Chapter 5

Chapter 5

The skills of the Glass Ice Flame Dogs all rely on the "ice flame," which consists of small icy-blue flames floating around their limbs and tails.

Lorant curiously touched those ice flames.

It felt like touching thick air, and although they were shaped like flames, they were not hot but rather cool to the touch.

They would be a great thing to have in the summer.

However, that was only when the Glass Ice Flame Dogs did not deliberately control the form of their ice flames.

When the Glass Ice Flame Dogs intentionally used them, the cool little flames would instantly turn into scorching blue flames.

Earlier, when the two pups were playing inside, they had almost burned the wooden table to ashes by flicking fireballs from their tails.

Fortunately, Silem was at home and quickly pulled the pups away to stop this dangerous behavior.

Then Lorant pressed their heads down onto the charred leg of the wooden table and gave them a stern spanking.

The little pups whimpered for a while before understanding that they could not use their ice flames indoors.

Otherwise, they would get spanked!

After all, the place where their caretaker lived was very fragile, so they could only play hunting games outside in the yard.

These ice flames possessed both ice and fire attributes, a combination of two completely opposite elements.

To promote the increase of both attributes, one generally had to cultivate each attribute separately and try to ensure equal intake of both.

However, there would always be a difference in the order of intake. Although following up with the cultivation of the other attribute later would not significantly affect the Glass Ice Flame Dogs,

it would slow down their growth. Lorant needed these pups to become independent as soon as possible.

Therefore, he needed to make the specialized food for Glass Ice Flame Dogs as described in the guidebook to ensure their bodies and abilities developed rapidly together.

Of course, this specialized food was also much cheaper than dual-attribute beast meat or crystals, which was another reason.

Lorant first soaked large bags of crushed ice crystals and fire crystals in specially prepared potions.

He then cut twelve types of plant-based beasts into different shapes, slicing, chopping, or peeling and squeezing them for juice.

Next, he took two pieces of beast meat and asked his younger brother to grind them into a paste.

He then mixed the measured wheat flour and hard wheat flour into the meat paste and added several saved beast eggs, stirring them together.

Finally, he combined everything in a large bucket with several bottles of nutrient solution, stirring clockwise seven times, flipping twice from bottom to top, and then stirring counterclockwise seven more times, completing all the steps.

All that remained was to stir-fry everything, let it cool, and divide it into small portions for long-term storage.

Lorant used ninety percent of his possessions to create enough food for the pups to last two months.

This was certainly not as good as feeding them high-quality beast meat every day, but it was the best he could provide for them at the moment.

While waiting for the food to cool, Lorant picked up Little Eight and stroked its soft belly, making it feel comfortable with his skilled hands.

Little Eight lay on Lorant's lap, purring and wriggling its legs.

Once the other eleven pups fell asleep in their nests, Lorant gently placed the sleeping Little Eight back in its own nest.

Returning to the kitchen, Lorant prepared a separate postpartum meal for the Claw Wolf.

The female wolf with the broken leg now showed no signs of her previous weakness after giving birth.

The formidable physical strength of a Level Two beast was evident.

Lorant pushed the food bowl into the cage with a stick from a distance, and the Claw Wolf growled at him as usual.

Having raised the Claw Wolf for over six months, Lorant had not noticed any softening in its demeanor.

Beasts had no emotions; they only knew destruction.

When dealing with smaller Level One beasts like Fire Tail Rats, Lorant had not fully grasped this concept.

But the Claw Wolf, an animal that should have emotions according to his understanding, showed no sign of emotional intelligence in this world.

Now, with a group of cute, fluffy creatures to comfort him, Lorant's attention toward the Claw Wolf diminished even further.

Without caring about the Claw Wolf's reaction, Lorant closed the wooden door to block out its howls.

Lorant was not someone who sought thrills and adventures. If conditions allowed, he could stay at home, immersed in his own little world, with food, drink, and entertainment.

Thus, he threw himself into the daily routine of caring for the pups and the beasts.

Time flew by, and a week passed quickly.

In that week, the Glass Ice Flame Dog pups had grown considerably and could freely use their innate abilities.

