Chapter 466: Hero? Even a Cat Wouldn’t Want It (4k)
Dark actually knew some of Alvaraite’s preparations, but he initially thought this was just normal “summer tutoring.” However, he never expected it was because of Deoxys and Lion Beast.
The “Hero Qualities” that Deoxys and Lion Beast exhibited were quite perplexing even to him.
Especially after knowing that the “Hero Qualities” in this world were related to lineage.
“Perhaps here ‘lineage’ is a metaphysical concept rather than physical inheritance.”
“But if that’s the case, how did Dragon Blood Cancer come about?”
“Could this illness be a form of curse?”
Dark pondered for a while before seeing Alvaraite turn her head towards him and ask, “So, darling, what do you think?”
Dark subconsciously replied, “Hero? Even a cat wouldn’t want it.”
Alvaraite: “Eh?”
Dark then rephrased, “The base attributes of a Magus Elemental are fixed. Deoxys’s so-called Hero Qualities will remain the same whether there are many or few; unless there is a second refinement.
Aunt Montiel Farley must have thought that since I refined Deoxys, I also possess similar potential. But I don’t think we need to worry about this.”
Suna asked curiously, “Why?”
Dark shrugged, “I can’t trigger the true power of the Holy Sword.”
Suna said, “But perhaps it hasn’t awakened yet.”
Dark sighed, “Awakening, I don’t like that word. In any case, I have no interest in being a Hero. Even if I really awakened the Hero Qualities as you all fear, I could simply avoid collecting the Holy Sword. So why should we prepare for this during the summer break…”
Just as Dark was about to push off the summer tutoring, he saw Alvaraite’s expression quickly turn from sunny to gloomy, and she said despondently, “But this is something Mother has prepared for a long time…”
Dark couldn’t stand this, so he changed his tone, “Then let’s give it a try?”
Alvaraite: “(? ~3) What!”
…
Thus, the matter of “summer tutoring” was settled.
Dark sadly discovered that this holiday might be even more packed than when he was at the academy, which immediately put him in a bad mood.
Afterward, the two families chatted for a bit longer.
Maid Supervisor Jasmine knocked on the door and informed them, “The rooms for the two guests have been arranged and are ready for occupancy anytime.”
“Then let’s chat again tomorrow,” Alvaraite stood up first, looking at Suna.
Suna understood and said, “Let’s take a bath together? It’s been a while since I’ve had a heart-to-heart chat with someone.”
Alvaraite nodded and then said to Dark, “Go back and get some sleep early. Tomorrow morning, bring Aurora to tour the capital city.”
“Alright, Mom,” Dark turned to Aurora and nodded, “See you tomorrow.”
Aurora raised her little hand and softly said, “Good night.”
Dark smiled slightly and turned to leave the living room.
He was well aware that Mayor Montiel Farley might have other things to discuss, but it didn’t seem suitable for him to hear.
Since that was the case, he left them to talk.
After he left, Alvaraite called Claire and Aurora, and the four females went to the changing room to pick out clothes.
There were many clothes that Suna had left behind at the Duke’s Mansion, though it had been a long time, they were still in good condition.
They even found Aurora’s childhood open-crotch pants, making Aurora blush.
After each of them picked out their sleeping attire, the four entered the indoor bath under the accompaniment of the maids.
Unlike the one Dark used, this bath was slightly smaller, filled with hot water, and steaming.
Alvaraite took off her clothes, grabbed a towel, and stepped into the steam.
Suna looked enviously at her flawless body and said, “Time truly favors you.”
Alvaraite smiled and turned around, “You’re not too shabby either.”
Suna sighed lightly and undressed.
Due to her body type, her skeleton was large, shoulders broad, but her abdominal muscles were very tight, making her waist quite narrow.
The half-sphere revealed by the towel was even more prominent than Alvaraite’s.
She exuded a slightly rugged wild beauty.
Without hesitation, she stretched her long legs into the bath, slowly immersing herself in the water.
Perhaps due to her busy work, she had neglected exercise, and the fatigue from her long journey from the Free City showed on her face.
She squinted, feeling somewhat drowsy in the steam.
Beside her, Alvaraite was surrounded by a faint glow, a halo emanating naturally from her body, a manifestation of transcendence.
Aurora cautiously followed Suna into the water afterward.
With a completely different petite physique from her mother, she was often mistaken for someone else’s child.
In the mist, she seemed almost like she could vanish at any moment.
Claire laughed as she slid into the bath on the opposite side, leaving them ample space.
The four of them closed their eyes and soaked for about three minutes.
Only then did Suna slowly say, “Alvaraite, about the betrothal agreement in the past.”
Alvaraite’s lips curved slightly, “Did you tell Little Aurora?”
Suna nodded and said, “This child is precocious. I don’t hide much from her, nor can I.”
“Mmm,” Alvaraite thought for a moment and asked, “What does she think about it?”
Aurora, holding the towel, expressed her thoughts, “It’s… pretty good…”
Suna gave her a quick glare.
Alvaraite couldn’t help but smile, “It’s been so many years. You know I proposed the betrothal to make you feel more secure. Now, only Claire and Princess Eliza know about this.”
Suna asked, “Did you mention it to the Big Princess?”
Alvaraite smiled, “After all, you were originally a mixed-blood resident who moved away from the kingdom, so you had to inform the royal family.”
In other words, it was precisely because of this relationship that the Free City hadn’t faced attacks from the kingdom over the past ten years.
Big Princess Eliza had also helped out.
Suna sighed, saying she owed too many favors, and softly said, “Since even the Big Princess knows about this engagement, let’s just settle it?”
“Eh?”
Aurora had thought her mother was finally going to bring up the topic of breaking the engagement. She had prepared many arguments in her mind, waiting for her mother to propose it so she could argue against it.
