Top Warlord players did not hesitate to do whatever it took to bring out at least a little more of their potential. Their methods of doing so were called Doping Recipes.
Doping Recipes of Rankers even sold for money, and in-game doping potion recipes and materials sold for a rather high price. This was one reason why raids took an enormous sum of money.
An Jaehyun, of course, had his own Doping Recipe. However, he could never sell it for money.
Cling… Cling…
In front of An Jaehyun was a large cup the size of a glass of beer than a coffee mug. 2/3 of the glass was filled with coffee, while An Jaehyun dropped several mysterious white objects into it. These white objects weren't sugar cubes, but the glucose candy he often ate.
He continued to pour in glucose candy, so much so that he wasn't putting candy in his coffee, but his coffee soaked in candy. An Jaehyun did not stop until the coffee was on the brink of overflowing. Then, he lightly sipped his coffee. Tasting the mixture of cheap sweetness and cheap bitterness, An Jaehyun frowned.
The reason others didn't try An Jaehyun's Doping Recipe was obvious. Although caffeine and sugar were both great for energizing the brain, it was too barbaric.
'Ugh, too bitter.'
An Jaehyun himself knew how barbaric his method was. But as he had no money to work with, this was the best method, and its effect was clear. With just a sip, he woke up from his previously sleepy state and his mind became clear.
'Alright, let's see what new things happened while I was asleep.'
Now completely awake, An Jaehyun turned on his tablet PC and began to look through Warlord-related news.
[Hydra Guild, First to Discover Level 100 Monster. Preparing their Hunt.]
The first news to catch his attention was news about the Hydra Guild.
With the help of coffee and glucose candy, An Jaehyun quickly worked his brain.
'The first level 100 monster… Black Metal Warrior was it? Didn't they fail five or six times before they succeeded?'
An Jaehyun knew the future, but he didn't know everything. He only knew the general flow of it. The details, he would have to fill in by reading various news articles.
'I wish they'd fail more while they're at it.'
To Hyrkan, the entire Top 30 Guilds was his enemy. Getting revenge aside, to become the best in Warlord, he had to go beyond the Top 30 Guilds.
'The Black Metal Warrior is related to the Corrupt Count main scenario quest, so the Corrupt Count quest line should begin after this. Tsk. I need to get on this quest line to obtain the titles I need, but with my level… ugh, not a chance. If only I came back just 10 months earlier… I'd be the one killing that Black Metal Warrior. What a shame. Then I'd be getting the title for myself too…'
"Tsk."
In any case, An Jaehyun enjoyed reading these news articles and reaffirming the details of the future he knew.
"Well, no choice I guess. Looks like I'll have to make it up in The Immoral Prince, the next main scenario."
An Jaehyun felt as if he had become almighty being.
'The Immoral Prince… back then, I could only stay in the side lines and suck on my fingers. But now is different. Come to think of it, the Ares Guild that led The Immoral Prince main quest earned quite the money from it.'
An Jaehyun let out a light grin.
'Yep. Be it the Hydra Guild or the Ares Guild, doesn't matter! I'll be the last one to laugh, hahaha!'
But this light grin…
[Stormhunter Queen defeats Head Hunter!]
Became twisted as he read the next article.
"Fuck this."
Stormhunter Queen Choi Sulyeon.
An Jaehyun got a headache just reading her name on the paper. With her, he had an irreconcilable relationship.
"Tsk!"
He even clicked his tongue.
Of course, An Jaehyun didn't want to continue seeing this name, but he couldn't just avoid the name altogether.
'If anything, I'll do it for you, Choi Sulyeon.'
Turning off his tablet PC, An Jaehyun drank his coffee bottoms up as if it was a glass of beer. He threw the remaining candy in the cup in his mouth.
Then,
Crunch!
He bit down with all the anger he could muster.
★★★
Standing in front of a cave, Hyrkan turned on the flashlight app on his watch.
Pat!
A fist-sized sphere of light appeared from his watch. He grabbed a hold of the light sphere, and equipped it to the skull of the Skeleton Warrior next to him, making it look like he was wearing a miner's hat. Then, he smacked the Skeleton Warrior's head and yelled.
"Go forth!"
The Skeleton Warrior lightly touched the place he was hit, then walked into the cave.
As he watched the Skeleton Warrior go in, Hyrkan had a solemn expression.
'I'll finish this in one go.'
The Rising Star title wasn't something that could be so easily obtained. Most players would fail even if they were given the chance.
The reason?
One had to clear what would normally be at least a level 20 quest at level 15. The quest difficulty was just too high. But that's why it was called the Rising Star title. It was for someone who could do at level 15 what others could at level 20. Only someone of such caliber would be worthy of being called a Rising Star.
Plus, a 3-man party was the standard in Warlord. Quest difficulties were set with 3-man party being the standard. In other words, Hyrkan had to do alone what a 3-man party would find hard to do.
It was in no way easy.
'If I can't do this at level 15, it just means it's too difficult for me to do.'
That's why he got to level 15. Though everything would come to waste if he leveled up during the quest, it was a risk he had to take. As he didn't have the capital to plaster himself with unique-rank items, this was the best he could do.
Hyrkan pulled his sword out in advance, and lowered his stance. Concentrating on everything around himself and his Skeleton Warrior, he followed behind it. His concentration was now sharper than ever.
'Throw whatever you want at me.'
The smile beneath his hahoe mask was as frightening as a serial killer's. It demonstrated his confidence to catch whatever that's thrown at him.
But after just 10 minutes, his smile shattered.
With a snap of his finger, he yelled.
"End Camera!"
Then, irritated, he scratched his head.
"Garrggh!"
'Why isn't there a single monster?'
For 10 minutes, Hyrkan remained tense, as if he was walking on a mine field. But nothing came out to greet Hyrkan. There wasn't even a single split path, which was common in a cave like this. He had been walking through the same, long path continuously.
'My whole body's itching.'
These 10 minutes have been mentally taxing. Hyrkan wasn't just walking; he was walking while maintaining peak concentration and tension. Furthermore, the limited vision from the darkness, the one way path, the unchanging scenery, and the enclosed space all caused more stress. It was like staring at a clock on the wall in a white room.
Hyrkan hopped in spot and slashed in sword in thin air. It wasn't to warm-up his body, but rather his mind. Only after did the knot in his mind unravel. Hyrkan then reassessed his situation.
'Looks like there's something huge ahead.'
Hunting grounds had their own styles as well.
Even at the same difficulty, some were difficult because of the sheer amount of monsters, while some were difficult because there monsters were more-powerful in place of being fewer in number.
Anyone could tell that it was currently the latter.
'It's not so bad…'
Hyrkan thought it was better to fight against a few than multiple. This also lowered the chance of leveling up.
'But it's not necessarily good either…'
Even so, it was hard to find comfort in this situation. In the end, he would have to face a strong monster.
After organizing his thoughts, Hyrkan held his watch to his mouth.
"Start Camera."
He began walking.
★★★
The Skeleton Warrior suddenly stopped on his feet.
"Hm? Walk! Go forward! Why'd you stop?"
Even with Hyrkan's yelling, the Skeleton Warrior remained still in the darkness, turning around and staring at Hyrkan blankly.
What's this, a protest? The thought only glanced by before it quickly disappeared.
Hyrkan rejoiced.
'Could it be?'
He walked past the Skeleton Warrior, then stared at the empty space. He couldn't see a thing. Complete darkness blocked his sight, and not even the light on the Skeleton Warrior's head could shine light through it. Rather than darkness, it was as if there was a barrier made of darkness blocking their path.
Hyrkan reached his hands out into this darkness.
[Would you like to enter the stage?]
Immediately, he heard an alert.
'As I thought, an instance dungeon.'
The darkness came from an instance dungeon.
In Warlord, instance dungeons weren't too important. In fact, instance dungeons were often tied to quest. Once the quest was cleared, the instance dungeon would often disappear. This was why instance dungeons weren't too important. They couldn't be recycled.
"Hm."
Instance dungeons had their pros and cons.
The pro was that they were isolated from the outside. This prevented others from interfering and messing with whoever was inside. This was why guilds welcomed instance dungeons. They could do everything according to their plan. Furthermore, as instance dungeons required success on the first try, it served as a good symbol of achievement.
But it was not without flaws.
'I can't run…'
Though players were free to enter, they weren't free to leave.
If it was a field, Hyrkan could simply run if he went up against something he could not handle. It wouldn't be wrong to say that an all-strength necromancer like him was built to escape. If it came down to it, he could use his Skeleton Warrior as bait and run. But this didn't work in instance dungeons. He couldn't leave before killing the monsters inside. He couldn't expect any outside help either.
It was a true deathmatch.
Because of this, Hyrkan let out a short groan.
He didn't know what was inside. He couldn't escape either. He had no reinforcements. It was kill or be killed. With this in mind, the darkness in front of him was truly full of unfavorable conditions.
Danger.
Most players would choose to back out here. It was the logical thing to do.
'It's indeed dangerous.'
Hyrkan didn't deny this fact either. The risk was greater than he had expected.
'But there's more to obtain as well.'
The merit was bigger as well. Hyrkan organized the things he could obtain in his head.
'Kill the monsters inside the instance dungeon alone, then acquire the Rising Star title… now, quest-related instance dungeons have a high chance to giving a related title. Since there won't be any outside interference, I just have to deal with whatever's inside. I don't need to worry about other monsters either. It's not like I lost any strength on my way here, and I'm still in my top condition.'
He had a lot to lose.
However, more so than ever before, he was sure of his current intuition.
'If I can film this well, it'll pull in a good amount of views.'
His intuition told him that this battle video would turn out great. It wouldn't be wrong to say he had full assurance.
'The baits are in place. I'll at least get ten thousand within two weeks.'
The Rising Star title and solo-clearing an instance dungeon had great synergy as bait. Furthermore, anyone could tell it was something not everyone could do.
'I mean, what crazy bastard would do something like this?'
Something not everyone could do. To earn money in Warlord, this was what one had to do.
Far more people watched Warlord-related videos than did people play the game. What the viewers wanted to see was someone accomplishing something that was seemingly impossible. No one wanted to watch something that anyone could do.
To earn money, one had to capture these viewers. The money one could earn in-game through hunting and item crafting was incomparable to the money one could earn from pay-to-watch videos. It was why guilds and Rankers challenged unfathomably strong monsters.
Danger represented a chance to earn viewers!
'Once Skeleton Fragment cooldown ends, I'll go in.'
Hyrkan made his decision.

