"Are you sure this is what you want, Sylvie?"

"Yes mom, this is what I want to do."

I’m witnessing right now the typical isekai scene of a family seeing off their daughter. Sylvie's mom is holding her hands and her father has his hand on her shoulder, all while trying to hold back his tears.

Heh, even her little brothers are trying their best not to cry while hugging her legs.

The other villagers are here to see her off too. Some have already given her gifts like vegetables, dried meat and so on.

One of the hunters even gave her a hunting knife to go with the axe her father gave her a bit earlier.

This is all one heck of a check in my isekai things list too.

Still, Sylvie wanted to do this quickly, but everyone convinced her to take her time, including me.

She didn't want us to lose valuable daylight, but we could arrive instantly to our destination, so that was one reason to convince her to take her time.

The other one was...well...I couldn't say goodbye to my parents and sister so...yeah. You get what I'm trying to say.

In any case, I can feel myself smiling warmly at the scene.

Why wouldn't I? Considering everything that happened, this is a pretty good ending to our village of the beginning mini arc.

Oh? Someone interesting is approaching me while Sylvie is still occupied.

It’s the old woman who laughed at me for no apparent reason and then gave me the Goddess' Blood gemstone.

"Every time some young'un leaves the village this happens. Some come back, some don't. That's as normal as life gets. And you, Miss Hero, are anything but normal."

Damn.

This old lady sure doesn't beat around the bush.

Let alone the fact that she doesn't think of me as some sort of bishounen, like the other women in the village.

"Hoh~~ the same I could say of you, old lady."

I say so while glancing at her, she really isn’t your typical old timer.

Nope, she looks quite strong for her age, even more than some of the adults here.

She even reminds me of Nana.

Again, love ya, Nana!

"Ah, so that blondie there told you about my light scuffle with one of the idiots that wanted our land. Heh."

She looks at Gabrielle and chuckles.

'Light', yeah, right!

Gabrielle's report said that you were covered in deep wounds and you still were able to blow that 'idiot' up with your magic.

"I may be too old, and my memory may be a bit faulty, but I don't think blondie mentioned anything about the stone in her little story she told all of us yesterday."

She gives me a suspicious look as she finishes saying that.

"Nothing good would come if the rest of the village or anyone else were to know what you found. Right now, you are the only one in this village that knows about it and it should stay like that."

I tell her that without any reservations and a serious expression.

To which she responds by locking eyes with me for a moment until she laughs and shrugs.

"Oh yes, the look in that idiot's eyes when he saw it was as if he just found the solution to all his problems. Guess he thought he could take it for himself while his accomplices kept trying to take our land."

Heh, those words and that tone of hers. It’s obvious that she doubts Gabrielle’s story but is going along with it anyway.

You know? I should use this chance to ask her a few things.

"How did you find it, actually?"

That has been bugging me since I read Gabrielle's report.

Because, well...how the heck an old lady can find something that is supposed to be deep underground?

"That? I was stretching the old magic muscles for a bit. Created a big crater or two, can't remember well. Something popped out. Weird rock. Shot it with more magic. Didn't budge. Shot it with even more magic. Goddess' Blood came out of the rock. You know the rest."

She. Says. It. So. Casually.

And I'm supposed to be the one making people rethink their common sense!

Now, I know absurdly powerful old people are part of many isekais...BUT STILL!!

"Seems they finished bathing little Sylvie with their goodbyes."

Leaving me with those words, the old lady started walking back towards the village’s entrance.

Ah! I didn't get to ask her if she wanted to accept my offer...hm? She stopped.

"Hey Miss Hero, tell the Goddess that I might be taking you up on that offer after I put more thought into it, so I won't be visiting her up there anytime soon. Also, take care of Sylvie, that kid has potential. I mean it."

With that, she started walking again, just stopping once to tap Sylvie on the shoulder and give her the thumbs up.

Still…just how much does this old lady know?!

"I think she was able to see your magic power and even my presence in your lance..."

What? You sure Nerinne?

"Yes, although that would mean that her [Magic Eyes] are more powerful than what Gabrielle thought they were. She is quite the amusing fellow...fufufu~~~."

That is probably why she laughed at me, right?

"Indeed. She seems to be of the type who laughs in the face of the absurd."

Yeah, that makes sense.

Oh, Sylvie is coming here.

"I'm finished, Lady Auros."

Says Sylvie now standing in front of me with a big smile. She started calling me like that after I showed her my 'big evidence' of being a woman.

"I am fine if you still want to call me Lord, Sylvie."

Like I told Erevain when she discovered that I was a woman. I really don't mind it now that they know.

"No, no. I feel that would be like a step backwards instead of forward, so, Lady Auros it is."

Sylvie shook her head and then smiled at me while saying that.

"Very well. Last chance Sylvie, are you ready? Is there something you might have forgotten to do or take with you?"

I tell her this just in case.

But she again shakes her head.

"No, not in the village, but...I have something to say to all of you."

I raise an eyebrow to her words while noticing that Erevain and the other Maid-Knights have finished delivering the supplies they had planned to give to the villagers before I happened.

Even if the villagers don’t need them anymore, I think they were doing it for their own closure of the whole thing.

_____________________________________________________

After we walked a good distance away from the village, Sylvie stood in front of us and is now trying her hardest to imitate how Erevain and Gabrielle introduced themselves to her.

"I am Sylvie Lute. I know I am young, inexperienced, and uneducated for the most part, but I hope to be of help and grow into a useful member of this group. Please take care of me."

I turn around to see the reactions of my Maid-Knights.

Sure enough, they were smiling at her with welcoming expressions.

