Fantasy Family Simulator (FFS)

At the gate of the manor, Rhett watched as Snowy led his troops away. His expression was as calm as still water. Despite having earned a significant amount of gold coins and knowing that achieving merits on the battlefield could lead to a title promotion, both of which were highly advantageous to him, he found no joy in the moment. Perhaps memories had resurfaced, stirring his emotions. He recalled his comrades from the bloody battlefield and let out a gentle sigh. It was a battle they had no choice but to fight.

Returning to the castle, Rhett composed himself and addressed Ryle, who was enjoying a green bean ice dessert, "The net profit from this transaction is 4,729 gold coins."

"Father, we still owe the Toronto family over 3,700 gold coins," Ryle said, taking another spoonful of the dessert.

"I know. When calculating the net profit earlier, I already deducted the debt. The repayment funds have been set aside in a separate bag," Rhett replied with a relaxed expression.

"That's great," Ryle said with a hint of joy in his eyes. "To avoid any delays, I'll set off for Cedar Town tomorrow to settle the debt."

Hearing this, Rhett nodded and then made his way up to the fifth floor. Returning to his room, he opened a notebook on his desk, glancing at the densely written text. He quietly read a few lines:

"The waist of the Bloodmoon Werewolf is its weak spot. When it enters a bloodthirsty frenzy, it often neglects defense, making its waist a prime target for attacks... Wild Boarmen are relatively slow; it's best to pair wind mages and archers, using Wind Wall to speed up the arrows..."

He was reviewing the contents he had written and correcting any mistakes. This notebook was the battlefield manual Rhett had been compiling over the past few days, summarizing his experiences on the Canyon Defense Line. Recalling the previous simulation, where his meticulous preparations had helped his sons and subordinates survive the flames of war, Rhett decided to implement the same strategy in reality.

Since Ryle was leaving tomorrow, Rhett wanted to ensure the manual was completed. In the bright light near the window, he picked up an ink pen and began writing diligently. Sometimes he would frown in thought, and at other times, he would carefully choose his words. Even when dinner was served, Rhett had the dishes brought to his room, where he dined alone. As the sun set and the moon rose, he continued working late into the night.

Under the cover of darkness, after repeated revisions, Rhett finally confirmed that the manual was complete. He had filled it with everything he knew about the Canyon Defense Line, and it was now thoroughly refined. Stretching his body, Rhett felt no physical discomfort, but finishing such an important task always triggered a habitual need to stretch. He then took a few steps, sat by the window, and gazed at the starry summer night. After a long moment of stargazing, Rhett took a deep breath and returned to his bed for meditation.

...

The next day's weather was much better, with no trace of the previous day's gloom. The morning's soft light filtered into the room, reflecting a large patch of light on the white wall through the mirror. Standing before the mirror, Rhett adjusted his attire before leaving the room to head downstairs for breakfast.

As he descended, he encountered Ryle and Clina walking out of the fourth-floor hallway. They were chatting happily, with Ryle gently touching his wife's pregnant belly.

"Good morning, Ryle, Clina," Rhett greeted them with a smile from the higher steps.

"Good morning, Father," Ryle responded with a wave.

Rhett descended the stairs and stood beside Ryle, pulling out a small, finger-thick booklet from his pocket. Noticing Ryle's curious expression, Rhett handed the booklet to him, saying, "This is a battlefield survival manual, particularly useful on the Canyon Defense Line. It covers various terrains, regional characteristics, and the strengths and weaknesses of the orcs."

"This..." Both Ryle and Clina were momentarily taken aback, but Ryle still accepted the unadorned booklet. Flipping through a few pages and skimming the contents, he asked, "Father, why did you suddenly compile all of this?"

"Because yesterday, after talking with Snowy about the situation at the Canyon Defense Line, I realized that things there are not looking good. The orcs' attacks have become much fiercer than before. If this continues, we could see a full-scale alarm across the entire region. If that happens, the nobles of the southwest border, including us, will be called to arms. To prepare for this possibility, you must study and train adequately to adapt to the harsh conditions you may face on the battlefield," Rhett explained.

The unexpected news left Ryle in silence for a long time. He took a deep breath, closed the booklet, glanced at Clina, and then placed the booklet in his pocket. "I understand, Father. I'll study its contents carefully while traveling with the caravan. When I return, I'll share the booklet with the others."

"Yes, it's very useful. Make sure to memorize it," Rhett said, patting Ryle on the shoulder before heading down the stairs.

During breakfast with the family, Rhett once again discussed the situation at the Canyon Defense Line and the potential crisis with everyone present. Upon hearing the news, aside from Rhett, his children, the servants standing nearby, and Sveta behind them all seemed to freeze in place. Rhett continued, "So, if a major war does break out in the future, Tuck, Ryle, Taylors—I plan to take all three of you with me. A fledgling that hasn't been tempered by fire won't have strong enough wings. Additionally, I'll need to bring a few others, but I'll take a few days to carefully select who. I'll announce the list later," Rhett said seriously, pressing his hands on the table.

At this moment, Vanessa, Clina, and Mina, the three women in the family, all displayed a mix of confusion and worry in their eyes. Clearly, the news had unsettled them—not for their own sake but out of concern for their loved ones.

Vanessa clenched her dress with one hand while suddenly grasping Tuck's rough hand with the other, saying, "Tuck, I want to go with you!"

Clina bit her lip and gently stroked her belly, her loving gaze mixed with determination. "After the baby is born, Ryle, I want to go with you too."

"No!" Ryle immediately objected. "The battlefield is no place for you. It's filled with bloodshed and death. We have children to raise, Clina. You should stay in the castle and be there for our child's upbringing."

