Yarrow stared at the panel, an uneasy feeling creeping over him. The numbers had increased dramatically, yet there was no corresponding reaction—not even a new ability. Something wasn't right.
Then it hit him. His talent pool had updated, adding three new talents all at once. He simply hadn't noticed them before.
He examined them carefully:
[No Incantation Magic: Allows spellcasting without verbal incantations for spells up to three lines. (Ever wanted a magic Gatling gun? Now you can have one!)]
[Magic Mastery: Greatly enhances perception of natural magic. (Not a guarantee you'll sense anything unusual, though.)]
[Nimble Fingers: Proficiency in sewing, handicrafts, and cooking. (Think this makes someone a virtuous wife and good mother? Guess again—I can also handcraft rifling.)]
"No Incantation Magic… so that's how she used levitation without chanting," Yarrow muttered. "She must have this ability."
With just these two magic-related skills, it was clear that Alisa had sharp judgment—Serena's talent for magic truly was exceptional. And thanks to her, now he had these skills as well.
But was this real? Did Serena actually have a level-four affection for him?
He glanced at her again. Her face was indifferent, betraying nothing. That didn't seem right.
Was she secretly a tsundere?
"Hey, you, how long are you going to keep staring at me?" Serena's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. Annoyance edged her tone as she frowned. "Listen, just because I've decided to repay you doesn't mean you can start making weird demands."
[Serena is somewhat dissatisfied with you. How should you respond?]
Heartbeat Options:[I'm so sorry, I was just lost in your beauty.][I'm sorry! I was wrong! I'll kneel and kowtow right now!][How dare a washmaid speak to her master like that? Seems you need some strokes of discipline.][Can I borrow your socks for a moment?]Yarrow smirked. This was a perfect opportunity to test Serena's attitude toward him.
"Sorry, I was just captivated by your beauty and lost my senses."
Serena blinked, then her expression twisted into something between disbelief and disgust. She pointed at him. "Don't tell me you actually think saying greasy lines like that makes you charming…"
[Affection -5]
Yarrow sighed. As expected, the system was bugged.
"Yarrow's talking like a greasy old man."
"Oh, so this is what wishful thinking looks like?" Ji Xiaofei and Tao Hu snickered from the side.
"Enough! You two, hurry up and pack my things!" Yarrow barked, ending the teasing.
—
The carriage traveled for an entire day, finally pulling to a stop by evening. Outside the capital city of Alexter lay White Cloud Village, a necessary stop for anyone entering or leaving the city. The village boasted a blacksmith shop, a branch of the Adventurers' Guild, a small tavern, and plenty of villagers who always seemed to have exclamation marks hovering over their heads, eager to hand out tasks.
Housing in the main city was outrageously expensive. With Yarrow's current income, he could only afford a small house outside the walls.
"Finally back!"
Yarrow jumped down from the carriage, stretching his muscles. The warm hues of sunset bathed the peaceful village—chimney smoke curled into the sky, children ran laughing through the streets, farmers returned home with hoes slung over their shoulders, and groups of adventurers sought places to rest.
After nearly a month of travel, this tranquil rural atmosphere was a welcome change.
Behind him, the three beastkin girls leapt from the carriage as well.
"Give me your hand," Yarrow said, turning to Serena, who struggled slightly with the step down.
"I can do it myself," she murmured, but still placed her hand in his as she descended.
Having spent three years as a bear, Serena wasn't yet used to walking on two legs again. She relied on a cane for balance, her steps careful and deliberate.
Just as Yarrow helped her down, a sudden crash nearby sent up a cloud of dust. A horse neighed in panic.
From the dust, a silver-haired figure stood and casually dusted herself off.
Zen.
People scattered in fear.
Earlier that morning, Zen had outright refused to ride with them. A carriage, she claimed, was beneath her dignity as a noble dragon. She would fly instead.
Now, after trailing them through the air all day, she had made her entrance with as much subtlety as an explosion.
Yarrow pressed his fingers to his temples. "I give up on her. Is she trying to make sure everyone knows there's a dragon here?"
"Yarrow, Yarrow, where's our home?" Ji Xiaofei tugged at his sleeve.
"There." Yarrow pointed to the red-roofed house nestled on the hillside—the only two-story, gabled home in the area.
That was his house.
His home in this other world.
And there were still twenty-eight years left on the mortgage.
Yet, despite the looming financial weight, this place brought a sense of warmth and security. He still remembered his early days after transmigrating—when he had nothing, not even a place to sleep.
Now, he had a home.
And that was something worth treasuring.
Yarrow's house stood apart from the village like an outcast, a lonely jewel shimmering in the twilight.
"So far, your place looks like the village collectively decided to exile it," Ji Xiaofei quipped, a sly smirk on her lips.
"Oh, I'm so sorry it's not to your refined tastes, princess! Do you want to test my patience? Because I swear on the gods, I'll have you bunking in the chicken coop tonight!" Yarrow shot back, rolling his eyes.
But, hey, what could he do? That hillside land had been dirt cheap, and Yarrow never could resist a bargain.
He strode ahead, leading his merry band of misfits toward home, the golden glow of the setting sun painting their path in decadent hues.
"Oh, it's Yarrow! Back from another dangerous adventure, are you?"
A grizzled old man, his beard white as fresh snow and his cane tapping against the earth, greeted them warmly. An exclamation mark practically hovered over his head, as if he were an NPC waiting to hand out a quest.
"Village Chief, long time no see," Yarrow said, a casual grin curling his lips.
This was Old Joeck, the Village Chief of White Cloud Village. His daily routine? Stand at his doorstep, wait for an adventurer to pass by, and launch into a speech about the history and customs of the village before inevitably begging them to find his damn reading glasses on the mountain. The reward? A measly bottle of junior recovery potion. What a scam.
Joeck's keen eyes flicked over the stunning quartet trailing behind Yarrow. "Hmm? And who might these lovely young ladies be?"
Yarrow smirked. "Oh, them? Just a few Pokémon I tamed along the way."
The old man chuckled. "Well, must've been hard work. Rest well now that you're home."
Serena, walking beside him, arched an eyebrow. "What's a Pokémon?"
"Important partners," Yarrow replied, his voice dripping with faux wisdom.
She gave him a skeptical look. "That doesn't sound like a good thing..."
The stone path leading home wound its way through the greenery, the scent of earth and fresh crops thick in the air. As they neared the house, the girls took in the sight of a sprawling vegetable garden, lush and vibrant, fenced in with rustic charm.
"Oh my god, little chickens!" Ji Xiaofei shrieked, rushing forward, eyes sparkling with unholy delight.
Two hens strutted proudly about, their fluffy, newly hatched chicks tottering behind them like a parade of tiny, clueless minions.
Perhaps it was the deep, primal instincts of a child from the Great Foodie Nation, but Yarrow had been compelled to cultivate two acres of fertile land near his home. He grew everything—vegetables bursting with life, herbs fragrant enough to make a grown man weep, and even a modest coop that provided fresh, golden-yolked eggs daily.
After a month away, the crops had grown wild, spilling over the fence in a tangle of green excess. And the eggs? Oh, they'd taken matters into their own hands, hatching into a small army of chicks.
And then there was him—the fat, brooding rabbit Yarrow had raised, now slumped in the corner like an overfed king, belly swollen from feasting on the once-thriving vegetable garden. He lay there in utter contentment, the perfect image of gluttonous satisfaction.
Yarrow groaned. "Damn rabbit. You've eaten better than I have this whole trip."
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