Chapter 3 Lecture of the innocent

We arrived at the Farm slightly before dinner, and the smell of many potato dishes wafted through the air, making me smile. Clearly Mom was trying to perfect her cooking skills with Potatoes. She spotted me through the window, smiled, then frowned in confused concern. ‘Oh boy, here it comes!’ I thought to myself. The front door opened shortly after, framing both of my parents in all their disapproving glory.

“I’d have thought we raised you better than this! To think our Son would buy a Slave just because he wants a little comfort. Whoever your future wife will be, there’s no way she’ll approve of this.” Father said, and mother wasn’t far behind. “Honestly how could you? You were meant to be joining the Quester’s Guild, not wasting your savings on a Slave you can’t possibly afford to keep!” She stated emphatically.

I groaned in exasperation. “What did I tell you? Instant conclusion. I mean yeah, I know it looks bad, but at least ask the questions first. For starters, you might have been attached to the Guild coming for confirmation of my age, or something similar. Then they also assumed I used my ONE SILVER to buy you, like there’s ANY WAY a slave, let alone one who looks so amazing, could ever be sold for a single silver. I may have seen this coming, but that doesn’t mean I’m any less disappointed in your snap judgment.” I glared at them, and was gratified with a sheepish smile, while Marie blushed at my compliment about her looks. “First, that idiot of the Mayor was harassing the Slave dealer, that’s what drew my attention, second once I saw her, it was like a shot to the heart, because she looks exactly like my older sister when she was her age. Between those two factors, I couldn’t leave her to fate, even if the moron didn’t have a chance in buying her, no way would I let anyone get their disgusting hands on her! I paid a GOLD for her, and thought it a cheap price. Also look at this.” I shoved the deed into father’s hand so he could read it.

“That’s only a small part of what I got today. I could have gone straight to that house, but I doubt there’s much of any use there, even if it’s still weather proof, which I doubt, that land’s been uninhabited for quite some time after all. No joke, I have over a Platinum on account with the guild, and a hefty sum on hand as well. I even sold other things before the whole slave dealer thing happened, which reminds me, you have an account at the Alchemist shop. Sold him some high grade ingredients, and he couldn’t afford to pay for all of them, so I had the account setup instead.” Mother’s eyes were as large as dinner plates, and her mouth was inviting any flying bug to setup house it was hanging so far open. “That having been said, I had no chance to get Marie anything she’s going to need, including anything to sleep in. Mom would you mind lending her a night gown for tonight? We’ll need to get her cleaned as well, I don’t think that slave merchant has any real business sense, he’d be better off selling second hand knives, then he’d understand presentation, and caring for your goods.”

“Sure, she can borrow a night gown, we’ll get that sorted after dinner. I made plenty thanks to you introducing a whole new food. I’m sorry for jumping to conclusions, I never even thought about your sisters, and that she could remind you so heavily of her. Marie, welcome home, please don’t mind what I said earlier, I’m happy to have you here, honestly, and if he’s taking you as his sister, then that makes you my daughter now ok?” Marie smiled widely. “Brother Mark did say as much, and he foretold your reaction to seeing me just as we left the town. With how casually he spent a Gold to get me, I assumed I was going to a large Manor house somewhere, not a Farm. I couldn’t be happier that I was wrong, cause I’m a Farm Girl myself, so this feels much better to me. As to being my Mother, I,…I could really use a Mother’s Hug, if you don’t mind.” Tears were brimming in her eyes, as my Mother rushed to embrace her precious daughter. Marie burst into whole body sobs, as the relief of finally being safe once more overwhelmed her.

I awkwardly slipped past them to ensure Mother’s hard work in the Kitchen didn’t go to waste, and Father followed me. “I’m shocked Son, you leave with barely anything, and return with your own land, and wealth I can’t even imagine, and it’s only been a day! What are your plans for the Farm?” I kept myself busy finishing up the Dinner, and serving up food as I responded. “Well, I figure you’d expand that way, as much as your comfortable with anyway. While I arrange for the buildings to be refurbished, or replaced entirely depending on what I find. Also, before I forget, weird things are happening around the Farm. That’s where I was questing today. I started out at C rank by the way. But the job I took, was only herb gathering, and small game requests. I was attacked first by goblins, forty of them, then three hobs, and a shaman, after that ten Ogres. I shouldn’t have to tell you that such Monsters don’t belong here, aside from the goblins themselves, but not in those numbers. Make sure to keep close to Mom for a while, till I get the all clear from the Guild. Just glad I’m here, I got ranked up to A rank, and local S rank right after I got back with all my kills. I knew I was strong, but the Guild Master says I can get true S Rank if I go to the Capitol.” Dad’s eyes were as wide as Mom’s had been earlier. “That’s amazing about your rank, and equally horrible about those Monsters being here, so close to the Farm. Thanks for letting me know, I assume the Guild wants to keep it quiet.”

