'Is this important?'
'Does he really have an image in Asher's heart?'
'Shouldn't he have, on the day he lost...'
'Ahem!'
'Not saying, not saying.'
'Men at this age...', Freya shook her head.
"Mm... sounds kind of weird," Asher propped her chin with one hand, pondered for a moment, then looked back up at the others, "So what do we do next?"
"Continue exploring a bit, or head out?", Asher seriously asked the opinions of her compani ons.
"I want to stay!", Prince raised his hand most eagerly.
Freya, who had been hesitating, twitched hard at the corner of her forehead, "SHUT UP, YOU!"
"Have you still not realized there's something wrong with this small secret realm."
"If we can get out, I think it's better we get out sooner rather than later."
Freya paused as she spoke, "But that black slime needs to be closely monitored."
"Best if we bring instruments and special containers with us next time we come in."
Taking it out for research might not be a good idea.
'But studying it here... might not be impossible?'
Asher: "..."
"I think it's better to let the Box Poison Jellyfish handle that thing."
As he spoke, Asher's eyes lit up, he raised an index finger, and said excitedly, "Actually, I have another way to deal with it, do you want to hear it?"
Hearing Asher's overly lively tone, Freya instinctively felt like something was about to happen.
Maybe...
"I want to hear it!", Felter and Prince were truly brothers.
The two of them were scarily similar in some unnecessary ways.
He was already eagerly urging Asher.
"That is—", Asher elongated his voice as if to build suspense, but in the next second he revealed the answer, "Set it on fire, forget about everything else, BURN IT ALL!"
'Clean!'
Who knows if that thing is carrying some kind of special virus.
Who knows if it'll keep reproducing, growing, and then transform into some other beast.
Leaving it there is ultimately a dangerous item.
The best way is to deal with it all in one go.
Freya: "..."
Freya looked at Asher with the eyes of someone looking at a dangerous criminal.
"Didn't expect it, really didn't expect it, Professor Asher, you actually..."
'Are this kind of person!'
'This kind of idea doesn't sound like something Asher would come up with. Way too wild!'
Asher smiled.
'Why can't I have such a wild idea? Saves a lot of trouble.'
Asher didn't want to bring this thing to the outside world at all. Who knows what problems it could cause if something slips up?
Better safe than sorry.
"I think it's doable," Felter was the first to nod.
Prince also gave a thumbs up on the side, "Burning water and mountains! Cool! I'm in!"
The only one who hadn't voiced an opinion, Freya, who was being stared at by everyone, fell silent.
"...Alright, I think it's fine too," Freya said stiffly.
'Tsk, Do it!'
Wind fanned the flames.
Little Raven spread its wings, like a small sun covering just this island alone.
Dazzling.
Unignorable.
Suddenly raised its head.
Opened its now-not-so-immature beak, filled with sharp energy, and golden-red flames spewed out.
Don't even mention the Sterling Brothers who had never seen this move before.
Even Freya, who had already seen Little Raven's True Solar Fire, couldn't help but be stunned by the scene.
'So dazzling it's almost excessive. The flame's power is truly terrifying.'
"ROAR...", Even Felter's golden armored wyvern trembled in his arms.
Its throat couldn't help but let out trembling, fearful sounds.
Felter's body was a little stiff.
While trying to comfort the golden armored wyvern, he also really wanted to comfort himself.
But his body just wouldn't listen, It didn't feel like his own anymore.
Couldn't move an inch.
"HAHAHA!", Only Prince looked completely unaffected, his eyes fixed on the blazing True Solar Fire, with flames burning in them as well.
"Such strong flames!"
"Such a great opponent!"
Felter: "..."
While wanting to complain, Felter had to admit he was a little bit envious of his brother.
'Damn it! I also want to be that strong.'
'I don't want to get scared by someone's aura.'
Asher had no idea the others were thinking so much just from Little Raven breathing out fire.
Even if it was True Solar Fire, Asher couldn't really understand it.
Seeing those slimy, nasty black sludge-like things crawling out of the cave, Asher's face visibly showed disgust.
"So gross."
"Still better to burn them all clean."
Even if it accidentally scorched some of the surrounding plants, at least it was worry-free.
The black sludge struggled in the flames.
Burned.
Finally turned to ashes.
Asher crossed his arms, eyes showing satisfaction, "Now it looks much better."
"...Feels like there's a devilish aura coming from you," Felter silently gave Asher a thumbs up.
Asher smiled, "Next, let's just stroll around a bit and see if there's anything else to take note of."
"Then we prepare to head out?"
The original plan was to stay for four days.
Now only a day and a night had passed, and they were preparing to leave.
Can't help it. Sometimes, that's just how it is.
Plans can't keep up with changes.
Prince looked like he wanted to say something.
Felter, before his brother could speak, covered his mouth hard.
"No problem!", Felter very considerately answered for Prince, "We'll listen to you, Asher!"
"Let's look around."
"Mainly see if anything was missed, then we get ready to leave."
Freya made an "OK" gesture without objection.
———
Asher and the group stared at Old Hank carrying a big pack.
Both sides were full of confusion and doubt toward each other.
"Wait, old man, what are you doing?", Felter stepped out of the folded space and had just stood firm when he saw his dad with a look like he was about to die, looking like he was going on a spring outing. He asked, full of incomprehension.
Prince even nodded from the side, "You're going on a trip without mom?"
Old Hank: "..."
"I think you guys should talk less," Asher looked at Old Hank's appearance and said softly.
He and Freya exchanged a glance.
The two sane people had the same thoughts upon seeing this scene.
'Old Hank was... planning to go into the small secret realm to find us?'
