CHAPTER 58: PATH TO FREEDOM

The familiar grounds of the Kaiser estate stretched before Jack like a canvas painted in memories. Three days had passed since his return from the capital.

The morning mist clung to the training grounds where he now stood, sweat beading on his forehead as he completed the final repetition of his daily regimen.

His muscles ached with the satisfying burn of exertion, each movement precise and controlled despite the exhaustion that threatened to overwhelm him. The enhanced difficulty of his exercises had increased dramatically since acquiring the Ring of Stats, pushing his body to limits he hadn’t thought possible just weeks ago.

’One hundred squats,’ Jack counted silently, his breathing controlled despite the fire in his legs. The small raven perched on a nearby fence post watching with those glowing eyes.

The system’s familiar chime echoed in his consciousness as he completed the final exercise, bringing with it the rush of power that had become as addictive as the finest wine.

[Daily Quest Complete]

[100 pushups ✓]

[100 sit-ups ✓]

[100 pull-ups ✓]

[100 squats ✓]

[100 thrusts ✓]

[100 spins ✓]

[Reward: 10 EXP | 2 Stat Points | 10 Skill Points]

[Ring of Stats bonus: +1 additional Stat Point]

The notification brought a grin to Jack’s face despite his exhaustion. The ring’s enhancement to his growth was already proving invaluable, turning each training session into measurable progress toward his goals.

’This is awesome. I can get 14 free stat points a week now. But, fhe queation is what do I focus on first?’

[I suggest you wait.]

’Why?’

[Because, if you just keep focusing on magic, you’ll just be a glass cannon. You need balance. Wait until you know what you need more to balance yourself.]

"Impressive dedication, my boy."

The voice cut through his conversation with the system.

Jack spun toward the familiar voice, finding his father approaching through the morning mist with the measured stride of a man accustomed to command.

Alaric Kaiser cut an imposing figure even in simple training clothes, his presence commanding attention through sheer force of personality.

"Father," Jack said, straightening despite his fatigue. "I didn’t hear you approach."

"A skill learned through necessity," Alaric replied, his voice carrying the weight of decades spent in political battlefields more dangerous than any dungeon. "Your training has become quite rigorous since your return. The servants speak of you rising before dawn each morning."

There was something in his father’s tone that suggested this was more than casual observation. Jack nodded slowly, studying the older man’s expression for clues about what was coming.

"The routine helps me focus," Jack said carefully. "After everything that happened at the palace..."

"Yes, the palace." Alaric’s voice hardened slightly, dark mana swirling more visibly around his form. "We should discuss that. Among other things. Walk with me, Jack. There are matters we need to address, and I believe the gardens will provide adequate privacy."

The formal tone sent a chill down Jack’s spine despite the morning warmth. This wasn’t going to be a casual father-son conversation. This was Duke Alaric Kaiser summoning his heir for a discussion of consequence.

They walked in comfortable silence through the estate’s meticulously maintained grounds, their footsteps crunching softly on gravel paths that wound between flower beds bright with summer blooms. The raven followed at a respectful distance, its supernatural senses alert for any threat to its master.

The gardens had always been Lady Genevieve’s pride, but Jack noticed new details now that spoke to the family’s elevated status. Additional guards patrolled the perimeter with professional vigilance, their black armor gleaming in the morning sun.

Servants moved with increased urgency, and he could see construction beginning on what appeared to be additional defensive structures.

"The dragon slaying changed everything," Alaric said quietly, as if reading his son’s thoughts. "Our political position, our security concerns, our responsibilities to the realm. Nothing will ever be the same."

They reached a secluded alcove where marble benches surrounded a fountain carved with the Kaiser family crest. Alaric gestured for Jack to sit, then took his own place next to him.

"Before we discuss the future, I need to ask you something important." Alaric’s golden eyes fixed on his son with laser intensity. "What do you want from this life, Jack? What are your goals, your ambitions, your dreams? Speak truthfully, for the answer will determine everything that comes next."

The question hung in the air like a blade poised to fall. Jack could feel the weight of expectation, the knowledge that his response would shape not only his own destiny but potentially the fate of their entire house. Through the soul link, he sensed the raven’s keen interest in his answer.

Jack met his father’s gaze steadily, drawing on the confidence he’d found in the depths of Tartarus Spire. "I want the ability to walk where I want and do what I want. I don’t want any restrictions on my choices or my freedom."

The silence stretched between them for several heartbeats, broken only by the gentle splash of the fountain and the distant sounds of estate activity.

Then, to Jack’s surprise, Alaric threw back his head and laughed. The sound was rich and genuine, completely at odds with the serious atmosphere of their conversation.

"By the gods," Alaric said, wiping tears from his eyes as his laughter subsided. "You truly are my son. That’s exactly what I would have said at your age. Exactly what I did say, in fact, when my own father pressed me about my ambitions."

The duke’s expression grew more serious, though warmth remained in his eyes. "It’s doable, Jack. Everything you’ve described is absolutely achievable. But you need to understand the magnitude of what you’re asking for."

Alaric stood and began pacing around the fountain, his movements fluid despite the weight of armor concealed beneath his clothes. "True freedom, the kind you’re describing, requires one of two things. Either you need your own nation, with all the political and military power that entails, or you need to be so individually powerful that no one in any existing nation can compel your obedience."

The implications crashed over Jack like a cold wave. His father wasn’t just acknowledging his dreams; he was laying out a roadmap for achieving them. The casual way Alaric discussed building a nation or becoming a one-man superpower spoke volumes about the Duke’s own ambitions and abilities.

"In terms of personal power," Alaric continued, his voice taking on the cadence of a lecturer, "you’re currently operating at the level of a Copper-rank warrior in martial capabilities. Your magical output places you firmly in the third star, probably the third or fourth tier. Impressive for someone your age, but laughably inadequate for the goals you’ve described."

Jack felt his cheeks burn with embarrassment, but his father’s next words cut off any defensive response.

"Don’t mistake that assessment for criticism. You’ve achieved more in the past month than most manage in a decade. But if you want the kind of freedom we’re discussing, you’ll need to reach at least Diamond rank in martial arts and achieve seventh-star mastery in magic. Preferably higher."

The fountain’s gentle splashing seemed to grow louder in the silence that followed. Jack tried to process the scale of improvement his father was describing. Diamond rank warriors were seasoned warriors who trained for decades, and seventh star mages were typically the headmasters of magical academies or royal court wizards.

"That seems... impossible," Jack said finally.