Fantasy Family Simulator-Chapter 264: System Anomaly?

"This should push my defense to the next level!" Rhett chuckled to himself, though he couldn't help but muse, why was a mage like him stacking so much armor?

At that moment, a light screen suddenly appeared before him, catching Rhett's attention.

[Family member's strength has advanced. Fate Points +5]

It was a standard system notification, and Rhett glanced at it out of habit.

"Huh?"

But soon, his attention was fully captured. Was it his imagination, or did the light screen seem... brighter?

Rhett squinted, carefully analyzing the situation. It wasn't a trick of the eye. The brightness of the screen was indeed more intense than before, he was sure of it.

"Could it be that the family system is undergoing some kind of change?"

Rhett's expression shifted slightly. With this thought in mind, he began a thorough inspection.

He examined the system panel, finding nothing out of the ordinary.

He even ran another day of Real Simulation, but again, there was no noticeable difference.

After multiple checks, Rhett confirmed that the only change was the increased brightness.

With a bit of his curiosity satisfied, Rhett's concern eased somewhat. Now, there was only one possible explanation: could the brightness be increasing as his strength grew? Perhaps the changes had been too subtle before, not as drastic as the difference between a Magus and a Grand Magus, which was why he hadn't noticed.

After pondering for a moment and coming to no solid conclusion, Rhett decided to put the matter aside for now.

However, he realized he hadn't yet checked the Text Simulation. Since he had recently made a breakthrough, this seemed like a good time to observe the future and see if there were any other system changes.

With a thought, he opened the system.

[Would you like to start Text Simulation? Each year of simulation costs 5 Fate Points.]

"Yes, simulate for one year."

[Year 479 of the Golden Calendar, March 20th: You break through to Grand Magus, reaching a new height in your life. Congratulations. On the same day, you gain significant insights into the Arcane of Convergence, making further progress.]

[March 21st: You finish hunting in the Dark Forest and, along with Taylors, Tack, and Dick, leave the Greer Kingdom, setting out for the Kingdom of Rem.]

[April 19th: Lawrence advances to a third-rank knight.]

[April 27th: You arrive at the Circle Tower and present the Emerald Certificate, causing a great stir. Soon after, you are granted an audience with Hypaste. Grateful for your previous information, which saved the Circle Tower, he agrees to your request to exchange the bloodline of the Earth-Drilling Beast for a potion, though he warns it may take several years to complete.]

[June 3rd: Through diligent training, you reach a high level of mastery in the Arcane of Vibration, greatly expanding its coverage and wielding it with ease. You can now fully envelop the Rock Shield and even apply it to your Earth Armor.]

[July 15th: Felix advances to a third-rank mage.]

[July 25th: You receive a letter from Prince Hogus, reporting a rare phenomenon in the territory of Strange Rock Volcano, suggesting the possible appearance of a sprite. However, you reply with a letter of thanks and decide not to pursue the matter.]

[August 12th: Karina comes to Dark Eagle City to take Ora, but Ora refuses to leave, declaring her relationship with Lawrence.]

[August 29th: Ora sneaks into Lawrence's room, and they share an intimate night together.]

[September 16th: Willow advances to a second-rank knight.]

[September 27th: After ten days of training under Greenco's guidance, Willow becomes an official blacksmith!]

[October 18th: Through persistent effort, McCoff and Vicki create a new life.]

[December 7th: While patrolling Dark Eagle City, Vidas meets a woman and begins a romantic relationship.]

[Text Simulation ends. Would you like to continue?]

"No."

The simulation was very ordinary. By the end, Rhett's interest had waned, but he still read through it carefully.

"This time, after becoming a Grand Magus, life seems even more peaceful. Who said that the stronger you become, the more dangerous and chaotic the world gets? If that were true, what's the point of getting stronger..." Rhett chuckled, shaking his head.

After skimming through this simulation, he found that the future was mainly focused on his territory and the major events in the lives of those around him.

Aside from that, Rhett didn't notice anything unusual in this simulation—it was the same as before, showing no signs of changes in the system.

"How odd..." Rhett sighed, deciding not to dwell on it any further.

"Yaaawn..."

