Fantasy Family Simulator (FFS)

In the quiet atmosphere, Chef Maru slowly pushed a metal cart from the kitchen. The cart was filled with dishes, with trays stacked on the top, middle, and bottom layers. Even that wasn't enough space, so the newly hired assistant, Agni, followed behind with another two-layered cart filled with more dishes.

Wearing white gloves, Maru and Agni, whose plump hands seemed slightly clumsy, carefully placed each dish on the dining table. As they lifted the lids, wisps of steam rose, accompanied by tantalizing aromas.

"Master, young masters, and ladies, please enjoy your meal! If you need anything else, don't hesitate to ask," Chef Maru said with a warm smile.

"Thank you for your hard work, Maru," Rhett replied with a smile and a nod.

The banquet was indeed lavish. With a quick glance, Rhett could see that Chef Maru had prepared every dish she was known for.

Spicy rabbit heads, crispy lamb legs, chicken meatballs, pan-fried steak, steamed black-shell crab, slow-cooked turtle, spicy shrimp, potato dumpling soup, chicken stewed with mushrooms, braised blue-scale fish...

The flavors ranged from light to savory, spicy, and sweet. The table was filled with a feast for both the eyes and the palate, stretching from one end of the table to the other.

"Everyone, please enjoy this meal. Once we're on the battlefield, we won't have the luxury of such fine food," Rhett said as he poured himself a glass of red wine.

Tuck, not one for many words, immediately became the action-oriented type. Upon hearing that they could start eating, he took a big bite of steak, letting the juices burst in his mouth, his large eyes squinting in rare satisfaction.

Rhett also speared a chicken meatball with his fork and slowly chewed. Gradually, the others began to eat as well.

However, today's dinner lacked the usual lively chatter, replaced by a calm and quiet atmosphere. The clinking of knives and forks against plates occasionally rang out clearly.

After the meal, everyone quietly returned to their rooms, with far fewer laughs and cheerful conversations than usual.

The night before departure passed as if in a void, with endless thoughts silently blending into the quiet.

The next morning, the brave sun rose in the sky, dispelling the darkness that had enveloped the earth. The mist that lingered at dawn seemed like the night's final struggle.

The air was filled with the scent of sunshine as birds chirped and flitted about on the branches.

To avoid stirring up more sorrow, Rhett and his group had packed up early. In the hazy mist by the shores of Sun Lake, they said their farewells to the group of people seeing them off.

"Parting is always filled with emotion, and no amount of words can express the reluctance. Only a triumphant return can truly ease this sorrow..." Rhett thought to himself.

A westward breeze blew through, lifting the hair from their foreheads as if urging them to take one last look.

Moved, the group turned to glance back: Butler Svetta stood with his hands clasped, Vanessa cradled Dick in her arms, and Kalina and Mina, both pregnant, stood by Sun Lake, gazing in their direction.

The mist obscured their faces, but at that moment, the thoughts of both parties intertwined like dust particles in the thick white fog.

A few minutes later.

"It's time to go..." Rhett murmured as he waved his hand gently.

When they turned around again, the group's expressions had hardened with resolve.

They rode ordinary horses since the magical beasts—Firepaw, Whitepaw, and Tuck's Dark-Eagle, Mog—were still too weak. The risk of them dying on the battlefield was too high, so Rhett and the others left them at home in Vidas' care.

The group, with the blurry figures behind them, waved one last time and then galloped westward without looking back!

Riding into the west wind, they traveled swiftly across the plains, tireless and nimble. Sun Lake soon receded into the distance as they crossed one ridge after another, witnessing the sunrise and sunset, the light illuminating their determined silhouettes.

Along the way, perhaps because the canyon defense line had become more active in recent months, many magical beasts had been cleared out. Rhett's group encountered only a few, including a first-tier Wind Wolf and two first-tier Wind-Patterned Tigers, which became fresh meat for their journey's barbecue.

After more than a month of arduous travel, they finally approached their destination.

On the morning of July 15th, under a sky still dotted with stars, Rhett led his team as their pace slowed.

Mount Iro was a small mountain near the canyon defense line, running north to south with two ridges of varying heights. The western slopes of these ridges were steep and treacherous, filled with narrow ravines and boulders, while the eastern slopes were relatively gentle.

Rhett gazed into the distance and softly said, "We're almost there. Once we cross Mount Iro, it's only three kilometers to the canyon defense line. This place feels so familiar..."

"Father, perhaps we should take a detour? The terrain ahead is too rugged for our horses to cross," Ryle suggested.

"No need. Do you see the dip between the ridges ahead? There's a winding but smooth path that was carved out long ago. We'll go that way," Rhett replied, gently stroking Grey's mane.

"Got it," Ryle said, enlightened.

"Hmm? Why haven't we seen any other nobles along the way?" Tuck asked, scratching his head as if he'd just remembered.

Rhett chuckled and shook his head. "There's more than one path leading to the canyon defense line, and we're not all traveling at the same time. It's normal not to meet anyone else. Besides, we're arriving half a month early."

"Let's go. Let's reach the canyon defense line before dawn," Rhett ordered, urging his horse toward Mount Iro.

The group climbed the mountain, and whenever they encountered particularly steep cliffs, Rhett would create a makeshift path to help the horses pass.

They crossed the cliffs and descended the smooth, dark slope on the other side.

In the quiet moments before dawn, they saw the first rays of sunlight reveal a long fence that stretched endlessly on either side.

These fences stood over ten meters tall, made from the sturdy trunks of ironwood trees, with their tips sharpened into cone-shaped spikes that resembled the teeth of a giant beast.

