Timeline: Winter of Year 19, a week after New Year...
Leaving their parents about 1000 gold in the form of silver in a box that was to be hidden under a hidden floorboard under their bed as well as a pantry full of flour and cooking condiments, and various potions that must be taken every week, and healing potions incase of injury that all the parents had to worry about now are buying groceries and cooking them, so the siblings left home for Marris City. However, no one is to know what they have as revealing that you have potions in the medicine cabinet means you're rich, making you a target for robbery and murder. So the parents cannot share, no matter what and the nearest neighbor's house is far enough that screams, will not be heard.
It was why their house appears as a cottage even if it has two floors. It was why their furniture looks as plain as possible, though sofa cushions and beds are absolutely comfortable...and why their medicine cabinet is in the parents' room where it won't be seen through the windows.
The other source of comfort was the ease in using the kitchen stoves, that faucet from the kitchen sink that pours out warm water warm enough to melt oils, grease and for use in tea and coffee...and its also filtered, so it's crystal clean. The bathroom showers are also warm, but not like the warm levels in the kitchen sink, but a gentler warmness. Besides, the house is comfortable!
The windows constantly blow in a gentle breeze. Engraving Magic hidden in the windowsills so the converted temperature depends on how hot or cold it is outside. And the only Chimney in the house, was on the kitchens so hot air will rise there. The chimney was also engraved to keep rain, snow, flying creatures and santa-wannabe thieves out by making the chimney edge as hot as a poker. The house also has built-in magical security so the parents need not worry about their house while they're out. It becomes an impenetrable house nothing short of an A-Class Mage can do damage to it.
Donna made full use of her creativity and modern style of thinking she's confident not even Razen can figure her formula out even if he is stronger than her as a human. She a Level 1 to who-knows-what's-his.
Donna had quite the time explaining to Mr. Dwarf Architect what to filter out of the plumbing using engraving magic.
Maybelle is a well-off farming village that farmers earn 15 silver a month as unlike Baron Arden, Marquis Muller was nice to his people and pays them based on importance. And as Farmers provide food, their salary is real swell.
But as their parents quit working altogether to live out their retirement years, they can spend their days living out the life of newly-weds as for a couple who looked like skin-and-bone corpses before, they look like healthy adults their age suggests, gaining flesh and shape. Their dry, wiry matted hair is now healthy, vibrant and glossy. They can now be clean, eat well and actually own a closet of clothes and shoes.
They resolved to live out their lives in freedom bliss as they never got to enjoy their marriage for twenty-seven years due to having to work to eat and making it in time for taxes and fear of getting whipped, and their children finally gave them the chance to, even if it's years late.
So they never bothered taking on any job ever again.
Marris City...
This was their first stop to check on their brothers, and re-supply them. Cosmetics to keep their skin scarless and peach-tan from the dark, discolored tan they had before no thanks to farming, no body hair, soap and shampoo, and pearly-white teeth with no dental issues. Donna has potions for all that and creams. The only bar thing, was the soap.
After meeting their brothers tonight, they will leave for Dwargon.
They DO have to buy adventuring outfits anyway.
'Oh! What brings you kids to this city a day early?' Andre asked their youngest siblings.
Normally Donna visits once a month at end of the month to keep them resupplied. But coming out of schedule got the brothers wondering.
'Mom and dad are asking us to visit you guys before we leave for our new jobs.' said Donna, putting bags of supplies on their table.
'Really? What's your new job?'
'Remember that Freedom Guild that just sprung up? I heard from Hinata since she says we're wasted in our jobs since I was a Weaver and Melvin a Craftsman in making artsy wood pieces for home decor.' said Donna. 'I can build a Pharmacy Shop in Blumund's Guild, but Melvin and I will supply ourselves as its not breaking-even if we have to hire adventurers all the time to supply our store so we're also Adventurers...only, we earn more than a typical Adventurer.' the boys went O with their expressions.
Cosmetics aside, there's also the Healing Potions. So yes, it'll be a money-spinner for their youngest siblings' futures.
And as Adventurers are very generous with money, yeah, they'll earn a lot in a month, nevermind Donna's annual gig with the Paladins...
Because Donna earned so much in just one year, their parents would rather the boys keep their full salaries after building their new home in Maybelle, so they can get married but hopefully, marry a good girl who would be good wives, instead of money-oriented girls. Their parents married for love despite how hard life in Northdale was.
'So since buying Melvin a type of sword, how strong is he now?' Kevin asked Donna as they met in the usual tavern in Marris. At the end of the month, the Kleines reserves a table for six after work hours downstairs. Years before it was table for five but since Melvin came this year, they reserved a table for six days in advance. Thus in the tavern 'Merry Men', the monthly arrangement became familiar with the Bartender and the employees of the bar.
