The next day dawned, painting the sky with the colors of sunrise.

  Monica and Penelope sat chatting on the patio of the garden cottage. A maid poured hot tea into their cups and then discreetly withdrew.

  Penelope picked up her knife and fork and sliced into the steaming bread, the aroma of melting butter mingling with the fragrant tea. The morning sun cast long shadows across the castle grounds, and the air was crisp and cool.

  “So,” Penelope began, “what did you want to talk about?”

  “You know why I’m here,” Monica replied.

  “Yes,” Penelope said. “You want to see the experiment firsthand.”

  “And it was a success,” Monica confirmed, a note of satisfaction in her voice. “Just as I anticipated.”

  “Don’t tell me…” Penelope trailed off, a hint of dread in her voice.

  “You already know,” Monica said. “Don’t pretend to be surprised.”

  “But are you really going to do this?” Penelope asked, her voice rising slightly. “You witnessed the horror firsthand. My son almost died. And yet, you still insist?”

  “Zigyor and I have discussed this extensively,” Monica said firmly. “He’ll only allow his daughter to undergo the procedure if all the preliminary tests are successful—which they are.”

  “I can’t tell you what to do with your daughter,” Penelope said, “but as a mother myself, I never agreed to Albert sending Leon to that hellish pce.”

  “But you trusted him,” Monica countered.

  “Yes,” Penelope admitted. “But look what happened. Even he couldn’t bear the horror of watching his own son seemingly die.”

  “I understand your concern,” Monica said. “But like your husband, I’m willing to take the risk, even knowing I might not be able to handle it. To be honest, I might die too if my daughter doesn’t survive.”

  Penelope sighed. “I know I can’t change your mind. But has your daughter agreed to this?”

  “We’ve told her about the dangers,” Monica said, “though not all the details.”

  “Did you tell her that the procedure is experimental and not required for advanced training?” Penelope pressed.

  “She knows it’s not required,” Monica admitted, “but she doesn’t know it’s experimental.”

  “Does she know she could die?” Penelope asked, her voice barely a whisper.

  “She’s fully aware of that,” Monica confirmed.

  “Well,” Penelope said, a note of admiration in her voice, “your daughter is certainly brave.”

  “She is,” Monica agreed. “Did you forget who her father is?”

  “Now that you mention it,” Penelope said, a wry smile pying on her lips, “I have a much clearer picture.”

  “So,” Penelope continued, “when are you pnning to send her?”

  “I’ve already sent an eagle messenger,” Monica replied. “She should arrive in three days.”

  “Has she finished her basic mana training?” Penelope asked.

  “Yes,” Monica replied, a hint of frustration in her voice. “But she’s not very strong. For some reason, she can’t form a second meridian. Could you help me with that?”

  “I’ll do what I can,” Penelope said, “but I can’t make any promises.”

  “That’s enough,” Monica said. “As long as she grows stronger.”

  “Did you send her to school?” Penelope asked.

  “Yes,” Monica replied, “although she’s the only human there who doesn’t looks her age.”

  “At least she’s learning the basics of this world,” Penelope said.

  “True,” Monica agreed. “But children py, you know. Lalinia likes having friends, but they’re all so much younger. Her only real companions are children of other races.”

  “Well,” Penelope said, “that’s the way it is. All races except humans mature quickly.”

  “And yet,” Monica said with a touch of irritation, “we have such short lifespans.”

  “That may be true,” Penelope replied, “but we’re all bound by the same rules.”

  “Which is certainly true for your son,” Monica pointed out. “He looks like a grown man, and he already has two partners.”

  “Oh, come on,” Penelope said, ughing. “As long as they love each other, they can do as they please.”

  “Yes, I know,” Monica said. “Pangaea’s rules.”

  “Exactly,” Penelope replied. “As long as you don’t break the System’s rules, you’ll be fine.”

  “And there aren’t that many System rules anyway,” Monica added. “And they’re easy enough to follow—or avoid.”

