Chapter 10

Filianes decided to accompany us to our house and brought two subordinates with her.

"Milady Filianes, it’s so mean to leave us behind halfway!"

"It’s because you’re wearing heavy half-plate armor, which slows you down. I was trying to maintain a steady pace, but perhaps you two were just lagging behind on your own."

"But I’m lightly armored… Milady Filianes, you’re just too fast."

Marlgrid and Allet, the two subordinates, are older than Filianes but use polite language when addressing her. Marlgrid is a Knight, a lower rank in the Saint Knight order, while Allet is a Medic. Although a healer, she can also use weapons to some extent, which is why most healers in knight orders are not just healers but also medics.

"I’m sorry for making you carry my things. I really appreciate it."

Remilia’s mother was shopping when she got injured, so she entrusted her bags to Marlgrid.

"Oh, it’s no problem. I may walk slowly, but I’m stronger than Milady Filianes."

"Hmm… Well, if I train harder, I’ll catch up soon. I don’t want you to get too cocky."

"Milady Filianes, you’re surprisingly strong for someone with such slender arms. No one can beat Marl in arm wrestling."

Marlgrid, it seems, is often called "Marl" as a nickname. In the game, she never spoke and just stood by Filianes, so it feels fresh to see her like this. I didn’t know Allet was a serious character either.

◆ Log ◆

- "Charisma" activated! Marlgrid and Allet are paying attention to you.

(…No, I wouldn’t immediately check their stats or anything.)

Marl and Allet approach to look at my face. Marl is tall with long red hair tied in a single braid, and she has freckles but fair skin. She’s wearing half-plate armor, which is designed for women… there are different designs for men and women.

Allet has wavy, semi-long brown hair and looks like she could be an office lady in the real world. She’s probably around college age.

"…He won’t look at us. Should we force him to?"

"Hmm, what are you saying to a baby? That’s not right, you know."

◆ Log ◆

- "Charm" activated! Marlgrid failed to resist and is now charmed.

- "Charm" activated! Allet failed to resist and is now charmed.

"…Hmm? My chest feels strange… I haven’t eaten anything weird… Allet, can you check me later?"

"I feel something too… I’m, um, restless. Ah, Lady Remilia, what’s this child’s name…?"

"Oh, Hiroto is a bit of a mystery…"

Remilia explains that I shouldn’t be spoiled. I agree, though I’m about to do something that might contradict that. I’m gradually becoming a bit of a villain…

However, "nursing" isn’t a bad deed. Bad deeds increase your "Karma," which would show up in the log… so it’s a system-approved action. Still, to avoid making Mother jealous, I shouldn’t nurse…

(When I’m old enough to move on my own, if something like this happens again… I want to protect Mother myself.)

"Hmm… Why does a baby give such a thoughtful impression?"

"Babies think a lot too~. He won’t look at us, but he’s cute. Ahaha~!"

"Marl, you’re a knight… please be a bit more reserved."

Marl is physically big but has a girl’s heart… in the game, she never spoke and just stood by Filianes, so it’s a refreshing change. I didn’t know Allet was a serious character either.

◇◆◇

In the town of Mizer, large mansions are clustered around the church in the north. One of these is our house. The town has a population of about 1,500, with nearly 300 households. There are more people than in the game, so I don’t know most of them, but I occasionally recognize some. Salasa is one of them, but Heinz and Leona didn’t appear in the game.

Families of three, like mine and Salasa’s, are rare; the average is five to six people. Salasa’s family lives in a nearby house, but it’s much smaller than ours. Our house is two-story with a basement, while Salasa’s is a single-story. This difference is largely due to Remilia’s background.

The town is surrounded by a wooden fence, but it’s not heavily fortified because there aren’t dangerous monsters around. Goblins are easily repelled or captured by the guards. There are also small animal-like low-level monsters, but they don’t come near human settlements unless it’s breeding season, and they don’t attack unless provoked.

In other words, Mizer is a peaceful town. Incidents like the one earlier are rare, but I’ll need to be more careful in the future.

