Was Oslo joking? Or was he asking it for real? Of course, they could live under the surname Garrison and it would make the couple even more happy.
They didn't ask them for changing the surnames before because they thought that Oslo might not agree to it as he might still want to keep that surname which connected him to his previous parents, but hearing him, John couldn't help but reveal a smile.
"Of course, you can do that. You still haven't made your citizenship card, so I can help you change your surnames into Garrison with my connections. Leave those small not worth mentioning matter to us and chase after your dream."
"Thank you!" Oslo said.
It was his only second time when he felt that he could trust others in ten years. Trust was something he had blacklisted since the age of six and now he was asked to open up his heart again. Of course, he was delighted about it and he hadn't made mistake trusting the couple... new parents.
Previously, In Earth, there was a rule that no one without citizenship card could create a bank account or take a contact number... but after the discovery of Magic Land, the rule was removed. Since adventurers could just score big, they would need some place to store the money and if the adventurers were strong, then how were they going to contact them if they still didn't have citizenship card...via their parents? So, for confidential conversations and for other means...the rule was removed.
Seeing the conversation going well, Mother Yi said, "Now that you're going to live with us, what are you going to do with that old house of yours?"
"That house? I'm gonna make it as good as a new built house and make it my new place to stay in. Like a hideout. Why waste a house for no reason? I can also use that house as store room as well...or use it for other purposes." Oslo said.
"So, you're not going to demolish it?" Mother Yi smiled as if relieved, "That's some good news. After all, you've both stayed in that house for so long that even I would've been sad if you were to demolish it just like that."
"So, would my son like to have a taste of my love filled home cooking every time he returns home from adventure?",Mother Yi asked.
"Haha...I don't want to trouble my mother for such simple things. so, I'll cook on my own." Oslo said awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.
"Brother, if you don't like the cooking, just say so." Ric said.
"I-I didn't say that."
"But you meant that."
"No, I didn't!" Oslo said with a red face.
Both John and Mother Yi chuckled as they finished their dinner.
***
In the morning Oslo was still asleep till 9 a.m. and had to be woken up by some kicks of love from John.
"Oh? Its morning already?" Stretching his arm, he yawned.
"What do you mean its morning already? Its 9 a.m., get ready very fast so that we would make it in time before announcement." John said.
"Yeah, yeah. Wait for a moment."
After full half an hour, Oslo was fresh and ready to roll. He went to his old house and took the dagger as he hung it to his waist and checking that he had those coin pouch, he was set. Although the dagger didn't have any scabbard, Oslo didn't mind letting it hang on his waist.
Entering through the public portal, both father and son arrived at the city Xean. Right after entering, Oslo noticed the crowd that had gathered in the centre plaza. It was more than ever and many people were still joining the crowd before the big announcement.
Patting Oslo's shoulder, John said, "Let's go there and see it from front."
Squeezing through the raging crowd, they were finally able to grab a place for themselves so that they could have a clear view of the plaza. There was suddenly a stage on the plaza and at the stage was a person looking at the crowd that had gathered for the announcement. But he wasn't too excited and had a grim face.
After the mob of people packed the place to the point that it was suffocating to even look at, He took a deep breath to calm himself and opened his mouth with a smile.
"Everyone here at the city Xean, I've come here to announce a certain news that city lord of the Moon city has personally asked of me to deliver to you all. And, the city lord hopes that everyone will accept it regardless of the news. What I want to say before the announcement is...don't cause ruckus after hearing it."
"Either good or bad...you can decide the news for yourselves but don't cause a ruckus."
From the way he spoke and his tone, it seemed like he was happy but there was also a glint of sadness lingering on his voice. He wasn't using any speaker or microphone to announce the news but his voice echoed far and across the city Xean which made people that weren't present in the plaza but were still in the city to hear it as well, because he had use Mana to amplify his voice.
When he said those words, the crowd was filled with anticipation about the news and how it was going to benefit them or not. If city lord of Moon city was involved then it was bound to be an Earth shattering news.
But soon they were going to hear what the news was, so the crowd didn't rush and kept quiet. The plaza even with so many people had become silent like a graveyard to the point that even their racing heartbeat could be heard. The silence was hard to maintain but the anticipation they were caging inside was unbearable.
What was the news? What did it say?
Everyone's thought was on the same page as their eyes were fixated upon the man standing on the stage who was the bearer of the news. The man finally broke the eerie silence with his voice.
