Chapter 4 Seeming innovation

In the Morning, I went to town with Marie, and Mom, and parted with them once we arrived in the market. I excused myself to head to the town blacksmith. Having been an avid bow hunter, obsessed with my compound bow, I had meticulously maintained, and repaired my own bow. Never once did I rely on a shop. I even built bows myself for friends, and even one cousin. So I had spent some time in the night to draw out all the parts to size for the bow I wanted to make. I laid all the papers onto a counter, and wighted each corner with a silver coin, gaining the instant undivided attention of the Smith. “Well now young Mark, what have you brought me? Some plans of some sort?” As he looked at the plans, his eyes sparkled in delight. “These are very precisely drawn lad, I can definitely build these for the four silvers you’ve given. I assume that’s the point of using them to weight the corners.” I chuckled. “Naturally, but I also need some other items. I need two sax knives, two braces of throwing knives, with two extra knives. Two double scabbards to sheath one Sax, and one throwing knife each. Try to give them a little girly flair, but nothing to over the top. Just think what you’d like to see on a cute girl, who was about to end someone’s life. Then two spears, and a mace for my folks. I’d like some gauntlets, or something for hand to hand combat, as that’s my specialty. I’ll stick with leather for armor, but I’d appreciate the suggestion of which tanner to visit for that.”

“Jeffry’s Tanner is best for our town. Barry is just as good, but charges too much. Too much pride I think. I can provide everything you want, though the scabbards will take time. All in all, in addition to the our silver, I’ll need two gold. Take me till tomorrow for the scabbards, and probably a week on your other project.” Without waiting a beat I dropped the two gold, plus a couple extra. “Forgot about needing an archer’s guard. If you happen to have a short bow on hand, I’ll take that for now. How much more for that?” Donald’s old spark flecked face lit with avarice as he snatched the Gold coins. “That’s plenty for all lad, and as it happens, I did get a short bow in trade just yesterday. Just clutter for me, but if it’ll help you in the short term, do my heart good you taking it. I’ll just round everything up. Who’s going to use the spears and mace if you don’t mind me asking. Noticed you getting that Slave Girl yesterday. Guessing the rest is for her.” I answered as he moved gathering my equipment. “Mom gets one spear for emergencies, Dad gets the other spear, and the mace. Something is weird around the Farm just now, and I’m hopefully being over cautious.” He grunted at that. “Mom, and Dad you say? Never heard those terms before, I assume that’s referring to your Parents then. No such thing as over caution in my opinion. It’s always just enough, or you’re dead. Good on you getting them equipped. Your girl will have to make due with standard scabbards till the custom set is done. Made sure it all matches, girls like that sort of thing. Same with the spears, so you Mother can match your Father.” I thanked him, and shook his hand warmly. I equipped my gauntlets, and packed up everything else. Then once out of sight of everyone. I stored my haul.

My business at the Tanners was dealt with even quicker with no small talk. Promising to return soon for another set of gear for my partner, I left the shop and headed for the Guild Hall. Pearson spotted me, and waved me over. “Guild Master pre selected your quests for today, I’m sure you’ve guessed why.” I nodded, and simply accepted the quests. Pretty much same as yesterday. “I’ll be sure to keep my eyes open, and my fists ready. Can we have tomorrow’s quests ready when I come back. That way I can just head out in the morning.” Pearson thought for a Moment, then nodded. “Shouldn’t be an issue. Basically it’s make work, that keeps you right out there. We’re concerned, and no mistake. Only having you out there makes it less of an emergency, and nobody else even knows how strong you are. She’d send you out to solve the issue yourself, if she knew where to send you. So we’re just waiting on the survey team to report on the problem before we throw the proverbial stick and say go fetch.” He Chuckled at his own wit, and I indulgently smiled as I accepted the quest posts.

