Raised in Dungeon

"Why did you come back? Felicia is still asleep; you have no business and no rights in this house."

"About that, I-"

"I am the one who called Allen my lord!" Rachel shouted.

Reynold's face becomes angrier upon hearing that.

"You... Just because I forgave you before doesn't mean I allowed you to do everything! I only gave you one forgiveness, and now you're going rogue. Do you think I'll follow your wishes like last time? Twice you've moved on your own, and the third time I won't forgive you. This is not only disobedience but betrayal!"

"Lord Reynold, I'm sorry for giving you trouble all this time; I'm glad you didn't punish me before, but I want to make sure that Allen is useful this time."

"I don't care anymore." Reynold's voice really indicated that he didn't care; he was tired and wanted to rest immediately. Even raising his voice was reluctant. "You've already broken too many things. I don't know what you'll do in the future if I forgive you again."

"Sweetheart," Ayde said, appeasing the angry Reynold, "Please read this." Ayde handed Reynold a letter.

"This is a letter from Lord Barkaley. Although Rachel was selfish this time, it was me who allowed her selfishness, otherwise, I'm sure that Rachel would have given up if I had not allowed it.

I was the one who brought Allen back."

Reynold looked at Ayde with his tired and angry face, and then he let out a long sigh. He picked up the letter and read it.

After about five minutes of reading the letter, Reynold throws it on the table. "All right," Reynold said. "I will give permission to talk."

Allen came forward with a slightly downcast face; the person he once only thought of as an annoying rich man was now a figure he was quite afraid of. He realized that the decision of the person in front of him would determine Rachel's fate.

"What is this?" asked Reynold as Allen placed the hickory wood in front of him.

"This is a bowl of soup. This bowl was created by my master in the Barkaley region, which allows you to carry food without spilling it," Allen explained.

Reynold examined the bowl carefully, then he realized one thing, "Don't tell me, the cook who came to this house was you? And you are the one who made this soup too?"

Allen nodded awkwardly.

Unlike the others, Reynold immediately understood the whole situation from the letter Barkaley gave.

About Allen working at the tavern and the possibility that the Allen in front of him was also not the Allen he was used to knowing.

"You? That murderer was now using his hand to cook for others? That's funny," Reynold said, opening Allen's old wounds. It was similar to what Lord Barkaley had said to him.

"Sweetheart, that's not nice," Ayde said defensively.

"Not that I think killing is wrong; the fact is he kept our soldiers alive back then, but still, he's just a peasant whose presence is no longer needed in this house.

No, you're a commoner now, right? Why not just stay in the Barkaley region forever?" asked Reynold.

"Because I have a promise," said Allen. "I have regrets and a promise I want to fulfill to Felicia. And I also wanted to make Felicia keep her promise to me."

"Her promise to you?"

Felicia had told him that she would show Allen a world without violence, where people practiced swordplay not to hurt others but only to protect others. Although that promise was full of contradictions, he wanted to know how Felicia would make it happen.

And then he wants to protect Felicia to redeem his sin toward Waldo.

"I... can't say." Allen, who felt that it was something Felicia should tell her parents herself, "But, by keeping that promise, I'm sure that one day Felicia will be able to forget Mr. Waldo!"

'That's what I don't like,' Reynold thought. 'Didn't he realize? Forgetting about Mr Waldo means you are getting along with Felicia, and I'm sure that is what Rachel planned. Allen is just a peasant, and I won't let you take my daughter.'

"Lord Reynold!" shouted Rachel, taking a few steps forward.

"Allen is unmistakably a human being who has the ability of 1000 soldiers; I don't think making him a bodyguard here is a disadvantage, especially in these crucial times. Besides, he also has a very good god's blessing, which is more useful than mine!"

"Oh? I forget. It's been three years since that day; of course, he already has one," Reynold muttered.

"Allen, show it to Lord Reynold."

Allen enveloped his hand with Reig's, and from his hand came out the wooden bowl.

"W-what is this again? Explain!" Reynold was in shock; he knew but still needed an explanation to be sure.

"My blessing is a duplication. I can create any object I have touched and analyze it. The size limit I can create is only three sizes of my palm, and the number I can create until my mana runs out.

For example, I can create this bowl up to 100 pieces per day."

"That's... quite… amazing," Reynold said honestly. This was the first time he had ever really praised someone.

"But the strength and benefits of a person's god's blessing are directly proportional to his weaknesses. An ability like that, it must have its drawbacks, right? Besides the limit of use."

Allen nodded. He created an apple in his hand.

"So you can even create food," Reynold muttered.

"The drawback of this ability is that the quality of the duplicated object will be much worse than the original. For example, this apple has a bland flavor and little nutrition. Then this bowl has much weaker strength than the original."

"But this bowl still looks sturdy?"

"That's because my master spent a lot of money to make it with the pockholz tree, with the strong pockholz wood; even though it's only half weaker, it still though like ordinary wood."

"I see..." Reynold was pensive for a while, thinking about the positives and negatives of having Allen at home.

Reynold tried his best to refuse Allen, but there was no more room for Reynold to refuse, and he felt annoyed at being controlled by Rachel. 'This girl must have thought of many things before entering this room.'

"Well, I accept you to work here on the condition that you follow all my orders regarding using your god's blessing."

Rachel let out a long sigh, as did Allen.

"S-I understand," Allen replied.

"Thank you for listening to my request; I can accept any punishment," Rachel said.

"Yes, I've thought about your punishment."

With a feeling of dread, Rachel waited fearfully.

"You are not allowed to accompany Felicia to the academy."

It was a surprise attack, but she understood it was a small price to pay for what she had done.

"I understand, Lord Reynold."

Although it was a very shocking and sad punishment for her, it didn't mean she was about to part with Felicia forever. Felicia would be coming home twice a year; besides, there was Allen, whom she could trust to look after Felicia at the academy.

'Yeah, Allen is beside her; the current Allen would be able to protect her. I think that is also a reason why Lord Reynold parted me with my lady.'

"Then, Allen..."

"Y-yeah?!"

"Is this soup the only thing you learned during your three years in the Barkaley region?"

"N-no, there are several menus in the Barkaley region that I mastered."

"Then teach them all to Rachel; I want her to master everything you can until your departure."

"Yes, my lord!" replied Allen.

Reynold stared at Allen a little longer, still unable to believe that Allen, who used to look at him with hatred, now looked nervous in front of him, which strangely made him feel even more at ease and a little annoyed that he couldn't scold him anymore.

"That's all; go away. I want to take a rest; don't call me until dinner."