Evan POV
Oh no.
OH NO!
OH NO!!!
Jeff what the fuck are you doing! I trusted you! You were my guide! You were supposed to guide me to victory, not hell! I swear I’m gonna find your voodoo doll from the underworld down below and give you the torture of a lifetime.
No matter how much I cursed him in my mind, it was gonna lead me to nowhere. He was smiling like the devil he was while my family were looking at me confused. I was sweating balls and had no idea on how to react in this situation.
I quickly tried to save myself before I land into deeper trouble. “U-Um” I tried to be calm, but there was no way I could keep a straight face in this situation. “M-Man Jeff! Y-You’re such a kidder! If I was d-dead then how am I s-standing here?” I did my very best to keep the panic and anger in but I’m pretty sure Helputt noticed something.
Jeff looked at me innocently after throwing me on a ship destined for hell and had the balls to ask, “Oh, should I tell the full story then?” At this point, I knew. I know he’s not joking. He may look innocent but behind that smile is a devil who’s laughing at my predicament.
“No!” I blurted out. If he tells everyone that I’m taking over Reid’s body then forget about getting screwed, It would be me getting railed on by a 7-foot guy called Raquese.
“Evan.” Helputt interrupted me with the demeanor of a king. He might be wounded but even I can tell he’ll always be a king. “I… want to hear the full story… I’m ready for it.”
Even an idiot could tell they were all scared, me the most, but that’s beside the point, I had my shield ready, if he even mentions something about taking over, I'm using this shield to knock him away.
Jeff clapped his hands once to get our attention before he started explaining with his usual business smile gone. “If you want to hear the full story then… let me start from the beginning.”
My shield is flippen ready to send that mouth sky-high even if I deal no damage.
Everyone had a resolute face, beside me who wanted to deck his face to the underworld. “The mistake you guys have is that, after leaving Luna to the Human’s Kingdom named Balathien, He didn’t flee to a normal forest, but to a magical one.”
Everyone was listening attentively while I looked like a rabid dog ready to press the button to send a nuke.
Do it moTher fu**Ker! SaY it! I DarE yoU! I doUble dare yOu Mother fu**er! Do it! CoMe oN!
“Over there, Reid was… wounded beyond repair to say the least. But fortunately, he was presented with an opportunity to save himself and everyone close to him.” He stopped talking, but I still held the shield of Cthulhu in front of me. I made sure to keep a stiff face at the very least so I didn’t look suspicious.
Jeff stopped talking as he looked at the ground almost as If he was trying to remember what happened next. It would’ve made any normal person drop his guard but not me! I’m not pulling down this shield until you save me. “W-What happened after that?” Luna asked anxiously, she might be feeling guilty about what happened to Reid since it sounds like she was involved too.
“The opportunity, came at a cost, a heavy cost. For the sacrifice of his memory, he would be saved and be branded a Hero. The legendary Hero of skill to be more accurate.” While I remained ready to knock him into the stratosphere, he just… stopped talking.
Huh?
“What… What happened after that?” Helputt asked with a grim expression. Heck, everyone looked worried.
Jeff made a bittersweet smile, “Well, Evan is here is he not?” He paused to make that point sink into everyone’s mind. “For the price of Reid’s memories, he was made reborn as a Hero, He died as Reid there and was reborn as Evan, The legendary Hero of Skill!”
Holy shit… I can’t believe it.
He’s… He’s actually helping me.
I was more surprised by the fact that Jeff was still on my team than his BS Story. His story may have some truth to it, but there’s no way I can trust him after the rollercoaster of emotions he made me go through. From now on, I can’t trust him with anything besides his advice as a guide.
“Wait!” Luna screamed out, “Are you saying he’ll never get his memories back!?” I already knew that everyone was thinking of this question.
Jeff’s smile was gone as he reluctantly nodded. “That was the price to save himself… and… all of you.” Luna looked broken, Mia was looking at me worriedly and both Helputt and Nezha closed their eyes and looked down.
I couldn’t say anything here besides awkwardly scratch my hair. Luna looked like she would cry any second now but she still held on and started talking. “Hey, Evan… he’s lying, right? Who even is he!? Why should we trust him-”
“It’s true” I interrupted Luna. I was going to be heartless here and she might start crying, but there’s no other choice. “He’s my guide. After I became a… Hero, He came up to me and told me he is one of the many aids a Hero gets. His purpose is guiding me on the right path.” Going with the gaming sense, becoming a ‘Hero’ is probably the same as being a ‘Player’ back in Terraria, if that’s correct then Jeff's job makes sense in guiding me towards the right way.
