Unknown Things (3)
After savoring a moment of healing respite.
I began asking about the things I'd experienced and found strange, one by one.
The most pressing matter first: Ferio.
Talking about romantic entanglements with others could be embarrassing, but I knew too little about this world.
I didn't know Ferio's status. I didn't know what ethics governed relationships between men and women here.
Once again, I was struck by how much I didn't know about this place.
I explained very frankly—right up to that night, though I kept it brief, very brief.
Big Sis listened with a serious gaze, a hint of killing intent flickering in her eyes as she asked,
"Ferio, did that girl threaten you in any way?"
"Y-Yes? No, no, nothing like that. It was natural, mutual consent? Uh… anyway, it was a good atmosphere."
"Did Ferio say she was taking you back to her home?"
"No. No. You just heard—she told me to come for training the day after tomorrow."
"She didn't dare try to command you indirectly, gauging this Agnes's reaction, did she?"
"No way. Absolutely not."
For some reason, it felt like I was the maiden being ravished and abducted by a nobleman… or rather, the middle-aged guy in that scenario.
Anyway, the village chief's tone made it clear she wouldn't stand for it if that were the case, so I needed a moment to calm things down.
My hunch had been right, as expected.
By my common sense, it seemed natural for a strong man to rape or abduct a woman.
But in this world, there were strong women and nobles too, so men could be dragged off or kidnapped just as easily.
Gender didn't matter. Women could kidnap women, men could kidnap men… or so she said.
I calmly explained my own common sense to the village chief.
She was well aware that I, from another world, operated on different assumptions.
And she knew Ferio's character well, so the tension eased quickly.
"Ferio is the third son of Count Prosek.
That child looks after settlers and develops the land to build his own territory someday.
So he's shown little interest in marriages with other houses.
The count doesn't insist on alliances with other families—if there's another way to benefit the house, he lets him do as he pleases."
"More open-minded and flexible than I expected from a father."
"The opposite. He just hates complications and prefers certainty.
Talk to him, and you'll see he's a stubborn blockhead."
I tilted my head, wondering if she wasn't receiving support from such a man's territory.
"But simplicity breeds trustworthiness."
"Ferio coming all the way out here to garrison must be because of you, Village Chief."
"Yes, because of this big sis."
The village chief was far more formidable than I'd imagined.
On the flip side, it made sense: 'Entrust surveillance to someone reliable enough to trust with her.'
A famous mage might be treated like a strategic weapon in this world.
Reliable if you controlled it, terrifying if someone else did.
"It's a kind of deal. In exchange for this big sis living here,
the count promised support so she could research in peace.
Merchant wagons reaching this far-flung place is thanks to the count's consideration.
It'd be nice to hole up in a fine tower like some pointy-eared fool,
but this big sis lacks the foundation for that."
The explanation dragged on, but I grasped that Ferio was a noble's daughter and the village chief was someone extraordinary.
More than that, I was curious about how nobility handled relationships here.
Monogamy probably wasn't the norm—our world's history hadn't been either.
What intrigued me most was how people would view me and Ferio.
"It's not uncommon for nobles to date others before marriage.
But I never saw Ferio as interested in such things. Unexpected, hmm."
She was probably just pretending not to care.
I've seen plenty of her new sides. Plenty…
But I won't say it, for Ferio's dignity.
"No, that girl might seriously sponsor you."
"Yeah? What do you mean?"
"Kirgil, you're precious to this big sis, but not to the count.
You're not even a serf—just a wanderer.
No noble entrusts their child or daughter to such a one.
Unless the family disowns them first to avoid becoming a laughingstock in high society?"
Suddenly, it felt like a soap opera.
I could almost hear the mother-in-law snarling, 'I won't let a lowly wench like you have my son!'
"I get it. We have that too in my world.
But I don't want to be a hero—I just want to go adventuring."
I really didn't hate the idea of becoming a hero.
I was just compromising realistically with my lame abilities.
No cheats, no magic—what hero or harem nonsense?
Kids dreaming of president, scientist, gold medalist graduate college aiming for civil service, a job, platinum rank.
Time brings resignation.
Harem… yeah. Sounds way harder than it seems. I'd be the one dying.
Reflecting like this felt kinda sad. Still, I wanted adventure.
Dying without traveling abroad from my narrow country, narrow room? No more.
At least until I got sick of wandering.
"Yes, this big sis knows. Ferio does too. There's a song about it:
'Don't try to hold your adventurer love. Become their tavern instead.
They'll escape labyrinths, conquer dungeons, slay dragons—and still come for one drink.'
"Make them want to return, without chaining them."
"Yes. So she'll nominate you as a Hero."
"A Hero…!?"
Something huge just dropped.
A hero battling the Demon King to save the world.
Yeah, modern guy isekai'd—nine times out of ten, he's the hero. Cliche, the standard!
But here, becoming a hero meant… not swinging a sword or chanting cool spells, but swinging my…!?
The more I thought, the more my morals shattered—head spinning.
"A Hero is someone brave who catches the eye of powerful houses or nobles.
Unlike regular adventurers, they get noble sponsorship—plenty of funds, and their status proves useful crossing villages and cities.
Ferio now could solidly back you on your journeys."
Wait—Hero just meant a sponsored adventurer?
Makes sense—adventuring needs money. Weapons, food, lodging, booze. Money, money, money.
I'd been numb in this cash-poor village,
but without hunting-for-survival, it'd be essential.
Sponsors don't come free, though. I asked about obligations or restrictions.
"Acting in a noble's name means watching your conduct.
Sully that name, and you lose status.
Or the noble might personally handle your dishonor."
Bounty on my head. Wouldn't be shocked if assassin guilds existed.
"Sometimes the sponsoring noble or their associates give Heroes direct quests or duties.
Heroes are vetted and reliable, unlike random adventurers."
"So basically a noble's mercenary or knight?"
"Hence the joke: a Hero is a noble the king doesn't appoint.
But at root, still an adventurer.
No noble-level duties, free unless something special arises.
Often can't reach the sponsor for quests,
and some retire as the noble's knights or mercenaries, like you said."
I'd asked about Ferio and this world's gender norms,
but the talk kept veering off.
Helpful, sure, but at this rate, no sleep tonight.
Time to be direct.
"Anyway, is it okay for me and Ferio to keep going like this?"
"…Hm. 'Like this' meaning what?"
"Dunno the term here, but unmarried man and woman together…
strolling intimately where no one's around?"
"A stroll's just a stroll, isn't it?"
Playing dumb? Or really clueless?
No beating around the bush.
"I want to know if unmarried folks sharing intimacy is common.
And if it's fine to hang with a woman of Ferio's status without reserve."
"…Hm. Well…"
The village chief pondered long. Choosing words?
Or finding a simple explanation, like when I first arrived?
"This big sis thinks…"
Her teacup-holding fingers twitched uneasily. Beading sweat?
This felt ominous. Had I done something so outrageous she'd squirm?
"…Probably. Man or woman, few or many, if they understand each other, take responsibility… it might be fine? But mutual feelings matter most. If a child comes from a good relationship, celebrate first—tell parents… no, status or race differences might complicate things. Love across classes is romantic, they say…"
Ah. Got it.
The village chief was a mage, through and through.