During their time in the simulation, the little couple had wholeheartedly embraced the art of discretion, remaining fully committed to avoiding attention. They kept their heads low, living lives as quiet and unassuming as possible.

  For Pixie, though, this was far from ideal. By nature, she was someone who loved to make a statement, to stand out, and to live boldly. But Pip, ever the pragmatic one, quickly found a way to entertain herself.

  Her solution? Posting every little detail of her life on the world channel. She shared snippets of her affection for her husband, paraded their couple skins, and flaunted every lovey-dovey title they earned. And of course, she never failed to brag about their son.

  After all, he had an all-element affinity! And the little one was growing faster than any of his peers. Watching her pride and joy surpass others filled her with such pride, it was almost unbearable.

  At first, the world channel was flooded with congratulations and admiring comments. But soon, people grew tired of her constant updates. Had she really become so full of herself just because she had the golden card for Eirik?

  It was absurd! Ridiculous!

  【Both you and Pixie have reached Practitioner Lv7 this year, and the assassins you sent to infiltrate the Crimson Frost Duke’s estate have returned with good news.】

  【Tonight, the Crimson Frost Duke will host a banquet with the leaders of Aelsryel’s most prominent families, giving your assassins a chance to poison his food.】

  【The moment you’ve been waiting for has arrived. Will you attend the banquet?】

  Did they even need to think about it? Of course, they would attend! Eirik was determined to witness the Crimson Frost Duke's fall with his own eyes.

  He still remembered all too well how, in his past life, the Crimson Frost Duke had been the one to kill him. If not for that betrayal, he and Elvynna would’ve been together for years, effortlessly building a powerful family without interference.

  As Eirik made his choice, the world around him shifted. A lavish banquet materialized before him, showcasing the grandiosity of the Crimson Frost Duke’s estate. At the center of it all stood a middle-aged man with an air of superiority, his face haughty as he raised his wine glass. This was the Crimson Frost Duke.

  Surrounding him were family mentors and clan leaders from Aelsryel City, all wearing sycophantic grins. Only Eirik and Pixie remained in the shadows, their faces hidden in the flickering candlelight.

  With a light tap, the scene shifted, revealing the next act. The Crimson Frost Duke, still holding his wine glass, suddenly froze. His body began to crack at the abdomen, the poison coursing through him.

  He had drunk the poisoned wine!

  And then, bizarrely, a spectral old man’s soul emerged above the Duke’s head, radiating rage and disbelief.

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  【The Crimson Frost Duke ingested your poisoned wine but survived, thanks to a magical artifact that protected him. He sustained severe injuries, though.】

  【Your choices now are…】

  【1. Quietly escape and wait for another chance.】

  【2. Stand up and reveal that the Duke’s body is possessed by a malevolent spirit, confronting him in battle!】

  【3. Frame someone else for the deed.】

  What the hell? He wasn’t dead? Hadn’t it been said that the poison could kill even a Savant?

  The Crimson Frost Duke clearly had hidden defenses. What should he do now?

  After a brief moment of thought, Eirik made his decision. He would go for option two. The Duke was already injured, and this was his chance to finish him off.

  As a Practitioner Lv7, Eirik was more than capable of handling him. Plus, with the emergence of the Magic Tree only a few years away, time was pressing.

  Meanwhile, Pixie, who had initially considered waiting a bit longer, quickly changed her mind after receiving Eirik’s suggestion. She was ready to act.

  【You both rise, boldly exposing the Crimson Frost Duke’s true nature. The guests are shocked but skeptical.】

  【In a fit of fury, the Crimson Frost Duke attempts to flee, but you intercept him, and a fierce battle erupts.】

  【During the chaos, Eirik delivers a fatal blow to the Duke’s head, causing the malevolent soul to flee. Realization dawns on many, and several join you in eliminating him.】

  Desperate, the Crimson Frost Duke tried to possess another body, but Eirik was prepared. He summoned a magical artifact that locked onto the rogue soul’s aura.

  【Outnumbered, the Crimson Frost Duke is finally slain.】

  【The demon tree’s seeds are completely eradicated.】

  Eirik couldn’t help but feel a rush of satisfaction. Finally, the Duke was dead! After three lifetimes of simulations, the one who had caused his downfall had met his end.

  As he savored the victory, a flurry of system notifications appeared before him.

  【Congratulations! You have completed the quest series: The Demon Tree Crisis.】

  【Quest Rating: Purple】

  【Event Rewards:】

  Soul Purification Elixir?

  Eirik had heard of this elixir. It could cleanse the impurities of the soul and help a practitioner adapt to and master magic more swiftly. It was a valuable treasure.

  However, compared to the Eye of Divine Insight he'd received in his first life for completing this same quest, the Soul Purification Elixir seemed a bit lackluster. But this time, completing it with Pixie earned them a purple rating, a higher score since they both survived the ordeal.

  It wasn’t a first-time completion, so the rewards were less spectacular than before.

  "Haha! Finally, the Demon Tree crisis is over!" Eirik laughed aloud.

  Meanwhile, Pixie lay on the bed, kicking her feet in excitement. With the Demon Tree gone, their future as magical scholars was sure to be smooth sailing, right?

  【The Crimson Frost Duke is dead, but his death brings consequences…】

  A small line of text appeared before Pixie’s eyes.

  "What do you mean? He’s dead. What else could happen?"

  Eirik felt a flicker of unease in his gut. The next message confirmed his worry.

  【The Crimson Frost Duke was the most favored son of the King of the Dawnstar Dynasty. Your public execution of him has enraged the current emperor. Though many rumors say the Duke had long been possessed by a demon, the emperor is known for his lack of reason.】

  【An envoy from the emperor is said to be crossing the northern territories specifically to find you two.】

  【Your choices now are…】

  【1. Keep a low profile and wait for the emperor’s envoy. Perhaps the emperor won’t punish you unjustly.】

  【2. The emperor might not care for your insignificant lives. Flee with your family to the mountains.】

  【3. You’ve heard of the Red Cloak rebels rising in the borderlands. Maybe joining them would be a smart move. You’ve long despised that pompous emperor. Time to rebel!】

  What the hell? This was not the direction he expected! Eirik let out a frustrated sigh. What should they do now?