Chapter 224: Shocking Gacha Results, Cold Yet Warm
Isaac clicked on the Gacha spin option.
The wheel began to turn.
The colors flashed past in a blur.
The needle slowed, drifting toward a white area, which signified Mortal Grade artifacts.
Just before it stopped, the pointer shifted forward one last time, slipping into a grey zone.
The grey faded, revealing the purple color behind it.
It was Isaac’s first time seeing the Grade.
[Treasury Chest of Evergold]
Grade: Imperial
Effect: Generates 1 Gold Coin every day. The number of Coins can be increased depending on the satisfaction of the people under your domain, monsters defeated or tamed, and the size of your territory.
It can also be cracked open for a one-time large sum, destroying its magic.
Current Coin/Day: 3 Gold Coins
Isaac stared at the text.
Imperial grade.
That was something he’d never heard of before.
"What is it?" Alice leaned forward when she noticed his expression.
"See for yourself."
With a thought, Isaac brought the item out.
A small treasure chest appeared on the table, gleaming with golden engravings.
It looked valuable enough to be placed in a royal treasury.
"Check the description," Isaac said.
Alice’s eyes flicked to the display. Celia glanced over as well.
Alice froze. Celia, even in her current mood, raised her eyebrows.
"How?" Celia murmured. "Three gold coins per day, and it can be increased? Imperial grade?"
"Given what it says, we just need to keep defeating monsters. Conquering a city should increase the income too," Alice said, her tone carrying a rare note of excitement at the prospect of fighting more powerful monsters.
"True," Isaac replied.
Right now, thanks to Alice and Emily hunting almost daily, his income was already at three gold coins a day.
The N’theris Serpent they had taken down must have boosted it as well.
"I’ll keep going with the gacha," Isaac said.
The wheel spun again. This time, it slowed and stopped on gold color.
[Bloodline Upgrade Potion] x3
Grade: Legendary
Effect: Increases the bloodline rank by one. Works only up to High rank.
Isaac let out a sharp breath through his teeth.
Bloodline Upgrade Potion was exactly what he needed. And three of them, no less.
’Up to High rank means Emily can use it to reach Apex species,’ he thought.
He would save the other two potions for the right time.
"The next one’s Legendary grade," Isaac announced, glancing toward Alice.
Three small glass vials appeared on the table, their contents swirling faintly.
Alice and Celia leaned in to read the description.
"Bloodline Upgrade Potion," Alice said, sounding interested but not as shocked as she might have been. She had seen him produce similar potions before.
"Legendary after Imperial?" Celia blinked slowly. "I thought most spins only gave Mortal grade items due to the Gacha rate."
Isaac noticed the tone in her words. "You knew about the Gacha function already?"
"I was taught some things when I was younger," she said. "Politics, lordship... I don’t remember everything. But Gacha were supposed to have very bad odds."
He shrugged.
Maybe he was just born under a lucky star.
He clicked the Gacha spin for the last time.
[Orb of the People’s Voice]
Grade: Legendary
Effect: Allows you to hear the honest opinions and complaints of the people under your lordship in real time, even from distant villages. Can filter by urgency and can record the messages.
"Oh, that’s useful," Isaac said.
The orb materialized on the table, glowing faintly.
Celia read the description and nodded. "That’s pretty good."
Alice stayed silent, eyes moving from the orb to Isaac, as if thinking about something.
When the items were drawn, Isaac stored all three into his spatial ring.
"You two should get some rest," he said. "Celia, you can take any of the empty rooms."
"Thank you," she said quietly, bowing her head slightly before walking away.
Alice’s eyes followed her until she disappeared into the hallway.
Celia had looked a little better earlier, distracted by the Gacha results, but her face was back to that same weary expression.
"What about you?" Isaac asked Alice.
"I’ll sleep later."
He nodded, then turned toward Emily, who had dozed off again on the sofa. He tapped her cheek gently.
"Emily, I’ve got something for you."
"Mhm..." She shifted without opening her eyes.
"It’s a gift."
That woke her up. She sat up instantly, her ears almost metaphorically perking up.
"A gift?"
Isaac chuckled and held out one of the vials from earlier.
"It’s a Bloodline Upgrade Potion. If you drink it, you can reach Apex bloodline."
Emily froze, her hands hesitating before taking it. He caught the flicker of emotion on her face.
