Chapter 5: Calm down and talk

Soon enough me and mom reached dad's Office and found her rummaging through paper which I assume are important documents before making a warm smile.

"Look at this, someone's happy. I know you love seeing me, but what happened?" As we walked closer mother asked.

"Amora, I just got the results! The Merchants guild accepted my request to raise my rank! I'm no longer a wood merchant, I'm a bronze merchant now!" Dad announced with a smile on her face, the happiness exuding from her was heartwarming.

When it comes to merchants just like adventurers there's a guild for them. One might ask, why would I join the merchants guild? Well, the answer is actually quite simple, they make things easier. When it comes to working as a merchant there are two things that are common problems, one paperwork, you have to deal with a lot of documentation, especially permits to deal with many products in many areas, and some places won't even allow your entry if don't have affiliation with the merchants guild, which leads us to the second problem, distrust, building a reputation as a trustworthy merchant in a sea of scammers is not easy, and you'll most likely have no option, but deal with small villages for a very long time before you make enough to get around that problem.

Most if not all that work can be avoided by joining the merchants guild, unfortunately for most wanting to be merchants, not only do they have high minimum requirements, but they are also very strict and do not support any full-on scams, though they seem to turn a blind eye to more subtle or minor 'misleading' merchants might engage in. They take care of your documentation, give you a certificate so customers are much more likely to trust you, and even spread your product's reach since, in this world, you don't get more international than the merchants guild.

Though they do take 30% of International sales done through them, and that's it. So long as you reach their requirements, you can join. The only other thing you should worry about is that once you reach a certain rank if you're income is not good enough, you'll be demoted to a lower rank more appropriate for your income or straight up have your membership revoked. After all, they have a reputation to maintain, and if you're not up to standard, you get cut off. Those are the reasons why not only most merchants aren't affiliated with them, but the ones who are, most have low ranks, because of precisely how hard it is for most to live up to the standards set for higher ranks, even with the benefits they offer.

I too plan to be affiliated with them when I start my business, as it just makes the process that much easier.

"Congratulations Loralaine! I always knew you would make it! We have to celebrate immia-... Actually, since we're already calling Ross, why don't we make it a family party and call Numia and Litia as well?... I wish Melvania and Rylith could come as well, but what do you think, my love?" Mom moved in closer to hug dad before she began rambling a bit.

"It sounds nice, but what's this about Ross? Do you mean your brother?" Dad as she hugged mom back, they're relatively large breasts pressuring each other.

"Oh yes! I talked to little Zandrius and we came to an agreement. I'll call Ross and his party to help with training him, and as long as he doesn't slack off, he can go on." Mom explained.

"You gave in easier than I thought you would, oh well, let me get started with the letters, and if everything goes right, they should all be here in 2 to 3 months. Until then, let's get ready on our end." Dad let go of the hug and began working on writing the letters while mom left the room to go and start some of her own preparations I assume.

Not having much to do there, I said goodbye to dad and headed to my room, so that I could at least continue my magic training.

"Look at what we have here! It's my beautiful grandson! Come here and give grandma a hug and a kiss." I heard grandma's voice and before I could respond, I was hugged by her six arms and suffocated by her breasts. Similarly to the game, older individuals don't really look that old, it's like they live by anime rules. Then again, my parents are old enough to be grandparents.

"Hi, grawdma!" I spoke the best I could in a slightly muffled way as I was being suffocated.

"Amelia, let our grandson breathe, you'll suffocate the boy to death at this rate." Grandpa called to her as she noticed me having trouble.

"Shut up, Chandra, I know how to take care of my grandson." Grandma loosened her grip on me before showing her cheek for me to kiss and so I did.

"Just look at you, all grown up, last time I saw you up close, you were this big. And now you're already a third of my height. Tell grandma, you already got yourself a little princess, didn't you? That's why you're always so busy." Grandma asked. It might make me sound extremely short, but my grandmother is 3 meters tall, so I guess I'm fine.

"Amora, the kid's 10, what are you talking about? He probably still thinks that girls are disgusting or boring." Grandpa responded before I could.

"Oh, cut it, Chandra! What do you know? Besides, can't you just let me talk to my grandson in peace?" Grandma retorted.

"Oh really? Then go ahead. Zandrius, tell us, do you have a girlfriend?" Grandpa seemed to have given up.

"Hum... Not really, I'm not looking for one yet." I couldn't help but answer.

"See, what did I tell you?" Grandpa immediately said.

