''This is the remains of a man named 'Retired Knight Galungara' who was the guard for the incoming Lord Ilgafa-san.
I put the parchment that Aine had given me on the table.
The initials written here are the initials of His Majesty the current king, and this one has the 'royal coin' stamped on it. And if you read the text, the retired knight Galungara, who was the guard of the next Ilgafa lord Royeld, could be the person who took Cutlass from the king - in other words, he could be Cutlass' father-in-law.
...... so is ...... available? ......
Cutlass is listening to the explanation with a dazed look on his face.
Maybe he's in shock.
The knight who took him from the king and who may have been the inspiration for him to become a knight, was right around the corner until two days ago.
Moreover, that guy was the one who manipulated the knight ghost, and now he's on the run after stealing a golden item from the Ilgafa lord's family. ...... If I were Cutlass, I would say to the God of Fate, 'Enough! I'd like to say, "I've come across it.
...... So that's what it was about, wasn't it?
Sipping the tea that Aine had brewed for him, Cutlass nodded.
His hand trembled slightly as he held the cup.
"You are very kind, aren't you?
But Cutlass has a soothing smile on his face.
'You are thinking about my feelings, aren't you? Go see that retired knight Galungara, or at least listen to ...... talk to him, please ...... what I want to do.
Yeah. Respecting the wishes of your friends is our party motto.
Then the answer is simple. What I want to do is to be the gatekeeper of this house.
As if it were obvious, Cutlass said.
Then.
I'm not very good at explaining things, so I'll just call Fynn.
With that, Cutlass turned to me and grabbed the hem of my skirt.
Turning away from his reddened face, he gradually flips up her skirt. When her thighs are exposed - half of them - and even the base of her legs are just barely visible...
Huh!
Cutlass slumped down.
She sat down in the chair and just sat there...
The first thing to say is thank you: ......
When I opened my eyes, I was transformed into Fynn.
I'm sure you'll be happy to know that you care about your slave's well-being and even his or her heart: ...... You are indeed worthy of the service of this Feen and Cutlass with all your heart and soul: ......
Fynn knelt down and took my hand.
The smile she had on her face was still a calm smile, just like Cutlass.
'...... I thought Fynn was more concerned about your father than I was about you,'
I said.
'It was Fynn who protected Cutlass from the pressure of his mother to knight him,'
''Indeed. If I ever meet Retired Knight Galungara, I'd like to bump him up to .......
Fynn clenched his fists and thrust them up towards the ceiling.
'Because of that person, I was instilled with a longing for a knight, and then pursued by a knight ghost - a knight who disillusioned me and left me ...... swept around.
I'd like to punch you, or ...... yeah, I guess that's possible.
But it's all over now.
Quietly, Fynn put my hand on his cheek.
It's warm. And a little wet.
I'm sure it was either Cutlass or Fynn who shed the tears.
I - Fynn and Cutlass - have found a new family and a new home. It's over. The past is over.
This is their home from now on. That's why Cutlass wants to be a gatekeeper. To make them feel like they belong in their new home, to make them feel like they're protecting it.
Was that the reason Cutlass wanted to be a gatekeeper?
And to put a time limit on it ...... is totally too kind of you to put a time limit on it. Meh.
Then Fynn poked me in the forehead with a pinch.
I didn't feel comfortable making him work when he just got back .......
But if the job of a gatekeeper is to make Cutlass feel that this is his home, then fine.
'All right. Then you're free to let Cutlass be the gatekeeper.
Thank you very much. My dear Arujidono.
'But Cutlass is going to be overwhelmed too, so if he gets sick, Fynn can stop him. You can be forced to switch places. However, you are not allowed to expose your skin in public. The only people who will see it are my fellow slaves or me.
I have received an imperial order. I received your royal command. You don't have to worry about me and my skin.
Fynn looked kind of happy.
Also, an imperial order is an order that the king gives to his subjects. If anything, Fynn is the one who gives them.
'And I won't tell you anymore about the retired knight. We're the only family in Cutlass. That's fine with me.
Yes. Aruji-dono!
With that, Fynn picked up the hem of her skirt and bowed.
I don't need to practice "only show skin to me" here.
You've picked up your skirt so much that I know you're ripping off your underwear.
Oh, by the way, I'm Aladdin. The gentleman who wrote the letter to you earlier...
Is this about Letitia?
Well, you're a nobleman, aren't you?
'That's right. She's a baronial girl, best friend of me and Aine, and also a righteous nobleman.
There are some noblemen like that ...... but I'm sure you were angry.
