“Sigh, this child has been attached to Ethan since she was little.
I don’t know if it’s a good thing or not, what do you think, Dad?” “Hahaha, none of that matters.
Ethan-chan grew up right before our eyes anyway, and the age difference isn’t that big.
As I see it, just…” At the Übel’s front door, the old couple watched Ethan and Üffie busy loading things onto the carriage.
Their faces showed reluctance, but more than that, they showed relief.
“Dad, Mom, are you guys done yet?
Übel is about to leave!” From afar, Üffie’s voice made her parents, who were acting childishly, stop their whispering.
Üffie, now eighteen, glared at her childish parents, but there wasn’t much she could say.
This couple had truly been spoiled rotten by Ethan, their “godson.” Although no one said it out loud, everyone knew as clear as day that it was all thanks to Übel.
Ethan’s grandmother was getting old, so they brought her to live with them for easier care.
Now, Ethan only went back to his own house to sleep at night.
They weren’t living together completely, though.
That house was left by Ethan’s missing parents.
While he had no emotional attachment to it, it belonged to his grandmother’s son and daughter-in-law.
Coupled with blood ties, Ethan didn’t plan to abandon it.
His grandmother knew that Ethan would eventually leave this small mountain village.
If she insisted on staying alone, Ethan wouldn’t be able to set off with peace of mind.
So, she gladly accepted the Übels’ parents’ invitation.
Ethan was very grateful for this.
“Ethan.” Üffie came up to Ethan and carefully adjusted his collar.
“Do you remember, in the beginning, you weren’t even half my height?” She looked up, her eyes a little hazy.
“Now, you’re so much taller than me.” “I’m a boy, after all.
The title ‘leader of the children’ will eventually fall into my hands,” Ethan said with a smile.
“You’re still thinking about that?” Üffie looked dumbfounded.
“After all, the leader’s job is to protect everyone, isn’t it?” Ethan said playfully.
“From now on, Üffie-sister, Übel, and everyone in the village will be protected by me.” Üffie looked at the boy in front of her, and the determined little figure who wanted to learn from her in the past gradually overlapped with him.
“Idiot,” she muttered, standing on tiptoe and flicking Ethan’s forehead.
“Kid, you’re not strong enough to protect your big sister yet.” This was the truth.
While he had some strength now, and clearing the surrounding forest was no problem, he was still too weak for this world, for demons, for heroes.
“I know.” “Then, go out there and let the world hear your name.
That was my dream when I was a child.” “Okay.” Watching the atmosphere between them veer toward family, dreams, and legacy, the parents watching from the side had rather strange expressions.
“This is different from the farewell scene I imagined.” “Huh?
Is there nothing between them?” “You’re Üffie’s mother, can’t you tell?” “You couldn’t tell with her father either?” “No, there’s still hope.” At this moment, a little old lady, who had quietly appeared behind the couple, lowered her voice.
“Look at Ethan’s feet.” Hearing this, the couple instinctively looked in that direction.
They saw the five-year-old Übel looking at her older sister with dead fish eyes, her gaze seeming to hold a meaningful hint of hostility.
“Übel…
she’s only five, right?” “Here we go again, Dad.
How long has it been since you paid attention to little Übel’s emotions?” “I, I just entrusted her to Ethan…” “Irresponsible!
How could I have such an irresponsible husband!” “I think you two are as bad as each other,” the old lady commented sharply, but her tone was quite light.
“Don’t worry too much.
Üffie and Ethan are taking great care of the child.” It wasn’t entirely their fault, as they had essentially swapped caretakers.
Ethan and Üffie looked after Übel, and the couple looked after Ethan’s grandmother.
So, neither side was neglecting their duties.
If it weren’t for the lack of any real legal ties, it would have felt like one big family.
After bidding farewell to the villagers, Ethan drove the carriage and leisurely set off on the road to the capital.
Based on the carriage’s speed, it would take about a month to get there.
Theoretically, just in time for school to start.
Übel seemed to be fine as long as Ethan was by her side.
Her reluctance to say goodbye to her parents and sister vanished within half an hour.
Sitting in Ethan’s arms, her big eyes curiously watched the passing scenery.
However, after only ten minutes or so, she started showing signs of her eyelids getting heavy, drifting in and out of sleep.
Isn’t it said that children have strong curiosity about the world?
She was so bored on her first trip out of the village that she fell asleep.
This child was truly unique.
About half a month passed quickly.
Ethan wasn’t completely idle.
Besides meditation time, which didn’t require much effort, he was also researching some strange things.
His initial idea was to entertain the child.
He wanted to show Kido in front of her, but that stuff was dangerous.
If he accidentally hurt her, even if he could heal her, he would feel guilty for a long time.
So, he began to research Kido that had no destructive power, where all damage was erased, and only special effects remained.
All the visual effects were the same as regular Kido, but when cast, it felt like a gentle breeze.
Ethan named it “Phantom Path.” However, when he finally succeeded in developing Phantom Path and performed for the child, making her incredibly happy, he suddenly realized that this thing actually had practical combat applications.
Illusions themselves were a type of technique used to confuse enemies, and his was an illusion that retained all its special effects.
The cost was almost zero, yet it could play a terrifying role in actual combat.
It was absurd that he initially just wanted to put on a fireworks show for Übel, and only after creating it did he realize its tactical value.
An unintended fruit bore fruit.
“Red Flame Cannon!” It wasn’t Ethan who shouted, but little Übel.
She struck a cool pose, her eyes full of laughter, and her eyes shone with admiration for magic.
Yes, this child believed that this was the magic she would be able to learn in the future.
Ethan rarely saw such an exaggerated emotional response from the child.
“Ethan, Ethan, Übel wants to learn that!” By the campfire, Übel leaned on Ethan’s leg, her big eyes staring at him unblinkingly, with an expression that suggested she would cry if he didn’t teach her.
“Übel, you can’t learn that yet,” Ethan said.
He couldn’t explain about his notes.
The process of developing Kido was like writing code.
Releasing it later was just like calling a function that had already been written.
This was his exclusive cheat.
The mages in this world couldn’t reproduce it in this way.
“Then when can I learn it?” Übel tilted her head and asked.
“When you grow up…
hmm, after you become a Class Two mage.” Ethan gave her a goal that was far greater than getting into a top university in his previous life.
Anyway, as she grew up, he would explain everything.
It was a classic way to brush someone off, but it was very effective for a child.
“Then Übel will become a Class One mage and then learn from Ethan!” Übel’s gaze was firm, but a smile of eager anticipation still played on her lips.
Ethan’s mouth twitched.
This child, she couldn’t have taken it seriously, right?
She even changed “Class Two” to “Class One.” Do you even know how hard it is to become a First-Class Mage?