Chapter 219 - Episode 212: Summer Passes
Late August. While there was some bustle regarding the preparations for exporting weapons to the eastern part of the Kingdom of Lordberg, the Arqvist territory was enjoying days of peace.
Due to the increase in immigrants and slaves, the population had exceeded 2,500, and the number of soldiers in the territorial army was also increasing steadily. Although the regular army and the Reserve Corps had not yet reached their full quotas, the scale was steadily expanding, with some apprentice soldiers and newcomers to the Claymore becoming reasonably proficient.
The population of the territorial capital, Noeina, was approaching 2,000, and the mining village of Kilde also had a population of over 300. The four current pioneer villages were each becoming self-sufficient as farming villages, and the goal of "diversifying food production bases" was also being achieved.
The thing that Noein, the lord of the Arqvist territory, was currently most personally interested in was the growth of his child.
"Now then—it's break time—. I've come to see my beloved wife and son—"
A weekday afternoon. Noein, who had descended from the lord's office on the second floor of the manor to the first-floor living room along with Matilda, approached Clara and the baby she held with a beaming face.
"My, my, Father has come to see us again. This is the third time today alone, isn't it?"
While speaking to the child in her arms and giving a wry smile, Clara turned the baby's face toward Noein.
Since their son was born, Noein had been coming from the office to the living room several times a day, claiming it was his work break, to interact with his wife and child.
"Now, Eleos, show your father your face."
This baby, who would become the heir for Noein, was given the name Eleos. Eleos Arqvist.
In the classical language, this name means "mercy," and it contains the hopes of Noein and Clara that he would grow into a person with deep affection for the people of the territory as the next lord.
Naturally, Eleos, who could not yet understand the origin of his own name, stared intently with curiosity at the father who was directing a loose smile toward him.
"He's awake right now."
"Yes. I just finished nursing him. He'll probably fall asleep again in a little while, but..."
Eleos, who was not yet two months old, naturally lived a life of repeating drinking and sleeping. It wasn't the case that he was conveniently awake every time Noein took a break from work to come to his son, so Noein thought he was lucky to be able to see his face at just the right timing this time.
Children of nobles are often raised by wet nurses rather than their biological mothers, but Clara wanted to raise her child herself as much as possible while he was still a baby. Noein respected her wishes and refrained from hiring a wet nurse, limiting it to calling assistants to the manor. Due to security concerns, the assistants were Mai, Gina, and Michelle from the retainer families, who served in rotation.
"Can I hold him too?"
"Yes, of course... please."
Receiving Eleos from Clara, Noein held him securely, wrapping his hands around the baby's head and back. Since he held his child like this at least once a day, his movements were practiced.
"...Haa, the ultimate time. My fatigue just blows away."
He smiled sloppily while feeling his child's body heat and the soft, sweet scent unique to babies. Clara watched this scene with a smile, and on the opposite side of Noein, Matilda also looked on warmly at the interaction between her master and his son.
Even from Matilda's perspective, she thought Eleos was cute.
Until now, she had never thought of any existence other than Noein as cute, and even when looking at the children of the retainers, she honestly could only think "they are children," but she truly felt that Eleos, who inherited Noein's blood and whose features showed he was his child, was cute.
She felt that she wanted to protect this child together with Noein. She felt that she wanted to watch over this child's growth and teach and guide him if there was anything she could do.
There had been a part of Matilda that felt it was an unknown variable how she would feel if a child sharing the blood of Noein—who was the sole and absolute existence for her—were born, but she was now relieved to feel a sentiment that could be called affection for Eleos. She wondered if this was the sensation of becoming a mother, something she would never experience herself.
"...Look, do you want to hold him too, Matilda?"
"...Yes, I would love to."
Nodding to Noein, who had asked with a smile, Matilda held Eleos this time. Seeing Eleos staring intently with curiosity at the person holding him, Matilda's expression naturally became filled with affection.
"Looking at it this way, it's like Eleos has two mothers. How nice."
"Fufu, that is certainly true."
Clara laughed upon hearing Noein's mutter. Matilda also showed a small, embarrassed smile.
Eleos continued to direct a curious gaze toward Matilda. That gaze descended from Matilda's face to the chest below—and for some reason, he reached out a small hand and grabbed that chest firmly.
As if observing what the large swell wrapped in the shirt before him was, Eleos touched Matilda's chest. Or rather, he kneaded it.
"..."
Was he feeling a sense of novelty facing breasts that were even larger than Clara's, who had gone through pregnancy and childbirth? While thinking this, Matilda remained silent as her chest was grabbed.
Glancing sideways at Noein and Clara, she saw Noein speaking to Clara, who was closing her eyes sleepily and yawning, saying, "You're sleepy because you wake up for nursing in the middle of the night, right?" Neither of them were looking this way.
Then, perhaps having grown bored of his observation, Eleos released his hand from Matilda's chest. And this time, while looking at Matilda's head, he was opening and closing his hand as if to reach for it.
