The Extra's Regressor Wives

A note from the author:

You might find the plot and pacing of this book quite slow—perhaps even boring or trivial. However, my goal is for you to connect with the emotions involved and to understand that this story is primarily a "slice-of-life" narrative focused on everyday moments.

I realize that in the age of short-form videos, a slow-paced story like this faces an uphill battle, but I still wanted to give it a try.

That is why I am truly grateful to everyone who continues to support this book.

Sincere thanks (^_^)

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The northern section of the Church’s Magic Academy.

A small meeting room deep inside the tower reserved for Saintess candidates had been completely sealed.

Three layers of arrays covered the door. One prevented outsiders from entering, one severed any probing mana, and the last contained every sound within the room. Even a high-ranking clergyman passing by would have no way of knowing what the four people inside were discussing.

On the round table sat only four cups of tea.

Judicator Rhea Valcrest sat closest to the door.

She was the only human among the four. Dark brown skin stood out beneath long silver hair, and she wore the black-and-white vestments of the Church, her waist secured with leather straps and light armor. Golden cross symbols appeared at the collar, belt, and boots, while a greatsword nearly as tall as she was leaned against the chair beside her.

Rhea didn’t touch her tea.

She planted both black-gloved hands on the table, her gaze passing over the three women across from her in turn.

First was the elven woman Elaria.

Elaria’s silver-white hair fell to her shoulders, and her pale skin and long ears made her elven heritage immediately obvious. Green eyes shone under the light of the magic stones, and the modest white dress she wore was decorated with nothing more than very small black patterns. A sword shaped like an elongated cross rested beside her chair.

Elaria sat perfectly straight and had touched almost nothing since entering the room.

To her left was the Fox Spirit Kiyomi.

In stark contrast to Elaria’s cool reserve, Kiyomi was practically draped across her chair. Her black-violet hair was tied to one side, and the two long fox ears atop her head twitched occasionally, while her amber-gold eyes always carried a hint of amusement that made it hard to guess what she was thinking.

A black-and-red dress hugged her figure, with a white-and-violet fur mantle layered over it. A folding fan was held in one hand, almost always covering half her face. Behind the chair, a fox tail swayed lazily with its owner’s mood.

The last was the Pixie, Phea.

Her frame was smaller than the other three, but the large wings behind her took up nearly all the space beside her chair. The translucent veins running through them gave off pink, gold, and white light, and every time Phea grew the slightest bit impatient, a few tiny sparks would drift down and dissolve into the air.

Her hair was a pinkish violet, braided into a single long plait that fell across her chest. A small golden circlet sat atop her head, and her deep purple dress was adorned with flowers and faintly glowing magic crystals.

Rhea looked at each of them in turn, then called their names directly.

"Elaria the Elf. Kiyomi the Fox Spirit. Phea the Pixie."

Phea frowned at once.

"There are only four people in this room. You don’t need to check whether we remember our own names."

Rhea showed no reaction to the tone.

"I just wanted to make sure all three of you are listening."

Kiyomi the Fox Spirit hid a laugh behind her fan. "Rhea is still as unpleasant as ever."

Judicator Rhea finally sat up straight.

"Then I’ll ask directly."

The smile lingered on Kiyomi’s lips.

Elaria’s eyes lifted slightly.

The wings behind Phea stopped fluttering.

Rhea looked at all three.

"You’ve all come back."

The room went instantly silent.

Rhea continued:

"Haven’t you?"

No one rushed to answer.

Kiyomi the Fox Spirit was the first to laugh. She waved the fan idly in her hand, her voice still very light.

"And if I say no?"

"I won’t believe you."

"Then why ask?"

"I want to hear each of you confirm it yourselves."

Rhea took three sheets of paper from the folder before her and placed them on the table one by one.

"Elaria should still be in the Ancient Forest for another four months. But you ended your pilgrimage early, skipped two important elven ceremonies, and came to the Holy City."

Elaria the Elf looked at the paper without denying it.

Rhea turned her gaze to Phea.

"Phea should be preparing the Coming-of-Age Ceremony at Moonlight Lake. But you left the territory before the ritual, bringing with you a large quantity of spirit stones and medicinal herbs that, according to my memory, you shouldn’t have started collecting for another half year."

Phea pouted.

"You investigate very thoroughly."

"That’s a Judicator’s job."

Rhea turned to the last person.

"And Kiyomi the Fox Spirit arrived nearly half a year early. Three properties around the eastern side of the Academy have already been purchased by Fox Spirit operatives. Several apothecaries that you didn’t make contact with until much later in the previous life also already have your people inside."

Kiyomi tapped the edge of the paper lightly with the tip of her fan.

"It seems the Church should give you a raise."

Rhea ignored that.

"I also arrived early."

Kiyomi’s smile faded slightly.

Phea leaned back in her chair.

