The Rebirth of Evelyn Knox

Evelyn had known that both her parents loved her very much from the beginning, and their adoration for her had only grown since then. It was only natural since she was a good, adorable and obedient daughter.

She knew it was only a matter of time before their affections naturally reached the level required to obtain their enhancements. And aside from their natural interactions, all Evelyn did to raise their affection was learning archery and painting from Desmond and Isabella respectively.

It did increase their time together a little, and allowed them to interact with each other a lot more. But Evelyn believed that even without doing so their affections would have been maxed out eventually. It would just take a lot longer.

But two thousand points of experience was too great a boost for her to not want to have as soon as she could! After all, it was more than four times the experience she had managed to acquire in her entire life so far.

At first, she only had the intention of repaying their gratitude fairly once she grew up. She didn't think she would develop any genuine affection for them herself.

However, time had proven her wrong, and it seems like even her negative view of her first mother didn't prevent her from loving this pair of parents at all.

Evelyn learned at it was hard not to like someone if they loved you genuinely. At least, she couldn't bring herself to keep them out of her heart after all this time.

She had learned from this experience, however, and decided that whenever she had to use the 'raising affection' method in the future, she must be careful not to end up giving her own heart out in return!

It's okay to like people and treat them well, but Evelyn wasn't willing to just hand out her complete trust and love to anyone but herself.

As time passed and the bonds between the parent and child solidified, it was no surprise that both of her missions were finally completed almost a year later. At the same time, no less! It was probably quite close to the maximum level for a while already, and finally hit the threshold naturally.

Evelyn was glad for it to happen now rather than later. Because if a few more days had passed, then she would get even more anxious about the 'test' on her ceremony. She didn't feel she was quite ready as she was.

Although she had been a little lax after talking with Amara about it on her fourth birthday, the atmosphere in the Knox estate didn't feel right as her ceremony came closer.

It wasn't just the glimpses of preparation and security being increased. It was an overall feeling as if something of great importance was coming, and it made her anxious not even knowing what it was.

Since she could only prepare herself as best as she could, and with only a few days left for her fifth birthday, this 'gift' came just in time.

Surprisingly enough, the mission rewards did not get automatically credited, but were waiting to be claimed by her manually instead. Although she could claim them both at once right away, she decided to take it step by step just to be safe.

She opened her father's mission tab first.

[ Yellow Mission, Target: Desmond Knox ]

-Source: Calamity

-Clear Condition: Fulfill any one of the following:

—Kill (or) Completely defeat Desmond

—Raise Desmond's affection to the maximum level [Fulfilled!]

-Rewards:

—Experience: 1,000 points

—Acquire the [Hunter] passive ability: Enhances the rate at which long ranged targeting skills are honed. Also gives the hunter's vision a keener sense of detecting prey.

—Physique permanently raised by +10 points

Her mother's tab was quite similar, although the rewards were obviously different.

[ Yellow Mission, Target: Isabella Knox ]

-Source: Calamity

-Clear Condition: Fulfill any one of the following:

—Kill (or) Completely defeat Isabella

—Raise Isabella's affection to the maximum level [Fulfilled!]

-Rewards:

—Experience: 1,000 points

—Acquire the [Artist] passive ability: Enhances the growth and learning rate of skills related to drawing and painting. General hand eye coordination is also enhanced.

—Spirit Power permanently raised by +5 points

—Vitality permanently raised by +5 points

There was a big yellow 'Claim!' button next to each of the mission names, and Evelyn felt slightly regretful for always carrying little Ruru around with her every day making sure she stayed in skin contact.

If she knew earlier that it was possible to claim the bigger missions manually at her own convenience, she wouldn't have let little Ruru get such a bad habit!

Now even if she tried to keep her off the sly little fox would jump around and either nestle on her head or shoulders if she was standing, and her chest or belly if she was laying down.

"Ugh… whatever, I guess she will grow out of it once she gets bigger. Hopefully."

Well, she won't deny that the fluffy little thing was adorable, so it wasn't such a big deal anyway.

Since it was already nighttime and she was alone in her room, there was no need to worry about being disturbed in the middle of the leveling process.

Although all her previous level ups were almost instantaneous and without any strange feeling except for a subtle feeling becoming stronger, she felt that there must be a reason for the bigger missions to require being claimed manually.

