In a forest, four people could be seen.
Two women so similar it was obvious they were related; a white-haired woman with a wild look that screamed "fighter"; and, standing out from the group, a man, Rael dos Santos.
Summoned by accident, he was skinny and about 175 cm tall. Compared to the mother and the warrior, he was a bit shorter, taller only than the purple-haired daughter.
"So adventurers who meet each other usually fight, and the winner gets all the money and possessions?" I asked.
"Yes, exactly. But since Kiara decided to leave their group, this situation is a bit different," Carlia explained to Rael, who merely nodded in agreement.
"And by the way, it wasn't just me who summoned you, the ritual needed both my power and my mother's," Carlia said, pointing to her mother.
"Hm, interesting. So Merina, you got lucky too, it ended up being me.""Lucky? Pfft." Carlia, taking a sip of water, couldn't help but laugh at Rael's sarcastic comment.
At least she hoped it was sarcasm.
Merina only gave a small nod, perhaps not to bruise Rael's pride.
After I asked a few basic questions, silence settled in.
The mother and daughter led Kiara and me toward their farm.
Kiara followed right behind us, while the mother-daughter pair walked ahead and I stuck in the middle of them all.
Sometimes I sneakily glanced back just to watch her — she seemed absorbed by the scenery, lost in thought.
Probably because she was a warrior, she lived a by-the-book life.
Even though I'd played the fool, I somehow managed to change how she saw me.
Fool, huh.
Unfortunately for someone like me with no real skills, all I can do is try to perform.
So acting like an idiot worked.
Well, I am a bit of an idiot — that's just who I am.
Hmm, thinking about it, my appearance hasn't changed.
Average height, skinny, dark skin and curly hair.
They didn't seem to care about my hair much, so I guess there are others with curls in this world too.
Only my clothes stood out a little.
I was just wearing a plain black T-shirt, dark blue shorts, and, of course, white flip-flops havaianas.
Maybe they think that's some sort of armor? Whatever.
No change so far…
Am I seriously not going to get any powers?
I tried calling up status, system, and things like that, but all I got were the strange looks from the three women around me.
Yeah, I'm screwed in this world, these women are my lifeline. I can't let them abandon me.
After hours of walking, we finally left the forest. The open path revealed a narrow dirt road that led straight to a farm… or rather, what used to be a farm.
"We've arrived," Merina said with a tired sigh.
"We arrived where? A post-apocalyptic movie set?" I asked before I could stop myself.
Carlia gave my shoulder a light shove. "Hey! This is our home!"
"Home?" The place was sad: broken fences, a crooked barn, a field without a single green leaf. You could smell dust and defeat in the air.
Merina smoothed her hair, trying to hide her embarrassment.
"We're trying to rebuild… after her father left," Merina broke the silence.
"Oh… sorry. I didn't know." They were having a hard time — Merina, even not being young, still went hunting and fought to survive.
"No need to apologize, Rael," Merina replied with a bitter look. "He left debts, took the animals, and… well, he even took the dignity of this home." Her expression clearly showed disgust for the man she was talking about.
She must have been attracted to him, probably her first love. He promised things he never meant, and when she really needed him, he ran away, leaving Merina to handle everything alone.
I might not be a man of great honor or principles, but something like that I would never do.
Carlia fell silent, her gaze distant. Kiara crossed her arms, taking everything in.
"Tch," she muttered. "This isn't a farm, it's a training ground for forest rats."
Merina tried to laugh, but it came out weak. That's when Kiara stepped forward and tossed a small pouch of silver into Merina's hands.
"Buy some animals. Chickens, goats… whatever you can. If you run out of food, I won't have anyone to pick fights with."
Merina's eyes widened. "But… this is—"
"It's an investment," Kiara cut in, turning her face away. "I don't want to see you dead before winter."
Carlia smiled, and I couldn't help but feel a little happy too.
After all, I'm homeless, if they're poor, I'm poor as well.
"Then it's decided. Thank you so much, Kiara," Merina said, smiling in a way that made my heart race. She was a mature beauty, with a sincere and charming smile.
I want to make her my wife.
No, Rael! Look around and understand the situation! Even if I'm weak with beautiful women and inexperienced socially, I can't just throw myself at them. They could kill me, torture me…
Or maybe I'm overthinking.
Anyway, I've read enough stories where the protagonist is betrayed, that won't happen to me.
"Rael, will you go buy the animals with my mother?" Carlia asked, glancing at me.
"Sure." I nodded with a smile toward Merina, who returned it with a sweet grin.
A caring Japanese-style wife, not overly shy.
Looking at Merina made me want to hug her and feel the comfort and warmth of her embrace, along with, of course, the softness of her generous chest…
"Is that okay with you, Kiara?" Carlia asked after confirming with me. Kiara was more of an enigma than I was.
Maybe she's here because of me, or maybe she just wanted a place to sleep tonight. Who knows…
Looking at her made me want to believe it was because of me. Could it be love at first sight? That'd be way too lucky.
"Okay, hey boy!if you don't come back by dawn, I'll kill everyone, got it? Fufufu~" Kiara replied with a smile that sent shivers down my spine. Even though I was afraid of her, I couldn't deny admiring her striking, muscular beauty.
"Of course, my dear. Wait patiently for me, okay?"
Carlia laughed, almost ready to scold me; her personality clearly leaned tsundere, she just didn't say anything because she wasn't familiar enough with Kiara yet.
Kiara merely raised an eyebrow and let out a small sigh, maybe embarrassed, maybe impatient.
She's still a mystery, so I need to figure out what she wants and which side she's on, mine? Ours? Or no one's?
At least I was no longer a summoned guy in flip-flops and a T-shirt — I'd been promoted to farmhand.