episode

A good day starts with walking the Slime.

Chen Nuo put a leash on Fufu and took it for a stroll through the city streets and alleys.

This behavior was a typical case of having nothing better to do after a full meal.

However, judging by the emotions Fufu was conveying, it was quite happy and full of curiosity.

A Noble Madam shared the same elegant interest as Chen Nuo. They bumped into each other halfway; the dog in her arms saw Fufu, jumped down excitedly, and barked piercingly.

"Woof! Woof!!"

"Isn't this little Noah? Let Auntie give you a hug."

The voluptuous Noble Madam pulled Chen Nuo into her embrace, and a rich fragrance instantly enveloped him, offering a suffocating kind of happiness.

Hehe.

Who didn't know that Noah was the most handsome boy for miles around, deeply adored by the surrounding Noble Madams?

After a good while of enjoyment, Chen Nuo waved goodbye to the reluctant Noble Madam.

As for her original dog, it had just been spat out by Fufu; its once fluffy fur had been digested, leaving only a layer of skin.

It was now shivering and hiding behind its owner's legs.

"Baby? How did you end up like this?"

The Noble Madam let out a confused cry.

Chen Nuo turned his head and spoke to Fufu.

"Don't eat just anything."

"Goo~"

Fufu nodded in deep agreement. Its palate had become quite refined; it usually ate the small cakes made by Sandrone.

Just thinking about it made its mouth water.

Usually, Fufu served as a biological trash can for Sandrone, responsible for consuming the excess food from her practice. It sounded a bit pathetic, but having something to eat was already good enough.

"Bean Sprout!"

Eris appeared before Chen Nuo, looking out of breath; it was clear she had been running for a while.

She hadn't found Chen Nuo at home just now, and only found him not far from the house after a tip from the maid.

The weather had been cold lately, and Little Chili had wrapped herself up like a zongzi. She looked cute and fluffy, but it was a bit inconvenient for Chen Nuo.

"What's wrong, my cute Little Chili?"

Chen Nuo led Fufu over to her and brushed the snowflakes off her fur coat.

Eris quite enjoyed such intimate behavior.

If she hadn't seen the conspicuous lipstick mark on Chen Nuo's face, she would certainly have been even happier.

"Which shameless woman left this again?"

Eris angrily reached out to rub the lipstick mark off Chen Nuo's face, using so much force it seemed like she was trying to scrape the skin off.

After all, the young lady was a bit of a germaphobe, and she figured she'd be using that face herself later, so it had to be clean.

"Madam Mary was just a bit enthusiastic,"

Chen Nuo explained, taking Eris's hand.

"She's only enthusiastic toward you,"

Eris grumbled unhappily, not struggling as she was already used to this.

She was all too familiar with that woman named Mary—a classic example of "big chest, no brains." She really didn't know why men liked that; didn't they find it cumbersome?

"By the way, where is your guard? Why did you come looking for me alone?"

Chen Nuo keenly sensed a hint of unease in the air and looked behind Eris.

The once bustling alley was now devoid of any other people.

"Wasn't he always right behind me..."

Eris turned around as she spoke but couldn't see the guard. Now she also realized something was wrong and pressed closer into Chen Nuo's arms.

"It seems we've run into some trouble,"

Chen Nuo said, glancing up out of the corner of his eye as a capture net fell simultaneously.

However, in the next second, a cyan Wind Blade shredded the capture net—woven from the hair of a high-level magical beast and quite tough—into several pieces.

Such destructive power far exceeded the scope of elementary magic, but it wasn't a composite magic; it simply came from Chen Nuo's overwhelming control over the Wind Blade spell.

"Noah!"

Eris noticed the sharp glint behind them and shouted a warning.

The attacker's timing was very clever.

However, an earth spike extending from beneath Chen Nuo's feet directly shattered his beautiful delusions.

Seeing that his heart was about to be pierced by the earth spike due to momentum, the ambushing swordsman exerted all his strength to twist his path.

Although he barely managed to save his life, his shoulder was pierced through by the spike.

