What do I do? I got an injured foot to walk around on that I want healed. But, my parents who adopted me, Abe and Edna Prickly, want me to run errands for them. If I take off, I'll be disowned.

The skill "Roll Die for Death" has been activated! Toss the Die at your toes for effect!

I toss the Die and got "1"(Force of nature may help). A vase from the market close by crashes and spooks a horse galloping towards me. The horse knocks me down causing the mended clothes I'm suppose to deliver, to get caught by the horses bridle.

The clothes are now taken by a horse thief, I limp after it, then notice Petra, my caretaker from the Orphanage, catch the excited horse. She then calms it down, Clyde noticing her, takes off before she comes to meet us.

She passed me my sack of clothes from the horse thief.

"I never thought I'd see the day when a spooked horse snatched something away from a feeble poor boy.", she says with a slight smile.

"I gotta run those clothes around town on an injured foot, my new mom, and dad told me to. I wanted to go to church, but they'll disown me."

"Seriously? Well, what do you need to do? I can help you just for a few minutes though, I am in the middle of picking up more oats for breakfast. We gotta do it quick."

"I need to check my list here, it says. It says, I gotta bring them to the Orphanage and the Church. I think I s-should've just read that, instead of complaining about it."

"Well, I'll help to the Church for now. Then I'll see you when you come back to the Orphanage."

"Thanks Petra, that helps, Clyde was here, but he got scared of you for some reason."

"Yeah, before he left, he took my dagger from my personal items. Get him to bring it back okay? I don't know when monsters might sneak into the Orphanage again.", she tells me with a face full of worry, not even anger. This is why I like her, she cares so much.

"I don't know if this is a bad time but ever since you did your quests, you still need to head to the Laughing Raven tavern and complete your quest contracts and take up an experience boost."

I'm going to have to do that afterwards, maybe I can still get a free meal? Didn't even eat breakfast yet, maybe I can also get a free meal from the Orphanage? I feel so hungry.

*****

At the Church, Petra brought me here, I was hoping to see Mia, but I got the old priest man saying he can help me. "Are you sure Mia is busy? I really need to ask her something about my blessing. You know, since she's a pro." I bluffed, not sure what to ask about the blessing, but I rather be treated by the nice looking redhead priestess.

The excited old priest looked very disappointed, but agreed to let Mia see me. Petra waved bye, and Mia appeared shortly after.

"You wanted me to heal something, and talk about the blessing? Since you're doing quests now, you are going to need to pay. This isn't a charity, you know."

"I didn't even complete my quests yet, can you make an exception this one time?"

"Fine, since I'm sure you wouldn't lie to me. Alright did you eat before coming here?"

"What do you mean by that? Are you making fun of me since I barely eat at all? Pick on the little starving orphan boy huh?"

"No, healing requires a fuel to burn, food in the stomach or fat on the body is highest priority for healing compensation. Also, is the Orphanage treating you poorly?"

"What kind of sick world takes food out of your mouth just to make you feel better? Sorry, I'm cranky because I didn't know, and I'm hungry too. Also, I actually got adopted, but I'm not being fed until my errands are done."

The priestess Mia sighs, congrats me on being adopted, then explains she can't heal me without proper heal replacement. Then she asks what I wanted to know about my blessing.

"What kind of things should I ask Lady Luck, and not ask, you know, like a taboo topic. Such as, if she has something stuck on her and you don't want to embarrass her?"

"Trust me, with Izzy everything is okay. She's very open minded out of the Lady Luck sisters."

"Sisters? Don't they have different animalistic qualities to them? How are they sisters?"

"And that is a question you don't ask."

"But you just said--"

"You just don't talk about it!"

After thanking priestess Mia for her advice I limped back to the Orphanage to get some food replacement for my heal.

"Is your new parents not feeding you?", Petra asks looking worried.

"They will once I earn my keep, apparently, so can I get a bowl of oatmeal, so I can get a heal?"

"Well since you don't live here anymore, I can't."

"Oh...", wow, I didn't think rejection would hurt that much, I feel tears coming.

"Just this one time okay? Don't cry Ren! I don't like seeing you limp around.

I'll help you, but why is it that you are being treated this way?"

"I took the quests, I take the responsibilities, be a man.", as I was told by Abe.

"Well, you're still my little boy to me.", ugh, she took the mom role to me. Might as well tease her for punishment.

"Thanks mom, I'd like a cuddle afterwards when I'm done with my healing and errands."

"Okay Ren, I could use a nap later on, but for only an hour."

W-what? You can take mom role then, I'm fine with that. She's exactly what I prayed for when I wanted a better life.

*****

I run back to an annoyed old priest at the Church who calls Mia back out for me. He tried to argue that he can heal me, even offered candy to do it. Why does a thin old man that looks just as starving as me, have candy? I still refused, telling him no, means no.

