Descending Into A Novel

Chapter 176:The Family Life

Poke poke

"...are you taking advantage of me right now?"

Ellen tilted her head slightly, crouching down as she poked his cheeks with her slender finger.

"How is this taking advantage of you?"

"...you know why."

After putting it off for way too long now. Raymond had finally decided to get up and recover his second circle by once again. Force feeding his body with mana and essentially slapping the circle awake with the mana.

It was definitely easier then forming his circles over again, and it was definitely easier since he didn’t have to undergo mana cultivation each time. But it was just so tiring. Forming a new circle or undergoing a new tempering was supposed to revitalize the individual. Like a mini rebirth. But Raymond only ever felt sore and exhausted instead.

It was especially tiring after he had just gone through another morph session. Where he had to remove the ring and remake a new disguise ring.

Laying with his back on the ground, Raymond tried to glare at Ellen to stop.

But with how tired and sore he was, it was more like a narrow eyed stare. As his body was completely drained of energy to even move.

A certain dragon waddled over towards him, plopping down onto his chest and making him let out a groan from the sudden weight.

"Erin. We’re not sleeping on the floor today."

"Then why are you sleeping on the floor now?"

"Because mom is too lazy."

Ellen ignored that last statement, continuing to poke him in the cheek. After some point, Erin also joined in on the poking. Which made her smile.

"..."

Poke poke

"Is it really that fun to do?"

Poke poke

He sighed. Enduring this unique form of torture. Before Ellen finally got sick of it, and finally decided to pick him up.

Honestly, it reminded him a lot of what a certain someone else used to do. Who loved to pet and poke him whenever she could. Much to his dismay.

’I wonder how she’s doing...’

Rather then opt for her usual princess carry however, she had to resort to putting Raymond on her back. Because Erin also wanted to be carried now.

"Me too!"

Very cute, but it was just extra hassle for Ellen to carry the two of them at the same time. Not that she would ever refuse an opportunity to carry Erin.

Her mom had already taught her after all, you had to value the time when your kids were still young.

So currently, the World Crossing Arrow was now carrying a limp Raymond on her back, and an extremely fidgety Erin in her arms. Safe to say, this wasn’t a scenario she thought she would ever use her strength for in her entire life.

"Why did you have to recover it now anyways? Couldn’t you have waited a few more weeks?"

He rested his chin onto her shoulder, his warm breath tickling her collar bone with each exhale. Something she had unfortunately gotten used to by this point.

Groggily answering her, "To prepare for the upcoming exams..."

"Really?"

He nodded, fighting to keep his eyes open.

"So what’s the real reason?"

"I just want to be above you guys..."

Prepare for the upcoming exams. Ellen would sooner believe the sun had turned green, then believe Raymond would prepare in advance for exams.

Each exam, he would merely yawn,write down his answers and then leave. All within the span of however long it took for him to write the answers down. Even for any practical exams, he just did the absolute bare minimum.

Bare minimum to get a perfect score, but still the bare minimum regardless.

Meanwhile, Ellen was still struggling on some of the exam questions, and if not for her future knowledge. She would be third rather then second. With Arthur being above her. Considering she was twice their age and some extra, she should have been doing a lot better.

"I’m gonna sleep now..."

Without waiting for a reply, Raymond closed his eyes. His grip on her loosening as she was forced to adjust her grip on Erin in order to hold him as well.

Zzz...

As if they were connected. The moment Erin saw and hear Raymond fall asleep. She immediately closed her eyes and fell asleep as well. Going limp in her hands.

While it was extremely adorable, it also gave her extra trouble. Making her let out a sigh.

"..."

Luckily it was currently nighttime, so while carrying the two of them. She wasn’t likely to be spotted by others. That would really ruin her cool, mysterious aura she had.

She still had to walk slowly however, in order to not disrupt the two sleeping beauties and accidentally wake them up.

By the time she finally got back home, and was able to drop the two off and tuck them into bed. Ellen immediately collapsed next to them as well.

***

"Hehehe..."

