Honey, I've Leveled the Kids [Family-Focus, LitRPG - COMPLETE]

I rubbed the bridge of my nose, trying to free the tension building. Bearita, the kind orc who had just cursed me to this realm, offered me a cup of tea. Tea was becoming a bad omen for when I would blurt my stupid thoughts aloud. I needed something to silent me. Like filling my mouth with tea.

Bearita put her hands on her hips. "I noticed you didn't like the other one. Maybe a fruiter mellow tea is to your profile."

I took it and guzzled it down using the time to think things through slowly. "What is this quest?"

"Quest?" Her voice raising in pitch from the accusation. "It's a simple request."

'Quest' was literally part of the word request. Either way, the game suckered my inability to listen and trapped me here with a class quest. I prayed the mushroom buff meant something and helped with this quest. That luck would be on my side and I would get two thousand gold coins to get to my kids in Fanamel. I couldn't even message the kids with an update about how I messed up things. I regret not focusing and listening better to the people around me.

While rubbing forehead to free the tension, I resolved to myself that I would practice learning on learning with this quest. To be ready for when my family told me something. I looked up at my host. "Tell me more about what you need."

Bearita gave me an orc grin, hearts appearing on her head. "I won't say it again. I've already had people investigate the mayor. And with your um, large stature, I don't think you will do any good sneaking in. I want you to inspect the flames that are around the village. Be careful to not tip the guards though."

I tapped my head. "And what am I looking for?"

"What keeps the flames going? What are they made of?Their true purpose. Anything."

This quest lacked information across the board. From its purpose, to what the class reward would be. It only delayed me into getting to my kids. I was determined to get to them today.

I continued asking, determined to listen. "And what do I get for helping you out?"

"Tekes."

"What's that?"

"I'll teach you how to make that archer friend of yours a better fighter - just requires you to use that shield on your back. Or if you want, those axes you carry."

My foot tapped away from pent up frustration. "Great. But I still want a discount to buy something from here."

The woman shook her head, her deep brown, green hair swishing from the aggressive moment. "Not promising that. Unless you surprise me."

I pulled up the quest's information to review it.

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[Quest: Recalling the Past (Rare)

Description: Shopkeeper Bearita is suspicious of the Mayor A. Tory and what she's really trying to do to the city. Is Bearita another corporate greedy bear trying to make it big in on the deal? Is she trying to ruin something for her own political gain? Are Tekes a sandwich? You have no clue what the point of this quest is!]

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The AI sass made me grumble. "Guess I can't use it as cliff notes anymore. Just leaving me hanging."

"What was that?" Bearita inquired.

I shook my head. "Nothing. Can you explain more?"

"Yes. There's an area near the western wall that multiple guards march in, but rarely out of. Find a way in and figure out what is going on."

"Anything else? Like a disguise?" I hoped for some more help.

"If I had more information, I wouldn't be sending you out there to find me some."

I pinched my mouth shut. It was time to get going and wrap this quest up fast. Gently, I put my teacup down on the table and stood up. I really wanted to smash the cup, in frustration. I was mad how everything I did with Tristan today, promising I would get back to him soon, became meaningless. My words to him and Elaine were just lies if I spent too long here in Purge doing class quests for myself.

"Can I always find you here?" I asked.

"Of course. Try to avoid wearing the balaclava. You can only get it from Miss A. Tory, and I fear she is using some sort of spell on it to influence the town."

"I'll keep that in mind," I replied. At least she didn't ban it from the class quest. I wanted a balaclava in order to talk to Naiad and Triangle while I was here. I had to get back to them fast, not because I was worried about their safety, but because I wanted to be a good dad and have fun with them.

I walked out of the back room and saw the paladin and the ranger looking over another quill. The ranger held out the deep red quill, a small silver ink ran along the quiver's strap. "This one will grant fire attacks by activating the rune and has room for one more rune."

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"The base rune is horrible for this zone. The price makes less sense. We'd be paying double for a single, mediocre rune," the paladin complained.

The quiver in his hand was one thousand gold. The fire rune would be worth it for Naiad. While I did this Recalling the Past quest, I would need to hunt a lot of monsters to collect gold. With Purge and Hell being a higher level zone, it should be easier to collect a lot of money.

Which also meant that healing potions would be expensive.

I left the shop and headed back to the general merchant area. A handful of players shopped while others set up scrolls or gear to sell at the market. All of it was outside of my price range, but I had enough of being an unprepared idiot in fights. Speed and healing potions were a must. Stamina or defensive potion would be a bonus if I could afford them. I also had to get some new gear.

With a deep breath, a prepared for the sticker shock of being in a higher-level city. I was going to need at a few great healing potions crafted by alchemists here too.

The exchange menu loaded up in front of me.

"What is this?" I panicked and closed the menu.

A player at the other terminal glanced at me. I loaded up the menu again. The great healing potions were cheaper than the normal healing potions of Fanamel. The stamina potions, a quarter of the price.