Matilda possessed glossy black hair, which was rare in this country. Was he curious about this black hair? When Matilda leaned her face closer to Eleos thinking so—Eleos reached for something even higher than Matilda's hair, the rabbit ears growing from her head. He grabbed them without hesitation and pulled.
"......!"
Though surprised for a moment, Matilda strove to maintain her silence.
Just like ordinary people, or rather, more so than ordinary people, ears are sensitive sensory organs for beastmen, and stroking them is permitted only to extremely close individuals. However, Eleos was a baby, so he could not understand such things.
Touching Matilda's rabbit ears as his curiosity led him—he then opened his mouth and bit them.
"~~!"
Although the strength was only that of a gentle nibble, Matilda suppressed a strange sound from escaping at the unexpected surprise attack. Such bold acts were only done to her by Noein in bed at night.
"Oh my, Matilda-san is in trouble."
"Ah, now now, Eleos."
Then, Clara, who noticed the situation, raised her voice, and Noein took Eleos from Matilda, and finally, Matilda was liberated from Eleos's curiosity.
"Sorry, Matilda, I was looking away... are you okay?"
"...I am fine, Noein-sama," Matilda answered in a tone that didn't sound very fine, causing both Noein and Clara beside him to give wry smiles.
"Honestly... things like that are for when you're older, to do to your lover or wife, Eleos."
"Well, that's not exactly the kind of advice a father gives to a son who isn't even two months old yet."
When Noein spoke, Clara retorted with a slightly exasperated face, while Matilda finally steadied her breathing and calmed down.
Naturally, Eleos, who did not understand the meaning of these words, had a slightly dissatisfied expression, perhaps because the rabbit ears he had taken such an interest in were taken away.
Summer of the Royal Calendar year 217. The Arqvist territory was peaceful.
.....
Mid-September. The ballistae and crossbows, as well as all the bolts for them, to be exported to the eastern part of the Kingdom of Lordberg in preparation for the war with the Pallas Empire were completed, and the day arrived for the caravan by the Viscount Arqvist house and the Skinner Company to depart.
"Going to the southeast via the northeast, and then coming back... it's good that it looks like we can return before winter truly sets in."
"That's right. The return trip won't take as much time as the outbound trip... with a little over a month for the way there and a month for the way back, I'd like to arrive at the Arqvist territory by late November."
When Noein spoke, Bart, the retainer accompanying the caravan as an envoy from the Viscount Arqvist house, answered.
The gathering point for the caravan was within the grounds of the territorial army headquarters, as there was the loading of the ballistae and crossbows. A massive amount of cargo, centered on the export goods, was loaded into a total of eight carriages, and a final check of the load was currently being performed.
Noein had also come here as the lord to encourage them and see them off. Other people, such as Knight Commander Yuri and Bart's wife Michelle, were also there to see them off.
"Public order within the country is stable right now, so there should be few dangers on the road, but please be extremely careful. If the weapons aren't delivered as ordered, the reputation of His Excellency and the Arqvist house will be damaged, and of course, your own safety is important."
"I am aware. I will surely fulfill my duty and return... After this, we will also merge with the Miles Company in Retovik, so there probably aren't any bandits or monsters that would attack a caravan of more than ten carriages including us. There are also guards hired by Philip-san and Benedict-san."
Bart first replied with a soldierly attitude to Knight Commander Yuri's words, then spoke with a slightly more relaxed tone.
In this weapon export, only a few of Bart's direct subordinates from the Arqvist territorial army were accompanying them. The caravan's escort would be handled by mercenary groups hired by Philip's Skinner Company and Benedict's Miles Company.
This was partly because the Arqvist territorial army could not send too many personnel outside the territory right now, but it was also considering the positions of Philip and Benedict. They also had mercenaries they were on good terms with for transporting goods, and there were circumstances where they wanted to maintain those connections by giving long-term, high-earning escort work to such mercenaries.
"Bart-san, sorry to keep you waiting. We can depart at any time."
The one who came to Noein's group and called out to Bart was Philip. Since this was a big job even for the Skinner Company, he, the company president, was also heading to the eastern part of the kingdom. For him, this transport was also a perfect opportunity to expand distribution routes and make his face and name known to distant companies.
"Understood. May I speak with my family for a bit before departing?"
"Yes, of course... Viscount Arqvist, everyone, thank you for seeing us off."
Philip, who nodded to Bart, turned his face toward Noein and the others.
"Philip, be careful on your way. It would be a problem if anything happened to a commissioned merchant who has grown this much, wouldn't it?"
"I am aware. I intend to grow another step as a merchant through this job and continue to be of use to Your Excellency, so please rest assured."
When Noein spoke with a hint of a joke, Philip laughed in return. While the two were talking, Bart exchanged words with his wife Michelle, who was holding their daughter Amanda, and kissed his wife and daughter.
Having bid a brief farewell to his family, Bart came before Noein and the others again and saluted.
"Well then, Your Excellency, I am off."
To that, Noein also answered with the attitude of a lord.
"Yes. I expect you all to fulfill your duties, achieve results, and return."
As the season shifted from summer to autumn, the caravan departed the territorial capital, Noeina.