.
The odds of this kitten becoming a magical beast were next to nothing. But what was the harm in letting them dream? A little white lie wouldn't hurt anyone.
"Whoa!" Ivan's eyes widened. "What kind of abilities will she have? Will she be strong enough to beat other magical beasts?"
I said, rubbing my chin dramatically, "From her lineage, I'd say she's a stealthy type. If she does awaken, she'll have high perception abilities and probably strong senses. She'd be an ambush predator. Quick, precise, and deadly in one-on-one fights." I said, acting like a hungry Helcurt ambushing its prey.
The kids screamed with excitement in response.
Looking at their innocent faces glowing with elation, I felt a twinge of guilt for feeding them false hopes, but then I shrugged it off.
Nobody was getting hurt. If anything, it would encourage them to take better care of the kitten. And knowing how kids from the Temple of Aphaia were raised, even if the kitty never awakened, they wouldn't abandon her.
In my mind, it was a win-win for them and the little fur ball.
"Aren't you guys going to bed?" Rafaella's voice rang out as she entered the hall, her tone carrying a teasing lilt. "Doesn't the little kitty need sleep? If you won't tuck her in, I might take her for myself."
"Nooo! She's sleeping with us!" Ivan practically screeched, clutching the kitten protectively.
Before Rafaella could say another word, he bolted toward their room. Irene trailed after him, throwing me a small nod before disappearing inside.
And just like that, the hall fell into silence.
I exhaled slowly, chuckling inside, seeing the antics of the kids.
But my relief was short-lived.
Rafaella's presence began gnawing at my nerves.
Everything that had happened since yesterday played like a loop in my mind: her scolding words, disgusted glare, doubtful looks, and how she was policing my actions.
It was like she was always there, hovering constantly around me, ready to interfere and spoil whenever something remotely pleasant happened.
It also made me feel like she was actively trying to make me out to be a creep by acting guarded around me.
The more I thought about it, the more irritated I became.
I could tell by her posture that she was gearing up to start a conversation. The last thing I wanted was to sit through more of her crap.
I debated how rude it would be to just stand up and walk away.
Then, as if answering my prayers, the communication device in the hall buzzed.
Rafaella froze, her brow furrowing in confusion before slowly approaching it.
"Hello?" she answered hesitantly.
I let out a sigh of relief when I saw her getting wrapped up with the communication device while turning her back towards me.
I leaned back, my eyes unintentionally drifting back to her figure.
Even in a simple, conservative nightgown, she was stunning. The soft pink fabric hugging her emphasized her slender waist and curvy silhouette. The delicate pink dress and her body were a sexy combo. Thinking back, she was killing it even when she wore anything modest. I had to admit, no matter what she wears, everything can only enhance her beauty rather than blemish it.
And yet…
I scoffed internally.
All this beauty is wasted on a woman with this personality. It was like giving a golden crown to a scarecrow. If Lissy had even half of this woman's looks… sigh.
Life was truly unfair.
As if sensing my gaze, Rafaella suddenly turned around, her eyes locking onto mine.
I arched a brow.
What now?
Was she checking if I had been ogling her ass?
I didn't even bother hiding my irritation.
I wasn't in the mood to deal with her once she finished the call, so I pushed myself up from the couch and walked toward my room.
"No… he didn't say anything like that to me. Maybe… maybe he was joking?"
As I passed her, I heard her responding in disbelief to something the other person said on the call. Even then, she was staring deeply into me.
I frowned.
What the hell was she talking about?
Shaking my head, I climbed the stairs, dismissing whatever nonsense she was wrapped up in.
Back in my room, I sat on the futon and mulled over what kind of ride I would get back home.
The ideal scenario? Finding someone willing to lend me one.
The likely scenario? I have to buy a mount.
Either way, I needed to check how much I had on hand before doing anything.
Pulling out my bag, I laid it on the futon and dug through my belongings. After scraping through everything, I had barely enough for something cheap at the market price.
