Chapter 188: We Should Assist Him

Following that tense meeting, word of the looming threat spread through the streets of Silverspire like a wildfire, reaching the ears of every single soul in the city. Residents of the affluent First District immediately began packing their belongings and preparing to evacuate.

​Although Silverspire had enjoyed peace and security for decades, its citizens were not ignorant of the harsh, deadly reality of the world beyond the walls. With the Awakened Association taking full control of the operation and maintaining a heavy physical presence on every corner, the initial relocation proceeded smoothly and without panic.

​Out in the Outskirts and along the second line of defense, security was brought to absolute maximum alert. Armed guards completely blocked those from the Third District from entering the Second, while officials meticulously cataloged the residents of the Outskirts to prepare them for the next phase of the evacuation.

​The lower city was rapidly plunging into organized chaos, but high up on the hill, at the sprawling Aetheldawn estate, the atmosphere was so eerily serene it felt completely surreal.

___

​[Nighttime — 8:00 PM.]

[Aetheldawn Estate — Dining Room.]

​"Slow down a bit, Kelly!" Juliana said, letting out a nervous laugh as she watched Kelly eat. Kelly showed no signs of stopping, happily vacuuming every single dish on the long table into her mouth.

​"What? I haven’t eaten a real meal in two whole days!" Kelly muttered, her cheeks puffed out with a mouth full of food.

​Asher watched the three of them with a warm, quiet smile. With Kelly fully cured and her mental faculties completely restored, he could clearly see a wonderful shift in all three of his wives. Juliana was... well, even more enthusiastic and cheerful than before. She had spent nearly every moment attached to Kelly’s side, and it had only been six short hours since Kelly had woken up.

​He shifted his gaze over to Sara. She rarely expressed her inner feelings, but for six uninterrupted hours, a soft, radiant smile had remained rested on her lips. It was, in fact, the very first time since he had met her that he had seen her smile for so long.

​Finally, Asher turned his eyes back to Kelly, who was still enthusiastically devouring her meal. When she had first awakened earlier that afternoon, Jessica had immediately brought her a massive spread of food, and here she was, eagerly clearing the table again.

​He had always known she was a major foodie, but it seemed having her mind completely intact only amplified her appetite.

​’Oh well, as long as I am here to provide, she will never go hungry a single day in her life.’ He thought, his smile widening slightly.

​{DING!}

{There are rewards ready to be claimed, Master.}

​’Oh? I completely forgot about that notification during all the excitement...’ Asher mused internally. ’The Soul Cleansing Potion I used on Kelly was a system-provided item that can’t be invested, so I didn’t expect any direct investment return from it... but the system states there are claimable rewards.’

​As he pondered, he naturally slid his half-finished plate over toward Kelly’s spot, just as he always did whenever he couldn’t finish his own food. It had practically become an instinctive habit by now, but who really cared?

​"Thank you so much!! That’s exactly why I love you, Husband!" Kelly chirped with a bright, dazzling smile, effortlessly pulling his plate toward herself.

​Her casually spoken words instantly froze Asher mid-motion.

​’Wait... Love? Did she just say...?’ He stared straight at Kelly, but she paid him no mind whatsoever, burying her focus right back into the food as if her heartfelt declaration wasn’t a earth-shattering deal at all.

​"What’s the matter, our handsome Husband? Caught off guard?" Juliana teased, a mischievous, highly playful smirk gracing her lips.

​Asher slowly turned his head toward Juliana, clearing his throat and exhaling softly to regain his composure: "Ahem... It’s nothing at all," he said, pushing his chair back and standing up from the table.

​"I will be upstairs in my room." He turned and made a swift departure from the dining room.

​"He really is so adorable when he gets flustered," Juliana giggled, picking up a piece of seasoned vegetables from her plate with a silver fork.

​Kelly paused her chewing, swallowed her food, and turned her head toward the closed dining room door:

​"He has done so much heavy lifting for all of us." Kelly said, her tone shifting into something far more earnest. "We really ought to find a concrete way to thank him, or at least help ease his massive workload."

​Kelly was three years older than Asher, and even Sara was older than him, yet from the very moment their lives intersected, he had taken on the immense burden of protecting and providing for them. He never raised his voice in frustration, he never complained when their conditions caused chaos or went overboard—he simply faced every hardship with a calm smile and used every ounce of his power to ensure they were safe and comfortable.

​She couldn’t simply sit back and continue leeching off his strength and goodwill. They were bound as a family, which meant they couldn’t just leave every heavy responsibility resting entirely on Asher’s shoulders.

​"I completely agree with you, but what can we do right now?" Juliana asked, setting her fork back onto her plate with a soft sigh.

"Kelly, both you and I are strictly F-Rank Awakened. And while Sara is officially a D-Rank, her physical condition and damage core prevent her from even exerting the raw combat output of an F-Rank..."

​"There are many different ways a person can be useful." Kelly pointed out, a sharp glint returning to her eyes.

​"Huh?" Juliana’s face instantly flushed bright red, a deep crimson warmth spreading up to her ears:

​"You... You mean... That kind of help?! But... Would he even agree to that right now?"

​"....?!"

​Kelly blinked at Juliana’s suddenly beet-red face, utterly dumbfounded: "What on earth are you thinking about?!" She asked, raising an eyebrow in complete confusion.

​"Um... How exactly would we go about organizing that? Do we just walk into his bedroom tonight...?"

​"....?!"

​Both Kelly and Sara stared at her, frozen in sheer disbelief, before the realization of what was running through Juliana’s mind hit them. As the youngest and most energetic among the three wives, why was her mind constantly drifting toward shameless, mischievous thoughts?

​"What in the world are you talking about?!" Kelly groaned, shaking her head. "I meant helping him manage his growing corporate businesses, or standing beside him as capable support during dungeon raids!"

​"Ahh?!"

​Juliana’s eyes went wide with realization. She hadn’t considered the practical side at all, but she quickly tried to defend herself, pouting slightly:

​"Um... Okay, fair enough! But my suggestion is still a great idea! We could definitely help him relieve his stress that way too." She mumbled in a hushed, quiet voice. "Besides, he’s just far too ridiculously good-looking... I can’t help where my thoughts wander!"

​".....?!!"

​Both women were rendered entirely speechless. Kelly couldn’t entirely deny that she entertained similar romantic feelings toward her husband, but this was certainly not the proper place or time for such shameless antics.

​"Clear those wild thoughts out of your head." Kelly instructed, knocking her knuckles gently on the table. "Asher made a firm promise to cure us all first, and knowing his iron resolve, he won’t break it even if we try to entice him... Right now, our sole focus must be finding ways to actively assist him—perhaps by generating substantial revenue for the house."

​"Generate revenue? You’ve always been a tactical genius when it comes to business, Kelly, but our husband already possesses an astronomical fortune."

​"Having vast wealth doesn’t mean he has no use for more... Besides, what happens if our family resources run out one day?"

​".....?!"