A few days after the stress of moving out of eight houses simultaneous ended we were called to the guild. I suppose I know what it's about. Things had gotten so busy so quickly I hadn't gotten a chance to check in with them in quite awhile.

Attending would be me and Clove. She had apparently never been to an adventurer guild before. I wondered how exactly she ranked to B without ever taking a request.

"Have you gotten used to marrow?" I ask as she rounds the corner towards the peddlers square.

She ponders it and slows her pace until she is beside me. "I suppose so. It's smaller than the capital, so it was easier to become accustomed to it. I find it fascinating to be able to walk about so freely."

Oh, I suppose that's true. She would be recognized quickly in the capital. Here no body knows much about the prince and princess.

A familiar peddler steps up to me offering a sweet smelling bun.

Finally not homeless, I take him up on the bun. I grab one for both me and Clove and pay the entrepreneur.

"Oh! These are good!" I say after biting into the sticky roll.

I lick the honey from my fingers while clove nods quickly beside me with full cheeks.

After thanking the boy we continue towards the guild.

"That was a perfect example." The princess says finishing her roll with a satisfied sigh.

"Hmm?"

"It would be so rare for a peddler to approach me back in the capital. And I would always get weird looks if I approached a food stand."

"I see. Well, it must be nice to have a break from being a princess. Though I don't think you dad knows the exact definition of a honeymoon."

"Well, I understand his meaning though. Once the marriage is publicized he will probably announce his retirement. It will only get busier after the wedding."

"Ugh, why'd you have to remind me."

"You don't have to say it like it's such an issue!"

"Sorry, sorry. That wasn't my intention. It's just the only part that doesn't fit according to my plan."

"Well sooooooorry." Clove says mockingly.

"Sorry, I'll make it up to you later. But we are here so let's drop it for now."

"Muh, fine. But we better have an excellent wedding."

"I'll make sure of it," I say opening the door for Clove and extending a hand inside.

Muscle man was glancing between a bowl of fruit and an easel. He applied a delicate touch of red before noticing us and quickly setting the brush down.

"Oh! So you finally show your face?"

"Eh, sorry about that. But weren't you the one who said pirates spend years on the sea without returning?"

"Well sure, but I never said they avoid the guild even when in town."

"…Sorry."

Is there anyone I'm not in trouble with today?

"Well, in any case, it seems you brought another beautiful crew member. Looking to get another crew card?"

"Ah, no I don't think that's necessary." I turn to Clove. "You wouldn't want a downgrade I assume."

"Has the word of your hero status not spread this far yet?" Clove asks with a confused look.

"Oh, I had forgotten about that. That's right, I have a letter somewhere don't I?"

I fish through storage after opening the menu and find the poorly labeled letter.

Really, I have, like, four letters from the king at this point. You would think the menu would give some kind of context and not just label them with numbers.

I hand Muscleman 'King's letter #4' and he quickly gasps at the seal and contents.

"Then… is this…" He says pointing to Clove.

"That's, right Muscleman it's my pleasure to introduce my fiancé and princess of Calistor, Clove…" I turn to her and frown. "I feel embarrassed to ask this now but what is your last name?"

"Moedy!" She answers without a hint of hesitation.

Ah, this again.

Muscleman laughs at the exchange seemingly forgetting the shock he had moments ago.

"I never thought I would be the one to get to use this stamp, though after you showed up I did wonder," Muscleman says after we return our attention to the counter.

He took a small box from below the counter. Inside sat a small gold rod. He opened a separate ink pad and pressed the stamp into the clear liquid.

He presses it onto a small card but it only leaves an off-white 'A'. He then takes a small file and runs it against the rear of the stamp rod. Small flecks of gold tumble onto the wet paper illuminating the rank.

"Good, I was worried I had forgotten how to do it. They taught us years ago at one of the gatherings, but no one took it that seriously. I'm glad I was paying attention."

"It's beautiful," I say honestly looking at the sparkling letter. This was a huge upgrade over the blood red ink on my previous cards.

I almost feel bad that I am the only one who gets one of these.

"It really is, huh. Well, here. Another form I never thought I would take out."

