SSS Class Infinite Regression: Ascension of the Mad Dragon Prince-Chapter 176: The Farmer’s Son [3] — Family

"But it's important for you to understand these things," she said, crossing her arms. "Alright then, eat your horned rabbit stew, dear, or it'll get cold."

"I'm not hungry…" he sighed.

"What do you mean you're not hungry?! You always eat three plates!" she exclaimed. "Come on, dear—your tummy hurts, I bet. Just eat. For me?"

"…Ugh."

Timothy sighed and ate the stew. It was delicious. He finished every bite, drank all the broth, and dipped the bread until nothing remained.

"Thanks…" he offered a bitter smile. His mother smiled warmly and hugged him.

"You know I'll always love you no matter what, right?" she said. "I'm sorry… for not being able to do more back then. Life's never fair, son. But what matters is what we make of what we have."

"I guess…" Timothy nodded, still heavy with sadness. His mother gave him one last squeeze and left.

"Make sure to sleep early. Don't stay up too late. Tomorrow morning we have a lot to harvest."

"Okay…"

Seeing her son nod and lie back down, his mother quietly closed the door.

Timothy fell asleep—and dreamed of someone with long white hair and glowing yellow eyes staring straight into his soul.

A hand pointed directly at his chest. A voice echoed through his mind.

"There's more to you than you imagine, Timothy."

Terrified, he saw a gigantic white dragon looming behind the silhouette—glowing yellow eyes, wings of pure light.

"Awaken!"

The dragon roared. Its maw opened wide. Blinding light consumed him completely.

"Aaaahhh!"

He jolted awake in his bed, gasping for air, looking around in disbelief. It had all been a strange, disturbing dream.

"What in tarnation was that?"

He shook his head, sighed, and groaned as the memory of yesterday returned. He was still a talentless nobody. Grumpily he climbed out of bed and heard his family already eating breakfast downstairs.

His little sister stood right outside his door, ready to wake him.

"Big bro! Breakfast time… you're late!" she said with a cute giggle.

"Ah… right…" Timothy nodded. He shuffled to the bathroom, washed his face, and stared at his tired, depressed reflection. "Fuck this shitty life…"

He went downstairs and joined his family, eating his crunchy cereal in silence while trying to forget the dream and accept his fate with bitterness and resentment.

"So, are you still sad about yesterday?" his father asked, finishing his sandwich.

Timothy didn't answer—just kept eating.

"Come on, Timothy. Enough is enough, don't you think?" his father pressed. "There's no point crying over spilled milk. It just happens! You have a job here and always will. So why worry? Enjoy your carefree life, son. I wish I'd had it at your age."

"Hm…" Timothy sighed and nodded. "I guess…"

His father couldn't reach him, so he gave up and headed to the farm. "I've already harvested some Moongrains and Sunroot. Why don't you take your sister and sell them in town? They sell fast. Make sure to get the best price."

For a change of pace, he decided to let his son handle the sale—handing him a large basket of both crops.

Moongrain was silver-sheened wheat that glowed under moonlight; eating it enhanced dream-visions and prophetic clarity. Elves—especially Moonlight Elves and their descendants—paid excellent prices for it.

Sunroot was a more common golden tuber that stored sunlight; it provided warmth in winter and fueled fire magic. Smoked, it became a beloved winter snack—eating just one warmed the body and helped survive the harsh, snowy months.

"Do I really have to?" Timothy asked.

"Come on, it'll help clear your head," his father said, grabbing a shovel and walking off. "I'll be busy."

"Can I go? Can I go? Can I go? Can I go?" Alicia jumped excitedly, begging her mother and brother to let her come along.

"Ah, I'll be busy helping your father," her mother sighed. "Can't you take care of your sister? Bring her along so she can have some fun—just make sure she doesn't get lost."

"Ugh… fine," Timothy sighed, nodding as his mother hurried off to join her husband.

After finishing breakfast and taking a quick shower, Timothy got ready to leave. Alicia had been waiting impatiently, clutching her teddy bear.

"Big bro, can you buy me candy?" she asked.

"I don't have any money on me, Alicia," he sighed.

"But if you sell the crops…" she pressed. "You'll have some!"

"I can't just spend Dad's money," Timothy said, glaring at her.

"But we haven't eaten candy in forever…" she whined. "I want candy!"

