Chapter 3 -- Part 1 (Book 1 - Fantasy World)

Guessing by their behavior, the four were probably a family. Han thought about how they were related as he looked at them.

The woman, who had the leg injury, was likely the mother.

In front, with the swords, were the father and son.

Considering the number of people they faced and still willing to stand up to them before he arrived gave Han a good impression.

Han felt proud for being able to remain calm and not burst out laughing at the family.

"I imagine that each of them is grasping to hold onto reality," Han mentally smiled.

Their eyes were wide, especially the mother, who looked like someone who was carefully watching the magician to catch the trick but was still fooled by the illusion.

The mother was dazed, struggling to understand what had just occurred.

Based on their expression, they had never seen someone with his level of “healing” magic before.

Calling what he did “healing” would be a misnomer, considering all he thought about was the mother being made whole and into her optimal health. Then he just removed the extra foreign stuff that didn’t belong in a person.

"With how easy it was, I could easily open up a clinic in the countryside back home," Han daydreamed for a second, imagining a simple clinic. "On top of that, right next door, there could be a dry-cleaning business."

The idea of pretty amusing, so he ended up chuckling. Looking at the family, he noticed they were looking at him with wariness.

“Who wouldn’t be concerned about a guy laughing out of nowhere.” Han thought to himself wryly.

“Where are my manners." He grinned at them.

With a flourished bow, "I am Han, and these are my companions,” Introducing each one to the family.
“I apologize about earlier. I tend to have a flair for dramatics. It is one of my many faults. Your wife was never in any danger of blood loss.” Han casually reassured them.

The family's faces were frozen -- unsure of what to think.

"With these powers, I need to work on taking things more seriously," Han mentally noted. "The problem is how easy and enjoyable it is to play around."

Being unrestricted with his powers, Han couldn't help but imagine that he was in an anime where the main character was significantly stronger than anyone else.

"I feel like those demons who make contracts with humans, portrayed in stories on Earth," Han looked to his creations.

They waited patiently, not finding anything he did to be strange.

Brittany, in particular, looked proud.

The family appeared to have collected themselves while Han was in thought.

“My Lord, thank you for saving my wife and family from those soldiers. Please do not hesitate to ask if there’s anything I could do for you." The father continually bowed with both hands clasped together.

Pointing to himself, "I am Tom. This is my wife, Molly; my son, Jake; and my daughter, Samantha.”

His son bowed to Han while the wife and daughter awkwardly curtsied.

They recognized that he had protected them, but Han's actions made them cautious.

“Don’t think much about it. How could I allow those soldiers to target such a lovely-looking family.” Han waved the thanks away. Placing a hand to his chin, “By chance, would you happen to know who those soldiers belong to?” He asked, thinking it would be a good idea to learn about regional politics.

“They belong to the Lunar Empire, my Lord,” Tom informed him.

“The Lunar Empire?” Han asked.

“They're a vast empire to the north of our kingdom, my Lord,” Tom explained.

The father's brow furrowed before he forced his expression to return.

"Lately, they've been tormenting the nearby kingdoms, grabbing many civilians and taking them back to who knows where. There're rumors that the Empire is capturing civilians to turn them into slaves for some large-scale project." Tom explained in more detail.

Han understood that Tom sensed that Han didn't know events that were widely known. It clearly confused the man. The problem was Han's unknown lineage, making the chance of offending a noble too high.

Nodding slowly, Han took in what the father said.

Pulling up a map and learning more about the Empire was an option. Still, when interacting with Tom, it felt like conversing with a non-playable character in a game.

He enjoyed the interaction.

Looking over at the overturned wagon next to the road, Han asked, “Might I ask where you were heading with those crates?”

The crates suggested something interesting could be found, piquing Han's interest.

With Han's mention of the wagon, the family's mood dropped.

Tom had a pained expression, seeing his belongings scattered across the ground.

“We're heading to Leaf Village, my Lord. I'm a merchant. I often sell my wares to the village. My business specializes in raw materials for clothing, weapons, armor, and food." Tom motioned to his products.

Some of the crates were cracked open -- revealing animal pelts.

"We were traveling with a caravan, but when the Empire soldiers attacked us, we were abandoned.” Tom's voice lowered as his face dropped.

Hearing the story, Han could imagine what was going through the man's mind.

It could be comparable to working with fellow vendors, helping one another to make sure the whole sees improvement. Still, such camaraderie often collapses during a sudden unexpected economic downturn.

“Looking at your wagon, the damage appears to be severe," Han said.

Han looked at Brittany.

Brittany nodded her head. She then pointed to the maids and motioned them toward the crates.

The maids went to the crates and handled the work of bringing them to the back of the carriage. They moved efficiently, taking little time to gather all the items.

A portal appeared where maids emerged carrying new crates.

Han watched as the maids broke apart the damaged crates with ease. The formerly stored items were then transferred to the new wooden boxes.

Once all the crates were neatly stacked close to the carriage, Andrea helped secure the items to be ready whenever Han wanted to leave.

Han redirected his attention to the family behind him.

"I don’t like the idea of leaving you behind. How about your family travel with me to the village?" He offered.

Seeing them look hesitant, Han added, "I’m sure it would be much more comfortable and calming. It would be beneficial for your wife and daughter.” Han cheerfully said.