  “By the way,” Monica continued, “I’d like to speak with your maid, Alicia.”

  “Why?” Penelope asked.

  “You’re pnning to send her for that training soon, aren’t you?” Monica asked.

  “Actually, she just finished her basic mana training,” Penelope replied. “Albert will probably send her tomorrow.”

  “I have a favor to ask,” Monica said.

  “A favor?” Penelope inquired. “What is it?”

  “I’d like to postpone Alicia’s training for a few days, maybe a week or two, until my daughter is ready,” Monica expined. “I want them to undergo the… procedure together. You see, my daughter is quite extroverted. She can’t just sit in a cell waiting for her training to begin.”

  “And how do you propose to arrange that?” Penelope asked.

  A sly smile pyed on Monica’s lips. “I’ll tell you ter.”

  “There you go again,” Penelope said, a hint of exasperation in her voice.

  Later that day, in the main hall of the castle annex…

  “Madame Monica, you’ve called me,” Alicia said, her voice clear and respectful. She wore a floor-length dress of deep charcoal gray, the fabric soft and flowing. The dress featured a high, slightly rounded neckline and long, fitted sleeves. A narrow band of pure white trim edged the cuffs and the neckline, providing a subtle contrast. A simple, unadorned apron of the same charcoal gray, tied at the waist, completed the elegant look.

  “Yes, Alicia. Please, sit down.” Monica gestured to the seat beside her. “I’ve asked you here because I have a request.”

  “What is it, Madame Monica?” Alicia asked.

  “My daughter is coming here,” Monica said.

  “Oh! You have a daughter?” Alicia excimed, a hint of surprise in her voice.

  “Yes,” Monica replied. “She’s about Leon’s age.”

  “What would you like me to do?” Alicia asked.

  “I’d like you to wait for her,” Monica expined.

  “Wait for her? For what, Madame?”

  “Until she finishes her mana training. Then, she’ll join you in body conditioning and reconstruction training. Would you be willing to do that?”

  “That’s a pleasant surprise,” Alicia said. “I’d love to have some company during training.”

  “Thank you, Alicia,” Monica said. “I appreciate your understanding.”

  “When will she arrive?” Alicia asked.

  “Before nightfall, in three days,” Monica replied.

  “I look forward to meeting her,” Alicia said. “I’m sure she’ll be as beautiful as you.”

  “Of course,” Monica said, a touch of pride in her voice. “Like mother, like daughter.”

  “May I ask you something?” Monica continued.

  “Certainly, Madame,” Alicia replied.

  “I understand you’ve never had any formal training,” Monica said.

  “That’s right, Madame,” Alicia replied. “I never dreamed of becoming an adventurer. I was happy and content with my life here.”

  “That’s what I’ve heard,” Monica confirmed. “I also heard that you suddenly experienced a surge of mana comparable to someone who has undergone extensive training.”

  “That’s true, Madame,” Alicia admitted. She gnced away, a faint blush rising on her cheeks. “But my case is… different.”

  “How so?” Monica asked.

  “I’m afraid I can’t say, Madame,” Alicia murmured.

  “Why not?” Monica pressed.

  “I just… can’t,” Alicia repeated.

  Monica reached out and gently touched Alicia’s shoulder. “Don’t worry,” she said softly. “I already know.”

  Alicia instinctively recoiled, surprised. “How did you…?”

  “Please,” Monica interrupted, her voice low and urgent. “Don’t mention this to Alice. I promised her I wouldn’t reveal our conversation, but I can’t bear the thought of my daughter dying. You know how dangerous it is.”

  Alicia nodded, her expression grave.

  “I heard that you gained a significant amount of mana through Leon,” Monica continued. “Is that correct?”

  Alicia nodded again.

  “Listen to me, Alicia,” Monica said, her voice firm. “I’ll do anything for my daughter. I want the absolute best for her.”

