“Did you know?” Chief Iromin asked Elder Zijin, having finally decided to front him.

  “I did not,” Zijin replied.

  Iromin remained silent. Mad Dog had begun exerg in the past few years, especially after he held his first greatchildren. However, the way to revive that old Mad Dog was defio threaten the children, and it had all pyed out so perfectly.

  “Okay,” the Chief replied. He didn’t believe Zijin’s words because he was an Iyrman, but because Zijin, along with the Chief, and Sonarot, had worked the hardest to try ahe idiot alive. There was no way that Zijin, of all the people, would dare to threaten the children’s lives for the sake of reviving the Mad Dog. Even if the children were only the children of the Rot family, the Iyr wouldn’t dare to py with the children’s lives.

  Meanwhile, the foolish half elf tio rant, threatening to kill the t himself, all in front of a particur farmer whose heart threateo explode.

  Dunes remained silent, even though he could sense a set of expet eyes upon him. He wao temper Adam, but he couldn’t speak up, not when it was those children who had been targeted.

  Once Adam was done expining the situation to both Jonn and Fred, and more pletely to Duhe meeting tinued.

  “I’m not going to show as much favour to Red Oak any more,” Adam stated. “If she doesn’t want our favour, she won’t have it.”

  Fred’s heart began to calm, gd that the half elf had mao talk himself out of their deaths. ‘He wouldn’t be so stupid as to fight the hat’s too crazy, even for him.’

  “I’m not in the business of doing business with people who hate us, or my adorable little children.”

  “And Floria?” Jaygak asked.

  “What about Floria?”

  “The Florians still feel the ache about the massacre,” Jaygak said, taking a moment to bow her head towards Fred, who gnced aside awkwardly, before then nodding her head to Jonn. Somehow, the massacre had led to the two of them joining Adam, both in simir and different ways.

  “Right…” Adam inhaled deeply. “I should probably speak with King Merryweather about it, right? He’s just finished with his civil war, sing a gift of gold and a magical item should secure me an audience? I could ask him to make it illegal to kill goblins, or at the very least, my adorable children.”

  ‘Is that how that works?’ Fred thought, unsure of how noble politics worked.

  “Should I send word then?”

  “It is best to send a letter or to seek an audience personally,” Jurot stated.

  “Alright…”

  “We should adventure,” Jurot stated. “We have many weeks left before the births.”

  “Well…” ‘I really do want to stay here, but I guess that’ll worry Vonda if I’m always fussing over her. Aren’t I her husband? I should be fussing over her!’

  “Let’s take the month off to watch over the children first,” Jaygak said. “If they seem fihen we should adventure.”

  “Jaygak’s right,” Adam said, his ensing up.

  Jaygak waited for the joke, but noted how hard Adam was trying in order to keep his words pure. She kept her mouth shut too, not wanting to bully Adam when he was so stressed.

  “We have about three months or so, so I guess we adventure nearby. Not Red Oak, fuck ‘em. Let’s head to…” ‘’t do Deadwood either, since she was a huge bite too!’ Adam could feel it, the rushihat chipped away through his body. “Ever Green, I guess? That way we earn some favour in Floria?”

  “Adam, you should be careful with yuage, otherwise Jirot will start causing more trouble,” Lucy warned.

  “If my daughter…” Adam let out a quick huff, freezing in pce. “You’re right.”

  ‘…’ Lucy didn’t like how quickly Adam gave up.

  “We’ll adventure in Ever Green, but for this month, I’ll…” ‘How much work do I o get done? I think I made a few fire bdes, but… I still need Red Oak for that? Unless I start sending people out to Ever Green? That’d be too dangerous though. Damn. Do I really o…’

  Konarot stirred as her father approached. The girl nuzzled up against his chest as he held her. She trapped her father under her tiny body, though her father mao reach out for the woman, and held her hand for a moment, before the family slept together.

  Quest plete: Home SafeXP Gained: +500XP: 11 100 -> 11 600

  It was a little after breakfast when Adam mao find some time with his wife, the pair sitting together, holding hands. Adam brushed along the back of her knuckles tenderly as the woman rexed beside him. She was currently thinking on Adam’s words, having heard that her children had been in danger.

