And so Micky was chosen by the big mettle hand hanging over his head to quickly hold the oven open so Yolanda could get the cookies she was backing out of the oven. While Yolanda was the scary gossip woman of the town she still liked kids. And in her words, ‘If you don’t want to be bugged don’t look like honey. Case and point, that alchemist girl in the woods.’ Now she also admitted that it was a prime location for an alchemist, right smack dab in the middle of an herb garden, but it attracted the flies like mythical shit always does.

That’s why despite herself, Yolanda lived as an open secret that was also not. “They don’t look at the shadow under the candle, that’s supposed to be there.” and other things. Basically there were always super epic people that did something great simply because they lived through something… everywhere.

Case and point, Yolanda knew where the last last last(?) last! Demon king that attacked here was. Apparently he was actually a good guy, if you could get over the fact he was still boiling in rage over the murder of his wife and son. Which wife and son? Yolanda wasn’t even sure if he knew, after all, most were murdered, a lot of those were murdered by himself ‘because they were being right idiots’ his words.

In demon culture patricide was a right artform. Apparently as long as you didn’t fail, or failed but were overt about it, then it was all ok. The demon king in question of course, overtly tried to murder his father ‘Secretly’. The demon king in question then took nine days of ‘dying’ in public, with an audience, and background music… before he went into ‘hiding’ (at the summer palace where he threw a large amount of parties, well it was really just one big party). This was apparently the modern method of demon kinging. His children were a lot more traditional (At least the unsuccessful ones that ended up getting offed by old bat face himself).

Eventually, Micky was kicked out though. But he had learned a lot and gotten even more homework.

Micky woke up the next day, went to his usual morning torture (cough) training and finally arrived at his next tutor. His next tutor being enchanting.

He arrived at the old enchanter’s house. It was rich and opulent, kind of what you would expect from an enchanter to be honest. They were a niche profession even if they were widely used and sought after. This was because, even if you had the class you had to have the [Proficiency] to actually perform any good enchanting, and even then you needed skill. Micky showing up here and at the other professions was a multifaceted one.

First to see if he actually had skill in these areas. While profiting from a profession wasn’t a noble venture, technically outside of the knights, profiting from combat was included in that. On the other hand professions were considered a good noble hobby much like self defense and the pursuit of research, among other things, were considered good noble hobbies as well.

Second, to see if Micky had any skill in any profession that would pay decently. Enchanting, alchemy, and blacksmithing were always in demand and had multifaceted applications even out in the field and away from their tools of the trade. All of which for obvious reasons, as no adventurer would abstain from any of these lifesaving and basically mandatory items.

Third, just as a way to sample and understand each profession. Micky himself was expected to visit a professional of basically every possible profession at least once in his six month stay in the baron’s town. This was to familiarize himself with the knowledge that every noble already knows. Because he would be expected to be able to tell an adamantium blade from lead, and everything in between.

Because the other nobles will try to cheat him, either because they themselves got cheated, or for the shiggles, or just because they were being mean. And in noble culture, if you see through the scam everything is fine, if you turn the scam around on your competitor even better, if you yourself get scammed then you need to scam somebody else in the exact same way…

So, if Micky is to survive in the world of nobility, he needs to have his shit down, and his pants up. Which leads to Micky walking into an obviously rich enchanter’s shop, looking at all the overpriced [Item]s and wondering why the hell he is in here with [Item]s that cost more then his arm and leg… literally (If you go by the price chart of the [Priest]’s [Heal] list).

Micky rang a bell on the counter only to have a bad tempered old man come to the counter.

“What do you want kid?” Said the old man.

“Hello, I’m Mi...” Said Micky.

“Are you buying something?” Interrupted the old man.

“No, I’m here for...” Said Micky.

“Then go away!” Interrupted the old man… again.

“Tuto...” Said Micky.

“Go away, we only serve customers here!” Interrupted the old man.

“Tutoring you old bastard!” Micky said finally.

“Why didn’t you say so? Micky right? You should have said that in the beginning.” Said the old man, as he waved Micky to the back. Micky really wanted to punch him, or try the daggers he hadn’t had the opportunity to use at him. Or anything really.

Micky followed him into the back room, where the old man kicked up his feet… and fell asleep. Micky just stood there silently staring at the old man, not knowing what to do. At least until the old man pointed him to a stack of scrolls in the corner. Then Micky got to work reading them. Everything from [Mana channeling: Primer] to [Enchanting and you! Even the dunce of the class can learn enchanting, so if you don’t it’s your fault!]. This was what it was like until he eventually figured it was time to go home.

Micky did find the time to get around to renting an apartment above a shop Yolanda owned, at some point in time. But the rest of his time was spent training or learning. Which brought him to his next, and (Before he actually met his tutors) most anticipated tutor yet, alchemy. (It was still a toss up between which he liked more, Yolanda the kind old grandmother, or the alchemy chick, the nice middle-aged woman.)

Micky walked into the forest. He was guided and guarded by Prin and Squishy. The two seemed a bit more animated then usual though. So much so, that Micky wasn’t able to get a strike in before the fights were over. Thus, he was not able to get any XP on the whole trip over.

Micky knocked on the door of the house. The alchemist chick then rushed outside. She was in a robe she had hurriedly thrown on. Her hair was wet. Much more of her body was visible than would normally be. And Micky for some inexplicable reason unknown to him, looked away and could not face the woman.

“Oh, Micky! I was expecting you!” She said. Then she looked at herself. “Ok, maybe not. But I was aware that you were supposed to be coming today. Hold on, come in while I go get changed. Can I get you anything Micky? Prin? Your little monster friend there? It’s actually hard to make something that a slime likes but I like every other alchemist in their younger days made something and I’m sure I could whip it up shortly.”

“I’m actually going to be off adventuring while Micky is getting tutored.” Said Prin.

“Yeah, but you and Squishy can stick around to grab a quick bite before you go. And this way we don’t have to go right to dinner when this is over… we will, but we won’t have too.” Said Micky.

“Ok I’ll get changed and be right out with the snacks.” Said the alchemist, as she walked into the back of her house.

Prin pinched Micky. “Hey, why’ed you do that? I could be out of here already.” She whispered. Of course, she partially had ulterior motives. She was well aware about what it’s like to want to be alone with the hot older instructor. She herself wished for such ‘alone’ time with her swordsmanship instructor, and her spear throwing instructor, and she thoroughly enjoyed such alone time with her combat instructor. That’s how she learned that even woman can do some fun things together!

“It’s fine! And you can have something to eat. Plus, Squishy wanted to have some of that… whatever it is that she was offering!...” Micky said. Squishy looked maligned.

“... And, and… Ok, I have a giant boner right now and I didn’t want to pull attention to it ok!... If we were alone, well. I just didn’t want to...” Micky said. Prin just patted him on the back, she could sympathise. This poor child was going to be a true wizard one day and never going to lose his virginity till the day he died. It sounded horrible to Prin.