Behind Rhett, the still-sleepy Dick slowly woke up, rubbing his eyes with his small hands. His head tilted as he saw Rhett's back, and his big eyes sparkled. Jumping up from the small stone bed that Rhett had carefully crafted for him, he ran over and hugged Rhett's neck. "Grandpa, Grandpa, when are we going back? Killing magical beasts every day is so boring."

Rhett patted Dick's chubby hands and smiled kindly. "Little Dick, are you in such a hurry to go back and see your little siblings?"

"Mhm! They must miss me since they haven't seen me for so long!"

"Haha, don't worry. We'll be heading back soon." Rhett laughed heartily, his mood lifting.

"Then, I want to fly in the sky. Grandpa, will you help me?" Dick's eyes sparkled with excitement.

"A small matter!"

Rhett knew what Dick wanted to play. It was just a simple floating game using wind elements.

So, he shouted, "Let's go!" and a gust of wind swept through the area, lifting Dick into the air. As he swayed and laughed gleefully, the sound of his joy echoed.

Before long, Tack and Taylors returned simultaneously. Taylors reported, "Father, we've handed the gold to the Sina couple, quietly placing it in their room at the inn."

Rhett nodded approvingly, "Well done. Let's set off now."

"Huh? Are we heading back to the territory?" Tack asked, surprised by the sudden decision.

"No, we'll visit the Circle Tower first, then return to the territory." Rhett stood up, gently stroking Firegrid's feathers, and stepped outside the cave.

After a quick tidy-up in the cave, the group boarded Firegrid and soared into the sky.

Unknowingly, spring passed by in their busy days, and the world welcomed the passionate summer. The blazing sun hung high, scorching the earth.

After more than a month of travel, Rhett and his group arrived in the Kingdom of Rem. They sat on Firegrid's back, with a thin mist of water enveloping the young Dick to protect him from the heat.

The Circle Tower stood as lush as ever. From hundreds of meters away, Rhett could see the green forest and the brown earth, with the emerald tower standing tall, like a crane among chickens.

Tack and Taylors both widened their eyes, taking in the scenery. It was their first time visiting the capital of another kingdom, especially a renowned alchemy organization like the Circle Tower, which held a special place in Taylors' heart.

"Wow, the Circle Tower is indeed majestic, but I must say, it's quite similar to our Alchemy Tower," Taylors remarked with a smile. "I've heard that not only does it house a Saint Alchemist, but there are also a dozen Master Alchemists, with countless others below them."

Tack clicked his tongue in amazement. "That's incredible!"

"Indeed, few organizations can match them openly," Rhett agreed, acknowledging the Circle Tower's status. However, he was also aware that other forces might have hidden some of their alchemists, so their actual level might not be as far behind as it seemed. For example, he now knew that the Kingdom of Gelin secretly housed many Master Alchemists, with their alchemical prowess far exceeding what was publicly known.

As he instructed Firegrid to descend, Rhett casually mentioned, "Taylors, would you like to study here? I could arrange for you to enter."

"Study at the Circle Tower?" Taylors hesitated, his eyes flashing with interest, but he quickly shook his head decisively. "I think it's better not to. The current alchemical knowledge I'm studying is already sufficient. The guidance from Mandy and Master Massio is more than adequate for now. Plus, I need to focus on consolidating my current knowledge, conducting more alchemical experiments, and improving my level as a mage. Otherwise, even if I get access to intermediate alchemical content, I'd just be staring at it without understanding."

"Good. A clear self-awareness is the accelerator of progress. I'm glad you think that way," Rhett said. "But if you ever feel the need, let me know, and I'll make arrangements for you to study here."

After a moment's thought, Taylors nodded. "Thank you, Father, but we'll see about that in the future."

As they approached the Circle Tower, the ground below became clearer. Holding the Emerald Certificate, Rhett decided to try landing near the tower. According to the rules, most people had to enter from the outer edges of the forest and weren't allowed to land directly near the tower.

A knight riding a magical beast in the sky noticed the unusual approach and swiftly moved in to investigate. But as he got closer and saw the Emerald Certificate in Rhett's hand, his expression changed dramatically. Although the information Rhett had provided wasn't publicly shared, the Circle Tower had an internal rule to treat any holder of the Emerald Certificate with the highest respect.

"Esteemed guest, I am Ozro, guardian of the Circle Tower. Welcome."