  “They are not allowed to kill my children, but it may be difficult for even my o protect them,” Vonda admitted. “The Order of Life’s Rose advocates for life, but it’s difficult to enforce such when it es to goblins.”

  “I know…” Adam tio hold her hand. “It’ll be okay. They stay at the business and in the Iyr. The vilgers are used to them, and I don’t think they’re stupid enough to do anything to my kids when they know I’m crazy strong, and that they’re so close with Iyrmen.”

  Vonda smiled sadly, resting her head against his shoulder. “Yoing to adventure?”

  “Yeah. Ever Green. Need anything?”

  “No. Nothing.”

  “We’ll return around the middle of the ninth month, so a while before when… you know.”

  “I know.”

  “ you still paint and sketch?”

  “I do, sometimes.”

  “You o be careful with painting, si might be toxic. The gem lead stuff should be okay, si’s not actually lead. If you need any help, just ask Nobby or Jonn. No, Brittany, I guess?” ‘I did promise for her to join us adventuring, though…’

  Eventually, the pair returned back to the tral fire, where many of the children sat, eagerly listening to Amira. He sat off to one side, his wife taking her pce beside him.

  “Mummy!” Jirot called out, half shouting, but having taken the warning to heart so it was more of a loud whisper. “You are eating?”

  “I ate already.”

  “You are fotiby?”

  “I am very fortable,” Vonda assured.

  Jirot narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “You are lying to me?”

  “I am not.”

  “Your mother would never lie to you,” Adam said, raising his brows.

  Jirot smirked pyfully. “Yes, I know, I know!”

  “Mummy, you need help?” little Jarot asked.

  “I’m fine.”

  “Aren’t our adorable kids so dependable?” Adam asked, smiling wide.

  “Yes.”

  “Daddy, I am big girl.”

  “No, you’re a little girl.”

  “No, I big like mummy.”

  “One day you’ll be big like mummy, but right now you’re small.”

  “Daddy?”

  “Yes?”

  “I have baby in my tummy?”

  Adam chuckled lightly. “Well, I suppose, when you find someone?”

  “I am Demon Load, I have baby?”

  “I think so.”

  Jirot thought for a moment. “I do not want baby, I want Demon Load.”

  Adam snorted lightly, pig up his daughter, rubbiummy. “I see, I see, well you’ll have to work hard.”

  “Daddy! I have magic?”

  “Yes.”

  “I have magid I am Demon Load?”

  “Yes, you .”

  “I learn magic!” Jirot decred, throwing out her fists. “Fyahball!”

  “What about ic that’s nicer?” Adam asked. “Daddy knows lots of nice spells too.”

  “No!” Jirot cackled.

  “You smelly girl.” Adam kissed her cheek. “When you grow up, daddy will teach you.”

  “I learn so good.” Jirot sat proudly. “I am Demon Load, and I going to potec mummy and daddy, and daddy, you are not w because I am Demon Load, okay?”

  “Okay,” Adam tickled her cheek gently.

  “I am strong like babo,” Jarot said. “S.”

  “Yes, that’s right,” Adam pulled the pair close to his chest, only to find his eldest pouting at him. ‘Oh dear.’

  Morkarai waited until noon to have a drink with Adam. “I’m sorry, Adam.”

  “What do you o apologise for?”

  “I should have beeo protect them.”

  “You’d steal all the glory from their babo?” Adam joked. “You did well proteg the fort, so don’t worry about it.”

  “My offer still stands, Adam. Should you wish to bee a Hill Lord, I am but a Sending away.”

  “Yeah, I’ll remember it,” Adam replied, p him a drink.

  ‘He’s definitely crazy,’ Jasmihought, gng between the pair and then to the goblins, who were enjoying their time with their mother, and their greatfather.

  Soon, the children of the Iyr were returned back to the Iyr, save for six children, who remained within the fort with their parents. Adam pined since he didn’t get to spoil his cousins much, but he o begin enting.

  “Are you going to work?” Jarot asked, before he was about to leave with the children.

  “I am. I’ve got a t to please.”

  “What is it this time?”

  “Greater Enhanced. Fire.”

  “Is it a sword?”

  “Yeah.”

  “You should also do the same for two greatswords,” Jarot said.

  “Greatswords?” Adam replied, but noting where the old man was looking, he nodded.

  While Adam ented, the others busied themselves, finally focused on the business.

