An Outing With Mai ODoll

I addressed the letter to Rokuko and wrote that I would be a little slow in returning, as well as that I might not be able to refuse them if things went bad, but also that I would try my best.

The messenger guy was also told to say that I may, juuuust may be two or three days late.

I told him to get a response as well, so yeah. Time to sleep.

I decided that I would sleep with Meat as my hug pillow.

The guest rooms bedding accommodation was a futon. One of the ones from our dungeon. For it to even be incorporated into the lords residence

*

The following day arrived. A letter from Rokuko arrived, lets see, whats it say?

[O ko.] [1]

Just two letters. Its in Japanese. Rokukos getting a handle of her [Japanese] skill quick.

But still, the hecks [o ko] supposed to mean? [Oko (Mad)]? I get the feeling she said that she wouldnt be angry even if I took another wife, but is it [Oko (Mad)] after all?

No, wait, let me think about this. Theres a chance that this [o ko] could be a shortened [o ko k], something thatd read as [OK OK], meaning [Understood, go for it]

She seemed to be pouting a lot for some reason.

Ah, yeah

Even Rokukos a girl. The kanji for a womans heart () is inside the kanji for angry (), and thinking about the fact that theres the character for again/still () in it also, she could be angry that Im making a move on another woman.

And she didnt say that she wouldnt be angry, just that she would pout

So what should I do today? Maybe I could sleep through it all. Lets go back to sleep.

With that, there was a knock at my door.

Yeah, I know. Its breakfast time.

Arriving at the table after being lead there by Maid-san, only Mai ODoll and Von ODoll were there. There was freshly baked bread, fried eggs, boar bacon, and salad for breakfast. Its simple, but it really did feel like breakfast. The salads tomatoes were delicious.

Now then, what do you plan on doing today, Mai?

I was thinking about visiting the orphanage with Kehma.

I see, it might be a good thing for Kehma-dono to personally understand the work that us nobles do. As for your escort hmm, seeing as Kehma-dono will be going with you, perhaps you dont need one?

Looks like I just got nominated to do something troublesome. At the very least, Id like to refrain from doing work for free. Even if I cant get any money from it, I cant let him make this a [Free of charge] thing. Therefore, Ill blow the price up to get out of it.

Itll only be for half a day, but I will undertake it if its a one day long escort commission for my party.

I dont mind, Ill even do it at the market price. Ill do it as a designated commission.

He went for it even though I said to pay me a days wages for half a days work. Maybe I shouldve asked for more no, hes a noble and a lord, so he should have the money

Lets hurry up and go, Kehma-sama!

Like that, Meat and I headed for the orphanage, dragged along by Mai ODoll.

*

The orphanage was an annex on a church. From the looks of it, wed be visiting the church first, followed by the orphanage afterwards.

Seeing as how the priest greeted us personally, it also looks like hed been told in advance that Mai ODoll would be coming.

Come to think of it, what religion is this church? Its not following that dungeon busting Light Gods Decree, right?

Just as I started to think about that, Mai ODoll explained it to me.

This church worships the Raverio Empires founding adventurers god, the White Goddess. Come, lets pray.

Its obviously Haku-san. Yaaaay, give me your blessings~ (Not).

So this White Goddess, she even has her own churches is it alright for a real existing person to be a god?

? Gods are all existing people though? Are there any gods that dont exist?

Aaah, right. In this world, gods are things that bring about miracles and divine blessings.

So then its not a problem at all even if a living person became a god. So long as they could bring about the miracle stuff.

Well, there were even great people worshiped as gods and religion-founders treated like deities back on Earth, so I guess its like that.

Listening to our conversation, the priest chimed in.

Could it be that you are not a follower of the White Goddess Faith?

I follow the Futon Religion. Our teachings follow the White Goddess Faith quite well, we worship the god that defends the nights tranquility.

Ive never heard of that religion, but the nights tranquility? Does that mean its a religious faction of the Dark God? If so, it truly must have an amiable relation with the White Goddess Faith.

Yeah, well, its something like that.

Lets go with what the priest says, he sounds informed.

I dont really know how they go about praying, so I used Mai ODoll as a reference and went to my knees with my hands in front of my chest. Please let me unshackle myself from these troublesome things and head back home as soon as possible. Amen.

She wouldnt give blessings at all. Ever. Of that, I am sure.

With our prayers complete, we headed for the orphanage.

When we entered the premises, I heard the noisy sounds of many children. Lots of high-pitched yaaays and wooos. They should follow our Meat as an example ah, Meat might be a bit too hard for them.

Ah, its Mai Ojou-sama!

Its really her, Mai Ojou-sama! Ojou-sama~!

A lot of kids around the same height as Meat and Mai ODoll or perhaps a bit smaller came over with smiles all over their faces.

Beastkin, humans, elves, and even some that I think are dwarves theres a lot of races.

Its a bit weird to say, but they look unexpectedly tidy. Theres magic like [Cleanup] in this world, so maybe its because of that?

Whos that Nii-chan?

Ah, he is

I am Mai-samas escort, an adventurer. Same with this small girl here.

Shes a guard? But shes so tiny! How could she guard anything?

Idiot. Meats even stronger than me. I didnt say anything about it since her appearance manages to make her opponents drop their guard though.

Even so, shes a D-Rank adventurer. Well, its not like the public order heres bad, so Im enough to guard her.

Oooh~

And since were escorts, we have to stay by her side.

Kaay~

Still though, Im not good at handling children, are they making fun of me.? No, its not like their intelligence is uuh.

Well, lets set that aside. Mai ODoll seems to be popular among the children. Even though shes a noble, she remembers all of their names. I wonder if she comes here a lot?

Kehma-sama, are you going to play too?

No, Im fine. Ill be taking it easy in the shade over there.

Hey, hey, Mai Ojoooou-sama! Cmon, lets play mino!

Coming! Ah, Im off then, Kehma-sama.

Turning around in excitement, she ran off. It looks like theyre playing something similar to tag. From the looks of it, you lose if they touch your back with a stick. Im guessing mino stands for minotaur, so its like losing from being killed by its weapon? Yep, definitely too troublesome for me.

Glancing next to me, it looked like Meat didnt go to play with them.

Meat really is different from normal children

You sure you dont want to join in?

If I did, that much would end instantly. Not fun.

I see, so their level is just too different?

However, a child that heard Meats mutter challenged her.

Well also be adventurers in the future!

I wont lose so easily! I can even keep an adult busy for five minutes!

Suddenly standing up, Meat grabbed the boys hand.

Wh-what are uwaaah!?

Yeah, done.

Meat threw the child against the ground softly and clapped his back.

S-surprise attacks are dirty

But would a real minotaur care?

Meat caused the boy to grow silent He probably hasnt even seen a real minotaur before. I wonder if he understands the difference between them now?

However, it turned into a disaster for Meat after that. Meat, having shown off a portion of the her skill, was surrounded by a great number of children.

Wooah!

So cool!

Howd you do that? Teach me!

Yeah, dont try and look at me with those eyes. Figure it out yourself.

Being able to interact with other kids her age will be a good experience for her.

Footnotes:

This part doesnt work if I translate it, so Ill do my best at explaining it alongside Kehmas explanation to follow. As ever, Im open to recommendations.