Thankfully, Dad said that we need a break from the meeting.
Everyone except me stretched and yawned as Leon exclaimed that he might have to extend the pack's break, saying Dad told him we weren't even halfway through the meeting.
Argh! Now I understand what they meant by meetings that last for more than a day!
Time is of no importance to them, except maybe for the meeting we have currently, as Maelsa might be coming back soon.
Ghost and Orm went to the kitchen to prepare meals for everyone while Sly excused himself to send a scroll to Aagon regarding what Dad told him.
Does Dad know Aagon? It seems likely, as Dad mentioned earlier to Sly that he says hi to Aagon.
I think that Dad is way older than Aagon though.
Lion and Alpha excused themselves, telling me they were going to finish the renovations in the other rooms.
Lion gave me a short, tender kiss, while Alpha gave me a gentle bite on my neck before licking it.
Then they left.
It's only Khamsin, Dad, Leon and Ten, who looked awkward as usual, who are left in the shared bedroom.
Khamsin and Leon started to discuss something regarding trading while Dad looked pensive, as if he was thinking deeply.
Oh yeah! I forgot to give them their gifts!
Before the visitors had arrived, I made and bought a lot of gifts for them that I placed inside several magic bags.
I called Ten, who looked eager to have something to do and asked him to conjure my magic bags.
In an instant, they all appeared beside me.
Amazing what magic can do! Truly convenient!
I called Dad, Khamsin and Leon to come near me and they did, standing beside Ten.
They all looked at me with curiosity, as Dad asked me what I needed them all for.
With a grin on my face, I gave them each a magic bag and told them that they were my gifts for them, many of which I made personally.
Dad was overjoyed and, using his magic, made all sorts of his knitting appear on the bed. A lot of them were dresses he knitted for me.
Surprisingly, they looked really good! Well-made, to be exact!
I complimented Dad on his knitting skills and told him he should try selling some of his work.
Although I though he wouldn't be interested, he surprised everyone, especially Ten, by asking me how to sell it. He mentioned that he didn't know the process and dislikes interacting with strangers.
What?!
Seeing the surprise on my face, he admitted that he feels uncomfortable being with those he doesn't yet feel comfortable with.
I see...
I mentioned that Sly could help him... with good timing, too, as Sly had just returned from sending a magic scroll to Aagon.
Sly looked at Dad warily when I told him that Dad wanted his advice on starting a new business venture.
Of course, he instantly lit up and he and Dad sat in the corner, enthusiastically discussing it.
Leon, Khamsin and Ten were examining the gifts I gave them with joy, thanking me. Leon excitedly said that he is going to give me a gift as well, but it will be a surprise.
As for Khamsin, he grinned at me and hurriedly left the room. Returning after a short moment, he carried several packages, telling me that these were some of his gifts for me while the rest were in his room.
Good grief! This is way too many! Where am I going to put all of these if I don't have my own room?!
As the pack insisted that I share a room with each of them, I do not have my own and all of us also sleep together in a shared bedroom. Furthermore, Lion informed me that the entire castle is ours and that I am free to place my belongings anywhere, which would bring him immense joy.
Sigh.
Oh well.
I'll arrange all my stuff one of these days, but I think it will take more than a week. I have way too much stuff and I had forgotten how most of them looked and why I bought it. Except for the gifts, though... I somehow have a strange memory of recalling the gifts I received.
As for Ten, he declared once more that he is my slave for eternity and will do everything I ask of him.
I don't want a slave!
But he looked so pleased with himself that I just kept silent.
Whatever pleases him.
...
Dad is opening a business!
But in partnership with us. He told me he still doesn't understand how it works and would prefer to just make the products himself.
It didn't take long for Sly to make a business plan. Dad snapped his fingers and numerous knitted items appeared in the room. Sly lit up instantly and yelled for Alpha, who entered after a few moments. Sly told him that they would open Dad's business right now.
Dad looked extremely cheerful and as more and more of his finished knitting appeared, Khamsin and Leon looked interested as they examined some of the stuff.
Soon, Sly and Alpha left the castle, bringing all of Dad's finished knitting with them.
It took them a while to pack everything up, as Dad insisted on not using magic, fearing it might damage the delicate items.
What a diva.
But Sly and Alpha don't seem to mind, as all of the stuff can fetch a high price.