"Excuse me," I asked the player next to me, "do you get a discount on your first purchase in a new town?" There was something going on and I didn't want to waste a new town discount on something as minor as healing potions. The quiver's price would skyrocket up.

The player shook his head. "Never heard of that."

"Are players just nice here?" I was stunned. I could afford an enormous healing potion. Only one bottle and not much else, but in Fanamel, it would be over eight hundred gold.

The woman scrunched her black eyebrows together. "Nah. This is about on par for prices everywhere."

"The portal was three thousand gold." I snipped back.

"Dude, I'm here to buy stuff." She turned away to focus on her own shopping.

"Sorry," I followed up.

There was no reason to be short-tempered with someone I just met who helped answer my questions. I bought my greater healing potions and greedily nabbed up both stamina and defensive potions. I used some coins the paladin gave me, intending to replace them through this pointless quest. My goal was to earn five thousand coins, and these potions were going to give me the leg up.

I moved the stats I had been hording into my strength and dexterity to help me get stronger and have more stamina to survive this place and get home faster. I don't know if it was because I was in a higher domain, but everything felt harder, not just the monsters, but even running. The basic gear at the general store felt ten pounds heavier than my level one stuff.

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Player Name: Boulder

Level: 11

Race: Human

Class: N/A

Affiliations: None

Status Buffs: Helitical Shroom 10% Luck Buff

Expanded Details: Skill stats: Axe throwing level 2.

Strength 11 (+5) | Dexterity 5 (+1) | Constitution 9

Intelligence | Wisdom | Charisma 1

Fortitude: 1.25 | Reflex 1 | Will 2.25

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I looked up at my stream. "All the strength points are for powering my way through hell faster. The dexterity is to help my accuracy for the RARE times I throw my axe."

The amount of times I was going to throw my axe had to decrease, especially since I was going to be on my own without Naiad's damage to help. Thanks to the new strength, the tier one armor chess piece from a blacksmith player became almost as light as my coin purse now.

Geared up and ready to go, I made my way to out of the city feeling full on potions like I was a frat kid off to their first keg party. This quest would be quick, like a run to a grocery store without kids. No one would ask about if they could buy those cheesy puffs or the random season decorative gnome.

I was determined to stay focused on one task at a time. This was when I would talk to the kids about our goals, but with it just me, I explained it to the stream instead. "First, I need to make money by solving the Recalling the Past quest. Next is looking into some mushrooms."

I didn't need to spill the tea about why I had to grab hell dirt. They didn't need to know everything, and keeping people in the dark would keep the seed safer for my family.

Purge was a smaller city than Fanamel and didn't take me long to reach the wall again. The gate was closed to the outside and only two guards stood on this side of it. The mage above didn't even bother looking down at me.

The guards glanced at my way as I approached. "Hello fellow good soldiers," I tried to remain cheerful and open. "Have you seen any trouble today?"

They eyed me up and down, but returned their attention back to the outside. Their stoic silent was admirable, but I needed information, or at least observe the purple flame torches. From where I stood, I could see they connected right below the glowing aura, each tongue creating a pulse into the colors above my head. Naiad's intelligence and observation stats would be useful here.

I pointed up to the tower. "I don't suppose you mind if I climb up top of the wall to take a look out before I head out?"

The mage was the first to look offended and grabbed her staff with both hands. "You're not allowed up here. Only those belonging security can."

"Only a peak to confirm I'm not running into my death into the swamps."

A large guard laughed. "You're the one who came in from that area and you're already thinking of heading back out? You must see the Mayor A. Tory if you don't want to risk the hellspawn finding you."

There it was, the locals pushing that quest. I shoved back by putting a foot on the stairs to go up. "I was an idiot and didn't want to dive out there oblivious again."

The guard crossed his arms, not budging. "You must talk to the Mayor A. Tory before leaving."

The other guard joined in. "Be less of a fool and step down. You came in with one friend who didn't trust you, and neither do we without the Mayor's approval."

"Ouch," I replied. "I'm trying to get back to her to work on that relationship right now. I just need some coins for the portal."

The mage didn't like my response as she charged up magic on the tip of her staff, pointing it at me. "I'm not risking anyone destroying our city by being an idiot out in the swamp. You'd be perfect bait for the hellspawn."

I backed away from the tower steps with my hands raised. Being mortal meant nothing to them. Now I see why Bearita felt like this was fishy. "Fine. I'll listen. I just want to know if I could light my torch with the flame you have up there and test it in the wilds against those beasts."

"Out." The harsh word said. "If I catch you snooping around our flames again or our defenses, and not adapting to our traditions, I will make sure to blow your head off and send it to the desk of our fine mayor."

That is a type of loyalty you couldn't buy. One built on trust, or blackmailed by secrets. "I got the memo. Keep up the great work, all of you." I turned around and walked back into the city. It was time to head to the west wall and sneak in to see what was up with the guards.