Chapter 57: The Day My Maid Sister Was Born

This was a small town in the Shirone Kingdom. A certain inn was there.

Whether heading to Asura or to Millis, the path went together as far as this town. The roads diverged here. And so, this was where I would part ways with Lilia and the others.

I was sitting across the table from Lilia. From outside the window, I could hear the voices of Aisha and Eris.

---"That's right! Ru... the Master is amazing! If she puts her mind to it, she can freeze solid an entire forest while it's pouring rain!" "Is that magic? That's incredible!" "Of course! And there are even more amazing stories than that—want to hear them?" "Tell me, please!"--- Eris seemed to be boasting proudly about the Master's accomplishments.

I gave a wry smile at their conversation and turned my attention to Lilia. She was sitting across the table from me.

I'd only ever had scattered conversations with her from way back. Now then, what should I talk about? As I was deliberating, Lilia spoke up first.

"Allow me to thank you once more, Rudeus Greyrat. For saving my life not once but twice, I am overcome with gratitude." "Please don't. I didn't do anything this time." "No, I have heard that you obtained information from the faintest of leads and went out of your way to come to Shirone."

Lilia bowed deeply as she spoke. I had simply done as the Man-God told me. After that, I really couldn't do anything. I was helplessly caught in a trap and had to be rescued. If I could tell someone to be grateful for that, then the me from my previous life could have amounted to something much greater.

"Thank Ruijerd and Eris. They moved things along just right, so everything ended smoothly." "I did speak with them a bit, but they said it was all Rudeus Greyrat's scheme..." "That's not true at all." "............If Rudeus Greyrat says so, then so be it."

She sounded dissatisfied. I wasn't telling her to call black white.

"By the way, did Aisha do anything rude?"

Lilia glanced outside the window, then murmured the question almost as an afterthought.

"Not at all. She's an excellent child. For a six-year-old to think and act the way she does is not normal."

Well, her footwork was a bit sloppy, though. I'll keep that to myself. I'm one to talk.

"Not to the level of Rudeus Greyrat... Over these past few years, I have taught her everything I possibly could. But she is still too dull-witted to recognize how wonderful you are." "That's too harsh."

I mean, I'm the exception here. I have memories from my previous life. I wondered if my sister could have that same potential, so I tried asking her about things like television and cell phones, but she just looked at me blankly. My sister is simply a genius. Paul's genes are surprisingly impressive.

"Rudeus Greyrat. What do you think of Aisha?"

Lilia suddenly asked, as if the thought had just struck her.

"Huh? Like I said, she's excellent." "Not that—her appearance." "I think she's cute?" "She is my daughter, so once she grows up, her chest will get bigger too."

Her... chest? No, no. I have no interest in my sister's chest. Wait, what, what are we even talking about?

"Rudeus Greyrat. If you are continuing your journey to Asura, please do take Aisha with you. I must go to my husband's side, but Aisha could go with you, couldn't she?" "Even if I ask why?"

I instinctively asked back.

"Rudeus Greyrat. I have always told Aisha that she will one day serve Rudeus Greyrat." "Sounds about right." "I have taught my daughter everything I know, every last thing. She is still young now, but in four years she will have a fine figure that any man would appreciate."

A figure that any man would appreciate.

"Wait a minute. She's my sister, you know?" "I am well aware of Rudeus Greyrat's fondness for women."

Well aware, is she. Great. But here's the thing. It seems that unlike in my previous life, I don't really get aroused by blood relatives. So even if someone told me that Aisha had grown up and to go ahead and eat her up, I'd be at a loss. That's one honest reason, at least. But there's one more.

"She's only six years old, isn't she? She should be with her parents." "............If Rudeus Greyrat says so, then so be it."

Lilia looked disappointed. I don't think I said anything wrong. Aisha is a child. She should be with her parents. That's just my feeling as a Japanese person, but growing up with both father and mother is ideal. Having just one would be fine, I suppose, but having neither is no good.

"Very well. Indeed, Aisha is still green. I cannot very well send an unpolished girl to accompany Rudeus Greyrat." "Um, please don't teach her anything weird, okay? Like, the thing about perverts and all." "I have only conveyed to her that Rudeus Greyrat is a wonderful person." "And because of that, she's been somewhat rebellious, it seems..." "Yes, well, that's only for now."

