The Achievement Junkie

Outside the Fat Goose Auction House, Jack was using Sterfen's Cloak and carrying Maura on his back as he made his way through the Federal Marketplace. He went unnoticed and undetected, but a commotion still emerged around the Fat Goose Auction House.

A sudden announcement was being made across the marketplace and was making its way through Federal City like lightning.

Everyone was surprised by it as it came out of nowhere. Apparently, Jack, the rising hero of the Adventurers Association, would be wed to Eliza, the young master of the Fat Goose Auction House. And the wedding was tomorrow?!

The streets were normally quieting down as the night sky arrived, but that night was the opposite. Messengers and dignitaries of all kinds rushed through the streets to verify the news.

Some people went to the Adventurers Association but they were all turned away. They wouldn't get involved with the personal life of a low-level adventurer, even if he was a summoned hero. However, when a messenger from the Fat Goose cordially invited the association to the wedding, they accepted.

The Fat Goose Auction House was livelier than ever. With Eliza's marriage needing to be planned, arranged, and taking place in less than twenty-four hours, how could it not be?

News of the marriage spread faster than Jack could comfortably carry Maura, so the Heavenly Palace Inn heard the news before Jack's arrival.

Marisha was perplexed and utterly confused. She had tried so hard to get Jack to accept her daughter, yet he never did. And now, someone that no one knew was to marry Jack the following day?!

"What in Halmut's beard is that brat doing?!" yelled Zariff as he chugged a bottle of wine.

"Calm down, I'm sure there's an explanation for all this. Maura should still be with Jack, so I'm sure he'll be here soon to explain." Martha was the voice of reason. With her age and wisdom, she found it easier to stay calm.

As Martha said, Jack soon arrived at the inn. He had already dispelled his cloak's ability so the moment he stepped inside, Jack was bombarded with questions.

"Give me some space, I'm not too happy about this either," yelled Jack. "Martha, get me something to drink, the strongest you have."

With a laugh, Martha nodded and left to the kitchen.

Jack walked past them and found a private booth near the back of the restaurant. Since the others followed him, he finally spoke after sitting down and setting down Maura, "This is not my fault and I'm being forced to do this."

"Yeah, right! You're being forced to marry the beautiful little miss from the Fat Goose?"

"Calm down, you old fart, and let me explain!" Jack shouted back at the former chief and continued. "Long story short, we went to see your friend Lilly and bought some things. She gave me a gold emblem for the Fat Goose Auction House and I purchased plenty of things to help us on our journey."

"Then, the auction house decided to put a legend-tier item up for bid, so I had to show a little too much wealth to get it. After that, I ate with Argyle and Eliza but Argyle quickly figured out my ruse. In the end, he blackmailed me into becoming his son-in-law. And now, here we are."

Zariff and Marisha were speechless. Too many things had happened so quickly and it was hard for them to process it all.

"Legendary item… Blackmailed…" Mumbling to herself, Marisha was putting everything together. "So, you're really being forced into this?"

"Yes!"

"And you agreed to this?"

"I had no choice… Even after mentioning the chance that I go after another girl, he insisted further."

"Jack, you're an idiot," stated Maura. "I know you, you'll have plenty of women try to go after you. Since it's you, I'm sure not many will succeed but I'm certain that a few will."

"Anyway, since this is happening, you'd better marry Maura too."

"What?!"

"You heard me, you're marrying Maura too," repeated Marisha. "It doesn't have to be a large ceremony. Everyone important to Maura is here at the inn. We can even do it tonight."

"Tonight?!"

"What do you think, dear?" Maura turned to her husband and asked his opinion.

The burly man stared at Jack, not sure what to believe. "If Maura wants it, I'm okay with it. I'd rather her be the first wife than the second."

"You've got to be joking, right? Don't I get a say in this?!"

"TWANG!!"

Suddenly, a huge butcher's knife stuck itself into the table, almost cutting off Jack's nose.