Year 2035. The Virtual reality game, Warlord, changed the world. An Jaehyun was one of the many who wished to change his life through the game. After dedicating his life to the game, he was met with a betrayal. A betrayal by his comrades. As a result, he lost everything. But a chance was given to him. A chance to redo everything again! "I won't play with others again. Whatever the outcome, I'll show that I can do it alone." Others rolled a dice to split the spoils of victory. An Jaehyun ate it all by himself. It was the start of An Jaehyun's solo game life.

Episode pilot in the cafeteria at school... "You are eating a healthy foodstuffs," Dave? His best friend Dirk sat down on the table bench with him. "Of course! They help me to lose weight and be shape up now," Dirk. He ate his veggies lunch recently. "Oh. I see." 
Evening in the dining room at 702 Liberty Lane of Seville house... "Here's my recipe strawberry cheesecake," Dave. His adopted green-clad ten years old CGI animated remake uncle chubby chipmunk Theodore Seville served it to him. "I can't eat this because I am on diet," Uncle Theodore. "They are low-fat that I cut some calories off." He said. "Okay. After I finish eat my dinner vegetables and fruits then I should take that," Uncle Theodore. His adopted human teenager nephew Dave Seville sighed.
The next day morning in the chipmunks rooms... "Yawning! Uh-oh!? My belly quite fat? I check on my weight scale now. Oh no! I am gaining of 1.160lbs on my BMI scale. I might try my clothes on. Grr! They are too small than my belly and buttocks are too fat. Huh?" He noticed at the mirror. "Dave, what's happening to you seems different?" His adopted red-clad ten years old CGI animated remake troublemaker dad chipmunk Alvin Seville came in. "I try to put my shirt and black jeans on, but they are too small than I am quite so fat," Dad. "Theodore! You better to take a look at our Dave now." He called his name. "Oh? I must be put too sugar in my recipe strawberry cheesecake yesterday," Dave. His adopted green-clad ten years old CGI animated remake chubby uncle chipmunk Theodore Seville nervous smiles at him. "Oh, man! Dad, buy me some plus-size clothes from Rochechia's boutique store?" "Sure! No problem," Dave. He nodded his head and repeatedly to his adopted CGI animated remake human teenager son Dave Seville. 
After breakfast... "Good morning Dave, you seem different now?" His best friend Dirk suspected at him. "I put my backpack in the locker then get my English textbook out of it. I might take a bite of your chocolate candy bar," Dirk? "Positive! Here are some." He gave it over Alvin's adopted human CGI animated remake teenager son Dave Seville. "Thank you. I better go before I will be late," Dirk. To be continued...

Teenage skinny boy name is Dave Seville of Alvin's adopted human childish son learned about problem gain weight and eating too much junk foods.

Staff was shuttling back and forth in a hurry inside the building while tourists of different nationalities were lingering around on the square up front. Fortunately, there were few tourists in Basel. If this had been in China...
Some European tourists even slept on the grass in the daylight as the Chinese couple was searching for food. Following their sense of smell, the two foodies reached their first destination.
Good wine needed no referrals. There was a big piece of candy wrapped in paper by the entrance with the Swiss national flag printed on it. The scent was coming from a common shop. People could watch the bustling scene through the large windows.
The small shop sold handmade candy. People always thought of chocolate and forgot about candy. In fact, chocolate was only one category of candy.
The fat boss had typical Swiss blonde hair and blue eyes and was wearing a white chef uniform and gloves. He took a large iron tray from the air-drying shelf and put it down on the table with a bang.
Outside the window, Qin Guan and Cong Nianwei exchanged a glance and then pushed in. The doorbell jingled happily.
"Welcome... Pick what you like..." the boss told them in his poor English. Then he got absorbed in the candy that came fresh out of the oven.
"Thanks. We’re just taking a look," Qin Guan said in standard German. I love you, Joseph.
The man looked up in surprise. They are Asians, yet they can speak German.
"What's the problem? If my memory serves me right, German is an official language of Switzerland..." Qin Guan murmured before switching to Italian.
The boss rushed to explain. "It's okay, I was just surprised. Asian visitors usually speak English. I didn’t expect you to speak German."
Qin Guan and Cong Nianwei smiled at each other. The boss made a cut with his knife.
They were an elegant Chinese couple. The girl was delicate and pretty, her eyes as clear as a brook in the suburbs. As for the boy... His poor education made it hard for him to express his feelings, but the boy reminded him of the powdered sugar his father used to give him as a present when he had been a child. He used to dip his little finger into it to taste it.
When he came back to his senses, he didn’t regret the cut. After some consideration, he managed to cut the soft candy into two thumb-sized figures.
"A sample for you."
The man stared at Qin Guan’s face with an unprecedented flattering smile, holding a tray in his fair hands.
"This figure is you. It's pretty, isn’t? That one is your girlfriend. I’m don’t want to boast, but my products are the best in Switzerland."
Qin Guan and Cong Nianwei looked speechlessly at the two lovely candy figures. Should we eat them or not? Is it okay to eat yourself?
As two foodies, they couldn't resist the temptation. They stuffed them into their mouths.
The elastic candy was easy to bite into. It tasted like plum, yellow peach and butter. The soft candy was made in the oven and dried in the air of the Rhine. Its unique sugar made it a delicious food of the mortal world.
It tasted sour, sweet, salty… The candy was like a human life.
Qin Guan and Cong Nianwei swallowed it with sparkling eyes. Then they began shopping like crazy.
The boss was shocked. They seemed to pick up all the products from the shelves. The passersby couldn't resist at the sight of their crazy shopping. Candy was a good medicine for unhappiness. European people were very fond of it. Suddenly, the shop was crowded with customers.
"One kilo of liqueur chocolate, please!" There was only a hollowed-out piece of paper left in the small basket.
"Hey! Hard cocoa candy is sold out!"
"Boss..."
"Boss..."
A tourist guide was talking about the town, when his group of tourists suddenly poured into the shop. The fat boss was both exasperated and happy. He was stirring syrup in a large bucket with effort. He called his wife and son to come and help him immediately. 
The culprits had left with a big package of candy, the musical sound of the cash register ringing around the shop.


