Chapter -15: Embarrassment Of The Adventure Team.
After several hours, Jessica successfully harnessed the power of the Spiritual Growth potion, breaking through the bottleneck and ascending to the rank of an Intermediate Mage. To commemorate this joyous occasion, Rennes had organized a special banquet, and Pendragon Manor was aglow with light as evening fell.
The gathering took place in the garden, not a formal noble banquet, but rather a relaxed and joyous family celebration. Here, there were no stringent rules and regulations. The entire family sat around a bonfire, indulging in delightful conversation and laughter as they savored delicious dishes. The children, on the other hand, ran about freely, displaying their unrestrained energy.
After consuming their meals, they took off to play games, mimicking horseback riding and play-fighting, creating a scene of pure merriment. Rennes took great pride in the burgeoning prosperity of the Pendragon family, evident in the lively atmosphere that surrounded him.
Determined to further elevate the family's prosperity, Rennes resolved to work even harder in the coming year.
...
Inside Pendragon Manor, in the study room, Rennes sat comfortably in his chair, meticulously reviewing the month's beer sales. Over the years, the beer he had invented had become the most sought-after beverage in the Rhine region, offering unparalleled profitability.
However, recent times had not been kind to the brewery. Ongoing border warfare had led to increased taxes imposed by King Lance, resulting in a heavy burden on the region's lower classes. As a consequence, fewer and fewer people were able to afford alcohol, and last month, beer sales had plummeted, causing profits to drop by a staggering 25%. If this trend continued, the outlook for next month's beer sales appeared grim.
Amidst his concern over dwindling beer sales, Rennes' mother, Evelyn, entered the room with a joyful expression.
"Rennes, Janice and the others are pregnant again," she exclaimed, her face beaming with happiness. Evelyn was eager to see the Pendragon family expand, and the news that all four daughters-in-law were expecting had her positively thrilled.
"Really?" Rennes responded, his face lighting up with joy. He relished the idea of having more children, not only for the potential system rewards but also for the strengthening of the family.
With the excellent news in mind, Rennes put aside his worries about beer sales and left the study, eager to celebrate with his wives.
Word of the four wives' pregnancies quickly spread throughout Pendragon Village, sparking conversations and speculations among the villagers. Some even humorously attributed Rennes' seemingly potent ability to a blessing from Cupid. Rennes, however, paid no mind to such remarks. After all, there was no shame in being a strong procreator; in fact, it was a point of pride.
...
In the blink of an eye, another half-month passed. On this particular afternoon, the Neiger Adventure Team, which had been dispatched to the Whitehood Forest for an investigative mission, returned. However, their return bore the mark of misfortune, as they appeared battered and disheveled, with signs of injury and fatigue.
Frena, their leader, was among the most severely injured, barely able to walk unaided. Concerned for her well-being, Rennes approached her with worry etched on his face.
"Frena, what happened? Are you alright?" Rennes inquired, alarmed by the state of the team.
"While we were deep within the Whitehood Mountains on our mission, we were unexpectedly attacked by a Tier 9 Earth Storm Bear. In order to buy time for our escape, Lyfa summoned ghost wolves using her skills. However, it cost her dearly—her Warrior Qi was entirely depleted, and she sustained injuries to her heart veins from the Earth Storm Bear's Ground Stabbing Technique," Frena explained, her voice filled with dejection. The mission had not only gone unaccomplished, but it had also resulted in a sister's grievous injuries, which seemed beyond recovery.
"Depleted Warrior Qi and heart vein injuries?" Rennes gasped, fully grasping the gravity of the situation. The complete depletion of Warrior Qi would significantly hinder future cultivation progress, unless a fortuitous opportunity arose. Moreover, the heart vein injuries were equally worrisome, as they could impede Lyfa's ability to engage in strenuous physical activities in the future. Rennes regarded Lyfa with deep sympathy.
"If you need any help, please don't hesitate to ask," Rennes offered sincerely. Frena's heart warmed at his words, and some of her gloom lifted. After a brief visit to attend to Lyfa's injuries, Frena and her team departed, as Lyfa required immediate medical attention.
Lyfa's injuries were too severe for treatment in Pendragon Village, necessitating her transfer to the capital city, where a Life Church Bishop might be able to help her recover. Before they left, Rennes provided Frena and her companions with a "loan" of 10,000 gold coins, anticipating the expenses associated with inviting a Bishop-level Priest from the Church of Life.
As he watched Frena and her team depart, Rennes couldn't help but sigh. Friends who had shared countless adventures were now facing adversity, and he couldn't help but empathize with their plight.
"In a world teeming with monsters and the appearance of gods, one must continually strive to become stronger to protect oneself and those they care about," Rennes mused, contemplating the importance of resilience and strength in the face of life's challenges. With this thought in mind, he resolved to accelerate his efforts to have more children.