The Rich Cultivator
Chapter 216. six months later...

Chapter 216: 216. six months later...

Six months later...

In a secluded village within the region of Lafitia, a group of cloaked figures moved silently through the forest, blending with the shadows cast by the dense canopy above. The team members communicated with hand signals, their movements swift and practiced as they maneuvered through the trees. Somewhere ahead, their target was moving as well—someone they had to observe without interference unless absolutely necessary.

In a clearing not far from them, a young girl, around sixteen, walked cautiously through the woods. She seemed unaware of the men tailing her, though her every movement was calculated. The group following her were rough-looking, with wild, predatory eyes that gleamed as they closed in.

The girl suddenly halted. The men, realizing they’d been spotted, stopped concealing themselves and stepped forward with menacing smirks.

"Haha, look at this," one of the men sneered. "Seems like our prey’s all ready for us. Boss, let’s get her."

The man in charge grinned, his eyes gleaming with a twisted pleasure. "Capture her! We’re in for a real treat tonight!"

They lunged at the girl, reaching to grab her, and one even tried to tear her dress. But the scene didn’t go as they expected.

From the shadows, one of the cloaked observers tensed, ready to intervene. But just as they took a step forward, a hand reached out and stopped them. The silent command was clear: wait. Something was off.

The silence of the forest was soon shattered by screams echoing through the trees—but not the girl’s. It was the men’s screams.

The cloaked figures watched in stunned silence as the girl transformed, her body morphing grotesquely until she became a massive, slimy creature with writhing tentacles extending from her body. She was no ordinary girl; she was an Acid-type Demon. The monster’s tentacles wrapped around each man, pulling them close, and with horrifying efficiency, began absorbing them. Skin, blood, and bones dissolved as the men melted into her body, one by one.

"An Acid-type Demon... we need ice magic," one of the cloaked figures muttered grimly.

"Fire could work," another suggested.

"No, we can’t. We’ll set the whole forest ablaze," came a firm female voice. "Does anyone have ice magic?"

A young man in the group hesitated. "I can use it, but it’s not my primary element. The effects won’t be strong."

"Let’s call him in. We could use his help," another voice suggested, almost reluctantly. The group fell silent at the suggestion.

"That spoiled, nouveau riche kid?" one of the men muttered. "He’d only be a nuisance."

"But he is cute, though," one of the girls giggled. "I’d love to see him fight that ugly thing." The other girls in the group exchanged mischievous smiles and nodded in agreement.

"This... is exactly why I don’t want him around," the man groaned.

"Alright, enough," the woman said, rolling her eyes. "I’ll just use the ice charms."

One of the men frowned. "If you had ice charms this whole time, why’d you ask us for help?"

"Because these were gifts from my cute junior, and I didn’t want to use them unless I had to!" she replied with a pout. The boys groaned in frustration.

"You... wait, junior gave you those charms? Did he make them himself?" another man asked, his tone softening with curiosity.

"Yep, he’s gotten good at making high-level charms." The girl sounded proud as she carefully withdrew the ice charms from her cloak.

She threw a dozen ice pendants toward the Acid-type Demon. Upon contact, the pendants released a flash of blue light, and an intense cold began to spread. The demon, unable to react in time, was encased in solid ice, each slimy tentacle frozen mid-motion.

The cloaked group observed the transformation from the safety of the trees. One figure, a girl with vibrant red hair and pointed ears, jumped down, landing gracefully in the clearing. She pushed back her hood, revealing a mischievous grin as she examined the frozen demon.

"Junior’s charms really are something," she remarked, tapping the ice to test its solidity.

Meanwhile, they failed to notice a figure slipping away from the scene, moving stealthily into the depths of the forest. Once safely out of range, this figure took out a peculiar-looking watch, pressed a few buttons, and sent a message.

Back in the village of Lafitia, a loud bang echoed, disrupting the otherwise peaceful evening. However, the villagers seemed unfazed. In fact, a few nearby elders chuckled as they observed black smoke rising from a particular house.