  “Don’t tell me, Madame,” Alicia whispered, her eyes widening. “You want your daughter to… be with Leon?”

  “That’s exactly what I’m saying,” Monica confirmed.

  “But, Madame,” Alicia protested, “your daughter is only six years old!”

  “You’re clearly not familiar with Pangaea Ultima’s ws,” Monica said. “Anyone can marry or enter a retionship with anyone else, regardless of race—human, elf, dwarf, beastkin—or age.”

  “Does that apply to gender as well?” Alicia asked.

  “Yes and no,” Monica replied cryptically.

  “What?” Alicia asked, confused.

  “No means the System will execute anyone who engages in a same-gender retionship,” Monica expined.

  “Then what does ‘yes’ mean?” Alicia asked.

  “Yes means we have a way to completely change someone’s gender,” Monica said.

  “You mean a man can become a woman, and vice versa?” Alicia asked, incredulous.

  “Yes,” Monica confirmed, “but from what I understand, the changes are irreversible.”

  “So there are rules,” Alicia murmured, her shoulders slumping. “I had no idea.”

  “What use is your monstrous library if you don’t read?” Monica asked.

  “I can’t read, Madame,” Alicia said sadly.

  “Really? They never taught you?” Monica asked, surprised.

  “My mistress used to encourage me to learn,” Alicia expined, “but I was just a child then, more interested in pying and helping with chores. I never learned.”

  “Anyway,” Alicia continued, changing the subject, “if you’re that determined, you should talk to Leon first. If you can convince him, then it’s settled.”

  “I’ll try,” Monica said.

  “Good luck with that, Madame Monica.” After a brief pause, Alicia asked, “Is it really true that anyone can have a sexual retionship with anyone else?”

  “I misspoke,” Monica corrected herself. “There are exceptions. And this is crucial.”

  Alicia leaned forward, her expression serious.

  “Because the System is involved,” Monica expined. “It forbids sexual retionships between parents and children. Anyone who viotes this rule faces certain death.”

  “Really? Well, that’s obvious,” Alicia said. “No one in their right mind would ever do that.”

  “That’s precisely why the System rules are easy to avoid,” Monica said.

  “How many System rules are there?” Alicia asked.

  “Not many,” Monica replied. “Only twenty. You can read them on page 20, chapter 1 of a book called The System.”

  “Madame,” Alicia reminded her, “I can’t read.”

  “Oh, right,” Monica said. “Then have your lover read it to you and expin it.”

  “Yes, Madame Monica,” Alicia said, smiling at the thought of being with Leon in the library. “I will.”

  “Well,” Monica said, standing up, “that concludes our meeting. I’ve taken up too much of your time. I should be going.” She waved goodbye with a backward flick of her hand.

  Alicia bowed and then took her leave as well.

  In the dining room, Albert’s family, including Monica, were having dinner.

  “Alice, why don’t you join us at the table?” Monica asked.

  “I’m fine here, Madame Monica,” Alice replied. “This way, I can protect Master Leon.”

  “Protect him from what?” Monica asked, her brow furrowed.

  “From any potential threats,” Alice said, her eyes scanning the room.

  Monica gnced at Penelope, a silent question in her eyes.

  “She’s always like this,” Penelope whispered with a sigh. “Just let her be.”

  The maids arrived, pushing trolleys draped with pristine white linen that flowed just above the floor. They simultaneously removed the metal covers from the dishes, revealing an array of monster meats: armored boar, cyclops tenderloin, bugbear, wyvern, orc tenderloin, and the most prized of all—griffin, basilisk, and slices of blood dragon, still sizzling on the metal ptters.

  The aroma filling the room was enough to make anyone ravenous, triggering an involuntary rush of saliva.

  Monica’s eyes widened. “What’s all this?” she asked, astonished.

  “Just a simple dinner,” Albert replied casually.

  “Tell that to the walls,” she retorted, rolling her eyes.

  “Don’t you like it?” Albert asked, still casually.

