Fantasy Family Simulator (FFS)

In fact, no one could refuse Rhett's command. Especially Tuck, who had just tasted the sweetness of acquiring a mid-level breathing technique, his eyes lit up when he heard his father's decision to continue digging for antiques, and he nodded vigorously in agreement.

Rylee also had no objections. Remembering that the caravan personnel had already gathered outside, he hurried out to inform them. He approached the stable hands and the escorts accompanying the caravan.

"Hey, everyone. I've got news for you—there's been a change in plans. According to the lord's orders, today's caravan departure has been canceled. But rest assured, we'll definitely be setting off in the next few days. So, for now, head back and rest. Wait for the next announcement." Rylee spoke as he stroked the lead black horse, feeling the well-defined muscles beneath his fingers and marveling at the horse's majestic build.

The four escorts left promptly, heading toward the knight training ground, hoping they might catch the tail end of the day's physical training session.

Escorts were a type of servant. Those at Deep Rock Castle were people who had once aspired to be knights but, lacking the necessary talent, settled for becoming escorts. When they weren't accompanying the caravan, they would train alongside the knights, and during their off hours, they took care of heavy work around the estate and castle. When part of a caravan, they were responsible for loading and unloading goods, attending to the main group's needs, and handling various chores. Therefore, a strong physique and a willingness to endure hardship were essential for escorts.

While the escorts left, the stable hand George stayed behind, not daring to leave yet since Blackger was still enjoying Rylee's affectionate strokes, its eyes half-closed in contentment.

"George, you've done a good job with him. Blackger has gotten even stronger in recent months. I must say, this is another pleasant surprise. Tuck must have been incredibly lucky to find this lost foal in the wild and bring it back home." Rylee formed a small water ball in his hand, and when Blackger opened its mouth, he gently guided the water in.

"It's all thanks to Master Tuck for bringing Blackger back to the estate. Otherwise, I wouldn't believe that a normal horse, not a magical beast, could have such a physique. If you hadn't personally tested him and confirmed it, Master Rylee, I would've suspected he had some magical beast blood in him." George chuckled as he held the reins, genuinely admiring the black horse.

Rylee kept smiling but shook his head. "If he did have magical beast blood, I wouldn't be surprised. However, Blackger is still quite different from magical beasts."

"But he's still impressive."

Rylee waved goodbye and headed toward the gates of Deep Rock Castle. Meanwhile, George cheerfully led the stout black horse back to the stables. Although Blackger appeared docile in front of Tuck and Rylee, it was because they were knights and mages with undeniable power. George knew that deep down, Blackger remained proud and difficult to tame. Only because he had been feeding the horse for so long had they formed a peaceful bond.

Yet, when it came to other people—or horses—Blackger would show his true nature, ignoring others and refusing to cooperate. George had tried many times to pair Blackger with the grey pack horses in the stable, hoping to breed exceptional offspring, but to no avail. He even wondered if Blackger had peculiar tastes.

Recently, though, George had discovered the black horse behaving affectionately with a grey mare. This revelation had him so excited that he could barely sleep at night. He planned to confine Blackger with the lucky mare to give them more time together.

"Master Rylee has always wanted a mount like Blackger. If this works out, I might earn a handsome reward. Maybe I'll renovate my house, buy some new clothes, and finally confess my feelings to Beryl..." The thought made George grin to himself.

...

To the east of Hawk Town lay a thicket of thorn trees known as the Little Thorn Forest. Unlike the larger thicket on the west side of Sunlake, this area was much smaller, hence the name.

Crossing through a wheat field, Rhett and his three sons arrived at the East Eagle Lumberyard—a simple name given to the lumberyard on the east side of Hawk Town. Today, the yard was unusually quiet, with only one man meticulously working on the wood.

Rylee recognized the man sitting on a bench, engrossed in his task. "Jim, why are you the only one left in the lumberyard? Where's Kootin, and where's everyone else?"

"Ah, ah?" Startled, Jim dropped his tools as he stood up, realizing the voices belonged to Rhett and his three sons, now approaching from about ten meters away.

"Greetings, Lord Rhett, and to the young masters as well. Captain Kootin said he discovered an antique yesterday, so today, he planned to spend the morning clearing more land in the thorn grove. This will help with the upcoming logging and, hopefully, uncover more relics." Jim, dressed warmly with a thick cotton jacket and a blue fur hat, had taken care to stay warm, though his hands, bare for precision, were red from the cold.

Rhett nodded. Now that he knew Kootin's whereabouts, there was no rush. His purpose in coming here was to urge Kootin to prioritize digging up the land—even if it meant sacrificing some thorn trees.

With his keen eye, Rhett noticed Jim's hands were pricked with small, needle-like wounds, and he frowned slightly. "Handling thornwood isn't easy. When you get back, Rylee, make sure to distribute some healing salve to the lumberjacks to speed up their recovery."

Rylee's eyes gleamed as he nodded. "Understood, Father."

Jim was overwhelmed with gratitude. He never expected the lord to be so observant and to care about a lowly woodworker like him. A surge of emotion filled him, and suddenly, his wounds didn't seem to hurt as much as he thanked Rhett profusely.

Rhett smiled faintly. This simple gesture served as both compensation for the lumberjacks and a reward for their efforts. He remembered that in the recent simulation, all the antiques were handed over without any issues, indicating that neither Kootin nor his workers had any ulterior motives. If they had, the simulation would have warned him, as this concerned an important matter for the family. The lumberyard workers had proven their good character, and rewarding them was just basic leadership.

Continuing eastward, the group walked leisurely for a few more minutes until they reached the Little Thorn Forest.

"Heave, ho! Heave, ho!"

The sounds of shouts and the heavy clashing of metal on hard surfaces echoed from a distance. As they drew closer, they saw a lively scene: a dozen lumberjacks, scattered among nearly a hundred thorn trees, were vigorously digging up the earth.

...