Isaac let out a helpless chuckle after hearing that. It seemed that even if he managed to hide his excitement, Catherine was still more than capable of noticing the subtle changes in his expression.
There was little point in trying to fool someone who understood him that well.
He shook his head with a small smile and walked back to the house with her. He had already finished scouting the surrounding areas of the City land long time ago, so today he intended to discuss his findings with the administrators working under him.
The two Mine Stones had to be placed carefully, and he wanted everyone's opinions before making the final decision.
After returning to the house, Isaac headed straight for the bathroom. Since he had skipped the gym today, there was no reason to put it off any longer. As cool water flowed over him, he relaxed, and felt calmness wash over him.
Before coming in, he had already sent Hannibal, the clone of the Ancient Dwarf King, a message reminding him about the training bracelets.
If everything went according to plan, the bracelets would be finished by tonight. That would save him the trouble of waiting any longer. He liked training every morning and would be happy to have the new bracelets as soon as possible.
While standing beneath the shower, Isaac checked the final two rewards he had yet to inspect. The first was a Skill Upgrade Ticket (Transcendent).
It could upgrade any skill directly to the Transcendent rank, making it one of the most valuable rewards he had received in quite some time.
His wives possessed powerful skills, and every one of them would benefit from it immensely. It was better to discuss it with everyone before making a decision on who should receive it.
The last reward immediately caught his attention. It was a Legendary-rarity Barracks Blueprint, and after reading its description, Isaac couldn't help smiling. Besides summoning normal troops, it also had a small chance of producing High-Rank species' Overlord, which alone made it an extraordinary building.
The blueprint couldn't be used yet. He still had to upgrade his City to Tier 2 before he could construct the barracks. Even so, simply knowing that such a structure would eventually belong to his territory was enough to leave him looking forward to the future.
After finishing his bath, Isaac dried himself and changed into a fresh set of clothes. Once he was done, he took a slow breath and smiled before speaking inside his mind.
'System, share Sis' Conqueror Title!'
Conqueror → Conqueror (2)
The familiar warmth spread throughout his body almost instantly. This time, however, it felt deeper than before, as though every aspect of his existence was slowly falling into perfect harmony. His body, mana, soul, and even his mind seemed to resonate with one another, becoming more balanced with every passing second.
Isaac quietly stood where he was while the transformation continued. Even without checking his status screen, he could feel that the title's multiplier had increased again. The improvement wasn't merely physical; it was something he could feel throughout his entire being.
When the sensation finally disappeared, Isaac slowly opened his eyes. He felt refreshed, stronger, and somehow lighter than before. There was no black tar or foul-smelling impurity covering his skin this time, just as he had expected.
His body had already been purified repeatedly through countless physical upgrades. There simply weren't any impurities left to expel anymore. Satisfied with the result, he left his room and headed downstairs.
Emily and Alice were busy preparing breakfast in the kitchen, moving naturally around each other as they worked. Meanwhile, Celia sat on the couch watching television while softly humming along to whatever was playing. The peaceful atmosphere made Isaac smile without realizing it.
The moment Celia noticed him, she immediately floated over with a bright smile. She threw herself into his arms before saying, "I'm really glad you're okay. I kept wondering how you were feeling after everything."
Isaac laughed softly as he caught her. "Didn't I tell everyone I'd be fine? You worry too much."
Emily had already put aside what she was doing, wiped her hands, and walked over as well. Relief was obvious on her face, but there was still a trace of concern lingering in her eyes. Isaac noticed it immediately and opened his free arm toward her.
"Come here," he said with a gentle smile. Emily stepped closer without saying anything, allowing him to pull her into the hug. Holding both of them, Isaac quietly added, "I'm completely fine now. Honestly, I feel even better than before."
Emily looked up at him carefully, as though trying to determine whether he was simply reassuring her. After several seconds, she gave a faint nod, though Isaac could tell she wasn't entirely convinced yet.
Seeing that expression, Isaac decided to lighten the mood.
"If you're worried that I'm lying, we could always go to my room upstairs. I'd be more than happy to demonstrate exactly how healthy I am," he said.
Emily immediately understood what he meant. Her cheeks turned pink, and she lightly nudged his shoulder.
"Later," she said shyly.
Isaac only grinned in response. Beside them, Celia shook her head almost immediately.
