Chapter 30 – The Familiar Caduceus
Chapter 30 – The Familiar Caduceus
“How is it?”
Today’s breakfast consists of white bread, seafood soup, and salad with homemade bacon.
Ashley seems to be in charge of seasoning the soup. She’s watching me bring the spoon to my mouth with an anxious expression, holding her breath.
“Mmm. It’s delicious.”
It’s a light flavor with a slight tanginess.
“Ashley-sama is improving quickly.”
Grace is the one instructing Ashley in all household matters.
I’m not sure about the head of a baronial family doing housework… but according to Ashley, as she read in a study book—she apparently had aspirations of cooking meals for her husband and such lifestyle. Since Circulating Ki has become part of her daily routine, Ashley’s physical condition is excellent, and she seems happy to be able to move her body.
So the three of us take turns with household chores.
After breakfast, we move to the living room to drink tea and chat. After resting for a while, we each go about our schedules—but.
“Excuse me.”
As I sit on the living room sofa, Grace comes close and lightly leans against me. Ashley, for her part, somewhat hesitantly and timidly takes my hand.
Sandwiched between them at a distance where I can feel their body heat, I unconsciously straighten my posture… well then.
For Grace, relieving the backlash of her blood-sucking impulse is necessary, which inevitably means creating time to touch or hug me. Like hunger, enduring it seems to cause stress.
So maintaining our usual lifestyle… that much is fine. But having Ashley just watch wasn’t right, so the two of them proposed creating this kind of time.
I tried telling them that various aspects might be awkward, but they don’t seem to fully grasp it, partly due to their limited knowledge. These days I’m reminded how great Japanese education and the information society are.
I know Grace is somewhat detached from societal norms. I tried probing a bit about Ashley… but her education seems to have focused only on noble mentality. She doesn’t seem to know much about specific obligations after noble marriage.
I told both of them that if I’m inadequate, they’re free to give up on me—but after that, they clearly stated they have absolutely no intention of going to anyone else. Hmm.
Considering age, knowledge, current positions, future matters… we really need to follow proper procedures. That hasn’t changed from before either.
In other words, this is it. My rationality endurance test.
Having it after breakfast was my suggestion. If we have plans afterward, I only need to endure until then.
“Haah. It really is calming.”
“Father and Mother… I think they often spent time together much like you two.”
Grace and Ashley exchange glances and smile at each other.
…Let’s just say their happiness is what matters most.
“Ah. Caduceus has returned.”
A black liquid-like substance enters through the closed window frame.
Just as a black puddle forms on the floor, it rises from the center… eventually taking the form of a large black cat. It’s about 50% larger than a normal cat. The eye areas emit a metallic luster due to structural coloration.
This is the magical creature and familiar Shadow Mercury. I named him Caduceus.
As you can see, he normally has a liquid body and amorphous form, but he can perform tricks like hardening.
Currently, he’s on night duty guarding the house perimeter. Specifically, he spreads out in a mesh pattern to monitor the entire area around the house.
Since Shadow Mercury’s entire body functions as eyes, brain, and tactile senses, he can perceive everything within his spread range as if holding it in his hand. Being originally black, he’s perfect for night security.
“Report.”
When I ask Caduceus, who’s sitting on the table, the black cat form collapses. It takes the shape of a miniature version of the house’s surrounding terrain.
He fast-forwards the replay of people’s movements from last night to this morning on the miniature.
He’s three-dimensionally reproducing Caduceus’s memories. It’s like watching surveillance camera footage… but the humans moving about have somewhat vague reproduction of details like clothing. These are probably blind spots in Caduceus’s recognition ability.
Shadow Mercury specifications depend on factors like the blood used as material and the master’s ability, but Caduceus, made with my and Grace’s blood as materials, turned out higher-spec than what the alchemist Beatrice who handled the production expected. This cost 1500 Kirig. No, it’s a bargain.
Why am I having him do this? For security purposes, or Count Maurice countermeasures. Well, something like that.
“This person—they haven’t moved since earlier.”
The person Grace points to is standing at the corner of the wall in our backyard. Wearing a hood, so the face shape is unclear… but you can see them restlessly looking around, watching their surroundings.
Frankly, it’s suspicious behavior beyond compare.
“Could they be someone connected to Count Cardiff’s family?”
“Even for that, their movements are strange.”
Rather than monitoring our house, they seem to be wary of the surrounding traffic. The most accurate description would be that they’re monitoring from hiding anyone approaching my house.
After watching them for a while, they eventually put their hand to their hood, revealing their face. Then they shake their head and—distinctive beast ears slightly trembling—before putting the hood back on and leaving.
“Beastfolk… right?”
Even in monochrome miniature, the ear shape is recognizable.
Beastfolk guarding around my house, huh. I don’t really have any leads.
I don’t think they’re from the Count’s family or the Prince’s people.
“Caduceus. Do you remember this guy’s build and face?”
The miniature set changes shape, taking the form of the scaled-down beastperson. The clothing is distinguishable… but the crucial face seems to have been in Caduceus’s blind spot and isn’t clear.
“…If you see anyone with a similar build to this beastperson around town, let me know.”
Caduceus, still in beastperson form, nods.
Since I don’t know their purpose, I’d like to talk to them if possible, but there’s also the possibility they might attack immediately if approached. It’s a difficult judgment call.
“Well, let’s put this guy on hold. —What are Ashley’s plans for today?”
Since Ashley and I are now engaged. I’ve made sure my tone when speaking to her isn’t too formal. More accurately, I’m showing her my usual self.
“Today I have Lady Rosetta’s lecture. She said today’s lecture will be about defensive magic and enhancement magic.”
…Rosetta’s teaching is branching out from healing magic.
Perhaps because she’s become my fiancée, it seems Rosetta intends to teach Ashley any usable techniques she can learn, not limited to healing magic.
According to Rosetta. Since Ashley will be a lord who can use healing magic, she should gain some practical experience for when there are monster outbreaks or attacks within the territory.
In other words, she means that once Ashley’s magic skills improve a bit more, she should delve into labyrinths somewhat.
Even in BFO, defeating monsters in labyrinths gave bonus experience points… Apparently that holds true in reality too, as continuously defeating monsters in labyrinths reportedly increases strength, vitality, magical power, etc.
It’s not just about combat experience—though not to Ashley’s extent, Mother also had a constitution prone to poor health. When she was young, she gradually delved into labyrinths with Rosetta to train her body… and apparently saw some improvement.
You could call it labyrinth leveling health method. But taking Ashley will have to wait until her magic reaches practical combat level.
Probably Rosetta will approach me about it when the time is right. It’ll likely involve supporting her while observing her performance in relatively safe floors. Before that, I should obtain a Red Transfer Stone too.
“I’ll go out with Caduceus for a bit when Rosetta arrives. Grace, I’ll have you stay in Released Form to watch the house.”
“What are you planning to do?”
“While shopping, I’ll try walking alone.”
Partly because I want to properly obtain a staff and robe—but essentially, I plan to bait enemies by acting alone.
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Yeah, not really down with the harem of 10 year olds. That’s fucked up.