"A-ah, I’m happy! Thank you! This is the best—"
"It’s fine," Isaac said, setting the vial aside and taking her hands. "You’re probably still shaken from the memories you recovered last time. But don’t worry. No matter what happens, I’ll be here. I’ll stay with you."
Her eyes widened. She hadn’t expected him to understand so easily, let alone say it out loud.
"If you’re still not ready, you can drink it later—"
"No... I’ll do it now." Her voice was quiet but firm.
She didn’t want to let his expectations down. And more than that, she didn’t want to keep running from her past.
"I’ll drink it."
Emily picked up the vial from the sofa. She pulled the cork free and drank it all in one go.
"Come on," Isaac said. "You should enter the life support pod."
They moved to the corner of the living room, where the pod sat. Emily stepped inside, and the latch closed with a soft hiss. Inside, nutrient-rich liquid began to fill, surrounding her completely. The faint hum of the machine blended into the quiet room as the bloodline evolution process began.
Isaac stood there for a while, watching the soft glow inside the pod. Emily’s eyes had closed, and she had slipped into a deep sleep. Her breathing was now calm and steady.
Just as he turned to leave, he felt arms slip around his waist from behind.
"Isaac," Alice said, her voice carrying an unusual warmth.
"Yes?"
"Isaac." She said his name again, slower this time.
He turned his head slightly. "What happened, Alice?"
When he faced her, she stepped closer and wrapped her arms around his neck. Then she kissed him without another word.
Her lips pressed against his with a certain urgency. Their tongues met, and their breathing deepened. By the time they parted, a thin string of saliva connected them before it broke.
Isaac smiled faintly, his hands still resting on her waist. "It’s the first time we’ve kissed out in the open like this. What happened? Did my mad princess get jealous today?"
"Yes." Alice leaned in and kissed the side of his neck, her tone holding no hesitation.
With only the two of them around, she set aside her usual cold demeanor. She didn’t hide her affection, and she didn’t hold back. She kissed his neck again, slower this time, before tilting her head up to meet his lips once more.
They stayed like that for a short while before parting again. Without saying anything, Alice took his wrist and led him toward the sofa. She pushed him down into the seat, then climbed onto his lap, straddling his thighs.
Her arms went back around his neck. She looked at him with a gaze that was softer than usual.
"Kiss me," she said quietly, though the request carried a hint of need.
Isaac didn’t hesitate. He leaned forward, and their lips met again. The kiss deepened, and the rhythm of their breathing changed, growing heavier.
As the moments passed, Alice unconsciously began to shift her waist in small, slow motions against him.
Her breathing hitched slightly before she finally leaned back.
Her eyes were half-lidded and dazed.
"Why are you so good at kissing?" she asked, sounding something like pleased yet angry.
"Am I too good?" Isaac asked, tilting his head with a faint grin.
"Yes," she replied. "Did you practice with other girls too?"
Even as she complained, she didn’t stop moving her waist over his lower body.
"You know I didn’t."
"Did you have a girlfriend before you came to the academy?" she asked.
"Nope."
"What about in the academy?"
"You were the girl who was closest to me. If I had a girlfriend, you’d have known."
Alice scoffed at his answer, though she couldn’t hide the flicker of satisfaction in her eyes. She looked like she wanted to believe him, but she wasn’t done with her complaints.
"Why are you so handsome, Isaac?"
"Is that a bad thing?" Isaac chuckled softly.
Alice shook her head, but her words didn’t match the gesture. "Even at the academy, so many girls were looking at you. I thought after leaving there, it would be just the two of us. But now it’s Professor Catherine, Leonora, Celia... why are they around you?"
"You forgot Emily’s name."
She pinched the back of his neck lightly. "Don’t try to act smart and bring her up. I know you know I won’t say anything against Emily."
Isaac chuckled again and leaned forward. Before she could go on, he pressed his lips to hers.
Alice tried to pull back, clearly wanting to keep talking, but he didn’t let her. His arms held her steady until her resistance faded. Slowly, she gave in and returned the kiss.
When they finally stopped, Alice hugged him tightly. Her lips brushed his ear as she whispered, "You are mine."
"I know."
"Never forget that."
"I won’t."
Even without seeing his face, she could tell he was smiling at her possessive words.
The realization made her cheeks warm.
She knew she was acting like a clingy girlfriend, but right now, with only the two of them here, she didn’t mind.