The revelation of Alvin's true identity as the Duke and his brother's role as the King had left my head spinning. Standing before King Alfred, Alvin's brother, I managed to gather my wits and address the king with a respectful bow, expressing my gratitude for the opportunity to help in their time of need."My apologies, your highness," I said automatically, bowing slightly to the king. I couldn't afford to stand there gawking, so I mentally slapped myself and continued, "I'm just glad that I was there to help in their time of need.""As am I," King Alfred replied with a warm smile. He then turned to Alvin, his tone laced with concern. "Alvin, you really must consider your station. Cavorting as you have done, without even an heir to take your place if one of your adventures takes your life. You even bring your wife with you, I know she is a very skilled magic user, but you take too many chances."Alvin sighed, rolling his eyes playfully at me. It seemed this topic was a frequent source
Sunlight filtered through the inn's curtains, gently coaxing me awake from a night of deep slumber. As I blinked away the remnants of sleep, I couldn't help but appreciate the reassuring weight of my new knighthood signet ring adorning my finger. The previous day had been a whirlwind of revelations and achievements, and now, with the dawn of a new day, I felt a renewed sense of purpose. As I rose from my cozy bed at the First Inn, I couldn't help but reflect on the incredible journey that had led me to this magical and challenging world, filled with the promise of adventures yet to come.Leaving my room behind, I made my way to the inn's dining area. The friendly waitress promptly approached to take my breakfast order, which I decided should consist of bacon, sausage, and eggs. Glancing at the menu, I couldn't help but notice that the breakfast offerings were rather limited, notably missing one of my Earthly favorites: pancakes. I mused about the possibility of introducing them to thi
Sunlight filtered through the inn's windows, casting a gentle morning glow that coaxed me from my restful slumber. Another day in Aldoria had begun, full of the promise of new experiences. The aroma of a hearty breakfast wafted through the air, intertwining with my contemplations about the road ahead, filled with hopes of new ventures and the prospect of establishing a life in this enchanting world."My house will be ready for me in two days. I'm so excited; I could hardly sleep last night," I mused. As I stood up and stretched, a realization dawned on me - my wallet felt surprisingly light. It was clear I needed to find a way to make money soon, to cover the costs of sustenance and firewood.The idea of visiting the Merchants Guild came to mind. While the Adventurers Guild was an option for income, I felt the need for another avenue. Selling soap, as I had initially planned, was still on my mind. However, it required a significant amount of lye for mass production, and natural lye pr
As I descended the grand staircase back to the first floor of the Merchants Guild, I spotted Ellie engaged in conversation with Lorelei. A thought crossed my mind – Ellie had mentioned that she occasionally sold toy ideas to the guild. Perhaps she had a new concept in the works. I approached them with a friendly smile.“Hey, Ellie,” I greeted her, causing her to jump slightly and spin around to face me.“Oh, hey Jordan. Did you become a member here?” Ellie responded, slightly winded from the surprise. I noticed that both Ellie and Lorelei had a faint blush coloring their cheeks.“Yeah, I signed up a few hours ago and even managed to sell some goods and recipes,” I replied. I turned to Lorelei, expressing my gratitude, “Thanks again for helping with the registration.” Then, I turned back to Ellie. “Are you here to pitch another idea to the guild?”Ellie's blush deepened, and she replied, “No, I was just updating my address so they can send me my royalties at the end of the month.”“I s
It had been about two months since Ellie and I moved into our new manor. Needless to say, we were now very careful to knock on doors before opening them after the chaotic first day. I had also used my earth magic to create a long building in the backyard for my soap-making endeavors. The structure had windows for ventilation, thanks to some hired help, and was beautifully painted. With a large vat and all the necessary materials, I managed to produce a substantial amount of soap. Nine bars from my first batch were auctioned off by Fezzik for a handsome sum.In the meantime, Ellie and I took on jobs from the adventurers' guild, focusing on tasks suitable for my rank. Our collaboration propelled me to a C-rank adventurer, while Ellie reached B-rank. The increase in monster activity marked by the Sabnock sigil led to several lower-ranked adventurers getting injured. This forced the guild to readjust its job system, prohibiting those below C-rank from hunting monsters.During my spare tim
A couple of days had passed since my dream, and I'd spent most of that time holed up in my room, furiously writing down everything I knew about Sabnock and formulating various strategies to confront it. Despite the unease that weighed on my mind, I was determined not to let it dampen the spirits of our home. Ellie was eagerly looking forward to our date at the festival, and I was resolute in making it a memorable occasion. Ellie had taken off with Eve to explore the town, on a mission to find the perfect gown, shoes, and whatever else caught her fancy. Her recent windfall from her toy invention had her itching to splurge. I, on the other hand, had already commissioned an outfit from Silvia, who assured me it would transform me into the most dashing knight in the land. As I descended the stairs, preparing for the festival, I was struck by the sight of Ellie, who was waiting by the door for Eve. "Good morning, Ellie," I greeted, smiling. "G-Good morning, Jordan," she replied with a
As we entered the Adventurers' Guild, adrenaline pumped through us, propelling us toward Alvin, who stood in front of a board outlining battle plans.“We're fortunate to have extra help thanks to the festival,” he said. “The monster army still outnumbers us heavily, so tactics are crucial. Look here.” Alvin pointed to a map of the city and the surrounding terrain. “We've started evacuating the nearby areas, minimizing civilian casualties for now. Ranged magic users and skilled archers will be positioned on the northern gate wall.” Alvin continued with more instructions before I interjected.“Monsters typically use swarm and conquer tactics. What's the plan when they try to surround the city?”Alvin pondered for a moment and replied, “I plan on sealing the southern gate, but I'm open to ideas.”I thought about the various tactics and proposed, “What if we gather earth mages to create a trench and bottleneck in front of the south gate? This way, we'd only need a few defenders at the sou
As I slowly regained consciousness, the dim light of a solitary lantern cast shadows on the wooden slats that enclosed the small room. A twin bed cradled my weary body, and the unfamiliar surroundings blurred the line between reality and a lingering dream. Glancing over, I found Ellie in a chair, her head rested on the edge of the bed, peaceful in her slumber. The air carried the scent of antiseptic and damp bandages, hinting at recent care. My hand instinctively moved to the bandages encircling the bite on my shoulder, a reminder of the battle with Argren. The foul smell emanating from the wound was unsettling, but I pushed aside the discomfort, my concern shifting to Ellie. Her arm, too, was swathed in bandages, and a visible cut adorned her leg. Relief washed over me; she wasn't hurt too severely. Yet, questions lingered in the still air — questions about where we were, how we arrived here, and what transpired after the chaotic clash with Argren.I gingerly shifted to awaken her, f