Chapter 46

Ska’dur’s home looked like a master carpenter made it. Made from cut stone and wood, the structure’s design didn’t lose out to those in the city. While a little small, all the rooms were properly furnished. Rugs, comfy sofas, decorations; Ska’dur’s home had everything a normal house had. The difference was he made them all himself.

While Ska’dur began cooking in the kitchen, Keith was awed at how masterful the paintings hanging on the walls were. He didn’t expect the imposing Ska’dur to have such a delicate side to him. Was there anything he wasn’t proficient in?

Markus saw Keith observing a particular painting and asked, “Do you recognize her?”

The painting Keith was looking at portrayed an epic battle between a middle-aged woman and a lanky demon. The woman had manifested a gigantic apparition, her every move smashing mountains and carving ravines in the earth, while the demon employed various sinister magics.

Keith nodded with a solemn expression. “Is this what happened 500 years ago?”

“It should be.” Markus took a deep breath. “At the time, Ska’dur was the strongest person in the Innate Dimension, yet he could only observe the cataclysmic battle from afar in fear of losing his life.”

“It feels so surreal, like it has nothing to do with me.” Keith shook his head.

“I feel the same.”

The two fell silent as they thought about various things. Shortly after, a certain aroma spread over, catching the father and son’s attention. They walked over to the kitchen and found Ska’dur glazing a freshly cooked set of ribs that practically screamed ‘eat me!’. As Ska’dur put on the finishing touches, he asked Keith without looking up, “Brat, I have water, apple juice, orange juice, and tea. What do you want?”

“I’ll take apple juice, please,” Keith replied.

Markus felt an ominous premonition when he saw Ska’dur not ask him anything. “What about me?”

“You?” Ska’dur looked up with a grin. “You can test my latest batch of wine.”

Markus gave a bitter smile. “You’re still working on that?”

“Of course, I don’t give up easily. It takes a lot of time to ferment a single batch. Unlike other brewmasters who can collaborate, I need to experiment independently, so progress is slow,” Ska’dur shook his head.

A few moments later, they sat around the dinner table and began to eat. Ska’dur watched as Markus took a sip of wine. “How is it?”

Markus was pleasantly surprised. “It’s not bad. You’ve improved.”

Keith, growing interested, decided to have a taste and promptly gagged. “How can you guys drink this stuff?”

Ska’dur sneered as Keith rubbed a napkin against his tongue. “You’ll understand when you get older, brat.”

After finishing the ribs, Markus and Ska’dur brought each other up to speed with their recent activities, leaving Keith sitting there like a third wheel. A while later, Ska’dur suddenly announced. “Rhea’s back.”

“How can you tell?” Keith asked curiously. He hadn’t sensed anything.

Ska’dur pointed to his ear and said proudly, “By her gait.”

Keith gave Ska’dur a strange look.

“What’s with that expression?” Ska’dur’s eyes widened, speechless.

“I just realized something,” Keith glanced at his Dad and shook his head. “With your stats, I bet you guys hear all sorts of things, huh?”

Markus choked on his drink as Keith continued, “Apparently, I need to buy a soundproof array for my room.”

Ska’dur’s face turned red, whether from embarrassment or anger. “Brat, you think I use my hearing for those indecent things? It’s for combat. Combat!”

“Ahem,” Markus coughed onto his fist. “That’s right. Trying to spy on people with your natural senses is something only ingrates would do.”

Seeing how hard they were defending themselves, Keith simply rolled his eyes. “Calm down, alright? I believe you.”

Although Keith said so, anyone could tell he didn’t trust them in the slightest. Infuriated, Ska’dur stood up and snickered, “Come, come, let’s go outside. I can’t wait for my little angel to kick your ass.”

Ska’dur turned and strolled out the front door without waiting for a response, yelling, “Rhea! Rhea, where are you?! You have another challenger!”

At first, Keith was laughing his heart out, but he leaped to his feet when he heard what Ska’dur said. He rushed out the door with a pale face, immediately regretting poking fun at Ska’dur. Keith was here to have a proper duel, not to win Rhea’s heart. For Ska’dur to misconstrue Keith’s intentions, how could he be so petty?

Unfortunately, it was too late, as the next thing Keith heard was a charming young woman’s voice holler, “Slimeballs, another one? Where’s he at? Let me punch his face in!”

When Keith exited Ska’dur’s house, he saw Rhea walking over while crunching her knuckles with a fierce expression. At first glance, she was much more mature compared to three years ago. While her muscles were more pronounced and defined, she retained a woman’s charm. It was no wonder countless young men came to gain her affection.

“It’s you?” Rhea froze when she recognized Keith. “You’re here to challenge me?”

Keith was profoundly embarrassed as he gave a small wave. He didn’t forget to glare at Ska’dur as he said, “Hi, it’s been a while. Don’t listen to your Dad. He’s speaking nonsense.”

Rhea relaxed upon hearing that. “So, what’s the occasion? Are you here to become a wanderer?”

“Uh, no,” Keith quickly declined, much to Rhea’s disappointment. He took a deep breath before explaining, “Do you remember when we met? You might not have had much of an impression of me, but meeting you challenged my way of life. We were the same age, but you had already accomplished so much. It left me deeply ashamed of myself. After that day, I strove hard to experience many things and improve myself with you as my goal.”

For some reason, Rhea’s eyes practically glowed. “So I’m your role model?”

Keith nodded. At this point, he avoided Rhea’s gaze as he continued, “Lately, I’ve been wondering how I compare to you. If I closed the gap by just a little, it meant all my hard work wasn’t for nothing.”

Keith’s heart was pounding so hard he felt faint. Why did it sound like he was confessing to his crush? Whatever. He already said what he needed to say.

Unexpectedly, Rhea beamed with joy as she walked up to Keith and patted his shoulder. “I understand. I can’t let you down as your role model, now can I? However, don’t think I’ll go easy on you.”

Keith met Rhea’s gaze and smiled. “Go all out. I want to see the gap between us.”

Markus and Ska’dur stood side-by-side, watching their children walk away from the tribe to find a good place to spar. Ska’durs folded his arms and sighed, “That brat’s temperament is extraordinary. He isn’t afraid of showing others his weaknesses. Rather, he embraces them.”

Markus grinned proudly. “That means a lot coming from you.”

“Whatever.” Ska’dur rolled his eyes. “Let’s go watch him get his ass kicked.”

Markus offered no comment as they took to the skies without relying on a flying mount.

A few minutes later, Rhea and Keith stood across from each other on a cleared piece of land. One was the daughter of the Innate Dimension’s publically strongest individual, while the other was the grandson of Yara, a top figure even in the Grandsky Realm.

Rhea had been training since a young age, while Keith only recently started to take things seriously. Keith desperately wanted to find how wide the gap between them was.