Gathering Wives with a System Chapter 468 Absurd(?) Request
Previously on Gathering Wives with a System...
The quality of the soil, its ability to retain nutrients, how fast crops grow, their resistance to harsh environments, and even the inherent quality of the produce itself could all be affected.
If this passive ability functioned as he suspected, it would certainly complement all his current efforts.
His farms, his crops, every single aspect would see improvements.
This was undoubtedly one of the most valuable abilities he could have acquired.
Even though his crops were already superior to anything in the surrounding areas, complacency was not an option. Being ahead now did not guarantee he would remain so in the future.
His experiences in the [Market] had taught him this much.
Florathi.
His current objective was to surpass them.
Based on all the information he had gathered, the Florathi kingdom currently held a significant advantage over him, both in terms of quantity and quality. Their agricultural system had been perfected over countless generations. Vast territories were dedicated solely to production, bolstered by specialized classes of people and abundant resources.
Attempting to contend with such a force on his own seemed almost unrealistic.
However, Isaac did not view it this way.
"If I don't aim that high, then what's the point?"
He wasn't expecting to achieve parity overnight; that would be an unreasonable expectation. But possessing the ambition to reach that level—or even to eventually surpass it—was essential.
Otherwise, he would inevitably stagnate.
And stagnation was simply not an option for someone gifted with a Transcendent-rank Farming Talent.
"How is it?"
Emily's voice gently pulled him away from his musings.
She had been observing him for some time, evidently awaiting his assessment.
Isaac turned to her, a smile gracing his lips.
"It's amazing. Thank you."
Though his words were few, the genuine gratitude in his tone was undeniable.
Emily's face immediately brightened.
"I'm glad you like it," she replied.
"You did very well," Isaac responded, maintaining a calm demeanor.
Following this exchange, the dinner proceeded without any further notable events. The conversation shifted to more lighthearted subjects, and for a period, the atmosphere felt remarkably ordinary.
Once they had finished their meal, no one immediately retired for the night.
Celia was the first to rise and turned towards Catherine.
"I require your assistance with something," she stated casually.
Catherine arched an eyebrow. "Right now?"
"It won't take long," Celia assured her, already making her way towards the stairs. Catherine cast a brief glance at Isaac before following, and he watched them depart, a pensive look on his face.
It was somewhat concerning to ponder what the devil might be planning that required the fox's aid, but Isaac decided it was best to respect their privacy and refrain from eavesdropping. Not that he could, given that Professor Catherine possessed the ability to detect him as easily as he could detect her.
Alice had already gone outside, engaging in training near the farm to aid her digestion. Avery had accompanied her, likely to offer guidance with the Dragon Arts once more.
There remained no word regarding the Sword Empress.
Eventually, Isaac made his way to the living room and settled onto the couch. He leaned back, placing his feet on the table, and switched on a random comedy program.
It wasn't long before Emily joined him.
Without any hesitation, she settled onto his lap, cradling a bowl of ice cream. As the show unfolded, she alternated between feeding herself and offering him spoonfuls.
The ambiance was one of comfortable ease.
After a short while, she spoke.
"Isaac, I had a really good day with my quest today!"
He briefly glanced her way.
"Yes, you did."
He had a feeling about where this conversation was heading.
"I also fought properly and demonstrated my strength like you advised," she continued.
"Yes. You handled it admirably," he affirmed, gently stroking her head.
She beamed, clearly pleased by his praise. Then, her expression shifted subtly, taking on a more uncertain quality.
"So... could you give me a reward?"
Isaac's eyebrows lifted slightly.
"What sort of reward are you thinking of?"
Emily hesitated. Her grip on the spoon tightened slightly, and her gaze fell downwards.
"I... I still need to..." She faltered, her cheeks flushing.
Isaac waited patiently.
"I still need to take the Heaven-Reversal Elixir," she managed after composing herself. "So I was wondering... perhaps you could give me a reward then."
"I will do my utmost to grant your request. So, what is it you desire?" he inquired.
She looked up at him again, her nervousness still evident.
"Don't think I'm strange, okay?"
"Okay."
