The next few days were more peaceful than Jack would have expected. Neither him nor kids received any sort of major trouble- a few stupid and lascivious independants notwithstanding. They did learn their lesson the hard way quite quickly though, as no matter which girl was harassed, the party retaliated swiftly and with purpose, all while making sure that there were plenty of independant eyes who could vouch for their reasonable actions- they had no desire to antagonize the local authority for nothing.

  Anastiela had discreetly delivered a list of materials and payment alongside a list of desired items and effects in a storage device which would be returned once filled with completed orders. Thus, while the kids were going full throttle in the forest, earning levels and growing stronger, Jack was busy with his own tasks- expanding both the arsenal available for his combat squad as well as cooking up some pretty impressive stuff for Anastiela. She had promised assistance should Jack's creations were as impressive as she thought they were and he would deliver on the request.

  By the end of the week, Anastiela came by once again, her official reason being the desire to try and coax the creator of Ramia's new spices to perhaps consider a change of distributors. Or failing that to at least secure some sort of a lucrative deal with him to get her and her factions hands on the pie that would only grow larger. There was no way he would have thrown everything he had at the old merchant, was there?

  "How did you manage? I can do nothing but wonder. Even I, in my mostly seclusion hear rumors of your coming visit and the reasons for it." Jack asked, a slight smile on his face as he sat across Anastiela once again, much like the last time they did almost a week ago.

  "What can I say? I simply knew a few loose ends with questionable loyalties adjacent to my people and might have let something slip within their earshot. It did what it was meant to though. Now there are no worries of a probability anyone would attribute my new high quality items with you. Speaking of?"

  At her prompt Jack handed over the storage device with the same calm smile he had kept on his face. "I worked hard, so I hope the end result will satisfy your expectations. Go ahead, have a look."

  "My, oh my!" she exclaimed with slightly raised voice as the light smile spread further and further across her impossibly beautiful face. "Now I am even more curious about your actual class, as well as the skill that allows you to fool even quasi-legendary grade appraisal. But, as curious as I am, I know when to stop snooping around." she added as she sighed "One day maybee?" she then asked, a hopeful expression on her face. It was clear that the curiosity was strong with this one.

  "One day maybee." Jack replied with the same words, though lacking the questioning nature of Anastielas' version. It was neither a promise nor a rebuke, leaving it up there with the stars.

  "Any chance you will be able to craft similar quality gear when you ascend class at level twenty five? Or even level twenty threshold gear?"

  "The mat requirements will go up quite notably as you might have already guessed, but I should be able to cook something up then. The question of when that might be is another can of worms entirely."

  "You plan to stick around for the time being, yes? I would hate to lose all ways of communicating with you. Especially now."

  "What's this? I do feel like a plot to use me until I am dry and depleted is forming in that pretty head of yours."

  "Please." Anastiela rolled her eyes "If you were one to be so easily swayed, my natural charm would have already turned you into at least half a horndog for me."

  "So you are aware of it."

  "Which seraph is not? We do try to suppress it most of the time since even lesser angels cannot resist it long term, but you seem to be entirely immune to it. How comes?"

  "Yet another trade secret I'm afraid." Jack grinned as he replied "Here, lest you say I am indeed heartless." he then handed her a small coin like object "Should allow you to communicate with me when necessary. Even if I have no immediate plans to leave this place, one never knows where time will take them. I might be temporarily out of town when you visit next and I would hate for misunderstandings to form where possible."

  "Magnificent." she smiled as she examined the coin. Vessel of communication. Connector(epic)- allows the holder of it to contact the node holder.

  "You would not mind me contacting you every other week or so to keep in touch? I could share some juicy info and you could share your progress as well?"

  "Every other week is fine, but if I don't respond immediately do not panic. I would most likely be busy with some sort of craft and will contact you once I am free. And since you offered, I would appreciate if you could keep tabs on those two epic class newbies and inform me about their actions."

  "Oh? Should not be too much of a problem, but care to share why?"

  "A game of sorts for me I suppose. I believe one of them has accidentally done me a solid so I would love to slowly figure on my own who precisely and then express my thanks to the person. And no, there was not a single line of sarcasm in those sentences. I mean what I said."

  "Sigh. Yet another piece of info that will drive me crazy with desire to know. I am leaving after this meeting by the way. Have to head towards our holdings and start training our fresh recruits while watching how many will be poached by the rest of my peers. The trials of splintered groups. Take care of yourself and your group. They seem like a nice bunch."

