Chapter 10:

Familial Love

HR in Another World: Building the Strongest Parties with my Appraisal Skill


The next morning starts with another surprise. There is a commotion in front of the house and I hear people arguing in loud voices. Quickly I wash my face and throw on the magical clothes. This is easily done by merely touching them. Even my clothes have more potent abilities than me. Erya should’ve just enchanted some wooden doll and sent it on the quest. It would have more offensive abilities than this office worker.

Sigh.

The house is empty and I soon realise why: Most of the occupants are crowded downstairs, staring at the entrance door, which is wide open. I snake my way through the people on the stairs, murmuring apologies, and walk outside to see what has them so intrigued.

It’s Karina, standing next to a tall man in formal clothes. The man’s face is red from exertion, arguing with Safrim on his doorstep while Karina hangs on his arm. That must be Karina’s father. He has the same, bright hair and purple eyes, which must run in the family. To be honest, if I saw him on the streets of Tokyo, I would assume he is one of these otome game cosplayers, the character, which fujoshis spend their whole credit card allowance on. A guy this handsome has major main character energy. Is he going to be important later? No, I can't go with that logic. I had a cursory look into the mirror in my room last night. My face is not too dissimilar to my old one, which means I look absolutely average, and I’m still the hero.

“There he is! The scoundrel who would abduct my daughter to send her to certain death!” Karina’s father yells and points at me.

Since I am wearing the holy armour, it’s not hard to identify me, but I still feel miffed to be immediately singled out as suspicious.

“Good morning,” I say.

“Good morning, Hero Yuki!” Karina replies and walks over to me—or tries to. Her father catches her wrist and holds her back.

“You stay right here!”

“I told you that I was chosen by Lady Erya herself to be a hero’s companion! I have to go!”

“Under no circumstances! I will not lose my daughter to these demons as well!”

Safrim’s expression darkens. “I understand, Mardok. But no one is served by yelling on the doorstep. Don’t you want to come in to talk about this in a more settled environment?”

“We’ve known each other for years, Safrim, and this is how you betray me? There is nothing to talk about! I’m taking Karina home and she will stay home.”

“Father!” Karina shouts, loud enough to make even my ears ring. “I am going!”

She rips her arm from his grip and runs past me into the house. Mardok von Vale is only momentarily surprised and soon rushes after her. I stare at Safrim, who can only watch the scene in desperation.

“Is this a bad time?”

I turn around to see Poru standing in front of me, Shilvy in tow. He is carrying a bundle, evidently packed and ready to depart. Shilvy just smiles at me, nodding a greeting.

“I don’t know?” I say truthfully.

“I take it Mayor von Vale hasn’t taken the news about his daughter favourably?” Shilvy asks.

“Understatement of the century,” I murmur.

“Let me talk to him,” she offers.

“Would you?” Safrim says, clearly relieved.

“Of course. It’s Lady Erya’s guidance, which has chosen Miss von Vale as a companion of the hero, and as her high priestess, it is my duty to see her will done.”

Shilvy smiles at me again as she passes me. Oh god. If anyone ever finds out that it’s just my judgement and not Erya’s blessing at all, who roped everyone into this, they’re going to lynch me and take their sweet time while doing so. I hope Erya keeps her mouth shut. Though, if push comes to shove I can see her popping down into the temple just to badmouth me.

“So we wait here?” Poru asks.

“We should adjourn to the study. I’ll have some breakfast brought in,” Safrim says, then turns around. “And all of you, go back to whatever you were doing. Breakfast is served in the inner courtyard, as usual. We’re not to be disturbed in the study.”

Acknowledging answers are heard all around and the crowd disperses into the various corners of the mansion. It seems they all hold the Captain in high esteem, to be listening to him so obediently.

——

After sipping our tea in silence for about half an hour, the door to the study finally opens and Shilvy walks in.

“The mayor excuses himself. He already went home.”

“And Karina?” Poru asks.

“She’s in the courtyard, helping to serve breakfast. She said she needed something to do while she thinks.”

Shilvy closes the double doors behind her and walks over to the table. Poru immediately pours her a cup of tea, which she accepts gratefully.

“So they came to an agreement?” I ask.

“For now,” Shilvy replies. “Our base of operations will be Atol for the foreseeable future, since it’s impossible to travel anywhere else. Miss von Vale will have to spend her nights at home while she is in the city. And her father gets to pick her equipment to make sure she has what she needs to survive. If she gets grievously injured in any way, she will have to call the operation off, no matter if Lady Erya appointed her or not.”

“That seems surprisingly reasonable. I wouldn’t want her to risk her life either, if it turns out she isn’t made for combat,” I say.

“Then we are all in agreement,” Safrim says. “Thank the goddess.”

“How did you do it?”

“I didn’t. I just set the atmosphere. When they don’t yell at each other, they are very agreeable people. They only yell because they care, after all. And once her father believed how much Miss von Vale cared, he was convinced—for now.”

I take my own cup and contemplate the golden tea. It smells sweet and floral. I try to take my thoughts away from the situation, but I fail miserably. The responsibility of it all hasn’t really sunk in yet. Responsibility for this world, this city and every single one of my party members, who I selected by hand. Of course they wanted this, but…

The breakfast continues in relative silence. Poru informs me that meals at the cathedral are usually taken in a quiet atmosphere and I’m only too happy to have a moment to collect my thoughts.

When we’re about done, there’s a knock on the door and Karina enters the study. She looks contemplative, for once. Almost melancholic. With some words of thanks she accepts a cup of tea and sits down on a plush armchair near the window.

“Thank you for standing up for me,” she says to Shilvy, who shakes her head.

“You stood up for yourself well enough.”

Shilvy receives a small smile for her words.

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