Chapter 7 flashback II

James and Joel eventually arrived at the huge wooden door that was majestically designed. Two soldiers who wore high-quality armor stood beside the door, surrounded by a smorgasbord of strong flowers.

While surveying the scene, Joel's eyes were glistening. James didn't mind that several nobles were giggling as they observed Joel because he also found it funny.

The butlers and maids bowed respectfully as James and the other nobility approached the entrance. Joel tried to follow James but was abruptly stopped by a butler. He said, "I'm sorry, but only a noble may enter here."

Joel asked, "Why?" The butler calmly replied, "That's the rule; either you follow it or you'll get tossed away." Joel glanced lower, attempting to hide the shame he felt, several nobles began to chuckle, looking at the scene. While some of the nobles were glaring at the butler as they cursed him silently.

"What do you mean?" James said with a low voice. The Butler replied with a courteous bow, "That's the rule here sir, we can't let a beggar enter here." The building suddenly trembled as the air became heavier and heavier. "What did you call my son?" He said as his voice cracked numerous vases.

All the nobles were speechless as though an arrow had struck their necks. Some of them even plunged to the ground as they embraced James' aura.

The butler's face reddened as he gasped for air. The butler bowed before James until his head met the floor and said, "I'm sorry sir, I was wrong, your son can enter sir." James glared at the man with icy eyes, "Next time, make sure you know what your mouth is releasing."

He then called Joel before accompanying him into the building. James and Joel enter the door, and the nobles outside instantly gasped for oxygen. The nobles mumbled, "Fuck!, lucky the guy didn't kill us," while some nodded their head in agreement.

Joel walked with wide eyes. "He was a powerful adventurer," thought Joel as his chin trembled in excitement.

When he was in the orphanage, he and the other orphan was amazed by the adventurer since they had mana. Of course, Joel and the other orphanage could have mana but because they have no resources to spare, they can only daydream.

Without even knowing it, Joel was already in front of the table, daydreaming. He came back to his sense when James tapped his back and gestured his hand toward the chair next to the table. "Ahh sorry," he apologized with a shaky smile.

James simply nodded before contacting the maid. The maid arrived in a flash, shaking with fright, and handed James the menu. James indicated a few menus. The menu was then given to Joel by James. Joel took it with deference and started reading the menu.

When Joel saw the price his jaw dropped along with the menu. "H-how much is water?" He said. James shook his head and grabbed the menu. After that, he began to point out some menus for Joel.

Joel attempted to stop James since he knew he didn't have the money to purchase something this pricey for himself and the lowest price here would have provided a year's worth of food for the orphanage.

But James didn't bodge. After a little while, a swarm of maids started rushing to their table with various foods in hand. By simply inhaling the food's aroma, Joel drooled.

....

Joel peacefully consumed the food, but a distinct expression could be seen on his face; it resembled that of a greedy monster. Joel and James immediately left the restaurant after paying and finishing their meals.

The skipped 1 year (because if I wrote everything, it would be Joel's story, not Daniel's.)

Joel initially found it difficult and unusual to communicate in James' large caste for the first few months. However, the more time he spent with James and the others here, the closer he grew to them.

Joel was surprised to learn that James never mistreated him. He provided everything Joel would need, such as food, clothing, and other necessities, but not everything that would turn Joel into a spoiled brat.

Joel was still in touch with the orphanage, and on occasion, they would pay a visit and give some supplies.

___

Joel chewed his food thoroughly despite his heart's incessant hammering. He summoned every ounce of his courage and grasped the fork handle. Joel had been reluctant to inquire until this day. "Why are you helping me?"

When those words entered James' ears, his eyes moistened as his calm expression became miserable. Joel immediately panicked. "Did I say something wrong?" He consulted.

James responded, "No, you didn't do anything wrong." He sighed heavily as he turned to face Joel. James started out by telling Joel his tale.

After several hours of thoughtful discussion, Joel's face started to tear up. He let out a loud sob as he took in James' tale. "I'm sorry for bringing it up again."

"Don't worry about it," James answered with a gentle smile on his face. He then brushed Joel's hair rapidly.

After Joel stopped crying, he stood up and announced "I want to be strong as you too!" With a face full of dedication.

James's heart immediately soared with nostalgia as he gazed at Joel's face. He slid his eyelids shut. After a few seconds, he opened his eyes. "It's not as simple as it seems," he said to Joel, "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure of it."

"You will experience a hellish training tomorrow, ao after you eat, quickly take a rest," James said as he continued to eat his food.

Joel ate his meal much more quickly while nodding. When Joel had finished his meal, he stood up and bowed to James. "I'm going first, dad."

The kitchen door gently closed after a little interval, and James' demeanor changed. In the back of James' chair, a voice echoed abruptly. Someone inquired in a deep voice, "Do I need to call them sir?"

"Yes, call them," James answered as he leaned his back against the chair. "I hope the same accident won't occur again."

...

"That's right, 500 push-ups remain, haha!' exclaimed a man with a muscular build. He had short, raven-black hair, and his body was covered in scars.

A sweat was raining against the ground as Joel continued to push up under the burning wrath of the sun. But suddenly his hand slipped, making him drop to the ground, gasping for air. "I thought you wanted to be as powerful as master James; what are you going to give up, then?"

Joel growled as he lifted his hefty frame and continued to force himself on doing push-ups. The man clapped his hands repeatedly, shouting, "That's right, hahaha excellent, good!"

Near Joel, a group of adventurers could be perceived glancing toward Joel's devastating situation. The man with the bow on his back asked, "Isn't it too much for the first day?"

"Master said he wanted to know what kind of weapon his son was talented for," answered the man with his face covered in a black mask. "So, he never teaches him how to fight in the past 12 months, huh?" Said, someone.

They all trembled in fury as someone said, "He might not want to endure that kind of situation again."

A man suddenly clapped his hand loudly. A slight sense of wrath in his voice was disguised by a wobbly smile as he announced, "Hey, hey, let's forget about that shall we?"

Everyone then nodded their head and patted each other back. One of them swiftly attempted to divert the conversation to their embarrassing experience as a group by saying, "You still remember..."

___

Time skipped 5 months.

James sat in the elegant chair and glared at the misadventures who had spent the entire five months teaching Joel. James instantly inquired, "So how was it?" he could see it was excellent news from the glimmer in their eyes.

All of the adventures raised their hands in a flash. James shook his head and gestured toward the person holding a sword in his hands. He remarked, trembling with joy, "Where did you locate such a human, master? He was like a magic memory that can effortlessly swallow all of your teachings."

Some of the adventures clicked their tongue since they were not the ones who shared this information.

James leaned closer to the table because the topic was too intriguing. He asked, "So you're telling me that he had a talent for every class?"

"I'm not saying all of them, since there are other classes around the world that we are unaware of, but Joel can definitely pick up our teachings effortlessly," he replied.

...

After the adventurers engaged in a deep conversation for several hours, they respectfully bowed at James before departing the chamber.

James stood up and headed towards the window. He arrived and found Joel playing joyfully with the orphanage because they had visited Joel this day.

"Did this kid have a connection to... No, no, no that's impossible," James thought as he shook his head and gave his cheeks a gentle slap.

End of the chapter.

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XP

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Author note.

In this chapter, you can see, that I employ a lot of time jumps because if I didn't, it would take us 100 or 200 chapters to finish Joel's backstory. Of course, a lot of important things happened during the time skip, but if I wrote about them in this chapter and their story's arc will take 100+ chap in the future, they would just become filler. So let me sum it up by gradually revealing his past.