CHAPTER 62: FIAN

"Don’t move!" Gara shouted as the elf lifted one foot. "Let me clean that first!"

He rushed into the kitchen for a broom, leaving the two men glaring daggers at each other.

Neither said a word, but sparks of rivalry flickered between them, remarkable, considering they’d only known each other a few hours.

When Gara returned, Madha took the broom from his hand and swept up the mess.

"I’ll do it. Your hands shouldn’t get dirty," he said firmly, leaving no room for protest.

Gara sighed and sat on a wooden stool. Only then did he notice both men were barefoot.

It took just a few minutes for everything to be cleaned.

"Alright, wash your feet," Gara said, leading them to the kitchen.

Both men headed toward the bathroom while Gara fetched two pairs of wooden sandals.

They looked a little small. After all, Gara’s feet were smaller than theirs.

As he brought the sandals over, he caught sight of both men frozen mid-step, locked in another intense stare.

What is this? Did I make a mistake accepting the elf into my home?

Gara exhaled loudly, snapping both men out of their silent duel.

After the cup incident, Gara quickly and efficiently tended to Madha’s wound.

Once done, he walked Madha to the front door. The elf trailed behind. Madha turned to glare at the elf.

"You don’t need to come," Gara told the elf firmly. Then turned to Madha, "And you... Can you please stop glaring at him like you’re about to start a duel every time you see him?"

Madha’s usual confident, fiery eyes dimmed with guilt. "Sorry."

"I’m not asking for an apology," Gara replied gently. "It’s okay if you don’t like him. I just don’t want conflict between you two. I want peace."

He kept his voice low, not wanting Madha to feel scolded or bossed around.

Madha looked up with soft eyes and gave a small nod. "I’ll accept whatever you choose. Even if you... want both of us, I won’t mind."

"I’ll go now," he added quietly, giving a small wave before walking away at a calm, steady pace.

Gara stood frozen, watching Madha’s back retreat into the distance. His mind still processing those words: "Even if you want both of us, I won’t mind."

What... does that mean?

Before he could form a thought, the voice of Goddess Freya echoed in his mind.

"It means if you decide to be in a polyandrous relationship with them, he’s fine with it."

What?! That’s insane! Wait— You know what ’polyandry’ means?!

"What don’t I know?"

Gara blinked at the quiet, shadowed street ahead of him, completely bewildered.

...

After dinner, Gara led the elf to his room, carrying a rolled rattan mat which he spread on the floor beside his bed.

Climbing onto the bed, he glanced briefly at the elf, who lay quietly on the mat.

"What’s your name?" he asked without looking at him.

Silence.

"Where are you from?"

Still no answer.

"How did you end up as a slave?"

"..."

Gara gritted his teeth and sat up, finally casting a glance downwards.

"I know you can hear me. Answer my questions!"

But what greeted him was the elf’s flawless face—fast asleep.

"You’re sleeping? You’re not pretending just so you can ignore me, right?"

Getting nothing in return, Gara flopped back onto the bed with a huff.

But after a moment, he peeked downward again. This time, at the small heart icon floating just above him. 10%.

He wasn’t even sure when it had increased.

* * *

[FIAN – PROFILE STATUS]

Bloodline: Elf, Elemental

Talent: Ghost Walk

Age: 20

Affinity: 10%

Trait: Cautious

[SYSTEM EVALUATION]

Bloodline: Excellent

Talent: High

Affinity: Low

Trait: Mid

[FREYA’S EVALUATION]

Elven fertility is extremely low, but their offspring are always superior. A union between Elf and Druid creates exceptionally gifted children.

With a Druid’s high fertility rate, producing more than one elven child is very possible.

Highly recommended as the children’s father!

* * *

One status panel from the elf was enough to unleash a thousand questions in Gara’s mind.

Okay. So his name is Fian. He’s only 20 years old? But aren’t elves supposed to be hundreds of years old?

Wait... maybe that’s just in fantasy novels. Maybe the rules are different here.

And what’s with two bloodlines? Does one of them mean his actual race?

Also, Ghost Walk—how does that connect to the Elemental bloodline?

As if on cue, the voice of Goddess Freya echoed in her head.

"He is a young elf. In this world, there is elf race and also Elf Bloodline. And Ghost Walk is a trait granted by the Elf bloodline."

So... he has two bloodlines, but only one talent? How does that work?

"His other talent just hasn’t awakened yet."

Huh? So it’s true you can awaken talents later on? Wow... Goddess Freya really does know everything. How about me? Can I still awaken another bloodline or talent?

"Don’t get greedy."

Tch.

Gara stopped bickering with the goddess.

Madha once told her that the reason Bloodline Awakening Ceremonies were held at age 16 was because that’s the upper limit. Most people awaken their bloodlines and talents before then.

But according to Goddess Freya, it was still possible to awaken past that age.

Hah. People in this world really are ignorant, aren’t they?

"You’re right," Goddess Freya replied sharply. "The people here are foolish. That’s exactly why the gods and goddesses agreed to place this world under a Trial of Destruction while it was still young. They saw no future in it. All they ever did was wage war after war."

But doesn’t war push people to grow? To discover new things and strive for power? Maybe the gods just didn’t give them enough time.

"That should have been the case. But the wars here never brought progress. They only clung to what they already knew. The nobles—foolish as they are—hoarded knowledge, and the commoners—who are even worse—accepted their ignorance without question."

Oof. Harsh. So that’s why I was summoned here, huh?

"Yes. Fortunately, you’re not a complete idiot. Now stop asking me questions. You’re better off figuring things out on your own."

Gara smirked.

Being smart wasn’t just about solving everything alone. It was also about knowing how to get the answers...

Like making someone else reveal them for you.

...