Chapter 96: Twelve Rewards

The first notification appeared.

[Legendary Reward Granted: Barrier Signal — Enhanced.]

[Effect: The Barrier Signal’s detection range and sensitivity have been greatly increased.]

[It can now distinguish between harmless environmental disturbances and unauthorized intrusion.]

Reinhard nodded slowly.

He already had the original Barrier Signal protecting the house, but this version was much better.

The next notification appeared almost immediately.

[Legendary Reward Granted: Barrier Ward — Enhanced.]

[Effect: The Barrier Ward can now cover multiple designated areas, even when they are separated by great distances.]

Reinhard’s expression became more satisfied.

Even better.

The ability was far more useful than it first appeared. If he could connect multiple locations to the same defensive system, then the family wouldn’t have to rely on a single residence for protection.

This actually gives me a thought, but would it work?

Before he could think about it further, another notification appeared.

[Legendary Additional Reward Granted: Home Portal Storage.]

[Effect: Creates a spatial storage system within a designated residence.]

[Additional Effect: The storage possesses 200 spaces.]

Reinhard blinked before smiling.

So now the house has its own special inventory.

That was convenient.

Very convenient.

If they ever had more than one residence, each location could still remain connected to the same storage network.

They’re going to go crazy over this.

The fourth reward appeared.

[Legendary Additional Reward Granted: Teleportation Escape Relic.]

[Effect: The owner may designate a residence or safe location as an emergency destination.]

[When activated, the relic will immediately teleport the owner and designated individuals to the selected destination.]

[The teleportation can transport the entire group simultaneously.]

Reinhard stared at the notification for a moment before slowly leaning back.

Now that is useful.

An emergency escape that could move the entire family at once was exactly the kind of thing he liked having available.

He didn’t intend to need it.

But Reinhard preferred having an escape route before he needed one.

The fifth reward appeared.

[Additional Reward Granted: Ashen Construction Core.]

[Effect: Greatly accelerates the construction and reinforcement of structures using Mana and compatible materials.]

[Additional Effect: Structures built with the core possess increased durability and Mana conductivity.]

Reinhard raised an eyebrow.

Interesting.

The rewards were beginning to look less random.

Defensive infrastructure.

Spatial storage.

Emergency transportation.

Construction.

The System seemed to be preparing him for something larger than simply improving himself.

Then the sixth reward appeared.

[Legendary Additional Reward Granted: Fortune Luck.]

[Effect: Coincidences will gradually shift in the user’s favor.]

[Rare opportunities, valuable encounters, and beneficial circumstances will have an increased chance of appearing.]

Reinhard stared at the notification, and his expression slowly changed as he considered what the ability actually meant.

Strength could solve problems and money could buy resources, but favorable coincidences could create opportunities that neither strength nor money could force into existence.

Even a seemingly meaningless coincidence could eventually lead somewhere important, especially if the effect continued working over a long period of time.

I definitely like this one.

The sixth reward was much more dangerous than it looked.

[Additional Reward Granted: Blacklight Body Tempering Fruits ×4.]

[Effect: Each fruit possesses a different strengthening property and will greatly improve a user’s physical body.]

[Additional Effect: The fruits will automatically adapt to the user’s body and strengthen its weakest areas.]

Reinhard looked at the four fruits that appeared in his Inventory. Each one possessed a different strengthening property, with one improving the organs and physical vitality, another strengthening the Mana pathways and circulation, a third improving the soul and resistance against mental interference, and the final one strengthening the cells, bones, nerves, and natural recovery of the body.

A smile appeared on his face.

One for each of them.

He could already imagine their reactions, and considering how much stronger the family had become recently, these fruits had arrived at exactly the right time.

The eighth reward followed.

[Additional Reward Granted: Mana Crystal Collection.]

[Effect: Medium Mana Crystal ×5.]

[Effect: Advanced Mana Crystal ×5.]

[Effect: High-Grade Mana Crystal ×5.]

Reinhard’s eyes brightened slightly.

The High-Grade Mana Crystals were especially valuable. Five of them would give the entire family a substantial boost to their training, while the Medium and Advanced crystals could be used for everyday training and experimentation.

These should keep everyone busy for a while.

The ninth reward appeared.

[Legendary Additional Reward Granted: Family Training Array Enhanced.]

[Effect: Can now regulate Mana output and reduce the risk of uncontrolled attacks damaging the surrounding area.]

[Additional Effect: Can alter the backyard to an environment the user has been to.]

Reinhard’s eyes narrowed as he considered the possibilities. The ability would make their training much more practical, especially now that Emily’s new Gnosis had introduced abilities that could easily turn an ordinary spar into a disaster.

That would be useful.

He was beginning to realize that the rewards weren’t simply making each family member stronger. They were gradually giving the entire family the infrastructure needed to handle that strength.

The tenth reward appeared.

[Legendary Additional Reward Granted: Mana Refinement Crystal ×5.]

[Effect: Greatly improves the purity and efficiency of Mana when used during absorbing.]

[Additional Effect: Repeated use can gradually increase the user’s Mana control.]

Reinhard nodded.

Another useful resource.

Nothing flashy, but these were exactly the kinds of things that could quietly produce a huge difference over time.

The eleventh reward appeared.

