When Wood returned home from the Fittoa territory, it had taken only half a day due to his urgent pace. However, on the journey back to Roa City, it took them two whole days. Since both Zenith and Lilia were pregnant, Wood made sure the carriage moved as smoothly as possible, afraid any bumps might harm his unborn siblings.
Even at such a careful pace, Rudy was concerned the speed was still too fast. He used wind magic along the way to stabilize the carriage, worried that the long journey might affect the babies. Zenith, amused by her sons' overprotectiveness, couldn't help but laugh. She eventually scolded them, saying, "At this rate, by the time we reach Roa, we'll have starved to death on the road. I'm only a couple of months pregnant, so a few bumps won't harm me or Lilia. You two are being overly cautious!"
Wood and Rudy's considerate behavior eased much of the frustration Zenith had been carrying since Paul's affair came to light. She realized now that her worries had been unnecessary. Though Wood and Rudy were mentally mature, it was evident they deeply cared for their family. With the way the two acted, she could already tell they would undoubtedly be very protective older brothers once the babies were born.
After two days of travel, the family finally arrived in Roa. Wood used his savings to purchase a two-story home in the town. Zenith didn't question where Wood's money came from, knowing her children were far more capable than their age suggested, both mentally and physically.
Upon arriving in Roa, Zenith settled into a leisurely life. Paul followed shortly after, but Zenith was in no hurry to forgive him, so he spent his nights sleeping on the streets. Rudy, on the other hand, planned to attend the Ranoa Magic Academy with Roxy but didn't have the money for tuition. At Wood's suggestion, Rudy accepted a position as a magic tutor for Eris at the Boreas family.
Wood could have covered Rudy's tuition, but after purchasing the house, his funds were running low. As for Wood himself, he decided to leave the Boreas household and pursue a life as an adventurer. Despite Eris and Lady Hilda's repeated attempts to convince him to stay, Wood politely declined. His reasoning was simple—he had already learned everything Ghislaine could teach him. If he wanted to continue growing, he would have to do it on his own.
Ghislaine had suggested that with his swordsmanship talent, Wood should visit the "Land of Swords." There, he might learn the true essence of the Sword God Style. Becoming an adventurer had practical benefits for Wood as well. He wanted to regain the powers he'd possessed in other worlds, and adventuring provided the perfect opportunity to train. Additionally, leaving the Boreas family allowed him to better care for Zenith and Lilia, especially since Paul was still unwelcome at home.
Wood was worried about how his pregnant mother and Lilia were managing. Both would need proper nutrition, and that required money—a lot of it. Adventurers as young as Wood were rare, and even more unusual was someone like him, who quickly rose through the ranks and became well-known in Roa.
Whenever Wood received payment for his commissions, he would buy expensive, luxurious nutrition supplements and bring them home. Zenith often complained that Wood was wasting money, reminding him that when she was pregnant with Wood and Rudy, she ate ordinary meals and still gave birth to two remarkable children.
Thanks to Wood's care, Zenith and Lilia's pregnancies progressed smoothly, though they both joked that they seemed to be gaining weight more quickly than their babies were growing. As their bellies became more pronounced, Wood found it difficult to manage everything alone. This gave him a reason to help Zenith reconcile with Paul, putting an end to the family's tension. A year later, both Zenith and Lilia gave birth to healthy baby girls.
Wood and Rudy were nine years old by this time and now had two little sisters. Zenith's daughter, Norn Greyrat, became the family's third child. She had the same golden hair as her older brothers and looked like an angel. Lilia's daughter, Aisha Greyrat, was born just a few hours after Norn and inherited her mother's striking red hair.
Technically, Norn was the legitimate daughter, born to Zenith, making her the family's rightful heir. Aisha, on the other hand, was considered a child of a maid, meaning she was a "bastard" and wasn't entitled to the same privileges as Norn. Even Lilia believed that being allowed to keep Aisha was already a generous act from the family. She began to instill a sense of servitude in Aisha, constantly reminding her of her status.
Wood noticed this dynamic when he saw Norn and Aisha fighting over a toy one day. Norn had hit Aisha, and when Aisha retaliated, Lilia slapped her. It was then that Wood lost his temper for the first time at home, scolding both Lilia and his usually beloved sister, Norn.
Aisha, red-faced from Lilia's slap, ran into Wood's arms, sobbing. She didn't understand why she was being punished when she was the one being bullied. Why did her mother call them mere servants when she bore the Greyrat name? She called Paul "Father," and referred to Wood and Rudy as "Big Brother."
"Lilia, you listen to me. I don't care about this 'legitimate' or 'bastard' nonsense. Aisha and Norn are both my sisters!" Wood exclaimed. "If they make a mistake, you should correct the one who's at fault, not show favoritism because of status. Your bias will only make Aisha feel inferior and cause Norn to grow up arrogant!"
Tears streaming down her face, Aisha clung to Wood, burying her head in his chest. Meanwhile, Norn, having seen her favorite big brother return, dropped the toy she'd been fighting for and ran toward him as well.
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P/S: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 380+ at p@treon.com/Betek and change @ to a