  "That they are indeed. That they are." Jack smiled as they rounded out their conversation while Anastiela paid him a bonus of sorts they had agreed upon if Jack's creations would be up to par- which they definitely were. As they finished up, Anastiela did not hold back, almost inhaling most of the snacks on the table, happily munching on them with speed that was hard to keep up even by Jack. That was also one of the last topics she brought up before departing- a request for whatever spices that were used to make them. Now and every so often since she had assured that it would be hard for her to hold back too long to make them last.

  "Fine. I will share these with Ramia so you can get your hands on a veritable mountain if you so desire. Sounds good enough?"

  "Good thing I don't have to worry about maintaining my figure, otherwise you might meet one chubby lady with wings the next time we meet." she replied, her smile having grown even brighter- if that was even possible.

  With that said, Jack escorted her outside where Voriell was faithfully waiting on her, not one twitch of complaint or displeasure on his face.

  "You know you could have come inside? I am pretty sure I said as much." Jack asked, as he bid farewell to Anastiela.

  The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  "Yes I know, but I preferred it here. No offence intended."

  "None taken. Take good care of her. She is a nice person."

  "That's obvious. Have a good day." Voriell replied with conviction before the two angels left.

  ----------------------------------

  "Something does not add up." Jack was sitting in the main hall of his mansion and he felt something was terribly wrong. What was supposed to be a week to two long festival, had come to a conclusion in one. Anastuela and her group was the last of the large forces to leave the town. For Jack, it felt as if something much greater had taken action, ensuring the town was as weak as possibly, as though some sort of bullshit was closing in on the place. And since his gut told him this, he was sure as hell it was happening. The only question now was what form would it take and just how much danger would his kids be in because of it.

  "Of fucking course!" he exclaimed as a moment of clarity and understanding washed over him. There was an obvious answer to the current predicament, or more precisely to the incoming predicament. Two to be honest if Jack would have to pinpoint them. The lovebirds namel. Kenji and Kaede were a gamble of sorts for this plane. A pair of kids with potential to reach for the stars. Whether this same event had happened in the past timeline he did not know- something that depended on whether or not the two got through the tutorial alive, but to be honest, it did not matter to Jack one bit. The duo were among his people, so he would be damned if he allowed anything but old age claim them.

  And so, with the additional resources he earned from his side job for Anastiela, he doubled down on fitting out his assault group. making sure that no matter what they would encounter on their excursions, they would still return home alive, even if not entirely in one piece. He worked his ass off to provide the group with vitality accessories for that particular reason, as well as cooked up some one time use 'OH SHIT!' solutions.

  Only once again he was almost dry in his matter storage, some of that going to pimp out his farmer squad, did he finally return to what he had started before the week of annoyance, scouting out the local criminal gangs to trace their members, supporters and illegal business- something that was done by his fake secondary persona- The mercenary, name still pending. Even if he knew something was brewing, he could do nothing but prepare the best he could and then roll with what the world threw at them. So, in the meantime he would clean up the place just a tad bit. He had to leave most of the local forces alive and hearty for now- once again because of the no doubt coming shitshow.

  It was two days later that the shit hit the fan, leaving the pleasant knews about him reaching level 19 a few hours before that somewhat unimportant.

  "Jack, we have a problem!" were the first words he heard Kaede speak through the communication coin he had given their group, leaving him with a rather expected 'Well, here we go.' expression.

  "We stumbled close to an enormous beast tide. We are rushing back home, but I think the tide is heading in the same direction."

  "Understood. I will prepare accordingly and await your return. Do not do anything stupid and play heroes. Just continue back home and we will work things out afterwards. We need numbers and fortifications. The city will provide both."

  "Understood! We will see you in a few!" Kaede huffed as she signed out, the exhaustion in her voice apparent, though they would make it. Jack was sure of it.

  Jack did not waste time and contacted Ramia the same way- the old merchant had his own communication coin as well after all.

  "Hey there partner." Ramia greeted with a jovial tone, no doubt expecting Jack to offer something mouth watering- hopefully some new blend of spice he could add to his ever growing spice empire. The few he had sent over to be traded with Anastiela and her group had just been moved into production and were promising to be quite the money tree.

  "How can I help you today?"

  "The kids just contacted me to warn of a large monster horde heading this way. Thought you could pass the message to the proper authorities and have them ready by the time it connects with city walls."

  "How big are we talking about?" Ramias' jovial tone instantly dropped, replaced with grim calm and attentiveness.

  "Don't precisely know, but knowing kids were rushing straight back here, without having even considered to engage it, I would say it's massive. The city should soon enough learn of it's presence on their own no doubt, but I thought a small heads up from a rather important local power would help them get off their asses and preparing just that much faster. They are still a few hours away from us after all."

  "Noted. Will pass the message along. Need some assistance?"

