The Achievement Junkie 277 Two and a Half Weeks Later

Eliza's head jerked the moment Jack's incoherent groan reached her ears. "Jack…"

"Uhh… Huh…" As if coaxed by Eliza's tender voice, Jack's eyelids cracked open.

"Jack… You're awake." Maura rushed to the bedside opposite Eliza. She grabbed her husband's hand and gently caressed it.

Jack's minimalistic movements weren't enough to return the favor, but he managed to curl his fingers loosely around her hand. "Eliza… Maura…"

"Yes," they answered together.

It took another moment for Jack's eyes to fully process his new surroundings. As the blurriness faded, Jack came to see both of their smiling faces looking down on him. "Where am I?"

"You're in one of the largest hotels in Talmook. We needed a room big enough for all four of us or we would've fought over who stayed by your side," explained Eliza.

"Oh… Wait… Four of us?" Jack repeated. "But I only see…"

"Jack!" The bed-ridden hero heard the door swing open and another familiar voice rang out as Daliea hurried to sit beside Eliza. "Jack, you're awake."

"Yeah, I am…" Seeing her made Jack happy, but it also reminded him of the event he saw play out alongside Daruun.

"Daliea… I'm glad you're still alive…" As Jack uttered those words, the others all hesitated to respond. But Jack continued, "I guess that means… Where is she buried?"

"She hasn't been buried yet," Maura replied. "It took a couple of days but we managed to find a shop selling caskets. We bought an enchanted casket that helped slow her body's decomposition with some of your money, but we haven't been able to decide where to bury her."

"By the way," Eliza added, "at some point, we need to discuss our finances."

Jack's weak body failed to tilt his head in confusion. "Why? Has something come up?"

"Yes. You've been holding out on us!" pointing her finger at Jack, Eliza guilted him. "You have that much?! And you weren't willing to at least buy us some dresses or accessories?"

"That… But I'll need all of that for reviving the Leisure Guild," reasoned Jack as he turned to Maura for support.

Maura's sad expression warmed up as she giggled, "Jack, I think Eliza has a point. We can spare at least that much, can't we?"

"I think Jack made the correct decision," stated Daliea in his defense. "He's spoiled all of us so I don't get why you're acting like you've received nothing from him."

"Daliea…" The young hero smiled, glad to have someone help protect him from his wives.

"But he's got WAY too much already. He could at least get us something without Lina being the excuse," argued Eliza. "Why can't he just treat his wives for once…"

Now that he understood their motives, Jack tried and failed to sit up, which caused Eliza and Maura to immediately drop their little game and hold Jack softly.

"Eliza, Maura, once we're in Gilga we'll go on a proper date. Okay?"

"Promise?" Eliza smiled.

"You mean that, Jack?" Maura blushed.

"Of course, you are my wives after all," laughed Jack. "I don't know what I would do if I lost you…"

Both women leaned in close and took a turn to kiss Jack's cheek. Daliea sat next to them, unsure of how to contain her jealousy.

"I-I'll go get the others. I'm sure they'll want to see you too." Not liking the feeling of being the fourth wheel, Daliea gave a quick bow before she darted out the door.

"You know, Jack, she really cares about you. You've realized that by now, right?" Eliza prodded Jack with her words.

"... Yeah… I've noticed," Jack sighed.

"Wait, really?!" Acting surprised, Eliza looked to her fellow wife. "Maura, did you hear that? Jack is noticing that we have feelings for him."

"You know I'm right here," Jack dryly stated. "And I thought that was obvious since me and you spent that night--"

"Shhh! No more." Eliza threw her hand over Jack's mouth but was unable to keep Maura from catching on.

"What's he talking about?" asked Maura.

"Nothing. He's just trying to talk his way out again, like always."

Maura lifted one eyebrow as she removed Eliza's hand from Jack's face. "Jack, what were you saying?"

That was when he realized that Maura still didn't know about Jack and Eliza taking that next step in their relationship. "Ummm… I'm just reminding her of that last battle we had. I did everything I could to protect them."

"Jaaaack?" Maura repeated his name, intent on getting this crucial information out of him. "Tell me the truth. I'm also your wife, remember?"

"I… We…" Jack hesitated but couldn't think of a way out of an awkward explanation. "Maura… You see, Eliza and I--"

"Jack!"

"Jack, ya finally got up!"

"Big Bro!"

The door was suddenly thrown open as more and more people charged into the room and Lina dove into Jack's injured chest.

Taking this opportunity, Jack retreated from his conversation with Maura and greeted them all. "Rydel, Maynard, Lina… Sorry I've been out again. I hope I wasn't a burden on you."

"Nah, ya can just keep resting for a while," replied Maynard. "With Rydel handling the intel, we've already learned most of what we need."

"Really? Then, what's the situation?" asked Jack.

Rydel explained, "Well, this job may be a lot harder than we thought. The man in charge of the deal is a ninja from Churstin. He's lv. 44 and he's unlike most of the few ninjas I've seen. His stealth abilities rival mine, but I've already witnessed his ability to kill. He should specialize in assassination if I'm not mistaken."

"Assassination?" Somewhat surprised, Jack thought for a moment. "What's an assassin doing selling weapons?"

"I'm not sure, to be honest," replied Rydel. "From what I've seen he might be working alone or for a third party and not for Churstin. Also… He knows that I've been tailing him."

"What?!"

"Hold on, ya never told me that?!" Maynard turned in shock. "Ya, the best spy and stealth master I've met, were caught spying on him? And this assassin didn't kill ya or threaten ya?"

"No, he didn't. That's the scary thing… There have been a few times that he'll look back at me while I'm hiding and wave to me as if he wants to talk. He's never told me anything or approached me, but I'm confident he knows that I've been following him for the past couple of weeks," explained Rydel.

"I see... Wait, the past couple of weeks?! How long was I out?" Jack was startled.

"Almost three weeks now." A less familiar voice came from the door. Dirk chuckled as he slapped Maynard on the back. "While you've been napping, we've been busy. Rydel, and occasionally Daliea, will go and find new information on the various weapon transactions. Maynard and I have been sharpening our swords against one another, teaching each other a few new tricks. And your wives have been here with you, even if we invited Maura to come spar and learn."

Grateful to Dirk's military training and his straightforward way of reporting, Jack felt caught up on recent events for the most part. "Thank you, Dirk. I'm glad you've made your self at home in the party."

"If I didn't already have a wife and children to tend to, I would be hard-pressed to part ways with you all," praised Dirk. "But I'm sure we'll spend plenty of time together at some point in the Leisure Guild."

"In time, yes. But for now, we should figure out what's up with this strange ninja. Rydel, have you at least learned his name?" Jack asked.

"He's refused to share that information with anyone, even his paying customers."

"Hmmm… If it's a third party, I wonder if they'd be willing to leave Churstin if another big buyer made an offer?" reasoned Jack. "Rydel, give me a few more days to rest. Then, we'll both go and visit this ninja with an offer he can't refuse."

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Chapter end