Chapter 80: Older Brother
The side effects of using spatial magic were significant; she needed to recover and clear her head.
“I should use it less in the future, the spatial turbulence is too much to handle.”
After all, not everyone could use spatial magic. Only Creators, specializing in spatial magic, were immune to the side effects.
That was the downside of spatial scrolls…
“But the floor is cold, Master. Let me help you back to your room to rest,” Mines offered with concern.
“Alright.”
Lena saw no reason to refuse, so she agreed.
But before she could even get up, a slender hand slipped beneath her knees, and she was lifted into a princess carry…
“Master, you’re so light.”
The rustling of fabric and the citrus fragrance filled the air.
Hearing Mines’s soft voice so close, Lena felt a strange role reversal.
But her usual composure didn’t waver, and she asked calmly, “You seem surprised… and is this what you call ‘helping’?”
Good, the little dove’s wings had hardened, daring to disobey her master after just one day.
Very good…
Mines chuckled, her pale face devoid of color. “Master doesn’t know, this is the Cabaliga custom. I thought it would be difficult to carry Master, given your height, but Master anticipated my anticipation, Master is so amazing…”
Lena: “…”
She didn’t know what to say.
But Mines was truly skilled at flattery, her sweet words like a gentle spring rain, making it impossible to refuse her kindness.
This delicate, frail girl was quite endearing, a rare type of beauty.
But what was this “Cabaliga custom”?
Using that as an excuse?
Lena inhaled the refreshing citrus scent, almost forgetting she was being carried…
“We’re here, Master, your study.”
Mines was slightly out of breath after climbing the stairs, a faint blush on her cheeks, a few strands of hair clinging to her forehead.
Lena was, after all, an adult, with a height advantage. Mines was struggling slightly.
But as a qualified bodyguard, Mines diligently fulfilled her duties, memorizing Lena’s physical data to make accurate judgments in critical situations.
“Master’s body is so soft and light, mm, I’ve learned more about Master…”
One seventy-six.
Fifty-five.
And so big, so soft, so white…
Mines stared at her hands, then at the gray-haired beauty resting on the chaise lounge with her eyes closed. While carrying Lena, she had inevitably brushed against certain areas, the sensation making her heart race.
Lena smiled at Mines’s distraction, shifting her legs, intentionally revealing a glimpse of her thighs, then asking, “Did anything happen while I was away?”
“Yes,” Mines answered quickly, as if already familiar with the mansion’s routines. “Miss Alice and Miss Emma delivered a list. They found the ‘stinky bastard’s’ lair last night, the Necromancer who cursed Miss Angel’s pet. He confessed everything and is willing to surrender to the Falmouths for protection.”
“Oh,” Lena filed her nails nonchalantly. “Anything else?”
“…Miss Angel also came last night, but after learning you weren’t here, she completed her teaching duties and left.”
“That’s her style, very responsible.”
Lena nodded, sitting up and looking at Mines, her gaze filled with scrutiny and suspicion. “Nothing else?”
“That’s all, Master. The rest are just trivial matters within the mansion, I didn’t think you would be interested… Master, would you like to review them?”
Mines offered a ledger with an apologetic expression.
Lena flipped through a few pages, her eyes not actually focusing on the contents, then closed it slowly, her gaze slightly reproachful. “Don’t try to second-guess me. If I didn’t ask, would you have just kept guessing? Or do you want to be the master of this house?”
“I’m sorry, Master! It was my negligence!” Mines lowered her head, her shoulders slumping.
“Pfft, just kidding~”
Lena’s lighthearted words eased Mines’s tension.
“But…”
However, the following “but” sent Mines’s heart racing again.
She was terrified of being fired, especially for her own shortcomings.
After all, she was prepared to dedicate herself to the Falmouths, following her heart’s desire, unable to leave Lena’s side.
“Don’t worry, Mines, as long as the Falmouths exist, you can stay. I can guarantee that… The ‘Dove’s Flock’ needs you, you must lead them when I’m not around.”
Lena paced around the study, her heels clicking against the wooden floor.
Click, click, click— click, click, click—
Her emotions were brewing.
Her words had their intended effect, and Mines’s desire for reassurance was greater than any love confession.
“I understand. I will make the Dove’s Flock the pride of the Falmouth family, Master, please rest assured.”
A gentle head pat.
Lena kissed Mines’s lips, gently biting…
Mines wrapped her arms around Lena’s slender neck, deepening the kiss.
Not enough… not enough, Master…
She had developed a taste for it, her lungs empty, her body limp, a blush spreading across her cheeks as they finally parted.
“Master smells so good…”
Mines covered her lips with her hand, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, as if savoring a delicious delicacy.
Lena pulled her hand away, revealing the saliva that had turned into foamy bubbles, increasing with time.
Mines opened her mouth, showing the fruits of her labor, then mumbled, “Master’s… and mine… mixed together, so we’ll never be apart…”
Gulp—
The sound of her swallowing was clearly audible.
“Cough, cough… hack, cough…”
“Honestly,” Lena looked at the choking girl with exasperation, gently rubbing her back. “Don’t do that again, it’s bad for your health…”
“Mm,” Mines nodded, tears welling up in her eyes.
“Let’s go, we have to go to the academy. We’ll send the princess back, there’s still much to do today.” Lena glanced at the clock on the wall, her schedule packed.
“I wonder when we’ll see the hero…”
Hopefully later, she still had a lot of preparations to make, she hadn’t even fully conquered Vanessa yet. Of course, if she could see the hero now, she wouldn’t mind putting on a show…
Such a wonderful beginning, she had to plan carefully.