Their bodies had grown to about thirty centimeters in height.

Ruth continued to go to the Knights Academy for work every day, and Silem spent his time training and caring for the pups.

This morning, Silem left early to train with Simon next door, leaving Lorant with a rare leisurely morning to prepare a more complex lunch.

However, just as he was about to start, the gate in the yard opened.

"Brother! I'm going to complete an exam with Simon and the others tomorrow." Silem ran in from outside the door, sweating profusely, and excitedly leaned on the open wooden window of the kitchen to tell Lorant.

"An exam?" Lorant stopped what he was doing, puzzled. "What kind of exam? Didn't you say you're free now?"

"Well, even though it's free time, every student at the Knights Academy needs to complete a certain amount of tasks each year." Silem explained.

"I thought it wasn't urgent and could wait for a while."

"But now there's a senior knight who also needs to complete his task quota in the Black Forest, so he's willing to take junior knights along for a fee."

"Simon applied to go with him and got approved!"

"A senior knight's task—wouldn't it be more dangerous for you to go along?" Lorant asked while kneading dough.

Simon is Silem's classmate, living next door. The two have a good relationship and often come home together during holidays.

They often train together and rest or eat at each other's homes frequently.

"No, we won't participate in the senior knight's task. Our task will be completed mostly around the outskirts of the Black Forest. Having a senior knight just adds an extra layer of safety."

"They said they might not have the energy to look after us, so don't count on them being our babysitters."

"Their task requires them to go deep into the Black Forest, so they'll set up a temporary rest point on the outskirts, where we can complete our tasks."

Hearing this, Lorant felt relieved. If someone were overly kind and offered to do everything wholeheartedly, there would likely be some hidden agenda.

The reason saints are revered is that they exist only in legends.

"Don't worry, brother. Those seniors are well-known knights, and one of them is a noble knight with a fief. He recently inherited his title and is a bit short on funds, which is why he's allowing us to join."

"Our breathing instructor knows them well and recommended us! Others might not even get the chance to go."

"Alright, if you've done your research, then it's fine." Lorant thought it was time to give Silem some independence.

Their father passed away early, making Lorant, as the eldest brother, the head of the household.

He has always been steady and reliable. Not only Silem but even Ruth relies on his advice, making him the true head of the family.

Silem has always depended on Lorant, consulting him before making any decisions.

"How long will you be gone this time? Staying in the Black Forest?"

"Yes, staying in the Black Forest. Simon and I have taken on a task to collect Moonlight Grass. We only need to go to the outskirts of the Black Forest, which isn't dangerous, just time-consuming."

"We're going with the seniors, so we'll follow their schedule. It should take at least half a month."

"That long?"

Lorant hesitated about whether to stop Silem's action, considering Silem is only twelve years old.

Although he is already considered a capable squire by outsiders,

Lorant still sees him as a child.

Going away to school is one thing, but spending half a month in the forest is worrying.

"Brother." Silem knew what Lorant was thinking and immediately became anxious, almost flipping into the kitchen through the window.

"It's fine. Simon and I will stay on the outskirts of the Black Forest, not far from the outpost. It's not dangerous!"

The outskirts of the Black Forest are patrolled several times a year by the Knight Regiment, clearing out all second-level monsters, leaving only first-level monsters or low-aggression plant monsters.

When Lorant first came here, he even caught small first-level monsters himself.

"Alright, just be careful. Go take a shower quickly, don't catch a cold." Lorant relented after thinking it over.

Silem needs to face these challenges to become a knight.

But safety measures must not be neglected. He should bring a Lapis Ice Flame Dog along.

Though still young, these pups have the fighting power of second- or third-level monsters, enough to handle the outskirts of the Black Forest.

Seeing Lorant agree, Silem cheered and rushed to the bathroom.

In this world, bathing is a luxury for ordinary people. There is a public bathhouse in Mauplan City, but its hygiene is questionable.

So Lorant built a simple bathroom next to the house and installed a basic shower system.

Heat a pot of water to the right temperature, use the simple shower setup, and wash away the day's fatigue.

