Arte’s mind slipped the moment Shickly’s fist brushed his cheeks. A simple graze of a Master-level’s strike was enough to rattle his mind.

“I can, still…do this… don’t look down on me…”

If it was anyone else, their body and spirit would be crushed by that single blow. However, he was no ordinary person; he was Arte Geras.

He could stand up no matter how hard he had been hit. Slowly, he tried getting up, but a hand tapped his shoulders, which had little to no force but was enough to make him tremble from fear. Like a cornered antelope, Arte’s body reflexively shook.

“That’s enough; I don’t want a dead body littering the place while I train. Father, please let this be for the time being. He’s a Mage, not a Warrior…not yet at least.” Colt said as he thanked the Goddesses for keeping Arte alive and well.

Arte turned around and saw Colt trying to protect him from the hulking mass of anger and intimidation that was Shickly.

Shickly snorted, he was not satisfied but still decided to turn stop for the time being, “He at least has the guts to stand up. Hmph, I’ll let you like my little Granddaughter. Little one, tell me, what’s your name?”

“…Ah! It is Arte Geras, my Lord.”

“Geras? Hmmm, I don’t think I know such a family around our kingdom or even in the other Monarchies.” Shickly tried remembering if there was any Geras Family he could recall.

Such family, old, current, or new; there was nothing.

Arte could see the confusion on Shickly’s countenance and remembered Colt’s words regarding common people not having a surname, “It’s…a fallen family, my Lord. The only thing I have is our surname.”

“…I am sorry to hear that. Do not worry; with a strong heart and will, you can rebuild what is lost.” Shickly tried his best to say something inspirational to the boy he just pummeled to the ground.

Shickly looked at the situation and soon enough decided to return to his chamber, but not before leaving the words, “I shall appear here in a week…I shall see if your will had not been crushed.”

‘He’ll make a good teacher… beating someone half to death never fails to make them stronger and go through a flashback—that came out wrong.’

While Colt was thinking something unnecessarily stupid, Arte was staring at him with a hint of anxiousness.

‘This man is not normal.’ Arte already knew Colt was weird, but it appears that it was an understatement. In Arte’s eyes, Colt was a Dragon in a human’s clothing. That presence of his sent a shiver down Arte’s spine.

Colt did not care about anything else if Arte was alive. He handed him his ancient wooden box to help with his recuperation, “Don’t open it, or else there would be dire consequences.”

Colt did not want to use such words. But considering how some people become curious and disobey in a simple warning, Colt decided to say it. Not saying Arte was stupid, but there were just so many who could not help themselves but doom the world.

Ignoring the now different gaze of Arte, Colt decided to swing his blade. One time, two times, three, four…Colt began his sword training without so much as a care about his surroundings.

The temperature continued to lower that soon enough, even the flabby being that was Fluff had its teeth chittering like no tomorrow, “Nyaaaa, meowwww!”

It was cursing Colt as it could not actually use zara outside of combat. The only time it could do anything with the use of zara would be when Colt’s mind begins to meld. However, that’s the problem when it comes to training; Colt was too focus that he shut out everything else other than Fluff’s Gift.

“Nya!?” Fluff saw Arte and decided to go towards its direction. It entered Arte’s clothes to gain some much-needed body heat.

“What are you doing?” Arte felt uncomfortable and unknowingly released a dangerous intent towards Fluff.

Fluff turned to the boy and…

Pup!

A soft slap came from the cat as a warning to not do such a thing. Fluff snorted as Arte became dazed. Arte does not understand cat language, but he does understand viciousness.

‘These two are indeed a pair. Such silent viciousness. It is a beast in disguise.’ Arte thought.

Fluff just wanted to go back inside.

Colt’s training lasted the evening. He returned to his room after Fluff dragged him back. Arte offered to do it, but Fluff stopped him, “nya” it said.

Arte once again failed to understand but still somehow got the gist of its words.

4:30 came, and Colt woke up. He had been sleeping for two hours, that was enough for him to take a wonderful and full rest.

He got up to exit the mansion, and just outside waiting for him was Hylda, “You’re late today.” Hylda said as she stretched her body awake.