...... Letitia doesn't like to be out of step with her peers.
She's upset that we went on a company trip without her.
I knew I should have kept Letitia around until Iris's problems were resolved. That way we could have gone on the company trip together.
...... all of us.
Come to think of it, Cutlass didn't go on the company trip either.
They didn't go swimming, and they didn't use the sauna. I recovered the Rock Turtle's shell from Aine's "Sister's Treasure Chest", so we can make a sauna at our house ...... but that's not the same thing as this.
...... Okay, I've decided.
''Well, let's all go swimming together when things settle down to appease Leticia's anger.
You're bathing at ......?
Have you ever been to Fynn and Cutlass?
I don't have ......, or rather, there's no way I could be in a swimsuit in public in the first place.
It was.
I don't remember Cutlass and Fynn hiding their gender for a long time.
So I've never worn a bathing suit or played with any of my friends my age.
'Then I'll kill two birds with one stone. Then we can end our 'paid vacation' with a day at the beach in a nearby area. Let's find a secluded place where we can relax and play together. That will happen after Letitia's arrival, though.
Yes. I'd love to go.
The question is, will Cutlass and Fynn wear their bathing suits?
I'm sure Cutlass would turn into me if he bared his skin in public.
'I can't just spend my magic power to create a fynn body just for the sake of swimming.
Let's go in order. Cutlass should wear a lightly revealing swimsuit and I should be more revealing.
"What's Fynn's favorite swimsuit?
The atmosphere in this world is the perfect place for me to wear my bathing suit.
With that, Fynn stretched out her chest.
With a graceful movement worthy of a royal princess, she spreads her arms out as if to speak to the world itself.
'Yes, there is no need for useless cloths to block me and my partner. If you are not seen, swimming in a bathing suit is the height of tactlessness...
Rejected.
Pull yourself together, you natural nudist.
Then we decided to go shopping for swimwear for the three of us.
For Leticia, Cutlass and Fynn, of course.
We could have done that after Leticia got over here, but I don't know if we'll have time for that after she arrives. Also, because after talking it over with everyone, we agreed that we wanted to surprise her.
Aine knows Leticia's size. We've been friends since childhood.
So Aine, Aine and Cutlass went shopping.
I want to stock up on groceries while I'm at it. We need to stock up on groceries while we're at it.
Cutlass is squirming around, her cheeks red from earlier.
She's a beginner who just woke up as a girl, so this is her first time buying a swimsuit. So she didn't know what kind of swimsuit to choose, and in the end she decided to let me choose for her. That's why I'm following her, and to stop her from leaving Fynn alone, because she was about to buy a swimsuit that was about 98% revealing.
'You know what, Aine?'
What? Nah-kun.
What can I do to get Letitia in a good mood: ......?
And the only part of the letter that made me angry was the pressure of the letter.
I'm going to be asking a lot of you when I come over here, and I want to calm him down as much as I can.
You want me to give you a 'Letitia Only' tour to make up for it?
Are you looking to pick a fight with Letitia?
Is that a problem?
Imagine?
I tried.
Leticia is being carried away in a carriage next to us.
Letitia, next to us, who have a big room at the inn, is alone in her room.
Leticia is relaxing in a private bath, shielding herself from the wall of the bathing pool and the chattering crowd.
...... It's funny, we're supposed to be taking good care of it, but I can only imagine the anger.
Yeah?
I think I'd rather just go out for fun like normal.
''That's right. When things have settled down about the "Incoming Lord of Ilgafa" and we have confirmed that the "Mystery Guild" is not messing with us, we will live carefree for a while ...... and then we will go out again. All together, right?
Saying that, the sister in the maid's uniform smiled happily.
Sure, that would be nice. This trip was halfway through because Iris had been called back, too.
It would be nice to get away and relax, to clear up.
It's not something we want to rush into, so let's take our time and think about it together.
...... So the problem is 'The Next Irgafa Lords O's party'.
I hope it's just me getting over it. If nothing else, it's a good thing.
''Oh, by the way, Cutlass?''
What the hell?
Cutlass looked at me with a bright red face as he suddenly spoke to me.
He used his hand to fix his hair, held his chest, and then gave me a nervous look.
What is it, sir?
What kind of swimsuit would you like to see, Cutlass?
You sound as if you wear it to be seen by a certain someone.
Cutlass's eyes widened and his voice came out. Looking at me.
...... I've been trying not to think about that kind of thing, though.
No. Cutlass is Nai-kun's slave, after all.
