Rudy's Healing Spell had not yet reached the intermediate level. In the end, considering that this could not be kept hidden, Allen did not use the Healing Spell Rune and instead apologetically asked Zenith to heal his palm.
Paul, meanwhile, clicked his tongue in amazement as he looked at the bedboard.
Then he turned to Allen.
"Did you use that much force in your dream? Since you're healed, let's go practice swordsmanship and burn off that excess energy."
...For fuck's sake, Paul, give me a break.
Allen silently rolled his eyes inwardly.
"Master, today I'd like to accompany Rudy outside to look at the plants around Buena Village."
Paul and Rudy both looked over in surprise.
"What's so exciting about looking at plants compared to swordplay?"
So he's the hands-on type. Last night he said he wanted to be my friend, and today he's already trying to make it happen. What an impatient personality. Fine, I'll bring along this little burden today. After all, he helped me yesterday and even kept the Holy Relic a secret for me.
Allen said nothing and merely looked quietly at Paul.
Paul blinked, glanced at Rudy, then at Allen.
I nearly forgot this kid is only nine, too. It'd be good for him to make friends with Rudy. What a shame, though. Today's going to be lonely... Huh, wait. Zenith shouldn't be helping at the clinic today, and Lilia has to go shopping at the market. Heh heh, no one will be home. It's been so long since I put Zenith on the kitchen stove.
Zenith gave Paul a puzzled look, then suddenly realized what he was thinking. Without meaning to, she gripped Allen's hand even tighter.
"Haha. Is that so? Fine, you two go ahead. Just remember not to go too deep into the forest. There are monsters inside."
Paul, who had been grinning lecherously, froze at those words and involuntarily glanced at Allen.
"Uh, it should be fine if Allen is with you. Go on, but remember to come back early tonight."
Rudy looked at Paul's face, the corner of his mouth twitching.
Hey, hey, Lord Paul, your thoughts are written all over your face! There's an outsider here!
Rudy turned to Allen.
Allen was staring at his own hand in a daze.
Rather than completing the mission, I'm using its countdown to give myself a sense of urgency. Being bullied... similar things happened in the orphanage in my previous life. They're memories unpleasant enough that people selectively forget them. I wonder if Sylphy has short hair right now. That dream last night was probably just because I'd been thinking about her during the day.
After breakfast, the three people in the house saw the two children off at the door. Just as they were about to leave, Rudy tilted his head toward Allen.
"Do you want to go somewhere farther away today, or stay around the village?"
Allen rubbed his chin.
Sylphy's father seems to hunt in the forest. Sometimes he also takes turns with Paul at the tower on the edge of the village, watching for monster activity in the forest. If Sylphy was bringing him food, then the place where she was bullied should be somewhere between the village and the tower. The forest is north of the village.
"From outside the village, northward, through the area up to the forest."
Rudy blinked.
That's a very specific destination. He's quite a planned little brat.
He turned to Paul.
"Father, we'll be active in the area between the village and the northern forest. If we haven't returned by nightfall, we must have gotten caught up in some kind of incident. Please come look for us along that route."
"No need to report it. There are no monsters or people around Buena Village capable of threatening me. Besides, today, you might be safer with me than at your house."
Rudy blinked and looked up at Paul. Paul absentmindedly glanced at Zenith's legs beside him. He had definitely heard the words, but showed no particular reaction.
Then Rudy turned back to Allen. Allen still had his head lowered, looking as though he were pondering something, as if the somewhat arrogant words just now had not come from him at all.
This guy's strength seems to have received Paul's complete approval. He even vaguely implied that he was stronger than Paul, and Paul didn't refute him.
No, the condition he put before that statement was today. Today, Paul and Zenith are making little brothers and sisters, so they won't have the energy to watch over us. That's why we'd be safer beside him?
Right. His expression when he saw underwear was completely calm, and he says he's an adventurer, so he should already be very experienced in this sort of thing. Damn it, I'm jealous. So he instantly understood what Paul wanted to do with Zenith. Maybe he even suddenly suggested going out with me today because he noticed that, ever since he arrived, Paul had refrained from being intimate with Zenith at night out of consideration for appearances. Maybe he deliberately gave them the opportunity.
He's more mature than I imagined.
"Alright, then let's set off."
"Be careful on the road~"
Zenith called out a cheerful farewell.
After the two figures had gone far away, Lilia glanced at Paul and Zenith, then bowed.
"Then I shall go to the market to purchase supplies as well, Master, Madam."
"Alright~ Um, I heard the mushrooms picked by that old woman at the northernmost end of the market are especially fresh. Please go a little farther and buy some for us, Lilia."
Lilia looked at Zenith, who made the request with a smile, nodded in acknowledgment, then turned and left.
A little while after Lilia departed, Paul and Zenith instantly broke free of their petrified, frozen postures. Paul swept Zenith into his arms, his hand wandering restlessly beneath her cloth skirt, while Zenith wrapped her legs around him and their faces tangled together.
"D-dear, ever since that child arrived, you've been so... restrained. At night, you don't even—"
"After all, he's Philip's child. With him in our house, I always feel as though Philip is here too. But I've gradually gotten used to it these past few days. From now on, let's continue. What do children know?"
"...Alright."
Paul supported Zenith with both hands, while she straddled his arms, and the two moved toward the house.
With a slap, the door shut.
Before long, faint sounds drifted outside through the window, with no attempt whatsoever to suppress them.
After all, the houses in the village were spaced very far apart. No one would overhear them, and the house was rarely empty like this.
"Dear, don't do that... ah."
"Don't do what? Hmm?"
"Y-you're awful."
"The awful part has only just begun. Prepare yourself!"
"...Dear. Just like that. Yes."
Outside the courtyard gate, Lilia leaned against the wall, her brows tightly furrowed as if in great pain. At some point, the basket in her hand had fallen to the ground.
Her hands moved away from her waist. One reached upward to straighten her maid uniform, while the other reached downward, lifting her maid skirt.
Her body slowly crouched down.
After all, the houses were far apart, so naturally no one could see what was happening in the corner outside the Greyrat residence.
Before you continue