Now Leon wants to open his own business too, but he doesn't have any ideas yet.
Ten timidly asked me if I had a business idea for him since he can do anything using his magic.
I told Ten that to create a successful business, the idea should be unique and hard to copy, ensuring it remains popular for a long time.
Wait..
He IS good at making refreshments..
I asked Ten if he knows about all sorts of edible items that can be used for cooking, not just fruits and herbs.
To my delight, he showed me all the books he had written, filled with his own illustrations, while explaining which vegetation is edible and which is not.
If he were on earth, he could be a biologist or a botanist!
Sadly, I can't understand his writings but I can identify the illustrations, as they are well-drawn.
Ten is quite talented!
At this point, Ghost and Orm entered, bringing food for everyone.
Upon seeing me beckon him, Ghost approached cheerfully and I showed him the books Ten wrote.
Ghost and Ten instantly hit it off, intensely discussing what Ten wrote, when I suddenly have an idea about what kind of business Ten should have.
A coffee shop! Or better yet, a refreshment shop!
I was so excited that Orm, Ghost, Khamsin, Dad, Leon and Ten sat on the bed around me while I shared my idea for Ten's business.
Once I was done, Khamsin, Ghost and Ten headed to the kitchen to plan the menu.
Now there's only Orm, Dad and Leon left.
Oh gosh.. the meeting! We all got distracted!
Leon looked like he was in low spirits, clearly envious of the others, while Dad looked at him smugly, mentioning his plans for new knitting designs.
Orm is in a cheerful mood because the pack has a share in whatever business venture we have, but he still insists on not selling any of the paintings he makes.
Aw...
Too bad.
I know that it will fetch an extremely high price.
To cheer Leon up, I asked him what the territory does for entertainment and attraction. Having those would boost the economy by attracting traders from other lands, as well as increasing the population.
Leon cheered up so quickly that he immediately told me he wants to assign me as his business advisor.
No thank you!
I hate meetings and don't like meeting weird individuals either!
Dad chuckled, murmuring that I am truly his offspring, as we are both alike in not liking to meet new individuals.
Anyway, it turns out that dueling, killing pests and victory in war are their only forms of entertainment.
What the heck?
That's too boring!
And too unpleasant!
But to be fair, a territory winning a war will surely attract individuals, as of course, you want to belong to a safe and strong place for protection purposes.
Anyway, the latest entertainment in the territory wasn't any of the above, but rather the combat challenge we had a long time ago, as well as the song and dance number that Sly, Orm and the rest of the palace musicians performed during a banquet, which ended up being extremely popular.
All they do is work and conquer!
Don't they have any festivals or...
That's it!
Festivals!
After I suggested having festivals in the territory and explained it to him, Leon became highly enthusiastic. Not only him, but Orm and Dad as well.
Dad commented that having festivals would surely boost the territory's reputation, as well as the economy and Leon immediately assigned me to be in charge of it.
No buts and no excuses.
Me and my big mouth!
Ugh!
...
After we ate a bit, with Dad waiting for us to stop, we finally resumed the meeting, even if it was just the four of us.
Dad is in a cheerful mood after receiving a scroll from Sly and Alpha, pleading for more of his finished knitting pieces as the others he had sent had sold out instantly.
Of course he sent Ten to deliver more of it as...
How many pieces did Dad manage to make?!
Ghost and Khamsin took Lion with them, who looked pleased after learning we have a new business and went out to find a location for the refreshment cafe.
Dad gave Ten permission to join them after he delivered the rest of Dad's finished work.
Despite Dad having him deliver dozens and dozens of packages, Ten doesn't seem to mind, his face shining like the sun despite his appearance as a lich.
He almost forgot to wear his robe, but Dad reminded him at the last minute.
.....
Our minds were so distracted that Dad began talking about some of the memories he saw in my mind.
He, Leon and Orm had the time of their lives laughing their heads off as they talked about the time I caused chaos in the palace, fainting all the magic users and warriors with chloroform just to see Lion.
Dad asked if I still have some of those dangerous things that I threw away, but I don't have any left since it happened a long time ago.
He mumbled that it was quite a shame but that he could try to duplicate it.
He would invent something similar, despite not having a sense of smell, as he still had numerous prisoners in his dungeon whom he could use as testing dummies.
Dad! That's horrible and so wrong!
He ignored my protests and began making plans for it anyway.
