Florida Man in Magus World: Unleashing Liberty and Freedom

Some of Felix's skills had fused into advanced versions, dramatically improving their utility. His mastery levels surged, ascending to Skilled, Master, or even Grand Master tiers.

The transformation reinforced his foundation, marking an end to his days as a fake mage or aura knight fumbling with spellcasting and physical combat. Felix had become a true practitioner, wielding his abilities with precision and confidence.

His progress wasn't just internal. His appearance had also undergone a striking renewal as his physical age increased. This would become an issue as nobody would recognize him.

Pulling out a Philosopher's Stone, Felix initiated the process to revert his physical age to its prime.

A radiant light enveloped him, and his body began to morph. His physique reverted to his early 20s. His bulkier muscles compacted into lean, dense masses, combining aesthetics with raw power.

As the transformation was completed, Felix surveyed his surroundings, only to feel disoriented. He had been away so long that the people and environment seemed foreign. The light gravitational pull of the world felt almost nostalgic as he took a deep breath.

"Finally home," Felix muttered, brushing dust off his sleeves. Then, he frowned, rubbing his temple. "But... what was I doing here again?"

The long days in the Chrono Gym, coupled with the sheer intensity of his training, had taken their toll. Memories blurred, and a creeping forgetfulness gnawed at the edges of his mind. For a moment, Felix sympathized with Singtowl's plight.

An eternity in isolation would make the sanest man crazy. 49 years was all it took to give him a mild case of Dementia.

As he stood idly and was lost in thought, his eyes caught the radiant crimson beams raining down from the sky. The reconstruction of the town was still underway. The beams worked tirelessly to assemble infrastructure, shaping the foundations and 200 houses. Felix estimated it would still take some time for the structures to become fully functional.

With little to contribute to the construction, Felix decided to reconnect with his people. Turning north, he strolled toward the Eleanor Church's group, where he hoped to find familiar faces.

Zen was there, as expected, overseeing the newcomers and the ongoing miracles. Behind her, newly migrated craftswomen, villagers, and priestesses knelt in reverence. Their faces were illuminated by the crimson rays. They murmured prayers of gratitude, mistaking the advanced technology for divine intervention.

As Felix approached, Zen turned. Her expression shifted to curiosity as she noticed him. However, her gaze narrowed upon observing his unfamiliar appearance. She paused mid-step, sizing him up.

Something was different. Felix's mana and aura were now entirely suppressed. His presence was cloaked so thoroughly that he could easily be mistaken for an ordinary commoner. Yet there was no doubt it was him.

"Lord Felix, what happened to you? How did you turn into that?"

Felix shrugged, "Oh, you know, I just went through a power-up arc and a time skip."

Zen's brow furrowed. "…What?"

"I mean, I had some... enlightenment. You could say I'm more efficient now."

Though Zen remained skeptical, she couldn't deny the subtle yet profound change in his demeanor. Whatever he had undergone, it was clear Felix had returned stronger, sharper, and perhaps a little more enigmatic than before.

Zen's sharp gaze lingered on Felix. "What is your current strength, Lord Felix? I can't sense your mana or aura. Are you still training in both disciplines?"

Felix pursed his lips, debating how much to reveal. In truth, his current strength was roughly equivalent to that of a Sixth Circle mage or a six-star Aura Knight—a level most considered elite. But modesty (and a desire for fewer expectations) prompted him to downplay it. "It should be around the Sixth Circle at best. Don't expect too much from me; I suck at sorcery and aura combat," he said with an exaggerated shrug.

Zen raised a skeptical brow, her tone dry. "I doubt that."

Felix laughed, feigning innocence. "It's true!"

Dismissing the topic, Felix opened his system quest menu to check his progress.

Current Progress: 1,257 / 2,000

To his surprise, it was already 60% complete. He had no idea how this much progress had been made, but he suspected the automatons or Zen's efforts played a significant role. He cleared his throat, eager to steer the conversation away from himself.

"So… has anyone told you about the new town I'm building for you?"

Zen's expression brightened. "So, it was you after all. Yes, my mentor… uh, I mean, Lady Diana mentioned it, but she didn't answer my questions. May I ask you a few things about it?"

"Oh, yeah, sure. What's on your mind?"

Zen's tone grew serious. "Not long ago, you disguised yourself to infiltrate the Royal Magi Academy, but you failed because of Emperor Saucon's intervention, yet you helped us eliminate a serial murderer and then vanished. Now, you've returned to save us and give us shelter… Who are you, exactly?"

Unlike Cornelia, who had received a direct revelation from Goddess Esen, Zen had risen to her Saintess rank largely through Felix's interventions, leaving her both indebted and deeply curious.

Felix opted for a half-truth, shrouded in mystery. "I'm a descendant of a god or something like that. There's some leftover divine power in me."

Zen bowed deeply, her expression one of profound understanding. "I see. Thank you, Lord Felix. That's all I needed to know. I will ensure our church fully supports you in your quests."

Felix blinked, stunned by her quick acceptance. "That's… it? No follow-ups?"

Zen straightened, smiling faintly. "Yes. That's all I needed."