"I said no—Agh, stop it!" Timothy groaned as she grabbed his leg and clung tight, making it impossible to walk while carrying the heavy basket on his back. "Quit it already… Haaa, okay, okay."

"Yaaay!" Alicia dashed toward town.

"Wait! Alicia, don't run!" he called, chasing after her.

Once they reached town, she bolted straight to the candy store. Timothy hurried after her and found her staring longingly at the colorful sweets the old shopkeeper sold.

"Hmm, I wonder which flavor I should pick?" she mused.

"Hoho, little Alicia—back for more sweets?" the old man chuckled.

"Uncle! Do you have chocolate?" she asked.

"Alicia!" Timothy caught up. "Sorry about this—we don't have any money yet… Come on, let's go. How do you expect me to buy anything if we haven't sold the crops?"

"But I want it now! Now, now, now!" she pouted angrily.

"Have patience…" Timothy dragged her away.

As he headed toward the market, he noticed Jonathan walking past—now wearing leather armor made from beasts his father had hunted, carrying a long spear tipped with a large creature's fang.

"Hey, look who it is—the loser," Jonathan laughed. His three friends joined in.

"What's up, loser?"

"Coming to sell your crops?"

"You can't even grow those yourself, haha."

"…Grr," Timothy grit his teeth, glaring murderously—but said nothing. He looked away, choosing to ignore them, and walked toward the marketplace.

There he noticed a strangely tall, slender figure moving among the stalls.

"An elf?"

The person wore a white-and-gold military uniform, had long white hair, golden eyes… and golden horns. His gaze was sharp as he examined the ingredients and crops for sale.

"Who is that guy?"

♢♢♢♢

Jonathan and his friends laughed as they left the farmlands and reached an open grassland leading toward a small spirit forest.

"So it was this way?" Jonathan asked.

"Yeah, Jonathan—I saw that weird thing in the swamp this morning when I went fishing!" one friend replied, a black-haired boy with rat-like teeth.

"And you're sure it's what you think it is?" Jonathan asked, eyebrow raised.

"I swear! I've never seen anything as weird as that! I bet it's an Entity!" the boy insisted.

"An Entity? So that's what we're looking for? Aren't they super dangerous?" another friend asked nervously.

"My dad always says we shouldn't even get close to them… They're not like regular magic beasts…"

The other two looked visibly afraid and hesitated, but Jonathan smirked confidently. "What? Chickening out now? It'll be fine, cowards—I'm here. If I take down an Entity, my dad will probably reward me with a better weapon! And… imagine the money we could make selling its core! We'll be filthy rich."

His friends exchanged nervous glances, but Jonathan's cocky assurance made them nod and follow.

After walking deeper, they reached a darker part of the forest—close to the barrier separating these lands from the outside world.

There, a small puddle of black water squirmed as they approached. Jonathan slowly advanced, guided by his friend.

"Is it here?"

"Yeah—I saw it right over there. Throw a stone or a stick."

Jonathan picked up a rock and tossed it into the black water.

Nothing happened. He grew annoyed.

"If we came all this way for nothing, I'm beating your ass!" he snapped.

"I-I wasn't lying!" his friend swore. "I saw— Ahhh! T-There! Look!"

"...?!"

Jonathan's eyes widened. Something rose from the black pond—vines with golden spines and blooming red flowers, each petal bearing staring eyes. "No way… it's an Entity! Holy shit!"

He stepped closer to the small creature watching him in silence, slowly raising his spear. "Okay—stand right there!"

He thrust forward, infusing the weapon with weak Fire Element. Small flames flickered along the blade—enough to burn plants easily.

And yet…

"Woah?!"

The vine creature wrapped its tendrils around the spear, effortlessly deflecting the thrust and yanking back.

"Aaaahh!"

Jonathan refused to let go of the spear his father had gifted him. He nearly fell forward, but his three friends grabbed him and pulled him back, forcing him to release it.

"No! My spear!"

He watched in horror as the creature narrowed its many eyes, seized the spear, tore it in two, and discarded it. Then it began rising from the black pond—far larger than they had imagined.

Way bigger.

Bigger than a bear.

"SHYEEEEH!"

It shrieked furiously and charged—moving in unnatural, jerking motions. At the same moment, the boys suffered a sudden, splitting headache and a painful ringing in their ears.

"Aaaaahhh! Run!"

Jonathan screamed in terror and bolted first. His friends followed—unaware they were leading the creature straight toward the village…

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