The knight, clad in armor, spoke with a formal tone before continuing, "Are you heading to the Circle Tower... or the marketplace? I can escort you."

After a moment's thought, Rhett replied, "Where I'm going isn't important. I wish to visit Tower Master Hypaste. Could you inform him on my behalf?"

The knight was even more astonished now. Judging by his words, it seemed this man was quite familiar with the Tower Master! And with the Emerald Certificate, everything made sense.

Taking a deep breath to calm himself, the knight responded, "Esteemed guest, please wait here for a moment. I'll report to him immediately!"

"Thank you," Rhett said with a smile.

The group landed on the ground, drawing curious and astonished gazes from the people around them as they followed the knight to the Circle Tower. To keep a low profile, Rhett didn't keep the Emerald Certificate in his hand after showing it earlier. Everyone was intrigued by the group's identity.

For the second time, Rhett found himself in the Circle Tower's grand hall, its atmosphere as quiet and scholarly as before, with people passing by seldom raising their voices.

"It feels different just walking in here!" Taylors remarked, looking around with curiosity.

Tack gave Taylors a sideways glance, feeling indifferent as he held onto Dick's hand to prevent him from running off and sat at a round table to wait.

Rhett didn't have to wait long on the first floor before Julie, whom he had met twice before, came to greet him.

"Lord Rhett... No, Marquis Rhett, your progress is truly astonishing." Julie, still in her signature red mage's robe, her figure accentuated in all the right places, spoke with a warm smile as she led Rhett upstairs. "The last time we met, you were a Count, and now you're a Marquis. Your rise is nothing short of remarkable. I've heard that in the Kingdom of Gelin, the title of Marquis usually requires being at least a sixth-level Magus. Your talent is truly extraordinary, indicating a deep well of potential!"

"Talent is one thing, but I attribute my current achievements more to hard work. Everything I have today is the result of my relentless effort," Rhett replied, his tone steady.

"Is that so? Haha, I believe you've worked hard, Marquis Rhett!" Julie chuckled, not taking his words too seriously. Her experience and knowledge told her that in the harsh reality of the world, effort often paled in comparison to innate talent. To her, Rhett must have an exceptional gift!

Rhett could tell that Julie didn't fully believe him, but he didn't mind. After all, he had indeed spent countless hours training to reach his current level...

The two continued in silence until they reached the sixth floor, just below the top floor, which was reserved for Saint Alchemists and strictly off-limits without explicit permission.

"Marquis Rhett, this is as far as I can go. The Tower Master is waiting for you upstairs," Julie said, pausing her steps and gesturing towards the stairs.

"Thank you, Ms. Julie. You may return now," Rhett replied with a polite smile. He noticed what seemed like a faint barrier in the corner, but as he approached, it quickly dissipated.

As Rhett was about to ascend the stairs, Julie called out, "Marquis Rhett... are you free this evening? A new, luxurious restaurant just opened in the capital, and I'd like to invite you to dinner."

Rhett was a bit taken aback, glancing at Julie. She was smiling, her expression carrying a hint of seduction.

He shook his head. "I'm afraid I won't have time. Ms. Julie, you should head back."

"Alright... Perhaps another time, then." Julie's eyes flickered with a trace of disappointment. She had seen potential in Rhett and wanted to explore the possibility of a relationship, but it seemed that opportunity would have to wait.

As Rhett disappeared up the stairs, Julie brushed back a strand of hair and smiled gracefully, undeterred.

She wasn't desperate for love; she simply admired talent and sought someone who could secure her future. This wouldn't be her first attempt, nor would it be her last. She had the patience to wait for the right person...

The top floor of the Circle Tower was the smallest, meant for a select few. Rhett saw a small path leading to the rooftop, with sunlight flooding the area.

Facing the staircase was a room without a door, instead veiled in a semi-transparent mist, obscuring the view inside.

As Rhett stepped into the corridor, a calm voice floated from the other side of the misty entrance:

"Marquis Rhett, please come in."

Rhett's heart stirred, but he remained silent as he observed his surroundings. Seeing nothing amiss, he approached the misty entrance. Hesitant, he extended a finger to touch it, feeling a sensation like jelly.

"No need to worry. This is a self-developed alchemical device. I've already disabled its defensive function, so you can enter freely," Hypaste's voice came with a hint of amusement.