Fantasy Family Simulator (FFS)

"Forget it, I'll go myself. You can't ride a horse, and by the time you get back, it'll be too late," Stewart sighed, hands clasped behind his back, as he turned to leave. He decided to postpone any reprimands until after the banquet when everything could be addressed in one go. For now, time was too precious to waste on trivial matters.

"So, what should we do now?" Leo asked nervously, leaning in toward Bella.

"You go ahead and deliver the red wine. On second thought, I'll do it. We can't afford any more mistakes with the wine," Bella said, clearly worried.

"Stewart, what are you up to? Shouldn't you be preparing for the banquet?" Rhett called out as he stepped out of Deep Rock Fortress and spotted Stewart leading a packhorse toward the manor's gate.

Seeing his master, Stewart breathed a sigh of relief and hurried over. "Master, one of my servants, Leo, spilled the last crate of apple juice in the cellar a few days ago and forgot to report it. Now, Maru, the cook, needs the juice. She mentioned that she developed a new dish—apple mashed potatoes—based on your suggestion last month. I was planning to go around the town, collecting apple juice from the townsfolk."

Rhett raised an eyebrow. "It's just a dessert; no need to be so particular. Do we still have blueberry juice?"

"Yes, Master," Stewart confirmed.

"Try using blueberry juice instead. It might even taste better. Tell Maru to freeze the blueberry juice until it's thick and then pour it over the hot mashed potatoes. The flavor will be even better," Rhett suggested casually.

"Master, your wisdom is unmatched. A few words from you surpass Maru's decades of kitchen experience," Stewart complimented at the perfect moment.

By now, the sun had set.

Rhett changed into a dark blue tailcoat and stood in the deepest part of the castle's first-floor hall. Stewart approached him. "Master, everything is ready for the banquet. We are only waiting for your command to begin."

"Let's start now."

The decor of Deep Rock Fortress wasn't lavish, not even as extravagant as the Adventurer's Cave in Twilight City. But tonight, the atmosphere in the hall was lively. Servants, knights, and trainers all gathered together, surrounding Rhett like stars around the moon.

Standing at the head of a makeshift long table, Rhett raised his glass with a smile. "Everyone, this is the first banquet at Deep Rock Fortress since my return. First of all, I want to thank you all for your companionship and dedication. I toast to you!"

"Master, you're too kind," Stewart said softly, draining his glass of red wine.

"Lord Rhett, you are our guiding light!" The knights followed suit, finishing their drinks in one go.

Stewart refilled Rhett's glass, and Rhett raised it again. "This toast is for those who have recently joined us: Kurth, Tadelle, Frano, and Laurene. It was fate that brought us together! I hope you find peace and joy in our family here in Talon Town."

"Thank you for your blessing, my lord. I've long dreamed of finding a stable and harmonious family like this one."

"My third toast is for the future. May Talon spread its wings. I believe that with our combined efforts, Talon Town will continue to soar, growing stronger and reaching new heights, unafraid of any storm!" Rhett finished his third glass of wine.

His words filled everyone with a sense of pride and determination, inspiring them to finish their drinks with gusto.

"This is our home, and we have every reason to make it better," Stewart added with a smile as he refilled his glass.

"Stewart, don't drink too much. You're my most trusted aide, and I need you sharp tonight," Rhett cautioned.

"Don't worry, Master, I know my limits."

Under Rhett's leadership, the banquet at Deep Rock Fortress was free of the usual strict noble etiquette. The night was filled with music, laughter, and carefree enjoyment.

After the banquet, Rhett returned to his room and sat on his bed. He retrieved six bottles of Moonlight Elixir from his collection and focused. "Before heading to the Beast Mountain Range, I need to push my strength to the peak of a second-level mage."

As for his upcoming journey to the Darkfeather Eagle Mountains, it was all in preparation for advancing to a third-level mage.

He glanced at his current system panel.

[Family Head: Rhett Green]

[Second Generation: Tack Green, Reilly Green, Telles Green]

[Third Generation: Dick Green]

[Text Simulation]

[Real Simulation]

[Destiny Points: 38]

After a moment of thought, Rhett decided to reserve 10 points, enough for two more text simulations. The remaining points would be used to enhance his mental power.

Without hesitation, he activated the system.

[Activate Real Simulation? Each day consumes 1 Destiny Point.]

"Yes, simulate for one day."

As the familiar ripple effect appeared, Rhett once again entered the simulation. He methodically consumed the Moonlight Elixir, circulating his Furnace Meditation Technique to refine it.

One bottle after another, he absorbed all the Moonlight Elixir.

Suddenly, Rhett's eyes brightened with understanding. In the real simulation, the potion's resistance to his body was nearly nonexistent. After all, when the simulation ended, he would return to the moment before it began, bringing back only the changes in his mental power. The next simulation would start from the current time, effectively resetting any resistance.

"This is good news. If I gather 24 bottles of Moonlight Elixir and absorb them with almost zero resistance, even advancing from level three to level four would be much faster," Rhett mused with a smile.

In this world, talent mattered more than anything. Alchemy potions had resistance effects, which everyone knew, especially those used for cultivation. After dozens or hundreds of bottles, their effectiveness would diminish to nearly zero. For those with poor talent, even that wouldn't be enough to break through. But with talent, the sky was the limit.

For the talented, continuous progress in cultivation was a given, never slowing down. And if those talented individuals also consumed potions, the results would be extraordinary.

Rhett considered his talent average, but with the Real Simulation's help, who knew how far he could go? Perhaps he wasn't too far off from those with exceptional talent.

The next morning, Rhett opened his eyes, ending his meditation. He glanced at his remaining Destiny Points, now down to 12. Letting out a breath, he reflected on the night's work. After 26 simulations and consuming over 150 bottles of Moonlight Elixir, he had finally pushed his mental power to the peak of a second-level mage.

Strictly speaking, this peak was just another step within the late stages of the second level, but it meant that he had reached the very limit of what a second-level mage could achieve.