"This is Lady Remilia’s residence… it’s built in the traditional Howlwith style, isn’t it?"

"Yes, my father inherited it from my grandfather and had it managed by people in the town. Ricardo and I moved here from the capital."

"Isn’t it yours, not borrowed?"

Marl asks a straightforward question, but there’s a complicated relationship between Remilia and her family, so she uses the term "borrowed." Filianes and Allet smile wryly, understanding the situation.

"I apologize for my subordinate’s rudeness… Marl’s honesty is a virtue, but sometimes she’s too honest."

"Umm… I’m sorry. I didn’t read the room and just blurted it out."

"Please don’t get expelled from the knight order for a slip of the tongue again. Milady Filianes picked you up, after all."

Marl has apparently been close to being expelled from the knight order for a slip of the tongue before… well, she’s a bit natural and naive.

However, she’s easy to misunderstand and often blurts out things when she gets flustered, which I can relate to. For some reason, I felt a sense of familiarity with her, and so (for some reason), I got to see Marl and Allet’s stats when we entered the house.

◆ Status ◆

Name: Marlgrid Clayton

Human, Female, 16 years old, Level 8

Job: Knight

HP: 460/460

MP: 24/24

Skills:

- Mace Mastery 25

- Armor Mastery 30

- Chivalry 20

- Vigor 35

- Maternal 28

- Misfortune 10

Action Skills:

- Impact (Mace Mastery 20)

- Salute (Chivalry 10)

- Nursing (Maternal 20)

Passive Skills:

- Mace Equipment (Mace Mastery 10)

- Aura (Chivalry 20)

- Armor Equipment (Armor Mastery 10)

- Armor Defense Boost (Armor Mastery 20)

- Heavy Armor Equipment (Armor Mastery 30)

- Raising (Maternal 10)

- Mishap (Misfortune 10)

- Weak to Orcs

Remaining Skill Points: 4

◆ Status ◆

Name: Allet Hummingbird

Human, Female, 20 years old, Level 11

Job: Medic

HP: 76/76

MP: 120/120

Skills:

- Staff Mastery 10

- Light Armor Mastery 10

- White Magic 10

- Medic 30

- Magic Aptitude 10

- Vigor 3

- Maternal 19

- Grace 10

Action Skills:

- Healing Magic Level 1 (White Magic 10)

- First Aid (Medic 10)

- Bandage Creation (Medic 20)

- Poison Removal (Medic 30)

Passive Skills:

- Staff Equipment (Staff Mastery 10)

- Light Armor Equipment (Light Armor Mastery 10)

- Manners (Grace 10)

- Raising (Maternal 10)

- Prone to Heatstroke

Remaining Skill Points: 13

(…From this, I can understand a lot.)

Filianes, who should have "Chivalry" as a knight, doesn’t have it. There’s no mandatory skill to become a knight; you just need to meet the conditions. This is the same as in the game. So, Filianes started as a Saint Knight, while Marl became a Knight, which is why Marl has the Knight’s unique skill "Chivalry."

The numbers are often round because they don’t consciously allocate skill points; they’re automatically assigned to necessary skills, making it easier to reach the activation points for action and passive skills. Most skills activate at multiples of 10, with a few exceptions.

(However, I’m concerned that both Filianes and the others have negative passive skills…)

Female knights are weak against orcs because the knight order often gets orc extermination missions, and they’re affected by the orc skill "Filthy Scream." This makes them weak against orcs. Continuously overkilling orcs can remove the "Weak to Orcs" status, but Filianes is only slightly weak, while Marl is normally weak. This is due to the game’s system, which faithfully follows the image of female knights being weak against orcs.

(Also, Filianes is weak against slimes… and Marl has the "Misfortune" skill, while Allet is prone to heatstroke…)

I’m not sure if this will help with the game, but it’s good to know.

Hmm… If they get heatstroke, it’s a bad status in the bath… bath…

While I was thinking, Remilia led everyone to the dining room. Filianes looked around nervously, while Marl approached the furniture casually, and Allet sighed, placing her hand on her cheek. They all have distinct personalities… like Tanya and the others.