I spent well over half the day wandering the boarders of the woods near the Farm, collecting everything on my postings, and massive numbers of corpses. I had reduced the Goblin population by no less than one hundred, not counting the twenty hobs, five shamans, and even one general. Ogres were much more numerous as well. Fifty all told. Then a single lesser dire wolf. It was the wrong color, so that hopefully meant it really was a lone wolf. Returning to the guild, I signaled Pearson, and we went to a Private room again. I handed over all the quest materials, including yesterdays small game quest from the Inn. Then I suggested we head to the processing area for carcasses, needing a large space to dump everything. Once everything was totaled, my funds grew by more than two Platinum coins, keeping most on account, I only took fifty gold for the day. “I have no idea what I can use that money for, aside from my new land at least. Maybe I’ll build some sort of Manor House out there. More about having tons of rooms, rather than looking like a mansion. Maybe I can adopt some Orphans, and get a large crew for the Farm that way.” I chuckled, but Pearson looked earnestly in my eyes. “If that’s even a possibility, then I’d say do it. Specifically the Orphanage in the next town over. I came from there, and even in my Day, most, if not all of the girls typically end up as slaves. The guild there has more access to funding though, so your guild card can get access to funding there much easier than here, and you can get Local S rank status there too. That’s two places for you to quest from at your proper rank. Once this mess is over that is.” I was dazed, but then I simply nodded. “I’ll do it, once I have the new house built, and furnished.” In a rare display of true emotion, he hugged me. Leaving was a delight after that, and I headed home.

Marie was clearly happy with her new attire, and she looked stunning. “Wow Mom, you did good. How you can get basic clothes to look that good is beyond my comprehension. You look amazing Marie!” I took the spears and mace out of my storage, handing one spear each to Mom, and Dad, and the Mace to Dad as well. “I honestly hope you won’t need these, but with the numbers I took in today, that’s looking far less likely. In only half a day, I killed a hundred normal goblins, and quite a few more.” Mom gasped, and I handed the Sax Knives, and throwing knives over to Marie, along with the short bow, quiver, and archer’s guard. Get that stuff equipped, and let’s go out back, and start your training. Dad, you should mark Mom’s spear, so she knows where to put her hands. Improper placement means poor effect after all.” There was no hesitation for Marie, she was eager to start training. The bow was unexpected to her, but she didn’t argue. Having had some training before becoming a slave, she de rusted quickly, and the bow was almost no effort to pick up. It wasn’t too different from throwing knives, and even less difficult movement wise. Almost five hours later, just before Dinner was going to be ready, Marie gasped in utter shock. “Brother Mark, my class just changed, it….it says Ranger now!” I shouted in triumph. “YES! I knew it would work. Now we just need to get your armor, and a special cloak, and you’ll be almost unstoppable.” Marie’s confusion turned to elation as the full meaning of my words sunk in. She hadn’t lost assassin, it had become more. All her old skills were still there, but more that came with the hunter class were also present. She even got bonus points because of her throwing knife training from before synergizing with archery aiming. Her archery improved by a huge leap immediately after that. We enjoyed out dinner, and went to sleep. Marie stopped me as I was going to lay on the couch. “Brother Mark, I won’t stand for you sleeping on the Couch. You’re coming to bed. Surely Siblings can sleep in the same bed even when they aren’t the same gender. Last night you were working and I couldn’t stay awake long enough to insist, but tonight, I’m awake still, and you’re coming to bed.” Mom looked thoughtful, but then nodded. “She’s right Mark, you can manage sharing the bed. Besides, she has proper attire, and I’m sure she’s wanting your approval.” She giggled knowingly, as I was dragged into my room. Needless to say, sleep was hard to obtain, even though I behaved myself.

Next day Marie and I went together, and I picked up a grey cloak with a hood for her, having it died with a camouflaged pattern, which was set pretty quickly. They thought it odd, but coin was coin. Then we went to Frederick’s Tannery, and bought Marie’s armor. Which she equipped in a side room. The whole time I was holding her dyed cloak so it could dry. Getting some strange looks. Still when we reached the Smithy, that problem solved itself. Since the old Man had an iron heated already, he obligingly used it to finish drying the cloak, while Marie switched scabbards to the double scabbards I had commissioned. “Your other project was much easier than I expected, I’ve to everything but the cable already built. I can finish it up now if you want. Probably half an hour, less if you help with the braiding.” Surprised, but delighted, we all got to work on the cable, and in roughly ten minutes it was done, and another five minutes to assemble everything. “Marie, take off the short bow, and use this instead.” She looked quizzically at me, and the Smith was quite skeptical, but seeing there was an archer’s target, Marie simply took a test shot. The arrow flew true, and with more power than even a long bow could provide. Both of them were dumbstruck at the sight. “Brother Mark, this makes no sense, it has a lighter draw than the short bow, but the power is immense!”