  “Of course, I do. Anyone would. It just took me by surprise,” Monica said.

  “Well, consider it a celebration. Have you forgotten?”

  “Oh, yes. How could I?” she smiled sheepishly.

  “My son and Alice dispyed immense bravery, determination, tenacity, endurance, and the unwavering conviction of true warriors. They stared death down and emerged victorious. They are no longer merely human; their lifespans now extend beyond ours. For that extraordinary achievement, this food is a meager offering. But we must rejoice! My son and Alice have accomplished the unthinkable. Let us indulge!”

  After taking a bite of the sizzling dragon meat, Monica noticed Alice and Alicia standing beside Leon, neither of them eating. “You two, aren’t you going to eat?” she asked.

  “After you, Monica,” Alice replied.

  “How about you, Alicia?” Monica asked.

  “I’m fine, Monica. Please don’t worry about us,” Alicia said.

  “Don’t mind them,” Penelope chimed in. “They’re just like that—stubborn.”

  Monica gnced at the trio for a moment before turning her attention back to her pte. Alice was busy pcing food onto Leon’s pte, while Alicia refilled his wine gss. The pattern repeated itself.

  Moments ter, the maids on standby cleared the table, swiftly repcing the old tablecloth with a fresh one. They then pced new, diamond-like gsses and filled them with crystal-clear water.

  “Now then,” Albert began, “regarding your advanced training. Leon, you agreed to prioritize advanced mana training, correct?”

  “Yes, Father,” Leon confirmed.

  “Then, we will begin your training whenever you are ready. As for Alice, she will have a personal tutor assigned to her.”

  “Albert, I want to train with Leon,” Alice interjected.

  “If you do,” Albert cautioned, “you will not be able to learn magic for the next seven years.”

  “That’s fine with me,” Alice said.

  “And you, Leon?” Albert asked.

  “Well, I can wait another seven years for her to learn magic,” Leon said. “What’s another seven years compared to thousands?”

  “You have a point,” Albert conceded. “Very well then. Just inform me when you’re both ready. You and Alice will meet me in the eastern part of the forest.”

  Elgard handed them a map, detailing the exact location.

  Inside Leon’s room.

  “Master,” Alicia said, nestled against Leon’s chest, “Monica asked me something.”

  “What is it?” he asked, pulling her closer, enjoying her warmth and the softness of her chest.

  “She wants me to wait for her daughter to arrive,” Alicia said.

  “Daughter? For what?” Leon asked, his brow furrowed.

  “She said she wants her daughter to train in body conditioning and reconstruction with me,” Alicia expined.

  “What?” Alice excimed, raising herself partially and leaning on her right hand against the bed. “Does she have a death wish for her daughter?”

  “Is her daughter aware of the danger of this training?” Leon asked.

  “Didn’t she discuss this with you, Master?” Alicia asked.

  “No,” Leon replied.

  “Oh, I thought you knew,” Alicia said.

  “Know what? That her daughter is about to endure a horrific ordeal?” Leon asked.

  “Well, I don’t know if her daughter is fully aware of the risks,” Alicia said, pausing. “But I do know one thing.”

  “What is it?” Leon asked.

  “She wants her daughter to have access to your potent fluid,” Alicia said.

  “What!” Leon excimed, sitting up straight. “Is she serious?”

  “I believe so. Someone told her about my experience,” Alicia said, gncing at Alice with a knowing look. Alice looked away, a blush creeping up her neck.

  I told her not to tell anyone, Alice thought to herself.

  “Anyway,” Alicia said as she rose from the bed, then settled onto Leon’s p, gently pushing him back against the mattress. She positioned herself over him and began to move rhythmically. “Madame Monica told me… she… ahh… she mentioned she’d do anything for her daughter.”

  The sounds of their movements filled the room.

  “I understand Madame Monica. Like us, she wants her daughter to be strong and live a long life. But, unlike us, her daughter should be in school, learning the basics first,” Alice commented.

