"Giving you the first sentient life I created..." Isaac made an unwilling expression and rubbed the back of his neck. "That’s a big ask."
Selene’s smile faltered.
She had walked into the conversation assuming he would agree immediately.
But when she looked at the small plant resting in the soil, she understood the weight of what she was asking for.
It was not just a crop.
It was the first sentient life he had created.
It made sense that he didn’t want to give it away.
Before she could reconsider her request, Isaac continued.
"But I can give it to you if you agree to one of my requests."
"Request?" she asked, her tone steady but curious.
"Yes. Be my treasurer. I’m handling a lot of money because of the crop’s earnings, and I need someone to manage the flow properly."
Selene stared at him for a moment, surprised.
"That’s it?" she asked.
"It’s not a request small. Especially for you, who is the heir of Calloway Conglomerate," Isaac replied.
Selene fell silent.
It was true that she already had obligations tied to Calloway Conglomerate. Meetings, reports, negotiations. Adding Isaac’s finances to that list would not be light work.
But the position itself carried weight.
’So what if I’m the heir?’
’Isaac is the Lord here. Becoming his treasurer gives me authority within this territory. That’s political power.’
’And if this place grows like it has been growing, that authority won’t be insignificant.’
’It would benefit Calloway Conglomerate as well. Early access to revenue streams. Direct oversight. Strategic influence.’
She convinced herself she was accepting the request for political power, not for her own greed that made her want to stay closer to Isaac.
She exhaled quietly.
"Okay," she said.
Isaac studied her face. "Are you sure?"
"I am. If you want, I can draft a formal contract tonight."
"We can handle that later. For now, your word is enough." He smiled faintly. "Thank you for accepting. You can take the sunflower."
"Sunflower?" Selene repeated.
"I decided to call that crop Sunflower," Isaac said.
He carefully transferred the plant into a small portable pot, adjusting the soil so the roots would remain stable. The leaves trembled lightly but remained upright.
Selene accepted it with both hands. She looked down at the plant quietly, as if memorizing its presence.
Seeing her pleased expression, Isaac turned back toward the farm.
He planted more ’sunflower’ seeds, spacing them evenly across the soil. This time, he did not activate Seed of Providence to force instant germination.
He wanted natural growth data.
Time required for sprouting. Mana absorption rate. Stability without external intervention.
As he finished pressing the last bit of soil down, a notification appeared in his vision.
Life Affinity has reached Level 2 → Level 3.
He paused for a second.
It had been a long time since one of his affinities had leveled up through direct usage instead of skill sharing. The increase felt subtle but noticeable, like a finer control over vitality threads.
If only he could pass his affinities to his wives and let them level them for him like his skills...
The shameless thought crossed his mind briefly before he dismissed it.
He pulled out his phone and began calling several research institutions. The sunflower needed proper assessment. Mana toxicity tests. Long-term usage effects. Economic projection models.
If its properties matched his calculations, it could reshape the awakener industry’s resource structure.
After ending the calls, he attempted more gene fusions.
He tried integrating Golden Tyrannical Hen genes into other crops. Every attempt failed unless the base was Vitality Grain.
The system’s feedback had been clear.
Livestock genes required structural compatibility.
That meant he needed more livestock types with different genetic signatures.
Golden Tyrannical Hen genes worked only with Vitality Grains.
Still, a single sunflower species already held enormous potential.
If he could create more crops like this, it would bring a lot of money and also power-up the awakeners of his city.
He decided to look for more livestock.
When he turned around, he noticed Selene standing beside him again. She held a towel and a chilled drink.
"I saw Alice do this the first day I came to your house," she said with a small chuckle. "I thought I’d try it too."
"Thank you," Isaac replied.
He wiped the sweat from his face and took a sip of the drink. It was slightly sweet and cool.
There was something quietly surreal about the moment. Selene had grown up as the daughter of the leader of Calloway Conglomerate, treated like a princess. Now she was standing beside him in the fields, handing him a towel after work.
He pushed the thought aside.
"Are you staying tonight?" he asked, glancing at the darkening sky.
"Yes. Today is another cooking lesson."
Isaac smiled faintly. She was serious about improving his cooking.
They entered the house together.
Isaac took a shower, washing away the dirt and lingering scent of soil. When he stepped into the kitchen afterward, Selene was already wearing an apron and preparing ingredients.
He moved to stand beside her. "What should I start with?"
"That," she pointed to the side.
Isaac began chopping vegetables and measuring seasonings. Within minutes, Selene quietly corrected his cuts and adjusted the proportions.
"You put too much salt," she said.
"I didn’t."
"You did."
He tasted the soup and frowned slightly. She was right.
"I’ll improve," he said.
"I hope so," she replied, though there was a hint of amusement in her voice.
Not long after, the front door opened.
"Welcome home," Isaac called.
Emily stepped inside, shoulders slightly slumped. She looked exhausted. Her movements were slower than usual.
She almost fell asleep as soon as she entered.
"Don’t sleep now. Let’s eat first," Isaac said gently. "Then you can rest."
She nodded and sat at the dining table without protest.
Isaac brought a bowl of warm water and a clean towel. He wiped her face and hands carefully. Emily let him, eyes half-closed as if she might fall asleep at any moment.