But because Donna AND Melvin came early, they occupied a table for four that they had to squeeze in two spare chairs as the first floor is almost full as is the second floor where the wealthy are.
'It was freaky when we got rare-grade equipment and used it in missions...you hear the Voice of the World when it declares out of the blue, 'Level'-whatever number!' said Jackson weakly. 'It was then we learned that rare-grade equipment made of Magisteel enables their owners to grow upon gaining experience. Its a symbiotic relationship. Owner gets stronger, so does the quality of the sword. And every ten levels, Master Razen the Court Mage records everyone's progresses in the Royal Corps and records how strong we all are by our levels.'
Because Donna has a Unique Skill(s), the energy from it boosted Donna's magical pool that for a Level 1, her pool is larger than it should be. Melvin was capacity-appropriate when he first began. But since gaining a rare-grade sword, his levels began increasing. His base stats thanks to years of physical training and potions, were off to a great start.
'Well, he's Level 10 now.' said Donna, patting Melvin's back. 'It's been a year since buying him a rare-grade sword but daytime jobs took up much of his time last year before we made this decision. I too, will buy a rare-grade sword for myself later in Dwargon after visiting you guys.' she said. 'He does most of the work while I support from behind with magic, so experience between us is split 80-20.'
'Well, he had it easier than us.' Kevin snorted. 'Because we're newbies in the Royal Corps, we're sent on insane missions for the sake of maintaining its reputation that each member is as strong as a B-Class Monster. We were grilled its only thanks to Full-Potions we didn't get career-ending injuries or worse, going home as a corpse.'
'The good thing is salaries increase when you reach certain levels so that's motivation.' said Jackson. 'From our beginning of 30 gold upon graduating, we get a ten gold increase when we level up ten times. So yes, the ability to build our own house and get married someday isn't so farfetched anymore so we're saving up for our own homes.'
'I have yet to enjoy such perks though. I'm a newbie fresh graduate and yet to go on such insanities like you guys.' Gilbert snorted with a handwave. He's the fourth brother and two years older than Donna, so yes, he doesn't get much work yet.
Kevin who's 27 this year, now enjoys a monthly of 70 gold. In a year that's 840 gold. Jackson was 20 less, and Andre, less than his, being a Level 10 thus just got an increase. But between the brothers, Andre and Gilbert were better swordsmen because of Hinata's training and Gilbert trained hard before his time to be taken for conscription came.
'It'll come Gil, it'll come. Missions are handed out fairly for us commoners, so wait your turn.' Kevin snorted. 'You just graduated after all.'
'Yeah yeah.'
'Anyway, did you guys write up a letter so we can take it home to our parents before we go to Dwargon?'
'Yup, got it here.' Kevin took out a paper envelope that's bulging from twice the paper stuffed in and folded, as the brothers write all their musings very long...complaints included so their parents would know how they're doing. 'Get it to our folks after shopping in Dwargon alright?'
'K~!'
Dwargon, days later after evading Falmuth Borders to avoid the fees...
'...what a long line...' Melvin croaked out as they stared wide-eyed at at the lines. Humans, Majin, looooong lines.
'...maybe we should have made packed lunch, this line is ridiculous.' Donna swore in annoyance as the sight of that long line, they'll be here forever. 'Melvin, I'll go hunting alright? Keep our line spot reserved.' Melvin choked as he got the sucky deal, but he wasn't trained to hunt yet...damn.
The forests...
Using Magic Sense, Donna could determine where prey are and how far they are from her and how strong.
She can only hunt up to the equivalent of Level 10 prey even as a child as she can't hunt creatures stronger than that.
Now she knew why.
She was just a Level 1 even with her mana pool. But the potency and quality is just that, despite the abnormal quantity because she's a Level 1 Human who had been using a cheap bow and arrow set imbued with her own magic to compensate for piercing through powerful hides and carapaces.
She really needed a Rare-Grade Sword to level-up and make her current boons even deadlier.
Five hours later?
She was back with food and the line was halfway through.
'Here, go take a break.' Donna gave Melvin his share of meat and a chilled water bottle. 'I'll stand in wait.' Melvin's relief showed bliss in his expression he must be really tired.
'Thanks sis, but at this rate, we'll be inside by midnight!' Melvin swore in exasperation. 'It took five stinking hours for me to get halfway through!'
'Oh dear...'
Using Marris' Courier Service, a letter to Hinata arrived in Ruberios through fastest service, even if it cost 10 gold.
And that letter reached Hinata upon enough checking for spells and such.
