Three new companions were added to the manor.
The cabins of the abandoned ship were spacious enough to accommodate everyone.
Du Lin and Su Yue were each assigned a cabin.
In their excitement, they “wept in each other’s arms” — while actually squeezing Lucoco’s head.
Yinuo, however, took a special liking to the mud hut covered in vines and flowers and couldn’t take her eyes off it.
So, everyone pitched in to “renovate” the hut, turning it into a cozy little nest for Yinuo.
Afterward, Lucia began arranging training for Du Lin, Su Yue, and Yinuo.
Course one: Wrestle with Luti.
You can only unlock the next stage after winning!
Lucoco sat in the shade of a tree, watching the scene from afar.
She couldn’t help but feel a strong sense of déjà vu.
Back then, she had also fought Luti for a long time before she was finally allowed to follow Lucia on the path of hunting.
Right now, Luti was in a one versus three situation, yet she wasn’t losing ground at all.
Her fish scales, which had turned almost dark purple, shimmered.
When Du Lin’s lightning magic hit them, it only produced a few tiny electrical sparks.
With a heavy body slam, Luti pinned the main tank, Su Yue, making it impossible for her to move!
Then, with a blast of water, the charging Yinuo slipped and fell headfirst, entering a stun state that lasted 8 seconds.
*Sha sha sha~*
Immediately after, Luti began chasing Du Lin around a tree.
“Time flies… Luti has become so strong.”
Lucoco leaned back and lay down on the soft grass, her gaze following the yellowing leaves on the tree.
“Coco.”
A familiar, beautiful smile entered her field of vision.
Lucia leaned over and looked at her tenderly.
“Mm!”
Lucoco answered softly, reaching out her hands like a kitten acting spoiled.
Lucia gave a brilliant smile and gently picked her up.
The two of them sat together on a nearby wooden bench.
The legs of the bench were halfway buried in the grass, giving it a natural, fresh feel — a witness to the young girl’s growth.
Lucoco’s sharp eyes caught sight of a new book Lucia had placed on the other side of the bench.
Just as she was about to peer over, Lucia’s finger gently blocked her small head.
Lucia gave a mysterious smile.
“I’ll give it to you in a moment.”
She raised her hand with a light wave.
“Come~”
A thick ice spike condensed a few meters away.
It was a familiar shape.
“Mm.”
Lucoco pulled her head back and raised her small hand, aiming her palm at the ice spike.
“WIND BLADE, FIREBALL, AND LIGHTNING!”
*Whoosh, hum, sizzle~*
Three D-rank spells spiraled toward the ice pillar.
Just before they reached it, Lucoco clenched her fist.
“CONDENSE!”
*Boom!*
With a roar, the explosive power of the three fused D-rank spells displayed a destructive force close to that of a C-rank Great Fireball.
“So impressive~ mwah~”
Lucia laughed and gave Lucoco’s chubby cheek a kiss.
Then she waved her hand again.
“Next one!”
Thick, sharp wooden spikes burst from the ground, tearing several cracks into the earth.
Lucoco raised her hand again, aiming at the pile of wooden spikes.
This time, she seemed to be struggling a bit.
“BLAZING FLAMES… WIND LEAF BLADE… DUST… FUSE!”
*Hum… rustle, rustle…*
A tornado carrying sharp wooden spikes had just ignited into raging flames when dust dyed it a lava-like crimson.
Immediately after, at almost the same instant, **[Mana Barrier]** enveloped both Lucoco and Lucia.
The next second!
*Bang!*
The crimson tornado exploded.
Dirt, rocks, and weeds flew everywhere.
The out-of-control magic set off a terrifying shockwave, blowing a massive crater into the ground and sending dust flying.
When the dust finally cleared, the **[Mana Barrier]** slowly dissolved, revealing the two of them, completely unharmed.
“Mm, as expected, fusing C-rank magic is still too much right now.”
Lucia raised her hand and gently stroked Lucoco’s head.
Lucoco looked down at her slightly reddened palm.
‘When I was fusing the dust, I couldn’t control the mana flow.’
With a thought, soft **Holy Light** rose from her palm, and the red marks quickly faded.
Lucia gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead, her smile warm.
“Mom has to go out for a bit. Does Coco want to come along?”
Lucoco snuggled affectionately, then glanced at the three girls and one fish still tangled in a fight in the distance.
She shook her head with a light laugh.
