Arnold didn't know why the party wanted to just train all of a sudden, but he knew that he couldn't afford to send out his best parties just to protect them.
The kobolds were yet to mine all the mana stones which were needed. Even with Nikola's assurance that Tangra was not behind it, this time, Arnold couldn't exclude the possibility that he might attack again.
"The training hall is always open for you," Arnold told them all, as they stood there, before him, surrounded by the town's people. "But know this: even if you fail to become an adventurer, you are valued for your efforts!"
Nikola nodded. His hand brushed against Dimitri's, who took it gently in his.
"When do we get to go back home?" Nikola asked. Sure, that now that he knew that Tangra was not mixed in with all of this, they could finally go back home.
"Your house is now ready," Arnold told him with a gentle smile. "Your goblins finished the construction yesterday. They also managed to buy out the entire furniture stock in town."
Nikola's eyes widened.
The house was ready! He could get some peace and quiet!
With Dimitri…
"And as you have assured us that your goblins can be trusted, they will come in the guild in your stead," the guild master continued.
Nikola was ready to jump with joy! The goblins were being given a chance!
"And your kobolds are also welcomed! I hope that you reconsider, though, and come and rejoin us!"
"And, meanwhile," Lily said next to Arnold, who took a step back. "We would like for you to take a more active role in the reclaiming of the land from the desert. If you could please give some mana every day, we can crystalize it into mana stones and send it there, where famine is soon to happen!"
Nikola nodded. He was ready to fill his days with just about anything, as long as he didn't have to sit idle.
"Then it is settled!" Lily said, as she smiled at Nikola. "You can keep the badge. You've earned it, Lich Killer!"
The crowd burst into applause. Timmy and Vera began to babble at the noise.
Rocky just hugged Silvia and nodded his approval.
At least he wouldn't need to muck the stables for the next couple of months.
****
The house was everything Nikola had dreamed of and more.
It was a three story brick house. With wide windows and a front porch big enough to fit their entire family.
There were already a couple of rocking chairs by the door.
Nikola took Timmy from the stroller, then he began to walk towards the house. Its lovely stone walls were giving him a sense of belonging. A sense of home.
He heard as someone picked up Vera behind him, the little baby's giggles ringing in his ears.
Timmy snuggled into his hold. He was looking around with his wide green eyes.
"Yes," Nikola said, as he looked at the small baby. "This is your home! Do you want to find out if you have your room or a shared nursery with Vera?"
Timmy blew a raspberry. He didn't mind sharing his space with Vera. It was not like she was prone to snoring.
Nikola sat on one of the rocking chairs. Looking at his surroundings.
The pond was still crystal clear. The willow was still reaching with its branches towards the water.
There were benches around the pond. There was even a fishing rod by the willow.
Nikola smiled, closed his eyes, and thought about only one thing which would make him happier.
"Where are the goblins?" He asked the system.
"Well, they decided that this is your house, and that is why they should just settle somewhere else. I took the liberty to take some of your money and give it to the goblins."
Nikola nodded. The system had made the right call.
"Please, if they need more, don't hesitate to give them as much as they need," Nikola said, as he looked back at the pond.
"And one more thing," the system said, as she provided him with a system screen. "You have a mana regen, which has been piling up. Now that you will have to create mana stones out of your mana, you can use it up. But I suggest you do a quest, so you can get a skill."
Nikola nodded.
"As long as it is within my power, I will do it," he said.
"Good! Then, the quest is as follows: vow to give 100 crates of food to the needy, together with your mana stones, and you will get the skill: Harvester. That will make sure that your mana regen will never, ever, take mana from you when you need it to keep yourself alive. Also, you will be able to make mana crystals out of mana from trees."
Nikola nodded.
"This is not as easy as you think," the system told him. "Your farmhand, the octopus, wants more out of life than to just pick your produce for you. You are yet to die your three deaths. Please, do keep in mind that the octopus can and will squash you, if you don't meet his demands."
"And what does he want?" Nikola asked.
"He wants for a body of water to be added to your farm realm. The problem with that is that if you sink half of your farm underwater, you will lose a lot of food."
"Does it matter?" Nikola asked, who was used to the bounty. He took the rune with the farm, pouring mana inside it. "I should have done it sooner. He must have been really unhappy."
The system pinged. The screen began to flicker in orange.
"You know," the system told him, just as Nikola was done fixing the rune so that the octopus could be submerged during the entire time. Even while he harvested the farm. "You are a good sort. You just won his undying loyalty."
Nikola nodded, hugging Timmy to himself.
"If there is something I can do, then I'll do it," Nikola said, as Dimitri sat down next to him.
"Welcome home," Nikola had been burning to say those words. Now, with Timmy in his arms, he felt that they were worth more than gold.
"Nice to be home, honey," Dimitri leaned in and pecked him on the cheek.
Already thinking about what he was going to do to make the bedroom truly his.