Chapter 104: Duke’s Arrangements
Nova gave her one last gentle peck on the lips, then he took out a fresh set of clothes from his inventory, quickly dressed up, and vanished from the room in an instant.
...
Nova quietly returned home and climbed into his room through the window. His parents believed he had been sleeping there all night, and he intended to keep it that way. There was no need for them to know what he had actually been doing.
After changing into his usual casual clothes and deliberately making his hair slightly messy to look as though he had just woken up, Nova headed downstairs.
As he crossed the hallway and entered the kitchen, he found Jenna preparing breakfast while softly humming a cheerful tune.
"Good morning, Mom," Nova greeted with a smile. Hearing his voice, Jenna turned around.
"Good morning, son," she replied warmly. "You’re finally up. Go freshen up and get ready for breakfast. It’ll be ready soon."
Nova nodded."Alright."
As he made his way toward the bathroom, he saw Edward walking toward the kitchen as well.
Edward noticed him and smiled.
"Good morning, son."
"Good morning, Dad."
Edward gave a slight nod.
"Come down quickly. We have a lot to talk about today." Nova immediately understood what he meant and nodded in response.
"Got it."
With that, he headed into the bathroom for a refreshing shower. After everything he had done the previous night, he felt he could definitely use one.
A few minutes later, Nova returned in a fresh set of clothes. After taking a relaxing shower, he felt completely refreshed.
Walking into the kitchen, he saw Edward already seated at the table while Jenna had finished serving breakfast. Nova took his seat, and for a brief moment, he simply savored the peaceful atmosphere around him.
It had been three years since he transmigrated into this world and became their son.
Back in his previous life, Nova had been an orphan. More than anything else, he had always wished for a loving family.
Now, that wish had finally come true.
Edward and Jenna weren’t just his parents by blood—they were genuinely kind, caring, and loving people who had filled the emptiness he had carried for so many years.
Nova could have hidden everything from them—his System, his overwhelming strength, his unique skills, and all the secrets surrounding him. Instead, he had chosen to trust them with the truth.
Not only had they believed him, but they had supported him every step of the way.
To Nova, they were family in every sense of the word. The same was true for Rieka and Asia.
He would willingly share everything he possessed with the people he loved, and he would do anything to protect them.
If anyone so much as dared to harm his parents or his wives...Nova wouldn’t simply kill them.
He would make them experience a hell of his own creation, condemning them to endless torment without the mercy of death.
Without realizing it, Nova had changed tremendously over the past three years.
Ever since his first dungeon mission, his outlook had gradually transformed. The evolution of his race, the countless demonic beasts he had slain, and the endless battles he had fought had tempered both his mind and his heart.
Although he had killed only a handful of humans, he had become far colder than the kind-hearted young man he once was.
Fortunately, that coldness was reserved only for his enemies. To those who stood against him...Nova had become nothing short of a nightmare.
After serving the food, Jenna finally took her seat at the table. The three of them began eating together, enjoying the peaceful morning.
After a few moments of silence, Edward looked at Nova and asked,
"So, son, have you finished preparing everything? You’ll be leaving for the Capital tomorrow."
Nova nodded.
"Yes, Dad. I still have a few things left to take care of, but everything important has already been prepared."
Edward smiled faintly and shook his head.
"I still can’t believe it. It feels like only yesterday you were a little boy, and now you’re about to participate in the Empire’s Grand Youth Tournament... the most prestigious competition in the entire Human Empire for prodigies ."
Jenna’s expression gradually softened as she listened.
"My baby..." she muttered, her eyes becoming watery. "You were so little... and now sinf...you’re leaving for the..snif... Capital." She sniffled, trying to hold back her tears. "It’s so far away..."
Seeing his mother’s eyes redden, Nova quickly put down his spoon.
"Mom, please don’t be sad. I’ve already told you—I can teleport back whenever I want through my Deadborn. All you have to do is tell one of them that you want to see me, and I’ll be back in an instant."
