Fantasy Family Simulator (FFS)

Rhett's eyes flickered with surprise as he glanced at Vidas and then turned to Jovan, saying, "I think it's a great suggestion. What do you think, Jovan?"

"Can I… really?" The disappointment in Jovan's heart reignited as his eyes brightened with hope.

"Of course. Your abilities have always been evident, and Fire Vein Village has never had any major issues under your watch, right?" Rhett smiled warmly.

"Then, thank you, Lord Rhett, and you, sir… I mean, the future village chief, for your trust," Jovan said, tears of gratitude welling in his eyes as he bowed deeply. "From now on, I will do my utmost to assist the new village chief and ensure everything runs smoothly here."

Jovan was perceptive. Faced with a second-level knight and a friend of the lord, he knew better than to cling to his position. To him, being an assistant, enjoying his later years, and securing some wealth for his descendants was an excellent choice.

"I trust you," Rhett nodded, adding, "And your salary will remain the same as before."

"Thank you, Lord Rhett!" Jovan was even more moved.

Rhett then turned to Vidas. "So, will you return to the estate with me tonight, or will you stay in Fire Vein Village?"

"I'll stay here," Vidas replied after a moment of thought. "We have training tomorrow, and I'd rather not waste time. Tonight, I'll hand over the position to Jovan and familiarize myself with village affairs. Plus, the varied terrain of the mine pits at Fire Vein Village could serve as a small canyon for training. What do you think?"

"That makes sense," Rhett considered this and then agreed. "In that case, I'll bring the team to the mine pits tomorrow for the new training."

"Sounds good. I'll plan the training schedule tonight. See you tomorrow!" Vidas said.

"See you tomorrow!"

...

Training was monotonous and grueling. Under the guidance of Rhett and Vidas, two veterans with rich battlefield experience, the pre-war training continued for an entire month.

One early morning, Rhett and Vidas stood side by side on a 50-meter-high hill in the wilderness. They faced the dawn as the first rays of sunlight appeared on the horizon, gradually revealing a cloudless sky. The cool early summer breeze blew gently, and the mist in the higher altitudes began to dissipate. Under the sunlight, the vast plains spread out in all directions.

At the foot of the hill, the team members were resting—some meditating, others dozing lightly. Rhett and Vidas, following their tactical arrangement, were standing guard.

"Vidas, you're no longer suited for the battlefield," Rhett remarked, his gaze fixed on the distant savanna where countless blades of grass swayed like ripples on a lake. He added, "You've seen the potential in my men during this training—they've grown rapidly and shown excellent combat aptitude. With my strength and leadership, everything will be manageable on the battlefield. But my territory still needs someone to hold the fort, and you, just back from the frontlines, are better off staying here to defend it."

At the top of the hill, where wind and rain had worn down the red rocks over time, Vidas kicked a pile of stones down the northern slope. He took a deep breath and said, "If you don't return, I might be trapped in darkness for the rest of my life."

"Do you not have enough faith in your brother?" Rhett smiled lightly and patted Vidas on the elbow.

With that, Rhett descended the eastern slope, his voice ringing out in the clear morning air:

"Let's head back, resupply, and then revisit the underwater training!"

He hadn't forgotten today's date—June 11th. According to the simulation, today was the day the alert would reach his territory, signaling that the entire southwest was on high alert. His team would soon be heading to reinforce the canyon defense line.

As the morning sun shone down, Rhett's three sons, along with Makov, Tadel, Kurs, and Sheelin, awoke from their meditations or light slumber and gathered around Rhett.

"Do you really think the war will spread?" Makov asked, his magic staff slung over his shoulder. "It's been over a month, and we haven't heard a thing."

"Better safe than sorry," Rhett replied thoughtfully. "If things stay quiet for another two months, we can lower our guard. But for now, we can't rule out the possibility of calm before the storm."

"That makes sense," Makov nodded, still clueless. "Let's keep things as they are for now."

"Sir, may I take a bath?" Talyas asked, tugging at his sleeve with a hopeful look. "I stink, and flies and mosquitoes have been buzzing around me all night!"

Today, Rhett's expression softened—his usual sternness replaced by a fatherly warmth. He ruffled Talyas' messy hair and said, "Not yet. If you perform well in today's training, you can wash up in the river."

Even though he knew the pre-war training was nearing its end, Rhett maintained a casual tone, hiding his awareness of the looming battle. But his voice lacked the severity it had before.

The group followed Rhett's lead, heading back toward Eagle's Crest Town.

As they neared Fire Vein Village, the sound of galloping hooves reached their ears, growing louder by the second.

Gradually, a black dot appeared on the horizon, rapidly growing larger until it materialized before them.

Snort

Snort

A knight in black armor skillfully reined in his horse, kicking up a cloud of dust as the animal reared back.

"We meet again, Rhett!" a familiar voice called out as the knight lifted his helmet, revealing a familiar face.

"Snoway?" Rhett feigned surprise, though his mind was clear. He asked, "What brings you here? Shouldn't you be in Twilight City or Firestone City, buying ore?"

"That was the plan," Snoway replied, his expression serious. "But an unexpected development occurred. I received a message from the front lines that the commander has issued a full-scale alert. Now, every noble in the southwest, both in Bren and Keen, must enlist. This is a direct order from the commander—please take it, Rhett."