Raymond briefly narrowed his eyes at Erin, who was struggling to contain her giggling. Not even touching the food that he had just made.

"Erin. What’s so funny?"

"Nothing...hehehe."

This was...very suspicious!!

Erin might have been well behaved...most of the time. But (not to sound xenophobic), Erin was also a red dragon, and Raymond had heard enough stories about Flare’s past to start seriously pitying his parents.

He turned to Ellen, finding her face to be completely blank. Calmly focusing on her own food with a glass of lemonade next to her.

Hmm...if Erin was planning something. There was no way that Ellen would ever remain blind to it.

He closed his eyes, choosing to enjoy his food instead of focusing on their antics. These two were truly so ungrateful for him. He even went out of his way to wake up earlier to cook breakfast for them today.

"Here. Some lemon juice."

Ellen pushed a glass towards him. Perfect timing as well since he was feeling a bit parched.

Raymond, his heart filled with kindness and benevolence. Accepted the glass without any suspicion. Casually taking a sip.

Pfft—!

Only to immediately spit it all back out.

"Hahaha~!"

The two of them immediately burst out into laughter upon seeing this. Clutching their stomachs as they laughed at him hard enough to make their sides start hurting. Tears forming on the corner of their eyes as they watched him vigorously try to scrub out the extreme sourness.

He slammed the cup down on the desk. Gritting his teeth and pointing a trembling finger at the two of them.

"You two..!"

No wonder Erin didn’t go to school today! What too tired?! She just wanted to see him suffer like this!

Indeed, she heavily disliked waking up early. But when it came to mischief. She held nothing back. Even waking up early became an easy task once the end goal was for mischievous conduct.

"We had to order those lemons online...hehehe...they’re bred to be ten times more sour then regular lemons!"

Despite laughing uncontrollably, Ellen still managed to choke out enough words to claim credit for this prank.

Damn it, he should have noticed it when Ellen had said ’lemon juice’ instead of lemonade!

And buying specially bred lemons just to further intensify the sourness was a whole new low!

Raymond thought that his mouth and tongue was going to burn away from the extreme sourness. That was just how bad it was, not even including the drool, sweat and his increased heartrate.

Although he wasn’t sure whether the increased heartrate was from the sourness or his extreme anger.

Kya!

Raymond directly grabbed Erin’s collar. Who was trying to escape from his wrath. Ignoring her squeal as he opened her mouth with one hand and held the cup of lemon juice up to her mouth using his telekinesis. Smiling with his heart still full of kindness and benevolence.

"Hey! Hey! Since you put so much effort into this. You should have a try as well!"

"Noo...!"

To no avail, pouring only the tiniest amount into her mouth. Erin immediately proceeded to also spit out the extremely sour juice.

With Erin finished, he immediately turned to the main culprit next.

There was no way that she wasn’t involved!

Buying lemons online, to preparing it in advance like this. Raymond refused to believe it was all purely Erin’s ingenuity. She wasn’t that smart (lovingly). No offense, but Erin wasn’t exactly the sharpest tool in the shed. Nor was she even in the shed sometimes(with love).

And if she wasn’t involved, and was truly just a bystander. Then she was still guilty of lying by omission! Participating in handing him the lemon juice while keeping her face still as to not arouse any suspicion.

Raymond gave her a cold smile, pouring some into a smaller glass and handing it to her. Making sure to maintain eye contact the entire time, that way she could feel his intense ’kindness’ and ’benevolence’.

"Drink up."

Unexpectedly however, Raymond didn’t even need to chase her down or force her to drink it. As Ellen calmly picked up the glass, swirling its contents for a bit before immediately gulping down the entire glass within a single breath. Her expression completely still and unchanging the whole entire time.

Raymond and Erin:??

"Not that sour. I expected more."

Both Raymond and Erin turned to face each other. Looking up and down at each other. They felt the same fear towards her godlike powers. Their minds solidifying the same idea.

Indeed, mom was the one with the highest power level in the house. No room for discussion there.