“Yes,” Jeff made a follow-up, “We are spirits from a time long forgotten our mission is to help the Hero in his sacred Mission.”
“W-What is that mission?” Luna looked scared, while Jeff put his hand on his chin.
“Actually, we still don’t know about that one.”
Jeff is… He’s actually helping me out. I’m sorry I thought about all the different ways I would torture you with your voodoo doll.
“Evan…” Luna whispered to herself as she and everyone else looked gloomy. I honestly did not know how to lift this gloomy atmosphere. I’m just glad my real identity is not revealed.
“We’ll make new memories.” I was surprised to see Nezha speaking, her gloominess was all gone as she stared at me with resolution. “So who cares if you lost your memories. You’re still our son. We’ll make new memories. Happier memories. All that matters is that your fine.”
Her words may not be impactful but they did rid the gloomy expression that everyone had.
“Mama’s right.” Luna got back up who was the gloomiest one of everyone here. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if I found out you died because of me. So what if you’ve lost your memories? It's fine as long as you’re with us!” Even Mia got back up and nodded with Luna.
Oh no. It’s happening. The Guilt. It’s coming in. aaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Finally, it was Helputt’s turn to talk, “I’m sorry Evan. I can’t believe that I doubted you when you’ve sacrificed so much to help us.”
“I, Uhh, I don’t really mind about all that.” That’s a lie I was just thinking about how to murder Jeff even though I know I can’t damage him without his Voodoo doll. “But, Let’s just keep the thing about me being a hero a secret.”
Everyone finally nodded as their frown slowly turned to a smile. Honestly, it felt like a giant baggage was finally off my back and I could see colors again. On that note, I’m just now realizing that all this talk happened out in the open. We really should have gone inside my mansion and talked there but oh well. Panic can really make you act stupid.
“Now, I’m pretty sure you all have a lot to talk about, but first I have a surprise for you all.” The original reason why I wanted to bring everyone here in the first place.
Everyone was curious but I pointed at Tifa to come over to us as we all walked towards my mansion. Tifa tied the horse's reins next to a tree so they won’t run away before she came to us.
I grandiosely opened the double doors to the mansion as I proclaimed, “From now on, this is our home!” There were gasps of surprise and awe from around me as I stood there proud.
“It looks amazing but doesn’t it feel a bit… empty?” Mia's words were correct, I had just built this place last night and I didn’t have the time to renovate much.
“Yea, that’s true, but it’s because this place was built last night. So the renovations will all happen soon.” I brought them inside, and while the place was open, it was by no means empty, there was stuff here, and walls to separate different rooms for the kitchen, guest area, workshops, etc. Only Mia was excited enough to walk around and look around the place. I had to stop her since our destination was the second floor where Emma the nurse should be staying.
I told everyone to follow me as I went to the second floor, the living quarter's area. I just hoped we don’t run into Tania the dryad while everyone was here because I can’t figure her out. I told everyone to stick with me as I pulled out my 3d map to see where Emma was because there are 10 rooms here and there was Tania the land mine in one and Emma the savior in another.
My fears were realized when I noticed that both Emma and Tania were in the same room. Tania is an NPC, but she could debuff me, and while it no longer has any effect on me, I’m still worried. Well, as long as she’s an NPC, I don’t think she can harm me.
Well, here goes nothing.
I thought as I stood in front of the door with both of them inside. I opened the door gently and I saw them both standing and talking to each other. They both stopped talking after they noticed me and turned toward me.
“Master Evan, do you need me for something?” Emma said with her usual uninterested and stoic expression.
“Ah Master Evan.” Tania licked her lips as she started talking seductively, “It’s been a while.” I knew she was trying to seduce me again but I was immune to it. The people behind me, however, were not. I didn’t have to look behind me to know that everyone was stupefied by the near-naked woman in the room.
“I just left a few hours ago, how’s that a long time?” I tried to act stoic and uninterested. But, truth be told, even though her charms no longer work on me, she still got a smookin' hot body.
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Tania suddenly walked up to me all sexily before she put her hands around my shoulders, “Oh, but you leave the house all the time, how about you stay here tonight and we do something fun?”