"Hahaha, did you dismantle another machine?" an old man called out, amused.

Inside, a young boy emerged from a smoky workshop, dirt smudging his face as he sheepishly scratched his head.

A notification chimed on the boy’s watch. Wiping the grime from his fingers, he tapped the screen and read the message:

[They are safe]

The boy, Tyler White, exhaled in relief. He gazed up at the night sky, where three moons shone down through scattered clouds, casting a soft glow over the village. It had been six months since he and his companions joined the academy, and now, he was on an outdoor training assignment with his seniors.

As he watched the night sky, Tyler received a message on his watch. It was from one of the adventurers he’d hired to monitor his seniors during their missions, ensuring they stayed safe. His decision to do so had been driven by his concern for their well-being, even though they were ’technically’ more experienced than him. A soft chime brought him back from his thoughts, and he read the message:

"[Good job... Just intervene only if they are in danger.]"

With a nod of satisfaction, he sent his reply and turned back to his modest workshop. There, he resumed his work, picking up a copper pot, He began to copy materials that are needed to practice.

Tyler’s knack for quickly mastering rune crafting was aided by his wealth, allowing him access to high-quality materials like rare inks and specialized papers for enchantments, which many of his classmates could only dream of using. Expensive tools and supplies weren’t a problem for Tyler; he just needs to copy them. Yet, even with all his advantages, he couldn’t help but feel both admiration and a hint of envy for one of his crewmate.

His watch buzzed, breaking his focus. He clicked it, and a holographic projection of a blonde girl appeared. It was Astrid, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

’Speak of the devil’ Tyler thought.

"Tyler!" she greeted him, a bright smile lighting up her face. "Guess what—I’m finally able to engrave Elite-Level Arrays! I’m moving up to the Master-Level Array Class tomorrow."

Tyler’s eyes widened, and he felt a pang of disbelief mixed with pride. "Already? Astrid, that’s incredible." He let out a laugh, though his eye twitched ever so slightly. "I’ve spent years and a small fortune getting to this level, and you’ve just...blown right past me."

Astrid chuckled, brushing off his compliment modestly. "I’ve just been lucky with good teachers and a lot of practice. And honestly, I couldn’t have come this far without your help, Tyler. Your advice has been invaluable."

"Well, I guess this means we’ll be attending the Master-Level Array Class together." He gave her a genuine smile. Despite the slight sting of envy, Tyler was proud to see her progress so rapidly. Astrid chose Same department out of whim but she turned out to be a genius array master.

"What about the others?" he asked, curious about how their friends were doing.

Astrid leaned back, thinking. "Lily is out on a group task and Mathilda..." She chuckled. "Well, she’s been flirting with practically every girl in the dormitory. Silvia’s preparing for her summoning magic test; she’s been practicing like crazy. And Darla is already asleep, poor thing. She’s had a rough day with all the assignments piling up."

Tyler nodded, amused by the updates.

"Thanks for the update, Astrid. Guess I’ll see you in class tomorrow, then." He gave her a small wave.

"Good night, Tyler," she replied with a warm smile before disconnecting the call.

Just as he put down his watch, a soft flutter caught his attention. He looked up to see a small, winged cat hovering in front of him, its big eyes blinking curiously at him.

"Zuzia, I’m busy right now," Tyler said, raising an eyebrow. Zuzia tilted her head, looking slightly offended at being brushed off.

But, in the next instant, the winged cat transformed, her form shifting until she became a beautiful young girl with horns, wings and tail. She had grown slightly , with her appearance now possessing same age as Tyler. Her deep gaze fixated on him, a mischievous glint flickering in her eyes. Tyler felt a hint of unease, knowing that look all too well.

Before he could utter another word, Zuzia leaned in, her lips pressing softly against his. He froze in surprise as she deepened the kiss, her tongue tracing his lips before slipping inside, leaving him momentarily breathless.

"Zuzia..." he whispered, managing to regain his senses after a few moments. She smiled at him, a playful spark in her eyes as if daring him to protest.

"Tyler, tasty." she licked her lips with satisfaction.