Lilia gave a soft chuckle and raised her head. Her expression was bright and clear.

I couldn't take Aisha with me. But I had already received precious things from Lilia. One hung from a leather strap around my neck, and the other was carefully stored in a box.

I would never let them go again.

"This pendant (and the panties), thank you." "Not at all. I had heard they were something precious to Rudeus Greyrat."

She had picked up on the part I hadn't even said out loud. I really owe Lilia a lot.

"...Um, does having panties make people think you're a pervert?" "A pervert? Did Aisha tell you that?"

Lilia jerked upright. Whoa, whoa, stop, stop. I gestured for her to sit down. Lilia let out a small sigh.

"That child was relatively free to move about the castle, so someone must have filled her head with strange ideas."

Strange ideas, huh. Yeah, I suppose so. Strange ideas.

"If people call you a pervert just for having panties, what would happen if you worked in the Asura royal palace..." "The Asura royal palace? Come to think of it, you used to serve in the imperial harem, didn't you?" "Yes. Compared to that place, neither your husband nor Rudeus Greyrat would count as perverts." "Is that so..."

I'm aware I'm somewhat... that way myself, but really? Even worse than that? So the Asura royal palace is that kind of place. Now that I think about it, even border nobles were into beast-kin. No, it wasn't just the Greyrat family—the Shirone royal family was pretty bad too.

"Among them there are women who—" "No, I don't need the specifics."

I couldn't go any further.

"In any case, many nobles and royals have rather twisted tastes. Compared to that, being interested in the underwear of someone you admire is perfectly normal."

Lilia had a far-off look in her eyes. She must have been recalling unpleasant memories.

"Please send my regards to Father." "Understood." "Ah, I'll leave you some travel funds, but if you run short, look for one of Father's subordinates at the Adventurer's Guild." "Understood." "I trust the escort soldiers are reliable, but since they're not people you know, please be careful." "No need to worry. They were all familiar faces." "Ah, I see. Um..." "Rudeus Greyrat."

As I was ruminating over various things, Lilia suddenly stood up and walked over to me. Then she pulled my head into her chest. Her ample bosom was pressed against my face. I couldn't help but let my breathing grow heavy.

"Um, Lilia, you're pressing into me." "Rudeus Greyrat hasn't changed one bit, I see."

Lilia said that with a quiet laugh.

--- The next day. Just before departure. I was doing a final check with Eris and Ruijerd to make sure there were no problems with the carriage. It would be a hassle if it broke down on the road. Lilia and her group seemed to have left already. Apparently there were people who could repair carriages over there. Maybe I should learn a bit of that too when I have time.

"Master! Master!"

Aisha came trotting over.

"What is it?" "Come here."

She tugged at the hem of my clothes, trying to pull me somewhere. What was this about? I signaled to Ruijerd with my eyes and followed her.

She led me to some bushes by the side of the road. Aisha crouched down and gestured for me to sit too. I crouched. It was like a secret meeting. Or was it a secret meeting?

"Master, actually, I have a private favor to ask." "A favor? If it's something I can do."

If it was a request from my cute little sister, I wanted to fulfill it as much as I could. Norn hated me, but I didn't want Aisha to hate me too. So far things were on good terms, but that was only because I was "Master." If I revealed myself as her brother, she'd probably look at me the way you look at garbage.

"Please, let me join you on your journey...!"

Hearing this, I was stunned. ............So it was Lilia's doing, after all.

"Did your mother tell you to ask?"

So if she asked and got refused, she'd send in her daughter with the tears-and-pity scheme next. That woman is more resourceful than I thought.

"No, Mother would never agree to that." "Hm?"

Huh. From what she'd said before, Lilia wanted me to take Aisha along... What was going on here?

"Mother always tells me: one day, you will serve your half-brother." "She does say that." "But!"

Aisha slammed her fist onto the ground.

"I'm not interested!"

She really wanted nothing to do with me. Probably because I got excited over panties, huh? I'm sorry.

"We talked about it before. My brother is a pervert. I understand what you're saying, Master, but I absolutely refuse to serve someone like that." "Is that so..."

I didn't think it was quite that bad.