Looking up, Jack saw two people entering the booth. One was Martha with an entire casket of wine. In front of her was a muscular, old man. He wasn't as tall or as broad as Zariff, but he was more defined and wasn't any weaker.

"If my little Maura wants it, she's gonna get it!" yelled the old man.

"Dad, calm down. Maura isn't even awake yet," said Marisha.

"I can fix that." Taking out a small bottle, the old man neared Maura and drained its contents down her throat. "Just give her a second."

Like magic, Maura starting blinking her eyes and groaned loudly. "Ahhhh… My head hurts… Where am I?"

"Sweetie, your back at the inn." Marisha sat beside her daughter and stroked her hair. "Do you know what's going on?"

Maura looked around the room and asked, "Did Jack win the ring?"

"Yes, I'm sure he did. But do you remember anything else?"

"She was out cold before the auction ended. Unlike her parents, she's a lightweight like no other," stated Jack.

Shaking her head, Marisha explained, "Sweetie, listen carefully to what I'm about to say. While you were sleeping, Jack and the little miss from the Fat Goose have decided to get married."

"WHAAAAT?!?!"

"And it's happening tomorrow at noon," Marisha continued. "Jack says he was forced by her father, which is very possible. Your father and I want to know, do you want to marry Jack too?"

"I-I-I…" There was no way she could answer such a question so suddenly. Her headache was still setting in and she hadn't even gotten past the fact that Jack was going to be married.

"Maura, it's okay. If that old man can force Jack into it, so can we," Zariff spoke up, trying to calm his daughter. Though he didn't want to admit it, Zariff knew that Maura was interested in Jack.

"Zariff!" Jack yelled, trying to not get blackmailed twice on the same night.

"Jack, be honest with me. Would you rather have Maura or that other girl you don't know be your main wife?" Zariff looked into Jack's eyes and asked him seriously. He wasn't joking around like usual and was determined to make his daughter happy.

"Does anyone care about how I feel?!" Jack was baffled and was grasping at straws.

"My daughter does, that's why I'm asking. You know I wouldn't want it to happen like this, but my daughter has more right to be your main wife than that girl from the Fat Goose," reasoned Zariff.

Looking proudly at her husband, Marisha smile and said, "You know he's right, Jack. Are you really so against marrying Maura? Do you not think she's beautiful?"

Jack turned to Marisha and saw Maura looking up at him from Marisha's side. "I… Of course, she's beautiful. She's always been kind to me and caring whenever I'm hurt. When she lets herself, she's playful and fun too… But this is WAY too sudden. Even she hasn't agreed to all this!"

"I-I want to."

That quiet statement from Maura's lips left Jack with a slack jaw.

"See, Jack? I know my daughter, and I know you'll be the best man for her," reasoned Marisha.

"..."

Jack was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Not only was he being blackmailed by his soon to be father-in-law, now he was being backed into a corner by people he cared about.

He couldn't argue with Zariff's logic, that Jack would prefer Maura as his main wife. However, forcing the two of them into it so suddenly was overwhelming to the extreme. Jack didn't want either girl to become his wife, not under such circumstances.

But Jack knew enough about the culture of the world during the short time he had been in Kartonia. Whoever was wed first would be considered the main wife and would have the most influence of the wives. Also, at least with Maura, Jack could better keep her under control.

Jack had no clue how Eliza would act or what kind of person she really was. Over time he would learn, but there was no telling what would happen since she might complain to her powerful father.

Silence filled the room as Jack was busy thinking.

Maura stared at Jack, hoping deep down that he would accept. She had finally admitted her feeling to Jack, and though she would never want this to be why they got together, Maura would rather get together under such stressful circumstances than not get together at all. Both Marisha and her were thinking the same thing, about the chance that Maura may never get Jack's heart if he was already married.

It took a long time, but Jack finally made his decision late in the night. While laughing at his own miserable circumstances, Jack told everyone his decision.