Hinata has a few friends in her youth, and grew to like Donna's kind parents - the second people who showed her kindness in her life after Shizu. She also was freed of her Curse Crystal so this version of her was a lot nicer than her other counterparts in parallel worlds. So she always receives letters from Donna.
Her alias was 'The Supplier' to protect her anonymity. Very few knows Donna Kleine in Ruberios but servants know of 'the supplier who sells Full Potions' and only ever mails Hinata.
Hinata got the letter from a servant and began reading.
We persuaded mom and dad to retire, their suffering over. No more work,
no more worrying about taxes nor getting publicly-whipped for not making
it in time and you've seen how ugly that was. Marquis Muller was a kind
landlord and the only decent noble here in Falmuth and we left enough
money to last them three years while we're traveling, but we'll check in
monthly. Perhaps being related to the benevolent monarchy of Blumund
has something to do with that given their reputation. Us kids managed to
persuade them so they caved in.
Melvin and I suggested they relive their life, the life they could have had,
had they NOT been born in Arden Territory. Once the Freedom Guild is
finally organized as it wasn't before, Melvin and I decided to give it a shot.
We'll work in Blumund Branch to be close to home. I'll get a rare-grade
sword soon to level up as despite my boons, I'm horrifyingly weak that it
made my boons useless unless I get stronger. We'll begin when snow thaws
out. They say everything begins with foraging, but how to we bloody do that
in winter when nothing grows and white slush everywhere? So yes, we'll wait
for thaw-out and study for the Entrance Exams instead.
Melvin does NOT know the loooong list of ingredients I know, so I'll grill him
on that. We'll also study monsters in Jura Forest as well as tribes, stuff like
that but if we're attacked just for being human as I'm pretty sure monsters
hates us because Adventurers attack THEM for EXP Points if they can afford
a Rare-Grade Weapon. You know I don't do bias and prejudice, given the
bullshit I put up with as Harry Potter. So for me, it's pure professional. Beastie
attacks me I attack them in self-defense only or if they happen to be targets
at work.
Maybe I'll meet some interesting Majin in the woods. I also want Melvin to
grow up bias-free, something the older brothers never got a chance to
experience, I'm pretty sure their military instructors went discriminatorily-
judgmental lectures all the way under the guise of 'for justice'. And bringing
home daughters-in-law will have to wait. Mother was very strict with standards
as in Falmuth, money is everything, she doesn't want a materialistic daughter
-in-law who'd give the brothers a hard time. Mother says we should marry for
love like she and dad did. Marrying for love guarantees a happy marriage and
a loving home for kids.
Either that, or they find a girl in Maybelle, who knows?
How about you, find a nice guy in Ruberios? While a guy can get away with
marrying late in life, society unfairly doesn't allow us ladies that same luxury.
You can get away with it as you got backing, I can't, hahaha. I'm 19 now that
by next year...ugggh. I'll be a well-earning Pharmacist soon, I'd want a guy
who won't date me or marry me for my fat wallet. If human men are that scummy
enough, maybe I'll go for a majin if money-grubbers annoy me enough.
- Donna
'Oh yeah, this society is like that.' Hinata snorted as she used spirit fire magic to burn the letter.
'Like what about?' Leonard, a newly-promoted Great Saint asked her, startled by Hinata's sudden musings after reading her letter he really wondered what it said for her to say so.
'All ladies must marry at 20. That rule.' Hinata scoffed in derision. 'Donna's getting pressure from society in her village even if Aunt and Uncle Kleine are fine with her marrying late as love is a factor. At least I have backing to avoid that issue as I'm not ready for that sort of thing and so is she.' she said.
'Aunt Kleine says we should always marry for love so we be careful in choosing. I'm a wealthy Paladin and Donna's a wealthy pharmacist which she hides. Most men in society these days want a get-rich-quick card by marrying a wealthy girl and live the life of a parasitic bum on her bronze by playing with her heart. We're not having such shit.' she told him with a handwave.
'You may be a former noble from Ingrassia but the fact remains that you're still wealthy through your inheritance and earnings as a Paladin.' Hinata reminded Leonard. 'Watch out for scheming girls, Jester.' Hinata warned. 'Determine wisely for a girl who likes you for you, not the fat wallet you are now with a star-gold for a head instead of your face.'
'Y-yes, Leader.' Leonard went ten-hut awkwardly.
'...that's what happened.' said Leonard to his fellows at lunch break, the other five Saints as they hardly see or know the Three Great Sages anyway who's hardly around.
'Uwa, that sort of talk came up so soon!' Arnaud sweatdropped.
