I Reincarnated Into A Single-Celled Organism!

“Reckless! Ignorant!”

After being brought back to the mansion, I was taken to the main receiving room. Abigail, her uncle, Penelope, and even her brothers were all seated as I was berated for causing the Capala family trouble. Pierre, Priscilla, Mara, and various other servants and guards were in attendance as well.

“Would you rather I allowed your daughter to be killed?” I asked innocently, causing Penelope to adjust unhappily.

“She never would have been in any danger if it wasn’t for you causing all kinds of trouble at the Academy! Oh, yes, I’ve heard all about your exploits. You’ve managed to get up to quite a bit for a single day!”

“You sent me to the Academy to learn.” I shrugged. “Now, you’re going to be angry at me for going? What exactly do you expect me to do? Never mind, I suppose you already answered that. You want me to just roll over and die.”

“Let’s put aside this argument for now,” Abigail spoke up before her red-faced uncle could say things that I might consider disagreeable. “Everything that has happened has happened. The reason we were able to arrive in time was because of Fate. She had continued to keep a watch on you in secret, and when things looked dangerous, she sent me a message. You should thank her when you have the time.”

I knew that Fate had been following and watching, but I hadn’t known that she was the one who sent word to the Capala family. My information network still needed some refinement, but I was only one person. Even with Parallel Processing, I couldn’t manage an infinite number of sentinels. Leveling had a second benefit of doubling the number of cells I could control. I was now over a trillion. However, that was still less than an adult body. I no longer felt like I was as thin as before, but I still wasn’t complete either.

“I will.” I gave a nod as the uncle looked like he was debating between yelling more and allowing Abigail to steer the conversation.

“To my understanding, you made some good profits today. You complete the botany and alchemy tests. This means you have the potential of becoming a true alchemist?”

His words caused a wave of shock to spread amongst the guards and servants. Many of them had been looking down on me since I entered the family, but they all knew what being an alchemist implied. Even Brandon and Dennis looked a bit shocked. Mara looked a bit prideful, and even Priscilla smiled in delight. The uncle didn’t react much at all. He must have known from his sources.

“You flatter me,” I spoke overly politely as I bowed. “I may be a bit good at memorization, but if it came to creating those potions or pills, I would fail.”

“Even so… we might be able to put together some money…” Abigail looked somewhat conflicted.

“M’lady… we don’t have the money right now to raise an alchemist,” Pierre spoke up immediately. “The cost is astronomical. Even though we grow our herbs, our production isn’t at a level yet where we can afford to have them wasted.”

“Even if he could become useful, it would still take years of training. Even my daughter isn’t to the point that she can make a profit on her production, and a lot of her education is supplemented by Grandmaster Bai,” The uncle spoke up, causing her daughter to flush red with an unhappy expression.

Abigail gave me an apologetic look. “I am sorry, it seems like this might have to wait… as for the money you earned, I wouldn’t dare take it away…”

“Abby!” The uncle looked at her in shock. “The branch needs that money. He wouldn’t even have acquired it if it wasn’t for my daughter. If he wishes to live on our property and eat our food, he needs to produce. He’s already failed to work with the botanist. Now, it seems like he’ll only continue to cause trouble at the Academy. The least we can do is take a small penance.”

“A small penance?” I laughed, causing every eye to land on me. “What have you all done for me that I supposedly owe you so much? Protection? I’d already be dead tonight if I wasn’t able to protect myself. Money? I’ve earned more money in the last month than you’ve seen in a year. It seems like you expect a great deal from me while offering nothing in return.”

“You dare?” The uncle shot me a glare.

“Enough!” Abigail declared, causing her uncle to look surprised. “The Capala household is a family unit. Our successes and our failures affect the whole household. Uncle Conway, my fiancé is new to the household, but he has already done everything we’ve asked of him. It is unfair to expect more from him, or to extort him for our benefit.”

“Abby…” Her uncle looked a bit flustered for the first time.

“Spirit!” she shot me a look. “You are now a member of my household. You have already benefited from our name in countless ways you couldn’t imagine. How do you think tonight would have ended if we hadn’t arrived? Do you even think you would have walked away from that tournament without it? I will not make any demands on you, but I can guarantee any contributions you provide to the Capala household will be paid back to you three-fold.”

I lowered my head, and after a moment, I spoke. “I am unable to give you the money from those exams. However, I guarantee that if you give me time, I will be able to generate more.”

“Promises?” Uncle Conway sneered.

I ignored him and took a step forward. The guards reached for their weapons and the room tensed. I stopped and waited, looking at Abigail. She gave the guards and wave and then nodded. I took another step and kneeled. I pulled out an amulet and lifted it to her.

“I had already intended to give this to you. It came to my attention that we are to be married, and yet I’ve never provided you with any jewelry. You may keep it or sell it if the Capala house needs the money, but don’t say I’ve never given my future wife a gift.”

Her cheeks turned slightly pink despite herself. She reached out and took the amulet from my hands.

“This is a second-life amulet.” Pierre who was the closest gasped. “The double helix is proof!”

“It was just an item he stole from others.” Uncle Conway growled.

“I won it.” I shrugged. “Is victory not the grounds to gain wealth? I wonder how many families gained all their wealth without conquest.”

“This…” Abigail spoke up, her hand wrapping around the helix. “I thought you would keep to protect yourself.”

“I’d rather those around me be protected,” I responded.

In truth, after thinking about it a bit, I had originally wanted both of the items to go to Mara, but it didn’t seem like I could decide on everything. Since Mara was Abigail’s servant, Abigail’s safety would be Mara’s safety. That’s why I decided to give it to her.

After another moment, Abigail nodded and put the amulet on. “I will accept this. As for the future, I think you should stay here under our protection for a while. Do not go wandering outside of the Capala compound. If you leave, tell Pierre and he will gather a regiment of guards. Once things have calmed down in the city, you may return to the Academy.

“I had one other request,” I spoke up.

“Speak.”

“The growing fields. I’ve heard that you’ve had trouble.”

“Our yields have been behind the last few years. We’ve had a few unexpected illnesses spread through. It’s just been an unlucky streak for us. You don’t need to worry about these issues.”

“Even if you say so, I’d like to go visit the fields. Perhaps, my knowledge in horticulture can help.”

“We’ve already had the botanist out there. What can he hope to do?” Uncle Conway snorted.

I shrugged. “I won’t know unless I go look, now can I?”

Abigail frowned in thought for a moment before nodding. “When things settle down a bit, I’ll consider booking a trip. I’ve been meaning to go myself for a while.”

“Sure, it’s a date.” I grinned.

My words caused an ugly look from Brandon. I also noticed Mara glaring my way. Meanwhile, Abigail stared back at me without any sign of embarrassment. I ended up coughing awkwardly instead as I got back to my feet.

“If that’s all, then it is late, and I would like some sleep…”

“Wait, there is still one thing!” Uncle Conway spoke up, before shooting me another challenging glare. “I have word that he bet an A-rank technique. That is how he got the double helix amulet. If he has his hands on an A-ranked technique, the Capala family should protect it!”

Abigail glanced at him and then gave me an uncertain look. “Carrying such a technique would be like having a target on your back.”

“I don’t mind.” I grinned, pulling the book out. “I intended to give you this on our wedding night. Are you sure you wish for it now?”

“You dare!” Brandon spoke up angrily.

He quieted when Abigail gave him a look. Uncle Conway was staring at the book in my hands like a starving dog. He wasn’t the only one. She then looked back at me and lightly shook her head.

“I won’t take it from you now. Just make sure to hide it someplace safe.”

“Of course.” I nodded and grinned. “No one will see this book again without me.”