"The elves... the elves want to coexist with humans." He was finally able to say those words and sighed as if huge weight was lifted from his heart. He then went on saying,
"City lord, ninety nine divine lords and other noble lords and kings have agreed to this term representing the humanity."
"So, what city lord asks of all of us is to forget all the enmity and grievances from the past and let us welcome each other with friendly smiles and open arms. From today, a new relationship will be established between humans and the elves which will push the position of human race in this world of magic even further."
After saying that, he added last sentence before flying off without a trace,
"So from today, when elves wish to enter the city, no one is to stop them, and the same will go for them if we wish to enter their homelands... and what city lord said was, we should coexist and there is no further need for bloodshed as well as if we want, we can train and become strong together."
What we're finally making peace with elves? It was indeed true that it was going to supplement humanity and its growth in this world but what if it was all a ploy? Then...
Oslo shook his head for not to think something that could jinx it. This news was indeed a huge news that was going to be written in the history of humanity and was going to be engraved in the books. But hearing it, Oslo was speechless and so was the crowd. They couldn't believe what they had just heard.
Coexisting? New relationship? With elves?
The plaza which was dead silent just a moment ago was now filled with gossips between people.
"What? we're finally coexisting?"
"Does that mean the feuds from the past is over?"
"Well, I've been hiding it for a while thinking about how people would react, but now that we're finally coexisting, I don't mind telling you the truth. Actually, I have an elf girlfriend."
"Don't lie. How can such beautiful goddess like elves be your girlfriend?"
"Its true. I swear on my life."
"You shouldn't have swore on your life. Now I have to attend your funeral as well. Man, what a pain..."
Many people were happy because of the news. Since the time humanity has started settling on Magic Land, they had been in somewhat cold relationship with the elves...the bloodthirsty one. If the feuds and enmity was to end just by coexisting and if they wouldn't have to suffer anymore then who wouldn't comply?
But not people in the crowd carried the same thoughts. They still didn't accept the news regarding the matter.
"If we're going to coexist then what about my husband who died fighting them?"
"Yeah, what about my son? Where would his soul go? He can't rest in peace knowing what he had died fighting is just going to live with us side by side."
Following those voices, many people disagreed of this new relationship between elves and humans. Because of this, they thought that for what purpose their family members laid their life had become a joke for all to laugh at and they didn't like the news a bit.
"Narrow minded and selfish as always. I can't believe that there was still people like you in this age of time. Your family members died? So what if your family members died fighting elves?" A man spoke from the crowd.
"Do you think that it was only your family that died. Many people present here has lost their loved ones in battle with elves, but they aren't saying anything, are they?"
"Well that's because they don't have a power and standing. They are just useless compared to our status." One of the person who disagreed to the relationship spoke.
"What? You still think that your title makes you superior than us? Well, reality flash, no matter what your title is, you're still a human and not a god. And do you think that only your family suffered in those battles?" The man said,
"Elves who were suddenly attacked, assassinated and were killed in the war suffered even more but what they did was not argue and fight about it again and again. So, they decided to make peace first and suggested to us."
"And even now if you don't understand the situation then then just present your problem to city lord, and I know he will settle it for you." The man said and walked out of the crowd
"Tsk...narrow minded and selfish as ever. If this keeps on like this...humans will never be able to progress forward in this place."
The protestors kept quiet when they heard the word 'city lord'. They knew that even if they could say these things here, they couldn't just say it casually in front of the city lord.
If they did, they'd be executed for their behaviour and in front of the big picture, their lives didn't valued much. Here, strength was justice and strong decided the rules. They were but an ant compared to other monsters in human flesh.
Although there was a rule that they weren't allowed to kill any humans within the city, who could say that accident might not occur in the wilderness. Their lives wouldn't be paid much thought even if they were to die, so they had no choice but to grit their teeth and conceal the hatred inside their heart.
Oslo too had a hard time digesting the news. And this news wasn't going to help him in anyway? He still needed to solve the problem regarding his mana by himself and this news wasn't going to bless him out of it. So, even though the news was important, yes, but it didn't concern him in anyway. He now planned on going on a new quest.
So he explained it to his father John and left saying that he was going to go on a new quest. He then after some squeezing through the crowd was able to leave the plaza.
He then instead of directly going to the guild stopped midway and entered the shop in a rundown street.
Clang~ Clang~ clang~
The shipowner still worked hard as ever with those hammer of his. Oslo then looked at the shop owner and asked,
"Are my items ready?"
"Oh, your items..." The man clearly looked at the face of Oslo and smiled.
"Just finished making them. Want to have a look?"