Edward chuckled at the sight.
"Haha... darling, there’s no need to worry. Just as Nova said, he can return whenever he wants." Everything was proceeding exactly as Nova had planned.
Before leaving Forstholme, he intended to station Alpha, the Troll King, the Goblin Titan Boss, and the Yeti in the city. Their primary duty would be to secretly protect his parents and watch over Forstholme.
At the same time, they would serve as emergency teleportation anchors and surveillance points, allowing Nova to instantly travel back or observe everything through their senses whenever necessary.
Since all four of these Deadborns had already reached the Grandmaster Realm, they were more than sufficient for the time being. In the future, he would either make them even stronger or replace them with more powerful Deadborns should he acquire any.
"And that’s not all," Nova added. "I’ve already given both of you high-grade Communication Stones. Even if I’m on another continent, we’ll still be able to talk whenever you want."
Those Communication Stones had been a gift from Theodore. As the Duke of the kingdom, he had no shortage of wealth and had happily rewarded Nova after he helped him reach the Grandmaster Realm.
Beforehand, Nova had registered everyone’s unique mana signature into the stones—his parents, Asia, Rieka, Theodore, Tharuk and his own. With that, they could contact one another at any time.
Unlike the ordinary Communication Stones Nova had seen at the inn during his first night with Rieka, or the lower-grade ones he had obtained from the Blood Moon Cult members,
these high-grade stones had virtually no distance limitation, allowing communication across immense distances, even between continents.
Jenna finally calmed down after hearing Nova’s reassurance.
After finishing breakfast, Nova and Rieka left the house and headed toward the Duke’s estate. Earlier, Nova had already told Bai Chen to meet them in front of the estate’s main gate.
By the time they arrived, Bai Chen was already waiting there. Or rather...He was happily eating an apple.
Another apple rested comfortably in his other hand, ready to replace the first one the moment he finished.
Seeing the scene, Nova couldn’t help but sigh.
"This shorty is a complete glutton. Seriously... where does all that food even go?"
Rieka smiled faintly. "Maybe it’s because he’s a Divine Doctor. He might have done something to his body."
Nova nodded thoughtfully. "I wouldn’t be surprised."
The two of them then walked over to Bai Chen. Noticing their approach, Bai Chen immediately turned around with his usual cheerful smile.
"Oh, Junior Brother Nova, you’re here!" Bai Chen said cheerfully as he extended an apple toward him. "Would you like one?"
Nova smiled and shook his head.
"No, thanks. You can have it. Let’s head inside—we’re already late for the scheduled meeting."
"Good, good!" Bai Chen nodded before happily taking another bite of the apple as they walked toward the mansion.
A few moments later, Nova, Rieka, Asia, and Bai Chen were seated inside the Duke’s guest hall.
Rieka and Asia sat together on one of the large sofas, with Nova seated comfortably between them. Beside them, Bai Chen occupied a smaller sofa, leisurely savoring the tea a maid had just served, his expression as content as ever.
Theodore sat alone on the large sofa facing them, while Rodrick stood quietly at his side with his usual calm and composed expression.
"I’ve already arranged your affiliation with the Frosthall Hunters headquarters in the Capital, Vaunis," Theodore said. "As I mentioned before, having a recognized affiliation will make the registration process for the Empire’s Grand Youth Tournament much smoother."
Theodore looked at Nova, Asia, and Rieka before continuing,
"Since the three of you are already Gold-Rank Adventurers, things will be much easier for you there. Your rank will save you a great deal of time and trouble.
"Although Frosthall Hunters isn’t the most renowned guild in Vaunis, it is still an S-Rank guild under my jurisdiction. Its Guild Leader, Dorian, is a trusted friend of mine and will take good care of all of you kids."
A faint smile appeared on Theodore’s face as he added, "He has already surpassed the Grandmaster Realm, so you’ll be in capable hands."
**
Thanks for reading...