Omniscient Necromancer POV

My right hand, about to touch the doorknob of my family's apartment, slowly moved away from the knob as I took a step back.

I needed to tell everyone that I had won a large sum of money before inviting my mother or father to go to a real estate agency. But how?

There was no logical and plausible explanation for a novice Blessed One, who hadn't even received an official license yet, receiving so much money!

John and Fumiko were very fair and honest people. They would never tolerate their son being involved in crime.

Yes, theoretically, what I was doing wasn't a crime. Still, I couldn't tell them that I had the power to enter secret dungeons that were supernaturally connected to some parts of our world.

The first thing I thought of was to make up a story that I got the money by selling some item I found on the first expedition, but that was too risky because Rosella knew I hadn't gotten anything. Should I reveal the truth only to her? Was she trustworthy enough for me to do that?

It was too big a secret to confide in someone I had only known for a few days.

"Come on... think... think..." I muttered to myself as I scratched my head, hoping that would help me think of something.

At that moment, I heard the rusty hinges of the door creak open, followed by Marceline's voice.

"Bran, how long have you been out there?" Marceline asked.

I smiled awkwardly as I turned around. "I was just about to come in, but I think I forgot something at the supermarket," I replied and looked at her, finally noticing that she was dressed up.

Marceline was a young woman who liked to dress well, but we didn't have the money to buy new clothes every month. So she bought the fabric herself and made her own clothes.

That late morning, she was wearing a long white skirt with gold details, rope sandals that intertwined her heels, and a thin black blouse over a white shirt. On her head, she wore a tiara with a small red flower.

"Ow... Are you going to school like that? Don't tell me someone is dat—"

"Absolutely not, Bran." She interrupted me and began to massage her temples, but

I noticed her cheeks starting to turn red. "I told you I wouldn't go to school until Rosella and you received your letters, so she and I are going out for a bit to go to the park."

Then Marceline opened the door a little wider and revealed that Rosella was standing next to her. Rosella looked beautiful, perhaps even more beautiful than my sister.

Rosella was wearing a long green dress with some white flower details—it seemed like flowers were the current fashion. On her head, she wore a large round green hat that matched her dress perfectly.

There was something about the green that looked majestic on women with blonde hair and blue eyes.

"What do you think?" Rosella asked shyly.

My jaw dropped for a second, and I didn't even bother to hide it.

"Humph." Marceline puffed out her cheeks like a spoiled little girl. "Instead of just standing there, you should tell us how beautiful we are, Bran."

Marceline's scolding brought me back from the dimension Rosella's blue eyes had put me in, and I coughed briefly to finally hide my surprise.

"Oh, yes. You look very pretty in those clothes. If you're not careful, you'll receive countless marriage proposals before you return home."

"Hehe! That's the idea!" said Marceline, laughing sweetly.

"No way!" protested Rosella, but Marceline didn't listen and grabbed her wrist.

"Come on, Rose," said Marceline, pulling Rosella. "If we don't hurry, the cakes at the place I told you about will be gone."

Marceline hurried out of the apartment before I even entered, but I stopped them as they passed by me.

"Wait. I have some news I want to tell you."

"Huh?" Marceline looked at me, confused.

At that moment, we all entered the apartment and sat down at the table together to talk. Before, I had no idea how I would explain all the money I had earned to my family, but when I looked at Rosella, I realized that I had the perfect explanation all along.

"Are you telling me that the police paid part of the reward for you killing that criminal?!" Shocked, Marceline slammed her hands on the table and exclaimed.

"Hmm. But it really makes sense." Rosella agreed with my story. "Blackpearl was a criminal with a price on his head, which means that whoever captures or kills a criminal like that gets a reward."

Marceline blinked twice and sat down with her arms crossed, seeming to accept it a little more.

"But… But… When I studied these subjects at school, the teacher said that wanted posters have no effect inside the Tower of Babel. I thought that…"

Marceline explained the reason for her initial surprise.

"Actually, your teacher is right. When I spoke with the Paladin who helped us, she explained that wanted posters have no legal effect inside the Tower of Babel because it is God's domain and, theoretically, according to the teachings of the Church, there is no way for them to enforce laws in God's domain. However, this is a double-edged sword for them."

"Since everyone knows that rewards are not paid to those who kill criminals inside the Tower of Babel, criminals become careless. That's why Paladins like her are given Slay or Capture missions. Missions are not laws, so there is no problem for Paladins to take care of these criminals when they receive an official mission."

"If that's the case, why don't they give these missions to all criminals?" Marceline asked.

Rosella stepped forward and answered before I could. "It wouldn't make sense, since criminals would hide just like they do when they're in Aland."

"Hmm. That makes sense." Marceline replied with a finger to her lips. "But I'm still confused about one thing... Bran, if you didn't receive a reward for the wanted poster, what did you receive?"

"For the generosity of Paladin Lerah. She told me she didn't think it was fair to receive a large reward for not having done any work to defeat Blackpearl.

So she decided to pass on the reward for his head to me, keeping only the reward for capturing Blackpearl's partner, Sun."

When I finished telling her, I looked deep into Rosella's eyes. She was serious. Did she already suspect this lame story I had made up?

For a few moments, I fought a silent battle with myself. I thought maybe I should back down and say it was a joke, to tell another story later, but after a few seconds, Rosella smiled with rosy cheeks and said:

"Paladin Lerah is really kind, isn't she? I'm relieved that she did justice and rewarded your efforts, Brandon."

Her aura at that moment was shining brightly for me, as if she had just become ten times more beautiful just by looking so sweet and innocent.