““I am,” Severin answered confidently, not at all sharing the woman’s worries. In his mind, there was no question that he had made the right decision. And the fact that the System, in a rare showing of consciousness, went out of its way to help facilitate the arrangement only further strengthened this belief.


    His initial reaction when hearing Milly’s condition was one of mild surprise - nothing more - and one he was all too willing to grant her.


    But he soon realized the request wasn’t as simple as it first seemed.


    In fact, he soon deemed the potential consequences and risks to be so high that Severin almost felt forced to cancel the whole deal if Milly wasn’t willing to budge. No matter how much he racked his brain, he just couldn’t find a solution.


    At that moment, the [Shopkeeper] couldn’t even be mad about the reminder that some strange entity was constantly monitoring his thoughts. Instead, he was delighted that everything seemed to pan out just right.


    Because no matter how much he liked the duo, there was no way for him to agree to the suggested arrangement if the mother couldn’t know about the powers her son would receive.


    Not only would it hinder her work, but more importantly, Severin simply didn’t trust young Nel to successfully conceal his new powers from Milly for any prolonged period of time; a severe problem considering the System’s non-revelation clause, any potential [Employee] had to accept. This would just be a disaster in the making.


    ““Because I like them. And because I want the inn more than the auction hall.” Knowing the woman’s objections weren’t made of malice but out of genuine curiosity and concern, Severin explained himself even though he didn’t have to.


    “But there is no added value in having an [Employee] and with all the abilities that come with it, run a regular inn. A regular person could just as-”


    “I’ve made my decision,” he decided resolutely.


    “If you say so,” the response to Severin’s words sounded unconvinced, but if it wasn’t for the inadequate lighting of the empty side alley, one might have been able to see a sly smile forming on the aged face of the former adventurer.


    In reality, Severin would have much preferred to stay the night at Milly’s. It was, after all, still very much an inn.


    But it was Mylana who had convinced him that, given the circumstances, it might be more appropriate to give mother and son some time alone. Not just to break Nel the big news, but also to give them the opportunity to think things through one last time.


    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    Both decency and practicality required his presence on the mountain in equal measures. The former because in the morning he had to welcome the first batch of Everheart’s people.


    The latter because of the System’s limitations that denied him any access to most of its major functions when off his mountain.


    Such as the functionality to plan and build entirely new apartments with just a thought or a tap of his finger.


    He fully understood that Mylana’s mansion was in no way representative or a suitable measuring stick, but the experience had still put things into perspective. Knowing that just a bed in her guestroom was half as spacious as the entire living quarters of his staff and even his own, just didn’t sit well with him; some major renovation was due.


    Maybe it was about time to introduce some of his own world’s many popular games?


    But he didn’t actually have to check with the returned minimap to realize that even now, this late and a long time after the event had already concluded, the mountaintop was still bustling with life.


    The many campfires were plenty proof of that. In his mind, they also confirmed his decision to go through with his plan to finally open an inn.


    From one moment to the next, he was wide awake and alert.


    ‘An ambush?!’ was his immediate thought.


    Then a realization as he spotted a vague outline of a short person in the dark, ‘Bandir’s man?!’


    Severin inevitably thought of the suspicious man-supposedly a henchman of his brother- Bandur had pointed out to him just recently during the event.


    Without the time to think about any potential consequences, Severin was just about to banish the figure off his mountain and into a free-fall towards the Golden Mountains beneath them.


    Just long enough.


    “Sir Severin?” the unexpected call of his name immediately let him know that he had almost made a grave mistake.


    The person he almost doomed to a certain death was not a malignant dwarf assassin.


    But a child.


    “