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Chuckling once again, I answered her unspoken question. “That is a compound bow, it uses springs to provide the power, and since the cable goes over the Pulleys multiple times, it amplifies the power. I’m not sure the exact ratio, but I know that’s what’s happening.” The Smith coughed, “Lad, if that bow is so powerful, what if we enchant it too? Maybe a noise cancelling enchantment so the sound can’t draw unwanted attention. People would look closer than where you were not expecting a bow to have such range. Could add that in a jiffy. Ahem, for twelve coppers that is.” I didn’t even argue, I simply put two silver on the palm of his hand. “Can you add an enchantment that puts a red dot where the arrow will hit, only visible to the shooter?” I laughed at my joke, only to see him think honestly about the question. “I think I can at that, never even tried that before. Those silver will cover the attempt. Just a moment.” He took out his engraving tools and in moments Marie’s new Compound bow was fully realized. “Check the sight enchant before you go, If that works, I’ll want to know it. Can I sell this type of Bow, or would that be an issue for you?”

Marie quickly tested her Bow once again, and to her delight the sound wasn’t nearly as loud, and the arrow hit the mark that the dot had indicated. “Don’t include those enchantments on anyone else’s bow, and I have no problems. That should be her special thing. Doubt I’ll ever have her targeting people mind, but just the same, I’d rather not have anyone else with a targeting reticule like that.” He nodded sagely. “Wise now I think on it. Assassins are too crafty as is, don’t need to give them something like that do we?” Marie retrieved her arrows, and we left the smithy, stopping by the Guild, since my quests hadn’t been ready as I had expected the day before. Too much paperwork apparently to accommodate it that day. Plus I needed to register Marie. Pearson didn’t even bat an eye, seeing Marie’s collar, he simply added her onto my card same as a tamed familiar would be added to a beast tamer’s card. “You’re responsible for her actions, so she doesn’t get her own card. You have to turn in and accept quests, but her abilities will be ranked. Just need to test her so I can record it on your card.” Marie’s test went rather well. She easily tested into C rank, though it took her about ten minutes to win, due to her lack of cheat level stats. “Excellent luck on getting this girl to be a combat slave under you. I don’t care how you managed it, but having her by your side makes me rather happy. You might be S rank yourself, but having a ranged backup at C rank is nothing to sneeze at. I know I don’t have to order her to do this, but I hope she will take good care of you, and not let anyone or thing sneak up on you.” Marie hugged me from the side, surprising Pearson. “Brother Mark took me as his sister, saving me from a fate worse than death, and even showed me how to alter my natural class into an evolved class that I never knew existed. I would die a thousand times to keep Brother Mark safe. Rest assured, nothing will escape my notice!” Pearson smiled. “Even better, she genuinely loves you, maybe not as a Man, but still it’s true and strong. Typically I don’t agree with slaves in the guild but in her case, I can’t be happier.” Marie blushed a bit, as did I for some reason, no doubt because of being in the same be the night prior.

The sheer volume of corpses dwarfed the day prior. A hundred and fifty Goblins, twenty five hobs, fifteen shamans, five generals, forty ogres, a whole pack of lesser dire wolves twelve in all, including the alpha, and completely out of common sense a mobile Mandrake. Slow moving though it was, it’s piercing scream would have caused me trouble, if Marie’s arrow hadn’t been true, and killed it prior to it managing to scream.

“Just what’s going on out there?! At this rate, we’ll owe you the town’s treasury, if you weren’t willing to work on credit, we’d be in real trouble. As of now, with all you were already owed, and today’s remarkable haul, you are currently owed twelve platinum, seven hundred and fifty Gold, Ninety silver, and a fair chunk of coppers. Will you need any today?” I shook my head. “Are there any crafters that owe the guild money? People who could build my new estate house? I want enough rooms for each of those Orphan Girls to have their own rooms, as well as ample room for my own children some day.” Marie looked questioningly, and Pearson was thoughtful. Yes actually, I could have the structure built, and remove five Platinum from the Debt the Guild owes all in the Bargain. I’ll let you see some designed tomorrow, and once you pick something, I’ll get the work started. Everything can be furnished with debts to the Guild too. All the beds, Dishes, Dressers, Wardrobes, Pots, Pans, Mugs, everything needed for a hundred people, with a nursery included, having multiple cribs, and toddler beds included, in case any of the Orphans you get are that young.” I shook his hand, and thanked him.

