บท 10: The world

After dinner, his mother and Emma retired to their room, eager to make the most of their time after learning about the miraculous pill Yuan intended to give them upon reaching the warrior realm.

This pill promised enhanced beauty and allure, a prospect they were willing to work diligently for.

'Women will go to great lengths to enhance their appearance... It seems to be a universal trait.' Yuan chuckled to himself as he observed his mother and Emma leave without saying a word to him or his sister.

'Since he's already in the warrior realm, should I ask him about when we'll engage in dual cultivation? That way, I can begin my own cultivation as well.' Lily pondered, observing her mother and Emma's swift departure.

She was growing increasingly eager to join in cultivation, particularly dual cultivation with Yuan. As a mage, she needed to engage in dual cultivation to merge her mana with his, an essential step in her progress.

"Little Yuan, I was wondering... when can we start the dual cultivation practice?" Lily inquired, her gaze lowered, her cheeks turning a shade of crimson.

'Oh, she's blushing so much...' Yuan thought, finding her embarrassment rather endearing.

"Not tonight; I'm feeling quite tired and would like to rest. Let's do it tomorrow night, after we take Mom for a stroll around the town," he replied softly, caressing her face with affection as he spoke.

The idea of going for a stroll with his family held immense significance to him, given the lack of such experiences in his previous life.

'He's right, he's had quite a day... Proper rest is what he needs,' Lily acknowledged.

"It has been a while since we went for a walk with Mom. Your idea to take the family for a stroll through the town's bazaar is a good one, Little Yuan. Now that Mom is well again, it's a wonderful opportunity," Lily remarked, deeply impressed by Yuan's wish to spend quality time with their family.

The thought of strolling through the town's bazaar held a special allure to her, given her past with Anna's illness.

'The Bazaar, huh?' Yuan contemplated, his mind momentarily drifting.

"I guess it's time for bed, and we should get some sleep; it's getting late..." Lily commented, stepping closer to him and wrapping her arms around his neck.

'What's she planning? Is she going to kiss me?' Yuan wondered, a bit taken aback by her actions.

Bringing their faces close, she secured her arms around his neck and planted a kiss on his lips. Initially surprised by his sister's unexpected gesture, Yuan quickly responded, deepening the kiss with increased passion.

Their lips remained locked for about ten minutes, a fervent exchange that left them both breathless when they finally pulled apart.

"That's enough for now; there'll be time for more later. But right now, it's time to sleep; it's already late!" Yuan stated after they finally broke the kiss.

"I understand... Good night, Little Yuan!" Lily whispered, her cheeks flushed with a rosy hue.

"Good night!"

After bidding each other good night, they left the dining room and retired to their respective rooms to rest.

Yuan settled onto his bed as soon as he entered his room, quickly drifting into sleep. This marked his first night of slumber in this strange new world.

—

Upon waking up, Yuan headed to the bathroom to freshen up. He splashed water on his face and smoothed down his tousled hair.

Stepping closer to the window after tidying himself, he took in the outside world for the first time since his transmigration.

As he opened the window, he gazed upon the town's houses, reminiscent of a medieval setting on Earth. The air felt remarkably clean compared to the pollution he was used to back on Earth.

Observing the town's structures, Yuan couldn't help but notice the aging facades and numerous cracks in the majority of the buildings. The protective wall surrounding the town exhibited signs of wear, with visible cracks that indicated the city's state of disrepair.

A quick glance revealed that the city was on a gradual decline, seemingly destined to be abandoned in the next five to six years.

"In about five to six years, this city will be nothing more than ruins... But that's not my concern," Yuan commented as he studied the deteriorating town wall.

[Host, are you not planning to take any action?] Nora's voice echoed in his mind.

"There's little I can do here... I'm not some hero out to save the day. I have no intention of playing savior; it's just not my style," Yuan calmly explained. He had no interest in following the traditional protagonist's path of self-righteous heroism.

He didn't want to meddle in others' affairs or blindly help without considering the consequences. He was determined to make choices based on his own desires, not conforming to any preconceived heroic archetype.

He had no intention of being the kind of protagonist who would stand by as his loved ones suffered, or who would withhold his strength even when it mattered the most.

He intended to use his abilities as he saw fit, regardless of others' opinions, save for his mothers.

The town he was in was known as Clover Town, as per his previous memories. Around 150 years ago, adventurers had bestowed the name upon this newly established town.

The adventurers were drawn to the region due to the presence of a rare herb known as the "special clover," used in the creation of healing potions. This herb once flourished in abundance, bringing prosperity to the town.

However, those days had long passed, and the clover's growth had dwindled over time.

Clover Town, often referred to as the border town, faced a perpetual threat from beast waves that regularly swept through the area. Heading south from the town led to the territory of the Kingdom of Mora, and the local rule was under Baron Millar of the Windfall Kingdom.

The two kingdoms' amicable relationship ensured relative stability, preventing conflicts that could disrupt the lives of the town's residents and potentially lead to war.

The Windfall Kingdom was organized into four marquis regions: Marquis Monbrook in the north with the largest territory, followed by Marquis Paumers in the south, Marquis Rothsey in the east, and Marquis Reentosh in the west.

The kingdom included 7 Earls (Counts), 3 Viscounts, and 4 Barons, reserving the title of Duke for empires. It, along with the Kingdom of Mora and the Red River Kingdom, served as a vassal state to the Lionheart Empire.

In this world, there were currently three continents: Northern, Southern, and Western. While there might be others yet undiscovered, the lack of flying transportation hindered sea travel. Many attempts to cross the sea resulted in failure and death.

The largest continent was the Northern one, governed by three empires. The Holy Empire, situated in the Northwest, was overseen by the Holy Church with an Emperor subservient to the Pope.

The Gale Empire, encompassing six minor countries, occupied the northeast. The Lionheart Kingdom, including the Windfall Kingdom, resided in the southeast.

The Holy Empire had a strong religious foundation, while the Gale Empire ruled over multiple smaller nations.

The Southern continent followed the Northern one in size and was controlled by two empires. The Beast Empire in the southwest was home to beast people, elves, and dwarves. The Demon Empire, situated in the southwest corner, was dominated by the Demon race.

The Western Continent was shrouded in mystery, with the previous Yuan possessing little information about it except that it hosted mixed races, akin to those on the Northern Continent.

Apart from the three continents, a floating island named the Highland existed. Roughly a third of the Northern Continent's size, it drifted among the other three continents. Its inhabitants were arrogant and believed themselves to be akin to gods.

Indifferent to the lives of those on the three continents, they demanded a hefty fee for assistance to any kingdom or empire. Most realms opted to avoid them due to their self-centered nature.

Recalling this information, Yuan exited his room and headed to the dining area for breakfast. His memories provided a rich tapestry of the world's structure. There, he found his mother and the other girls waiting for him.