  Jurot tested the newer, making him plete all manner of different exercises, from running, jumping, swimming with supervision, to carrying heavy objects. Jurot also tested the young man’s bance, as well as his memory, and various other abilities.

  “We’ve finished colleg the information,” Dunes informed the Iyrman, pg down a book before them.

  Jurot flipped through the book. He he underlines of the people that Dunes, Amira, and Jonn had picked out especially. Though almost every orphan had some ability in a way, some of them surpassed others in various ways. A few were det in multiple different attributes, not just strength, but their toughness or nimbleness, not just intelligence, but wisdom, as well as their ability to talk to people well, or a mixture of any of them.

  Ohing which surprised him was the oldest woman, Luna, who was still youhan some of the oldest men, was extremely intelligent.

  “It was difficult for some of the others to keep up pace with her,” Dunes expined. “In the span of a few months, she’s mao learn how to read and write, beyond a satisfactory level.”

  “Okay,” Jurot said with a nod. Jurot noted some of the other women also held special notes, and some of the men too. While many were slightly above average, some were further above average. paring the notes, it seemed there were a couple who were some better than Freddie, though Freddie had one advantage over any of them. Alfie, who was in his mid twenties, was great. Tommy, who was about ten, was also great. Except, Freddie, was at the perfect age to be taught. He was fifteen, almost sixteen, so Jurot could begin today, just like with Alfie, but Freddie would have ten years loo perfect his abilities, while Tommy would o wait roughly four to six years before he could be honed into a great bde.

  Duually spoke with Adam too, inf him of the issue of payment.

  “We did promise to pay them after the sixth month, so it’s fine,” Adam replied, writing the note in his book.

  “You ended up spending a lot on your children, are you sure we have enough?” Dunes joked.

  “I’m sensible. I spent my own ohe business’ ent on business matters.”

  “I found that Gee has a new book. He said,” Dunes paused, realising what he said. “He informed me Fred bought it for him.”

  “How cute,” Adam whispered.

  “Is that something the business funds?”

  “If I was to decide, sure. I think that buying books fee, or anyone in the business, sounds like a business expense.”

  “I’ll be sure to refund him the .”

  “You!” Jirot held up her fist towards her father. “You are always w!”

  “Daddy o work so he py with you during the festival.”

  Jirot raised her brows, before she turned her head, catg her mother’s eyes. She crossed her arms, and pouted towards her mother.

  “Dear, how long must you work?” Vonda asked, smiling slightly.

  “I o work… well, I work up until the festival, and then I work a little after it, but I won’t work during it?”

  “Will you py with Jirot the entire festival?”

  “Daddy will py with Jirot as much as she wants, and with the other children, during the festival,” Adam promised.

  Jirot inhaled deeply, but she climbed up beside her mother, cuddling up beside her. “Smelly boy.”

  Adam did end up keeping his promise, though he did want to finish up the work. He also felt guilty, sihey were at the fort for the festival, rather than the Iyr. However, seeing the businessfolk excited with all the food and drinks, most of which had been prepared by the vilgers nearby, with Dunes dealing with the flow of , and Kitool dealing with the iations, he supposed it wasn’t so bad.

  ‘I wao spend it in the Iyr, but I guess this is fioo,’ Adam thought, eating and drinking with his children, while also pying games with them, from kig a ball, to tossing items, to Warriors and Wanderers.

  “Hmm,” the one armed Jarot growled. “How could you make me e all this way to see my greatchildren during the festival?”

  “What’s this? Babo doesn’t want to py with Jirot and Jarot today?” Adam replied, gasping.

  Jirot opened her potato filled mouth, the sadness filling the girl, her eyes snapping trandmother, who had returned during the festival.

  “I did not say such a thing!”

  Adam spent his days with the children, and he spent the nights with the adults. He took special care of his wife, who could not drink, and so Adam refused to drink too, and since her diet sisted mostly of vegetables, Adam did the same. Every so often, his eyes would covet other foods, but he knew he couldn’t cheat on his wife like that. She had eventually noticed he wasing as much meat or cheese, so she decided to eat some meat, at least allowing him that much pleasure.

  ‘What a fool of a husband,’ she thought, a smile across her face.

  What's this? A time skip? In my fatherhood simutor?