Ken rushed back to the hideout, appearing as concerned as he should be. It didn't take a genius to guess what Simm had done. The other three children were agonizingly close to their level caps just a few hours ago. They must have reached the peak of level 1, and Simm had helped them crawl over to level 2 using her controlling privilege on their progression paths.
Affirming his suspicion, Simm greeted them inside her room with a subtle nod at him while Surata was distracted by the lively children. Ken stood nearby as she prodded them gently, his eyes focused on the three bright screens above the baby cribs.
The primary progression panel was more or less identical for Juko and Kyma. But Mishka, his other daughter, had her unique panel.
.
[ Race: Beastmen ]
[ Talent: Hivemind (racial) ]
[Class: - ]
[ Level: 2 ]
Ken quickly summoned their secondary panels and went through every row there. Simm had not acted outside their plans, luckily. The allocation of attribute enhancement points was arranged the same manner Ken would have done it in.
Mishka only had 3 Physique Attributes in her general leveling panel. So the enhancement of 1 full point for breaking through to level 2 meant that she had a maximum ceiling of 0.4 points per attribute. However, their previous experience had made them learn that only 0.1 points per enhancement would actually be accepted by the children's delicate physique.
Since Mishka lacked potential in speed, Simm had allocated the larger share of the enhancement point to her Dexterity to make up for it with better reflexes.
[ Level: 2 ]
[ Exp: 000/200 ]
[ Attributes: Strength (0.4); Stamina (0.5); Dexterity (0.5) ]
This was Mishka's current attribute panel. The reversion of enhancements eventually caused by her would significantly affect Ken and Simm's body.
For Juko and Kyma, this secondary panel was unique as well. Juko used to be the weakest of his siblings in terms of physique, having the exact same attributes as Ken. Simm had allocated 0.1 points extra for his Stamina and Magic Affinity.
[ Level: 2 ]
[ Exp: 000/200 ]
[ Attributes: Strength (0.3); Stamina (0.4); Speed (0.3); Magic Affinity (0.4) ]
Kyma was a troublesome youngling. She had five attributes, just like Kenshi. Ken and Simm had deliberated a long time over what type of path they should set out for her. She had potential for both the Warrior class and the Mage class because of her inherited Bloodline Talent of Motion Awareness and the attribute of Magic Affinity. In the end, Simm had chosen to leave it up to fate and allocated 0.2 points to every attribute.
[ Level: 2 ]
[ Exp: 000.5/200 ]
[ Attributes: Strength (0.3); Speed (0.3); Stamina (0.4); Dexterity (0.3); Magic Affinity (0.4) ]
"This is unbelievable! I thought the one named Kenshi had had an anomalous growth spurt supplemented by the world spirit, enhancing his physique. But these three have literally leveled up! They're 3 weeks old! Even with their abnormally fast growth rate, they aren't supposed to be leveling up! They haven't even developed the ability to think properly, let alone operate their progression panels!"
Surata sounded one twist away from having a mental breakdown. Ken understood her sentiment. To someone unaware of what really was happening, this development would virtually be a gut punch to their very worldview.
Surata twisted her neck around and locked her sight on Simm in desperation. "Are you sure you don't want to explain yourself? I've been a healer for more than 20 years, now. I know what terrible consequences an unwanted enhancement can have on a body. Do you think your children will be able to survive the sudden outburst of vitality when none of their organs have matured? You're killing them!"
Simm's face was like a mask cast with stone.
"That's a lot of concern you're showing for children not your own, Lady Surata. Do you think I don't see the greed in your eyes when you look at them? I didn't miss the fact that you stole most of what I bled out during childbirth. You think of me and my children as a treasure to be possessed, experimented on, and used. Spare my ears from that righteous tone."
Surata's bloodshot eyeballs looked ready to explode. On her pale face, blackish veins began to pulse underneath the skin. The vampiress was ready to fight over the matter.
Ken coughed loudly and tried to break up the intensifying argument by distracting Surata.
"Hey, look! Their umbilical cords are still fine, unlike Kenshi's. Maybe when their condition reaches that fatal stage you're talking about, the same changes that happened to Kenshi will happen to these three kids. Maybe the spontaneous combustion of the umbilical cords is the signal for the changes. Let's not jump to conclusions so recklessly!"
Surata took a deep, angry breath and the worm-like veins pulsing across her face slowly receded, much to Ken's relief.
"Jumping to a conclusion is what you've been doing, little mage. The conclusion I reached required little leaps of logic. I know she did it. And I know you know it. Since you two are not worried, I suppose I shouldn't fear of any harm coming to the children."
Both the mother and the midwife had had their buttons pushed to the limits, and Ken did his best to separate them. In the end, Surata could not refuse his request to leave the room. She was an outsider there, after all.
Once she returned to her room, Simm sent a resentful glare at Ken.
"I told you keeping that woman here would cause problems."
"I can see that. But are you confident enough right now to take on any peak mutant rank expert sent to hunt us down? Even if you can battle one, what if he doesn't come alone? I'm still not confident in my capability as a mage. We need a hidden layer of protection. And don't forget her original role. The more we learn about the intricacies of the Bloodline Extraction talent, the better we can give shape to our future, our children's future, the world's future."
"Doesn't mean I have to like that bitch, though," Simm muttered. Ken could only sigh. Why were most warriors so hard-headed and difficult to reason with?