He places a piece of paper in front of me. It has five blank spaces and the top line says 'Hero's Party'.

"Wait does this mean…"

"Yeah! You can get me an 'A' rank card too!" Clove says with a smug grin.

But only five, huh? I suppose a few are shoe-ins.

I begin writing the names, reluctantly adding the last names they have claimed for themselves.

Aqua Moedy

Rou Moedy

El Moedy

Clove Moedy

…

"Are there any benefits to A rank?" I ask blanking on the final line.

"Mm, it depends on who you show it to. I think most countries would allow you to enter without a second thought. Of course discounts at shops and stuff… Hmm." Muscleman puts his index finger to his temple thinking about it for a moment.

"Aren't they commander rank cards? Cole, you know how you can hand out B rank cards since you are a pirate?"

"Right."

"Ah, yeah. An A rank holder will be able to hand out B rank cards too, good catch Princess."    

"Ah, please call me Clove. I hear you helped Cole a lot in his early time here, a friend of Cole's is a friend of mine."

"I am honored, your highness."

"Ah, I'm not a highness yet." Clove says nearly screaming her true meaning.

Well, that's reason enough though. I fill in the last line of the form.

Pina (Last Name TBD)

"Who's Pina?" Clove asks looking over my handwriting.

"Fleet Commander of ETC, you met her last night. If she has it then she can give our captains B rank cards. It should make trade easier."

"A genius idea as always," Muscleman says glancing over the form. "Well is there anything else? Not that I am pushing you out. I always love our chats."

"Ah right. I have a few monster cores and stuff to sell. Any interest?"

"Of course. Whatcha got?"

I open up storage and select the less important stuff in my inventory.

Scales from various sharks I ran over. A cracked core from a giant crab we found while visiting Aquarou. A large stack had accumulated once I finished sorting everything.

"It's quite a lot," Muscleman says glancing over a black scale. "But what are these big shells? I'm not sure we want them. Though the old man probably would have loved them."

"Ah, those are something you don't know that you want. Give them to a herbalist in town. Tell them to grind one up and try using it to make a mana potion. After that, I think they will become high in demand."

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

"Interesting. Well, I would be a fool to doubt you. Knowing you, this is a gift directly from the Spirit of the Ocean."

You wouldn't be wrong in assuming that.

"Oh, another thing I forgot." He says as we turn to leave the guild.

"Yeah?"

"A rumor I passed off as nothing, but now that you are the hero, well it's my duty to tell you anything regarding it."

"I'm listening."

"It's likely nothing. I heard a rumor about orcs acting strange around Point port. You may not know but it's an old wives tale that when the demon king revives, a new species of orcs evolve. Starting with the birth of one known as an 'orc king'."

"An orc king?"

"Mhm, the leader of the demon king's army. Or so they say. Orc king's cause orcs to evolve into whats known as 'high orcs'. But it's probably just some dumb orcs that got drunk on some loot or something. I wouldn't rush down there on account of rumors."

"No, but that is concerning. I will look into it when we leave. It won't be for awhile but I do plan to go to the elven forest so we might as well take the southern route."

Well, I obviously need to nip that in the bud. I should be able to demolish them pretty quickly, I doubt they have become too dangerous.

~ ~

So Franz told me yesterday that he wanted to host a festival in my honor. But then he requested my help in preparing for it.

Apparently, he wanted to share the deliciousness of the clams with the rest of the town. So currently I am in front of around three dozen part time ETC workers who volunteered to help.

I recognize some of them from the construction training Triff began a few days ago.

They all watch carefully as I indicate the position of a clam hole. I take a few scoops of sand and present the clam to their wondrous faces.

"There were shells under the sand this whole time." A few recognizable former urchins say in wonder at the discovery.

"Yeah, that's right. But these aren't normal shells. They have food inside. For now, you can sell them for one silver per pound at ETC. But in time more people will be interested in them. If you all know anyone who needs work please let them know about this. There is plenty of beach and plenty of clams."

"I found an ugly one." A young girl says shoveling some sand a few feet away from me.

"Oh! You found the best one." I take the oyster from her extended hand and pull a small leaf shaped blade from my belt.