“I want to stay home today.”
Hearing this, Lucia finally handed the new book to Lucoco.
“Read it well. Mom’s leaving now.”
She then walked toward the manor’s exit.
Lucoco stared blankly at the cover of the new book in her arms: *Concerning the Creatures Known as Players*.
‘What kind of book is this? The title is so strange.’
Full of curiosity, she couldn’t wait to flip through the pages…
**On the Diversity of the Creatures Known as Players!**
**[Summary: Their worldview follows their aesthetics; their moral floor and ceiling fluctuate based on rewards.
Give them enough rewards, and they’ll dare to rip off their own mother’s coffin lid to use as a shield. Once they’re done, they’ll put it back and burn some spirit money!
The only thing to note: Just don’t cross their bottom line. Also, do not tell them that this time they are going to crusade against the Demon King.]**
How to identify if someone is a Player:
1: They don’t walk properly. They like to jump everywhere. Their first reaction upon seeing a wall is to climb it. If they can fly, they will never touch the ground. They always think there are treasures in caves and at the bottom of cliffs.
2: They often stare into the void and talk to themselves.
3: They are extremely respectful toward the chickens at the village entrance.
4: Almost everyone has learned the Stealth skill.
5: If they encounter a fork in the road, they must come back to take the other path as well.
6: The precious potions they sell are usually close to their expiration dates. It’s best to check.
7: They want everything. For example, discarded rags, rusty daggers, or even dog poop on the ground — they’ll pick it up and study it for a long time to see if it can
be used for Alchemy or Enchanting.
8: They will inexplicably run into people’s houses and smash jars randomly. So, never hide anything in a jar. Remember, always label important items as “Quest Items.”
9: They claim to be “Lore Lovers,” but don’t expect them to actually listen to your story. They only care if you can give them a quest or if your shop has good stock.
10: It’s best not to set complex locks on your house, otherwise, people will try to pick your door every day. They might even bring explosives.
11: Those crowding around pretty girls and handsome young men, wagging their tongues? No need to doubt it.
12: They like to eavesdrop. For example, if you say “It’s getting cold,” a bundle of firewood will appear at your door the next day. Please at least give them a sincere “thank you”; they’ll be very happy.
…and so on.
Lucoco looked at this list of “evidence” against the Players, unsure of what expression to make.
The handwriting was fresh, as if it had been written recently.
Lucoco realized she had truly underestimated her mother.
Looking at the things recorded in this little notebook, Lucia’s level of understanding of Players was definitely top-tier.
In short, Lucoco felt like that old man on the subway looking at his phone…
—
Meanwhile, dozens of miles away from the manor.
A young man dressed in magnificent battle armor walked quickly along the wheel tracks.
Gabriel, the second-ranked powerhouse among the new generation of Heroes.
Because he could not forgive his own recklessness, he had resigned from all his positions.
Under the name of atonement, he stepped into the **Echo Territory** once more.
‘Even if I have to be a dog!’
The Bishop’s reprimand from that day echoed continuously in his mind.
It was very close.
Half a day ago, on the open plains, he had already seen it — in the distance, he could see another scorched mountainside.
That was where the ship had crashed.
Gabriel quickened his pace, following the riverbank.
*Splash… splash…*
The sound of rushing water suddenly came from ahead.
“Hiss~ whew! My damn ass… wooh-hoo-hoo~~~”
A muffled groan was mixed in.
One could tell at a sound that it wasn’t a human voice.
‘A demon!’
Gabriel’s heart tightened, and he immediately entered a state of alert.
His palm had already quietly gripped the hilt of his sword, ready to draw it and face the enemy at any moment.
He was all too familiar with this low voice; only demons with large bodies could produce it.
He just didn’t know if it belonged to the **Chaos Faction** or the **Dark Camp**.
Slowly, very slowly, Gabriel approached bit by bit…
Finally, he saw the creature making the noise.
A Ram-horned Demon, shrunk down to human size, was squatting in the river… using the river water to wash its body.
However, before he could get a closer look, the Ram-horned Demon slowly turned its head.
“Kid, stop peeping. Your grandpa doesn’t have time to play with you. Get lost!”
The totem mark of the **Dark Camp** on its forehead was incredibly clear.
“You!”
Gabriel’s hair stood on end, and his body trembled uncontrollably.
He recognized who this Ram-horned Demon was. When he passed through the **Crossroads Market**, its portrait was posted everywhere.