Elaria finally spoke.

"I remember the previous life."

Phea breathed out.

"So do I."

Three pairs of eyes turned to Kiyomi.

The Fox Spirit only gave a slight shrug.

"Fine. I remember too."

No one asked why they had come back.

Nor was there any joyful reunion between people who had once shared the same fate.

In the previous life, the four of them had once competed for the same position.

Then placed their trust in the same man.

And in the end, they had all lain on four separate stone altars in a hidden chamber beneath the Academy, watching their own magic veins being ripped from their bodies.

That memory alone was enough to keep them from truly trusting one another.

Rhea observed the three reactions, then reached into the folder.

"There’s one more thing."

She produced an envelope.

A completely white envelope.

No crest.

No magical seal.

Only Rhea’s name written on the front.

Elaria’s pupils contracted slightly when she saw it.

Phea immediately sat up straight.

The smile on Kiyomi’s lips vanished as well.

Rhea noticed their reactions.

"It seems I’m not the only one who received one."

Elaria said nothing, only took an identical envelope from her spatial pouch and placed it on the table.

Phea produced one as well.

Finally, Kiyomi was silent for a few seconds before setting down the fourth.

Four envelopes.

Nearly identical in every way.

Rhea opened hers.

Inside were only a few lines.

You have returned.

So have the other three.

Do not let Aldric walk the same path as the last life.

No signature.

No means of contact left behind.

Elaria opened her own letter.

The contents were exactly the same.

Phea frowned.

"The sender knows all four of us have come back."

"Correct."

Rhea set the letter down.

"That’s also why I began investigating your movements."

Kiyomi had shed her lazy air entirely. She sat up straight, and the tail behind her stopped moving.

"There’s someone else who has returned."

Elaria said coolly: "At least one."

Phea looked at the four letters.

"And that person also knows the status of all four of us."

The air in the room slowly grew tense.

They knew they themselves had come back.

They had also just confirmed the other three were the same.

But from the very beginning, none of them knew who had sent the letters.

Someone was standing outside the game.

Watching all four of them.

Even proactively warning them about Aldric.

Kiyomi touched the fan to her lips.

"Anna?"

No one immediately dismissed the idea.

Phea turned to Rhea.

"Anna arrived at the Holy City earlier than in the previous life."

Rhea nodded.

"She did."

Elaria asked: "Have you investigated her?"

"Yes."

"And?"

"Not enough to confirm."

Rhea looked at the four envelopes, then continued: "Anna changed her schedule. She also prepared certain things within the Church ahead of time. But none of that is sufficient to prove she’s come back, much less that these letters came from her."

Kiyomi laughed softly.

"But if we had to pick the most suspicious person..."

No one argued.

Anna.

That name made all four of them unconsciously grow more cautious.

Phea leaned back in her chair, her wings trembling faintly.

"If it really is her..."

She didn’t finish the sentence.

Kiyomi glanced over.

"Scared?"

Phea immediately glared.

"Aren’t you?"

Kiyomi fell silent.

Then she smiled.

"Yes."

This time there was no teasing behind it.

Rhea gathered the letters.

"Until we can identify the sender, don’t jump to conclusions. But at the very least, we know one thing. Someone else is also watching Aldric."

Elaria said: "Could be an ally."

Phea answered at once: "Could also just be using us."

"Which is why we stay vigilant."

Rhea looked at all three.

"Even with each other."

Kiyomi laughed.

"At least that much I agree with."

She opened her fan again and leaned back into the chair.

"By the way, since we’ve all been honest, I’d like to propose a deal."

Phea immediately scowled.

"You just said we should be wary of each other."

"That’s exactly why it’s called a deal."

Elaria looked at her.

"What do you want?"

"I don’t need the Saintess position."

The room fell silent for a moment.

Rhea’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Phea stared at Kiyomi as though she had just heard something impossible.

"You’re giving it up?"

"Yes."

"You arrived half a year early, bought property around the Academy, prepared all that manpower, and now you say you don’t need the Saintess position?"

Kiyomi waved the fan idly.

"None of that was preparation for becoming the Saintess."

Phea grew even warier.

"Then what was it for?"

Kiyomi didn’t answer right away.

She looked at the three other women, then smiled.

"Whichever of the three of you wants to take the Saintess seat, I can help. Manpower, money, the Fox Spirit clan’s intelligence network, I can provide all of it."

Rhea asked bluntly:

"The condition?"

Kiyomi propped her chin on the table.

"Help me get to know a certain man."

Phea froze.

Elaria also looked straight at her.

Rhea was silent for a few seconds.

"Who?"

Kiyomi’s golden eyes curved.

"Lathel."

This time, none of the three could hide the change on their faces.

Kiyomi saw everything.

The fan slowly rose to cover her smile.

"It seems..."

The fox tail behind her swayed gently.

"You all remember him."

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