Mother

When Jinyu returned Fakir was waiting for her.

"You have guests master."

"Again?"

Fakir lead the way back to the tea room. Three girls sat in the tea room sipping the tea Tita served.

Jinyu recognized Pino right away but the other two it took her a moment to recall.

"You are Xana and Lixue? Correct?"

Everyone stared. Pino blinked. Jinyu did not say her name had she been forgotten?

"What brings you all here? Is there something wrong?"

"I only recently started this game so I don't have a residence." Lixue explained.

"Xana nodded.

"I'm in the same situation."

Jinyu's gaze fell to the young girl sipping her tea.

"And you Pino?"

Pino blushed. So she did remember her. She felt a bit relieved. She straightened her posture as she set down her tea cup.

"I have a residence but there are people stalking me. I would like to stay here for a while if that's alright with you."

"I don't mind at all! The more the merrier! I actually have some title deeds which I don't use. I can hand over the ownership to you."

Lixue and Xana looked relieved.

"As for you Pino… you haven't awakened to your sub-class, I could adopt you as the child of both I and Prince Warren. No one would dare mess with you then."

Pino looked like a deer meeting headlights.

"As your child? Will you and Ning Warren truly be okay with that? More importantly will that mean I have to stay in his residence or yours?"

Jinyu paused. She had planned on annulling the engagement earlier so she didn't give much thought to it.

"You could have your own residence if you so pleased, west of here, there was a cafe in a town overrun by monsters, after wiping them out, I rebuilt it and people slowly began to return, some were survivors and some were villagers that had lost their village to monsters, i'm sure if you lived there the people would be very loyal to protecting you. You could also gain levels by fighting the monsters, they always seem to spawn inside the forests.

"Is that really alright?"

"Of course. I'll appoint you as the manager of the store."

Pino smiled.

"Thank you, Mother!"

Jinyu twitched, being called Mother made her feel touched and also flustered.

"You don't have to call me mother if you don't want to."

"Then Mama?"

Jinyu could feel two additional gazes burning into her. Tita inflated her cheeks with air while Fakir seemed to be peeking out of the slightly opened door, his expression was still as blank as every but for some reason his gaze felt intense.

"That...when you do make sure you greet your siblings first!" Jinyu added.

"Siblings?" Pino traced her gaze to those at the door and stood.

She stepped over to them and the three stared eachother down in silence.

Finally, Pino curtsied.

"I'll be in your care, older brother, sister."

The tense atmosphere faded.

Tita exchanged dead pan looks with Fakir before suddenly smiling.

"I've always wanted a little sister!"

As they chatted, Jinyu tilted her head. Tita and Fakir were servile characters how exactly would the dynamic with Pino work out? She couldn't be on the receiving end of them as well...

But perhaps this was good... maybe she should stop relying on these two so much, they should develop their own lives too...