Chapter 19

"Clank! Clank... Clank..."

As the big bell of Sulfur Mountain City tolled through the sky, it was already noon, the time for the midday meal. When the restoration magic was activated, I felt a wave of dizziness and found myself back in my home.

And as my mind cleared, the first thing I did was to check my body.

"One, two, three... twenty-four. Strange, the brat has changed her ways? My ribs are all intact."

Just as I was surprised by my intact ribs and was about to check if my toes were missing, a voice tinged with dissatisfaction sounded from behind me.

"Uncle Bones, I've grown up, I won't mess with a man's parts anymore."

That's true, but why does it sound so awkward?

I turned around, and the red-haired girl was glaring at me. As I saw, the once mischievous brat had now grown into a graceful young lady.

Due to the special training method of the Fire Phoenix lineage, her long, fiery red hair fluttered in the wind, her long, slender legs were as straight as a compass, and her round, baby-faced oval face had become a sharp, almond-shaped face. What remained unchanged were her innocent eyes and the tear mole below her right eye, which added a touch of femininity.

"Oh, humans grow up so fast. Yesterday, she was still a brat shouting 'kuma, kuma,' and today, she's already a fine woman."

As I turned my head, Annie initially had a serious expression, then she was surprised, and finally, she burst out laughing.

"Damn, my image." I pulled off the seal on my head with a blank expression, silently took the cloth from Elisa, and wiped off the turtle on my skull.

What? Can't understand? I just played two rounds of mahjong with Little Red and accidentally lost two games... Hmph, I didn't lose. Little Red was worse off; she was already covered in drawings and could pass as a black dragon without makeup.

As for why we didn't bet with gold or valuables, but just stuck seals and drew turtles, it's because both of us are magic experts with no moral bottom line. If we had used real stakes, this simple game to pass time would have turned into a cheating contest, or... what? Superpowered mahjong girls?

Alright, it seems to subtly hint at something, so let's call it a genius magic mahjong boy.

"Ah, these days, it's so hard to play a simple game of mahjong."

Annie was covering her mouth and giggling. I knew I must look terrible, with a turtle drawn on my head. The half-dragons who were called in to play were also looking at us in surprise...

"Is it that strange? Can't evil liches and destructive red dragons sit down to play mahjong and pass the time? Do we have to always gather to discuss how to destroy the world?"

"No, no." The red-haired girl shook her head.

"I went out for a while, and the world changed. When I came back, the people I used to know seemed strange. They always want Annie to do this and that, speaking in a roundabout way. Seeing those fake smiles, Annie has been feeling uneasy these days. But now, seeing Aunt Little Red and Uncle Bones still the same, it's really great."

Annie smiled, her smile filled with a hard-to-describe nostalgia and satisfaction. It seemed that this training journey had also made the little princess of Sulfur Mountain City grow a lot.

"Smack!"

I, however, unromantically hit her on the head with a bone.

"How old are you? Don't act so old. Sighing and reminiscing is for old people. I'm still young, so it's fine to call me Uncle, but calling Little Red..."

"Annie knows. When I see Aunt Little Red, I'll call her Little Red Sister. Otherwise, when no one's around, Aunt Little Red will hide in the rock wall and cry. She cries so loud, they can hear it from the bottom of the mountain. She doesn't know, it's so embarrassing."

"Right, that's better. Overage unmarried girls are sensitive, we should sympathize with them, understand them, and care for them. If you see Margaret, what do you call her?"

"Margaret Sister! Annie knows."

"Right, remember to call her that in front of Adam." I chuckled as I said this.

Annie is Adam's disciple and also his adopted daughter. Margaret giving Annie her last name, Levin, undoubtedly indicates some intentions. Unfortunately, Annie has always called her sister, which has been a source of frustration for Margaret, who is inexplicably a generation older than Adam.

Of course, making her even more frustrated is my duty.

"Remember, compliment Margaret on how young and beautiful she is, and how she doesn't match that old man Adam at all." The premise of a child's innocent words is that no one is teaching them...

"Sir, Teacher Margaret has a message. If you continue to mislead Annie, she will use the Academy's name to cut the funds that are nominally for office expenses but are actually used by you to buy rare ancient books."