"Ah, Chandra! Enough of your drama. Now, sweetie, I heard you're a good student. Grandma's really happy to hear that, so here's a little something for you. Just don't tell your parents or sisters." Grandma sneakily gave me 3 large bronze coins, as she talked to me before winking at me.

When it comes to money in this planet, the currency here is called Kiri and there are many coins to represent the different values of Kiri. Copper coins being one for one with Kiri, and large copper coins which are equivalent to 10 copper coins.

Bronze coins are equal to 10 large copper coins. Large bronze coins are equivalent to 10 bronze coins. From what I know this should go on from Bronze to Silver, then Gold, and finally to Platinum. With the same normal and large coins system.

"Thanks, grandma!" I showed my gratitude and hugged her again. Before keeping the money in my inventory.

"Well, I have to go talk to your mother. Stay healthy little Zandrius." She told me before leaving.

"Honestly, she's too much. Anyway, how's everything going, little man? I heard you were training in your room." Grandpa stayed behind and asked.

"Yeah, I've been trying to get stronger." I respond.

"Oh, that so, may I know why?" Grandpa inquired with her arms crossed.

"I'm just trying to catch up to my elder siblings." I answered.

"Sibling rivalry... That's a decent motivator, I guess. But is that really the only reason? You know you can tell grandpa." Grandpa insisted.

"Well, that and I read that only strong and powerful individuals can have harems." I explain part of the truth reframed.

"Hahaha! Spoken like a true Tiras! Blood is in fact thicker than water. Don't worry, grandpa's got your back, if you need any help just tell me. Good luck, kid." Grandpa patted me on the head before turning around and leaving.

From then on, I went to my room and began focusing on my training routine again, at least until the others are here.

Now that I have the <Mana Manipulation> and <Mana Operation> skills, I could just jump to trying to cast magic directly, but that would be too risky. My skills are still at their weakest state and any spells I try to cast could very easily just go unstable and blow up in my face.

As such I've decided to instead increase the level of one my skills before I begin actually casting spells, since that had high chances of me either getting injured or caught, and it's not time for that.

Having all that into consideration, I began practicing <Mana Manipulation> and <Mana Operation>, which without casting a spell goes back to mediation, but this time instead of just expanding your mind, you're instead reaching inside into a mindspace where you can visualize and control the whole process, without having to put it into action in the physical world.

As I did my best to dig into my own mind space, the fruit of my years of meditation training finally appeared.

[Master! Congrats! You've just improved your meditation skill, into <Meditation(Basic)>]

In name, it might sound weak because it is only the basic version, but it is actually pretty strong, especially by the standard of what I've seen on this planet in general.

Immediately as I received the notification, I could feel myself entering the mind space, now isolated from the outside world. While I was training for all these years, I was also asking myself what element, I should try to learn first of the basic 6, respectively, fire, water, earth, air, darkness, and light. As those are the only affinities you can get through training. After thinking about it for a while, I decided to go with water as it can come in handy in many situations being one of the most versatile elements. Despite a part of me wanting to start with fire or light because of their superior firepower or darkness for subterfuge and espionage, it was ultimately safer to go for water because of how essential it could be in most situations.

Decision made, I began trying to create a water sphere in my palm, that being one of the simpler basic rank magic spells, known as water ball.

This continued for a long time with me failing attempt after attempt of making a stable one. They would appear in my palm and start shaking before bursting into a puddle on the floor.

For the rest of the day, I couldn't get a single successful one, but I was slowly being able to make them slightly bigger before they self-destroyed.

Eventually, I had to stop since unfortunately despite having little to no physical strain on the body, it was very mentally taxing to do, so I immediately fell asleep once I was done.

-The next day-

After waking up and taking care of my basic morning routine, I went back to my physical training routine with the warming-up exercises, followed up by the weights, and the running. At the end of that, I took another bath and proceeded with the lessons with mom before having my dancing lessons.

That part of the day over, I focused on my magical training once more until it was too taxing and I had to sleep. I got closer to getting it right but not quite there yet.

As it was the course for me since I reincarnated, this became my new daily routine, and it went on for a while. Not too aware of time, it just flowed, and when I noticed it had been a month since I started training my water affinity.

Finally! I could cast a full water ball in my mind space, though it would explode 3 seconds after it was complete, this is still an amazing process from the beginning where I couldn't even make it bigger than a pinky finger. While now it was as big as a soccer ball.

This put a smile on my face and reinforced my motivation to continue my training.

-Later-

Tomorrow it will be 3 months since the beginning of the water affinity training. Our relatives are also supposed to arrive tomorrow which works well since I just managed to complete my training!

