Chapter 35 - Hilda's Home
While Ren was having a heart to heart talk with the three rulers of Grenton's underworld. Hilda has finally finished helping Nezard with his paperwork, so she decided to head home. Before going to her house, Hilda went and stopped by the market place.
"Hilda I've been waiting for you, here is the meat you requested. The meat of a berserker boar. I know this isn't much but have some extra rabbit meat." One of the shopkeepers happily handed Hilda boar and rabbit meat.
As Hilda walked through the market place, a lot of people happily greeted her with smiles on their faces. Hilda was a famous individual not just as an adventurer, but also as a beautiful woman that frequents the market place. The shopkeepers like her since she always gives them a big tip, and treats them with respect.
Once Hilda was done with her shopping she headed back home. Hilda's home was a decent two story building. Her house used to be a mansion in the eastern district, where the nobles live. But after her father died, they were forced to move out of their house, and they also needed to sell all their possessions, since Hilda's father had an enormous debt to his name.
....
Not only did Hilda's family lose their noble title, since women couldn't inherit it, they also became dirt poor, because of her father's debt. After her father's death alongside them going through poverty, proved too much for Hilda's mother. Unable to handle the sudden misfortune Hilda's mother became broken.
It was then Hilda's mother stopped speaking, it was like she became mute and would only stare at the sky in a daze. Seeing her mother had turned into someone useless. It was Hilda's duty to take care of not only her mother, but her two little sisters as well. With virtually no money, and the only possession she had left was a sword left behind by her father, that they allowed her to keep.
At that moment Hilda had few choices left for her. She could either wh*re herself, or she could sell the sword for some quick money, or she could become an adventurer and brave the dangers of Dungeons and monsters.
Hilda didn't want to become a prostitute since she had too much pride, and selling the sword could only help them for a short while. So Hilda chose to use the sword to become an adventurer.
Hilda who became an adventurer quickly rose through the ranks. After awhile she was able to conquer a newly found dungeon with thirteen floors, earning her the treasures within the dungeon core. With the money she earned, she was able to pay the rest of her father's debt and even acquired a suitable home for her family.
Now they live in a comfortable home, but her mother still did not regain her sanity.
....
As Hilda opened the door to her house, two little girls greet her at the entrance. These two girls were her sisters, the older one who was nine years old was Karla. The younger sister was a seven-year-old girl called Nina.
"Welcome home Big Sis." The two adorably cute girls smiled at their sister.
"I'm back. Have the two of you been good girls?" Hilda who was always frowning in front of Ren was now smiling so happily, as she spoke to her little sisters.
"Yes we have." The two sisters responded at the same time.
"Really?" Hilda asked while walking towards the kitchen.
"Yes."
"Then I guess I should reward such good girls. Look here I got your favorite. With this I'm going to cook you two a feast." Hilda started to prepare to cook as her sisters smile in glee.
"Yay!"
"How about you two set the table while I cook." The two adorable little things nodded their heads and hurried off to set the table.
...
Once the three sisters finished their meal, Hilda took some soup that she made and brought it upstairs. She entered the room at the end of the hallway. Inside that room was a woman sitting on a chair looking at the moon above. As the woman looked at the moon, with those lifeless eyes, Hilda felt an ache in her heart. This person who looked so beautiful and so sad was none other than her mother, Elizabeth.
"Hi mom, here I brought you some soup." Hilda approached her mother, and like what she usually did, Hilda started to feed her. It was a difficult job, since Elizabeth couldn't move her mouth or her hands. So Hilda needed to feed her, and help her swallow. Once she was done feeding her mother, she sat down in a nearby chair.
"Mom today I met the most arrogant guy. He was overconfident, selfish, and does whatever the hell he wants without a care in the world. Though to be fair he was indeed powerful enough to warrant that arrogance. He was powerful to the point that when he faces a monster, you start to question yourself who between them was truly the monster. Still for some reason I could sense a kindness in him. Also his eyes as he looked at me wasn't out of lust like most men, but one of curiosity. He actually seemed more pure than any other person I met. He was true to himself and followed in what he believed in without caring if he was right or wrong."
Hilda then smiled as she looked at her mother.
"He actually reminded me of dad. That irritating overconfidence, with the actually skill to back it up, was similar to dad. Maybe that's why I was so against him. Not only did he make my job harder, he actually reminded me of that fool of a dad."
Even though she was bad mouthing her own father, Hilda started crying.
"He really was a fool... Not only did he leave his wife and kids, he even left them with a debt. Even though I'm suppose to hate him for all that, I still can't. Like you mom, somehow I still miss him..."
Hilda then wiped away her tears.
"Heh, we got a little off topic there. So I just wanted to tell you mom, I'm going back to becoming an adventurer. Seeing Ren and being reminded of dad, made me ask again if this is all I need. If this life I'm living has me satisfied... Not that I'm complaining or anything.... Maybe I am a bit, but can you fault me for that. I did everything for this family... I just wanted to see If Ren has the answers..."
Seeing her mom was unresponsive as usual, Hilda stood up.
"Well mom that's all I wanted to report, I hope you have a good night sleep." Hilda left the room and as she closed the door, her mom whispered something. It was her first words after her husband's death, and no one was there to hear it.
"Sorry."