Chapter 4 - Registration

Winter has just ended. The thick snows are being plowed, ices melting, and the floras bloom back to life. Four years has just passed by, making me grow even stronger.

We're leaving this town, but not permanently. I begged mother again and again until she finally gave in to my request. I wanted to go to Restnaro and attend the Academy of Magic there and probably registering as both a wizard and an adventurer.

Probably not the adventurer part though. I'm still too young. But registering is fine, I guess. I also wanted to visit the twins. We've been sending letters to each other all the time, but it suddenly stopped a month ago.

I packed my bags and let Gray carried it. Gray is now an adult and he became even stronger than me. He's now triple the size of me. I rubbed his head and he made a purring sound.

I called out to Nightmare and he appeared from my shadow. I asked him if the forest was safe and he replied with a hard yes.

Opening the door, I saw all the villagers outside with a long table that has lots of food. I asked them what they were celebrating and they said it's my birthday.

I forgot about it. I was so excited that nothing else was on my mind except travelling. I thanked all of them and we merrily ate the food. It was delicious. Specially this chicken soup my mother made. Mother's a good cook.

It was time to leave and we were preparing to depart. Mother hopped on to Gray's back and I followed. But I felt someone tugged my shirt and looked around. It was Lily. A teary eyed Lily. A snot nosed Lily. She's bawling. Telling me not to leave.

I promised her that I'll come back. And she stopped crying. She wiped her tears and her dripping nose and hugged me. I patted her head and she let out a happy noise. What are you, an animal? She's older than me yet she's this childish. Sheesh.

I gave the village elder and Lily the charm I made. It was a charm that notifies me if they're in danger. I hopped on to the front of Gray's back, mother behind me hugging me tight. Mother can fly, but Gray's faster and her flight consumes so much mana she said.

We zoomed past the forest and arriving outside. It was not our first time coming out here, but it really is different. Restnaro is a week's ride in a carriage, but Gray's ten times faster. I calculated thay we'll be arriving in half a day.

I linked my mind with Gray and we talked telepathically. A year ago was Gray's first words and I was shocked at that time. I didn't think beasts were able to talk, but Nightmare is a beast. I think it has something to do with their levels.

As we were soaring through the clouds, passing mountains and forests, we encountered many flying creatures. Birds were the most creatures we've seen, but there were others. Hippogryphs, an offspring between a gryphon and a horse. There were wyverns too, a dragon-like creature; but unlike dragons their wings and front legs are merged and at the end of their tail is a poisonous barb. There were drakes too, a smaller sized dragon but still bigger than a wyvern; Drakes are and act like dragons, only difference are that they can't breathe anything and has lower intelligence. Pegasi were seen too, a winged horse that has a kind of heavenly aura around it, but they were the rarest.

It was midnight and halfway through. Mother was sleepy so we landed, found a nice cave and set up camp. I gathered somw dry wood around the nearby forest and hunted some game.

I arrived back at the cage and saw mother already sleeping soundly. I lit up the sticks with my magic and made a campfire. I cooked the game I hunted and gave it to Gray. I summoned Nightmare to keep watch while I also rest and I snoozed.

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I woke up to the sound of chirping and streched my body. Mother was already up and is cooking dinner, Gray beside her licking his mouth and drooling while looking at the food. I told mother I was going out for a while and do my business. As I did, I also asked Nightmare if anything happened while I was asleep.

A dragon flew by he said. It looked angered so he hid our presence. I thanked him for that and he smiled with delight.

Returning back to the camp, the things were already packed and ready. I ate my breakfast and we took off, giving half my breakfast to Midnight.

It was early noon when we arrived at Restnaro. The city's bigger than I imagined. There were shops everywhere and people of different races walking about. We headed directly to the adventurer's guild and registered there as an adventurer. Adventurers were tiered from weakest/beginner to strongest/veteran: Copper, Tin, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Titanium, and Orichalcum. She also said that there are two special ranks, Legendary and Hero, but none reached that ranked the last 10 years.

I asked the receptionist lady where I could sell my loot and pointed at a booth at the corner of the room. I arrived at the booth, waiting at the long line until it was my turn but someone cutted in front of me. I tapped his back and he was angered.

『Hey, hey! Listen here, kid! If you don't wanna die then you better scram or else!』

『I'm sorry but you just cut in front of me. Do you mind explaining?』

『Explain?! I'll beat your ass! That's how I'll explain!』

I almost lost my cool. This arogant man. Even though I'm a kid, I know I'm not a normal one. I asked the man organizing the booth what happens if a fight broke out.

『If you fight inside the guild, your guild card will be suspended for a month and you will not be able to do a request. Failing to follow it will result in permanent suspension or going to jail.』

That's reasonable considering there are a lot of these people like the man in front of me.