"Welcome to our group Sylvie, let us see what this world has to offer."

I mean it. Exploring this fantasy world is my main objective and if that makes Sylvie happy then that is even better.

"You still have to go through some tests and training before you are a formal member of our Order, but...I look forward to your development and our time together. My Lord and I have great expectations of you."

Erevain steps forward while talking with a strict tone but that softens as she finishes saying that and shows Sylvie a genuine smile.

"I am glad to have you with us Sylvie, let’s do our best from here on."

Says Gabrielle with her hands together over her chest. Ahh…so ojou-sama.

"Don't worry about the training, I’ll toughen you up in no time, girly. No. Sylvie."

Kris corrected herself and finished with...you guessed it...a full smile.

"...welcome..."

Luca tried her best, again.

"Yeah, welcome and all that. Am I supposed to do that too? Because if I have to, it will be awkward without a name..."

Ah, right. I was getting used to calling her unnamed Maid-Knight because it tickled my chunni side, but I guess it would be bad if she stayed like that.

Also, can’t you read the mood?

“Hmm, indeed.”

I look at the soon to be named Maid-Knight as I ponder what name would be appropriate.

"Hehehe..."

Meanwhile Sylvie, unaffected by her comment, reunites with us while giggling, ending her reintroduction.

"You shall be named…Sophie. Be sure to not disappoint me or her..."

I say so at well, Sophie, while pointing at the sky with a serious expression.

"Eeek! O-Of course, Master! I will never even dare to think of disappointing you or our beloved Goddess...! This Sophie here will do anything you ask her! Yes, yes!"

Man, that was quite the change of attitude again...

What did you do to her, Nerinne?

"I just gave her a light scolding while urging her to reflect on her life's choices. I am pretty confident of my convincing ability, my dear~~~."

Yeaaah...I'm not asking you again.

"Dear, I think I remembered something."

What, darling?

"That old lady from the village...she reminds me of a young caster that fought in the Draconic Front one hundred years ago. She was called the 'Magic Maniac' because of her abnormal way of fighting. With those [Magic Eyes] I am sure it is indeed her."

Eh?!

You are kidding right?!

"Why are you surprised? I told you that all the people in Arte had long lives compared to those of Earth."

THAT IS NOT WHY I AM SURPRISED!

"Hmmm...then why?"

Maybe it is about the 'Magic Maniac' part? Just maybe...NOT MAYBE, OF COURSE IT IS THAT PART!

"Fufufu~~~ I know dear, I was just teasing you. You're so cute when you react like that. She used to launch herself towards a group of enemies and when she reached the middle, she would start shooting powerful explosive spells. Anyone who got near her was either punched with her iron fist or vaporized by her magic. The total opposite of a normal caster that attacked from the back of the formation. She always prayed before and after doing that, only asking for the enemies to focus on her instead of the others. Although, I am not sure if that was because she wanted less casualties from her unit or because she wanted more enemies to shoot at with her magic..."

Damn...

That's crazy...AWESOME...but still crazy.

"It looks like she was getting ready to accept her old age and just live the rest of her days helping with taking care of her grandson. But it seems that is no longer the case with how she seemed after talking to you. I think she wants to enjoy taking care of her grandson a bit more before returning to the fight though."

What a nostalgic feeling I just got...

Kid enjoy being with your grandma.

That is a blessing in and of itself, believe me…

"She will most likely tell me via prayer when she is ready, so I will notify you when that happens."

Please do so, she will be helpful when the time comes to fight an army.

"My Lord, the person who was following us just left."

Says Erevain who was to my right.

"Perfect, now we can arrive to our destination without problems."

Why I haven't summoned a door to my castle, you ask?

Well, someone had been tailing us from the moment we left the village.

As in one of those guys that Sophie mentioned last night, that ‘Rat’ guy.

Luca of course noticed them and told Erevain.

I already knew because of my OP senses, but you know that already.

So, we had to wait until they went back to the village to do this.

"[Door]."

Suddenly, a beautiful yet imposing wooden door appears out of nowhere, startling our new members.

"...!"

"Wha...?!"

___________________________________________________

Blah, blah, explanation to both newcomers, blah, blah, description of how they felt, blah, blah, going through it, blah.

None of that matters now!!!

NOPE!

THIS IS WHAT MATTERS!

JUST ENJOY!

""""""""Welcome Back, dear Master!""""""""

SIXTEEN GORGEOUS MAIDS.

EIGHT ON EACH SIDE.

SAYING THAT IN UNISON WITH ALL THEIR HEART AND PURE SMILES!!

AAAAH! THIS, THIS IS THE BEST!

THE BEST I TELL YOU!!

 

To be continued...(cue illustration of such glorious scene!)    

Glossary entry #16:

Bishounen: Japanese term that pretty much means, a beautiful youth/boy, but their beauty is more on the androgynous side. They are graceful, with a figure that complements such grace and lack any facial hair. They can be prince-like, wild-like, and many more types that depend on the personal taste of those who create those characters or find them attractive. There’s even the mythical type of bishounen that has a chin so pointy that they could gouge out the eyes of someone with it.

In any case, when put beside an “average” type of shounen-harem protagonist, they elicit a fairly unique yet common response in them, and that is…the desire for seeing the bishounen explode. And even more, for some mysterious reason, the story helps to justify such desire as they are usually revealed to be the villains or just normal human trash.

 

Here we have Sophie and Sylvie in the same style as the others! But, please forgive me for the school uniform on Sylvie, there's not a lot of clothing options...

Sophie:

Sylvie:

I hope you all have a great day and please look forward for the next chapter!