"Where on earth did you disappear to yesterday?" her mother questioned sharply, her voice laden with a mix of frustration and concern.
Alice stumbled over her words, initially taken aback by the vein that seemed to throb on her mother's forehead. However, a glimmer of hope flickered within her as she noticed her father's gentle gaze upon her. It bolstered her courage and spurred her to find her voice.
"I-I'm... I promise I won't gain weight!" she stammered, her voice quivering. But her hopes were quickly dashed as her mother abruptly grabbed her ear, causing the ice cream in her hands to slip and crash onto the floor.
"Who taught you this insolence? Where is your apology?" Leona scolded, her grip firm as she reprimanded her unappreciative daughter, who seemed unaware of the boundaries.
A rush of embarrassment flooded Alice's cheeks, her eyes growing moist with unshed tears. "I-I... I'm sorry, mother!" she choked out, her voice barely audible.
In a sudden turn of events, Bastian intervened, grasping his wife's hand, providing Alice with a momentary respite. "Honey, don't be too harsh on her. Remember, she's still just a child," he interjected, his touch gentle as he caressed Alice's head. The young girl took refuge behind her father, clutching his leg tightly.
"No, you mustn't always shield her. We need to teach her the right way..." Their voices clashed, an ongoing argument that seemed to have no resolution.
Caught in the crossfire of her parents' dispute, Alice silently endured her mother's scolding for her absence throughout the day, while her father steadfastly defended her, asserting that she was merely a child and her actions were understandable.
The conflict between her parents seemed to stretch endlessly until a sudden knock broke the tension, momentarily redirecting their attention.
"Excuse me, Captain. We have arrived at the border of the North Kingdom. Should we prepare to dock?" The voice of a crewmate reverberated through the room, prompting Alice's parents to exchange a glance before Bastian instructed the crewmate to enter.
Bastian's expression turned grave as he inquired, "Have you noticed anything suspicious on the harbor?" The once gentle demeanor of the loving father had vanished, replaced by the commanding presence of a formidable leader.
Leona and Alice, sensing the change in atmosphere, paused their activities, their attention now fully focused on the impending response from the crewmate. Only Desmond, their younger son, found amusement in the sudden shift of dynamics.
Inwardly, Desmond activated his scanning ability, a habit he had developed whenever encountering new individuals. However, his gaze shifted back to his elder sister, who anxiously sought refuge behind their mother.
[Scanning the target...]
"System, scan her too," Desmond silently commanded.
[Scanning the target...]
[Scan Complete!]
[Scan Complete!]
[Name: Alice
Gender: Female
Age: 3
Race: Human
Class: None
Occupation: None
Unique Energy: 3.28
Strength: 1.30
Agility: 5.30
Stamina: 0.30
Trait Effect:
Playful (Rare)
- Increases Agility by +5.00.
- Increases the Amount of Unique Energy Gathering +0.002]
Desmond furrowed his brow as he noted the appearance of yet another Rare trait. "A Rare trait again? This isn't ordinary," he mused inwardly. Given their merchant background, it was highly unusual for a typical merchant family to possess multiple Rare and Unique traits.
His suspicions grew stronger as he observed the crew's statistics.
[Name: Allen
Gender: Male
Age: 34
Race: Human
Class: 1st Class Swordsman
Occupation: Servant
Unique Energy: 12.41
Strength: 19.30
Agility: 17.30
Stamina: 2.48
Trait Effect: - - ]
"A servant? Not just a crewmate? And a 1st Class Swordsman at that?" Desmond questioned silently. He noted the absence of any trait effects, prompting him to wonder if it was possible to possess no traits at all.
Desmond pondered how they could conceal the identity of a 2nd Class Witch. In his estimation, his mother possessed enough beauty and power to become a force to be reckoned with in any kingdom, as 2nd Class Witches were only a step away from reaching the 3rd Class.
The notion that his mother, with her captivating allure and formidable abilities, would marry a mere merchant like his father seemed implausible to Desmond.
Meanwhile, Desmond couldn't help but consider his own father. Though not as remarkable as his mother, it seemed peculiar to him that his father would only be a simple merchant in comparison to the crew that had just arrived. Something felt off about the entire situation.
"From what I could observe, Captain, there doesn't appear to be any overtly suspicious groups or individuals," the crewmate replied. "However, upon utilizing my swordsman skills to enhance my vision, I noticed that some of the shop owners would occasionally cast glances towards the people entering the harbor, including newcomers like us."
Upon hearing this response, frowns etched themselves onto the faces of everyone present, excluding Alice. Leona and Bastian strained their minds as they gazed out at the serene expanse of the seawater through the window.
Leona's gaze briefly shifted to Desmond, her expression clouded with worry, a sentiment that was not lost on him.
Meanwhile, Desmond contemplated the various possibilities surrounding the current events. It seemed unlikely for a group of traveling merchants to exercise such caution unless they had somehow offended someone of higher authority in the past. But what debts could they owe? With his mother's power, what could they possibly be afraid of? If Desmond's intuition was correct, the remaining crew members might also be skilled swordsmen like the one before them.
"This is all so strange," Desmond thought to himself. "Why would my parents insist on docking in this harbor, even after realizing that something seems amiss? Is there a specific reason behind their decision?"
Having been lost in his thoughts during the conversation about docking, Desmond only caught the part where they mentioned going to the church for some reason.
"Notify all the men to prepare for docking," Bastian finally spoke after a prolonged silence, a resolute tone in his voice. "Though the situation may pose some dangers, we cannot let our son's precious time slip away. He needs to identify his trait as soon as possible."
With that, Bastian made a firm decision, prioritizing his son's well-being amidst the uncertainty that surrounded them.
As Bastian looked at his wife, he found her gazing at him with a passionate expression. "Thank you, my love," she whispered, her voice filled with warmth and affection. If they weren't in the presence of the crew and their daughter, they might have been tempted to indulge in a passionate kiss.
Even the crewmate, captivated by Leona's beauty and radiant smile, stood there momentarily stunned before awkwardly excusing himself and swiftly relaying the information to the rest of the crew.
On the other hand, Desmond couldn't help but feel a touch of confusion regarding his parents' words. Initially, he had assumed there might be some business transaction between the church and the merchant, but he hadn't anticipated it being related to himself.
"Why is there such a hurry to identify my trait?" Desmond wondered, his mind grappling with the intricacies of how people thought in this world. He struggled to comprehend the reasoning behind their urgency.
The danger looming in the harbor was apparent, and instead of seeking out a safer alternative, his parents had chosen to confront it head-on. Perhaps it was because they possessed power and had no reason to fear.
"Um, Mother, when we arrive, may I buy something?" Alice suddenly broke the dazed silence, her voice timid yet hopeful. She had been patiently awaiting their response, attempting to appear as polite as possible. Her eyes gleamed with anticipation as she directed her gaze toward her father.
"No," Leona firmly responded.
"Yes, my dear," Bastian countered.
Alice found herself caught in the crossfire of conflicting answers, her emotions wavering between joy and disappointment. Once again, her parents embarked on a spirited argument, temporarily dissipating the tense atmosphere that had hung over them earlier.