Qin Guan was reborn and sent back to his final semester in High School 18 years ago. Getting a second chance at life, he works hard to turn things around and eventually become a Prince Charming. What will his life be like the second time around? What will he have to go through? How will he succeed in turning from a loser into a Prince Charming? Read this story carefully and find out!

Green Wood academie; a boarding school led by the government and the only school with an escalator system from elementary to college. 

And the first school on the list of preferred schools for the influential families in K City, that have power and money in hand.

The school has a long standing and tradition, grooming heirs and heiresses from many families to be outstanding and glamorous, evoking awe and admiration among the common citizens.

And every year this school had given a limited amount of scholarships for students with outstanding abilities all over the world. 

Having made it a hotspot for ambitious families in other countries. 

Just the possibility of making contact with other children of other power households, or even establishing relationships with them made those families drool in their dreams.

It was like a toad eating swan meat. Just no beauty present. So who did not want a piece of this lucrative cake?!

Everyone did!

Whereupon the various households, began fighting for the scholarship and possibil relationships. 

But soon, this outside-talent snatching sheme was stopped entirely. 

And this once a year chance fell completely on the head of the citizens within the K Country. 

Why this sudden change? No one knew the reason, it was withheld from the public.

However, some nosey people with more background knowledge could identify that this decision was made right after, an article, of an medical lab burning down through an unsuccessful experiment exploding was published.
...

So now days, Green Wood had less new faces and if, then their own citizens from other classes.

That was why a blond guy with light brown eyes looked very surprised to hear from his teacher, that he had to go welcome two new students, who would arrive this afternoon. 

He was notified of this on a very short notice, and it was in the middle of the school year! 

Green Wood does not take outside students, and that certainly not in the graduation year to boot! 

And with his high standing being chosen, got to mean, the newcomers being valued by a prominent person on some kinda degree.

Being cleared off of some of his doubts by the teacher, he set off on his way to welcome them.

Right now he was walking to the meeting point murmuring inaudible things to himself. "Weird. Teach told me to pick them up through dad's asking. But since when did I have a cousin?"

The explicit thing the teacher told the blond student was, to pick up two newcomers due to his father's, Sasha's request, admitting in a relative and his childhood friend. 

And that was how those two students entered the school without scholarship. 

Since Sasha had influence within the school, taking in two students unauthorizedly in was no problem.

But even with Sasha as the backer, there would be some gutsy people protesting against it. 

Yet with some money tipping their objecting a$$es would just shut up.

After all, with money comes the power to do things outside the rules.

Yet Leevi did not set his mind on the misuse of Sasha's authority over Green Wood's inner council, he was more bugged at where this cousin popped out from. 

He did not remember having a close enough relative to call cousin; both his parents were only children. 

Well, he did have cousins of different degrees, but they are addressed as distant relatives and nothing more.

Standing in the parking lot, where they should arrive, he brought out a small box. 

Inside were candies in tiny plastic packages. He picked one out, unpacked it and was about to put it in his mouth when...

..someone came him one step ahead and snapped at the candy in his hand. 

Taking not only the candy in his mouth, but Leevi's fingers, which held the sweet commodity.

"WHAT THE!" What is going on?!

Leevi was shocked. Why are his fingers shoved down in some guy's throat?

Only some centimeters and his hand, split him and the guy with fluffy, dark chocolate hair. 

Leevi opened his mouth to bring out his flabbergasted state, when a pale hand behind the candy-thief ripped him away from the candy and his hand.

"What are you doing? This is not a way to make an entrance by assaulting a bystander!"

The pale guy reprimanded the candy-thief of his behavior, whereas he just pouted at the nagging and defended himself.

"Milié! I NEEED SUGAR! The last time I saw and ate sweets was three months ago in Emil's hidden stash! So let me enjoy this bit, please?" Aria asked, his voice sensitively getting softer, than at the start.

Nevertheless, even with a softer approach, Emilié decisively cut his request in shreds. "No. Don't forget the message."

Bringing up the message from Sera, Aria kept further plea attempts shut, starring with longing at the sugar piece -what looked unappetizing after being coated with his saliva.

Leevi, the 'bystander', silently watched their short exchange, until coming back to himself through the wet and sticky feeling on his hand.

He worked hard not to show the disgust on his face, even though he was shuddering from the gross feeling. 

He was really thankful of his good-natured personality, if it were someone else, that person would surely be enraged and give the candy-thief a hard time.

He brought out a tissue, peeling of the salivated candy and drool off his hand.

Throwing then the tissue into the nearest waste bin on the parking lot, and disinfecting his hand afterwards. 

He was doing all this, while Emilié and Aria watched him at the side. Aria's complexion tinting to a rosy taint. 

How embarrassing! He really did not realize, how shameless he has behaved, untill he saw the mess he did. 

'Don't blush! Don't blush! Your face should be as thick as uncle Emil's face!'

"You guys are... the newcomers?" asked Leevi with a queasy voice. 'Please don't be!'

Since both of them wore the school's uniform, it was very easy to see that they were students of Green Wood. 

However, with their rude demeanor towards him, they could only be new students. 

The older one's knew who he is, and therefore take accordingly to his standing a respectful approach. 

And not so unimpededly venturesome like this candy-thief.

So his wishful thoughts are shattered in a matter of seconds, without waiting for the answer, but it was worth a try.

Maybe, just maybe..

"Ahem" Aria shook of the embarrassment off of him and reached up his hand to shake his's. "Yeah, we are."

...or not..

"I'm Aria by the way. Nice to meet you.. and sorry about the snatching earlier, hehe."

Leevi did not reach up to his offered hand, and pulled out a courteous smile. "Leevi. Leevi Evans, a.. nice meeting you too."

He had no interest to initiate any contact to this one weirdo. He really hoped his dad made jokes, when he said one of them is his cousin.

He parted his eyes away from Aria and finally gave Emilié his attention. 

A second later, 'If it is not a joke, I'd rather want to be cousins with him.'

The first meeting with her older brother after so long, and off the bat, Emilié got an immediate positive evaluation from Leevi.

🌷🌷🌷

Fate likes to play a fool game with Liz, after her mother's death everything goes downhill with her and her father's relationship, until one day there was a point of no return for both of them. 

Liz would never be able to overcome those scars of that day and has to wear them with her, hiding it deep in her heart, unable to let them heal. And if only this would be the only thing she had to worry about, but it wasn't, even her new life had plans to make it difficult for our young girl, now known as Emilié.

Let's see if Emilié will be able to turn the table on fate and dictate her own life through her own will.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Trigger warnings, especially at the early chapter. Please, read with caution!!]