"...Alright then," Felix muttered, unsure whether to feel relieved or unnerved.

Shifting his attention to the crowd, Felix estimated over 600 people were present. Most were paladins, though a mix of elders, children, and priestesses added to the gathering. Of the priestesses, only about 30 wore their uniforms, likely due to the chaotic migration.

As he scanned the faces, a teenage boy stood and locked eyes with him. The youth's sharp gaze and confident posture stood out among the others.

"Are you really Felix Ariel?" the boy asked, his tone almost challenging.

Felix tilted his head, studying the boy. There was something familiar about him, but Felix couldn't pinpoint where or when they had met. "Yeah, I'm Felix. And who might you be, kid?"

Felix raised an eyebrow as the boy introduced himself nervously.

"I-I-I'm Hammer Jox. I… was one of the enrolled students at the Royal Magi Academy. I was supposed to fight you in the finals, but you…"

Felix squinted, still unable to place the memory. His disinterest in past events like these left no impression. He shrugged. "Sorry, kid, I don't remember you. But hey, welcome aboard. Hope you like your new home."

Hammer bowed deeply, his face lighting up with admiration. "T-Thank you, Lord Felix!"

The boy's earnestness and sparkling eyes gave away his reverence. Felix nodded, amused, and patted him on the shoulder. After a brief exchange, Felix turned to Zen to chat about the settlement's progress before heading south to check on the Lamias.

.

At the southern lake, Felix found the Lamias still recovering from their dragon meat sickness and evolution fever. Many floated lazily in the water as they rested. Those who had not yet shed their skin writhed on the banks, their tails coiled in pain as they endured the grueling process of transformation.

Felix surveyed the scene, feeling guilty for their suffering. His hand instinctively went to his inventory, pulling out a Philosopher's Stone. The thought of using it to speed up their recovery was tempting, but he hesitated. The powerful artifact might stabilize their condition, but it could just as easily harm them.

He sighed and returned the stone to his inventory.

Spotting a young Lamia struggling to peel away dead skin from her tail, Felix crouched beside her, asking if she needed assistance. "Do you want me to help you?"

The Lamia looked up, momentarily startled, before her face broke into a warm smile. "Your Majesty, if you're so kind, could you fertilize my eggs instead?"

Felix froze. His mind went blank at the audacious request. A request like this clashed with his moral principles, and he instinctively felt this wasn't a decision he should make lightly.

Before he could respond, two figures rushed over, sensing his presence. Jiji and Diana also had overheard the conversation, and their contrasting reactions couldn't have been clearer.

Jiji's expression darkened, and her tail coiled behind her. The idea of Felix sharing himself with other Lamias clearly displeased her.

Meanwhile, Diana grinned widely, "I heard everything! My dear, you should help your people from time to time. After all, doing it with your subjects wouldn't hurt, would it?"

"Mother!" Jiji immediately protested, "Master dislikes the idea of having too many wives. Even though he's an alpha, he chooses his partners carefully. If we allow this, every Lamia will start pestering him for… for donations! And when that happens, he won't be able to complete his quests anymore!"

Diana chuckled, clearly enjoying her daughter's distress. "Oh, little Ji, you're just worried you won't be able to monopolize him anymore, aren't you?"

"…"

Jiji opened her mouth to retort but fell silent. Her face flushed with embarrassment. Indeed, Jiji wanted to keep Felix to herself.

Felix, observing the back-and-forth, suddenly had an idea. A wicked grin spread across his face as he spoke, "Say, girlies. I've got a peculiar idea."

Both Jiji and Diana turned to him, their curiosity piqued. "Yes?"

"How about this? We give them… um, second-hand seeds? You know, the essence that you two don't use after our nightly activities?"

Both women stared at Felix in stunned silence.

Felix was referring to the essence that often went unused, either being consumed by Jiji and Diana or discarded altogether during the cleaning.

Diana's eyes sparkled mischievously. "Well, it's certainly an efficient way to utilize our resources. I have no reason to oppose it. What about you, Jiji?"

Jiji's tail lashed as she fidgeted, clearly uncomfortable. "Mother! That's… improper! And, and master's essence is sacred. We can't just hand it out like some… like some charity!"

Felix sighed, scratching the back of his head. "Alright, alright. It was just a thought. I'm not too keen on the idea either, honestly. Let's drop it for now."

He turned back to the young Lamia, offering a wry smile. "Sorry, but no fertilization today. Let me know if you need help with that shedding instead."

The Lamia blinked, then giggled softly. "Understood, Your Majesty."

Felix straightened up, catching the exasperated look on Jiji's face and the mischievous grin on Diana's.

With a shake of his head, he muttered before heading to check on the rest of the recovering Lamias.

"This place gets weirder every day."

Unfortunately, before Felix could walk a step, jealous Jiji abducted him, taking him in her arms in a princess-carry style, and bringing him home. Diana cackled and followed her daughter, understanding what she was trying to do.

Felix allowed the mother and daughter to abuse him. He sighed deeply.

"Ah, this is what I get for banging perverted Lamias."