I had forgotten that I have a spy for Margaret right by my side. Although I've always been curious how a sage and a half-demon can get along, my head maid, Elisa, is indeed Margaret's nominal disciple.

Short hair, gold-rimmed glasses, a blank expression, and a sharp tongue—these are all Margaret's traits. Even the way she stands high up, her right hand on her glasses, looking down at me with a cold, condescending gaze, is so much like her that I can't help but sigh.

"Can you stop imitating Margaret? You're becoming more and more like that old maid. Be careful, or you'll end up unmarried like her."

"Being close to my teacher is an honor. Then, I'll pass on your evaluation of the teacher to her. You can look forward to having your funds cut."

"Then I'll cut your 'observer' activity funds and let your spies force you to pay them."

"Go ahead. Then I'll embezzle the living expenses of the mansion. Do you want to experience a sudden cut in water and fire? Do you want all the candles to go out in the middle of the night? Do you want the flush toilet to explode..."

"Hey, hey, hey, this has nothing to do with funds anymore. You're a bad-hearted maid trying to rob and kill me!"

"You're a black-hearted boss who owes migrant workers..."

"Pfft!" Watching our bickering, Annie burst out laughing.

"Elisa Sister is still the same, that's great. Elisa Sister and Uncle Bones still have such a good relationship, it's really enviable."

"Our relationship is not good!" This time, Elisa and I spoke in unison.

---

Annie played a bit at the old house and then bid farewell to go home. As the future city lord who had just completed her travels, she had countless lessons to catch up on.

Standing by the windowsill, I watched the former mischievous brat, now walking like a lady, and couldn't help but sigh.

"The change is really great."

Indeed, humans are the most changeable creatures. Annie's growth and transformation have exceeded my expectations.

"Annie Levin, Race: Human, Class: Level 60 Warrior / Level 18 Sword Saint, Overall Evaluation: Level 78, Peak Gold, Half-Step Legendary."

I'm not talking about her personality or figure, but her basic strength.

The current Annie is someone I might not be able to defeat without using my trump cards.

Black Iron bloodline, Bronze body, Silver dignity—each step is a lifetime challenge for ordinary people. If someone reaches the peak of Silver at level 60 and wants to advance further, they must attempt to break through to a higher class, which is the dividing line between mortals and heroes.

If they successfully break through and obtain a higher class, entering the Gold Will stage, they become what the world calls a master, and it implies that in the world's perception, Gold-level experts are often old.

Annie is only seventeen, and reaching the Silver stage at this age is already considered a genius by the world. As for the peak of Gold... Elisa is also at the peak of Gold, but she has been taught by two demigod mages, Adam and Margaret, and it took her over a hundred years...

The reason they are called Gold Will is that Gold-level experts can already use their will to alter the reality of the world, surpassing the limits of mortals.

When I was hailed as the Radiant Son, I only broke through to the Gold stage at fourteen, with the advantage of a Paladin's holy light, which made the breakthrough easier. I was still far from the peak of Gold, yet I was already hailed as a genius that the Holy Church encounters once every three hundred years.

"Should I marvel at the super hero who killed me in the 'original history'? If I was a genius that the world encounters once every three hundred years, should Annie be a genius that the world encounters once every five hundred years?"

For some reason, I thought of another man called a genius and a hero. That year, the red-haired boy stood in front of me with a foolish look.

"Big Brother, your sword skills are amazing. Can you teach me? My name is Adam, from White Rock Village. My goal is to become a hero, marry Lisa, and... go back to the countryside to show off! Oh, and become a rich man, like the old Peter next door, who doesn't work but collects rent, and spends his days smoking and watching others work..."

Over a hundred years have passed, and the country boy has completed the first half of his hero's dream. Unfortunately, the second half is destined to remain unfulfilled.

The once foolish boy is still foolish, but he told me just a few days ago that he has lived enough, misses home, and wants to die...

"Pity, Adam..."

I shook my head. After so many years of knowing him, I knew his resolve wouldn't change. At this moment, I put aside my emotions and focused on rational thinking.

Annie's growth speed is too fast, almost unbelievable.

