Chapter 42 - 666X Returns

Half an hour later, Monica was sitting on the bed with her back against the wall, staring at Elias with bright eyes as he fed her porridge.

Her expression was brighter, and the faint smile on her lips remained even as she watched him carefully prepare each spoonful.

"Ah," Elias said, holding the spoon before her mouth.

Only then did Monica obediently open her mouth, allowing him to push the food inside before she closed her lips around the spoon.

She chewed happily while Elias withdrew the spoon and prepared another mouthful.

"How childish," he mumbled.

She smiled faintly and replied, "My master used to say that there is nothing wrong with being a child now and then. It helps you become a better adult."

"Is that so?" He mumbled as he took another spoonful of porridge. "He must have been a wise man."

"Woman."

"What?"

"My master was a woman."

"Ah..." Elias nodded as he hovered the spoon before her mouth. "That makes sense."

Monica opened her mouth and accepted the porridge before chewing slowly.

"She also used to advise me to never trust a man," she said while narrowing her eyes at him.

He gave her a deadpan look before saying flatly, "I do not think you have to worry about any men except me now."

She chuckled, swallowed the spoonful, and said while reaching for the next one, "That is true."

"Do not talk while chewing," Elias muttered.

Monica continued chewing for a few moments before swallowing, then she furrowed her brows and asked, "What are you? My mother or my master?"

"I am your husband," Elias said.

"Meh," she muttered before opening her mouth wide.

Elias stared at her for a moment before sighing and feeding her another spoonful.

She closed her mouth around the spoon and happily chewed, while he continued feeding her until the porridge gradually disappeared from the bowl.

Once the final spoonful had been eaten, he placed the spoon down for a moment and looked at Monica thoughtfully.

"Your master..." he began, then asked, "What did she say when she found out about the poison?"

Monica’s cheerful expression gradually faded.

Her eyes lowered toward her lap, and the bitterness that had briefly disappeared returned to her face.

"I have not seen her since then," she said quietly. "Perhaps she no longer thinks of me as her student."

Elias fell silent.

He watched her lowered gaze for several seconds before he finally said, "I do not believe she thinks that."

She looked toward him.

"You do not?"

"No," Elias replied. "If she taught you for so long, then I doubt something like this would make her suddenly stop caring about you."

A somber smile appeared on her face.

"I would like to believe that as well."

Elias nodded without saying anything further.

Monica remained quiet for a few moments before she said, "Help me lie down."

Elias nodded, placed the empty bowl and spoon on the drawer beside the bed, and then moved toward her.

He carefully picked her up before lowering her onto the mattress, then he adjusted the blanket around her until she was lying comfortably.

Once she was settled, Elias rose and picked up the bowl.

He glanced back toward her and noticed that her eyes had already closed.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"Sleep well," he mumbled before stepping out of the room.

He closed the door behind himself and began walking down the corridor, carrying the empty bowl in one hand.

His footsteps echoed softly through the quiet manor as his thoughts returned to the system notifications from before.

’Status.’

The orange system screen appeared before his eyes.

[Status]

[Name: Monica Ragnar]

[Rank: Exalted]

[Affection Rate: 10]

[Talent: Heavenly Arcane Comprehension (S)]

[Physical Constitution: None]

[Weapon: None]

[Weapon Mastery: None]

[Weapon Aura: None]

[Mana Aptitude: S]

[Mana Affinity: Fire (S), Water (S), Wind (S), Lightning (S), Light (A), Darkness (A), Earth (A), Blood (B), Wood (B)]

[Mana Circle: 1 — Drained]

[Spiritual Aptitude: None]

[Spiritual Affinity: None]

[Spiritual Stars: None]

[Stats]

[Requires Affection Rate: 20]

[Skills]

[Requires Affection Rate: 30]

[Unknown — Requires Affection Rate: 40]

Elias read through the status while continuing down the corridor.

When he reached the final stair step, his expression became surprised.

’Her Mana Aptitude is S, and she has four S-grade affinities?’

’No wonder she was considered a prodigy of the Mage Tower.’

Before he could think any further, however, a familiar voice suddenly resounded inside his mind.

[Ding!]

[Evaluating the host’s actions.]

Elias stopped walking.

The orange screen expanded before his eyes as another series of notifications appeared.

[Goodwill and care demonstrated toward the targets have been calculated.]

[Saving Monica Ragnar from a severe seizure.]

[Reassuring Natasha Sephila.]

[Helping Natasha Ragnar regain her sanity for some time.]

[Emotionally supporting Stella Crimson.]

[Helping Monica Ragnar feel a sensation, thus relaxing her mind and body.]

[The host’s current Affection Rate has reached 6.66.]

[666X Returns have been applied.]

Elias smiled faintly.

[Ding!]

[Rewards have been issued.]

[Reward 1: Magic Affinity – Shadow (SS)]

[Reward 2: Skill acquired — Thousand Poison Immunity (SS).]

[Reward 3: Skill acquired — Serene Mind of Geldnor (SS).]

[Reward 4: Item acquired — Mythical White Hellbreaker Sword]

[Reward 5: Item acquired — Mythical Black Hellcaller Sword]

Elias’s expression became increasingly stunned as he read the rewards.

’Shadow Magic Affinity... two SS-grade skills... and two Mythical swords?’

The value of even one of these rewards was difficult to estimate.

However, before he could inspect any of them, every orange screen suddenly vanished.

A completely different screen appeared before him.

Unlike the familiar orange system interface, this one was black.

Elias frowned before his expression became serious and he mumbled, "What is this?"

[Spatial distortion detected...]

He stared at the words and his eyes widened in disbelief.

[A Grade Two spatial rift has appeared!]

’A Grade Two spatial rift?’ His heart sank.

Spatial Rifts were graded based on the rank of their guardian, and in case of a Grade Two rift, the guardian must be a Lord.

[Finding the location...]

[Distance: 1,745 Meters.]