This system works only in summer; when the weather turns cold, it becomes useless.

After all, it's an outdoor wooden shed with no insulation. Using it in winter risks catching a cold.

In less than two months, winter will arrive. By then, Lorant hopes to own his shop and build a small, windproof, and waterproof wooden house with a comfortable bathroom.

At dinner, Silem told Ruth about the half-month trip to the Black Forest. Ruth decided to take a day off the next day to buy supplies and food for Silem.

Silem mentioned that the academy provides some supplies, but Ruth ignored this.

The next morning, the whole family went into town.

After buying a large bag of possibly unnecessary items for Silem, Lorant, Silem, and Ruth entered the Real Estate Exchange.

Lorant called over Emma, who was delighted, and received five documents from her.

"Sir, I have screened out the most suitable options according to your requirements," Emma said excitedly, her face flushed with enthusiasm.

She had already given up hope on this order from Lorant.

But when she saw Ruth and Lorant together, not only was Emma disappointed, but even Mary, who was standing nearby, showed a hint of regret.

The badge on Silem's chest, indicating his affiliation with the Knights Academy, confirmed his status. As a result, Ruth, accompanying him, met all the criteria for an excellent client.

What a pity; this order was originally hers, but now it would benefit Emma.

Regardless of the employees' internal turmoil at the Real Estate Exchange, Lorant flipped through the documents in his hand.

The first property was located in the Heroic District's Three Rings, which, according to the map, wasn't far from their current residence.

It was a hillside plot covering slightly over twenty thousand square meters. However, despite its apparent proximity to the main road, one had to circle around the entire hillside to reach it.

The second plot was in the Compassionate District's Fourth Ring, larger in size, but with water sources quite distant.

The other three plots were all in the Sacrifice District.

Due to its connection to the Black Forest, the Sacrifice District only had the Three Rings area, and all three plots were within that region.

The Sacrifice District's Three Rings were adjacent to the Knight Regiment's outposts at the edge of the Black Forest.

Every few years, news of the area being overrun by beasts from the Black Forest would circulate, posing significant safety concerns.

However, precisely because of these issues, the plots of land were increasingly large.

The smallest was thirty thousand square meters, while the largest was a full thirty-eight thousand square meters.

Lorant was almost involuntarily drawn to the words "thirty-eight thousand."

When he examined the details further, he was momentarily stunned.

"Huh? What is this?"

Emma, who had been watching closely, immediately explained: "This is part of the abandoned town I introduced to you last time."

"The town is privately owned by the Knight Regiment and is both for sale and lease. Those leasing have priority purchasing rights."

"This particular plot is at the intersection of the main road leading to the Black Forest's Fifth Outpost and the Holy Shield River, situated at the corner of the town."

"It has convenient access to water and transportation, and the area is vast."

"The only issue is that if the entire town is sold later, you would need to vacate within a certain period. However, the corresponding fees would be refunded to you."

Lorant was intrigued: "How much of that town is currently leased?"

"Not much. The ten or so leased properties are on the opposite side of the town, facing the Black Forest, mainly providing rest areas for adventurers heading into the forest."

"There are no other leases within about ten acres around the plot you're looking at."

Lorant exchanged a glance with his mother and turned to ask Emma: "Can we go see these places before making a decision?"

"Of course, anytime."

Emma nodded enthusiastically, knowing that reaching the stage of viewing properties meant the deal was nearly sealed—her best chance yet to complete a transaction independently.

"As long as you need, I can take you for a site visit anytime."

Lorant glanced at his mother: "Why don't we go see them today since you're off?"

"Sure, Silem, when are you heading to the Black Forest?" Ruth turned to look at her younger son.

"We're meeting at the Third Outpost at six tonight. Our seniors will brief us on some rules and procedures."

Lorant calculated the timing and decided it was perfect. So, they found a clean restaurant and enjoyed a luxurious meal worth 150 copper coins.

To accompany Silem to school, Ruth had sold a small apartment in the slums of Holland.

Despite its poor location and condition, measuring less than twenty square meters, it fetched a substantial sum of 180 gold coins due to its position in the outskirts of Holland.