Popping it in near the joint I crank the blade splitting the shellfish open.

*Slurp*

*COUGH*

Oh, that would have been bad.

I place my hand over my lips and fish the small stone from my mouth. I glance at the shiny stone before rubbing it lightly with my shirt. "Here."

The girl takes the stone into her hands looking at it in awe. She grips her fingers around the stone and smiles at me shyly.

"Thank you."

"No problem, thank you for the meal," I say patting the girls head softly. "Does everyone understand though? Any questions?"  

There were none so the group quickly scampered off to work.

Within minutes a large pile had already formed. I even noticed the number of helpers had increased. Perhaps the increase in the price of the shells brought everyone out of the woodwork.

How many do I need to make enough chowder for the whole town? I will have to ask Mirna and Autumn to do some calculations.

"Captain, finally I found you," Karlie says running up to me with Alice in tow.

"Master, you should come to the pier. There is someone Rou and Aqua want you to meet."

"Oh?"

~ ~

"I am sorry you showed up at such a hectic time," I say to the man who glances at the decorations going up around town.

"This is a perfect time Cole!" Rou says proudly. "Now dad can see how much everyone in town loves you!"

"That's right!" Aqua adds behind her sister.

"I suppose that's true. Oh, where are my manners? As you have heard from Rou and Aqua my name is Cole Moedy. I am the hero of Calistor, and…"

"And our boyfriend!" Aqua says without letting me finish.

"Our?" The man asks looking between his daughters.

"Ah, I…"

"Someone who can handle both of them simultaneously? Truly impressive. I hope my daughters haven't caused you too much trouble." He extends a hand to shake while smiling kindly.

His smile reminded me of Rou's surprisingly, although his hair, on the other hand, shared the same sheen as Aqua's. He was surely their father.

"The opposite in fact. They are wonderful crew mates. They must have had a great Captain before me."

"To be complimented by someone loved by the ocean spirit is an honor." He says bowing. "My name is Theo, it's a pleasure to meet you, Hero."

"Oh, Nice to meet you Theo, but that sounds weird. Please just call me Cole."

"Sure," Theo says with a polite smile.

"Come on, Come on. You gotta check out the ship. And then we will go to the mansion and meet everyone else!" Rou says grabbing her dad's sleeve and pulling him along the pier.

I learn on the way towards the Excalibur that he was picked up by Golin's crew on a scouting mission for a new trade route. Apparently Rou and Aqua were very excited to see his new house. But unfortunately, it was torn apart by the speed of our elf improved ETC ships.

I will give him a small version of the ETC ship before we leave.

"This…" Theo says looking at the massive ship we called home.

"This is Excalibur. Me and Aqua's home." Rou says beaming at her impressed father.

"It's a good ship," Aqua says patting the smooth wood exterior.

Theo looks over the ship carefully. Even looking at the glimmer of metal bolted to the bottom.

"That wood…" He says inspecting a beam carefully.

"Well, let's check out the interior. It's easier to see from the hold anyway." I say stepping onto the plank.

The three follow me to the rear door and step down the newly refurbished steps.

In fact, at this point, nearly everything has been replaced once. Soon I can try my thought experiment. Although that's low on the priority list.

"This is elf wood isn't it?" Theo says extending his hand down one of the magic tool beams. "But this scale?"

"A long story. That's actually the beginning of it though. I'd say I met your daughters because of the original owner of that scale. But as for its current purpose, it's part of a magic tool."

"A magic tool on a ship like this. You really are the hero then?"

"Something like that," I say with a shrug.

"But again this wood. Are you a friend of the elves?" He asks returning his attention to the interior of the hold.

"El?" I ask towards nothing in particular.

A small thump can be heard and the trap door opens revealing the elf who skillfully flips through yet lands on my head carelessly.

"Yes, Captain?" She asks from perched above.

"Say 'Hi' to Theo, Rou and Aqua's dad," I say indicating towards the man.

She gracefully leaps from my head landing in front of the man. "Nice to meet you, I'm Cole's fiancé Eldywyn Greenmaple, Lost Princess of the Elven kingdom."

Oh, come on. Now you are just trying to cause trouble.