Mia heals me, foot feels back to normal, I wobble around for abit, getting back to a normal walk. The food literally feels like it got sucked down to my foot. Not a pleasant feeling.

She bids me farewell, but I finally remember my errand of dropping clothes off. I say bye to Mia then call the old priest over reluctantly, and asked for him to sign a paper to say he received the pile of clothes.

He refused to sign, lecturing me on about treating others with respect, and to let them put their hands on you to heal them. I respond by saying Mia didn't even touch me to heal! He responds back by saying it's because she's the best, that's why she doesn't need to.

"Please just sign the papers, my day has been a rough one so far."

"Alright then, but don't refuse a persons kindness next time."

I don't respond and head back to the Orphanage to drop of the pile of mended clothing and get a paper signed as well. No hassle this time. I get to cuddle with the tall blonde Petra as well for half an hour. I feel fully healed now.

I report back to headquarters at the tailorshop, Clyde busy stirring wet clothes in a tub, cleaning/treating them? Edna thanks me, and let's me eat a small bread roll and some mystery meat. I thank her and told her I'm going to complete my quests at the tavern.

*****

The Laughing Raven tavern, 3 months old since it was burnt down previously. The Sir Guard Alex is snoozing on a stool still in uniform. I shake his shoulder to wake him up.

"Huh, h-huh, w-who is there? Oh Ren you finally came back! I-I was -belch- waiting for you all this time. Let's complete the quest e-eh?" , he smells like depression. I don't blame him, how can you explain getting knocked out by a swarm of rats, then getting your life saved by a bunch young rookies. That's just embarrassing.

I put my hand on his shoulder and gaze deep into his eyes, "You gotta learn to stay awake, I caught you snoozing again, luckily there isn't rats here to attack you."

"Don't remind me, and I think that smart attitude just costed you y-your free meal. I hope it was worth it f-for making fun of me too."

Well, damn, there goes that from me just making a little rude joke. I usually joke about myself like that to others, I sometimes forget I can't make rude jokes like that if it isn't about me.

"Sorry about that, thank you though for the Rookie Program, I am happy I took part of it. Sucks about that one guy who died."

"Don't remind me, that also make me look bad, I am getting demoted to jailor, I'd rather stretch my legs about. I gotta be nice to prisoners or else I get demoted again ever since the new law passed."

"Isn't being a jailor important? Also, can we complete the contract now. Even though your life story is interesting."

"No jailor sucks, paper work on each person, prepare meals, toss out their waste, and the comments you get called sometimes there."

"Quest completion?"

"Quest complete, Ren Marler passed. Bonus of 5 silver coins for being most outstanding.

Hey divine message box, your job?

Quest complete! 4 levels gained!

+1 to Luck for having repeated lucky moments without using skills!

Ren Marler lvl.12

Job: Soldier of Fortune

Hp: 110

Mp: 112

Str: 10

Vit: 10

Int: 10

Wis: 12

Luck: 14

Level 12? Plus 4 levels? When did I get to level 8? Also, why is there barely any stat increase?

Remember when I told you levelled up like crazy and had access to "Skill Lottery"? Yea, that's when. As for your stats not increasing a lot. How much effort did you put in, when you killed that nest of rats? Efforts mean better rewards! Work hard Ren if you want stat boosts!

Since you are kinda making me ask, is there any skill level ups?

Yes, there is, "Roll Die for Death" is now lvl.3

(1) 80%

(2) 8%

(3) 4%

(4) 4%

(5) 3%

(6) 1%

And "Skill Lottery" ?

Are you using Iron Fist? It's not levelling yet, remember what I told you about effort?

How about my level 10 skill?

You acquired "777 Day", summon Lady Luck to chat with her or ask her for help for 2 minutes. 1 extra minute each level. 1 month cooldown, sweet!

Thanks divine message box, that's all I need for now.

No problem Ren, sorry I'm not the best divine message box.

Hey, don't say that, you've been the most understanding and you keep bringing important moments at the right times.

Thanks Ren Marler, I'm happy I am observing you instead of that other guy.

Are you allowed to tell me that?

Hello?

"Hello, Ren, you okay. Y-you look pretty scary there.", Sir jailor Alex reminds me I'm talking to a wall.

"I'm just happy I got silver coins! I'm heading back to the tailorshop. Thanks again Alex."

"Didn't you do other jobs Ren, I remember you telling Alexa that."

"Oh, yeah. I guess, I'll complete those too."

I talk to the owner he already has preconfirmed papers on my two other jobs. All quests complete now.

Quests complete! +1 level!

Ren Marler lvl.13

Job: Soldier of Fortune

Hp: 111

Mp: 122

Str: 11

Vit: 10

Int: 11

Wis: 12

Luck: 14

I was scared you disappeared, what happened to you divine message box?

Nothing to say? Okay, I'm heading back home.