"Everyone must be tired from the long journey. I’ll boil some water; please take a bath and freshen up."

"Is that okay? We were planning to stay at an inn in town."

Filianes asked hesitantly. Mother laughed and replied.

"Mizer is a small town, but it’s close to hunting grounds and mines, so adventurers often book inns days in advance. Those who don’t know this end up spending the night in the tavern, which is quite a hassle."

"Phew… I’m not good with places that smell like alcohol. Just thinking about it makes me feel drunk."

"I’d prefer to rest in a quiet place with a roof…"

Marl and Allet spoke frankly, and it seemed Filianes felt the same way.

"Then… I’m grateful. I was planning to look for an inn after meeting Ricardo, but I’d like to stay under your roof."

"Hehe… You don’t need to use such formal language. Milady Filianes is quite serious, isn’t she?"

"Hmm… I’m just a woman who knows only the sword… if I’ve been rude, I apologize…"

Filianes looked dejected, and as a beautiful blonde, even as a 0-year-old, I couldn’t help but feel protective… and her tone of voice was contagious.

"Milord Thunder is very strong in battle but is actually a very cute person~"

"Very strong… Please don’t use strange words, Marl. And calling the strongest person in the duchy ‘cute’…"

"Enough. Being called the strongest in the duchy doesn’t make me feel proud… I’m still inexperienced. I want to grow up quickly and show you all."

Filianes said this and took out her backpack. The leather backpack, while not fitting her knight’s equipment, is a very useful item with a large capacity.

In the game, the inventory capacity value allows you to ignore the laws of physics and put things in, but… yes, that’s how it is. Filianes took off her armor and put away the large greaves, shoulder pads, and chest plate, which shouldn’t fit in the backpack. It’s very convenient, though I don’t understand how it works.

"You’re so slender, yet so strong… and yet…"

Remilia was looking at Filianes’ chest after she took off her armor, but Filianes didn’t notice. Remilia was concerned that Filianes’ chest was larger than hers, despite her slender build.

(However… I didn’t expect her to take off her armor here, so it’s quite a sight… Father shouldn’t see this.)

While putting myself aside, I watched the three women take off their metal armor. Marl, being tall, didn’t have the same gap as Salasa, even with a large chest. And Allet…

"Hmm…"

"What is it, Lady Remilia? Your reaction is making me feel embarrassed."

"No, I’m sorry… it’s nothing, don’t worry about it."

◆ Log ◆

- Lady Remilia muttered, "I’m not small, you know."

- Milady Filianes muttered, "It’s fortunate to be able to take a bath so soon after arriving. I’ve been sweating…"

- Marlgrid muttered, "I wonder what we’re having for dinner~"

No matter how quietly they mutter, it shows up in the log… I wonder if that will cause problems someday… but if they don’t say it out loud, it won’t show up in the log.

In other words, Allet has a relatively modest chest. She’s about the same height as Mother and has a slender build. I, who had confirmed her Maternal 19, was thinking that perhaps the Maternal skill is proportional to chest size. The larger the Maternal skill, the more positive bonuses, so the gap will only widen… but that’s a bit rude to think.

However, I was hungry because it had been a while since the last nursing. I was about to ask Mother again…

"Lady Remilia, you seem to be injured. I’m sorry for not noticing sooner… I’ll treat you immediately."

"No, it’s nothing serious, really."

"No, you have a scrape. Scrapes need to be properly disinfected."

Allet skillfully treated Mother’s arm scrape. She used the "Bandage Creation" skill to make a bandage from a "clean cloth" and then used "First Aid" to treat it. Finally, she cast a healing magic spell that also disinfected the wound, fully restoring Mother’s HP.

"Please rest for the rest of the day. The wound should heal in a few hours."

"Yes… but, it’s a problem. I need to bathe this child before my husband comes home."

"If you’d like, we can bathe him for you~. Right, Hiroto?"