But then, I suddenly remembered the money granny had given me at the last moment. Reaching for the satchel I had carelessly tossed into the closet, I held it.
Once again, I realized that whatever was inside should be more than money. A flicker of excitement stirred within me. I quickly opened it and pulled out the first item, a folded note written in Granny's bold, unmistakable handwriting.
'It is the family heirloom. It is yours from now on.'
An heirloom?
After reading the note, I pulled out the object wrapped in the satchel and found myself holding a book. I checked the satchel inside again, but there was nothing besides pocket money for me.
Dusting off the book that seemed to haven't seen the light of day for decades, I scrutinized it closely. The cover was pitch black, with a polished dark sphere in the center. I tried to pry it open, to no avail. Flipping it over in my hands, I inspected the material. The cover felt like animal hides, but the sphere…
My fingers ran over its smooth surface, and realization struck me.
This was no ordinary book.
It was a Gear.
The polished sphere was its core.
Excitement surged through me as I immediately channeled my mana into it.
Nothing.
No response.
My excitement faded just as fast as it had come. Apart from being able to discern the sphere was the core of the book-like gear, it appeared completely mundane. It was in these moments that I cursed my inability to cast a basic appraisal spell. At least if I had it, I would have known where to start looking for clues.
Before I could decide what to do next, the sound of approaching footsteps snapped me out of my thoughts.
My body tensed.
In a rush, I stuffed the money, the book, and the satchel back into my bag, yanking the zipper shut just as a pair of feet appeared at my doorstep.
I looked up.
Rafaella.
She was standing there, a book in her left hand, her eyes flicking toward my bag before settling on my face.
Why the hell was she here?
I cursed myself for not closing the door.
She hadn't seen the Gear, I was sure of that, but the way she studied me with the stuffed bag made me uneasy.
I casually tossed my bag aside, sitting in cross-legged on the futon as I stared at her questioningly.
She hesitated before speaking. "Hope I didn't disturb your sleep?"
Her voice was quieter than usual.
"No, I was just about to lie down," I replied in a grumbling tone, hoping she'd take the hint that I wasn't in the mood to talk.
She didn't.
"I imagine this small, cramped room is quite different from what you're used to."
"No, this is enough for me," I said, shrugging, unintentionally blending irritation into my voice.
As if completely oblivious to my tone, she stepped further into the room and sat at the edge of the futon.
She exhaled. "They finally got their hands on a pet. I wonder how long before their excitement fades and I end up taking care of it." She let out a faint chuckle, but there was a tiredness in her voice.
Ah. A conversation starter.
She was trying to soften the atmosphere before bringing up what she came here for.
I forced a small, polite smile but said nothing.
Seeing that I wasn't going to engage, she hesitated before speaking again.
"When they pestered Alvin about his trip, he took them to the square. Apparently, the kitten latched onto them and wouldn't let go, so the seller practically gave it away for next to nothing."
She looked at me then, tilting her head slightly.
"Why don't you try the same, Nero? You haven't even checked the trading caravans yet."
Sigh.
Just get to the point already. Why are you dragging this out? I muttered grumpily in my mind.
"Maybe I will," I answered flatly.
Silence.
Feeling the air between us growing cold I contemplated asking her why she was here directly.
But then, she asked in a softer voice, "Are you planning to leave tomorrow?"
My breath caught.
I looked up at her, startled.
Huh, how did she know that?
I had planned to vanish while she was out doing deliveries. But if she chooses to stay home and watch over me from now on, I'd have to rethink everything. Worse, if she told Alvin, everything would go down the drain.
I tried hard to keep my expression neutral, but she continued before I could form a response.
"Lissy said it wasn't right for me to make you do those chores." She said, looking down at the book in her hand. "Thinking back… she's right."
She clenched the book a little tighter.
"You've probably never done anything like that in Agroville. And stupid me, I didn't even consider how… awful it might have felt for you." She gave a humorless chuckle. "I shouldn't have made you do it. At least… not on your first day."
Her tone wasn't defensive. It wasn't angry.
It was a genuine regret.