I know, sir.
When Nay-kun says, 'I want to see Cutlass like this,' you have to be ready for it.
You know what you're doing, sir.
Or not?
............ No, of course not... there is... ......
It's okay. Aine will make sure you're well-coordinated.
Aine gently placed her hand on Cutlass' shoulder.
As she slowly patted his back, Cutlass gradually calmed down.
'Aine is the 'big sister' of the party, so I want you to talk to her about anything. Cutlass, Fynn and Aine want to get along with each other.
Yeah, well, there's that... ......
Cutlass put his face close to Aine's ear.
'Actually, since Arujidono 'rebuilt' me (blah blah blah blah),'
'It's very normal. Follow your instincts (blah, blah, blah).
But I'm a novice at being a girl, so to hell with it.
All right. We'll talk about it when I get home. Aine's recommendation is... (whispers)
Whispering whispering. It's whispering.
...... What is he whispering about? I can't hear him at all because he's walking.
But the more he talks, the more his face lights up, so it's not a bad thing.
"Ainedo is a wonderful person!
But we've been here before, same thing!
As expected of a slave of Arujidono. Thanks to you, I can serve you without worrying about it. ......
Cutlass folds his hands in prayer and closes his eyes like he's impressed.
Well, I hope we've become friends.
We're walking towards the center of the town. The reason why there are so many people here is because the New Lord's Fair is coming up soon. This is the second festival for the town's residents, following the 'Festival of the Sea Dragon'.
There are banners on the building that say "New Lord Banzai" and "Kairyu no Miko-sama Banzai".
Didn't I hear Iris say that it's her dream to gradually turn them into just 'New Lord Banzai'?
'Lordship's Banzai...... really, I hope nothing else happens......'
In this town, we are only strangers, so we have no right to get involved in the new lord's affairs. But this town is our place. So we want to do what we can. There's not much I can do, though.
...... The other question is, when will we do the experiment on that one?
The ability to rebuild a skill structure, and at level 6, the number of abilities increased... "skill crossing.
During this time, after 'Rebuilding' Cutlass and Fynn, 'Ability Reconstruction' had been leveled up. 'Crossing of Ability' is a derivative skill of 'Ability Rebuild' that was increased at that time.
The only thing I can tell is the name, but the effects are predictable.
If I'm right, ...... maybe this is a skill to make a cheat character even cheatier. And it's pretty strong. Probably so much so that the 'visitors' we've fought so far won't be a problem.
'Later, I'll take Cecil and Rita to a large place, ...... out of sight, ............
Hey, Nae? Arujidono ......?
I shouldn't have done it. Before I knew it, I was looking serious.
I put my hands on Aine and Cutlass' heads and start walking.
Well, first of all, let's get Leticia and Cutlass' swimsuits - well, before that.
Shall we stop by the Adventurer's Guild to gather information, just in case?
...... Hey, do you know what it is? They said the road from Metekal to Irgafa is closed to traffic.
""...... huh?"
The voices we heard as soon as we entered the guild stopped us in our tracks.
Inside the adventurer's guild, which had more people than before, there were many people whispering to each other. Adventurers with swords, people who looked like wizards, and even a merchant who looked like he had come to ask for a job, but with a serious look on his face.
'I heard from a caravan headed for the commercial city of Metekal: ......
'Yesterday I could get through normally, and now they say it's swarming with the undead. Skeletons, zombies, and ghosts. ......
I heard that the Ilgafa Lordship House will soon be asking the Adventurer's Guild to take them down: ......
The road from the commercial city of Metekal to here in Ilgafa.
I remember the contents of the letter.
Letitia said she was leaving Metekal when the letter arrived: ......
'Aine, Cutlass. Do you mind if I take a quick detour before I go shopping?
If the street is just closed to traffic, just wait and see.
That's all there is to it, but it's ...... oddly curious.
Leticia is trying to be a righteous nobleman, you know. If someone is in trouble, she's going to recklessly help them.
In that case, what we should do ...... is to...
"Let's swing by the House of Ilgafa and see if we can find Iris. Maybe he'll let us know what kind of information he's got.
Of course I am. I'm worried about Aine, too.
I have a bad feeling too, sir. ...... I'd like to know what's going on.
Aine grabbed my hand, and Cutlass held my chest wrapped in The Armor of Balal.
What I'm curious about is the 'swarm of undead', but there's no point in thinking about .......
We'll start with the right information. It's only after that that you decide what to do.
Of course - we and all the slaves and then our "best friends" are the top priority.