But didn’t the Bishop there say that the Jet-black Witch had made it clear there was no need to worry?
Why was this monster still alive?!
“Oho~ if it isn’t a Hero?”
A red glow flashed in the Ram-horned Demon’s eyes as it spoke mockingly, slowly standing up.
The moment the red glow flashed, Gabriel felt as if his soul had been seen through completely.
“…”
Yet, he still drew his sword and took a combat stance, his eyes gradually becoming determined.
A Hero could not retreat!
He had nowhere to go anyway.
This place was not far from the little Saint’s home.
Leaving this creature alone would be an absolute threat.
The Jet-black Witch might not fear it, but the little Saint was still too weak.
If this guy used underhanded tricks…
‘This guy must be here for revenge!’ Gabriel was certain of it.
‘Even if I die, I must at least let them know there is danger here.’
Thinking this, Gabriel’s body suddenly stopped shaking.
An aura of being ready to face death rose from his body, climbing steadily…
“Ouch, ouch, ouch~”
The Ram-horned Demon’s face twitched, and it squatted back down while clutching its buttocks.
“Phew~ that feels better~”
It allowed the cool river water to wash its rear.
At the same time, it glanced lazily at Gabriel.
“What else do you want, kid?”
“I won’t allow you to take another step forward!”
Gabriel had seen plenty of demonic lies!
His entire body was suddenly enveloped in intense fire elements.
The long sword in his hand instantly became red-hot and dazzling, spewing out crimson sword qi.
“HAAAH!”
With a loud shout, Gabriel’s momentum was like a rainbow.
He cracked the ground and rushed toward the Ram-horned Demon.
At the same time, an emergency signal flare representing extreme danger ejected from his waist.
It looked as if it was about to burst out of the dense forest and soar into the sky.
However, in the next second, the Ram-horned Demon’s figure disappeared from the river and reappeared above the flare, easily snuffing it out.
*Boom! Splash!*
Gabriel’s sword swung at empty air.
The blazing sword light carved a long, deep trench in the riverbed, kicking up a massive spray of water.
“Pulling this crap?”
The Ram-horned Demon’s lazy posture was gone.
Looking at the remains of the flare in its hand, its eyes held a hint of annoyance.
“Ha!”
Gabriel didn’t respond.
He simply erupted with momentum again, leaping high and slashing toward the Ram-horned Demon.
The Ram-horned Demon narrowed its eyes, looking at Gabriel rushing toward it again.
“You want to die that badly?”
It didn’t dodge or evade, simply raising a hand.
“JUDGMENT! SLASH!”
Blood seeped from the corners of Gabriel’s eyes; he was putting everything on the line.
*Clang!*
The sharp blade wrapped in blazing sword light was easily caught by the Ram-horned Demon.
He couldn’t even make it drop a single inch.
“Tch~”
The Ram-horned Demon gave a light sneer and waved its hand —
*Bang! Crack! Boom!*
Gabriel was swatted down.
After snapping several thick trees, he smashed a large crater into the ground.
“…Hff… hff…”
The magnificent battle armor had lost its luster, now covered in cracks.
A blood-stained hand reached out from the pit, trembling as it reached for the sword at the edge.
A large, furry foot suddenly appeared, stepping directly on the hand and grinding it down.
“I was speaking the human tongue, wasn’t I? Can’t you understand? Huh?”
“Ngh! Hff…”
Gabriel used his other hand to feebly strike the Ram-horned Demon’s leg.
“Tsk…”
The Ram-horned Demon smacked its lips and squatted down.
Suddenly, it wore a mask of pain again, clutching its rear.
“Oh! Phew, phew… my damn ass~”
“Heh…”
Gabriel, his face covered in blood, suddenly smirked, his eyes staring straight at the red patch behind the demon.
“Hey! What the hell are you laughing at!”
The Ram-horned Demon snatched the bracelet from Gabriel’s wrist.
It extended its leg and kicked Gabriel further into the pit, then snapped its fingers.
“Get lost, get lost! Your grandpa is going to seek refuge with that woman, not get revenge!”
A pitch-black teleportation portal suddenly appeared at the bottom of the pit, catching the tumbling Gabriel and sending him away instantly.
Everything came to an abrupt halt.
“Ouch, hiss… ah~”
The Ram-horned Demon hunched over, clutching its rear as it waddled toward the river step by step.