(What…!)

I couldn’t believe my ears. I thought I’d be bathed by Father, but Marl invited me without hesitation… or rather, offered to bathe me.

"Marl, is that okay? Babies are delicate."

"I often bathe my cousins’ children. One baby is a piece of cake~."

"Hmm… Even if it’s a baby, he’s still a boy. A girl’s skin can’t be exposed to a boy…"

◆ Log ◆

- Milady Filianes is on guard.

- Marlgrid is looking at you.

- Allet is looking at you.

◆ Dialog ◆

- Marlgrid is waiting for your command. Do you command her? YES/NO

- Allet is waiting for your command. Do you command her? YES/NO

(Because they’re charmed, this happens… but I don’t want to make Mother jealous… what should I do…!)

"Um… If I bathe with your child, I might… well, feel the urge to nurse… Ah, I don’t know how to explain this…"

"Well, I can handle it. Allet can’t, though."

"Hmm… Don’t say it so clearly! I’m already worried about it!"

"Hmm… Even if it’s a baby, I’ve dedicated my sword to God and can’t easily expose myself…"

(…That’s it. If I bathe, the equipment will definitely come off… including Milady Filianes’ circlet…!)

She hasn’t taken it off yet, but she’ll have to when washing her hair. If the "Charm" check activates then…!

"Um… Lady Remilia, please, let me bathe Hiroto~!"

"I also request it. For the sake of learning… it’s a valuable experience to bathe a baby."

"Allet too… Why do you both want to bathe Hiroto so much…!"

Filianes blushed and reacted with disbelief. However, Marl and Allet’s resolve was unshaken, and they looked at me with gentle eyes.

—God, I’ve sinned again.

In other words, I ended up "commanding" Marl and Allet. Even if it’s a system-approved action, invisible karma accumulates… yes, I’m a man who sold his soul for skill-ups.

"Since you insist… fine, I’ll let you. Hiroto, don’t be naughty, okay?"

I was handed over to Marl by Mother. Filianes, the last opponent, was trembling and teary-eyed. Ah… it’s really hard to see a 14-year-old girl cry.

But I hardened my heart. When I become a Saint Knight, I’ll inherit the proud soul of a knight and the power to protect people…!

(Holy Sword Skills! Holy Sword Skills!)

I ended up taunting the trembling Filianes in my heart. What a heretic. But I can’t help it; with a Saint Knight right in front of me, I can’t let this opportunity pass. I’ll definitely try to get through to Filianes while she’s staying here. I won’t miss this chance to make contact while I’m still a baby…!

"Milady Filianes, you don’t have to if you don’t want to~. We can do it without you."

"That’s true. If it’s embarrassing enough to make you cry… but it’s a baby, after all?"

"Da-da…"

Trying to be charming, but my natural self doesn’t move Filianes’ heart… it’s over, then.

"…I… I don’t dislike babies. But Hiroto always looks away. He must dislike me…"

"That’s not true. As I said, our child is fond of Milady Filianes. There’s no doubt about it."

(Mother…!)

Mother, who was most attentive to me, backed me up. She said it with pure intentions, but if I can’t do it, I’ll have to rely on Mother to persuade her.

"…If you say so, I can’t doubt it."

Filianes, who had been under everyone’s gaze, softened her expression and gently took me from Marl.

"You might be scared of me, but don’t be unfriendly. We’ll be in the bath together, so let’s get along."

(I have no regrets in life…!)

Filianes said this, looking down at me. I’ll never forget this moment.

No, this is just the beginning. I’ll definitely break through Filianes’ defenses and get the "Holy" Sword Skill, even if it’s just level 1… for the sake of overcoming the challenges ahead!

"…You always look away. Perhaps it’s better if someone else bathes you…"

"Don’t say that~. Once Milord Thunder says something, she can’t take it back. Come on!"

"This child… despite not being very friendly, I can’t take my eyes off him… what is this feeling…?"

Mother watched me being led to the bath with a resigned look. I’ll