  “Master… ah… you know I can’t read, right?” Alicia asked.

  Leon rolled, reversing their positions. “I know. Why do you ask?”

  “Monica said that…” she paused. “Master, you’re getting faster. Are you going to…?”

  “Yes, soon. So, what did Madame Monica say?”

  “She said retionships aren’t just for adults,” she paused, gasping for air, her mouth gaping open in pleasure. “Anyone can be in a retionship, regardless of age or race. Did… did you know that, Master?”

  “Yes,” Leon paused, clearly concentrating. “I’m… I’m coming!”

  Leon stiffened, and Alicia felt a sensation that marked his release. He colpsed gently onto her, their bodies intertwined. “I came across that information while picking something to read,” he murmured into her neck, still kissing her softly, while his manhood remained deeply burrowed. “I learned that retionships can indeed cross age and racial boundaries, but Pangaea offers some advice. Not a rule, more like a suggestion.”

  “What is it, Master?” Alicia asked.

  Leon rolled to the center of the bed, pulling Alice into an embrace and kissing her passionately while caressing her gently. “It says that parents should prepare their children to handle various situations—financially, mentally, and physically. They should teach them to use the world’s knowledge effectively, honing fighting skills, and mastering inherent talents. We’re living examples of that. Even with all the money in the world, my parents are still doing their best to make us strong, so we can support ourselves when we’re on our own.”

  Leon deepened the kiss, their tongues entwining. After a while, Alice broke away to catch her breath. “I know about it too, Master. Adventurers rarely return home. They spend their lives traveling and sustain themselves by accepting commissions or exploring dungeons, trading their loot at the adventurers’ guild.”

  “Isn’t it enticing,” Leon mused, “traveling across the supercontinent, facing monsters?”

  “I’m excited, Master,” Alicia said, her heartbeat quickening. “I really want to see the world.”

  “That’s why—” Leon lifted his head from Alice’s paradise and moved on top of her. He began his rhythmic motions. “Promise me, Alicia, that you’ll survive the training. I won’t accept failure.”

  “I promise, Master. I’ll be with you forever,” Alicia vowed.

  “But Master—” Alice gasped between movements. “Will you really consider letting a kid join us?”

  “No. Whether allowed or not, the final decision is mine,” Leon stated firmly.

  “That’s a relief—” She drew a sharp breath as Leon’s rod twitched inside her. “I mean, considering how long and rge it is…”

  “I don’t mind,” Alicia interjected, “as long as it’s Master’s decision.”

  “Anyway,” Alice said, wrapping her arms around Leon, “Master already has the three of us.”

  “Speaking of which,” Alicia added, “Master, how is Erica?”

  “She’s doing fine. I got a letter from her yesterday. She’s in the Dwarven Kingdom now,” Leon replied, his voice muffled by Alice’s neck.

  “Really?” Alicia said, her eyes wide with amazement. “I can’t wait to travel too.”

  “Erica is on a protection commission,” Leon expined.

  “How dangerous is it, Master?” Alicia asked.

  “In her letter, she assured me there was no need to worry. She said it’s a simple task—accompanying a noble dwarf’s child through a forest to pick a Red Lusten flower,” Leon replied.

  “What kind of flower is that?” Alicia inquired.

  “It’s an aphrodisiac, she mentioned,” Leon said.

  “Anyway, we should get some rest. It’s getting te,” Leon said, settling himself in the center of the bed. Alice and Alicia nestled against him, sharing their warmth.

  Three days ter, Monica, Albert, and Penelope, along with Leon, his companions, and several maids, waited outside the ornate gate. Moments ter, a carriage arrived, followed by five others. The central carriage stopped before them, and the door opened. A miniature replica of Monica emerged. Everyone was surprised, for she was not only as beautiful as her mother, with piercing blue eyes and long, flowing golden hair, but also remarkably tall for a six-year-old, standing at five feet five inches.