22 - Jobs

Getting a job as a white was just practically impossible, as expected. He had exhausted every other option in town. It was until the girls had to call in favors, despite his reluctance.

But the answer was clear when the Lady smirked.

“No, it is a kept secret for a good reason,” the reject came swiftly. “Even if this young man has the talent and the highest recommendation, you three still have nothing I want. Invitation from the Academy? Those fools send hundreds of them just to vomit out back, most of them. It is a loose net if you are still asking. And Coins? Please don’t bother, you must know how much a [Artificer] makes. That's why everyone and their mother wants to be one. And also just to let you know, if I won’t teach him, no one else in the Kingdom will, you can bet on that,” the lady chuckled after her babbling.

“But if you do, I’m sure my Lady won’t regret it,” Liara tried. “He already has a deal raking in a lot of money already.”

“Yes, what do they call it again? Strand Fishing?” The redhead noble giggled mockingly. “Very unimaginative if you ask me, but that does not come solely from him, now does it? He simply stole it from the nomadic tribes. And I’ll save you breath, honey, many had claimed that they had brilliant ideas but only one out of a thousand even got close to coming up with an original. So, no, don’t try to convince me with such an offer. I’ve only entertained this mockery because the Guildmaster has asked me to, and this meeting is just a favor paid.”

She and Liara had very little in common other than the same hair color.

Ake sighed.

At this rate, he might need to whore himself just to secure a job.

He already knew it the moment they walked to her shop, and he had let Liara do the talking because the Kingdom was clearly matriarchy. Most of the shops in town were owned by women. It was probably because men were more inclined to seek adventure and lose their lives because of their overconfidence and incompetence.

Nevertheless, the only [Artificer] in town was here not because she wished so, and anyone could tell that easily. The sheer difference when he stepped into the shop was enough telling. The lady was trying too hard to forget that she was somewhere remote with her over-the-top decorations. She even had handsome young men serving her like she was the queen. He would even say the air inside the shop was probably different.

“It’s okay,” he said to Liara, who looked distraught for his sake. “Let’s go.”

Liara was such a dear. The girl got pumped when he told her he had once dreamed of making magical things as he was some sort of crafter back in the old world. Liara had made it her mission to go around town and shamelessly ask everyone how to get such a [Class].

Of course, he had already unlocked it, but he couldn’t simply select the [Class] without expecting some kind of reaction from the people around. This roundabout way was the only choice he had in order to be able to select the [Class] without raising eyebrows.

And he also had long anticipated the flat refusal. No one would give away any kind of [Class] unlocking ability or even a clue, especially when it was a [Class] that could make coins fall from the sky. He had agreed to this because he wanted everyone to know that he preferred to be a non-combatant or at least not a front liner.

“So, what’s next?” Sila asked.

And this was after his arm was swallowed by her chest.

Between the two [Arcane Flesh] ability bearers, she had enough confidence to leave the cumbersome armor home now. The girl herself was surprised at how quick her reflex had become and how she could send a Sharded man flying with a simple kick.

And if he wasn’t mistaken, she had been waiting for another fool to try just out of her pure amusement. His arm hogged by her was one of her clear baits.

“I don’t know, maybe what the [Flesh] has to offer?” Ake shrugged.

“That shard is best for [Healers],” Liara said while still sulking. “And they always need more of themselves, but I don’t know if you know a thing or two about being a [Healer].”

Ake would have slapped himself if his hands were free.

Of, the freaking, course, a [Healer] would also be a great cover [Class].

His body had become a work of art because of his knowledge of the human body. What else would be more than perfect as a cover [Class]?

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“You do know something,” said Liara when she noticed it on his face.

“It will be perfect if you become a [Healer],” Sila added, “you can be the one who welcomes our child to the world when the time comes.”

Ake sighed, of course, that too.

“Why do you look sad, you don’t want to be one?” Liara looked at him worried.

“No, but just the thought of you two carrying another man’s child is-” Ake paused. “It is hard.”