Evelyn climbed onto her bed and took off her light overdress. She contemplated taking the rest of her clothes off but shook her head. Even if Ruru was just a pet, it would feel a little weird after all.

The pink haired girl took a deep breath, held it in, and then released it slowly. She didn't know what it would be like to level up so much at once, and it would be wrong to say she wasn't a little excited and apprehensive.

She once again checked the description of little Ruru's skill [Lotus Throne's Shackles] to see if she missed anything. After making sure that the condition was only direct skin contact, she pressed Ruru a little closer to her belly, much to the confusion of the little fox.

Feeling that she had prepared as best as she could, she nodded to herself while ignoring the squirming of her little fox.

"This should be fine… alright. Hope nothing goes wrong!"

As she imagined pressing on the 'Claim!' button on her first yellow mission, a burst of energy seemed to flood into her body all at once from the world.

-Reward Claimed!-

—Physique permanently raised by +10 points!

—Acquired the [Hunter] passive ability: Enhances the rate at which long ranged targeting skills are honed. Also gives the hunter's vision a keener sense of detecting prey.

Experience +1000 points!

Current Experience: 1100 points.

Level up!

Level 12 [1100/120] -> Level 13 [980/130]

All Stats increased by +2!

At first, the feeling of her body being filled with energy was refreshing, as if taking a fresh bath after a long day out.

Level up!

Level 13 [980/130] -> Level 14 [850/140]

All Stats increased by +2!

Her second level up was followed by a feeling of contentment. It was her first time leveling up multiple times in a row, and the satisfactory feeling made Evelyn giddy with excitement, because she knew a lot more were to follow.

Level up!

Level 14 [850/140] -> Level 15 [710/150]

All Stats increased by +2!

"Aah!"

There was a funny feeling in her tummy, and a gasp escaped her lips. But the pleasant feelings were mixed with something that felt distinctly wrong.

Level up!

Level 15 [710/150] -> Level 16 [560/160]

All Stats increased by +2!

There was a 'crack!' from somewhere deep inside her. She didn't if the sound came from her bones, or something else. She didn't get the chance to ponder on it, however, because the energy was still flooding in without stop.

Level up!

Level 16 [560/160] -> Level 17 [400/170]

All Stats increased by +2!

"Oohhhh!!"

Her gasps had already turned into painful groans, and even her little fox started yipping in distress.

Level up!

Level 17 [400/170] -> Level 18 [230/180]

All Stats increased by +2!

A whimper escaped her lips as tears kept flowing from her wide open eyes.

Evelyn bit her lip so hard that blood started flowing down her chin. "Just one more… just one more left… I can do it!"

Level up!

Level 18 [230/180]] -> Level 19 [50/200]

All Stats increased by +2!

Over! It was finally over… she thought with relief.

She didn't know how long she lay there on the bed. Her tears staining her face till they dried by themselves. Even then, she could feel that a thin sheen of perspiration was covering her body, a sensation she had never before felt since her reincarnation.

She shook herself out of her stupor and sat up on the bed.

As she worriedly examined the little fox on her belly, she realized that little Ruru had already fainted. Evelyn quickly checked its status even before her own.

-Lotus Moon Spirit Fox (Ruru): Level 17 [Exp: 0/170]

Special Physique: Spirit Beast

—Physique: 11 -> 45

—Spirit Power: 231 -> 282

—Soul Value: 507 -> 558

—Vitality: 14 -> 48

-[ Abilities / Enhancements ]

—Lotus Throne's Nirvana

—Lotus Throne's Shackles

—[New!] Lotus Throne's Golden Wheel

"Lotus Throne's Golden Wheel?"

As she tried to focus on the ability, the description finally came to her mind.

-[ Lotus Throne's Golden Wheel ]

—The two souls are bound together in a golden circle of life and death. One cannot fully perish while the other still lives, but the other cannot thrive while one is in peril.

Evelyn frowned as she looked through the description multiple times.

"I don't get it… does that mean that as long as one of us is alive, the other cannot die? But how exactly does that work, even? It says 'cannot fully perish', does that mean if we're killed we'll still die, but not 'fully'? Ugh… why can't there be any more detail?!"