"Please, save me! Like you did the other day! Rescue me gracefully from the clutches of the pervert's evil hand!" "I decline."

No way. If we traveled together, she'd find out my name. And if she found out I'd been lying... Wait. But she's family, so she'd find out eventually anyway?

"But why! He's a pervert!" "That is your imagination, not the truth."

Alright. Time to clear up some of this misunderstanding here. If I left it to Lilia, she'd probably keep the "pervert" label on me forever. Even if I say there were far worse people in the royal palace, you wouldn't believe it without seeing for yourself.

"You've never actually met him, have you?" "But there really were panties!" "There may have been a reason for that." "What reason could there be to treasure panties!?"

Well, when someone puts it that way... For example, in a certain religion, wouldn't they enshrine a saint's clothing as a sacred relic?

And these were panties! Panties that Roxy had used for solo play! The gear of a top-tier player! If you're the kind of listener who pays attention to such details, what would you do?

Of course you'd treasure them! Our sect's motto is: cherish both your desires and your studies. The double standard of a studious pervert. But anyway.

"So, this Roxy person is your brother's home tutor, right?" "Yes." "Then she must have had an enormous influence on your brother." "I suppose so..."

She sure did, and I'm the one saying it, so it must be true. She was the one who made it possible for me to do something I couldn't do for nearly twenty years. The fact that I'm alive and here today is thanks to her.

"If you had something that person wore, wouldn't you want to keep it as much as possible?" "Hmm..."

She didn't seem convinced. Then let me offer a possession of the Master who had just saved her life. I pulled something from my pocket.

"I've used this thimble for a long time." "What's this, all of a sudden?" "Please, take it."

I took the thimble from my belongings and handed it to her. I'd bought it ages ago in the town of Ricarius. It's been washed, but I've used it quite a bit, so you could say my sweat has seeped into it.

When she took it, her expression softened just a little.

"Ah! I somehow understand." "Not with words, but with your heart?" "Yes, I do! My brother isn't a pervert after all!"

And so. I parted with my old thimble. This kid was easy.

"You really are a kind person, Master!" "Not really."

I flashed her a sparkling Rudy Smile. Aisha gazed at me with starry eyes, then suddenly murmured, "Oh, right."

"My brother is missing right now. But if he's dead somewhere, could I be allowed to serve Master then?" "Well, I'm not sure about that..." "No? Look at my mother and you'll see—I'm going to grow up quite a lot, you know! Into a body that any man would love!" "Do you even understand what 'a body that any man would love' means?" "It means a body that makes you want to make babies, right?" "Children shouldn't be talking about making babies."

She'd get kidnapped by some creepy old man and they'd cancel Red Rice Day entirely. Seriously, who taught her this stuff?

"Is it really no good...? Do you dislike me?"

My sister's eyes welled up with tears. Hmm, adorable. Of course I don't dislike her.

"Alright. If your brother isn't found, then sure, you can." "Really?"

I felt bad about lying to her. By the time she was grown, the journey would be over, and we'd all be living together as a family again.

"So you're not mad that I called you a pervert?" "No, of cour— huh?"

What did she just say?

"Thanks, big brother!"

With those final words, she jumped to her feet. Then she ran off to the carriage where the three guards were waiting. I stood there in a daze as the carriage began to move. Aisha waved, and Lilia gave a small bow of her head. And then, the last words— "See you, big brother! Let's meet again! It's a promise!"

The carriage departed. I watched it go, then headed back to my own carriage. I was still in a daze.

Eris said with a flat expression.

"What's the big deal? It was totally obvious, you know." "Wha— huh...?"

Ruijerd pulled on the horse's reins. The carriage started moving.

In the first place, if I thought about it, there had been plenty of moments where she could have figured it out. I'd called her by name the first time, and after that, when I was talking with Eris and Ruijerd, they had probably let "Rudeus" slip more than once.

She'd known all along.

Then... why pretend not to know? I thought and thought. The answer came quickly.

She had probably been trying to judge whether her brother was someone she could trust. If I had kept up the "Master" act and taken her along like that, she would have cut ties with me on the spot.

"Haha."

Realizing this, I laughed. Aisha was truly a clever, perceptive child. I looked forward to her future.