I stepped out of the line and cutted in front of the aroogant guy.

『Hey, hey! What's your problem, kid?! You wanna die, cutting in front of me, huh?!』

I ignored him.

He grabbed my shoulder. It hurts. I turned around and spat on his face. While he was wiping his eyes and shouting, I hurriedly gave my loot to the man on the booth and said I'll retrieve the money later and left.

Just as planned, the guy from before followed me. I stopped near the fountain at the middle of the city and turned around.

『Heh. You're gonna pay for that, kid! And I'll take that woman you're with and play with her until she's broken Hahahahahaha!』

I finally snapped. Insulting me is fine, but insulting my mother means death. I prepared for combat, looking around for people so to prevent collateral damage. Looks like they already left and were watching at a distance.

『Hey, isn't that Barakas? What has that kid done to anger THE Barakas?』

『I heard that kid has just recently registered. Isn't Barakas a Bronze-tier Adventurer?』

I heard the crowd's murmurs and sighed. I already looked up his [Glaze]. He's just a puny Level 23, his two companions are 15 and 21, while I am a 38. Level doesn't really show one's strength, but I can still determine that guy, Barakas' strength. Brrr it's cold.

I looked at my mother. She's giving off a terrifying ammount of bloodlust. I grabbed my mother's hand, telling her to calm down and she did. I reassured her that this will we a piece of cake.

Those guys startes approaching us, blades drawn. I too, readied myself and summoned Nightmare. When Nightmare arrived, I saw the three of their faces turning to regret. I ordered Nightmare to attack them, but not kill. I'm still at a city and don't want to become a criminal.

Nightmare did his job cleanly, knocking them out cold and wrapping them in his thick webs, leaving the face open. I picked up their items and looked towards the spectators and asked.

『Is it okay to take their stuff?』while pointing at the three guys.

The people nodded and I took them and hung them at the fountain. I then returned back to the guild and was greeted by the surprised eyes of the adventurers. I arrived at the booth and asked. 『So... I beat them up, but it wasn't here. Is that okay?』 The booth man nodded. I received my money and went to the inn the booth man recommended.

I arrived at an inn called "Eagle's Den". I let mother do the talking stuff and entered the room. It had a double bed, a cabinet, and a window facing the central fountain. I can still see those three guys there, while the city guards are poking them with sticks.

I sighed. Dealing with people is exhausting. I'll go look for the twins tomorrow and take a dip at the inn's open air bath.

I removed my clothes and took a shower before entering the bath. It's hot, but it's just the right temperature. I sat down at the corner and heard the curtains being flipped.

I looked to see who it was and surprised to see mother. She's wearing a towel and is coming right towards me.

『Mother! What are you doing here?!』

『Ara ara~ Looks like my baby has grown up into a fine man. This is just my way of thanks for saving me from those bad guys』Mother said, sticking her tongue out.

『What do you mean?! You could've defended yourself even if I'm not there. I'm not a child anymore, mother. I have a lot if responsibility to shoulder. 』

『Ara~ What are these responsibilities you're talking about, I wonder?』

『It's... It's confidential. I can't tell anyone about it without permission. I'm sorry, mother.』

『Mother understands. Let's just relax and take a warm bath, okay?』

I nodded silently and left after half an hour. I should visit the church soon, see if Lady Delilah needed something. I quickly changed clothes and left inn. On my way to the church, the night sky is full if stars forming countless constellations. I could see Aquarius here, not sure why since I'm not in my previous world anymore.

I arrived at the church and was greeted by a nun. I went inside, wiping my shoes on the carpet as I was told and kneeled in front of Lady Delilah's altar.

I was transported to the world of nothingness again. I saw Lady Delilah sitting on a rocking chair, knitting. I greeted her and asked if she needed anything.

『Oh, Lake! You've grown up fast, didn't you? That's right. I have a little problem here... I am not sure how to say it, but the Goddess of Love, Rose, has disappeared for twenty years now. I'm worried something happened, but...』

I reassured Lady Delilah that I'll look for Rose, but they oddly have the same name as my mother. I asked Lady Delilah what she looked like and oddly enough, it's the same as mother's.

Lady Delilah asked me how my family has treated me and I replied with 『It's a great family. I have no father, but mother always did the best for me. Her name is Rose and she looks like what you described the Goddess of Love's appearance.』

She gasped, her expression turned into a mild anger. She asked if I had an image of her and replied with no. I told Lady Delilah that she could read my memories and see for herself.

After a couple of minutes, she finally stopped. I steeled, readying for the answer. A couple of minutes of silence and finally, Delilah said something.

『You mother is the Goddess of Love.』