Gathering Wives with a System Chapter 462: Celia’s Secret

Though individually their strength might not have been particularly impressive, their synchronized movements were impeccable. They provided mutual coverage, shifted their positions fluidly, and capitalized on every opening. In larger-scale conflicts, their collective might often eclipsed that of significantly stronger individual summons.

Isaac offered a slight nod, his expectations met.

The ongoing battle was anticipated to last at least another day, as the waves of monsters had yet to cease entirely.

Leaving several clones behind to assist Emily and Alice, who were stationed within the city to manage the defenses, Isaac ensured all was stable before returning to his farm with Celia.

He still had his own Class Quest to attend to; efficient time management was paramount.

"Why aren't you heading to your concert practice?" Isaac inquired as they approached the farm.

Celia was perched on his back, her arms lightly clasped around his shoulders. Her head rested against his, while his arms supported the backs of her thighs. While they could have easily walked normally, she had insisted on this pose as a 'reward' for her initiative.

It was her idea to livestream Emily's battle, a suggestion that significantly boosted public awareness and benefited both Emily's reputation and Isaac's nascent religion.

"The concert is tomorrow, so today is dedicated to rest. Everyone needs to be in peak condition, after all," Celia responded in a languid tone.

She then called out, her voice carrying further, "Hey, Avery, we're back!"

Water emerged from the ground, coalescing into a humanoid shape. In an instant, Avery materialized, her form faintly shimmering.

"Welcome back," Avery greeted with a gentle smile. "It appears the Lord Quest proceeded well?"

"Indeed. Emily managed nearly the entire engagement by herself," Isaac replied.

He still harbored a degree of unease regarding Emily's use of her Lord Talent to resurrect hundreds of monsters. The ability, while undeniably potent, was also potentially alarming. However, Emily had assured him that the matter had been discussed with the Sword Empress, and they had reached an agreement: it would be permissible as long as she only resurrected monsters and kept their numbers below a thousand.

"You shouldn't be too surprised. She is, after all, the daughter of the Netherworld's Empress. Should she reach her full potential, she could become a force comparable to entire nations," Avery stated calmly.

Isaac nodded, his gaze then shifting to Celia, who remained lazily draped across his back.

"And what about this lazy one?" he inquired teasingly.

Employing Telekinesis, he pinch-pulled Celia's cheeks, gently stretching them outwards.

"I'm not laaazy. Stop stretching my cheeks!" Celia protested, her words slurring as her face was distorted.

She attempted to break free, but Isaac's grip on her thighs remained firm. With her legs locked around his waist and his arms providing support, escape was impossible even if she had wanted to. She could only squirm ineffectually, pleading to be released.

Avery observed their playful exchange with a subtle smile. For a fleeting moment, her gaze intensified—and Isaac detected a shift in the surrounding mana—as she scrutinized Celia more intently.

"She possesses considerable potential as well. However, I would advise her to prioritize rest. It appears she is not recuperating adequately and may be training too rigorously," Avery commented after a pause.

Celia's eyes widened in surprise.

She had not anticipated Avery detecting her efforts so easily. She believed she had concealed her strenuous regimen perfectly, meticulously balancing practice and training to avoid suspicion.

"Right?" Isaac sighed. "She's pushing herself far too hard. First, she attempted an SSS+ Class, and now she's aiming for a Transcendent Class. She's perpetually either practicing for her concert or secretly undergoing training for her Class Advancement Quest."

"I understand you wish to avoid a repetition of the previous Governor's fate. However, that doesn't necessitate an obsessive pursuit of power. We are a family; any challenges faced will be handled collectively. You don't bear this burden alone."

Celia remained with her head bowed, offering only a quiet nod in response.

The farm was reached shortly thereafter.

Upon entering the fields, Isaac commenced his work. For reasons unknown, Celia persisted in clinging to him, compelling him to continue his labor while she was carried. She appeared quite comfortable, evidently relishing the situation, as he moved methodically between the rows of crops.

"Hmm... It appears I might be able to create a sentient, combat-oriented Tier 1 plant today," Isaac commented after assessing the gathered components.

"Indeed, this particular combination should prove effective," Avery affirmed.

Though Isaac already cultivated a substantial number of crops, the creation of war-plants presented a significantly greater challenge. For them to fulfill the requirements of his Class Advancement Quest, they needed to possess both combat capability and sentience. This intricate process demanded careful genetic manipulation and extensive experimentation.

Fortunately, Avery's expertise in botany was profound. She had been instrumental in guiding him, proposing various genetic pairings and pinpointing traits that could potentially stabilize the mutation process.

If all proceeded favorably, Isaac might finally succeed in birthing his inaugural war-plant. He required a total of one thousand. To date, he had not managed to create a single one.

"Very well, let us begin," Isaac declared.

He selected a pea seed from a nearby tray. Then, concentrating his focus, he infused it with two distinct genes derived from livestock. The initial gene was sourced from the Spit Llama, renowned for its ability to generate and projectile-launch pressurized saliva. The second gene originated from the Ironhorn Ram, distinguished by its capacity to rapidly accumulate kinetic energy within its musculature before unleashing it in explosive bursts.

The underlying concept was straightforward: the plant would produce projectile matter, akin to the llama, and then expel it with the explosive force characteristic of the ram.

The fusion process achieved stability. The seed did not disintegrate. Isaac released a slow breath. This, in itself, was a promising indicator. He had observed that unstable Tier 1 mutations tended to crumble into dust almost instantaneously. A stable seed signified that the genetic pairing was, at the very least, non-conflicting.

"First stage is a success. Now for the second and concluding phase..." he murmured.

The seed was then planted into the soil. Stepping back, Isaac initiated the Seed of Providence. Mana surged into the earth, and the seed underwent rapid maturation. The ground stirred subtly as a sprout emerged, ascending with accelerating speed.

Isaac observed intently. 'Please... succeed, and grant me a war-plant. I have invested months in this endeavor with no positive outcome.'

The seed finally reached full maturity. Isaac's eyes widened as he beheld the—