Snoway handed Rhett a thick letter, sealed in gold and red. Rhett glanced at it, pretending to read, then his expression grew solemn. "Rest assured, I will comply with the order."

"I trust in your dedication, Rhett. Returning in glory will be the ultimate triumph. But I don't need to remind you of the consequences of defying this order—every noble knows what's at stake." Snoway nodded. "I have to go now—the next territory is Damm Town. See you on the battlefield!"

With that, Snoway mounted his horse, waved, and rode off into the distance, kicking up more dust as he sped away.

As the sound of hooves faded, the others gathered around Rhett, their faces heavy with concern.

"It really was the calm before the storm…" Makov murmured.

"Father, you truly are prophetic!" Ryle said with admiration.

"We're going back to the canyon defense line…" Tadel muttered to himself.

"Get lost! You're the one who wants a beast woman—you're not dragging me into it," Kurs replied with disdain.

"Fine, but if we catch any Night Cat women, don't come asking for them," Tadel shot back.

"You think you can handle them all yourself?" Kurs glared at him. "As a good brother, I'll gladly take two off your hands."

"Shameless!" Tadel scoffed at him.

"We're really going back to the canyon defense line…" Rhett murmured, then took a deep breath and smiled at the group. "Look at that—our hard training has paid off. Soon, we'll be tested by fire."

"Father, when do we report in?" Tuck asked, hefting his greatsword.

"By the end of August at the latest. Any later and we'll be considered deserters, losing our noble titles," Rhett replied after glancing at the golden letter. "As for the number of troops required, our current group meets the criteria."

"Let's go back. I officially declare our pre-war training over!" Rhett announced, then added, "Tonight, we'll enjoy a grand feast at the castle, and you can all have a long, hot bath."

"Yay!" Talyas cheered, raising his hands in victory.

When they returned to the estate, everyone rushed inside as quickly as possible—they were in no state to be seen by anyone.

Even Rhett's clothes were filthy. Upon reaching the manor's entrance, he turned to Svetta and said, "Please inform Chef Maru to prepare a grand feast tonight, with all the finest dishes."

"Of course, sir," Svetta replied with a bow, then asked, "Has the training ended? Captain Snoway was here earlier asking about your whereabouts."

"Yes, it has. And tomorrow, we march to the canyon defense line," Rhett said, his gaze distant.

"My goodness, you were right all along—it really happened!" Svetta exclaimed, though his eyes betrayed his worry. "Please be careful on the battlefield, sir. You're the heart of Eagle's Crest…"

"Ha," Rhett chuckled at his butler's concern, giving him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Don't worry, Svetta—the ones who should be cautious are the orcs, not me. And while I'm gone, I trust you to manage the estate."

"I will do my utmost to keep everything in order and await your victorious return!" Svetta promised with a bow.

Back in the castle, the servants had already prepared a warm bath for Rhett.

Steam filled the room as Rhett eagerly stripped off his clothes and sank into the tub. Over the past month, he had only been able to wash his hair with water magic—taking a proper bath was a luxury he hadn't been able to afford on the battlefield.

Though he had endured much worse during his years at war, Rhett couldn't deny the pleasure of soaking in the tub after so long. As he lay in the water, he used his mental power to grab the towel and scrub his back, letting his arms rest by his sides. The towel worked up a thick layer of grime, and he couldn't help but smile at the sensation.

After about twenty minutes, Rhett used wind magic to dry his hair and dressed in clean clothes. He left the bathroom and instructed the servants to change the bathwater before heading downstairs.

The main hall on the first floor was brightly lit, though the sky outside had darkened. The air was heavy with silence.

Rhett's three daughters-in-law sat at the dining table, their faces clouded with worry. News of the impending battle had clearly weighed heavily on their minds.

Sensing the tense atmosphere, Rhett raised an eyebrow as he descended the last few steps, his footsteps echoing through the hall. He walked over to the long dining table and spread his arms wide, saying, "What's going on? Everyone should be happy. Is it because of the upcoming battle?"

No one spoke, confirming his suspicion.

Rhett raised an eyebrow and answered his own question. "When we return, not only will Eagle's Crest be stronger, but we'll also be a count's territory. Isn't that good news?"

"I truly hope so," Vanessa replied with a strained smile. Unlike Rhett, she lacked the ability to foresee the future, and to her, the battlefield against orcs was fraught with deadly risks.

"I want you all to return safely—whether or not you earn titles is irrelevant! I want you to remember that while you're out there risking your lives, you have loved ones waiting for you here," Kalina said, her eyes brimming with tears. Though it might seem selfish, she spoke from the heart.

Ryle put an arm around Kalina and said, "Father's judgment has always been spot on—we've rarely seen him wrong, have we?"

"That's right. I trust you, Father!" Talyas added, pumping his fist.

Rhett sat down, fully understanding his daughters-in-law's concerns. In a way, their anxiety was a testament to the loving relationships within the family.

Their worry was only natural—it was human nature to be concerned for loved ones.

With a chuckle, Rhett offered a few more words of comfort, but in such a somber setting, his reassurances had little effect.

He sighed inwardly.

Perhaps the only thing that could truly ease their fears was the sight of their loved ones returning safely.