A few minutes later, the door opened again.
"Isaac, I’m back," Celia said as she hurried inside.
She moved toward him immediately and hugged him tightly.
"Alice is a slave driver. She made me fight too much and even made me chase the escaping monsters," she complained.
Isaac gave a small smile. His clone had been with them earlier. He knew Celia was exaggerating.
"You did well," he said.
She blinked, then smiled brightly. "Really?"
"Yes."
He guided her to the table and cleaned her face and hands with warm water just as he had done for Emily.
"You’re treating me like a child," she complained, even though she was enjoying the princess treatment.
"Then act less like one," he retorted, chuckling.
She huffed but did not pull her hands away. Instead, she leaned back in her chair once he was done, looking satisfied.
By then, Alice stepped out of the bathroom.
Her hair was still damp, strands resting against her shoulders. She had already changed into more comfortable clothes, and her expression was as composed as ever.
Celia and Emily were seated at the dining table. Alice went straight into the kitchen to help Selene, who was finishing the last dish.
Isaac followed her inside.
"Good work out there today. You handled everything nicely," he said to Alice while picking up a plate.
"Mhm." She gave a small nod. "The Ashfang tribe is nice. I enjoyed fighting with them."
Isaac smiled faintly.
He knew she was downplaying it. The Ashfang tribe had been the perfect environment for someone like Alice. Open combat, honorable duels, and straightforward rules.
His clone had observed most of the day, and he knew how intense the duels had been.
Alice had faced multiple warriors, adapting quickly to their brute-force style. She had even won a formal duel against the daughter of the war chief where they both had their stats suppressed and fought to see who had better combat instincts.
That part had surprised him.
Alice rarely formed new connections, yet she had ended the day smiling alongside the ogre girl as if they had known each other for years.
"She seemed to respect you," Isaac said.
"She was strong," Alice replied simply. "It was a fair fight."
"And the tattoo?"
Alice paused for half a second before continuing to arrange the dishes.
Isaac looked at her arms. There was nothing visible. Her neck was clear too.
His clone had not seen the tattoo being drawn because it had been guarding Celia at the time.
He was curious where she had gotten it, but she did not tell him, which only increased his curiosity.
The food was soon ready. They carried everything to the table and sat down together.
It was a good meal. Warm, balanced, and surprisingly harmonious considering Isaac had been involved in the early stages of cooking, which meant Selene had to cook everything again that he ruined.
Conversation flowed naturally as they ate.
Emily talked about a supplier dispute she had resolved earlier. Selene discussed preliminary financial projections for expansion. Alice mentioned the Ashfang tribe’s training methods in more detail.
Celia, meanwhile, kept the mood light.
"Selene," she said while pointing her chopsticks slightly, "you fit in quite well with us. It’s almost like you’ve always been part of the family."
Selene blinked once, then gave a small smile. "Is that your official approval?"
"I didn’t know you needed one," Celia replied with a grin.
Emily chuckled softly at their jokes.
Isaac watched the exchange quietly. The atmosphere was easy.
After dinner, they cleaned up together and gradually headed to their rooms.
According to their sleeping arrangements, it should have been Catherine’s turn to sleep beside Isaac. However, Professor Catherine and the Sword Empress had still not returned from their trip.
After a brief discussion, Celia and Emily decided to stay in Isaac’s room for the night.
Selene and Alice took another room.
The house quieted down.
Night deepened.
At some point past midnight, Isaac’s eyes snapped open.
He did not know what woke him at first. There was no sound. No visible disturbance.
But he felt it.
A subtle shift in the land he owned.
His senses sharpened instantly.
’What is that?’
The creeping sensation intensified. It was not hostile, yet it carried immense weight. Something fundamental was changing.
He moved without hesitation.
In a blink, he appeared above the sky over his estate.
And then he saw it.
The entire thousand-hectare farm was shining with a soft, undulating glow, as if the land itself had turned into the surface of an ocean reflecting moonlight.
Waves of mana rolled across the fields, rising and falling in steady rhythm.
The mana density was climbing rapidly.
It pushed against the air, against the clouds. Even at his altitude, he could feel the pressure increase.
His crops were responding.
Vitality threads shimmered across the fields, connecting plant to plant in an invisible network. The newly planted sunflowers vibrated beneath the soil. The vitality grains pulsed faintly.
Even the earth itself seemed alive.
A window below opened.
Alice jumped out nimbly, weapon already in hand, eyes sharp. She had sensed it too.
She noticed him and flew upward.
"What’s happening?" she asked.
Isaac raised his hand slightly, signaling her to wait.
He extended his perception downward.
There was no sign of intrusion. No external mana signature forcing entry.
This was internal.
The land was blessing his crops.
He felt it clearly now. A deep, ancient presence stirring beneath the layers of soil and water veins that ran through the estate.
The mana spikes were not chaotic. They were rhythmic.
Awakening.
"This..." Alice murmured, watching the glowing fields.
Isaac’s expression shifted as understanding settled in.
"The water elemental spirit is waking up," he said quietly.
As if responding to his words, a column of shimmering blue light rose from the central irrigation lake that had been added with the city creation. It rose steadily, twisting like a spiral current.