'Well, society here is like that isn't it?' said Litus, playing with her food by moving it around with a fork. 'It's not like Earth at all. There, we can enjoy lives as single adults before settling down.' being a 'Saint' even if their true rank is Enlightened lets them get away from medieval rules of this world.
'Well you guys will have to deal with that. It's the way here since, for ever.' Garde snorted after drinking a swig of beer. Then he lit up. 'Oh yeah, we're Enlighteneds, so we'll be good looking for a few more centuries, and Litus is so small she can pretend to be underage forever or something.'
'Oi!' Litus gave him a glare for that jab at her height.
And so...
Winter has passed with Donna grilling Melvin about the exams.
For an Adventurer, they must be knowledgeable about things they must know. Monsters. Magic. Ingredients. Materials. History of the Guild. Etc...as well as continuing their training, they both worked hard together.
And come spring, wearing adventurer's garb, they registered as Adventurers.
'Oh, you'll register together?' the receptionist asked the pair of siblings who looked like they were children of the wealthy due to how they looked. They have poreless, flawless fair skin and vibrant glossy hair. They wore the same gear as everyone else though. Light armor and carrying a sword.
'Yes, we're a pair of siblings.' said Donna. 'We'd like to join the Subjugation Division for now. Foraging and Exploration is not feasible at this moment.'
'Well, spring just arrived...I guess you'll wait for those two, so Subjugation it is. Please fill up these forms and I'll go call Proctor Jiggis for your Subjugation Exam.'
The siblings filled up their forms while the receptionist left to call Proctor Jiggis.
'Sister, this is it.' said Melvin nervously.
'Yeah. I trained you hard in Arts, we'll be OK.' Donna encouraged her brother. Incase there's Spirit Summonings which is highly likely, So she trained him how to deal with spirits and demons.
The exams began. Its individual exams of course.
Melvin first.
He did well so far, and his B-Class monster is a Wyvern. Easy enough. Thank Hinata!
But Melvin opted out of the A-Rank Exam as his sword '-isn't made for an A-Class monster! I'm not loaded enough for that!'
So now Donna stepped up.
However? What came out wasn't a B-Rank Monster...it's a...person? Wait, Jiggis used Demon Summoning...
But by the aura exuded, even Jiggis paled as any sorcerer realized what this goth-looking guy is. He was blonde, wore dark make-up with a spiky choker, and a grungy outfit.
But this one's strength terrified her that she went pale and was very nervous she was sweating bullets.
'Looks like I'm in serious trouble.' Donna swore. 'Jiggis, have you any idea who you just called?'
'Yeah, I wasn't expecting one of this level to come out for an Exam!' Jiggis shook, pale with fright. 'Its supposed to be a Lesser Demon! Not one of this guy's caliber! This is an accident!'
'Oi oi, you should know using that to call us isn't always an iron-clad rule.' said the 'boy' wryly, sticking a finger into his ear. 'We come out when there's something interesting once in a while.' he snorted. 'Since you called me for an exam, I'd normally charge you, but the examinee is more interesting at the moment.' the boy looked straight at Donna. 'Your soul is very strong. It's why I decided to take a look.'
'Should I be honored?' said Donna as she was ready to fight for her life. The boy liked her expression as she was clearly ready to fight to survive and give it all she's got. Because she knows what he is.
For an exam, he, a Greater Demon got called.
'You should...' and all hell broke loose. Donna fought for her life or get killed she thanked anything that's holy called Hinata's training.
And obviously, nobody can do anything even if they called Guildmaster Fuze for help, but not even he can do anything for the poor girl who was unlucky enough to fight the 'big one' Jiggis called by sheer bad luck.
Things happened way too fast that Donna hasn't time to use her magic at all. All she's got going for her, are her Resistances when a normal person would have howled in pain by now.
She also uses her magic to feed herself her Full Potions when she was too injured to continue and she refuses to die, by the way.
Hours later?
They stopped. Donna was dead tired. Her face flushed and she could not even move a finger, leaning hard on her sword. This was as far as she can go.
'Hmm, not bad for a human...potential unlocks if pushed to the brink it seems.' said the boy. 'I had fun so I'll let the proctor off. But he won't be so lucky next time.' and he was gone.
'...Fuuuuuck...' Jiggis choked. 'I think forget being a B-Rank, you go straight A just for surviving that one!' that, and Donna's fighting ability was wasted in the B-Rank Tier anyway...
'JIGGIS!' Fuze howled. 'What possessed you to summon a Greater Demon for a freaking exam?!'
'It's supposed to be LESSER but that guy came out instead! It's not my fault!' Jiggis defended himself. 'Even I'm not that insane!'
'Then don't use Demon Summoning in exams anymore, stick to Spirits!'