Even in the rear areas, considered safe, there was a guard post every fifty meters.

From one of these posts, a soldier on watch noticed Rhett's group approaching and raised his hand in greeting. Rhett returned the gesture, and they soon arrived at a wide gate about ten meters across. On either side stood four knights in silver armor, each holding a sharp silver sword and a heavy black shield.

The guards looked at Rhett with a hint of recognition, though they seemed unsure.

They fulfilled their duty by scrutinizing Rhett and his companions with sharp eyes.

"Please present your credentials," one of them said.

"One moment," Rhett replied with a smile, retrieving a thick gold-red document from his coat and handing it to one of the guards. "You should recognize this."

The knight glanced at it and, upon confirming that it was the commander's personal order with encrypted symbols, nodded solemnly. "So, it's Lord Rhett. Welcome back to service. May you fight bravely and achieve great merit!"

"Of course!" Rhett smiled as he led his team into the camp. The camp was vast, with various branches for military supplies, troops, and other departments.

Familiar with the layout, Rhett led his team toward a path that would take them closest to Deputy Commander Anbiru.

As the morning light crept over the camp, bringing color back to the world, Rhett and his team reached a massive black fortress, three stories tall and about a hundred meters wide.

The fortress was heavily guarded, with soldiers stationed openly and covertly around its perimeter. Rhett's chosen path alone had at least twenty guards.

After passing numerous towers and watchposts, Rhett arrived at the entrance to the black fortress, where the soldiers, seemingly expecting him, allowed them through without issue.

Inside the central hall on the first floor, Rhett immediately noticed a large map of the canyon defense line hanging on the wall. In front of the map was a wide sand table that roughly recreated the terrain of the defense line.

Deputy Commander Anbiru stood with his hands behind his back, watching Rhett approach. His eyes filled with surprise as he clicked his tongue in amazement. "Rhett, it's only been a year, and you've already advanced to Archmage?"

"Just luck," Rhett replied modestly.

"Are these all your men?" Anbiru nodded, not pressing further despite his many questions. The stronger Rhett's subordinates were, the more they could help him.

As a soldier and commander, Anbiru's primary duty was to fight orcs, not gossip.

"Yes, sir. I'd appreciate it if you could register them," Rhett said.

In special cases like this, where nobles brought their own men, it was similar to having private soldiers. All the orcs they killed would be credited to the lord.

Those who wanted to earn merits for themselves could enlist independently.

Anbiru's registration process was efficient, and he quickly confirmed and recorded the identities of Rhett's team.

"Given your strength as a fourth-level Archmage, the rank of squad leader doesn't suit you," Anbiru mused as he studied the sand table. "Your combat experience is trustworthy, so I intend to appoint you as a temporary detachment leader under my command. I'll assign about a hundred soldiers to you within the next two days. With the current intensity of the battle, most of the troops are on the front lines, so it'll take a bit of time to gather them."

"Thank you for your trust, sir!" Rhett replied solemnly, accepting the assignment without hesitation.

"Good. The greater the ability, the greater the responsibility. I expect you to perform well and earn more accolades. I'll have someone take you to the secondary fortress dormitories—be ready to receive orders at any time."

"No problem, sir. However, I have a special request," Rhett finally said.

"Go on," Anbiru replied.

"To be honest, I've brought along two alchemists this time—Hank, a second-level alchemist, and my youngest son, Talyas, an apprentice alchemist. I believe they can be of more use in the alchemy workshop in the military supply department. Also, I'd like to request an executioner position for Talyas. I think the more powerful the orc captives he executes, the better it'll hone his courage."

"Oh? Is that so..." Anbiru considered it for a moment, staring at the sand table before nodding. "Alright, that's not a problem. I'll arrange it. Our supply department could use some help with the current demand anyway."

Rhett was overjoyed but kept his expression calm, thanking Anbiru. "Thank you, sir!"

"Just a minor matter," Anbiru replied dismissively.

After leaving the central war fortress, Rhett's group headed to their assigned quarters in the secondary fortress area.

Hank and Talyas parted ways with the group after being assigned to the alchemy workshop. But before they left, Rhett reminded them that executing orcs was their top priority, and they couldn't miss any opportunity. He also asked Hank to supervise Talyas to ensure he didn't slack off.

The canyon defense line was filled with fortresses.

In fact, fortresses were originally military strongholds before they became the comfortable residences of nobles.

But the fortresses on the canyon defense line were still primarily military fortifications, storing troops and defending against orc invasions.

As a veteran of the area, Rhett knew the defense line wasn't literally in a canyon, but the front line was vast, with over a hundred fortresses and supporting military facilities. The high ground gave them a defensive advantage, making it difficult for the orcs to attack.

Given this strategic importance, most facilities like the alchemy workshop, prison, execution grounds, and dining halls were located within the fortresses.

The dormitories were no exception and were collectively referred to as the secondary fortress.

Rhett arrived at Fortress No. 1—a dormitory-only fortress simply numbered.

His previous quarters had been in Fortress No. 11, so this new assignment wasn't familiar to him, but Rhett wasn't picky.

However, just as he settled into a room, a light screen appeared before him.

Staring at the message, Rhett's lips curled into a smile.

"It's already started... Excellent!"

"Work hard, Talyas. If you do, your father will surely reap greater rewards," Rhett thought to himself.

The accommodations in the secondary fortress weren't too harsh. In this world, building fortresses didn't require much manpower or time, so the spaces were quite spacious.

Only fortresses made with special materials processed by alchemists were time-consuming and labor-intensive to build, and those were usually reserved for the front lines, not for dormitories.