11th July 1574
"Sir, to pay so much money for something that most likely grows everywhere in those lands… Is this really wise?"
While I could understand the hesitation of this simple sailor, it was already the second time where he put his employer and lord decision into doubt! While it irked me quite a lot, especially with how he was rather a new worker for my businesses rather than being one of the core workers that stuck with me ever since my humble beginnings.
"Trust me, I have my reasons for doing so. While paying so much for those products is indeed quite unreasonable, as long as I will find a way to turn them into something even better, I could easily make this money back with a huge profit. Also, I don't think we will manage to depart today. Go and arrange for some men to bring the wares back to our ship."
As we were already reaching the city docks, there was no point for him accompanying me anymore. Since I never carried too much gold on me, most of my disposable treasury was hidden on the ship, hence the attention and dedication of the sailors to protect it from any kind of thievery or uninvited guests. 
The moment I boarded the ship, I could sense the look of the captain on my back. With how I departed from the ship the moment I saw him smoking the pipe, I really wished I could see what kind of face he made when he realised that my sudden action resulted in nothing else but me smoking my own pipe on my way back!
And at this point, while I was insanely happy that I could finally rejoice in the nicotine rush that calmed my thinking and slowly started routing itself in my body as addiction, I had to pour the still-hot leaves from my pipe back to the waters of the river. After all, I wouldn't like to introduce my pregnant wife to this toxic smoke!
"What happened, dear? You were out for quite a long time."
Despite how she protested against sitting down and resting back when I did my very best to convince that it would be for the best for both her and our child when I came back, she was obediently laying down on our bed!
"I happened to meet a merchant with… quite exotic wares. Give me a few moments, I will try to obtain a few more products and I might be able to prepare something good for you!"
Showing up on the boat mostly for the sake of calming down Elia and procuring my money, I took half of the guards with me and rushed back to the place where the important merchant was staying. Meeting with the thugs hired by the sailor on the way, it took only an additional hour for all of the bags with the products that I exchanged for a hefty sack with golden coins to find their way to the ship.
Yet rather than boarding it as well and leaving this damned city before the night, I couldn't allow myself to waste this opportunity. With the recipe for the dark cacao water stolen from the Aztecs, all the rough cacao powder that I received was already properly dried out, allowing me to turn it into the first bar of milk chocolate without any real problem.
While the quality of my product was bound to be inferior, I never intended to feed it to my beloved wife in the first place!
Leaving all the men carrying to goods to the ship, I hastened my steps towards the still open, food market. While the current time of the year still lacked most of the granary products that would appear only when the first harvests would be done, it didn't mean that there was any lack of dairy products!
After obtaining a small jar with clear butter, thick and thin milk and some a small bottle of a thick, fruity syrup. With those products in hand, I barged into the first Tavern that I could find, instantly depriving myself out of a single gold coin for the right to use their kitchen for a while.
Thinking about this, I couldn't help but laugh when imagining what kind of thoughts was going through their heads when a noble like me demanded them to rent him a simple kitchen used to prepare cheap food for masses!
Yet rather than plaguing my head with this thought, I used one of the knives to turn the crude cacao powder into something of a finer and smaller structure, before randomly mixing the ingredients only to obtain something that not only looked too awful to even consider ever eating it, but also had a smell soo sour and repulsive that I had to hurry up and throw it away!
But in the end, I did manage to achieve what I wanted!
"Confectioner level one unlocked!"
"Basic chocolate recipes unlocked"
"Basic candy recipes unlocked"
With those three messages appearing in the corner of my sight in quick succession, I once again recalled the fact that I wasn't your damned simple noble with a modern knowledge! I still had this fucking system to cheat my way through this world!
But rather than using it to obtain the crown of the country and aim for the world domination… I made sure to use the perfect ratios for all the ingredients before turning them into the product that I really wanted to present to Elia!
A long bar of proper chocolate!
While it pained me a bit, there was no way I could simply hold this precious piece of deliciousness in my hands, as it would simply melt on my way back to ship. With no other choice, I tore out a few pages from my personal notepad that I created all the way back when the private paper factory was first introduced and wrapped the candy with it. 
While for a moment I had the idea to just leave the ingredients outside of the cacao in the kitchen, but given how there was a small chance that it could be problematic to obtain them back in Tarnow, I still decided to act calmly and bring it all with me.
The road back to the ship was one of the greatest challenges I have ever faced. With the anticipation of presenting my dearest wife the ultimate form of candy, I couldn't help but imagine what kind of dreamy expression she would have while tasting the chocolate. 
In fact, even the awful cacao drink that the Spanish court already fell in love with was a drink that only rich could afford. But attempting to improve the taste of the brew made by mashing the cacao grains and boiling them in water, just by adding sugar or vanilla? It didn't even come close to the precious taste of the milk chocolate in the first place!
As soon as I finally managed to board the ship and leave all the leftover ingredients right on top of the pile with the wares bought for an exorbitant price from that merchant, I rushed towards the shed. 
Only to be met with a dire surprise.


Discord link: https://discord.gg/pJTVGZZ


Political marriage, war taxes, subsidies, a tribute... All those terms sound nice when one juggles them from behind the screen of his trusty computer! 

Junk food? Check. Sugary drinks that will cause me diabetes? Check. Two weeks of leave from the work? Check. A fresh copy of the newly released game finishing downloading as I'm going back from the grocery store? Check. 

Oops! My emotions got better to me, and I tripped on the stairs. I'm so silly!

Then...

Why the hell am I kneeling in a throne room, watching the marriage and coronation ceremony of the King, dressed in the noble robes with the game itself only flashing in the corner of my eyes?