Upon learning that Lorant had been planning to rent a house, Ruth offered the money as initial capital for his budding venture.

Lorant readily accepted, intending to use the funds to rent a shop.

Even if Ruth hadn't mentioned it, Lorant would have brought it up himself, having great confidence in his beast companion.

With the funds in hand, Lorant confidently paid three silver coins for the teleportation array at the Real Estate Exchange, and the trio, along with Emma, teleported directly to the Fifth Outpost.

The Real Estate Exchange's teleportation array was not open to the public and used exclusively for internal purposes. If they decided to lease or purchase the land, the fee would be waived.

The teleportation array was located in the center of the second floor, emitting a soft blue light from intricate lines on the ground.

This was Lorant's second time using a teleportation array; the previous one had transported him from Holland to Mauplan, costing ten gold coins per person.

As the light rose from beneath their feet, Lorant experienced a sudden, intense sensation of weightlessness.

The ground seemed to vanish beneath him, and when he stood again, the light gradually faded.

A tall moss-covered stone wall appeared before them.

To defend against the monsters from the Black Forest, the Knight Regiment established ten outposts along the border.

Every outpost is a small fortress, standing firm even in the face of beast tides.

This is Mauplan's first line of defense.

And the first gateway into the Black Forest.

"Please show your travel documents," a voice came from behind the group.

Lorant subtly shifted his legs to ease the discomfort from the teleportation, finally getting a clear view of his current position.

It was a room enclosed by four walls of green stone, with no roof.

Apart from the teleportation array in the center, there were three fully equipped knights. One of them pulled back the wooden fence surrounding the teleportation array and spoke to the group.

Emma stepped forward to verify their identities, and the group followed her out of the teleportation array.

The teleportation array was located next to the outermost watchtower of the outpost, allowing them to exit directly without entering the main compound, leading straight to the front gate.

Exiting the outpost, they found themselves in an environment dominated by trees, with a straight road cutting through the forest to the outpost's entrance.

Along the way, they saw many adventurers in groups, making the area lively.

Less than five hundred meters ahead, a sense of decay greeted them.

Countless empty wooden houses appeared before them, the originally paved stone streets now overgrown with weeds. Distant houses had half-open wooden doors, clearly abandoned for a long time.

Only a few houses along the main road had been renovated, which Lorant guessed were the resting places for adventurers that Emma mentioned.

Following the main road that led directly from the town to the outpost, they walked through the entire abandoned town and eventually saw a wide river in the distance.

That was the Holy Shield River. Its presence acted as a shield between Mauplan and the Black Forest.

Beast tides rarely crossed the Holy Shield River, hence its name.

The land Lorant was looking at was less than a hundred meters outside this "shield."

Covering thirty-eight thousand square meters, roughly the size of five football fields, it included a two-story inn.

There were also five residential houses, three shops, and a considerable amount of open space.

"Can I build anything on this land if I rent it?" Lorant asked, running his hand along the slightly cracked wall of the inn's lobby.

"Yes, sir. And if you need it, we can provide free wooden fences to mark the boundaries."

"Will others who rent nearby land be right next to me?"

Emma shook her head.

"No, sir. We have regulations. In the Three Rings area, if adjacent land is rented, there will be a fifty-meter gap around your property."

Lorant nodded and continued inspecting the inn.

The inn was built quite solidly. Despite two years of abandonment, the beams and pillars remained intact, though some wooden walls were damaged and drafty. With some repairs, it could still accommodate guests.

The ground floor was a spacious 300-square-meter open space with a backyard. The tables and chairs that should have been there were gone, leaving only dust.

Behind the hall was a closed kitchen with dark walls and floors, discouraging anyone from entering.

The second floor had twelve rooms and a communal bathroom.

The backyard behind the ground floor was where the innkeeper and staff used to live. A few broken wooden beds remained in the rooms.

The other residential houses looked worse than the inn. Their doors and windows were broken, and the walls had large holes, with loose flooring.

Lorant inspected each building. Apart from the inn and a tailor shop that seemed sturdy enough to continue using, the other structures would likely need to be dismantled and used as firewood.