To my dismay, Leon and Orm didn't seem to mind about it, as Leon mentioned to Dad about making some for him so he could use it in case there's a war, while Orm murmured that he would also try to make something similar too.
I keep forgetting that I'm not in my previous world anymore.
Here, it's either fight or get eaten.
Oh well.
Let them have their fun.
....
At this point, Sly returned, grinned at us and telling Dad that his new business was quite successful on its first day.
He handed Dad a magic pouch, evidently filled with jewels from the day's sales.
To my joy, Dad gave me a violet jewel!
THANK YOU, DAD!
I hugged him instantly and thanked him profusely while he awkwardly patted my back, commenting that if it weren't for me teaching him to knit, his business wouldn't exist.
He grinned while telling us that with the earnings he made, he would expand his domain and improve the state of it.
Now that Sly is here, Leon told us that we should resume the meeting, as there are five of us now.
Sly and Orm cuddled me on the bed while we waited for Dad to speak, as he was too busy counting the rest of the jewels inside the magic pouch.
Looks like he was too distracted that, instead of continuing the agenda, which I also forgot because I was also distracted, Dad chuckled as he told us that he saw me stealing magic stuff from the palace. He said it was quite funny to see the memory and extremely stupid of whoever was the head of the magic users back then.
Orm assured him that such a situation wouldn't happen again since he is the new head of the magic users and had tightened the security of the room containing magical items in the palace.
Wait.
Where's that stuff that I stole?!
I glanced towards Sly, who looked sheepish as he admitted that he had forgotten to return it to me.
Orm assured me that he will put everything in our very own magical artifacts and equipment room here in the castle and will prevent anyone from stealing it.
It would be insanity if anyone dared to steal it!
.....
Instead of having the meeting, Dad had us reminisce by constantly mentioning funny stuff he recalled from my memory.
Like that time Leon tortured the pack, especially Lion.
Unfortunately for them, I didn't find it funny at all and glared at Leon so hard that he looked down in shame.
Dad also mentioned the time when I made a mixture that kept the members of Orm's former tribe away, despite them being famous for being extremely...
I interrupted Dad, telling him that I can make the same mixture with Ten, Ghost and Orm's help, as I am not yet familiar with all the vegetation they have in this world.
Dad looked too cheerful, clearly excited about a new weapon for dealing with trespassers.
As for Leon, Sly had to tell him about the memory, which made him guffaw while asking for some samples.
Orm took note and began making plans.
Uh.. We are getting distracted again!
.....
Finally, the rest came back with huge smiles on their faces.
Ah.
I know that they are successful in establishing our new businesses.
Lion embraced me immediately as he mentioned that he had sent a scroll to Myra, informing her about our new businesses.
Of course, she instantly replied and will be opening the new businesses at her location.
Everyone is in a celebration mood that Leon made all sorts of liquor appear inside the room.
Yet, after tasting the liquor, everyone made all sorts of 'blegh' sounds, saying my liquor was like ambrosia to them while the other kinds felt disgusting.
But since I wasn't in any condition to make some, they swallowed their disgust and tried to finish the rest of the liquor.
Maybe it was so disgusting that even Sly, Lion and Leon, the group's heaviest drinkers, couldn't finish their drinks.
Funnily enough, even Dad, who is a lich, mentioned that the liquor he tasted just now was an abomination to his body.
Always a diva.
Everyone mellowed down as Dad shared another memory about the time I knocked out Ghost.
They all guffawed, including Ghost himself, who looked quite proud of what I'd done instead of being embarrassed.
Of course, Sly has to tell Khamsin the whole story as he witnessed it.
Besides that, Alpha mentioned that I also managed to knock out Ghost during the training at the palace.
Everyone laughed for a long time until Sly mentioned me flipping the bird towards the master of the arena.
Boisterous laughter filled the room while Dad mentioned, between laughs, that I truly suited the nickname he gave to me, 'Imp'.
Not only am I acting like an imp, but a sadistic one at that. Dad even mentioned time I made all the warriors and the pack collapse from exhaustion during the intense training I gave them. He exclaimed that it would be good if I helped him with the training he is going to give everyone, much to their horror, including Leon.
Lion glared at Leon, saying that it was no longer funny to be included, because at that time, he was having the time of his life trying to exhaust them during training.
Of course, Leon didn't have a retort.