The next morning Penta woke up feeling groggy. Sleep was dreamless as usual and his roachyness was really just closing his eyes but he still retained his horrible habit from being human where he woke up groggy and didn't enjoy getting up.
During his great underground expedition, he was actually more excited at being awake and getting the frick out of the darkness so his motivation was boundless at the time but now in the comfort of a bed he couldn't help but want to sleep in.
As he tried getting up, he felt a weight on his stomach and shoulder and finally noticed what it was. Looking over, he noticed a tiny black-haired girl resting her head on his stomach while a slightly bigger one sleeping on his shoulder.
He couldn't bring his emperor self to wake these cute things considering the serenity of their sleeping faces.
"Sigh" He couldn't help but gently let one out as he recalled the events of the previous night.
After having had an amazing meal the girls were taken over to his room alongside Celia where they finally settled down and got to asking where these girls' parents were.
The older Kaya finally explained that they're parents were traveling peddlers who would go from small villages to the next and trade different supplies with a few others and the girls. Unfortunately, they had met with a severely large wolf pack and things went south as their parents only managed to hide the girls under some heavy furs while trying to rush out of the encirclement. After all the noise had settled down, Kaya and Sana who had been too scared to do anything could only climb out after a long while only to find everyone dead.
They cried for a whole evening before Kaya buried her parents and took whatever money they had and traveled to the city. They were young girls and their parents were only saving up enough to get into a decent city and send the girls to school but misfortune struck and Kaya had to shoulder their survival.
It was quite a tragic story but they somehow managed to arrive at this city but running out of money without a proper way to earn any, though Kaya tried, she and her sister were eventually caught by the brothel thugs. Kaya sort of knew what it was considering her parents had taught her a few things so she immediately ran away and started hiding from them. Though this only lasted a while before they found them again and thus met Penta.
He wasn't a gentleman by any standard considering his past life and his "banishment" to a shithole like Agara but even he didn't want to do anything to his poor little sisters. They had just been through too much and as someone who had only recently been through some dark times. He could sympathize with them and even started considering them more and more as his little sisters. Though he had no idea when these two had crawled into his bed as he remembered Celia taking them.
It may have been the loneliness or some weird feeling from his soul that carried hundreds of his siblings but he had decided to take care of them after all and as such he decided internally.
'SLEEP IN IT IS!'
As the morning rays were finally starting to creep into the room. The trio woke up with Kaya blushing furiously at being stared at by Penta who was grinning and rubbing her head and little Sana happily jumping on the bed shouting " Honowubble Bwutha!".
"Morning my little sisters," Penta said as he got off the bed while forcing Kaya to stay on it. They were lively but he knew the two still needed some rest. Though maybe Kaya more than little Sana.
"I'll get breakfast for you two so stay put. Kaya especially, rest! I can tell you've been caring for Sana so much that you neglected yourself but it's okay now. Your honorable brother's here now." He said with a smile as he went off downstairs.
Kaya started tearing up after he left while little Sana noticed and hugged her sister.
"Morning Celia! Claud! Sasha! You three are up early," Penta said as he yawned while walking downstairs into the hall.
"You do know its almost afternoon right?" Celia said as she was counting some money behind the counter.
"Right... haha. Well, the girls were sleeping so well that I couldn't bother them especially considering this might of been the first proper night of rest they had. Anyways, Claud got some breakfast for your good old pal?" Penta grinned while asking.
"Who's your pal? Idiot. You just deliver the meat so don't get so close. You can grab the leftovers from the morning. Sasha mind prepping the plates?" Claud grumbled as he busied himself within his kitchen.
"It's fine Sasha, I got it." Celia cut in as Sasha was making her way to the back.
"Yes, Yes, Claud. Nothing but a delivery man. Oh right, Celia! Been meaning to ask but I plan on doing that affinity test whatever to join the Storm tribe. Any tips? I don't really know much about the tests and would I be able to bring along the two little ones as well?" Penta asked as he started helping Celia prepare the breakfast.