90 Whitemonth 1012 AF 
Rested and refreshed, Arial headed down to the dining room after waking up from his nap. 
As he walks through the many halls, he could see the banners on the wall and the tapestry near it, portraying the scene from Levitia Laments.
His family is a famous patron of arts. No doubt this piece of tapestry is a commission from his father. His father is a devout Lucellian.
His parents had been in a nearby city collecting taxes when he had arrived, and had returned home to finally be reunited with their son. 
It is a joyous occasion for the Vermont family, now that the only son of the family had returned home.
On his way downstairs Arial met Helia, who was dressed impeccably in an elegant gown for the occasion. 
He looked her up and down; she was every bit a noble daughter. 
Reaching the dining room, Arial held the door for her and she nodded politely, smiling, and Arial followed her inside.
"Father! Mother!" Arial's gentlemanly composure was thrown to the wind as he caught sight of his parents, and he ran up to hug them.
"My son, you have grown well," said his mother, pulling him close, a smile of happiness is on her face
"My prince," his father sighed.
They stood enveloped in each other's arms for a long time. Arial hadn't realized how much he had missed them; his mind had always been focused on his plans.
Knowing that they were still safe and happy warmed his heart, and he held them a little tighter.
Helia stood back and watched shyly. Her eyes seem to see this moment of familial love and felt something ache in her heart.
 Eventually Arial and his parents released each other and Aries, noticing Helia for the first time, smiled and beckoned her closer.
"And who is this?"
"A friend," Arial said.
"A lady friend?" his father winked at him with an all knowing smile
"No," Arial said hurriedly, "it's not like that."
"It's an honor to meet you Count Aries, Countess Julia," Helia said, bowing in all the proper etiquette of a noble lady.
"What's your name, dear?" Arial's mother asked.
"Helia Zephyr, my lady."
"Zephyr? From the House of Zephyr?" Aries said. "I know your father. Very nice man if you discount his shrewdness in doing business."
Helia smiles bitterly as she heard her father name. Arial father did not notice it but Arial notice it
Arial's stomach grumbled loudly and cut through the conversation. His mother chuckled.
The table is filled with food. Looking at the off, Arial is now convinced that his father has lived quite a luxurious life these past couple of years.
Looking at all the food in the table Arial remembers the times where his family once had to starve for a couple of days in winter before.
He chuckles as he remembers that time
There are seafood dishes, grinded and salted anchovy with tomato sauce, sea bass with seven herbs (a nutritious and healthy food that is the recipe of the Vern Empire of the past), carp and cod fishes and the seas delicacies on the right side of the table.
On the other side, there is deer meat seasoned with some spices from Ariundus looking fresh and meaty. A roasted duck with rice (the staple food for people of Eastia) stuffed on it and black pepper roasted goose is presented on the middle of the table, looking extremely delicious and appetizing.
And that is just on the other corners of the table.
"Let us eat, dear," she said to Aries. "They've had a very long journey; they must be starving."
Tonight there is more than just meat and sea dishes.
There is also the sweet and sour rabbit, it includes sugar, red wine vinegar, currants, onions, ginger and cinnamon (along with plenty of "powder of pepper") to produce a sticky sauce, a bowl of candy, a dish that combine pine nuts with sugar, honey and breadcrumbs to give the candy a chewy taste, almond milk, honeyed goat roast, Arial favorites, and a whole lot more with dessert, a pudding after the main dish, and mushroom soup.
It was a luxurious dishes and it serves the palates very well. Arial and Helia enjoy the food very much.
After they had eaten, Arial told his parents all about his time at the Academy; funny anecdotes, harrowing tales, and stories of their adventures, with Helia filling in the details he had forgotten. 
Aries listened in amazement to the stories of their quests, absorbing every last word as Arial spoke.
He is clearly proud of him and Arial like that. He always wished that he could have his father proud of him.
But he never got the chance in his other life. 
Helia and Julia chatted as though they were old friends. A charmer as usual, Arial thought as he glanced at Helia. 
It seemed she had more of her father in her than she cared to admit. Arial had urged her for the past five years to make peace with her father, but she refused to return home.
Arial still wishing that probably this year would be the year where Helia and her father would finally reconcile their differences
Later that evening the four of them moved their conversations to the drawing room. 
Aries sunk into a cushioned chair intricately carved by the famous carver Roix Cheventes, and gazed contentedly at the roaring fire. 
Arial sat in an armchair beside him and Aries updated him on the family business. 
His father looks healthier than before, his physique become stockier Arial could still feel strength, and Arial could already tell that he had spent quite some time in Renasia, as his normally light skin was sporting a glowing golden tan.
"Father, let me help you" said Arial.
"With what?" Aries raised his eyebrows over his cup of tea.
"With your city. I know you must be struggling with so many responsibilities."
"Yes." He sighed. Aries never wanted to become noble and he was ill equipped of being one. But he is kind and benevolent. 
He is unlike the other lord. He did not exude superiority or domineering attitude.
While that make him a good noble, and a good person, loved by his peers and his people, sometimes thing could only move forward through intimidation and domineering attitude.
'After becoming Count the responsibilities becomes bigger. I have a headache every day. If not for your mother help, I would long collapse. So does the city" he admitted with a bitter smile.
Aries sighed again and as he looks at his wife laughing with Helia he also smiles looking at her happy.
Arial knows that the only reason Aries accept the Count appointment is because he wanted his wife to have the life she deserved, a life he could not give as a farmer.
He always regretted the fact that the woman he loved had to abandoned her family and abandoned her noble life to be with him.
"Now I have returned I can help you"  
Arial said as he holds his father hand and squeeze it as a sign of determination. Aries look at his son and smiles bitterly.
Aries sighed. "But shouldn't you return to the Academy?"
"Don't worry about that," Arial said. "Now that I'm a Knight Brother I can stay at home during training."
"The youngest ever," Helia piped up.
"What's that?" asked Aries. Clearly he did not know about the rules of the Knight Academy. Not many does unless they themselves have enrolled in the Knight Academy
"Arial is the youngest Knight Brother ever, in the entire history of the Academy," said Helia, beaming proudly at Arial.
"And you're the youngest Knight Sister," Arial smiled back at her.
"All thanks to you," Helia said.
Aries grinned and ruffled his son's crystal-white hair. Then he kissed his little boy forehead. Arial pulled a face, but didn't stop him.
"Father, can Kyle and Lisa visit tomorrow?" said Arial.
"Of course they can. Actually, the fair begins tomorrow. You can all take some gold from the treasury, have a good time. You deserve it," Aries patted him on the shoulder.
The fair came to Danoba every year, and often went on for days, even weeks at a time. 
Merchants from across the Continent came to sell their goods, things that the humble people of Danoba had never seen before: exotic spices, fine wines, exquisitely unusual clothing.
"Would you like to go?" Arial asked Helia.
"Oh yes, let's!" she said excitedly. "I bet Kyle and Lisa will love it."
The four of them talked until the fire had died and their eyelids grew heavy. 
They hauled themselves off to their bedrooms and bid each other good night, a smile on each of their weary faces.
**************************************************************************
New chapter. leave some comments you guys. If you can and please vote for the chapter

Arial is a soldier in the Human resistance against the Demonkind. 

After the destruction of the resistance he was given a chance to undo the past mistake.

Join as Arial went back in time and prepare to save his family and the world of humans against the Demons.
**************************************

Other synopsis

Tales of great heroes that fight dragons and demons, stories of evil monster and cruel men and cunning woman, of great heroes fighting great wars, the stories of their noble life and tragic death stretched across the stars, a thousand, and a thousand more, and a thousand more, glimmers of their battles, of hope and love and their struggles
How much stories, how many battles were fought, won or lost ?
They call it the Age of Heroes

The only other noteworthy event during the past fews day was when we returned to the inn to find Micah talking with another young woman. She had long wavy black hair and wore a frilly white apron. They were both sampling from various dessert dishes in front of them. 

Micah introduced her as Aer, who ran the little café called Parent in town (pronounced "Pah-rent", not "Pay-rent".) Huh, quite a lot of young ladies running their own business in this town. I strongly approved of this spirit of entrepreneurship!

"So, we've been trying to come up with some new dishes for her menu. Since you're from other countries, do you know any dishes that we don't have around this here parts?"

Aer bowed at us as she spoke, "Please, I'd be really grateful if you could think of anything…"

Elze and Linze stared at each other and shrugged. They admitted they didn't really know much about fine food, but would be happy to help.

"Huh. Is that the shop near the Adventurer's Guild? If so, I remember that one – we celebrated being officially licensed adventurers there. Good cake!"

"Thank you!" said the young chef.

"Well what kind of food were you thinking of putting on the menu?" I asked.

Aer considered it. "Let's see... preferably something simple, I guess. A dessert dish of some kind, something that would be a hit with young women..."

Huh, a lot of young women with disposable income in this town. I strongly approved of this mercantile economy!

Monika popped in to say "What's with that suspicious expression on your face?"

I turned around towards Linze. She shrank back a bit from the small smile on my face.

"Linze, how do people keep things cool around there? Is there a magic tool for that? Some sort of self-refilling ice box?"

"N-no? Maybe? That sounds too expensive, Mister Zah. Usually it's just using some simple Water magic to make ice."

I nodded. I guess with conveniently available magic like that, refrigeration was not exactly an urgent thing to develop. Well then, when it comes to something new and something young ladies would like, the answer was obvious. "So, have you any of you ever heard of ice cream before?"

"I… scream?" Aer looked faintly confused.

"No, ice cream. Creamed ice. You know, a cold creamy confection. Like shaved ice, but… better. It's soft and sweet, and melts in your mouth."

/"I am starting to see where you're headed with this, but shaved ice alone would probably been enough,"/ said Monika.

Micah frowned slightly. "What kind of food is that?"

"Would you happen to know how to make it?" Aer asked.

"Sure. We're going to need some ingredients though. Don't worry, they're common enough." Monika?

Monika nodded and pulled open a window showing how to make ice cream at home.

"Egg yolks, a cupful of fresh cream, half a cup of sugar, fresh milk that we can condense over low heat, a little butter… then flavorings, maybe some cookies we can crumble? Strawberry syrup? No, something simple for now – something like vanilla?" 

Then I listed the tools, "a heavy bowl, a whisk, and wide pan with a cover, a box we can fill with water to freeze… could we get that?"

Aer nodded. "I can get that."

"No, I can get that!" Elze volunteered. "Just tell me where to go and who to ask!" She thumped her own chest and looked almost catlike in her self-satisfaction. "I'll get that picked up and back before you know it!"

So Aer decided to give instructions and proof of her being under orders so that Elze could directly ask for the ingredients from her shop. With her [Boost], Elze could run there and all the way back without even feeling slightly winded.

The rest of the ingredients we could get from Micah's own stores. The innkeeper didn't charge us any extra for that either. Maybe Aer would cover the costs later. Surely she should be making better business with raw ingredients than apparently just the three of us who were the only lodgers in this inn.

Linze mixed sugar in and began condensing the milk on a boiling vessel. Her superb control over her own Fire affinity helped there. The egg yolks and the sugar were mixed in half and half proportions. By the time Elze returned we were ready to just pour in the cream and the milk and rest of the ingredients and then whisk the shit out of them.

We had three bowls and three whisks, so that no one felt left out. It was enough to get a peaky consistency of the cream, then it was time to chill.