Overall, the place suited Lorant well.

Spacious, secluded, close to water and the main road, a simple stone path led from the inn's backyard through a ten-meter-wide grove to the Holy Shield River.

From the inn's front door, a narrow path connected to the wide main road, maintaining privacy while still being visible to adventurers passing by.

Then, Emma took them to see the other four alternative areas.

In the end, after consulting with his mother and brother, Lorant chose the first piece of land.

Teleporting back to the Real Estate Exchange, Lorant finalized the deal with the confidence of a wealthy client, securing the land outright.

He paid six months' rent in advance, signed agreements for compensation if the land needed to be reclaimed during the lease term, and secured a priority purchase option for the land.

Emma busied herself preparing to mark out the land.

Completing this order meant she had firmly established herself at the Real Estate Exchange, and the young woman stood taller, walking with a breeze.

Meanwhile, Lorant and his companions returned home, somewhat exhausted.

"Why did you make me come back!" Silem grumbled quietly beside Lorant. "I have to take the teleportation array soon, or I'll be late."

"Nonsense, do you want to walk from the fifth outpost to the third outpost?" Lorant knocked his brother's head lightly. "The outposts are so far apart; you won't get there in less than two hours!"

Silem rubbed his head and muttered under his breath, complaining about having to see those places again and suggesting they should have left after seeing the first one.

"Don't be so stingy. Spend what needs to be spent. It's just one silver coin, saving you a lot of effort."

Lorant sighed, knowing that even with money, someone accustomed to poverty wouldn't easily part with it.

This habit of his should really be changed.

"Calling you back reminded me of something."

"What is it?"

"Since you were only collecting things at the edge of the Black Forest this time, there shouldn't be any problem with you taking a pup along, right?"

Silem's eyes widened. "Brother, they haven't even reached a month old yet!"

"But they can easily beat you," Lorant teased.

The current pups already possess strength close to that of a second or third-level beast, and they grow rapidly, changing almost every day.

Lorant estimated that in a month, they would reach the strength of a fourth-level beast.

In about three months, the Luli Ice Flame Dogs would reach a strength close to fifth-level, both physically and in their abilities, before gradually improving until they officially end their growth period at six months and enter a seventy-year adulthood.

A second-level beast is not something that even an advanced Silem, let alone a novice knight, could handle.

After all, knights are relatively weak in their early career stages.

Silem pouted but didn't say anything. He knew that if those pups truly wanted to deal with him, he wouldn't stand a chance.

But admitting this was indeed a blow to the boy's pride.

Being defeated by pups just days old...

As they approached home, Silem saw a young figure peering over the fence from a distance and called out in surprise, "Simon! What are you still doing here?"

Simon straightened up, towering a full head taller than Silem, his sturdy build clearly marking him as a promising knight.

Indeed, Simon had excellent talent and was one of the key students at the Knights Academy.

While Silem barely passed the admission line for the academy, Simon was a prodigy who far exceeded it.

Despite his exceptional talent, Simon remained humble and never boasted.

Both families arrived here at the same time. Not only did the two kids get along well, but their parents also got along nicely.

Simon's father was a blacksmith, and his mother worked at the academy like Ruth, though because Simon was a key student, his mother held a position directly interacting with the students, helping to organize their dormitories, which was a lighter job.

Seeing Silem, Simon's face lit up with joy, and he quickly ran over, pulling him along. "I didn't see you today and wasn't sure if you had left, so I waited. If we're late, we can just teleport over."

"Sorry, I forgot to tell you, we have to..."

"Talk later, talk later! Come with me first; the seniors' team is at my house! Good thing you came back!"

Silem immediately became flustered. "They, they came here? Oh! I know! Are they here to evaluate you? Simon! You might have a chance to join their team!"

"I, I don't know," Simon said, blushing. "But the senior asked about my future plans and my life at the academy. My mom told me to bring you along, hurry!"

The two rushed to Simon's house, while Ruth, equally excited, pulled Lorant to the nearest fence near Simon's house, nervously peeking over.