[Verni]
Right now, what should I do? I can't concentrate since Ren is sitting casually on my arm rest on my left side. She even lays her legs on my lap.
Ugh, this woman is so carefree.
Levia glares at me with eyes that invoke fear. "My lord, you're awfully close to that Holy Knight, aren't you?"
Don't tell me that she's jealous? I bet Ren just has no self awareness and is just messing around.
I sigh, "then do you want to sit on the other side as well?"
Levia drops her enraged attitude to a cute one to ask, "can I?"
I pat the right side of my armrest and when she does gleefully sit on it, Ren leaves my lap and stands on my side. I find her annoying earlier but her leaving my side I can't help but wonder.
"Umm Ren, why did you decide to stand now?"
Ren looks away as though trying to avoid eye contact. "Sitting on your lap is no longer comfortable since that Galkin is there." She says calmly but I can sense some hint of annoyance, directed to Levia.
Did something happen between these two? I notice some animosity between them or is it just me.
Regardless, I asked that person behind the Eye of Calling. She refers to herself as the guild master of an adventurer's guild in the country of Semrad in the eastern most part of the Central region.
Wye coming from the door, flies towards my presence. "My lord, according to Minnerva, they are lacking some tools to continue the project. They need some coins I heard as well as food for the winter."
I've been given a run down of how this village used to work. Apparently, the werewolf clan has been secluded from human society since they were known for stealing from travellers and adventurers, and that's how they used to collect money. They purchase their materials from the black market. They meet a man from the underworld guild as a middle man.
If I want them to work under me, I need to clean their reputation. I mean I don't want other people to think that I'm malicious after all.
I met with the five wise elders of the clan, along them was Minnerva. It's in a small hut where everyone important in the village have gathered. They seem stiff in my presence. They are gathered around a small table, laying flat on mat.
"Your holiness, take a seat." Says one elder.
Holiness, huh? I never heard of anyone calling me that.
"Your holiness, I'm sure you have heard the news. We are running out of resources, especially Varlin's plan have sucked as dry. There are only few months before winter comes and we won't survive."
I smile when an idea pops up in my head. "How about this? Why don't you all live in the dungeon?"
The elders are silent. They look at each other in confusion. "The sacred dungeon?"
They then stare at me as though concerned. "But holiness, we aren't worthy enough to even step inside that place."
Is that the only thing they are worried about? I thought it's something else. I sigh in relief.
"Don't worry, I already approve."
The elders are in glee. They talk to each other as though excited. "I can't believe it that we are moving into the sacred dungeon."
"I never thought this would happen in my life time."
When the meeting was over, I left the place and got accompanied by Minnerva. "Your people seem glad to live in the dungeon, I thought they would be more hesitant."
"Of course, lord Infitius. To use the dungeon is a sacred place. Our ancestors believe that when we die our spirit gets trapped in the dungeon."
"I see..."
So it boils down to their beliefs, huh? But this is more convenient for me. For now, I have to wait for that guild master's messenger.
[Sasha]
Just not too far from the borders of Semrad lies the orphanage of the country. This is where my purpose lies. It's an old wooden tavern on top of a hill. Orphans would usually play on the garden in front of the orphanage.
Coming close, a little girl with short brown hair waves at me, smiling. "Big sis!"
This is Kaisha, my little sister. Originally, we came from the southern region but due to the war, our parents died and we got separated. In order to survive, I took on adventurer work and was trained by the guild master on how to fight, especially how to use magic.
When we reunited, I found her living in the orphanage and she has somewhat grown up. I planned to take her away but she seems attached with the other orphans so I just let her stay here while I do my adventurer work.
Also, I drop by some donation to the caretakers every now and then when I have extra money. "Thank you madam for taking care of my sister."
However, these kids might be the last batch of orphans and due to budget constraints, they may not be able to continue.
The caretaker is a kind old woman she bows slightly to me. "You've been away for a while Miss Saha, your little sister was worried about you." The caretaker nods at my little sister and my little sister, Kaisha smiles in response. She approaches me and hands me a bracelet made of white flowers.
"This is so pretty. I have something for you as well." This one is a bracelet with a deep crimson gem, I found it in the Eastern Region.
Kaisha seems glad. She hugs me tightly. "Thank you big sis, you are the best sister ever.
I smile as well and pat her back. This is best feeling to ease the stress I took for all of these work.
Afterward, when I stand up, someone stomps on my foot causing me to groan slightly. I notice it's a snotty, small boy who's the same age as my sister. He sticks out his tongue as though mocking me. "Blehh, you won't be taking Kaisha anywhere. She will live here forever with us!"
The old care taker chides him, "hey Lem, that's not a good attitude. Apologize immediately." The little boy runs away back into the orphanage and ignores the caretaker.