"No," she said.
"No?" Isaac looked at her in surprise.
The corner of Celia's lips twitched, seeing his surprise, though the smile on her face remained. Even while smiling, her concern was obvious, and Isaac knew she would not have refused so quickly if she hadn't genuinely been worried.
He gently patted her head before letting both women go.
"Alright, then let's leave it at that. You two should get back to what you were doing," he said.
"I'm going to study for a while until breakfast is ready," Isaac continued. Although his strength was increasing rapidly, he knew knowledge remained just as important. As the Lord of a growing territory, he couldn't afford to remain ignorant about neighboring domains, trade, politics, or the countless other matters that would eventually affect his people.
Emily nodded and returned to the kitchen. Alice happened to glance toward Isaac while stirring one of the dishes, and their eyes briefly met. She quietly nodded before returning her attention to breakfast.
Celia floated over beside him with an amused smile. "Do you want this older sister to teach you today? I already graduated from university, so I definitely know more than you in plenty of subjects."
"So this is your excuse for showing off?" Isaac looked at her with a chuckle.
"I'm not showing off. I'm just stating a fact. If you don't understand something, you can ask me. this older sister will explain everything," Celia replied with complete confidence.
"Then I'll leave today's lesson to Teacher Celia," Isaac said with a smile. Celia looked thoroughly pleased with the title, and the two walked outside together carrying several books.
They settled into the chairs on the patio, where the gentle morning sunlight comfortably warmed the cool autumn air.
Their Constitutions were high enough that the cold hardly affected them anymore, but the warmth of the sun still made the morning feel pleasant.
Books, notes, and a few documents were spread across the table between them before they began reading.
As they studied, Celia occasionally explained something she remembered from university while Isaac listened and asked questions whenever he found something interesting.
Sometimes she exaggerated her confidence just to tease him, and Isaac calmly pointed out the mistakes in her explanations until she laughed and 'admitted' she had been testing whether he was paying attention.
Around half an hour later, the back door opened. Alice stepped onto the patio and looked at the two of them.
"Breakfast is ready. You should both come inside," Alice said.
Isaac and Celia nodded before standing up. While Isaac began closing the books and stacking them neatly, Celia hurried inside after hearing that Selene had helped prepare breakfast as well. She seemed curious to see what Selene had cooked, already hooked by her cooking.
Alice remained outside instead of following her. She slowly walked over until she stood beside Isaac, who had just finished gathering the last of the books. Realizing she wanted to say something, he looked up at her.
Without speaking, Alice gently took both of his hands into hers. Her fingers trembled faintly before she interlocked them with one of his hands. After taking a quiet breath, she softly called his name.
"Isaac."
"Yes?" he asked.
Isaac waited patiently for Alice to continue. Instead of speaking right away, she gently took his other hand and brought it to her face. She pressed a soft kiss against his palm before resting his hand against her cheek, almost as though she were holding onto it for comfort. For some reason, she looked unusually vulnerable at that moment.
"I know that sometimes I act unreasonably, but..." Alice said quietly. She closed her eyes for a moment before continuing, "I will do anything you ask of me. I can change myself, and I can change how I behave if that's what you need, so... please never leave me—kya!"
A faint yelp escaped her lips as Isaac flicked her forehead with Telekinesis before she could finish. He couldn't help smiling inwardly. No matter how many times he heard it, that little sound she made always struck him as unbelievably cute.
"I've told you this so many times. I like you exactly the way you are. I love you because you're you. If you change yourself just to suit me, then you won't be my mad princess anymore," Isaac said, his expression turning serious despite the smile lingering on his face.
"When are you going to stop calling me with that nickname?" Alice asked with a pout.
"Never. Because I love my mad princess," Isaac answered without the slightest hesitation.
He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her. Alice quietly returned the embrace, resting her forehead against his shoulder while listening to the steady beat of his heart.
"I know you don't remember what happened during your Conqueror Trial. But everything you experienced is likely still engraved on your soul. Still, it was just a Trial in the end, not reality," Isaac said.
He gently rubbed her back as he continued speaking. "Whatever you're feeling right now, you don't need to worry about it. I'll never leave you, Alice. In fact, even if one day you decide that you want to leave me, I won't let you. Because you are mine, and mine alone."
A hint of possessiveness seeped into his words by the end.