"An Advanced Sword God Style swordsman? Doesn't look like some petty thief."

Chen Nuo could judge the opponent's approximate strength from the speed of that thrust.

"When did you cast that spell just now? I didn't hear an incantation. Was it an item or a magic circle?"

The swordsman's face was distorted with pain, but he still forced out the question.

"What? Planning to gather intel for your companions?"

Chen Nuo spoke as he shifted his intent, and the earth spike extended upward, almost lifting the man off his feet. Under the pull of gravity, the man's wound continued to tear, and blood flowed down the spike.

"Your target isn't me, is it?"

"Who knows?"

The swordsman gasped, panting continuously.

Just as Chen Nuo was about to continue questioning, three daggers were thrown from above, making a short whistling sound.

The wounded swordsman seized the opportunity, swinging his sword down to cut the earth spike.

However, a crisp metallic clang rang out.

The swordsman nearly lost his grip on his sword; the dark brown earth spike actually radiated a metallic luster at that moment.

Simultaneously, a pale cyan wind barrier appeared in front of Chen Nuo, bouncing all the thrown daggers away.

Dual-tasking, chantless double casting.

Unfortunately, those witnessing this were just a few muggles who didn't understand magic, so they naturally couldn't comprehend its greatness.

"Another Advanced North God Style swordsman. It seems your client has deep pockets."

Chen Nuo sighed softly.

The price to make an Advanced Swordsman risk their life was not low.

"Damn it! Mission failed!"

The wounded swordsman shouted, telling his companion to retreat.

A mage whose depth they couldn't gauge and who seemed well-prepared was not something they could handle.

As soon as he finished speaking, another earth spike turned into a spear, pinning him firmly to the wall.

In truth, if the operation didn't succeed at the start, it had already failed.

This was Roa City, the Boreas Family's territory.

If Chen Nuo wanted to, he could summon the city guards at any time.

The reason he didn't was simply absolute confidence in his own strength.

"Running away isn't allowed."

Chen Nuo's ears twitched, catching the retreating footsteps of the swordsman in the shadows. With a Light Body spell, he leaped up with Eris in his arms, landing silently on the several-meter-high wall.

The North God Style swordsman was also fast, nearly out of the street.

Once he slipped into the crowd, things would get difficult.

Chen Nuo raised his index finger, aiming at the man's back; a water ball condensed in an instant.

"Pew~"

He added a verbal sound effect.

The basketball-sized water ball suddenly compressed into the size of a glass marble, then shot out silently at a speed invisible to the naked eye.

Just as the North God Style swordsman thought he was about to escape, he found his strength fading, and the sound of dripping water came from beside him.

He looked down instinctively, his pupils shrinking violently.

A finger-sized hole had appeared over his heart at some point, and blood was trickling out.

Without a chance to leave any last words, the North God Style swordsman collapsed into a pool of his own blood.

Chen Nuo put his index finger to his lips and blew gently.

His marksmanship was still as accurate as ever.

A "handgun" was still a gun.

"Noah..."

Eris let out a soft, clingy sound, her eyes turning watery as they reflected Chen Nuo's face.

It wasn't because she was afraid.

As the eldest daughter of the Boreas Family, she had experienced similar things before and had seen plenty of dead people.

She was simply overwhelmed by how cool he was; her legs were feeling a bit weak.

Thinking that such a guy was her fiancé, Eris couldn't help but giggle inwardly.

As for the so-called "coming-of-age pact"?

Please, Eris had long since realized she couldn't beat Chen Nuo; she just didn't want to admit defeat.

And she actually enjoyed the process of competing with Chen Nuo.

Strictly speaking, it was called "flirting."

"What's wrong, Eris?"

Chen Nuo reached out and pinched Eris's flushed little cheek to help her snap out of her infatuation.

Eris didn't speak, unconsciously pouting her cherry-pink lips.

However, a sudden shout broke the pleasant atmosphere.

"Miss Eris!!"

The one shouting was Eris's guard, an Advanced Water God Style swordsman, quite tall in stature.

