[Ding!]

[Harvest Record Updated]

First harvest successfully detected.

+25 EXP

+20 Progression Points

(๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧

Not bad for a first attempt, King.

--

Lucas stopped in the middle of his stretching.

"…So now EXP and PP get accumulated first," he said flatly,

"and you only tell me later?"

[Yes. Accumulation increases efficiency.

It also reduces unnecessary interruptions.

(´・ω・`) ]

—

"Hmph." Lucas rolled his shoulder once.

"Hmmm… this chatbot's adaptation isn't bad."

[You bastard!!!] (╬ಠ益ಠ) ]

Lucas let out a small smile.

[Well I forgive you this time... Because I've got some info for you] (￣▽￣)ゞ ]

"What kind of info?" Lucas asked.

—

A brief silence.

Then—

[DING!!!]

(≧▽≦)✨

LEVEL UP!

Host has reached Level 5!!

Quick update—if you're interested in keeping track of your own growth ♪

[STATUS UPDATE]

Level: 5

Strength: 7 (+1)

Agility: 7 (+1)

Stamina: 6 (+1)

Mana: 9 (+1)

Total EXP: 420 / 500

Total PP: 122

--

Lucas stared at the numbers floating before him for a moment.

"Hmmm… these numbers are interesting," he muttered.

[ What is this? Do you have a numbers fetish now? (￢_￢) ]

Lucas clicked his tongue.

"Damn insane chatbot."

The system replied again, and the nonsensical banter between them resumed.

While Lucas was joking around with the system—

Inside the Baroness's boudoir—

Silvara stood silently before the large map.

Her gaze was fixed on the metal pin embedded in a specific region.

"…There are many monsters over there, My Lady," Silvara said carefully. "High density."

The Baroness nodded calmly.

"I know."

She placed one hand on the edge of the table, her gaze steady.

"But according to Matruska, that place is no longer under the Empire's attention," she continued.

"And it is far from the reach of the Empire's enemies."

Silvara frowned slightly.

"…It's still dangerous."

The Baroness stepped closer and gently patted Silvara's shoulder.

"Do not worry," she said softly. "As an old woman, I still trust my own abilities!"

Silvara swallowed.

Her fingers tensed for a moment.

Because she remembered—

In this plan of exile,

the Baroness herself would also be exiled.

And that reality felt far heavier

than any monster on the map.

It was hard for her to accept the fact that the woman who had once transformed her from a reckless, brawling brat into an elegant knight would soon be far away from her.

----

While Silvara was being weighed down by an uneasy feeling,

Lucas was crouching down, checking under his bed, then pushing the wooden chest filled with gold coins into place.

Clink—

The soft sound of metal clashing echoed briefly before he stood back up and sat on the edge of the bed.

[You really look like you hate debt.

So much that you didn't even touch the harvest rewards and just stockpiled them.

Like, genuinely hate it. (￢_￢)]

Lucas clapped his hands once.

"Yes. I am," he answered without hesitation.

"But I don't hate all debt."

He leaned back against the wall, his gaze calm.

"There is such a thing as strategic debt," he continued.

"Debt that can push your life forward."

Then his voice lowered.

"And there is stupid debt," he said flatly,

"the kind that will strangle someone for their entire life."

The system fell silent for a moment.

[…Wow. (・_・;)

Your face looks even uglier when you talk about debt.]

Lucas yawned. "Don't care! This isn't my real face after all."

----

The night passed normally.

Everyone went about their own routines, absorbed in their own thoughts and emotions.

Then morning came.

—

By the time the morning was fully bright, Lucas and Silvara were already prepared to head to the tomato field.

As usual, the Baroness approached Lucas before they left.

And as usual—

She still handed him money.

Even though she knew perfectly well that her son had already secured his own income.

Lucas accepted it without hesitation, then glanced briefly at the pouch.

"Mother," he said calmly. "Could part of this be in silver?"

The Baroness paused for a moment, then nodded as if it were a perfectly reasonable request.

Coincidentally, not far away, another maid was sweeping the courtyard.

"Come here," the Baroness called.

The maid immediately straightened.

"Yes, My Lady?"

"Bring a pouch of silver coins," the Baroness instructed. "From the reserve."

"At once."

The maid hurried off, then returned shortly after and handed the pouch of silver to Lucas with both hands.

Lucas accepted it. "Thank you."

The Baroness gave a small nod, then turned and went back inside the manor without adding anything further.

The maid resumed her work, sweeping the courtyard as if nothing had happened.

—

That was when Liona appeared beside Lucas.

She leaned in and whispered softly.

"Psst… Lucas," she said. "Please yell at me."

Lucas glanced at her, one eyebrow slightly raised.

"…What?"

"Come on," Liona whispered again. "Yell. Loud."

Lucas grew even more confused. Is she a freak or some—

Before he could finish the thought, Liona hurriedly added in an excited whisper—

"Tell me to escort you using the horse-drawn carriage back and forth," she said.

"Loudly."

Silvara, who had been standing nearby, was already on the verge of laughing.

The corner of her lips twitched, clearly mocking.

Lucas looked back at Liona.

She was short.

Way too short.

And she was looking up at him with eyes full of expectation—

no, pleading.

…Shit.

Those puppy eyes.

Lucas let out a quiet breath.

Then—

He raised his voice.

"You goddamn little shit!"

Liona flinched on purpose, barely holding back a grin.

"Starting today," Lucas continued loudly, his tone sharp and unmistakable,

"you will escort me to the fields and pick me up when I return—"

"Using the horse-drawn carriage!"

The courtyard fell briefly silent.

Then—

Liona's face lit up instantly.

Silvara finally lost it.

In the end, they headed to the fields once again in the open-top horse-drawn carriage—

just like yesterday during the harvest.

The wheels rolled smoothly along the dirt road.

Liona sat at the front, holding the reins, clearly in high spirits.

A little too high-spirited.

She was still smiling to herself—until a certain phrase replayed in her head.

You goddamn little shit!

Her smile faded.

Liona shot a glance back, pouting as she stared straight at Lucas.

Lucas noticed immediately.

"…What?" he said. "Eyes on the road. You'll crash at this rate."

Liona clicked her tongue.

"Just so you know," she said stiffly,

"I'm not 'little'."

Then she snapped her gaze back to the front, sitting up straighter than before.

Lucas blinked once.

Silvara, sitting silently nearby, looked away—

her shoulders shaking slightly.

It didn't take long before the horse-drawn carriage reached the fields.

A stretch of red soil and rows of tomato plants spread out before them, illuminated by the soft morning light.

The carriage began to slow.

Lucas looked toward the fields from a distance—

then his brows furrowed.

Among Geralt and Anya, there was a figure who should not have been there that morning.

"…Why is Healer Mae there?"

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