Chapter 41: Acknowledgment
"Because of the skill you practice? It seems like a great change." Richard said, "You seem more handsome than before. You look more like a lady killer now."
"Haha, I know, I know." Oslo said smugly, "But flattery won't get you anywhere. You will clean the bathroom for one year."
"One year? Isn't that too much?" Ric said hesitantly.
"Two years!"
"Alright, one year it is." Ric said.
Oslo then nodded with satisfaction and asked, "How's your school going? And where did you go on field trip?"
He only knew that Ric had went to field trip from Aunt Yi but he had forgotten to ask the location of the trip before. So, he asked Ric when he had the time to see him because there was a chance that he would be spending time in Magic Land more now that he had decided to become stronger.
"We went to a zoo." Ric said.
"Zoo, huh? Good place to know about the nature and wildlife. What did you got see inside? Tiger? Lion?, Ah...Did you get to see the birds as well?" Oslo asked as he drank a glass of water.
"Yes, I saw a lot of creatures." said Ric, "I saw goblins, zebra stripped tiger, a beast like dinosaur, snake larger than anaconda and also the beast with wings and tails."
PFFFFFFFFFFF~
Oslo literally spilled out the water he was drinking too his side...if he had spilled in front then his brother would have been wet but he was concerned about that right now. The important question was...
"Where did you go?"
Seeing Oslo's reaction, Ric laughed, "Hahahahaha, just see your face. Its a new zoo opened in Earth which includes some creatures of another world. What was it?...creatures from Magic Land. The school took us there to show some creatures so that we wouldn't freak out if we decided to become an adventurer in Magic Land."
"Also it was for us to study about creatures that didn't belonged to Earth." Ric added.
"So, it was because of seeing those beasts that you're eager to become an adventurer, huh?" Oslo asked as Ric nodded.
"Well, if you're eager just because of that then just stop dreaming of being an adventurer. But if you still want to fight those beasts then I won't stop you. But not now..." Oslo said,
"After you turn thirteen... no, sixteen, think it over. Maybe you'll have a change of heart after some years. You have six years to think it over, so decide this very carefully."
Since the debt was no more, there was no way that the organization would force him into becoming an adventurer just for the sole purpose of paying it and it was why he had agreed and listened to what Ric had to say. After all, he didn't want his brother to be forced into being an adventurer just like he had been in the past. If it was his brother's wish then it was fine.
"Since you agree to that brother, I want you to do something as well." Ric said.
"What?" Oslo asked meeting his eyes.
"Since the debt is paid and all, and we don't have to live like that again... I wanted the both of us to live with Aunt Yi and Uncle John. What do you think?" Ric asked as he looked at Oslo for the hope of getting an answer Since the debt was no more and they weren't going to trouble the couple because of it...Ric thought maybe if his brother agreed, they might live together with the couple.
"You want us to be adopted by them? And you want me to acknowledge them as our new parents as well?" Oslo asked.
"Yes...but you don't have to, if you don't want it." Ric said immediately.
"That..." Oslo contemplated for a long time as he glanced at his brother's expectant face time and again.
They sat in the same place for about an hour without moving from it. Unlike Oslo's, Ric leg had already gone sore but he was expectantly waiting for an answer with patience, so he hadn't move from the place and only looked at Oslo.
"Fine..." Oslo finally replied after thinking it over and over and over.
"Really...?" Ric asked with an excited face.
"Yeah, but..." Oslo said, "Is it really alright? You don't know how they would react if we were to just shock them saying we want to be adopted by you, do you?"
"I know how they'll react..." Ric said with a teethy smile as he dragged Oslo out of the house.
***
Inside the house, there were four people sitting next to each other, sharing the same dinner table as they chatted.
Although Oslo had eaten fried rice just a moment ago, he was still hungry and the dishes in the table just made him drool...although it was oily.
"Oh, I always wanted to have dinner with my children and now that the Oslo has agreed and acknowledged us as their new parents, I'm so happy." Aunt...Mother Yi said revealing a bright smile.
"Hah! I already knew from the moment we settled here that these two were going to acknowledge us as their parents someday but what I didn't know was when. But it seems today is the lucky day." John Garrison said, "Having two sons is great. Now let me ask one of my son how he feels about me being his father."