With a water ball floating above my hand, I could only look at the notification that appeared with a smile.

[Master, it all paid off! You just acquired the water affinity! And the <Water Magic(basic)> skill!]

After so long! I can finally actually use magic! This was hard, but I'm happy! It feels good to finally get there even if just by a bit.

Leaving the mind space I rest on my bed despite not being out of gas yet today, I decided to give myself a break and just relax as I wait for tomorrow to come.

Unfortunately, my relaxing moment was short-lived.

"Zandrius! Quick! I need your help!" Lilian in a manner unlike her, just bust in shouting without any warnings.

"Calm down, what's going on?" I get up from my bed and move closer to her.

"It's... It's... It's... You have to come!" She didn't even properly answer before trying to drag me out of the room.

"Hey, hey, slow down a bit. You first have to tell me what's going on and where you want to go." I started patting her head and speaking as calmly as I could.

"Crystal! She... She... You really have to come quickly!" She was breathing more heavily the more we talked and didn't seem to be calming down at all.

Seeing her state, I grabbed her hand and guided her to the kitchen before pouring her a cup of water and saying.

"Ok, drink this, before taking a few deep breaths in and out, then tell me what's going on? I promise I'll help if I can." I looked at her with my it's ok best smile.

She drank the water a bit stumbly before breathing in and out, following she looked at me seeming a bit better, but didn't say anything.

"So? What's going on?" I ask.

"I'll tell you, if you promise not to tell our parents or grandparents." She said with obvious worry in her currently weak voice.

"Ok, I promise to not speak to them about whatever you tell me." If necessary I'll just show them a written note, I'm a man of my word after all. Though I would rather not be snitching if possible.

"Crystal... She... She.... SHE... She got... Kidnapped..." She said in her broken stumbles before closing her eyes as if brazing for my yelling.

What?! How did that idiot get herself in something like that? Why am I asking? It's obviously one of the noble kids she was getting herself involved with, honestly what else did she expect?

"I'm not going to yell at you, just tell me how and where it happened, first?" I calmly inquire.

"She asked me to help her sneak out because our parents, and grandparents didn't want her to go meet the baronet kid at this time of day alone, or wearing the clothes she was wearing..." She said with her head down seeming to understand how dumb what they did was.

"Gosh, why would you even do that?" I couldn't help but be a bit condemning about it.

"It's... It's just... Crystal was so persistent that... That, I just couldn't say no... I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I'm didn't want this! I'm terrible sister! Please forgive me! I didn't mean to! I'm sorry! I'm so so sorry..." She broke down and began crying while apologizing. It felt bad to look at but I couldn't just say words of comfort just yet, she needs to bask in that for a bit to make sure she doesn't do something like this again.

As she was crying I went to my room and wrote a note about the situation leaving it on the bed just in case things went south.

"Ok, Lilian, you got to show me where they took her so that we can do something about it." Since she wouldn't stop crying I put her on my back on a piggyback before moving out.

It was afternoon and the sun was slowly disappearing on the horizon.

With a bit of work, I managed to get Lilian to show me the way, and immediately a notification popped up.

[Master! You have a new quest ready for you!

Quest#1(Emergency)- Rescue Your Sister!

Objective: Save Crystal before her virginity is taken from her.

Failure condition- Crystal is raped.

Time Left: 30:10

Reward: Harem Collector Ring]

Seeing as the system didn't put death as a failure condition, it seems she's at the very least not in danger of dying, not that her current situation is that much better. It seems the young nobleman hasn't updated his courting ways from the ancient Greek version, quite sad to see.

As fast as I can I move according to Lilian's directions into the forest near our town before eventually finding a big wooden cabin quite deep in the forest surrounded by big burly men.

Surveying the area with Lilian glued to my back, I was trying to think of the best way to approach the place only to notice that the quest's timer had already reached 13:36, and I was getting a bit nervous.

Immediately I hear some light rustling only to see a shadow behind us. It was a man covered in a dark cloak walking toward us calmly.

"Haha! When I noticed some movement I thought it was gonna be the guards, but it was just some kids... Then again, me and the boys are getting a bit bored, so you might have come just in time for the party." He smiled disgustingly as he put his right hand over what I assume is a weapon and continued to approach us. This fucker won't even let his guard down against children... I'll have to be careful.

As he approaches I let Lilian down from my back as I get ready for the next move.

"Now that I'm a bit closer, you're a boy... Unfortunately for you, we do not need little snot shots out here!" He immediately pulls out his dagger and jumps to attack!