"[Supercharge please]," Linze requested, so that she could maintain a constant chilling effect. As soon as the mixture began to thicken, we scraped away the frozen edges into the center of the mixture. We covered the pan and allowed the whole thing to freeze solid.

Then we cracked it open after thirty minutes to add the flavorings and goodies. One had ribbons of strawberry syrum, another had cookies crumbled into it, and the third bowl just plain as the control setup.

We folded the flavorings, checking to make sure no large ice crystals formed, and sealed them whole thing to freeze again.

While waiting I explained that we could probably do without the whole chill and stir portion, just place a heavily whisked mixture into containers and allow it to freeze. The result would be a little more chunky, but perhaps that's also to someone's tastes.

After a while we retrieved the containers. I took a large spoon and arranged several scoops into dome-like shape on three plates. I drizzled colorful candy sprinkles on top. We all took a spoon and tasted the results.

"How is it?"

"Seems to have set properly," I replied.

"This… this is delicious!" Aer exclaimed. "What is this thing? It's cold, but… it's kind of amazing?!"

"This is really good!" Micah added excitedly. "Let me have a taste of that too!"

And then after a while she began to moan "Ow! Ow! Ow! My head hurts!"

"Ice cream headache. That's what happens if you try to eat cold things too fast. If you've ever tried to bite into a snowball before…?"

Micah massaged her temples. "I know that! Uhh… I didn't expect this to happen in the middle of summer."

"It doesn't really get very cold here in the south… so this… I'm sure of it! This will be a hit!" Aer declared, raising her spoon in triumph. "Thank you so much!"

"But… is there anyone in your store that can use ice magic?" Linze had to ask.

"My little sister has a water affinity, it will be no problem. I'll add the… ice cream to the menu right away!" She stood up and prepared to leave, apparently excited to try making it herself.

"Ah-ahahaha. Are you sure you should really do that?"

Aer paused and stared at me. "… what's wrong? Does it need anything else?"

"License fees. I just gave you a valuable recipe that will increase your shop income. We're happy to help, but I never said we would be doing it for free."

Aer narrowed her eyes and sat back down. 'But you already told me everything?' This she didn't say, she was one smart young lady. 

If she just tried to make it herself not caring about compensating the source, while we might not have as much legal recourse there was absolutely nothing preventing us from setting up a competing business to remove all the novelty of it from her menu.

I could just as easily offer it to someone else. If by doing so she annoyed her own friend Micah, then Silver Moon Inn would be the one pioneering this market instead. After all, it was I who knew further secrets of how to serve and market it best. There was too much to lose from acting in bad faith.

"Name your terms," she said calmly.

"Ten percent," I said. "For every copper you sell in ice cream, I want an iron coin. In exchange, I promise not to tell someone else the recipe before letting you know about it. You will have a monopoly on this for at least three months. After that I'm reducing royalties to five percent for the next three months, and then after that you'll have to deal with competition yourself."

Aer blinked. "That's… very generous of you. I agree!"

"Verbal contracts duly witnessed by a third party" here I glanced towards Micah "are valid, right? Good. Well bargained and done!"

Aer smiled at me, and her eyes twinkled with far more gratitude and respect than before. She left the inn, leaving us to finish off the rest of the ice cream and clean up.

"… Playa, that was kind of rude," Elze remarked after a while.

"Yes, why even ask for money? She was Miss Micah's friend, why couldn't she just be ours too? Friends help each other."

"People respect more that which is earned, not which is just given," I replied. "That goes for most things, even friendships. This will help her more in the long run."

It relied a lot on her own good faith to keep an honest count of her sales - and if she passed the test, there could be further business down the line.

/"There's nothing wrong with being friends with benefits, eyy?"/ Monika made finger guns at my direction.

Monika, you can't criticize me for my Freudian slips when you're half the reason they happen in the first place.

--​
--​

The next day Aer returned to give me three coppers. She reported that she had begun to introduce ice cream to her clientele, and it went well with fruits and sweets.

I suggested that she try putting ice cream onto a cup and pouring hot coffee on top of it. It would cool the coffee to drinkable temperatures and sweeten it, while itself being a visual treat. There were many different ways to present ice cream, it was now up to her to figure them out.

Aer smiled widely, her eyes crinkling in playful acknowledgment, and said she would certainly do so.

I asked Micah to prepare a little clay pot to use as a piggy bank for an ice cream fund.

After several more days we opened it to find twenty-three copper.

"… and this is what you earn for doing nothing," Elze murmured. "Merchants sure have it great, huh? No wonder they say to kids, if you had any smarts you wouldn't be an adventurer in the first place. No wonder YOU say earning money is a secondary concern!"

Linze clutched at her head. "Uuuh! What can I invent too?!"

I laughed. That was still adorable.

"You've taught little Linze how to get greedy. You monster."

Eheh. I strongly approved of seeing the self-determination to acquire financial independence in young women. It was cute. 

I fell silent and stared outside. At least that way I know my relationships won't be from them just being after my money.

-
-​

In another world with the most interesting smartphone! 

Behold the antics of Zah Playa Von Chara, someone actually prepared for his isekai adventure, and Monika, the traumatized AI living in his smartphone. They bring a new perspective into a tired old genre! Follow them along this Reconstruction of a cliche harem isekai story, bringing their unique brand of laugh-out-loud hilarity, innovative battles, real drama, and real consequences for every decision! 

Updates weekdays at 6AM GMT+8. 



- Disclaimer:
Isekai wa Smartphone To Tomo Ni is (c)Patora Fuyuhara. Doki Doki Literature Club is (c)Dan Salvato. All other properties copyright by their respective owners. This is a work of derivative fiction meant for non-profit purposes only.

Chapter 226 - Chilled Ale And Ice-Box 

"Hahaha... This ale sure tastes more refreshing than the warm one that everyone is currently having. Wait a moment, it is not only for an ale but also to this, right?" I pointed out to Imelda the mug of strawberry milk that was prepared earlier as there's some balance inside the jug.

"Yes, Your Majesty, even to all kinds of liquid. But if it is impure, I mean with combined ingredients, it became a kind of sluiced ice. Especially to milk, it would not turn to ice but more like sleet, if you know what I mean, Your Majesty."

"Sleet and sluiced ice in a mug? Come, try it for this jug of strawberry milk. I would like to see it and by the way, how long does this last?" Heather was excited as she held the hug of strawberry milk before her and had that silly look on her face and lips with the tip of her tongue sticking out slightly at the corner of her mouth.

"It could last as long as it is, Your Majesty. Come, let me hold the jug for you." with that, Imelda shook the jug but instead of small cubes of ice, the strawberry milk became a thick sluice of ice and because there's milk inside it, it became creamy and nearly became a solid form.

Heather tried to shake the contents out but couldn't be managed to since it had turned solid cold. She took a spoon and managed to scoop out the icy and creamy strawberry flavoured milk from it. It doesn't look like jelly and it doesn't look like sluice as mentioned earlier.

With the composition of cream and also sugar and fruit, the contents became solid but soft enough to be scooped with a spoon. When Heather placed the icy creamy strawberry milk inside her mouth, she can't help but felt over the moon.

"Oooo... Oooo... Oooo... This icy creamy strawberry milk is much better than drinking it. Owh my head... I'm feeling a very sharp pain right now... Ouch..." 

"Phew... It is clear already... Hehehe. Come, dear, it tastes wonderful you know. Come, have a try..." before I could even reject since there might be a reaction with the ale, later on, Heather had already stuffed a spoonful of that icy creamy strawberry milk solid into my mouth. 

It tasted nicer, a bit chewy since there's a bit of strawberry in it and when I swallowed it, my head starts to have sharp intense pain. "Owh...this is not good...! Heather, for the love of God...! My head is prickling... My gosh... It comes and goes quickly. What is this...? Enough, maybe you could give me a smaller portion than the one you gave me. Hehe. Even though the pain is bearable, but I can't bear not to taste it further. Hehe."

The earlier portion that was stuffed into my mouth could fill the whole cavity and when a smaller portion was fed to me, there was no such pain anymore in my head. 

