Chapter 204: Bloodbloom Mantis (1)- the evolution
"This is my fighting style for the time being, Father. I am trying to work with the mantis, and for that, I come up with different ways we can collaborate. Isn’t that right?" Theo spoke with an excited smile and looked at the mantis on his shoulder, who went in his fighting stance.
It was going to stay on top of the boar’s body to start eating it, but Theo had different plans today, so he didn’t let it do so.
"Don’t push yourself too hard..." The baron spoke with a grumpy tone, his face showing the same expression as before.
Theo sighed and nodded. In the end, they were caring parents, so their worries were valid too.
"I just want to be strong like ot—"
"Don’t give me that bullshit, Theo. I need you to rest. No matter how much you want to prove to others, it doesn’t matter." The baron spoke and continued, "No matter how hard you try, your struggles will still be the same. You will need time in the real world to make your image. But that doesn’t mean you should use your whole childhood to get stronger. It won’t ever come back again." He stopped speaking, crouched on one knee, and kept a hand on Theo’s shoulder.
Theo looked to the side instinctively; he knew if he looked into those caring eyes, his mind would go toward taking his leveling journey slowly, but that wasn’t good for him.
He couldn’t understand his feelings; he respected and loved these new parents. They were a lot better than the cold ones he had to be with in the previous world—the ones that he couldn’t see his whole childhood and then his adult life due to being greedy for more.
At that moment, Theo thought about that, and a little realization fell to him.
’Am I becoming the same as them? Only work and creating a better status while disregarding everything else in life?’ Theo thought with distant eyes.
For a second there, he could feel that he was doing the same thing.
And then the voice of the baron echoed again, the same wording he had just stated—that the time of this new childhood wouldn’t ever come again.
’I could be an adult my whole life, but childhood will end the moment I become 10 in this world...’ Theo thought.
The trio looked at him with concern. That look on his face looked too burdened.
Yet nobody spoke or disturbed him. Ithira wanted to, but Rhys stopped her. She did not know Theo as well as the others did.
Just a second later, Theo took a deep breath, and his face had this new determination when he looked at the baron again.
"You’re right. I did break through level 5 at this age, but now... the leveling is going to be really, really long. I should live this childhood while I have the time. I have to represent the Merricks in the world soon enough anyway." He spoke with a grin.
When Ithira saw that grin, she looked at the baron and then him. Right now, both of them had an identical grin on their faces. She didn’t know why, but it was a somewhat chilling moment.
"That’s my son." The baron ruffled his hair and got up.
"I have seen your skill, Theo Merrick. It is good enough for your age, but you still need to work harder." He spoke, only to realize he had just said the opposite of what he had explained to him.
Looking at his confused face, Theo held his chuckle and spoke, "And also live my life to the best."
When the baron heard that, he shook his head with a chuckle. "I can’t believe such a thoughtful one is my child." He spoke and moved forward.
"Let’s go back and have a feast at lunch. I am getting hungry." The baron spoke in a happy mood.
"There is something else that I would like to talk about, father. Can you please come to the side for a moment?" Theo asked in urgency, making the baron confused.
He looked at both Rhys and Ithira, who just made their way to the side without even getting a command.
"I will be right there, young master. Please call me when you’re done." Elias spoke and left too.
"What do you want to talk about, Theo?"
Theo looked at him with seriousness. "I didn’t know that there was going to be another person joining us today, Father... I wanted you to witness that ’evolution’ I was talking about, in my affinity."
When Theo said that, the baron’s eyes widened in shock.
"And you don’t want to do it in front of the others, right? That makes sense." He spoke but soon spoke again, "But you don’t need to worry. That attendant of yours is in a contract with his life on the line if anything leaks. It will be a good test too. As for the others, you don’t need to worry. They are like family."
"Family..." Theo muttered. He didn’t realize that his father considered Rhys his family, much less Ithira.
"So let’s get them back, and you can do whatever you want. Also, your mantis fled to eat again." The baron spoke before giving a light shout for them to come back from the distance, while Theo grabbed the mantis off the boar’s body.
When they all came together, Theo nodded toward Elias before keeping the mantis down on the ground. Everyone looked intently.
Elias soon opened the small metal box in his hand and jerked the thing inside it out onto the ground.
The others soon saw a sack of poison-colored organ, and at one glance, they could tell it was from the very snake from their forest.
’This is the last step, mantis. Will you eat it...?’ Theo asked in the bond.
The mantis kept looking at the gland and then at Theo.
In the end, it moved slowly to the poison sac before taking the first-ever bite off, making everyone dumbfounded.