Steampunk Era: Mad Abield

Gaiate’s return for Malin was like a wanderer who finally comes home after being away in all directions, bringing neither fine gifts nor good news. Since before Malin and Maya came into the picture, it seemed as if he had been searching for something.

Maya never said anything, and Malin wouldn’t ask, either. To Malin, whether it was Maya or Gaiate, they were both reticent. Gaiate was simply not a good father—what father wanders off for a year without returning home? He wasn’t part of a geological expedition or an adventurer.

Although Malin also knew that there must be a story behind the middle-aged man’s melancholic eyes... if he didn’t tell, who could know?

What he saw was just a prodigal who seldom returned home, searching for something.

If someone asked him if Gaiate was good, Malin would definitely say he was—but as a father, he was somewhat derelict.

Thinking of this, Malin felt a pang of regret—if only he could have matured a bit earlier, maybe he could have been of help to Gaiate. Although he resented the man for carelessly leaving his foster daughter in the care of a foster son with his irresponsible behavior, Malin also understood that if it weren’t for Gaiate picking him up from the streets that day, he might have starved to death long ago.

So, Malin had always wanted to help this middle-aged man. As a foster son, it was his duty.

"I hear your foster father has made it back alive from Pitzport, that’s really impressive." Logan, acting as an intermediary today, would naturally attend the summoning ritual.

Putting his foster father’s behaviors aside, Malin began to focus on the spell formation in front of him—Shelton Brice’s task was to summon a wraith spirit, kill it, obtain its essence, and if suitable, use it as the core material for an advancement potion. If not, then sell it to save money for materials.

Initially, Malin thought this task, offering him five thousand, might bankrupt this fellow’s grandmother’s house.