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I looked at Father and nodded. “She didn’t say anything, but I assume she doesn’t want a Panic, she knows I’m here, in perfect position to handle whatever comes out here, and she’ll organize a survey mission I imagine, while giving me any BS quest that will keep me here, and hide my rank from the general public. Since I don’t want to be famous around here, just want a decent income, and the quest guild made sense. Can you use any kind of weapon Dad?” He grimaced. “I could swing a Club I suppose, maybe a spear if I had one.” I nodded my head again. “I’ll pick up a couple spears, so Mom can have one, and you too. A mace too, not that I want you guys fighting, but there’s a famous line from an entertainment from before. Those who don’t live by the sword, can still die on one. Rather you have them, and not need them, than the other way around.” Dad nodded too. “Makes sense, I’ll be sure to keep the Mace, and Spear handy no matter where I am on the Farm, and your Mother’s spear can sit by the door I suppose.” I shook my head. “No way, she’s going to take it with her everywhere on the Farm till I know it’s safe, or at least as safe as it usually is. I’ll talk to her about it.”

Naturally, as if on cue, mother had overheard the comment about talking to her about it, and chimed in. “Talk to me about what?” I jumped a little, startled at her sudden interruption. “Ah, sorry Mom, you startled me. I was just telling Dad, that Monsters that don’t belong here, have been sighted in concerning numbers right near our Farm, so I’m going to pick up a Spear for you tomorrow. I don’t want you fighting, obviously, but I’d rather you be able to stick a goblin if push cam to shove, so please, until the all clear is given by the Guild, just keep the spear with you while you’re out and about. Afterwards, we can have a mount by the front door, so it can be handy, but not in the way.” Mother looked shocked, but then thought about what I said. “Alright, I can agree to that, I don’t know how to fight, but I think I can manage to stick one of the beasties if it comes at me. I may not like the idea, but at least until the danger is back to normal, I can carry the stupid thing around. What about Marie though?” I appraised Marie, and almost did a double take.

I smiled ear to ear. “She’s getting some interesting weapons. If I had been the kind of scum to deliberately buy a slave for Combat, I couldn’t have gotten a better one that Marie. She has the inherent skills of an Assassin. I however think I can force a Class Change to something interesting, specifically a Ranger. They use all the assassin skills, but also bow and arrow, and hand to hand combat. I’ll have to get a special bow constructed, but a short bow will work for training. With everything I know, she’s going to be a force to be reckoned with by the time I’m done training her. Hope I can get a Sax knife to go with a bundle of throwing knives.” Maries eyes widened in shock. “How,…how did you know my Family were assassins?!” I looked at here. “Family secret here, I’m a reincarnated soul, with past life memories. It was my Sister from that life that you remind me of, anyway, I gained a massive boost to stat, and abilities, and my past life lessons carried over into levels in skills, once I unlock them, they instantly level. One skill I have, is analysis, and that’s leveled up enough for me to see some of your skills, and stats. So it’s not what I know about your blood family, but just about your natural abilities. I can’t read your mind, or divine your past, I can only see what you have, and I only checked to decide on your weapons.”

Marie took a moment to process my words. Then as she truly understood her eyes bulged. “So, if you lived before, how old would you be? Combined.” I chuckled. “I was 53 before I died in my past life, but my memories were locked until the system unlocked. So that’s still my mental age, but I also have the twelve year old memories and emotions too. Guess you could say my personality did a major change on my birthday. Kind of rough on Mom and Dad I think, cause I both AM, and AM NOT their son. While I know two sets of blood parents, and love both sets equally. So welcome home Sis, to the craziness that is my life, or second life I suppose. According to the System I didn’t make this happen, I was chosen to have this happen, and I had nothing to do with it. Given the choice at the time, I bet I’d have chosen oblivion, rather than risk losing everyone I cared about again, but I am here, and I do care, and I’m happy, so that would have been a major mistake.” Marie broke past her last barrier with me, and hugged me tight.

“Thank you Brother, for bringing me into your life.” That was all she needed to say. We soon sat down to dinner, and Marie though skeptical about the Potatoes, soon was eating with gusto, and I could tell when she reached that just uncomfortable enough stage. She kept looking at all the food, wishing she had more room to eat, but knowing she didn’t. “Mom, can you go shopping with Marie tomorrow? I’d let her go herself, but I’m afraid the damned collar would force her to spend the absolute minimum, instead of getting quality. So I’d rather someone else go with her. I’ll give you plenty of coin. Not that I wouldn’t do it myself, but not only do I know nothing of what a Women needs, but I have zero sense of style. Besides, isn’t it every Mom’s dream to play dress up with her daughter? Just remember that we want practical, with style. Not frills with no function. IF God forbid I ever end up taking her to some formal event, you can buy her the pretty dress then, not that she can’t have a couple sun dresses or whatever for when we aren’t questing, but focus on needs over wants for this trip.” I took over a hundred silver out of my storage, and placed them on the table. “I think that should cover literally anything reasonable, but you don’t have to try and spend it all. I imagine I’ll need to buy plenty for my house later.” Mother just beamed as she slipped the silver into her own purse.