He then looked at Oslo who was all red on his face like a tomato and asked,
"Hello, hello. My son Oslo. How do you feel having a father like me? You feel protected, don't you?"
"Ha...ha" No words left Oslo's mouth as he laughed awkwardly.
"Not good?" John was depressed as he started scribbling something on the table with his index finger with a grim face, "I finally had a son but he doesn't want me as a father."
"Don't worry, father. Brother will come along on the way. He still needs some time to adjust." Ric said consoling John.
"Yes, my another son, you also speak the truth. Maybe he needs some time to adapt." John said with a smiling face, "Well, at least one son of mine isn't that boring."
When he heard that, Oslo's mouth twitched. His brother sure was very fast to adapt to the situation. Maybe having never seen his blood parents, Ric always considered to have a parents like John and Yi who were all caring but because of Oslo's stubbornness and the debt, he didn't say anything.
And now that he finally had a family including a protective father and a caring mother, Ric was happier than before. Oslo couldn't help but smile seeing Ric such as that. He always wanted his loved ones too be happy.
"You're smiling a lot." Mother Yi said. "What do you say? Since from today, we are going to take care of you siblings, why don't you accept our help and pay the debt?"
"That's-"
"Brother has already paid it." Ric finished the sentence for Oslo.
'You've already paid it? How?" John asked with a serious face, "Don't tell me that you got yourself involved in bad line of works?"
"No, brother said that he wasn't involved in those kind of activities and he doesn't lie to me." Ric immediately cleared the question as he bit on the chicken's leg piece.
"I see." John heaved a sigh of relief. Oslo with his eyes seeing the auras of the couple could see that they were just worried about him and it made him smile. He then shook his head and said to clarify it by himself,
"I really am not engaged on some bad work."
He was watching their feeling, emotions and personality as their aura reflected all of it. And as their nature, the aura they gave off was also white and seemed to possess no bad feeling towards them. He could easily tell if someone was lying and unhappy just from a glance at their aura and seeing no change on their aura, he was happy.
Although the masters who could easily manipulate their aura might be able to trick his eyes but they were no masters and were simply their new parents. Although it was awkward... he had to adapt at some point.
John then looked at Oslo and asked, "It is good that you're not involved in any bad activities and I also won't ask you about how you got a hold on that much money because from what I know, as an adventurer, there are many chances of fortuitous encounters but as a parent I will tell you this."
"Don't involve yourself in any work that'll end up worrying us to death!" John said with a serious face.
He certainly had started acting like a proper father as what he was saying was also for safety of Oslo. John then added,
"There is going to be a big change in Magic Land now. And it might be the change that could hamper humanities success in Magic Land or it might also help humans prosper and move forward discovering even more of the unknown. So be careful while you're in Magic Land from now on."
"Huge change that was going to affect whole humanity in Magic Land? There is going to be such change?" Oslo was dumbfounded, "What is going to happen?"
"I don't know." John shook his head as he clearly had no idea about what it was going to be and had only heard rumors about it, "But from what I know, they're going to announce it tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" Oslo muttered as he was quite interested in the huge change that was going to take place. If it could help him in his path of being an adventurer then he would definitely go and hear it.
"I think I'll go and check it out tomorrow."
"Yes, we can both go and check it out," John said with a bright smile.
"I think I'll pass!"
"What was that? Is that the way you speak to your father?" John said, "You'll go with me and that's all."
"From today, you're in our care. So leave the rest of the matter like the school activities and taking care of Ric to us." John added.
"Just focus on something different, other than carrying a burden on your mind all the time. Chase after your goal and strive for it. Share the burden with us and you don't have to be on your guard all the time. After all, we're now a family." John said with a smile as Mother Yi nodded in affirmation.
"You can start to trust from today onwards and can change your past self. Not all people are bad and had hidden intentions, and if you want to keep on moving forward then how are you going to do it without any help and support of others. Just remember that no one can reach to the top alone and even for chasing your dreams, you might need some help."
"I see...I will try my best to change myself from now on." Oslo said it from the mouth but the words came out from bottom of his heart.
He then revealed a smile and asked, "Can I ask you for something as well?"
"Of course!" John said with a proud look of a father on his face.
"Then..." Oslo said,
"Can we both live under the surname Garrison?'
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