Chapter 87

"Really, even though I told them not to come anymore..."

While Noem and Avignon were taking care of the children, Zeta was busy preparing the meal. She was boiling a huge pot, throwing in various ingredients to satisfy the appetites of multiple children.

Her figure was so fitting, like any mother. There was no trace of the girl Zeta used to be.

"But it's a relief that they're looking after the children. Otherwise, I would have been exhausted from entertaining them until they were satisfied and then preparing the meal..."

"Zeta is taking care of the children alone...?"

"Yes, until last year, Mother was here..."

I remember too.

The old lady who wore a nun's habit and took care of us, just like the current Zeta.

"Who was she...?"

"She passed away last year, suddenly and unexpectedly."

When she told me this, my heart clenched as if it had been grabbed by a hawk.

"Mother was the one who accepted me when I fled back from the church. I gradually learned the orphanage work while helping her. Maybe she felt relieved that I was becoming useful, and her old illness flared up, and that was it..."

"Last year..."

"If you had returned a bit earlier, you could have met her. I guess it's hard for you to accept, isn't it, Ryuya?"

Indeed, I didn't visit the orphanage for a while after returning to the capital.

In the end, I was so engrossed in my own affairs that I didn't think about those who had taken care of me. I'm not in a position to lecture anyone.

"So now, Zeta is the Mother?"

"Isn't that strange? I still think of myself as young, but being treated like a mother is too much."

Though she said it with a troubled expression, I could sense that she wasn't entirely unhappy deep down. The ambitious Zeta from back then seemed to be gone.

"Shouldn't you be doing something more significant instead of staying in such a place? You're an S-rank adventurer, aren't you? Everyone expects more heroic deeds from you, right?"

"I've done quite a lot, so I think it's time for a break."

I freed a herb cluster from demonic possession, repelled the invading demons in the Centaurian Kingdom, stopped a massive tsunami that threatened to engulf the Rubrum Kingdom, and repelled the demons again at the headquarters of the Adventurer's Guild.

"There have been so many things that I feel like I need to burp. It might be good to take a break here."

"Even for a vacation, there are more beautiful places, aren't there?"

"Spending a vacation in the countryside is quite common."

This is definitely the place where I spent my childhood.

Forgetting such a hometown until now is something that often happens to a man who grew up alone.

"Given your current status, you could freely enter more charming places, couldn't you? As a hero who saved the country?"

"I think this place is charming enough."

While peeling potatoes, I watched Zeta's back as she cooked. Her figure, so engrossed in cooking, was surprisingly alluring, making me wonder if this was really the same girl who used to be a tomboy.

"Come on, you just got engaged to the queen. Cheating is dangerous. You might end up drinking poison, you know?"

'No problem there.'

Avignon, who was supposed to be playing with the children outside, suddenly appeared with a thud. As always, he was unpredictable.

"What about the game of tag?"

'Ah, those brats can be subdued in a second by me. There's no more boring game than one with such a huge gap.'

What a braggart...!?

'But more importantly, I've told Noem about this big-buttocked woman, and Noem and Reslaser have decided to allow up to twenty concubines!'

"Too many!"

More than a dozen, that's ridiculous.

If they're that tolerant, why not make it unlimited?

'It would become too chaotic and the records wouldn't keep up, so that's the limit.'

"An unexpectedly calm reason...!?"

'So, shouldn't this big-buttocked woman raise her hand if she wants to? The elder sister of the princess is already trying her best to secure the position of concubine.'

"Are you talking about me when you say 'big-buttocked woman'?"

Zeta's eyebrows twitched.

Is she self-conscious about her big butt?

"I'll pass, thank you. There's also the question of 'what face do I show now,' and besides, I don't want to leave this place."

I realized this soon after I started coming here regularly.

At least, she seems to find fulfillment in taking care of the orphans here.

"I'm a woman who is content with this level of happiness. The only useful lesson I learned from the church is that high hopes lead to ruin."

'You have a rather jaded outlook for someone so young.'

"The church withers any hope. So, while the position of a hero's lover might be attractive, the disputes in the bedroom that come with it are just too troublesome to imagine. I'm content with taking care of the children here."

'But isn't your happiness in jeopardy now?'

Zeta followed Avignon's sidelong glance.

The scene outside the window was tinged with an ominous, murky color.

◆

Rough-looking men were intimidating the children.

What a despicable act for grown men.

"Have you not finished packing yet, you brats?"

They glared with faces scarred by old wounds, an intimidating sight. It was not a proper attitude for adults to take toward children.

Noem, who happened to be in the yard, shielded all the children with her back and faced them.

"Who are you? Do we need to call the soldiers?"

"Don't be sassy, girl. Maybe I should sell you too, huh?"

From their words and actions, it was clear they were not good people.

Despite this, Noem, who had grown so well through her many adventures, did not flinch.

"It's them, sister!"

A child, clinging to Noem's waist (taking advantage of the chaos), spoke.

It was the boy who had attacked me with a golden projectile and a kick on the first day.

"These guys have been threatening Mother for a few days! They even attacked you when you came here!"

"Shut up, brat. Brats should behave and listen to adults. Get out of here now."

The man, exuding a threatening aura, intimidated the children. His behavior was far from that of a proper adult. His very profession suggested he was not a decent person.

"Or should we take care of your future for you? Brats can fetch a good price depending on the buyer. Even you, girl, though you're still young, you're starting to grow. There will be no shortage of good buyers."

He leered at Noem with a lecherous expression.

"We've been patient enough, but it's your fault for not leaving voluntarily. We'll line you all up and let you meet your new masters. We'll sell you for a good price, so you can rest assured! Hahaha!"

"Rest assured, you too."

From behind, he grabbed the man's shoulder and pressed down with force.

"Ugh!? What!? What the hell!?"

With my level of 8,000,000, human bodies break easily. The spine, hips, and knees all snapped in unnatural directions, making sickening sounds. The joints shattered, of course.

The men who had invaded in a group were all similarly restrained and broken, writhing in pain from their broken hips and knees.

"Ughhhhhh!? What!? What the hell!?"

I had broken their spines, severing their nerves. Even if Noem's potions could heal them, would the nerves reconnect properly?

"Looks like you're land grabbers... Isn't that outdated? Breaking spines for such petty crimes doesn't seem worth it, does it?"

"Land grabbing is just a pretext..."

Zeta appeared.

"There's no profit in land grabbing such a place. A small orphanage in a corner of the slums. No matter how you spin it, the land value won't increase."

"Indeed..."

"The crime they're trying to commit is much more heinous and evil. Land grabbing is just a cover, you see."

Zeta's eyes darkened, reminiscent of the dark side she had when she was in the church.

"These men are slave traders."