The caretaker apologizes in his stead to which I say it's fine. "Sorry about that Miss Sasha, Lem is not in a good mood since Sir Faisor took a long quest, who knows when he will return."
Faisor? As I remember, he is a B-class adventurer who is the leader of a party of adventurers. He is responsible and kind-hearted but a naive young man.
I haven't teamed up with him before but we met couple of times in this orphanage.
Everytime he comes back in Semrad, he is always carrying a baby and that's why the population of this orphanage increased.
Faisor's team members were even annoyed since he is always bringing a child after every journey. Even the other adventurers were mocking him since he probably knocked out a lot of women during his journey, calling him the Damsel Knockers or the Great Penetrator.
But he confided that one time when we were talking under the tree besides the orphanage. It about a year ago.
Faisor is cradling a baby on his arms while also making weird noises to entertain the infant.
"Ma'am Sasha, even if people call me a fool I don't mind. I just can't bear listening to the cries of an infant with no parents to turn to."
"Then these child that you are bringing to the orphanage aren't yours?"
Faisor nods. "They were abandoned or their parents died during incidents. I made it clear to the caretaker because there is no way they would accept them, hahaha." He says it lightheartedly.
"I think you need to work with your humor."
"Hahaha, Sasha, I like hanging out with you. I know you will understand."
I can't help but blush slightly from what he said.
"I'm pleased someone likes talking to me. I haven't talked to anyone for a long time after all."
We got surprised when the baby started crying. Faisor is doing his best to not make him cry. "Shhh, quiet, shh." Faisor sighs, "he is probably hungry. Sasha, would you do the honor to feed him?"
I immediately got self aware and slightly hold my chest.
Does this idiot realize that I've never had a kid and obviously, I can't produce milk?
Faisor is panicking since the baby keeps crying, "Sasha, he is under stress. Take it out, I'll help you." Just when is about to reach out for my chest, I kick him on the face.
Later, he apologizes since he just knew. He kneels in front of me. "Forgive me Sasha, I was out of the line. I thought any woman can feed a baby. I was at fault."
This is just an awkward situation, I don't even know how to handle this. Geez, isn't he old enough to know that. "Faisor, aren't you already 21 years old?"
"22 this year."
"Whatever, but seriously you should stop bringing children into the orphanage. It's troubling the caretaker."
Faisor stands up to talk to me. "Don't worry, I will give half of my money to the orphanage." He then pauses for a moment and ponders upon something. "You know it's always my dream to build these children a shop in the country, so they can work and live independently until they grow up. That's what I'm saving up my money for. I hope I can accomplish that before your retirement."
That's how I remembered him. A noble man who chooses others before himself.
However, I started hating him.
I run across the city towards the adventurers guild. I've heard from other adventurers that Faisor has been pushing himself, taking one quest after another. I just learned that he took the offer from the King to scout the western region, especially the devil army. Worse, I heard Faisor got cursed with a slow uncurable disease by one of the most deadliest Dungeon Boss, the Evil Lich.
Normally, scouting won't be an issue but this is Faisor that we are talking about. No doubt, he will endanger himself!
So I'm very worried. If this goes on he might die.
I walk to the guild master's office to complain. "Guild master, what is the meaning of this?!"
The guild master sighs, "so you've heard, huh? I was hoping that you'd leave before you heard of it." She says nonchalantly.
What she says gets on my nerves. I end up kicking her table sideways causing it to flip away.
"Guild master, I'm not in the mood for your jokes. I heard Faisor is cursed and you let him take a quest to scout the West."
The guild master pauses for a while as though trying to compose herself. She stands up surprise. "Oh my! Why did you kick my lovely table? That thing is new and has no insurance." She says goofily.
This is what I find annoying about her. I click my tongue and was about to walk away, and that's when she stops me.
"Wait." Her voice is now serious. "No matter how hard I stop him, he won't listen. We only knew recently during he left. He was very skilled in hiding his curse. I'm sorry I can't stop Faisor, but I can't stop that man's determination when he has little time."
I take a deep breath to speak and say with low energy, "that's the kind of man he is."
"What are you going to do now?" She says before huffing her pipe.
"I'm going to undo his curse and then stop him."
"Are you sure about that? It would take months to cross the central continent on horse, and he left about 3 months ago. Not to mention, defeating the Lich isn't an easy feat."
"Don't try to discourage me. I'm quitting your quest." I drop the bag on the floor. I'm quitting her request regarding the Eastern Overlord delivery.
"You better put that bag on because you'll realize soon that you will need it."
I face her and raise my eyebrow.
She chuckles slightly, "don't you realize that if you ask for help to the Eastern Overlord, he might give you a free ride?"
"Fine."
After hearing her, I know I agree but I can't help but pretend to doubt her for several seconds probably from pride. I immediately took the bag visited my little sister one last time and travelled straight to the forest of Zen in the Eastern Continent.