"Hmm, you're Imelda, right? I think you had come up with a unique range of food today on your first day here being a citizen of Gracehaven. Congratulations...! Now, how are we are going to name this icy chewy strawberry milk... Candy? Icy chewy yummies?" 

"Your Majesty, how about ice cream without the 'y' at every end of it? It sounds simple and it's catchy. It's ice and it's made of cream and can be flavoured and would be loved by all. I think this would be good only in summer, don't you think so, Your Majesty?"

Imelda suggested and we all threw our arms up in the air jubilantly. I did that after I placed my mug of ale in the table and Heather only hugged the jug and raised hers together with a spoon.

 If one looks at her, she may even be the replica of the Statue of Liberty indeed. Instead of a torch, she held a spoon and on her bosom was a jug of ice cream. Hahahaha. 

"Dear, take out your Gracehaven's Mighty Cookbook And Baking Recipe Book, you have a new recipe in it. It's called ice cream." I suggested and Heather refused to go up and retrieve the book because she thought that I would try to finish off her ice cream inside the jug. 

Looking at Heather's antics, Imelda can't help but giggle to herself since I realised that both Heather and Imelda were both of the same age and also shared the birthday months together...!

"Finishhhhh....." Heather exclaimed as she finished the jug of ice cream and after she had finished her sentence, was overcome with chill and her teeth chattered incessantly. She ran upstairs and returns back with a thick blanket around her body and was all smiles when she returned.

"Imelda, I think you're right. This ice cream is only good for summer. This would help to cool off and chill oneself in the hot summer's day. But in autumn and spring, it is a big No-no since we could all be freezing inside."

"Crystal, just now you were mentioning about preventing spoilage, how does it go about it? " Heather asked Crystal since she was the one that brought up the subject and in the end, Imelda was the one that made chilled ale and frozen ice cream in a jug. Hahaha.

"Imelda, do you think you would be able to cool a storage barn just slightly above the freezing point? I mean to say is, that a storage barn that's filled with perishables, like milk, cheese and even fruits, vegetables and meats to be able to last all year round, regardless of the season?"

Crystal had some issues with keeping milk fresh and normally it would not be kept overnight unless it was turned into sour milk, yoghurt or even churned to become cheese or butter. The children had a fresh supply of milk every day and this was believed to contain an ingredient that makes bones and teeth stronger. 

"I have never tried it before, but it could be worth a try. A storage barn, temperature-controlled throughout the year to keep food chilled and fresh, am I right? It's a splendid idea, Ma'am."

"I guess I could do it. It is just a simple casting and the whole barn would be sort of frozen solid and the coolness would slowly permeate from those walls and preserve the food." retorted Imelda as Crystal excused herself and went to take a small empty wicker basket with a lid from her room. 

"Come, let's experiment on this wicker basket first. You don't have to make the outside icy, but just the insides only. Then I would put a whole live chicken in it and see how long it would survive."

"Fowls have feathers so they could resist cold much longer. If this experiment fails, then, either way, we have chilled chicken meat in the future. We have spring, summer and autumn outside but we have winter inside a box."

Crystal excused herself and went out to grab a fat hen and after feeling it around, she discovered that she won't be laying eggs for some time. She held the fowl by the wings and locked it down so the hen would not make too much of noise then. 

The wicker basket was placed on the table and as Imelda held it in her hands, a thin layer of ice seemed to form a kind of insulation inside the wicker baskets and it filled the sides and bottom as well as under the lid too. It was done under 2 breaths and Crystal gingerly took a string from her hair and tied the chicken legs together. She then placed the fowl inside the wicker basket and slammed the lid shut. 

"Done... We now shall wait. I'm going to put the basket at that corner so it won't be so noticeable. The effects won't be very quick right, Imelda?" Crystal inquired as she carried the wicker basket off the table and places it out of the way. 

She discovered that the wicker basket weighs a tad heavier, with the insulation of ice as well as the fat hen inside. From a distance, she could hear the cackling of the hen as it was trapped inside a cool dark place. 

"Alright, Your Majesty. I will return Imelda to the group. I don't want them I think that she was kidnapped or something. Hahaha." Crystal excused herself as she brought Imelda back. 

I can't help to wonder that there is all sort of use of these special abilities that the Priests and Priestesses possessed. I wondered why these talented bunch of people was shunned from society as they were regarded as evil and doing Satan's work or even considered as minions themselves. 

But to our eyes, these Priests and Priestess were considered as resourceful and would serve the community for a very long time...!

Since the term Witches and Sorcerers were dropped and had adopted a new term, this brought a sense of confidence to the Priests and Priestesses.

The community had a different approach towards them since they were not shunned anymore by the public. Most probably they were highly favoured by their King and Queen after all, so they dare not perform any actions that would jeopardise the harmonious living of the community. 

Heather and I sat down as we discussed with the usefulness of these special abilities. Since it was hard to describe each individual strengths, we noted down what we would do for the community if we were gifted with such special abilities that would be of great help for Gracehaven.
=*=
"These 4 houses here belongs to you now. Please remove your shoes and wash your feet before entering the house. There's a pair of flip-flops for each of you and the smaller ones could be returned back to the Gracehaven's General Store."

"Before you ask anything, I would explain to you why these houses were on stilts and on bamboo skids. This is to prevent moisture  being absorbed from underground and these skids allow us to move the house around during winter so 4 houses could share a common hearth."

"There's also some potties and need to be cleared every morning into the latrine pits at the end of the residential lots there and there. Someone would burn the contents inside and it would be decomposed easily." 

"Alright... The ladies can take the first two houses and the men, the following two." Frank explained the first few rules and then watched the ladies as they flitted around the houses. 

It was made from green and yellow bamboo as its main structures. Then thatched walls were tied against those mainframes. The houses don't have any windows and the elevated roof that was also thatched allows ample ventilation. 

A simple doorway made up the front of the house and the insides of the house were clean and spacious. The floor was laid with the 6 feet by 8 feet woven mats that were cooling and also act as a protection against the hard, bamboo floor. There was no mattress and bed but there were 4 pillows, originally meant for a household of 4.

The ladies and men quickly removed their boots and washed their feet as mentioned earlier and clambered onto the house. Imelda and Farah shared a house and they were simply rolling around the floor and laughing gleefully.

They acted just like children who had just discovered the simplest of joy. A lady soon arrived there, carrying a wicker basket cradled in the book of her arm as she took the flip-flops and exchanged them for the appropriate sizes. It didn't take long before the men got their appropriate sizes on their feet.

"Come, let me show you where the latrine pits are and then we can head down to the quicksand areas I was mentioning about earlier," Frank suggested as the men and ladies wore their flip-flops and left their boots behind.

It seemed ages since they had left their boots and walked barefoot. Furthermore, these flip-flops were so light and comfortable and it felt like they were not wearing anything under their feet...!

During the period of 1337-1453, a terrible war broke in Medieval England and that period was called (Hundred Year's War) and a huge turmoil ensued between the England and France with the involvement of rebels as well as opportunists. 

Prince Audemars Macleod, a descendent of King Richard Macleod of Darlington had barely managed to escape with his life when the Manor he was living in was besieged by rebels in 1440, when he was just barely 18 years old.

Let us travel through time and relive the experiences of this young Prince as he was forced to 'banished' and survive with some followers they entrusted their lives with him.

Little did he realise that he was actually living in the past of his future and had no recollection of anything except when he was narrated by a Seer that had been inducted as a permanent resident of the town he founded later.

*This is a fictional world. Most plants, vegetables, fruits and certain animals didn't exist in England that time.

*Almost all novels start off with a system. This does not reveal any hint of a system until you get to almost halfway through the novel. 

* Mobsters are included in the later chapters of this novel too. 

*This is a slow grind so bear with it as the storyline develops. Thank you and happy reading...

The morning quickly arrived, John quickly told his parents that he is now going to school. Breeze National High School is just ten minutes away from their home.

After arriving in the school, it was still some kind of ceremony so he didn't bother going in and hid around the canteen while eating snacks.

