Han looked at the family.

The family was busy smiling and talking with one another -- happy about the food.

Elis had joined in and appeared to have developed a friendship with Molly.

"Glad to see that Elis found someone close to her age," Han thought.

Though Han brought along Elis, he didn't find the idea of her joining the family and restarting her life.

Han thought that being in a fantasy-type world, it was likely that families with multiple wives would exist. It wouldn't be so strange to have such a family dynamic. He'd need to confirm things later, but Han didn't think it would be difficult for Elis to join Molly in caring for the family.

"It's like watching Alice talking with Dorothy. The two women, exchanging their experience in a strange unusual world that destroyed their former world views," Han couldn't help but make the connection.

Elis was just a villager who had lost everything until she encountered a mysterious figure.

Then there was Molly and her family, who, similarly, almost lost everything until meeting a mysterious figure.

Their lives paralleled so well that Han could imagine it unlikely that a bond didn't form.

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As things started to slow down, Elis and both Molly and Tom had hot honeyed tea in their hands, laughing about something that had happened -- where Tom did something embarrassing.

"He stepped out of the bathroom, and I just watched the trail of toilet paper stuck to his shoe. It nearly ruined the deal if I didn't snap out of it and casually stop him -- to give him a kiss on the cheek. At the same time, I stepped on the toilet paper." Molly laughed, a hand on Tom's leg.

Listening to the story, Tom's face was beet red.

Elis had a hand to her mouth, trying to hide the smile -- feeling sorry for the man.

Both Samantha and Jake had cookies in their hands, provided by the maid.

Molly lifted her hand off Tom's leg, proceeding to wipe away the tears.

"I didn't think it was that funny. It's not my fault the food I ate caused my stomach to become ill." Tom frowned as he sipped on the tea.

Moving close to Tom, Molly rested her head on his shoulder.

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"It's okay, Tom. My husband did funnier things that I never let him forget," Elis tried to mediate.

Hearing Elis mention her husband, Molly's chest tightened slightly -- though she made sure not to allow her feelings to show.

Molly couldn't help but remember that she nearly became like Elis' husband.

Raising the cup to her lips, she allowed herself to calm down.

The tea felt the warm liquid radiate through her body.

It didn't hold a candle to other teas she'd drunk in the past -- the honey contrasting against the bitterness.

Molly looked at the bowl of honey that was provided in case any of them desired more. It might as well have been a bowl full to the brim with gold with how expensive and labor-intensive the sweet liquid was.

Feeling eyes on her, Molly looked to see the Lord with the aetherial maid next to him.

“Where is your family from?” The Lord asked them.

Turning his body towards the Lord, Tom said, “We come from a relatively large town nearby the capital. My store is located there."

Molly felt pride, knowing how hard her husband worked to create the business and provide for them.

"Though the size of the business is not impressive compared to others in the capital, we've managed to regularly purchase various items from the guild. They receive the items from adventurers, who complete quests and trade the raw material for money." Tom stopped for a moment.

Tom took a moment, sipping on the tea to wet his throat.

He continued, "After taking the items, the employees convert the items into common materials, which are then transported to the kingdom. We make a decent amount but not enough to hire guards."

Samantha and Jake paused their enjoyment of the treats as they noticed Tom's voice change.

Seeing how Samantha acted, Molly placed the cup of tea on the table before placing a hand on her daughter's back. Molly felt the frustration in Tom's voice -- knowing how the betrayal had deeply affected him.

"To keep expenses low, the decision to travel with other merchants towards Leaf Village was made.” Tom ground his teeth. He clenched his free hand -- the cup in his other trembling slightly.

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Han listened silently.

It was easy to empathize with the man's experience and how things almost ended up horrifically -- if not for Han.

Han gave the man time to push aside the thoughts swirling through his mind. Seeing Tom's face made him remember his own expressions in the mirror as he was slowly moved to the brink throughout his life.

Leaving Tom to be comforted by his wife, Han thought about the revelation about adventurers.

“So there are adventurers and a guild in this world, huh?” Han thought to himself.

Thinking of the Guild, Han couldn't help but think of the adventurers that waited for him.

"It'll also be nice to interact with the adventurers," Han imagined taking up requests and hanging out with adventurers -- who'd be ignorant of what he was capable of.

When Tom started to look better, Han asked, "These guilds, where are they located?”

“My Lord, there are numerous guilds for various professions. They are usually located in larger villages and towns. The numerous guilds each have a location at the capital.” Tom looked grateful for the distraction.

“Yes, my Lord," Elis joined into the discussion -- likely to give the man some time. "Guilds, like the Adventurer's Guild, are powerful, providing a greatly needed service."

Han nodded, feeling like the explanation was similar to what he expected from games and stories he'd read in the past.

"The Adventurer Guild was there to help defend us against the increase in monster and demonic activity that occurs every couple of years. Without such an organization, there would be many lives lost.” Elis further explained.

Hearing about monsters and demonic activities, Han's ears perked.