Oh no. Y my pp go up?
“AHHHH!” Luna suddenly screamed which caught everyone by surprise. She suddenly ran in between me and Tania before she shoved the nympho away from me.
Thank you Luna! You just saved me from a very embarrassing situation. I wonder if you would be able to tell if someone has a boner while he’s wearing armor though.
While I was really thankful, it seems like my benefactor wasn’t in the same mood. “Evan.” She said with a voice cold as ice. I don’t know why but there was an invisible aura surrounding her that screamed anger. It’s just like that time I scared Tifa into pissing herself.
“You know, I just noticed something. Jeff, your guide, definitely didn’t call you his master, did he?”
Uh oh.
“So why do these girls call you their master?”
I looked back for help but the family who was worried sick about me moments ago was now were turning their head away as if leaving me to my faith.
Luna took a step forward towards me as I took a step back from her overwhelming pressure, “I, Uhh, I don’t know?” That was obviously a lie, but I feel like I’ll die if I admit anything.
Luna stared at me with the pressure of a demon lord looming over her. Her eyes were void of any emotions, yet I could tell from her voice that she was angry. “Emma! Heal Helputt!”
I had to take her father as hostage to save myself, Luna seemed to return to her usual self when her father was involved but she didn’t take her eyes off of me. Emma walked up to Helputt and started looking at the wound in his chest.
“Hehe, don’t worry Luna, I just like teasing him” I knew Tania was lying, but her comment converted all of Luna’s aggro to herself, this is a blessing in disguise. Honestly, I have to admit, this is harder than the time I fought those two eyes of Cthulhus.
While Emma was checking Helputt’s wounds, Tania started talking, “Let me introduce myself once more. I'm Tania the Dryad.”
As soon as Tania finished talking, I heard a small thud noise behind me, as if someone fell. I look behind and this time I saw Tifa kneeling down which confused me even more. “Please forgive my rudeness! I didn't know you were a dryad!” I got a bit of a clue as to what was happening from Tifa’s words.
Tania started talking calmly, “At ease my child. I might be a dryad. But I’m only my master Evan's dryad.” She winked at me and Luna’s anger flared back up as stared at me with her blue crystal-like eyes that were void of all emotions.
PLEASE STOP LUNA! YOU'RE SCARING ME!
“Master Evan,” Emma saved me again by calling out to me, “ I can fix Mr. Helputt but it will cost you.” Helputt and Nezha looked a little surprised but I couldn’t do much in this cramped room all of Luna’s aggro on me.
“How much?” I said while trying to sound calm.
“3 silver coins.” The nurse heals 1 point of hp for one copper coin. So, she's going to heal something similar to 300 points of hp.
“Do it!” Anything to get Luna off my back!
I used Emma as an excuse to turn away from Luna and look at what they were doing. Emma held her arms out as a white light enveloped Helputt. The light stayed there for less than a moment before Emma said with her usual stoic attitude, “It is done.”
That was fast. I thought to myself while Helputt let go of Nezha’s shoulder and stood back up on his own.
Nezha still looked at him worriedly, “How do you feel?”
“I… I feel rejuvenated!” Helputt seemed more than excited. “My wound’s gone but I feel so light. It feels like I’m 20 years younger again!”
Everyone was happy for Helputt but there was one strange thing about him… He grew up, actually, it’s much better to say that all his muscles pumped up. He started looking like an absolute unit as the clothes he was wearing tightened up. I stared at Emma until she started explaining, “That should happen. I have healed not only your wound but also all veins and limb damage along with deteriorating bones from age. You should be back in your prime but remember, my methods don’t increase your lifespan.”
Yo, hold up. I think she just spouted some BS that shouldn’t be possible.
I didn’t had time to think when Helputt immediately gave me a bear hug. He effortlessly picked me off the ground too. “Haha! Evan! Thank you so much for this opportunity!” It felt like he was controlling his strength. For some reason, just his hug told me that he could snap my bones without so much of an effort on his part. Honestly, I didn’t knew Helputt was packing some huge guns in his arms but I guess he became the King of Silver daemons one way or another.
Okay, never mind, he’s hugging me too hard now.
I.
Can’t.
Breath!
“Dear, let him go before you suffocate him to death.” Nezha's words brought Helputt to reality as he saw his bear hug had me inclined back like a play doll in the hands of a selfish kid.
