Micky traveled back to the baron’s capital… town. Micky had met many baron’s sons but to Micky The Baron would always be the baron. Micky looked around the town. He now realised how small it was after seeing the many different near cities he had come across. He realised how much of a hick he must be to think that this place was massive. Some of the towns he had come across housed millions! Some more if you counted other races that reproduced fast like mousekin.

In a way this place felt like home, and he was happy to be back, even if he would be immediately leaving. He had been under constant pressure when at the front, if not from enemies and under fire, from allies trying to stab him in the back or trip him up. Even those that were simply trying to do their job failed at times, like the scouts, and really just the scouts, what he wouldn’t give for a US marine.

But he was here now, and even the smell of the horse shit smelled different. Before he had thought it terrible, and it still was, but the rancid smell of horse shit backing in the sun suddenly wasn’t so unpleasant. Oh sure, it was still unpleasant, but it was a familiar unpleasant.

Micky brought his qilin over to the apartment that he had rented out for the kids. In front were the two guards he had become familiar with as bad news, but it wasn’t like he was unaware.

“You’re coming with us, we are leaving.” Said guard dumb.

“Nope, I have things to do.” Said Micky.

This stopped guard dumb and guard dee in their tracks. “Wha, what?”

“I said I have things to do in town. And I will leave after I finish them.” Said Micky.

“You would keep the viscount waiting?” Asked guard dee in a challenging tone.

“No, but you apparently will. If I don’t finish what I need to do I can’t leave. If I can’t leave the viscount won’t be happy their side project got waylaid. So you tell me, are they going to be waiting or are you going to get out of my way?” Asked Micky.

The two guards looked at each other. They could easily manhandle Micky into a sack and leave like that, but that would likely be counter productive. It would be cathartic though, the little shit was getting too uppity. The problem was he was a right uppity, if he didn’t at least notify his change of address with the adventurer’s guild before they abducted him things might get interesting. So they would try it his way… for now. “You have until a week from now. If things aren’t finished by then we’ll take you to school whether you want to or not.” They said and left.

Micky had no doubts about it. He also knew how to deal with these two now. Mention the viscount's efficiency and see how things played out. This didn’t mean it would be successful, further testing would be required, for magic!

Micky knocked on the door. Mrs. Dodderson opened it up. “Oh, good morning lord, how may I be of service.” She said.

“For now, some breakfast maybe? I don’t know what’s in the pantry.” Said Micky. Mrs. Dodderson wasn’t an accomplished cook, but she was serviceable in all areas. This meant she could make very decent snacks. Her meals weren’t as pleasant, but still serviceable.

“Of course, there is nothing that is needing in that area, but that may be a problem since I understand you might be leaving?” She said hesitantly as if to pry deeper.

“Within the week, within the week. Which means I have a lot to do. Where are the girls?” Micky asked.

“In the their bedroom studying. I will fetch them immediately!” She stated and hurried off.

But Micky caught her, “No, I will go find them myself. There is nothing important going on for once and I wouldn’t want to disturb them.” Micky said.

He found them studying in their bunk beds trading out different social rules and obligations, like “No, when in court you should do it this way...” or “When your lord asks you...”. Micky didn’t want to disturb, but they seemed to feel his presence. Not just the classed ones either, but all of them.

They turned as one, and he could see the registration in their faces. At first he thought they felt unpleasant, the faces were a strict grimace of blankness and their faces got tighter and they were hugging him, when did that happen?

Micky reached down and patted the girls on the head. Each one got their own individual pat at least. Firstblood and Brightfur got extra since they both seemed to lean in a bit more, but Micky wasn’t going to tell them he was already picking favorites.

“Now, now, nothing to fear. I’m back, and this time you all will be coming with me.” Micky said.

“We were so worried. We heard that the baron and people were sending more people because the evil people were killing too many people.” Said a chorus of girls. He wasn’t exactly sure which ones though.

“Then Derek said that you were [Dead] since you were fighting and there was no way you survived and that we were all going back to the orphanage and we would never see you or anybody else again!” Said some more girls, again their voices kind of mixed so he wasn’t sure which were which. He was sure some had spoken both before and after and some did not. Brightfur for example was simply drinking in the moment.

Micky got down on his knees and simply hugged it out with the girls. This was his zen, this was his moment, this was ruined when Mrs. Dodderson coughed and stated “Now girls, lord Micky has just returned home. It wouldn’t be good to pester him too much. I’m sure he has many things to do. Taking a nap being chief amongst them.”

She was right, but Micky was still reluctant to let go of the hug pile he was in. Oh well, Prin could use hug too. And he would have to warn them to stay away from the bitch, she may be enslaved but she was willy in her own way. Also, he would have to show them his qilin and the forest lizard mount. Later though, he needed to set things up and that was Yolanda standing there at the door wasn’t it?

“You come home and don’t greet your master boy? You have so many junior disciples and already are so unfilial!” She stated.

Micky walked up to her before he kowtowed.

She lifted him up and said, “Now, now, none of that here, give master a hug too!”

Micky internally rolled his eyes, if she didn’t want him to kowtow then why did she wait until after he kowtowed to lift him up and reprimand him? Whatever, it was fine, master was master, and he liked master mostly the way she was.

“So you ready for your duel boy? I have to say the kids I brought up aren’t slacking either now.” She said.

“Duel? What duel?” Micky said.

“What, you didn’t think us old fogies would forget now would you? What’s a few months to us? Though it may not have been to your benefit!” She said.

Micky tried to remember but there was something that he didn’t understand. “But you weren’t a part of it?”

“What? Did you think your master wasn’t going to get in on this? No! You shouldn’t have taken so long, I was backing you, but now I have my own horse to race! Or well horses, horsekin, some of them are horsekin, ok?” She said a little aggressively at the end there.

Micky held up his hands in truce… or submission he wasn’t sure which. “Alright, alright, I’ll go get my stuff. I’m sure you remember all the things that were wagered, there was a wager wasn’t there?” He said.

“Oh yes, and the stakes have been upped. But that’s a side hustle so I could participate. Get your three combat qualified kids and let’s go!” She said.

“What? I just got here! I’m not ready to have a duel yet!” He stated.

“Oh fine, we can have the duel tomorrow. But you are going to duel me… and I suppose those other guys too, but I want to see my grand disciples fighting my youngest disciples. And I mean that in the literal age youngest, you have a lot of juniors kid… just saying...” She said. Micky rolled his eyes, he didn’t care if she saw. He was aware of just how many juniors he had… kinda, his status was updating regularly when he was out in the skirmish and it wasn’t a small amount either!