Chapter 276 - Moral Education
As I stepped out of the restroom alongside Chloe, I encountered Angelica, who was acting quite fidgety.
If you leave a virgin near the entrance of the men's restroom, they exhibit interesting behavior. This is a new discovery.
"What happened to that knight?"
I replied "He died" to Angelica, who was asking while looking up at me.
"I see... What shall we do with the body? If even a part of him remains, we should build him a grave."
"There isn't any, you see. Chloe burned it all."
"That is... quite something..."
Chloe watched with a puzzled expression as Angelica pressed her hands together, saying that they should at least offer a prayer.
"Why are you mourning an enemy?"
While Angelica and I fell silent, only Chloe continued to cheerfully recount her combat achievements. "I know, for Lord Father's sake, I scraped the knight's face right off. Isn't that amazing?" She spread her arms wide, like a middle schooler boasting about test results.
Angelica turned pale, while Chloe's cheeks flushed rose-colored.
Accompanied by these two girls of opposite temperaments, I made my way home.
When we returned to the apartment, Ayako-chan, wearing an apron, greeted us, smiling as she said, "Dinner preparations are ready."
"Thanks. But there's something I have to do first."
"...?"
I pulled Chloe by the hand and headed toward the bedroom.
There are various things I have to teach this one.
"Wait... that hurts, Lord Father. What's wrong?"
While locking the door, I spoke to her, "You may sit down."
Chloe sat down on the bed without a word, curling her back as she hugged a cushion.
"Do you know why we are alone?"
"Nn," Chloe nodded, letting out a thin voice.
"As a reward for killing that knight... you're going to do lewd things with me, right?"
"No."
"Then, is it a rough sex session as punishment because my way of killing wasn't smart?"
"That wouldn't count as punishment."
Aside from sexual intercourse with my biological father, there are plenty of other things to do.
"You, what did you think when you finished that man off?"
"Nothing in particular... It was just like smashing a cockroach."
"I see..."
I covered my face with one hand and looked down.
Despite being made from my Seed, it seems she was born with a personality quite suited for a warrior.
"If you were just a soldier, I wouldn't feel anything. In fact, having that much composure is helpful. But you see, you are my daughter. So let me say this: you need to learn a bit more about the value of life."
"...What's that supposed to mean?"
"Remember Ange. Even though she was an enemy until just a moment ago, you tried to build her a grave. That is the natural reaction for a human being."
"..."
Suddenly, Chloe furrowed her brows.
"Are you seeking humanity in a Homunculus, Lord Father?"
"I am."
I nodded deeply.
"A heart that hates the enemy and a heart that cherishes life in general must be kept separate."
"I don't understand. You slash an enemy until they stop moving. Once slashed, you burn them. They are nothing more than that. Don't tell me, Lord Father, are you the type who's against war? I hear this country likes that sort of thing."
"It's not that... I'm not that much of a flower child. To show no resistance at all when there are people currently trying to harm your own country is evil. To pursue non-violence for the sake of an ideal means abandoning the people you should be protecting. In a sense, you'd be letting the masses die for the sake of an ideology. That is distorted in its own way."
"...What are you trying to say, Lord Father?"
"I have no issue with eliminating threats. However, do not find pleasure in killing. Treat the dead with respect, regardless of whether they were friend or foe."
"You sound like a military chaplain."
"For the sake of a child, I would be both a chaplain and a pastor. You may be a warrior, but you are also half human. Always keep some space in your head for morality."
"I can't think about such things in the middle of a fight."
"You must. In the battles to come, it will become necessary."
Chloe pouted her lips, making a sulky face.
"...You really are a Hero of Justice, aren't you, Lord Father? Everything you say is so stiff."
"Well, it's not just a matter of ethics; it's advice considering the practical benefits as well."
"What do you mean?"
"Behavior during combat affects surrender rates. ...If the fear spreads that 'if I'm captured, I might be killed in a cruel way,' what happens? People will think, 'I'd rather go on a suicide mission and die than become a prisoner,' right? Once that happens, you've created a desperate army."
"..."
"You wouldn't want to see a Chloe army charging in prepared to perish, would you? That's why it's more profitable to act with leniency."
"...That might be true."
It seemed she was convinced.
A weight had been lifted from my shoulders.
"That's the end of the lecture. Now, let's go eat dinner."
"Wait a minute."
Just as I placed my hand on the doorknob, my sleeve was tugged with a pull.
"I sort of understand why you're a moralist regarding life, Lord Father. But—I want you to face sexuality just as seriously."
"...Meaning?"
"How many girlfriends do you have right now?"
I tried shouting "Let's eat dinner!" at the top of my lungs, but she didn't budge. Her guts are truly something else.
"Lord Father should have an ethical view regarding sex as well."
"...I haven't had physical relations with anyone yet, so isn't that safe...?"
"Almost all of my friends say they're dating Lord Father, what is that about? I mean, about ninety percent of the girls appearing on JK Evolution have kissed you, right?"
"There are worlds you wouldn't understand."
I don't like it either, but the talent agency that sensed the scent of power in the circumstances of how I became a host through mysterious pressure keeps sending one pillow girl after another... It's a man's shame not to eat a meal served on a platter, but I want credit for the strength of my heart in holding back to just suckle, because I feel bad for Elsa. Isn't just sucking safe?
"...If you're going to lecture me, I think Lord Father should also reform his private life."
"No, that's a completely different issue."
"It's not different at all! They're connected! The reason I killed that knight earlier might be because your sex life is in disarray! That kind of thing has a bad influence on a child's moral education!?"
"Th-that has absolutely nothing to do with it! You're talking like some kind of educational official!"
While we were shouting back and forth, Chloe finally burst into tears. What on earth is wrong with this girl? I thought she was one of the more emotionally stable ones among the harem members...
As I leaned my back against the door in bewilderment, I heard a knock-knock.
Wanting an excuse to escape this situation, I immediately opened the door and replied.
"Yeeees... is it you, Ayako-chan?"
"...I'm sorry. I came to call you because dinner seemed like it was going to get cold, but I heard your voices."
Ayako-chan lowered her eyes, saying she didn't intend to eavesdrop.
"Sorry, it might take a little more time."
"...Um."
"Hm?"
"...Could you lend me your ear?"
"?"
Ayako-chan stood on her tiptoes and whispered to me.
"...I... think... so..."
"...Are you serious?"
"...That's why..."
"Mm-hmm."
"...I'll microwave the food for now."
"That helps."
Once Ayako-chan's advice was finished, I returned to the room.
"What are you thinking, flirting with another woman in front of your daughter?"
I approached the sulking Chloe and slowly pulled her hand.
"Eh?"
"My bad, I didn't realize."
"What? What is it?"
I pulled Chloe's hand and headed toward the restroom. I rushed into a stall, sat Chloe on the toilet—and then leisurely reached my hand into the basket sitting in the corner of the floor.
"Lord Father?"
"Your emotional instability isn't your fault."
"..."
In my right hand, I gripped a package that said 'Relief even on heavy days.'
"...Why do you know about that, Lord Father?"
"I just asked Ayako-chan."
"How does she know...?"
"Ayako-chan is just that kind of girl. Don't worry about it. More importantly—"
Chloe looked up at me with eyes that seemed to be expecting something.
"...Are you... going to change it for me, Lord Father?"
"It's part of my duty of support."
"Lord Father...!"
[Party Member Chloe's Affection Level has increased by 600,000]