Fantasy Family Simulator (FFS)

Rhett, leaning back in his chair, immediately noticed the change in the ceiling's glow. His previously calm expression showed intense fluctuations as he rubbed his eyes and stared directly at the ceiling. He finally saw that it was a grid of sixteen squares, each densely filled with clear symbols and writing. Alongside these were diagrams of human movements, with a particular emphasis on the lower body—marked with significant points on thighs, calves, and ankles.

Rylee, ever perceptive, was the first to notice Rhett's shift in demeanor. Casually glancing up, he too was stunned by what he saw. The ceiling was nearly covered in a red glow, outlining what appeared to be the details of a combat technique.

It was his first time encountering such a phenomenon, a hidden method he had never heard of before. During the day, sunlight had also reflected off the mirror, but nothing had been revealed.

Following their lead, both Tuck and Tylers looked up, their mouths agape.

Rylee, putting the pieces together, realized the reddish glow was coming from the sunset. He rushed to the window and confirmed his suspicion—the crimson afterglow of the setting sun bathed the horizon. In that instant, everything clicked for him.

"It's the sunset! Only the sunset's light can trigger the mirror to reflect this content. Quick, write it down before it disappears!" he urged, the last part directed at Tuck.

Snapping out of his shock, Tuck quickly immersed himself in deciphering the combat technique displayed on the ceiling. As a knight, he only needed a few glances to determine whether it was a breathing technique or a combat technique.

Minutes passed, and Tuck's expression grew increasingly serious. His body tensed as he entered a state of complete focus, where his mind and body aligned. He realized that this combat technique was exceptionally profound—far more complex than the Cross Slash or Gale Thrust they had obtained earlier.

The more he tried to comprehend it, the more he felt as if his head was spinning. But Tuck, being the stubborn man he was, preferred to push through with brute force. Ignoring the sensation of mental confusion, he continued to study the technique.

Gradually, Tuck became so absorbed in the process that he started moving unconsciously around the room. His steps were strange—sometimes moving forward, sometimes circling backward.

Watching this, Rhett mused, "Could this be a movement technique?"

Movement techniques were much rarer than offensive ones. With a movement technique, knights could better navigate complex situations and close the gap between themselves and mages. Lacking in speed, knights could easily become sitting ducks against magic-wielding beasts or mages specializing in ranged attacks.

However, with enhanced speed, knights could improve their chances of dodging, pursuing, or escaping, which was crucial for a class that relied on close-range combat to deal damage. In the mage community, knights with superior speed and elusive movement were never underestimated—especially in one-on-one situations in the wilderness, where mages had to be extra cautious.

"What level of technique is this? Low-tier? Mid-tier? It probably isn't high-tier," Rhett pondered as he observed Tuck's movements and the ceiling.

Although the ceiling was filled with writing, Rhett noticed it lacked the technique's name or descriptions of its effects—only the training method and operational routes were detailed. This meant that only those who mastered it could fully grasp its effects. For now, only Tuck could understand the technique, leaving the rest of them in the dark.

Half an hour later, the text on the ceiling began to fade. Rhett's eyes narrowed as he glanced outside—the sky was darkening, with only a sliver of twilight remaining.

Meanwhile, Tuck's pace quickened, and his steps grew more erratic. His brow furrowed as he focused on absorbing the technique, oblivious to the dimming light.

Suddenly, something seemed to flash.

The three observers felt as though they were experiencing a hallucination. Tuck, in his erratic movements, seemed to step backward at an unnaturally fast pace—almost like a small-scale teleportation.

Rhett's pupils contracted, and his hands gripped the armrests of his chair tightly.

This didn't seem like something a low-tier technique could achieve. The speed was so astonishing that it even impressed Rhett. Just as he was feeling a surge of excitement, Tuck suddenly cried out in pain and collapsed onto the floor—landing on his rear.

"Hiss!"

"Tuck!"

"Are you okay?"

The three of them rushed over, concerned for Tuck, who was sitting on the floor clutching his right calf, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. Despite the pain, he forced a smile. "Hehe, I'm fine. Just a cramp!"

Seeing their skeptical expressions, Tuck became more serious and explained in detail, "Father, Rylee, Tylers—believe me, it's really just a cramp, along with some overexertion."

Rylee, deep in thought, asked, "Big brother, have you already started mastering the technique?"

Rhett patted Tuck's shoulder and began massaging his leg. "How do you feel? Tell us."

"Feels good. A bit more pressure…"

"Shut it! I meant the technique! What does it do?" If Tuck weren't injured, Rhett might have kicked him.

"Oh!" Tuck scratched his head sheepishly. "This technique is incredibly difficult. After my initial attempts at practicing it, I'm confident it's a mid-tier technique! And it's definitely a movement technique. It's so challenging that I got a little too obsessed and overdid it, which is why I ended up like this."

Lowering his head in shame, Tuck added, "Sorry for worrying you."

Hearing that his overzealous training caused the mishap, rather than any issues with the technique itself, Rhett breathed a sigh of relief. Still, he sternly reminded him, "Balance is key. Pushing too hard can leave hidden injuries in your body."

After years in the military, Rhett knew this all too well.

"No more overdoing it next time!"

"Understood, Father."

"Big brother, continue! You've only mentioned the difficulty and level of the technique—you haven't told us about its effects," Rylee urged, still curious. He vividly recalled Tuck's backward step earlier—it felt like a profound technique, something that left an unsettling impression on him. If a knight could master such speed, how would that affect his chances against them?

Eager to share, Tuck set aside the cramp in his leg, his excitement evident as he explained, "I haven't fully mastered it yet, but it seems this technique has two levels. I haven't reached the second level, but the first one allows for rapid retreat along previously traveled paths.

"The basic idea is to use Battle Qi in a specific operational route, leaving a special Qi line in the places you've walked. Once you've mastered the first level, you can retrace that line at high speed or use it to accelerate forward. However, this consumes a lot of Battle Qi, and the line doesn't last long. Using it for rapid movement also heavily drains stamina and places a significant burden on the body."

Tuck added with a hint of embarrassment, "I've only just started with the first level. I can't even call it mastery—just taking half a step back caused a cramp."

...