Chapter 904
Chapter 904
Anton believed his new stepmother had made a truly wise decision.
Many people would have been blinded by the prospect of obtaining a unique class, but Sonya was a practical woman who understood exactly what she wanted.
She was fully aware of her husband's responsibilities and knew she could not simply abandon her family to spend her days delving into dungeons just to level up a class. Someone still needed to remain at home and take care of the household. Judging from Anders's expression, he completely supported her decision.
The power she would eventually gain from raising a multiplayer character in Anton's Diablo System would already be enough to make her a formidable individual once her chosen class reached a high level and was fully equipped.
Without further delay, Anton granted Sonya access to the multiplayer portion of his Diablo System.
Anders explained that, since he intended to help his new wife level her multiplayer character, he would probably be unable to complete many more ladder characters during the current ladder season.
Anton merely shrugged.
In truth, his father was already powerful enough with the two Diablo II classes he possessed. The rewards for reaching the maximum level with ladder characters were simply an added bonus on top of the strength he had already gained from his original classes.
Anders had also decided not to let Sonya begin with a ladder character.
Instead, he wanted her to become familiar with the game first by playing the non-ladder version of Anton's Diablo System.
Curious, Anton asked which class she had chosen.
Anders laughed.
"She can't decide between taking the easy route with the Sorceress or becoming the only true healer among Diablo II's eight classes by choosing the Paladin."
Starting as a Paladin would undoubtedly be more difficult, but with Anders helping her through the early stages of the game, leveling would not be much of a problem.
Once she became strong enough, she could transition into a caster-oriented Paladin build and fight comfortably from a distance.
After granting Sonya access to the multiplayer feature, Anton left to fulfill the requests made by Romina and Alfred.
His task for Romina was the more difficult one.
His knowledge of fashion-related entertainment was fairly limited, so he had no choice but to search Earth's internet for highly regarded fashion movies and television series, record them using his Globe of Browser Sharing, and prepare copies for her.
After gathering roughly ten movies and ten television series, Anton decided the collection would be more than sufficient for both Romina and Anna. He knew that the moment Anna was free from the academy, she would immediately ask for copies as well.
He stored all of the movies inside one Tiny Globe of Browser Sharing and placed all of the television series inside another.
Sorting the contents would be left to Romina's staff.
Fortunately, there was no need to translate anything. Anton's powerful Diablo System had already converted every language into one understood by the people of this world.
Alfred's request—and those of Anton's two younger stepbrothers—was considerably easier.
Anime had always been one of Anton's greatest hobbies.
He simply compiled many of his favorite series into another Tiny Globe of Browser Sharing.
Like Romina, Alfred would have people organize everything afterward.
Anton could not help laughing when he handed the Tiny Globes of Browser Sharing to Romina, Alfred, and his two stepbrothers.
Despite the considerable age differences between them, they all wore the exact same expression of eager excitement.
Before Anton left, Romina and Alfred asked if they could discuss something with him.
That conversation revealed Alfred's future plans.
Once he came of age, Alfred wanted to join the family's cinema business.
However, he wished to specialize exclusively in anime.
His dream was to establish a dedicated theater that screened nothing but anime films and animated features.
He also wanted to expand the business by selling anime-related merchandise such as costumes, action figures, posters, and other collectibles.
Anton simply shrugged.
"As far as I'm concerned, that's perfectly fine."
The truth was that Alfred was still quite young.
By the time he reached adulthood, Anton would likely have supplied him with an enormous anime collection, giving him more than enough material to build his business.
Curious, Anton asked, "Don't you want to become a powerful wizard? Most otaku from Earth dream about gaining incredible magical powers after being transported to another world."
Since Alfred had already watched countless anime series, he understood exactly what an otaku was and what the culture surrounding it entailed.
"I'm different," Alfred replied without hesitation. "Unlike them, I know magic actually exists. If I ever decide I want to become a wizard, I'm sure you'll find a way to make it happen. But right now, that's not what I want. Maybe someday. For now, I just want to focus on my first love—anime!"
Anton's two stepbrothers immediately declared that they felt exactly the same.
Anton silently apologized to their mother for inadvertently turning her sons into otaku.
Romina, Alfred, and the two boys hurried off to sort through the contents of the Tiny Globes of Browser Sharing.
Since each globe remained active for only a week, they needed to copy everything onto magical recording devices before the recordings disappeared.
At lunchtime, the entire family gathered in the dining room for another lavish feast.
Unlike most noble households, meals at Rose Manor were anything but quiet.
Everyone had adopted Anton's habit of chatting while eating.
Raymond, the family's butler, had frequently reprimanded him for it, insisting that such behavior was improper and more fitting for commoners than nobles.
Anton never paid much attention to those complaints.
He always replied that despite receiving a noble title, he had been born a commoner.
Furthermore, his extraordinary achievements in wizardry entitled him to a few harmless eccentricities.
That explanation had eventually satisfied Raymond.
Compared to some of Ormunda's famous archwizards, Anton's eccentric habits were remarkably mild.
Luna quietly leaned over and whispered to Anton that whenever he was away, everyone behaved with perfect noble etiquette because of Raymond and Romina's strict supervision.
Even Anders had been unable to escape Raymond's lessons.
Since Anders hoped to establish himself as Oakswood's future ruler, mastering noble etiquette had become necessary.
Once Anders began learning, everyone else in the household had been expected to do the same.
Anton laughed.
"Sounds miserable," he teased.
For the remainder of the day, the entire family put aside their individual responsibilities simply to enjoy each other's company.
They talked, watched movies, shared meals, talked some more, and then watched even more movies.
Anton only had a single day to spend at Rose Manor.
By noon the following day, he would need to return to the island where the ship remained docked.
During a quiet moment, Anton privately asked Anders whether he intended to grant Diablo II classes—or multiplayer access—to Alfred and his two younger stepbrothers in the future.
Anders nodded.
"The boys are still too young. I'd rather let them enjoy their childhood first. Once they come of age, I'll offer them the same opportunity. Save three spots for them."
Anton agreed.
Neither of them mentioned Luna.
She was already fully devoted to the family's fashion magazine business and was focused on building a future with Kirk.
Late the following morning, Anton bid farewell to his family and returned to the small island where the ship was anchored.
After arriving back at the inn where he had established his Town Portal, he immediately checked out of his room.
Although the ship would not depart for several more hours, Anton returned directly to his cabin and quietly waited for the voyage to resume.