Chapter 20 – Changing strategies

A familiar wooden ceiling greeted Adam as he woke up. The lights of magic lamps lit the room.

'I'm in my room? How did I get here?' He sat up in his bed and began pondering how he could have ended up like this after his fight.

Taking a quick glance at himself he realized that he was wrapped in a weird white coloured silky gauze from head to toe. He wasn't too far away from being mummified.

'I wonder who brought me back.' As he was pondering the doors to his room slid open and Fen who was holding a pot of water in one hand entered the room alongside another girl carrying towels.

"Ah! Young master has awoken! Sister, quickly go report to mistress about this." A pleasantly surprised Fen spoke with the girl beside her.

"Yes, I will go right now." The girl scurried out of the room with blurred footsteps.

"Big sis Fen." He called out.

"Yes, young master?"

"How did I get back home?" he asked curiously.

"You were brought back by a man in black steel armour. You were unconscious and covered in blood and bruises from head to toe."

"Everyone was soo scared when they saw you in such a state. Luckily, mistress stepped out and brought you in. She personally bathed and put the medicine for you. She just left a few moments ago to restock and buy some other herbs."

"So that's how it is." He got a general idea of the situation.

A few moments went by and a poised Yuki walked into the room.

"So… How did you end up in such a state? I thought we had a promise." A boiling fury was in her voice.

It had only been the first day and he had already broken his promise of not pushing it too far and risking his life.

There were multiple times in that fight that he risked his life to gain an advantage. Especially his last fake.

He did not know how to respond because he had truly done wrong but the circumstances had warranted it.

Not mixing any words he started explaining the events from him meeting the black steel armoured man at the entrance till the last point of him dragging the corpses out.

As he narrated his story Yuki and Fen's expressions kept alternating as if they were right there and were watching the whole sequence of events play out.

"Mother I truly did not wish to break our promise but… I apologize." He did not want to spout excuses so he straightforwardly apologized.

"Hmm, I will forgive you this once. Three goblins… truly difficult. It is still the safest place to train. The biggest problem is that it is a sequential form of a dungeon floor. The inner rooms may have less or more monsters spawn in them but you will have to cross the first one." Yuki began to think aloud.

Even if he had to face three monsters every time he entered the dungeon to train, it was still safer and had fewer variables than training in the wild.

However, he was risking his life multiple times with every trip he made in. Training was a slow process, especially for absolute beginners.

Building his foundation was a crucial process and she did not want to rush this process. She also wouldn't let him so wantonly risk his life.

She was in a true dilemma.

While Yuki was going through her thoughts Adam had peered into his soul and was currently staring at his class card dumbfounded.

Under the painting the lines of text read:

'Dual class body of a Ranger/Monk : (Passive Skill)

Level – 0

Exp to next level – 3/2000'

He had risked his life to kill each goblin and only received 1 experience point per kill.

Tough.

He couldn't imagine how many monsters he would have to kill on his path as an adventurer. His sights were most definitely not low. He wanted to reach the top.

For now, his short term goal was reaching level 30. This was the highest peak that he knew about.

His efficiency of learning and killing was severely hampered by being outnumbered by the three goblins. He needed to find a way to fix this and fast.

It would be foolish to go back and repeat the same process over and over. What if the next time he broke a bone and would end up wasting time recovering?

He knew herbs in this world were a lot more effective than medicine in his previous world but it would still take him a week or so to recover from fractures unless he used some truly high-class medicinal ingredients.

This was off the table simply because he would not have Yuki spend so lavishly on him, not even mentioning him almost losing his life each time.

Right as these two, mother and son were in their own worlds trying to figure out a solution, Fen interrupted the quiet in the room.

"Young master already has two classes and in theory is the same as two adventurers, so why not get another party member. That way they can form the most basic 3 man party at the least."

"Yes! That does make the most sense. How did I overlook something so simple? Big sis Fen is truly so smart." Adam flashed her a thumbs up with a brilliant smile.

"That does make sense but there will be a lot of prerequisites for the member. They cannot be of a higher level or they would become more of a protector than a training partner. They also have to be completely loyal as Adam would have to reveal his two class abilities to them. It would also be best if they were at the same level and age as him so that they can grow along with him at the same pace."

Yuki started listing down requirements without pause.

"These are just the base requirements. They should also have good character's and be personally tested by me or I won't let them hang around my son!" She ended up spilling her own agenda toward the end.

"Ignoring the last bit. Mother truly does have a point. It will be tough finding people that meet these requirements." Adam voiced out his opinion.

"What do you mean? These are your mother's basic requirements. Do you have a problem with them?" She gave him a glare. He was used to this look of hers. Whenever she gave it, it was best to just let her handle the situation her way.

"No. Fine, you can do whatever you want."

"That's better." Yuki began smiling happily.

"Mistress where will we find a person like this?" Fen called out trying to bring the topic back on track.

"I have an idea. Any chance we get to save children from those vile people is a good opportunity. I'll talk to a few people I know. If I find anyone I'll then send you to go fetch them tomorrow."

Adam and Fen could instantly tell what Yuki was talking about.

She had saved all the girls in the lodge from slave traders. Though she did not mention it, she truly detested the trade.

When she brought girls to the lodge she would train them strictly but still, all the girl's treated her with the utmost respect. She was their caring big sister who had given them new lives and cared for them.

They could feel the care Yuki gave to them even when she was strict with them.

It was obvious that Yuki wanted to take this opportunity to save another child.

Getting up, Yuki walked towards the door. Turning around just before leaving she said " Rest for today. Even with the medicinal paste, I put on you. It will still take at least a night to heal all those bruises."

"Fen, I leave him in your care. Get him dinner for now and then let him sleep. I shall eat while I'm out so no need to worry about me."

After saying her part she left.

'hmm, I wonder who mother will find. I've never really talked to other kids since coming to this world. I wonder if I'll have to act the same as them.' Adam had grown accustomed to his situation and had started seeing this as a new life and a new start a long time ago.

Conversing and acting his current age? He had done it to an extent but when dealing with another of the same age it would be completely different. He had still retained his demeanour but if he had to deal with other kids he would have to let that go as well.

'No. I will continue to be me. I will not change just for another.' It was very easy to get swept into the current of the surrounding environment but he had held his resolve.

This was a turning point that everyone would face. This was one that determined how his personality would mould in the future.

"Enough. At best I will have to go meet this person tomorrow. I will be entrusting my life training with them and so will they entrust themselves to me. I will personally evaluate them as well." He was not going to take this lightly.

"Do not worry too much young master I'm sure mistress will not be lax in her judgement." Fen did not fully understand what he was worried about from his words but she still tried to comfort him.

"Haha, I'm not worried, big sis. Of course, I trust mother too. More importantly… *grumble* my stomach seems to be in more dire circumstances at the moment." The loud gurgling sound rang out from his belly.

"Hehe, please wait a moment young master ill get the sisters to bring in dinner. I'll get them to make extra since you seem to be so hungry. Would you also like me to go make you some dessert?"

"Yes, please. I would love that. Big sis really is the best at making sweets. Who else can even begin to compare to you?" he said in a bit of a boasting tone.

"Nothing but a sweet talker. Okay, I will be right back." An elegant smile on her face and a tinge of pink blush on her cheeks she walked out of the room.

Soon dishes after dishes were brought into the room.

The scent of fragrant meat and sauteed vegetables wafted through the halls of the lodge.

Adam sat at the side of the table in his room, relishing the dishes being brought in. An expectant emotion at the back of his mind for his meeting tomorrow.