“Brother Mark, what Orphans are you talking about?” She was concerned, clearly worried. “Well, you know how I couldn’t stand the thought of you being a sex slave? As it turns out the Orphanage in the town just North of us, is so under funded, that the Girls usually end up as slaves. I don’t like the idea of sitting idle when I can adopt all of them, and house them, and teach them how to farm. Girls can do everything on a farm that boys can do, and I’m sure our hearts are big enough to love them all. Won’t be till after the house is built, and this mess with the local monster population is settled. Something really nasty must have driven all these annoyances out of their original territories.” After a moment of shock, Marie smiled at the thought of so many sisters to love and teach. Still, she was clearly worried about the volume of work involved. “That’s going to take a lot of work. Providing enough food, and clothing for all those girls at once, as well as training in whatever skills they can employ. I love the idea, but I don’t want to fall short in providing everything they actually need. I’m sure we have the money, but hiring staff is something else again.” I looked at her in confusion. “We’ll be adopting experts already. Some of the girls are bound to be twelve years old, so they’re technically adults, so they already know how to tend to all the girls we’ll be bringing. Might even have Mom and Dad adopt them, just so they can have Auntie as their title, instead of Sissy.”

Marie’s smile went ear to ear. Blanche waved happily at us, as we passed by. “My profits are up thanks to you Mark, those herbs, and all the meat really upped my cooking, and the profits show it clearly. Don’t be a stranger!” Just as I was about to turn away, another girl slightly older than Marie and I spoke out as well. “Thank you so much for helping my Mother, I’ve not seen her this happy, and ready to work the Kitchen in ages!” “You’re both welcome, I was just doing my job. Would you be interested in running your own kitchen in the near future? Eyes wide in excitement. “Yes, I hope to some day. Probably not for a while, Jobs are scarce here about.” I laughed. “Sorry, I’m thinking of setting up a professional kitchen in my house, as there will be MANY mouths to feed. I just have to wait for the building itself to be constructed, but I will want someone to run the Kitchen for me, not cause I can’t cook, but rather because I have to quest to bring in the money to pay for the food so it can be cooked. The people who need to eat will be busy with the Farming, and other work, though some will need to learn in the Kitchen too Everyone needs to take a turn, so if I hire you, you’d be teaching as well as cooking. Making sure they understand the proper way to clean things also. Lots of work, but lots of hands too. Sound like something you’d be interested in. Wouldn’t have to leave town, or even Home if you didn’t want to.” Blanche responded first. “If you’re wanting to hire her, she’s wanting the job. PERIOD! My other Daughters can help from time to time as well, but that’s a perfect sounding job for my little genius chef here. She’s done even more with all those herbs than I have. I can’t wait to learn what she does with her own kitchen, and access to such a good provider.” The girl nodded fiercely. “Well, I will need your name, I’m Mark by the way, and this is Marie.” “Theresa if it please you sir!” “Theresa, well met. Consider yourself hired, as soon as it’s ready. Also don’t be afraid to ask advice, either from me, or your Mother, your sisters, I don’t care actually, as long as you trust them. Don’t make decisions without all the information you can get. I value those who ask question, rather than out of pride, let their own ignorance destroy their plans.”

I waved at the two, and walked off with Marie. “That seems fortunate Brother Mark. It’s almost like someone is orchestrating all of this, just for you.” I laughed. “I doubt that, the system hasn’t given me any diving revelations or anything, no major mission to defeat the demon horde or anything. I’m just living my life as best I can, abusing all my abilities, and knowledge as best I can.” Marie laughed. “I suppose that’s true Brother Mark, but things do seem to line up around you. For everyone that deserves it at least.” We continued on to the Farm and home.