“Oh,” Sila gasped, “I never thought-”

“Don’t worry, we will carry a child as it is the law and the right thing to do, for all humanity and all that, BUT that’s after you are already bored of us, and you will, one day,” Liara chuckled and hugged him.

“Wait, you are required to give birth?”

“Yes, more is better,” Ake felt the shrug from Liara. “The Guild and any other quest giver will hold back the top-tier quest if you don’t.”

“The deepest dungeon will also be beyond our reach,” Sila added.

“Yes, that too,” Liara confirmed. “Well, at least, the short way to reach it. We could still go the long way down, but it would take months only to get there. Some even retire to live off the passive reward of having kids, but thanks for looking that far ahead, it means a lot to us.”

Sila nodded and held him closer. The two were practically squeezing him in between them, and if not for the shards, he could call this the start of his harem.

He also realized that no one else would talk about this because it was unlikely for many to get to the point where they talked. Early, unexpected death was quite common, and this was why the two appreciated this so much when it came out of him.

What she said became horrifyingly clear when he looked at the subject from the local’s perspective. The reality they lived in was far from Earth. Most, at least for commoners, would mostly die on their way trying to get where they wanted to be.

A modern mind like him would just assume he would get there eventually. It was a dangerous thought to have. He might die because of such a thought.

From the girls’ perspective, what he said had made the two think he was planning to stay with them for such a long time. It might just equal forever.

He was looking at decades to a century before he would ever get bored with these two, and perhaps the two also felt the same. It would be that long when they wouldn’t grow old and/or all wrinkly. Everybody had their personal limits, and most would need some time away to think if they would want to continue to stay together.

Their mothers probably gave birth to them when they got bored of adventuring and needed a short break. He could confirm by asking the mother’s ages, but he might not get an answer, because women, and it would open up a deeper rabbit hole.

“Back to the healing business,” Ake said, changing the subject. “Why does anyone need a [Healer] when we already got Healing Points and potions to cure wounds and everything?”

“All abilities and spells formed from intention,” the petite lady started and stopped trying to choke the air out of his chest. “One needs not just the shard-like the [Claw] but also must have a solid wish to harm for the [Ether] or [Mana] to take shard form and execute the strong intent of harming,” the girl paused to see his reaction.

Ake nodded. It made sense somehow.

“The ability [Bled] for example,” she continued, “will carry a strong intent of keeping the afflicted bleeding as long as it can. The [Healers] are needed to fight off this intent with their own as no matter how thick your bandage or how many potions are poured into the wound, it would only reopen and bleed all the same.”

“Neutralizing intent with intent,” Ake said in conclusion.

“Yes, that is basically it,” Liara approved.

“It also applies to [Mages] throwing magic at things or each other,” Sila said almost proudly for some reason. “That’s also why many are, and the most powerful of them are largely females. Other than our generally stronger raw intent, we also have this innate talent of understanding abilities and spells after activating it a few times.”

Ake turned towards Liara for confirmation, and she nodded.

“That- that can’t be true,” Ake muttered nervously.

“Well, we know now that your ability has different stages,” Liara whispered.

“It will be gray at activation, blue, and red above that,” Sila giggled at his dumbfounded face.

“I’m sorry, I guess this is not how it is in your world?” Liara asked.

“Well, you can say that,” Ake chuckled. “Common women have their rights and a few do have people under their rule, but for example, conflicts are mostly fought and led by men.”

“At least now you’d know why we want you to walk in the middle,” Liara said with a smile.

They were protecting him? That was not funny but probably heartwarming.

“Did you notice how the lady whore undressed him?” Sila gossiped.

“Yes, I’ve noticed,” Liara replied. “Let’s just hope she won’t use any mind tricks.”

Sila nodded, “Let’s imprint more of our intent on him.”

He didn’t need to be told how and didn't want to say anything about it.

“Oh, that reminds me of something. Rumors say that our lady [Healer] is sent here because she refused to carry a child. Let’s go back home before we talk more about [Healer] and their biggest flaw,” Liara said, and both began to drag him away.

“It will be great if we can affiliate with them,” Sila agreed.

“Yes, taking sides is dangerous. A neutral party is the best for him,” Liara nodded to her own words.