  "Nah. With the kids back and us joined, we will be good. Thanks for the offer though." Jack replied, ending their communication right after. Then, he headed over to his farming squad, informing them of the approaching danger. He also told them to remain here- the place would be the safest place for them to be. With that sorted, he went over a few plans he could work with, eventually coming to what he believed was the most efficient way to achieve several things that would serve his purpose in the long run, one of which was to start making name for the mercenary.

  ----------------------------

  By the time Kaede and the group reached the walls, it was clear the town was already aware of the incoming beast tide- most likely thanks to their call to Jack. Sure, their own scouts no doubt had delivered the news soon after, but the guards and the overall activity seemed much too focused and organized. making the times hardly match up. Due to the rather chaotic and limited time, the usual inspections were waved and ignored to ensure quick throughput of the people rushing back to the safety of the walls. There were plenty of people roaming the forest in search of prey or whatever else that they foraged for living.

  Maintaining their pace, the group quickly returned home to their mansion where they were received with open arms and relieved smiles- everyone within already aware of the danger looming over them, every moment creeping closer and closer. Jack was still present, ordering the group to wash up, eat a filling meal and get some rest while they still could. They had done well, not only escaping the danger but coming back safe and sound as well as informing him on such short notice and allowing the city to better prepare. He did not have to tell twice, as the assault group went with his orders without even flinching- who would say no to a bath, a hearty meal and a few hours of sleep after a hard day of work.

  "Is a lap pillow too much to ask for such a wonderful job?" Fumiko joked as the group shuffled towards the baths,.

  "I could pat your head and give you a candy. Seems more fitting, don't you think?" Jack's reply shut her up, the younger tomboy going face red.

  "Screw you!" she shot back, increasing her pace towards the baths.

  "That's still a no." Jack did not leave her hanging, causing her to stumble with his reply, taking her flustered reply way too literally and using it as a proper knock out tactic, earning a few laughs in the process. 'Mission accomplished' fist pump later, he ushered the rest of the kids forward, each second of importance now that their nerves were slightly less tense.

  Their lunch was already prepared and just as tasty as ever, the rest of the group asking them questions about the horde and it's numbers- a clear worry on their faces. All but Jack's that was. His presence was like a magnificent mountain- large, imposing and always there, calming the minds of everyone around him that could consider him an ally.

  With the meal done, the assault group was sent to sleep like some little kids, though none of them complained. Their bodies had been pushed quite a bit today as they hunted for more experience and loot and the forced speed of their retreat had not helped much either. Combine it with the knowledge of the coming, long term battle against the tide that would crash against the towns' walls and the group fell asleep with surprising speed.

  "We want to help!" Jack was brought out of his musings by a rather unexpected sentence, coming from none other than Mika. Kate was standing right next to her, quiet but with the same zeal and willingness to jump in. The two had gotten more comfortable around the people here with each day- their meals becoming more and more lively as they slowly pushed out of their shells. There was still awkwardness in their interactions, worry and sometimes a hint of fear, but they were recovering steadily.

  "Hmm." he hummed for a second or two, as if considering the prospects of the proposal, then he gave his verdict. "Alright. But you will stay here and protect Alonso and the rest. And Carla with be calling shots. Is that understood?"

  Only once he received vigorous nods, did he continue. "If the fighting reaches here, which I hope will not happen, don't act reckless and charge in. Once this is over, you can join Kaede, Kenji and the rest, earning your classes and everything that comes with it. Remember girls- you are a part of the family now, like it or not, and we take care of our own. Everyone comes home to joke about things around the dinner table. No sacrifices and no heroics. Always keep that in mind."

  "Mhmh." the duo nodded in agreement and then were led away by Carla who inclined her head towards Jack as they retreated, happy that Jack was cautious and protective of the two.

  Jack Raja(?)

  Age- 27

  Species- human(?)

  Level- 19

  Class- Twin aspect of Creation and Destruction(EX)

  Stats unassigned: +11

  Attributes:

  Strength- 24 (14+7+3)

  Vitality- 23 (12+8+3)

  Dexterity- 21 (15+6)

  Intelligence-7

  Spirit- 25 (20+5)

  Skills- Wisdom of Creation and destruction(EX), Choice of the creator(EX), Eyes of procurer(EX), Matter storage(EX), Arukain language(C), Spark of inspiration(EX).

  Spells- none.

  Titles(unlocked): The real Monster, Big Game Hunter, The brilliant rookie, The insane Solo. Monster debugger. The actor. Executioner. Survivor. Pioneer, Record breaker.The new champion supreme.

  Gear: amulet +2 vit: weapon- Gundao+3 str. Rings- spatial storage, vit +