"I mean it. If you don't like it, you can always say no," she added hastily.
"I said okay," Isaac replied, a soft chuckle escaping him.
He couldn't help but notice the distinct change in her demeanor.
When they had first encountered each other, Emily had been forthright and direct. She had unreservedly requested their 'marital night' simply because she lacked an understanding of conventional norms.
Now, she possessed that awareness, and it was manifesting as shyness.
"So, what is it you want?" he prompted, encouraging her.
"I..." her voice grew progressively softer, nearly a whisper. "I wanted to..."
"To?"
"Try it from behind."
"What do you mean..." Isaac's words caught in his throat, his forced smile freezing as he grasped her intent. His immediate impulse was to refuse, but the thought vanished as swiftly as it appeared when his gaze fell upon Emily. She appeared anxious, tinged with regret, yet an undeniable expectation gleamed in her eyes – a clear sign of the effort she'd put into this request. He exhaled softly. 'Perhaps this is normal for couples?' he rationalized internally. His silence caused Emily's expression to falter, her posture slumping as if her non-existent dog ears had drooped. "What a coincidence. I was also considering trying new things and was wondering how to bring it up," he declared hastily, realizing the need to mend the situation before Emily felt she had overstepped. "Really?" "Yeah," he confirmed, nodding perhaps a bit too eagerly. She scrutinized his face for a moment, as if seeking assurance of his sincerity. Before she could delve deeper, he added, "But not today. You're already exhausted from the quest, and taking the Heaven-Reversal Elixir on top of that would push you beyond your limits. So, please rest for today." Emily visibly relaxed, her smile returning. "Okay." The tension that had gathered within her seemed to dissipate instantly. Her innocent smile prompted an internal sigh from Isaac. 'So, it's really happening,' he mused. Isaac was content to do anything that brought happiness to his wives, and he wouldn't deny his own curiosity about 'that.' However, it was still something requiring considerable processing time and a significant psychological leap. Questions swirled: Wouldn't it hurt? Would it actually be pleasurable? What precautions should be taken? ...Who had told Emily about this? 'Was it Celia, or Alice?' Isaac had some idea of the peculiar things Alice had encountered or researched online; it was entirely plausible Emily had learned these novelties from her. Yet, Celia was an equally likely source. 'Sigh, forget it. Whoever introduced the idea to Emily doesn't change what I need to do,' he reasoned. He gently scooped Emily into his arms and carried her to the bedroom. After ensuring she was settled, he gave her a gentle massage to soothe her fatigue, waiting until she drifted off to sleep. Only then did he quietly exit the room. Outside, he found Alice still tending to the farm. Following a brief exchange, he instructed her to finish up and get some rest. Upon returning inside, the house had fallen silent. Celia appeared to have concluded her tasks for the evening and had already retired for the night. Isaac ventured into the kitchen and poured himself a glass of water, drinking it slowly, allowing the cool liquid to clear his thoughts. Just as he finished, he felt a presence behind him, arms encircling him from the back. Catherine. "You're sleeping with your big sis tonight. I hope you remember the schedule," she whispered, her breath tickling his collar. "I do." He affirmed with a nod. Catherine let out a soft pout, unused to his lack of fluster from her breath on his neck. She'd noticed a similar composure when she was teaching him earlier, but Isaac had clearly matured considerably after returning from the Trial. The six months spent there had evidently fostered significant growth. 'Some things never change, though,' she thought, licking her lips. 'I wonder how hard you'll try to 'tame' me tonight?' She relished their passionate encounters, but what she cherished even more was his attempt to 'subdue' her, and the look on his face when he inevitably realized she was the one who had lost. The mere recollection of those moments sent delightful shivers down Catherine's spine. Isaac offered a serene smile, privy to Catherine's inner thoughts. 'Let's see if I can't truly tame you today,' he mused. He finished his water, replaced the glass, and turned to face her. "You know, the most difficult part of the Trial was being separated from you for six months," he stated, lifting her into a bridal carry. "I missed you dearly, so tonight, I intend to spoil you to my heart's content." Catherine's smile faltered, stunned by such tender words from Isaac.