Chapter 11: Child Labor laws. (Part 1)

Dinner lasted around an hour, with us talking about my abilities and what she does at The Guild.

It seems like the Guild is more of a large government project than any Fantasy Adventure Guild, with their main goal being the construction of the path that makes it easier for civillians to make their way down the tree on their own. Large companies already have the capacity to go up and down the tree as they wish, but charge a considerable fee for those who wish to use their services.This leaves all the wealthy people to eventually either make their way down or leave the tree, while other powerful individuals make their way down on their own. Hardly anyone ever decides to return back up.

I asked Lafia why she doesn't leave, but she tells me she isn't strong enough to completely pass through the second quadrant of the tree as she's only on her third Reincarnation. I try not to think about how old she might be, and asked her how much it cost. She said if she sold her largest asset, her house, it would only cover a tenth of the price.

Since it could take any given individual at least ten reincarnation to finally be able to leave the tree on their own, this leaves a large majority of a growing, immortal, civillian population to stay on the tree for several generations at a time. As the amount of natural resources dwindle over time, expanding and climbing down the tree becomes the only viable solution for sustainability.

She decided we would head to the guild bright and early tomorrow so she can get me registered in the system. Honestly, I think she's only trying to recruit me for cheap labor and for scientific research.

I take a deep breath and sigh. I look up at the ceiling and go through the system.

*Host stats:

Charisma: 20

Strength: 12

Stamina: 10

Speed: 15

Dexterity: 16

Intelligence: 8

Wisdom: 7

Health: 35/35

Mana: 1/1

Skills: 1 + (???)

Potential Partner:

Lafia (??? Ranked)

Potential Partner Points: 195

Menu:

-> Notifications: 3

-> Cutscenes: 1 (2)

-> Host's Stats:

-> Quest: (locked)

-> Shop:

-> Inventory: 2

-> Notifications:

-->> *Congradulations! Over 50 cumulative PPP received from Potential Partner Lafia.*

*Would you like to Open your reward?*

-->> *Congradulations! Over 100 cumulative PPP received from Potential Partner Lafia.*

*Would you like to Open your reward?*

-->> *Congradulations! over 250 cumulative PPP received from Potential Partner Lafia.*

*Would you like to Open your reward?*

-> *Would you like to open all rewards*

Yup

*Ding*

*50 PPP awarded*

*50% Off Coupon for Item and Skill purchases related to Lafia.

*New Skill available in Shop! "...Do you... Sing?" available for 500 PPP.*

*"...Do you... Sing?" Lafia seems convinced that you're a Magical girl one way or another. All stats are doubled in combat as long as you're singing.*

I twitch.

Another double in my stats is actually barbaric. I know that.

I asked the system if I bought Boxing Mastery if its effect would stack with Taekwondo Mastery. But because I have Taekwondo Ascension, I get essentially the same boost with only minor style changes.

I'd need to get Boxing Ascension to see any real difference, but at that point, it would be more effective to fuse two Taekwondo Ascensions together.

...

Argh!

I don't care how great the skill is, or how conveniently the system laid it out for me. I ain't buying it. Besides, my will is my will. If I just raise my base stats instead, I won't need the extra power boost as much anyways. I'm tired, I got a lot of work to do tomorrow.

I close the system and go to sleep.

...

The next day was a day like any other. The sky was blue and the wind was gently dancing around the air. Laifa and I are on a a carraige, which stops abruptly by a building.

"..."

"Have fun at school, kid. I'll pick you up at four?"

"..."

I get off the cairage.

"Okay then, umm, I guess this is bye then. I'll see you soon?"

"...Sure..."

Lafia anxiously waits for a reaction from me, before shrugging and taking off in the distance on her own.

"..."

... I'm going to school I guess.

~Over an hour earlier~

"Here we are, The Guild," Lafia presents to me a large building, arms splayed out wide. I get out of the carraige with slightly wobbly legs. How fast did those horses go? I jumped down and I looked around me.

"Woahh," I let out instinctively.

"I know," Lafia smiles. "That's what I said when I first saw it too."

Standing before us on in the center the city was a gargantuan tree, as wide as an apartment that tore through the pavement and touched the sky. Its branches seemed to interconnect throughout and under the city, only to be systematically divided to connect to each building like electric powerlines.