Asher was pretty sure that's most likely the case, 'But why would Old Hank suddenly make such a decision?'
Old Hank always thought he had no regrets in life besides his kids.
But just in terms of awakening... Old Hank wasn't a beastmaster.
He didn't awaken beastmaster power. He relied on his cleverness as a gold-digger.
Now he didn't even do that anymore, so why would he suddenly want to run into a small secret realm?
'Must be because Old Hank discovered something.'
"You brats...", Old Hank stepped back a bit, scanned the Asher group up and down, with joy and shock in his eyes.
Asher glanced at the speechless Prince and Felter, sighed, and stepped forward.
He took the initiative, the responsibility of explaining.
Luckily, Asher was good at summarizing.
In just a few sentences, he hit most of the key points.
"That's about it. We thought it might be unsafe inside, so decided to come out first."
Old Hank let out a long sigh after listening, put down the backpack from his shoulder.
His gaze passed over his two sons, looked at Freya, and finally landed on Asher.
Although he already sensed something when he brought them in.
But at this moment, Old Hank could feel it even more clearly, Asher was the core of this small group.
A bit unbelievable, yet it was the truth in front of him.
"Really thank you so much, Professor Asher," After some thought, Old Hank still chose this neutral yet respectful title.
"I recently received a message from Mr. May…", Thinking of the vague yet dangerous-sounding message, Old Hank had a headache.
Two sons, both of his sons were inside.
To say he didn't care, Old Hank couldn't do that.
But to say he would go in. He wasn't afraid of dying, just afraid of dying for no reason, dying too meaninglessly.
He thought about getting a badass beastmaster to go in with him.
Too weak wouldn't do. Had to at least be as strong as his eldest son. Tier 8, ace.
Then a new problem appeared for Old Hank, he couldn't find one.
If Prince had one or two friends with similar strength, it'd be easier. Whether close or not, Old Hank could at least make small talk and pull some connections.
Connections, get along long enough, and they form.
The problem is...
Prince damn well doesn't have any good friends.
The fact that people didn't think he was a big idiot was already considered respectful.
Old Hank had just cursed his sons for being useless a few more times in his heart.
Didn't expect that after just a blink, both sons appeared in front of him.
Old Hank: 'Is this for real? Seems like it is.'
"Let's head back first."
"I'll block the way here for now to prevent someone from accidentally going in and causing disaster."
Listening to Asher's earlier description, Old Hank felt it was not safe to stay here.
Who knows if someone might accidentally stumble in?
Everyone exchanged glances, mainly Asher and Freya.
"You two don't need to decline either. After all the days of exploration, you're tired. Come rest at our place first, if you want to leave later, that's fine too," Old Hank precisely guessed Asher and Freya's thoughts.
He looked back at the two of them and said with a smile.
Thinking it over, Asher and Freya didn't refuse.
"Tsk tsk, my dad must've been scared," Felter didn't know when he sidled up next to Asher and Freya and whispered quietly in their ears.
Asher: "Why do you say that?"
Curiosity is human nature.
"Because my dad usually doesn't like bringing strangers home," Felter paused, "But Miss May probably doesn't count as a complete stranger in his eyes, right?"
He rubbed his chin, as if pondering.
Freya: "..."
'Well thank you very much then.'
'I don't want this kind of treatment at all.'
Freya rolled her eyes, "Then what about Professor Asher?"
"Surely he's not considered a familiar person to your dad?"
Felter nodded, "That's what I find strange."
"Or maybe...", Felter paused, and under the curious stares of both of them, spoke.
"My dad thinks Asher is my friend?"
"My brother brought Miss May, and my dad considered Asher my frien—oof!"
Felter hadn't finished speaking when Freya elbowed him hard in the stomach.
"I suggest you use your brain. Whatever you say, run it through your head first," Freya narrowed her eyes and looked at Felter with a very unfriendly gaze.
Felter: "..."
'Got it! My brother is the one being thoroughly disliked.'
'Not saying anything now. Ouch!'
Old Hank hadn't missed the noisy sound from behind, or the voice of what seemed like his youngest son getting bullied.
But was it important? Not at all.
The kids were grown up. Let them deal with their own problems.
If they can't handle it… there are always other ways. Worst case, just lie down on the spot, maybe that wouldn't be a bad option either?
This was the educational philosophy Old Hank lived by.
Exiting the Red Mill Mountains, the five of them went straight to the Sterling household.
———
"Hoo—", Professor Hubert saw the message that had been passed through many hands and finally reached him, and finally let out a long sigh of relief.
His tightly furrowed brows also relaxed.
Professor Desmond, who had been agitated all afternoon, couldn't help but feel indignant.
'Damn it!'
'Professor Hubert shared the burden with me, and now he's relaxing before me?'
'What's going on?'
Professor Hubert saw Professor Desmond's puffed-up face, thought about how distracted he'd been all afternoon, and immediately understood the situation.
"Still thinking about Professor Asher, huh?", Professor Hubert asked with a chuckle.
Professor Desmond was silent.
Then exploded.
"How could I not?"
"You didn't even think about what you were telling me!"
The only reason he didn't explode on the spot was that he was holding himself back.
"Ahem!", Professor Hubert raised one hand to his lips and coughed lightly, his face slightly embarrassed, "Sorry to trouble you."
"But here's some good news. I just got a text from Clyde. Said his younger sister messaged him, said she was safe and already out of the small secret realm."
Hearing Professor Hubert's words, Professor Desmond didn't react at first.
He blinked, then he understood.
Professor Desmond finally showed a relaxed smile on his face, "This is a good thing."
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