"Oh, it's good you're willing to continue taking care of them. Thought you might send them to the orphanage after but I guess it's a little hard on them."
"No, I don't think its a great choice either. I can't help but feel they might hate it and after having them call me their "Honowubble bwutha" I can't bring myself to just throw them away after picking them up hahaha. They remind me of my own siblings too so it's harder."
"Well, well, aren't you a soft-hearted one. Anyways, it's good to hear they can depend on you, at least they would be fed considering your quirks. As for the Storm tribe test. The affinity test isn't that big of an issue. There's a platform that shows you, your innate affinities, and following that they only need to know your age. If any of your affinities is between 50% to 70% you can become a rank 3 member, while 70 to 90% would get you access to the rank 2 member benefits which is what most people aim for. If you manage to get above 70% in one affinity then you should get a larger residence in which case you could bring some servants or family." Celia explained as she started heating the soup for the trio.
"Oh, and what if you got over 90 or under 50?" Penta asked curiously.
"Unfortunately, anything below 50% isn't worth using the tribe resources on but I doubt you would have any issues considering your battle strength is already good. Now getting above 90% and depending on your age, you can be allowed to gain special privileges as a rank 1 member where they would go all out to nurture you. Though it's rare, it happens from time to time as they recruit over the years within the surrounding area."
"Think the girls have a chance too?" Penta asked as this was slightly more important.
"Potentially, though little Sana would have to wait until she turns 10 to get tested. Kaya can test and if she does get access then you might get separated depending on her talent. Though since you will be their guardian there are always exceptions."
"Hmmm. Well, I plan on going there today as I found out their testing everyone for the next three days, and how much was your talent?" Penta asked as he stared at the tribal patterns around Celia's arms.
"Sigh, not the best really. I had high hopes back then but sadly my affinity was only for the water and nature element while they were respectively 54% and 49%. Low-grade talent while eventually I just gave up and joined my father in opening the Inn once I saved enough. It's a competitive place and I couldn't really fit in or advance beyond beginner tier. Resources are hard to get and I wasn't specialized in combat so it was more difficult to advance. Serving my time running errands burned my passion." Celia said as she had a face that seemed to be slightly upset.
"She was also too pretty!" Claud chimed which made his daughter smile bitterly at the memory of her getting harassed for this and that just because of her looks.
"Ara, Who dares!? It's a good thing you left if it was like that. Maybe once they see my supreme talents, I might be able to help ya out, Celia." Penta grinned while giving a mischievous wink.
"Oy grab your food and don't you dare give my girl that look. Little barbarian." Claud gave a dark stare at Penta while holding a knife. Penta simply grabbed his food and ran away at the sight of Claud's stare leaving Celia to giggle at their interaction.
Reaching his room, he noticed the girls had gotten up and already freshened up in the bathroom. Though this city wasn't the most modern. It still had a decent sewage system with a decent toilet and bath. He didn't know how they made it work but he was glad they were there.
"Breakfast time and after, we go do some shopping while also attending the Storm tribe's test! So eat up." He said as he saw the excited look on both girls at the thought of eating.
"Thank you!" "Thank you!" The girls cheerfully replied to his offerings of food.
As they were feasting on their morning bread and soup. Penta got properly dressed in his black and purple robes while his recently purchased sword hung at his side.
"Kaya, you ever get your affinity tested?" Penta suddenly asked.
"Uhm, I did once I was ten but it showed my affinity as being very low so I didn't get into the Mountain tribe at the time," Kana said while smiling a little bitterly. She knew at that time had she been accepted maybe some of her past troubles would have never appeared as troubles.
"Oh, well aren't you a little older now? Let's try again. It'll be fun and worst case, you just follow your brother along." Penta said dotingly. He enjoyed calling himself a brother. It felt narcissistic but he didn't bother with the thought.
"S-sure. I don't mind if you're there too..."