This was the first time she wanted to go against her mother’s wishes since she became懂事. She had been hesitant ever since.
However, when she finally made up her mind, her mother suddenly changed her mind?
Aurora couldn’t help but close her mouth, realizing she couldn’t fathom her mother’s thoughts anymore.
But Alvaraite wasn’t surprised. Instead, she asked, “Isn’t this not your original intention?”
Suna’s face was hidden in the mist, and it was unclear what expression she had.
But she still said, “You guessed right. When I came, I actually wanted to cancel this engagement.”
Alvaraite smiled, “I see. We share the same concerns. Before tonight, I was really afraid Dark would stubbornly want to become a Hero. After all, becoming a Hero is something all children in this era aspire to.”
Suna said, “But now I know, he doesn’t have any desire to become a Hero. The fate of a Hero is hard to change, and even those with thin bloodlines suffer. I really don’t want Aurora to lose the person she loves most, like I did.”
Alvaraite said lightly, “That won’t happen. I’ll protect him.”
Suna said, “Now I understand. He’s more responsible than I imagined. If I miss him, I can hardly imagine where Aurora could find someone more suitable as a husband. So our engagement…”
“But that’s not possible,” Alvaraite suddenly said.
Suna was instantly stunned.
“Eh??”
Aurora, who had thought things were back on track, couldn’t help but tighten her grip on the towel.
Claire, who was soaking on the opposite side, couldn’t help but laugh at the girl’s startled expression, like a hamster.
The situation was becoming increasingly interesting.
…
After Alvaraite rejected Suna’s proposal of engagement, she said seriously, “A mother certainly can’t make decisions that go against her son’s wishes. You see, our darling is so popular now.
Whether it’s Diana from the Gretbail Family, Rose from the Florette Family, or Anna and Angie, they all have feelings for him.
And he isn’t repelled by Diana and Rose either. If I force an engagement on him, he’ll surely hate me. No, absolutely not!”
As she spoke, she shook her head forcefully, her expression troubled.
But Suna clearly heard the pride in her tone.
Although she believed her daughter wouldn’t be inferior to the others, she didn’t want to say it at this moment.
“By the way.”
Alvaraite added, “Since Little Aurora has already received the admission notice from St. Maryan, let her stay with me. After school starts, she can go to the academy with Dark.”
Suna said helplessly, “That works. I’m relieved knowing she’ll be with you. Aurora had so many things to worry about in the Free City. With the current situation stabilized, I hope she can enjoy the childhood she deserves.”
Alvaraite said, “Don’t worry, Dark is there.”
…
Late at night.
Dark had no idea that his “fiancée” situation had already fallen through. He carefully extracted today’s “Capital Sin.”
Because the index of “Pride” was insufficient, he had to choose “Greed” today.
After six days of extraction, the “Capital Sins” stored in the Worm Tree now included: [Pride]: 12.5;
[Greed]: 9.5;
…
This reserve was enough for him to cultivate both a “Pride Fruit” and a “Greed Fruit.”
But to accumulate the quantity needed for refining “Pride IV,” he needed to continue storing “Pride.”
“Greed,” however, had fewer restrictions in its use.
After completing today’s extraction, Dark turned to look at the Magus Elementals lying in bed—maids had brought enough bedding during the day.
“Unbeknownst to me, I already have seventeen Magus Elementals. Only three more and I can start the first upgrade of “Paradise.”
“If “Paradise” enters version 2.0, the Magus Elementals will be able to operate more freely.
“Those not recorded in “Paradise” won’t have to be recalled into Magus Cards every night.
“Magus Elementals don’t need to sleep; working hard and staying up late to learn shouldn’t be a problem, right?”
Dark calculated.
“I still need to hire tutors for them. Ideally, within these three months, they should complete all basic education.”
“In any case, let’s see the gifts first!”
Thinking of gifts, he couldn’t help but get excited.
This year’s birthday gifts had started off with a bang.
The gift from Mayor Suna Montiel Farley had given him great surprise.
He reopened the exquisite box and looked inside once more.
Inside was a small egg the size of a pigeon egg.
The shell was slightly transparent, emitting a faint firelight.
“If my judgment is correct, this should be an Elemental Egg!”
Elementals and the Elemental race were two different things.
The former were demi-humans, while the latter were elemental beings, and high-ranking ones at that.
Professor Shylph, who was favored by wind elementals, could freely manipulate the wind and even transform into it!
Of course, this wasn’t something easily achieved.
But everything began with the Wind Elemental.
If Dark could hatch this Elemental Egg, he might receive the favor of an Elemental and become an Elemental mage.
Even if he couldn’t, he could still raise it as a magical creature.
He planned to restart the Magical Animal Club, and having at least one magical creature was essential to maintain its credibility.
This Elemental Egg arrived at the perfect time.
“Unfortunately, Elementals and the Elemental race are closely linked, usually only members of the Elemental race can become Elemental mages. For me, it’s a bit difficult.”
Dark couldn’t hide his smile as he closed the box and laid out the rest of his birthday gifts.
“Let’s start with the gift from Aunt Claire.”
He first picked out the largest gift box, which clearly had Claire’s signature and blessing written on the tag.
[Grow up fast! Claire Kate]
Dark carefully removed the tag and put it away, then opened the gift box.
“I knew Aunt Claire wouldn’t disappoint me!”
Dark looked at the contents of the gift box, his eyes forming crescents.
Inside were various materials neatly arranged, with a note tucked between them.
Pulling out the note, he saw it was indeed written in graceful handwriting with instructions on upgrading “Paradise”!
“It’s not difficult to record information about “Paradise,” but it requires adjustments based on personal attributes. With these materials, I can try multiple times.”