“O-Oh!” He quickly let me go as I bend down on the ground trying to catch my breath. “Sorry Evan, I forgot how strong I used to be in my prime.” He scratched his head like he did an oopsie while I think I almost saw my dead grandma.
When I stood back up, Emma stood in front of me like a robot while a system’s window popped up asking for the payment of 3 silver coins, I agreed to it before it said the transaction was complete and Emma did a slight bow.
I looked at everyone and they all seemed happy, It seemed like Luna’s anger had dissipated as she and Mia were talking to Helputt, they both looked genuinely happy for Helputt, Tifa disappeared somewhere, she was acting weird around Tania unlike the others who were weirded out by the Dryad, Tifa looked like she held Tania in high regards. And Lastly, Nezha was looking at me expectantly. I already knew what she wanted so I started talking to Emma.
“Emma, do you think you could do the whole Flesh and bone re-work on Nezha?” Emma nodded but for some reason Nezha seemed upset this time.
“Evan,” Nezha said annoyed. “I’m your mother now, you have to call me mom. Or do you not accept me as your mother?”
“What? No, of course not! I just… Uhh…” I didn’t really have an excuse, she was right. I unconsciously didn’t accept them as my family since my real family was still waiting for me back home.
“Call. Me. Mom.” Nezha said with eyes similar to Luna's when she was angry moments ago along an invisible cloud of anger forming up behind her. At the very least, I now know where Luna gets her anger from… best not to anger Nezha in the future in any way.
“Uhh, Emma, do you think you could do the Flesh and bone re-work on my mom?”
As soon as I called her mom, all her anger disappeared and she started to act motherly again. “That’s my son.” She sounded proud.
“It will cost 1 silver coin.” I tipped her a coin before she started to do the same thing to Nezha.
I turned over to Tania who had her arms crossed and was attempting to show me her cleavage. I used every ounce of Pain-immunity I had in me to sound normal “Hey Tania, can you show everyone the rooms that have beds? They’ll be living here from now on.”
I looked over to Mia and saw Luna staring at me like a hawk. “Mia, could you go with Tania and check out the rooms, talk with each other and choose any room you like. I gotta go and get Lucy and Oswald back along with furniture for the house if I got the time.” I gotta get those two back here before they start any more shit for me to deal with.
“Yes. I understand brother!” Mia’s determination almost made me pat her head but I resisted the urge.
“Atta Girl. I'll probably come back late or even tomorrow, I'm not sure since I have a lot of things to do there.” Mia nodded as I waved goodbye and headed outside. I had to make a stop at the NPC’s house since I wanted to talk to Jeff about skills just in case I'm missing something and also visit the rest of the NPC's and stock up.
Mia POV
Brother waved goodbye and quickly left. Just as he left, Miss Emma finished her treatment on mom. Mom’s face glowed up, her cheeks became red and rosy as her greyish hair became a vibrant silvery white color. She became gorgeous and looked younger.
“Nezha…” Father was staring at mother like a young boy meeting his crush. “You… you look beautiful.” Mother started blushing but Miss Tania suddenly interrupted them.
“Alright, it seems like everyone is ready to see their rooms. Follow me.” I haven't seen Miss Tania in action but She must be very amazing. Dryads are naturally bounded to a forest and they can completely control every single leaf in one, which is really amazing!
But that outfit is so vulgar!
I tried to suggest a different set outfit for her, it is my duty as a maid, “ Umm, M-Miss Tania, if it's okay with you, why not wear some different sets of clothes?”
It's not good to walk around almost N-Naked! And Now Father is looking at you weirdly!
I was worried for Father, but mother suddenly punched him straight in the gut and now he’s apologizing.
“Clothes might be nice, but…” She suddenly started stretching which revealed her body even more. “Clothes limit freedom, So I’m good.”
M-Miss T-Tania!
I heard Father’s grunt again and I could already tell that Mother hit him again and he couldn’t do anything about it.
Sis suddenly started getting annoyed, “Hmph, I bet You’re doing it to get the attention of guys you damned nympho.”
S-Sis! Y-Your words!
Miss Tania looked back toward luna as a sinister smile formed on her face, “What's wrong? Jealous that master Evan looks at me more than you?”