Instead of feeling uncomfortable, Alice's face gradually became red. For dragons, hearing possessive words from the person they loved was not something oppressive. If anything, it was a form of sweet affection, and Isaac knew that well enough by now.
He eventually pulled back just enough to look into her eyes. "So don't worry anymore, alright?"
Alice nodded quietly. She didn't say anything for several seconds, simply enjoying the warmth of the embrace before finally speaking again. "Can you stop doing that?"
"Doing what?" Isaac blinked innocently.
Without answering immediately, Alice reached behind herself and gently slapped away his wandering hand. Isaac looked at her with the expression of a child who had just had his favorite toy taken away, making her lips twitch despite herself.
Recently, Alice had started wearing outfits that left most of her back exposed. It wasn't for fashion alone. The design made it much easier for her to summon or dismiss her dragon wings and tail whenever necessary without constantly changing clothes.
Unfortunately for Isaac, that practical choice came with another consequence.
Her smooth back, paired with her naturally elegant figure, was far more distracting than he cared to admit. Every time he saw it, especially from behind, he found himself wanting to touch it. His hand had almost moved on its own just now. But what could he do? Alice was too perfect, too sexy, and the open back was not helping the situation.
Alice wasn't someone who liked openly displaying affection in front of everyone. Even so, the slight curve of her eyes showed that she wasn't actually upset.
"You can continue appreciating it later. Come eat breakfast first," she said, trying to sound composed.
Isaac nodded obediently, although his gaze still drifted toward her open back and the gentle sway of her hips as she walked inside. He silently admitted to himself that she really wasn't making it easy for him. With a small shake of his head, he forced himself to look elsewhere before following her into the dining room.
Everyone had already gathered around the table by the time he arrived. Isaac took his seat, only for Selene to naturally settle into the chair beside him. Throughout breakfast, she occasionally fed him small bites with complete ease, as if she was still worried about him.
Eleanor barely reacted anymore. She had long since grown accustomed to seeing his wives fuss over him in little ways like this. Sera, however, continued giving Isaac strange looks every few minutes, her expression practically asking whether any of this was really necessary in front of her.
Isaac simply pretended not to notice.
Once breakfast was over, Selene brought out the desserts she had prepared earlier. They were celebrating Isaac and Catherine's success in becoming Conquerors. Even the table itself felt a little livelier as everyone sampled the different sweets.
Despite failing her own trial, Alice wasn't in a bad mood. She remembered none of the events inside it, and she still had another opportunity waiting in the future. Since she wasn't dwelling on it, nobody else wanted to spoil the atmosphere by bringing it up either.
The variety of desserts available today would have been impossible not too long ago. After Isaac had brought livestock back from Selene's trial, the city gained supply of milk. Combined with the efforts of researcher-type awakeners who had successfully developed artificial alternatives, desserts had quickly become far more common throughout the territory.
It was a small improvement compared to everything else happening in the city, but it noticeably raised the comfort of everyday life. Sometimes people appreciated simple pleasures just as much as grand achievements. Judging by everyone's satisfied expressions, the investment had been worthwhile.
After finishing dessert, Sera excused herself to continue exploring the city. Once she was gone, Isaac turned toward Catherine.
"So, how exactly did your trial go?" he asked.
Catherine nodded before beginning from the very start. Since everyone present was someone she trusted, she didn't hide anything while recounting the events.
The room gradually grew quieter as she continued.
By the time Catherine reached the part where Celia transformed into Catastrophe, the cheerful atmosphere from breakfast had completely disappeared. No one interrupted her, allowing every detail to sink in naturally.
Emily lowered her head slightly, her eyes beginning to redden.
Beside her, Celia quietly wiped at tears that refused to stop falling. She had always been the most empathetic among them, and hearing about Isaac's death, her brother's death, Isaac's resurrection, and everything that followed had shaken her far more than she expected.
When Catherine finally finished that part of the story, Isaac stood up without hesitation. He moved over to the couch where Celia sat before gently sitting beside her.
"Celia, it's alright. Everyone is safe. We dealt with the Catastrophe already and there were no problems. So, don't be sad," he said softly.
"N-no. I'm not sad. It's just…," she said, between sniffles as she hurriedly wiped her eyes. "I… I was moved by my own heroic sacrifice."
"..."