"Even with the help of the elemental tide, making advancement easier, it shouldn't be this fast... No, Adam was also extraordinary. It must be a characteristic of their lineage. Phoenixes, by nature, become stronger as they approach death, and they burn themselves before dying, passing on their strength and experience to the next generation, allowing them to grow rapidly... So, is Adam's time coming?"

Thinking about it, it makes sense. That guy wouldn't think of seeking my help until the end.

For some reason, I recalled the days we adventured together 130 years ago. Back then, Adam was still a fool, Margaret was a novice mage, Lisa was a natural thief, and Little Red was the team's mascot and hidden boss.

I was more of a babysitter, taking the rookies to gain experience, always busy cleaning up the mess. Although it was tiring every day, it was indeed fun.

"Then, I need to speed up my actions. I hope to be resurrected soon. At least, as the big brother in that fool's words, I want to send that silly fool off in his original form."

---

Annie played a bit at the old house and then bid farewell to go home. As the future city lord who had just completed her travels, she had countless lessons to catch up on.

Standing by the windowsill, I watched the former mischievous brat, now walking like a lady, and couldn't help but sigh.

"The change is really great."

Indeed, humans are the most changeable creatures. Annie's growth and transformation have exceeded my expectations.

"Annie Levin, Race: Human, Class: Level 60 Warrior / Level 18 Sword Saint, Overall Evaluation: Level 78, Peak Gold, Half-Step Legendary."

I'm not talking about her personality or figure, but her basic strength.

The current Annie is someone I might not be able to defeat without using my trump cards.

Black Iron bloodline, Bronze body, Silver dignity—each step is a lifetime challenge for ordinary people. If someone reaches the peak of Silver at level 60 and wants to advance further, they must attempt to break through to a higher class, which is the dividing line between mortals and heroes.

If they successfully break through and obtain a higher class, entering the Gold Will stage, they become what the world calls a master, and it implies that in the world's perception, Gold-level experts are often old.

Annie is only seventeen, and reaching the Silver stage at this age is already considered a genius by the world. As for the peak of Gold... Elisa is also at the peak of Gold, but she has been taught by two demigod mages, Adam and Margaret, and it took her over a hundred years...

The reason they are called Gold Will is that Gold-level experts can already use their will to alter the reality of the world, surpassing the limits of mortals.

When I was hailed as the Radiant Son, I only broke through to the Gold stage at fourteen, with the advantage of a Paladin's holy light, which made the breakthrough easier. I was still far from the peak of Gold, yet I was already hailed as a genius that the Holy Church encounters once every three hundred years.

"Should I marvel at the super hero who killed me in the 'original history'? If I was a genius that the world encounters once every three hundred years, should Annie be a genius that the world encounters once every five hundred years?"

For some reason, I thought of another man called a genius and a hero. That year, the red-haired boy stood in front of me with a foolish look.

"Big Brother, your sword skills are amazing. Can you teach me? My name is Adam, from White Rock Village. My goal is to become a hero, marry Lisa, and... go back to the countryside to show off! Oh, and become a rich man, like the old Peter next door, who doesn't work but collects rent, and spends his days smoking and watching others work..."

Over a hundred years have passed, and the country boy has completed the first half of his hero's dream. Unfortunately, the second half is destined to remain unfulfilled.

The once foolish boy is still foolish, but he told me just a few days ago that he has lived enough, misses home, and wants to die...

"Pity, Adam..."

I shook my head. After so many years of knowing him, I knew his resolve wouldn't change. At this moment, I put aside my emotions and focused on rational thinking.

Annie's growth speed is too fast, almost unbelievable.

"Even with the help of the elemental tide, making advancement easier, it shouldn't be this fast... No, Adam was also extraordinary. It must be a characteristic of their lineage. Phoenixes, by nature, become stronger as they approach death, and they burn themselves before dying, passing on their strength and experience to the next generation, allowing them to grow rapidly... So, is Adam's time coming?"

Thinking about it, it makes sense. That guy wouldn't think of seeking my help until the end.

For some reason, I recalled the days we adventured together 130 years ago. Back then, Adam was still a fool, Margaret was a novice mage, Lisa was a natural thief,