…
A clear blue sky, a gentle sea breeze.
After several days of travel, the glass bird finally reached the waters west of the Iseniri Continent, known as the Devil’s Sea.
Bordering the abyss, the Devil’s Sea was a nightmare for all empires. The abyssal creatures that emerged from it carried dangerous abyssal energy, deadly to the touch.
They caused hundred-meter tsunamis, attacking passing ships, even swimming thousands of miles, their mountainous bodies swallowing entire nations, dragging them into the depths of the sea.
The abyssal creatures were invincible…
At some point, strange rumors began to spread among the people, even giving rise to a cult that worshiped these creatures and their abyssal lord.
[Beneath the deep sea lies eternal paradise]
This doctrine made the cult incredibly popular, attracting countless followers and amassing wealth.
Finally, the three empires, unable to tolerate it any longer, issued a bounty for abyssal creatures, promising treasures, land, and a noble title to anyone who could slay them, finally quelling some of the unrest…
These were the tales of the older generation, passed down to this day.
And with the rapid development of magic technology, adventurers and fortune seekers flocked to the Devil’s Sea, hoping to strike it rich.
The result was predictable.
Those lacking the courage to face the deep sea were either swept away by tsunamis or devoured by giant sea beasts. Some disappeared without a trace, never even seeing an abyssal creature.
Thus, the Devil’s Sea gradually became a forbidden zone…
Disaster, terror, and misfortune became synonymous with the abyss, like an incurable disease, deeply rooted in the world…
Yet, in this desolate sea, avoided for centuries, now lay a massive fleet of magic warships!
They represented the First Almeria Empire, the expeditionary force of the Falmouth family!
A colossal aircraft carrier, majestic and imposing, slowly but steadily advanced, surrounded by hundreds of smaller warships, each equipped with powerful magic cannons, capable of destroying a Lord-level abyssal creature with a single shot. And in dire situations, they could even launch suicide attacks, ramming their sturdy hulls into the giant creatures…
On the deck,
A soldier found the depleted glass bird, picking it up and examining it.
“Holy shit!”
His eyes widened, fixated on the faint family crest on the bird’s beak, as if he had seen something terrifying.
“Commander! Get the Commander! It’s a letter from the young lady!! Miss actually sent a letter to the Commander!!!”
Like a monkey king descending from the heavens, the soldier shouted excitedly, but the aircraft carrier was too large, his excitement unnoticed.
He pulled the alarm on his shoulder, contacting the watchtower.
“A letter for the Commander!” the soldier shouted.
His voice finally attracted the attention of the nearby watchtower. Soon, a patrol arrived, the tall, thin young officer in charge pulling the soldier into the vehicle. After seeing the sender, he said gravely, “Well done, we’ll take you to the Commander. He should still be near Tagga Bay, hunting a King-level abyssal creature.”
…
Butch, male, 28 years old.
He despised cowards who deserted their posts, loved thrilling battles and leveling up, and doted on his younger sister…
Of course, the last one was the most important; everything else was secondary, because he only had one sister, and she was beautiful and talented.
He was an eccentric, almost everyone said so, including his family.
But he was also a combat genius, born for battle, destined to die on the battlefield.
Realizing he couldn’t break through his bottleneck, he left home, embarking on an expedition to the Devil’s Sea in the name of the empire, his sword pointed at the abyss.
Although most people thought his obsession with challenging his limits was foolish, his strong, granite-like muscles didn’t lie. He was truly pushing himself to the limit, becoming stronger through life-or-death battles with abyssal creatures.
“Hell yeah, I’m on fire!”
Butch excitedly punched a King-level abyssal creature he had been hunting, skillfully disemboweling it and retrieving the glowing core, filled with abyssal energy.
“Too easy… well, my little sister should like this gift, a Necromancer needs this.”
“Commander!”
“Oh?”
A small boat approached, stopping beside the mountainous remains of the abyssal creature. The young officer stepped out, saluting the muscular man, his back straight, his expression tense. “A letter for you, Commander!”
“Who would send me a letter?”
Butch scratched his head, unable to imagine who would write to him.
It must be from home…
“It seems the old man misses me, hahaha, perfect timing, I haven’t been back in a while.” Butch chuckled, clapping the young officer’s shoulder, his calloused knuckles like sharp claws. “Relax, Lieutenant, I don’t bite. This Phytos is yours, consider it a lucky find.”
“Thank you, Commander!”
The Lieutenant stood at attention, the soldiers behind him saluting in unison.
A King-level Phytos… worth a year’s salary, and the Commander had given it away so easily. The letter’s contents must be important…
“Commander, this is for you.”
The dull glass bird was handed to him, and Butch eagerly opened it, freezing in place. “Little sister?”
[My dearest brother,
I hope this letter finds you well.
It’s been years, and I miss you dearly.
I hope we can reunite under the next full moon. I wish you a safe return to the empire.
I’ll send someone to meet you.
—Lena Falmouth]
He finished reading the letter.
Receiving a letter from home while overseas should have been a joyous occasion, but Butch’s heart was heavy.
“With my little sister’s arrogant attitude, she would never write to me… Did something happen to her, or…”
Butch stared at the letter bearing the Falmouth family crest.
Or was this letter not from his sister at all…?
“Commander, where are you going?” On the small boat, the young officer watched in confusion as Butch disembarked, walking towards a rocky outcrop.
“You go ahead. I need to go back. I have to ensure my sister’s safety before I can face the abyss.”
Butch said, his back to them.
He casually threw a punch, the scene before him shattering like a mirror, the stable space distorted by the force of his blow. Butch stepped into the distorted space…