We walk into the wide mouth if the strange building and inside was what looked like a spacious lobby for an office building. Lafia takes me to the receptionis. She jumps a little when she makes eye contact with Lafia. She Brushes her bangs slightly behind her ears,, slightly tilts her head greets us with an innocent smile.

"Oh, hey Lafia!" She greets Lafia with a loud voice. "Oh! Now who's this? A boy?" She leans in slightly to get a closer look at me. "And he's pretty too. Finally getting the gall to have an affair with Kensin, you nasty gal'."

She smiles and puts her hands on Lafias shoulders.

"I know you had it in you. It might be right before the wedding, too, but now's a good a time as any. You can't be a child forever," the receptionist finishes, giving Lafia a smile filled with appreciation.

Lafia pushes her back, her disgust obviously showing through.

"Minnie, first, ew. Don't be gross you just met the guy. Second, and more importantly, he just transmigrated here yesterday. Could you just input him into the system, please?"

"Okay, okay, I'm just teasing. You're no fun."

She stops to turn to me. She extends a hand before continuing.

"Hi, I'm Minerva Abingale, but you can just call me Minnie. And your name is?"

I grab her extended hand and give it a firm shake.

"Dean, It's nice to meet you"

*Ding*

*Minerva Abingal or "Minnie" detected. Second Potential Partner found*

*10 points awarded*

*Ding*

*Minnie finds you Interesting*

*20 points awarded*

Her grasps lingers for a second longer than normal before she pulls back.

"So Dean, It must be so terrifying, waking up here, all alone, not knowing what was going on," she pouts to me sympathetically.

"Yeah, I mean, it wasn't too bad. Lafia saved me before things got too ugly, so I guess it could have been worse," I respond casually.

"Well you sound like you were so brave," continues, gushing a little more than I know is normal. "Well, To get you registered, I'm going to need a little bit of your blood. Could I see your hand for just a second?" Minnie holds out her hand for the second time.

"Yeah, for sure. that's no problem."

I reach out again and give her my hand. She takes it and holds it gently before placing a pen at the tip of my fingers. The fact that she slightly carressed them while looking directly at me didn't go by unnoticed by me or the system.

*Ding*

*Minnie seems to appreciate you*

*15 points awarded*

She clicks the pen and I feel a sharp pain at the tip of my finger. After 10 seconds of collecting my blood, she let go of my hand.

"Well, I'm going to need you to sign some consent and release forms before we can get everything ready. The bloodwork takes around thirty minutes to process all your information and your ID will be issued when everything is complete. Other than that you should be all set." She flashes a seductive smiles before returning to a normal one. "It was nice meeting you, Dean."

I sweatdrop. Coming on a little strong, aren't ya buddy.

"Okay, thanks Minnie." I quickly turn to Lafia. "So, what should I do now?"

"Well, since you're abilities are heavily combat based, maybe you'd want to join the Martial Sect of the guild? There's a physical exam, but you should be able to at least pass and get in."

Lafia replies.

*Ding*

*First Quest found!*

*Would you like to play Part 3 of the Tutorial*

Hmmm, maybe when I-

"Oh ho, you sound pretty confident about pretty boy over here," a mysterious voice calls out.

*Ding*

*New Ptential Partner "???" found*

*Ding*

*Quest Alteady in progress.*

*Playing Tutorial*

I turn around to see a tall, muscular woman. She has long wild scarlet hair and a toothy grin that reminded me of the devil. Her skin is a rich caramel thats slightly tinted red. From the center of her forehead a long sharp horn sticks out dangerously like a knife.

She bends down slightly at the waist and lifts my chin up, as if examining an animal.

"He seems pretty frail. Are you sure he can fight?" The red woman asks, lifting my arms up.

"I haven't really seen him fight too much, but from what I seen, he's pretty scrappy." Lafia replies. She pauses before adding, "Also, he's probably the first ever actual Magical Boy in recorded history."

"Oh really? Is that so?" The red woman releases my arm and turns to me, intrigued. "Well, Magical Boy. I'm Girilda, head of the Martial Sect of the Tenth Branch. And you are?"

"Dean-"

"Okay, Dean, so you want to join the Martial Sect, do you?" Girilda asks.

"Uhh, I guess yeah-"

"Good. good." She smiles."What are we waiting for? Let's get started, shall we?"

"Started?"

Oh shit, she's grabbing my arm-

...Where are we going?