[Additional Reward Granted: High-Grade Recovery Crystal ×5.]

[Effect: Greatly accelerates physical and Mana recovery when consumed or integrated into compatible recovery equipment.]

Reinhard’s expression softened.

Good.

After what had happened to Emily during the Gnosis restoration and the strain caused by her new abilities, having additional recovery resources was never a bad thing.

Then the final notification appeared.

Reinhard’s expression changed when he saw it.

[Legendary Additional Reward Granted: Ashcroft Mana Nexus.]

[Effect: A high-capacity Mana storage and circulation core designed for a residence.]

[The Nexus can provide a stable Mana supply to connected training rooms, defensive relics, medical equipment, and other compatible systems.]

[Additional Effect: The Nexus can gradually absorb ambient Mana and convert it into usable energy.]

Reinhard stared at the final reward for several seconds as he considered everything it could provide. A stable Mana supply could power training rooms, defensive systems, medical equipment, and other facilities within a residence, while the Nexus itself could gradually absorb ambient Mana and convert it into usable energy.

His gaze slowly moved around the hotel room.

Then his thoughts returned to the house on Leyline Street, the place where they had celebrated Emily’s recovery, argued, trained, eaten together, and spent countless ordinary evenings as a family.

He had always considered that house more than enough. It had been enough when Emily was recovering and when the family was still growing into their current strength, but things were different now.

Emily had returned with a completely new Gnosis, Yuna and the others were continuing to grow, and Reinhard had accumulated enough equipment and resources that even their training was beginning to put greater demands on the property.

Emily had even mentioned what would happen if she eventually returned to S-Rank.

Maybe they really would need something bigger.

The thought lingered in his mind, but Reinhard didn’t immediately make a decision. There was no reason to rush it, especially while they were still in Elyndor. He closed the System panel and turned his attention back to his family.

Emily was still arguing with Lily about whether the record system should have allowed her to change Reinhard’s record name.

Reinhard chuckled and he reached into his Inventory and pulled out the four fruits.

"Emily."

She turned toward him. "Hm?"

Reinhard handed her one of the fruits. "For making the evaluation fun, here~."

Emily blinked.

Maki, Yuna, and Lily immediately looked over.

Reinhard passed the remaining fruits around the room.

They looked at the strange fruits for a moment before Emily was the first to take a bite.

The effect was almost immediate.

A warm sensation spread through her body, and she could feel her physical condition improving almost by the second. Her muscles relaxed, her breathing became smoother, and even the faint strain left behind by her recent transformation seemed to lessen.

Emily’s eyes widened slightly. "My body feels... lighter."

Yuna took a bite of hers as well, and her expression changed when she felt her Mana begin circulating more smoothly through her pathways. "This is incredible."

Maki quietly examined her own body after taking a bite, noticing that her physical foundation had become noticeably stronger.

Lily, meanwhile, finished hers in a few bites and suddenly stood up straighter. "I feel amazing!"

Reinhard smiled. "See? I told you they were useful."

Lily giggled as she examined hers. "Shouldn’t you say, ’and also for not killing you’?"

Reinhard placed a hand over his chest and looked genuinely offended. "As if my Emily could dare to kill her husband who is the most handsome man in the world."

Emily rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t stop herself from laughing. "I really don’t know where you get your confidence."

"I was born with it."

Lily burst out laughing while Maki shook her head.

Reinhard folded his arms and looked at the others. "What do you guys think about getting a second house?"

Everyone blinked.

Maki looked at him. "A second house?"

"Yeah." Reinhard gestured around them. "I’m thinking we can have a second house that we use as the public one. Somewhere in Aurelius City or Marvello where we can receive guests, train, meet people, store our equipment, and handle whatever comes with Emily’s return."

He glanced toward the others before continuing. "And we can keep the one in Leyline as a private house. Somewhere we can come back to when we want to relax and just chill."

The family exchanged looks.

Emily was the first to smile.

Maki nodded next.

Yuna gave a small smile.

Lily immediately raised her hand. "Can my room in the new house have a bigger snack cabinet?"

Reinhard laughed. "We’ll see."

"That means yes."

"It absolutely does not."

Lily grinned.

Maki laughed quietly while Emily leaned against Reinhard’s shoulder.

"I think it’s a good idea," Emily said.

"So do I," Yuna added. "A dedicated training facility would also be useful."

Maki nodded. "And somewhere safer for visitors."

Lily raised her hand again. "And a bigger snack cabinet."

"You’re really committed to that."

"Very."

Reinhard looked at his family and smiled.

"Then we’ll do that."

There was no reason to delay it. With over one hundred and forty million credits in his bank account. Building a proper second residence would be easy. A place for training. A place for guests. A place for Emily’s future.

A place where the family could continue growing and perhaps, eventually, something much larger. But there was one thing left to handle first.

Reinhard looked toward Emily. "So, what’s the first thing we need to handle?"

Maki, Lily, and Yuna all turned their gazes toward Emily.

Emily understood immediately.

She nodded. "Eternal Dawn."

Reinhard raised an eyebrow.

Emily’s expression became calm. "It’s time I pay them a visit."

Now it was time to see whether the people who once supported Emily were still worthy of standing beside her.

And somewhere beyond Elyndor, the world was already beginning to realize that Emily Ashcroft had returned.