John remembered that he received a giftpack yesterday but forgot to open it because he still felt unreal because of what had just happened to him and fell asleep when he got home.

"System, where is my gift pack?" John asked in his mind while crunching a cookie.

"Just think 'inventory' in your mind and a panel will appear in front of you." The system said coldly.

John felt a little bit excited, "Inventory!" he said in his mind. Then, a panel appeared in front of him that only he can see.

[Overgod Inventory]
-1x Gift Pack

John thought for a while on how to open the gift pack and remembered the novel he had read in his past life, "System, I want to open the gift pack!"

"Ding! You have received Candy Recipe, x1 Fighting Pill, x3 Double Exp Pill 1 hour, and x1 Spectre Summoning Card."

[Host's Information Panel]
Name: John Lauren
Level: 1
Pet: N/A
Subordinates: N/A


John frown when he saw a new panel and asked the system, "What is the level used for, system?  And also pet and subordinates?"

"Level is required to unlock more panels and missions. Weapons that came from the system require a minimum of the level to equip or it will never work. [Pet], as the name implied it is a pet but with buff skills that can help you. [Subordinates], as the name implied you will have your own loyal subordinates which will never betray you." The system said coldly.

"Then where can I get a pet and subordinate?" John asked hoping that there will be freebies but unfortunately, a merciless cold voice poured cold water on him.

"Ding! You do not have enough level to unlock [Pet] and [Subordinate] panels." 

John knew it and shook his head with a sad smile and realized that the ceremony has already ended.

After reaching his classroom he sat in his respective seat and his dull look once appeared again making his classmates stared at him with a funny look. However, John didn't care at them because he is busy thinking about his rewards.

[Golden Candy Recipe]: A delicious candy made in the high tier planet.

[Fighting Pill] - Increases your fighting experience by 1 year.

[Double Exp x3] - Doubles your exp for one hour.

[Spectre Summoning Card] - Summons a Spectre from the abyss and can help you anything. (Once only) 

John felt disappointed by the rewards that he got because, in novels, most MCs will get heaven-defying cultivation techniques such as [Sky Annihilator] and more. But instead, what he got is rubbish, thinking about the candy recipe he got a bitter smile appeared in his face.

"Ding! Mission Triggered: Earn PHP1000
Reward: 5000 EXP and Mission Panel
Failure: Mission Panel will no longer be available
Time Limit: None"

When John heard it, a big smile appeared in his face and he thought, 'Perhaps that's the reason why I got a candy recipe.'

"But how can I make this Golden Candy? There are none ingredients listed on it. Hey system, what am I going to do?" John asked the system anxiously because he really wants to unlock more missions and earn levels.

"Ding! [Recipe] panel is currently locked. Do you wish to sell your 1 level to unlock it?" The system asked John coldly.


"Fuck your mother! Do it!" John couldn't help but cursed, the system wouldn't even let his 1 level go.

"Ding! Your Level 1 has now become Level 0 and you have unlocked [Recipe Panel]!"

[Recipe Panel]
Golden Recipe - Requires the host to buy candies in the real world and the system will help you convert it into a [Golden Candy].

John felt pissed that he had to spend money again, and he had just bought snacks worth of PHP20 earlier so he only has PHP30 left in his pocket. 

John looked at the teacher on the front who is discussing and then he raises his hand and the teacher called him and he said, "Sir, can I go to CR?"

The teacher stared at John with a stern expression for stopping his discussion and said, "Go."

John thank the teacher and left the classroom under the eyes of his classmates and goes to the canteen not far away. 

After arriving in the canteen, he bought all his money and got 30 candies inside the plastic bag.

"So what's the next step, system?" John asked the system.

"Ding! Do you wish to convert the x30 candy into [Golden Candy]?" 

John look left and right and saw that there were no students coming to the canteen because it's still class hours so he did not hesitate and said, "Convert!"

The Candies in the plastic bag glows with a red color and all the candies disappeared. After ten seconds, the plastic bag glows in a red color again and new candies appeared which looks shiny like gold and naturally it is the [Golden Candy].

John took one candy and stared at it for a while and a hint of expectation appeared in his eyes. After removing the cover, he slowly put the candy in his mouth and his taste buds exploded into something that he cannot explain.

It was simply too delicious, this is the most delicious candy he had ever eaten. The taste seems sweet but not so sweet and there seems to be an unknown ingredient that he himself thought it didn't exist on Earth!

"As expected of the candy made in a high tier planet. I believe just this candy can already make me become a rich man in just a few years." John said to himself while a smile appeared on his face.

John glance at the canteen owner who is sitting inside his shop while listening radio and he thought, 'Maybe he will like this candy and order for more.'

John left the canteen first in order not to look suspicious and goes to CR then came back to the canteen after five minutes. Then he said to the canteen owner, "Boss Sho, are you interested in buying new candies that will make students go mad just to buy it?"

Boss Sho opened his eyes and glance at the young man and remembered this was the kid who bought candies earlier but he still asked, "What candy is that?"

John smiled at Boss Sho and took out two Golden Candy from his pocket and gave it to him.

"I believe you will surely like it," John said to Boss Sho while waiting for him to eat it.

Boss Sho stared at him with doubt and took the candy and stared at it. The cover was already different so does the candy inside.

'Is this really not the candy he bought from me?' Sho thought suspiciously but shook his head and started removing the candy.

Sho felt surprised seeing such beautiful candy. The golden candy while twinkling is truly beautiful to look at and Boss Sho opened his mouth and started to savor the taste.

Sho widens his eyes and a hint of shock and intoxication could be seen in his eyes while still tasting the candy. It was only after a moment that Sho woke up from his intoxication.

"Kid, tell me how much is this?! Where do you get this? Tell me, I'll give you money!" Boss Sho said excitedly while looking at John.

John smiled inside with happiness but gave Boss Sho with a mysterious smile and replied, "I got this from my uncle and this is their new product but it will not be launch yet. But because I lack money, I decided to sell this to you. You can sell this golden candy php5 per piece."

Boss Sho thought for a while and said, "Okay, I'll buy yours at php3 per piece. How many do you have?"

John shook his head and gave him a dissatisfied look and said, "4 per piece and lets deal or else I will offer it to the other canteen."

When Boss Sho heard it, he stared at John's immature baby face and wanted to give him a slap while thinking how come such an innocent-looking kid is too greedy.

"Fine fine, but promise me that you will never sell it outside only the canteen here in our school." Boss Sho said because he knew that once this will appear outside the school, it will no longer be that rare.

When John heard it, happiness surge in his heart because that's what he truly wants. His candy didn't even have a certificate that it is safe, and although he believes that the system wouldn't harm unfortunately he cannot say it.

"Sure, I'll give you ten candies first since I've already eaten fifteen candies I brought today," John said without blushing spouting his lies and gave the ten candies.

Boss Sho twitch face twitch when he heard it and then gave John PHP40. John knew that he already stayed outside for more than twenty minutes and he is absolutely sure that his teacher is already angry.

"Boss Sho, remember do not disclose that we made a deal or they might no longer come to your canteen and instead will come to me," John said to Boss Sho and bid goodbye before going back to his classroom.

Boss Sho shook his head and grab the golden candy in his hand while staring at it intently. The cover was different, so does the candy. 

'Did that kid really bought candies from me which means trying to make a subtle hint? After all, how could he have bought candies from me if he has already candies?' Boss Sho thought to himself and while looking at the candies on his canteen,  he felt seeing a pile of shit.

But what he didn't know was that John didn't give him any subtle hint. He just wanted to use his candies and convert it into Golden Candy!

John Lauren is a failure in life, not only did he stop in school for three years, he had never done anything to do aside from always sleeping in his bed. 

In 2020, he is already 19 years old and still useless as usual until he got infected by a virus called coronavirus.

John Lauren died in the hospital with regrets and hatred in the hospital. 

But who would have thought that an unexplainable mystery happened and found himself back when he was still in high school. 

Join me and watch how John Lauren will do everything to become successful with his System.

Note: The MC is not a good person, but a bit of calculating.

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