I think I heard Luna's vein pop with anger. “looks like I hit the bulls-eye.” Miss Tania scoffed while I was scared that Luna might snap with anger. She did clench her teeth with anger, but pretty soon it turned into a sly grin.
“Say whatever you want, you’re all still spirits. The only thing you can do is help Evan with his goals and nothing else.”
“Oh, don’t misunderstand girl. We might be spirits, but we still function like normal people. We can cook, do housework, fight, marry, and even do things beyond that which a virgin like you will ever understand.”
A war. That’s the only thing I could see happening between my sister and Miss Tania. I looked back towards my Mother and Father for help but my Father was kneeling down on the ground while clutching his stomach with pain all the while mother had a shadow of anger looming over her so I couldn’t ask either of them for help. I looked back at my sister and they were staring into each other eyes as if they were fighting an invisible fight. A second later Sister looked away in discontent as walked up to me while Miss Tania mocked her again, “Now that the little one’s quarrel has finished, follow me to your rooms.”
Miss Tania left the room behind to Miss Emma herself as Mother dragged father out of the room. Sis approached me and grabbed both of my shoulders before whispering, “Mia. We have to watch out for her. Always keep her in your sights and see that she never goes to Evan’s room at night, do you understand?”
“B-But sis-” I tried to refute her since she was Brother’s aide and we didn’t have a say in it but she looked at me in anger and I froze up. “…Okay.” I succumbed to pressure at the end and agreed.
“That’s my sister, I didn’t want to do this but even you don’t want to see your brother hurt right?” She had a point, Close aide or not, he’s still my brother and I don’t want to see him hurt.
We finally followed behind Miss Tania and our parents. In total, she showed us 3 rooms next to each other which had beds. The rooms themselves were bigger than an average household room, there was enough space there to put two queen-sized beds and not feel cramped. On that note, the beds Brother put here were big enough that two people could easily sleep in them and the beds were made with silk! I didn’t know Brother was so rich!
“These rooms are almost the size of my room back in the castle.” Luna made a comment and then Father followed suit.
“Yes indeed, this is almost like our castle but smaller, I saw workshops and many rooms in the first floor, while there’s not much there now, a lot could be placed in each room and we can have a lot of facilities right next to each other! I still can’t believe Evan was able to make it all from scratch.”
I nodded “Well it's because Brother Is Amazing!” Mother started caressing my head.
“Indeed, he is, he is our Hero.” I couldn’t help but smile as mother kept patting my head.
“Alright folks, this is the last room with a bed.” Miss Tania opened the last door but whatever she saw inside made her freeze up. I tried to peek inside along with others but there was nothing unusual about this room, it was the same as all the other room.
“This room…” I looked a Miss Tania when she started acting strange but she looked excited. “This is Master Evan’s room… I didn’t knew that.”
She didn’t know that? But then how did she know now? “This room… It smells of him.” She sounded like she was drooling.
Huh?
I was going to say something but Miss Tania suddenly ran in and jumped on the bed.
“W-What?” Everyone was surprised and had the same question in mind. She started to toss and turn on the bed while sniffing the pillow like a pervert.
“Ahh~ So much pure mana!”
So Indecent! And If you move like that with almost no clothes then Father will see something strange!
I heard a loud thud noise from behind me, and when I checked it out, Father was on the ground unconscious while Mother was smiling with a club made of ice in her hand. As soon as she noticed me looking over to her, the Ice club disappeared as she started talking “Alright, you two have fun. I'm going to put your father to bed, it looks like he's tired.”
…Mom is scary when she's angry.
“H-Hey! What do you Think You're Doing!?” Sister yelled suddenly and I couldn’t blame her. But Miss Tania just ignored us and kept sniffing the bed.
“Ahhh~ Master Evan definitely slept here last night. There’s so much residual mana left, and it’s so pure!”
I didn’t know what to do but my sister was getting angry, “Alright that’s it! GET OFF THE BED RIGHT NOW!”
Miss Tania took one last long sniff from the bed before getting up, “Alright! that's all the residual mana. You can have the bed. But it doesn’t matter anymore. There’s nothing there anymore.” She said what she wanted before she quickly fled the room.
I stood still not knowing what to do, but I knew one thing for sure, my sister had finally snapped. She started laughing like a maniac, “Oh, you have no idea who you’re messing with Tania.”
I’m scared! Brother! Please come back home!