Seeing someone approach, Eris's clever brain reclaimed the high ground, and she left Chen Nuo's embrace.

At least in front of outsiders, Little Chili was still very reserved and tsundere, very mindful of her "savage" and "fierce" persona.

"Where did you go? Don't you know we were attacked? For such a serious dereliction of duty, I'll have Father punish you..."

Before she could finish, the guard's shadow completely enveloped Eris.

"Sorry, Eldest Young Lady, I was held back by someone just now."

The guard spoke, but his footsteps showed no sign of stopping.

By the time Eris realized something was wrong, it was too late.

Just as the guard was about to seize Eris, a cold glint flashed in his eyes, and his outstretched arm fell away.

"You, oh you, you really never learn."

Chen Nuo pulled Eris to his side and lectured her in a low voice.

A slender blade had appeared in his hand at some point.

In an instant, the blade turned into a glob of blue Slime, which felt great to squeeze.

This was Fufu's mimicry ability.

It could even mimic biological senses, so turning into a blade was an easy task for it.

Chen Nuo knew at first glance that this guard had defected.

If someone could truly hold back an Advanced Water God Style swordsman without a sound, would he really reappear before them unscathed?

Moreover, without someone providing intel, how could those two attackers find Eris so precisely?

What was a bit surprising was the guy's sheer audacity; even after his two Advanced Swordsman companions had fallen, he still dared to come and take a gamble.

Could he have owed money that required "selling his backside"?

Chen Nuo glanced at the man's white socks; even in another world, he couldn't change the stereotype in his heart.

"Such a fast sword!"

The guard was terrified.

The speed of that strike just now had exceeded his reaction time; it definitely surpassed the level of an Advanced Swordsman.

However, now was not the time for shock. Ignoring his lost left hand, the guard reached out with his right to grab Eris; she was his only chance of survival.

Unfortunately, Eris was already back by Chen Nuo's side, so he had no concerns about casting spells.

While covering Eris's eyes with one hand, Chen Nuo blew a breath; a cyan Wind Blade silently sliced through the man's body, cutting him in half.

The thick smell of blood instantly spread.

Although Advanced Swordsmen were at the top of the common professions, they were still just ordinary flesh and blood without Battle Aura.

Only by mastering Battle Aura could the swordsman profession undergo a qualitative change.

Before that, let alone Chen Nuo's magic, even a strong farmer with a pitchfork could pierce their bodies.

(Witcher: Is this joke never going to end?!)

"Noah, I'm not a child anymore!"

Eris pushed Chen Nuo's hand away, but she was secretly delighted.

Occasionally, this Bean Sprout did have some gentlemanly grace.

"Where are you not a child?"

Chen Nuo's gaze focused downward.

Although Eris had inherited her mother's talent in this area, her development time was still short; for now, she definitely couldn't be called "big."

One could only say that being small was also quite cute.

"Bean Sprout!!"

Eris was exasperated.

"Stop messing around, there are things to handle."

Chen Nuo held down Eris's restless little fists and raised his hand to release a firework spell into the sky.

Soon, the city guards were drawn over.

What followed had nothing to do with Chen Nuo; Philip would naturally handle it.

Just as Chen Nuo thought, the three of them were indeed after Eris.

While the self-governing automaton brought huge profits to the Boreas Family, it also attracted some malicious gazes.

Anyone could see the potential of the self-governing automaton; they tried to use Eris as a breakthrough to obtain the manufacturing process from Philip.

The plan's success rate was originally high—they had bribed the guard by Eris's side and found the perfect time to strike—but who could have expected that the harmless-looking Chen Nuo would have such strength?

As for who the mastermind behind the operation was, it was already difficult to uncover.

There were simply too many people with suspicion and motive.

The moment they learned the operation had failed, they cut the chain of clues, making it impossible to trace.

After this incident, Philip realized he had to hurry his recruitment of a Sword King; otherwise, relying solely on the Boreas Family's existing strength, it would likely be difficult to suppress the greed in others' hearts.