"Vanessa, Dick also needs you," Tuck added, wrapping an arm around Vanessa. "I'm just going to the battlefield to gain some experience with Father. Don't worry, I'll come back safely."

Vanessa rolled her eyes, shaking off Tuck's arm. "With the way you're so carefree, you'll definitely be the first to charge in as cannon fodder. How can I not worry?" She playfully elbowed Tuck.

"Uh, no way..." Tuck scratched his head, looking embarrassed and unsure of what to say.

...

Seeing the growing tension, Rhett, as the head of the household, decided it was time to lift everyone's spirits.

Knock, knock, knock.

He rapped his knuckles on the table, scanning the room with a smile. "Everyone, listen to me. We need to have faith, don't we? If that day does come and we can't avoid it, let's face it with a positive attitude. And as the head of this family, it's my duty to keep everyone safe. I promise that no one will be harmed! We'll all come back safely, and we'll celebrate our victory with drinks brewed from the spoils of war!"

"Yes, I believe in Father!" Tuck said loudly.

"I believe too!" others echoed.

...

After calming his daughters-in-law, breakfast ended. Rhett went upstairs to have a word with Hank. He briefly explained the situation at the Canyon Defense Line, mentioning that if they had to go to war, he planned to take Hank to the front lines. However, Hank wouldn't be required to fight but to stay in the rear and focus on alchemy. After all, Rhett intended to use Hank and Taylors' alchemy skills as leverage to secure Taylors a position where he could execute orc prisoners and gain valuable experience points. Hank readily agreed without hesitation.

Rhett then left the castle and headed to the training grounds. Unica and Taylors were meditating nearby, with Makov casually pacing around them. Noticing Rhett's arrival, Makov approached him.

"Good morning, Rhett. What brings you here?" Makov asked.

"Yes, I have something to discuss with you," Rhett replied, carefully choosing his words. "From what I've heard, the situation at the Canyon Defense Line may escalate, and the nobles of the southwest border could be dragged into it, including us."

Makov paused in thought before asking, "So, what's your plan?"

"Although I don't know the exact requirements for the number and strength of forces each noble must bring, I need to start preparing now. That means selecting and training people in advance."

"So, that's why you came to me?" Makov blinked, then complained, "I haven't had a single day of peace since coming here..."

"I'm not forcing you," Rhett replied with a shake of his head. "I just felt that, given our relationship, I should tell you this in advance. Whether you choose to go or not is entirely up to you."

"Hmm..." Makov rubbed his forehead, sighing inwardly before grumbling, "I never said I wouldn't go... So, when do you plan to start training?"

Rhett knew Makov would agree, so he smiled genuinely and said, "Ryle is leaving for Cedar Town today to settle our debts. Once he returns, I'll organize the training."

"Sigh," Makov shook his head. "This time, I might just lose everything. I've barely had any time to relax here, and now I might be marching off to my death with you. But I heard there's orc wine at the front lines? If there's Bloodmoon Werewolf wine, don't go taking it all for yourself."

"Haha, I'll leave it all to you!"

"No need. Let me try it first. If it's good, I'll take it. If it's not, you can have it," Makov said, smacking his lips.

"..."

"By the way, since Ryle is heading to Cedar Town again, do you want me to accompany him?" Makov asked, as if suddenly remembering.

"Oh, I didn't want to impose on you, but if you're willing, that would be great," Rhett said, rubbing his chin. "I'm sure Ryle will appreciate it too."

Makov rolled his eyes and waved dismissively. "My life must be cursed to be stuck with you. Didn't you say the Goddess of Fate favored me before I came here?" Makov grumbled before turning around, shaking his head, and heading over to give Unica some instructions.

...

Five days later.

In the morning, Rhett visited the alchemy lab to check on Hank's progress over the past month. He primarily focused on the Starlight Antidote. After half an hour, he left satisfied—Hank's skill was impressive. Besides training potions, his success rate with other potions, including the Starlight Antidote, was around 70%! With that, Rhett felt more at ease and left the castle, heading toward the town.

He hadn't forgotten today's date—April 27th.

When the Nightingale Tavern first opened, it was sparsely populated during the day. But now, with the town's growing population, the 200-square-meter tavern was bustling when Rhett arrived. The space between tables was less than two meters, and most of the seats were taken. The waitresses, dressed in black and white outfits that resembled maid uniforms but weren't quite the same, with long pants instead of skirts, moved between tables. Upon noticing Rhett's arrival, they gasped in surprise and greeted him one by one.

Amidst the chorus of greetings, Rhett made his way to the bar. The bartender of the Nightingale Tavern, who was also the owner, was a well-built middle-aged man with a neatly trimmed mustache that gleamed as if polished. "Lord Rhett, welcome," the bartender said with a hand over his chest, bowing slightly. "What would you like to drink? I'll prepare it right away."

"I'll have a Neon Vortex," Rhett replied, then added, "And don't forget to add two ice cubes!"

"Consider it done!" the bartender smiled. "The Neon Vortex is one of my specialties."

Rhett sat at the bar, his toes resting against the footrail. Despite his noble status, no other patrons dared approach, leaving the area around him empty.

He had tasted the Neon Vortex before. It combined various freshly squeezed fruit juices and fruit chunks with multiple types of spirits. Before adding the fruit juice and chunks, the bartender would first mix in a secret family ingredient that kept the juice and fruit chunks suspended in the drink, preventing them from quickly dispersing. The final step was for the customer to gently swirl the drink, creating a vortex of rainbow colors. Each time, depending on the types and proportions of fruits used and the strength of the swirl, the colors and flavors of the Neon Vortex would vary slightly, adding to its unique charm—an experience that combined both fun and quality.

...