“Sure, sure…” Colt laughed as he ruffled Hylda’s hair. The two of them began their walk. They exited the mansion as Colt and Hylda went to the Plaza.

Hylda had been continuing her training in the Plaza even after the mansion was rebuilt. She wanted to stay in contact with the people like Colt did.

“Good morning, Young Miss Hylda, Young Master Colt.” Butcher Lorei greeted as he opened up shop.

“Good morning, Mister Lorei. I’ll be counting on your delivery later.”

“Of course, Young Miss, hahaha. Good luck with your training, Young Miss!”

Along the way, Hylda greeted more people like the Vegetable Seller Sesa, the Construction Worker Shin, and the old man Geralt.

She had much more confidence now.

Colt raised his brows seeing Hylda begin to change, “It appears you’re used to it now. It appears you really are growing up.”

“Heh, heh, of course!”

Hylda stuck up her chest. She was proud of her accomplishments, and Colt was proud of her, seeing that she’s making an effort to become someone better.

‘She was already energetic and playful. It was only a matter of time before she becomes a natural at socializing…’ Colt also didn’t have to worry about her safety as countless people were lurking in the shadows, with the mission to protect Hylda from all danger.

If anyone thought that Mina would let one of her own unguarded leave, then they would be met with three dozen swords.

These people in the shadows were the assassins of the family who had nothing better to do.

Colt and Hylda trained in the Plaza, and like before, they began their warming up their body. They then started soon after. Hylda proceeded on doing the foundations of the spear.

She was recounting the steps Liron taught her when he was in the Fief. Her movements were swift like the wind and robust as the earth. Colt could see her improvement.

With the daughter improving, it was only natural for the father to be the same.

Hylda’s daily training attracts a lot of attention—mostly from men. Though Hylda wore a military uniform, which was simple trousers and clothing. She was unladylike, but that didn’t stop others from watching Hylda swing her spear with elegance.

Colt’s eldest daughter need not fancy clothing to show her elegance, for the spear was enough to speak volume for her.

Colt ended their training early. Before leaving, he wanted to scare the boys with a glare. However, as he was a Noble, that glare might work too good and somehow end up ruining the child’s life.

It was a farfetched thought but was plausible.

“Hylda, you have yet to have a Soul Partner, correct?”

“That’s right,…why?” a hopeful thought appeared on Hylda’s heart.

“Your aunty Risa and I will be leaving for a quick trip to the Magical Beast Forest. Do you have a beast you want for me to bring you back?”

“Do you mean I can get a Soul Partner directly from the Magical Beast Forest?”

“That’s right! It’s your birthday; there is no need to hold back. If it’s in the Magical Beast Forest, we can catch it for you…after all, we have the Risa’s Dragon.” Colt said proudly.

If anyone other than Colt had asked her, Hylda would have been reserved and simply say “anything would be nice.”

However, this was Colt. Colt was more than a Father to her; he was a friend and someone who had been by her side since Sister Mary brought her to this city.

Hylda threw her fist to the air as she made a quick decision, “Nether Flame Pegasus!”

Colt raised both brows; he knew of the Nether Flame Pegasus and knew that she had excellent taste. The Nether Flame Pegasus was a Magical Beast, comparable to a Master Level.

There were three classifications to measuring the strength of a Magical Beast; it was like how there were three ranks in Pathfinding: Hazard, Disaster, and Demon.

A Dragon was considered a Demon Class; it was, after all, one of the strongest beasts in the world of Monsters.

These three were the ranks of Magical Beasts. Unless there was a mutation, a specific species would remain in a particular class.

The Nether Flame Pegasus was a Hazard Class, but it may reach Disaster Class to undergo a mutation.

“Ooohhh, good choice. All right, I’ll get it for you.” Colt promised.

For most people, the first kind of Soul Partner they would try to bond with would be something weak unless they want to risk being devoured by their own monster.

However, Colt had no fear, for he had a secret weapon that came in the form of a flabby cat and a still nameless chick.

In the Magical Beast Forest, another party arrived at Wing City just in time to witness a white Dragon taking flight