From those words, I figured out who was behind leaking my plans and who she was talking with on the communication device.
Rafaella sighed again and looked up. "If you'd like to leave tomorrow, you can; however…I'd suggest that you stay."
I frowned slightly.
"Alvin usually goes out for duties like these. It's just me and the kids." There was a moment of hesitation before she continued, "I can't manage everything alone. If something were to happen in the middle of the night, no one would hear us from the estate, even if we screamed at the top of our lungs."
Her voice faltered, "If you could stay... even just a little longer... it would be a tremendous help. At least it would make me feel safer."
What is she saying?
I struggled to follow her. Was there something wrong in the estate?
"If you stay," she added quickly, "you don't have to clean the shed anymore. You don't even have to come near it. I'll take care of it myself."
Her fingers curled slightly against the book's cover.
"I... I never saw you as a servant or anything like that," she admitted. "It's just... I fell off a cart a few days ago and broke my right hand. I can't hold the spade without experiencing pain. That's why I had you do it."
She hesitated, then slowly raised her arm, offering me a shaky smile.
"But it's healing quickly, though."
I stared at her hand, realizing I hadn't noticed before.
"And as for... scolding you all the time," she chuckled breathlessly, "I suppose I've always seen myself as your big sis. Maybe I let that go to my head."
She glanced down as if embarrassed.
"I didn't realize how condescending it must have felt for you. Just… just think of it as me not getting the memo that you're not a kid anymore, okay?"
She tried to laugh at her joke, but it didn't reach her eyes.
I could see her eyes starting to tremble.
She took a slow breath as if steadying herself.
"Please don't feel pressured to stay if you truly want to leave," she said, her red-rimmed eyes meeting mine, yet she held my gaze unflinchingly. "I basically plucked you from your home and brought you here without giving you a choice. It's only natural that you'd want to enjoy your last few months in Agroville before heading to the academy. And here I am, selfishly dragging you into my own affairs. No one would be okay with that. If you want to go back, I can understand."
"This book has the recipe for stamina pills and all the potion formulas I wanted to teach you before you leave."
I didn't move to take it.
She placed it beside me instead.
"I hope..." she swallowed, her voice trembling, "I hope you won't take everything I said today to heart."
Then, before I could fully process what she had just said, she left the room.
I barely caught the glimmer of a tear rolling down her cheek before she vanished.
The moment she was gone, I let out a sharp breath and ran a hand down my face.
Fuck.
If Rafaella had stormed in here and demanded I stay, I would have laughed in her face. But now…?
Now, the guilt of making her cry was gnawing at me from inside.
Sigh, I am still too soft. I have to feel like I am not in the wrong to act aptly in any situation.
I leaned back, staring at the ceiling. Clearly, I am in the wrong here.
I had been cursing and resenting her all day. For what?
Because she reacted like a normal person to the perverted stunts I pulled?
Because she wasn't throwing herself at me like Lissy?
Because she made me do a little work?
There was no reason for her to apologize.
Ugh, now I feel like a douche that makes an innocent woman cry.
Nevertheless, things aren't quite adding up here.
It wasn't like Alvin was going to be out of the village for his duties for the first time. So why was this time different? Why was she suddenly feeling unsafe in here? And even if I stayed, it would be a year at the maximum. Would that really fix whatever was bothering her, or would they leave the village by that time?
And… did Granny know about any of this?
Was that why she sent me here?
Damnit, doesn't that mean if I rushed back there, Granny would kick me right back here? Hell, if she found out I had made Rafaella cry, she'd hang me upside down from the nearest tree.
I ran my hands through my hair in annoyance.
This was getting too complicated.
I am freaking miss being with Sharron.
At least with her, all I had to do was play along with her eccentricities in bed.
I switched off the light, settled onto the futon, and squeezed my eyes shut, trying to fall asleep. But no matter how much I tossed and turned, my mind refused to quiet down.
I needed something to distract and calm my mind down.
Eventually, my thoughts drifted back to the book-like Gear I had thrown into the corner.
#####
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