Chapter 15 — The SS Incentive

Later At The House...

​Louez watched the arrivals with a deeply suspicious gaze.

​「Err, Iris, what's going on?」

​「Well, Aunt Louez, say hello to Lena and Saalin! They'll be helping us with our adventures.」

​「OK, but where are they going to sleep? That bed isn't big enough for three!」

​Lena, completely at ease, snuggled up to Jay.

​「I'll sleep on Papa's bed! Hi, I'm Lena.」

​「...Shocked... Papa?! Then does that mean Saalin's the mother?!」

​「...Giggles... No, Aunt Louez. It seems that Lena over here just imprinted on Jay.」

​「Oh, is that the case?」

​「Yes, she's my younger sister, but as you can see, she intends on calling Master Jay 'Papa.'」 Saalin confirmed, trying to sound apologetic.

​「Oh, I see.」

​Jay stepped in, a genuine plea in his voice.

​「So, can they stay, ma'am?」

​「Well, since the little one will be around you, that means you won't get any ideas with Iris and Saalin. So, yes, they can stay.」

​【Seems like I'm still not trusted.】

​「OK, guys. This is your new home, OK?」

​「OK!」 Saalin and Lena chorused.

​Louez addressed Jay with a serious tone.

​「You know that means you—and I mean Jay—you'll have to work harder than you did before.」

​「Yah, I will! And don't worry, they'll help with cooking and cleaning, but ...Bows... please, ma'am, don't take advantage of them.」

​【His humbling himself for the sake of two demi-humans? Maybe I had the wrong idea about him.】

​「...Sighs... OK, fine. A knight shouldn't lower his head for a commoner.」

​「...Raises his head... OK, thank you, ma'am.」

​「Yah, yah, you're welcome.」

​5 Days Later...

​Jay scowled at the Guild notice.

​「Tch. They have the nerve to call us in on a day off!」

​As they entered the Guild Hall, every adventurer stopped and gossiped about the unique party.

​Lena stomped her foot, a tiny, adorable manifestation of her Papa's anger.

​「...Pouty... Yah! Me and Papa had urgent business to do!」

​「Yah, you're right.」 Jay agreed.

​「C'mon, Master Jay and Lena, they said it was important.」 Saalin urged them forward.

​「Hmph! We don't care!」 Jay and Lena huffed in unison.

​「...Giggles... Seems like they connected really fast, huh?」 Iris whispered to Saalin.

​「Yah, maybe too fast.」

​Iris approached the desk.

​「Hi, Liani. So why were we called in on our day off?」

​「Sorry about that, but the Guild Master wants to see you... All of you.」

​「Oh, that's a first.」

​Jay entered the office and took a seat without waiting for an invitation.

​「So, Guild Master, what do you want?」

​「This adventurer has an urgent request... You may speak.」 Xander introduced a frantic-looking man.

​Klaus, the man, trembled as he spoke.

​「Um... OK. The Tyrant Wyvern in the North Mountains, or called the Dragon's Fangs, has taken a Bishop hostage, and it destroyed my party while it did.」

​「No way! Wyverns aren't supposed to be that smart!」 Iris exclaimed.

​「Well, this one is, and I'm afraid to guess what it's going to do.」

​As Klaus spoke, Lena was calmly blowing and popping little bubbles, completely uninterested.

​「Argh, c'mon! (...Annoyed...) COULD THIS KID JUST STOP WITH THAT ANNOYING CRAP!」

​Lena immediately hugged Jay, tears welling up.

​「Papa, he's mean!」

​【...Sighs... Well, this won't be good.】 Xander braced himself.

​Jay's aura flared, instantly chilling the room.

​「Cover your ears, Princess.」

​「OK. ...Then she did...」

​Jay fixed Klaus with a gaze of pure, condensed fury.

​「You come beggin' for our help, and you got the nerve to yell at my daughter, dipsh*t?! Do you want to meet your great-grandparents?!」

​Klaus instinctively hid behind Xander, terrified.

​

​「...Sighs... Calm down, Papa Bear.」 Iris said gently.

​「Tch. Fine... But I'll kill the bastard next time. ...Calms down... OK. ...Removes Lena's hands from her ears... It's OK now, Princess. He won't bother you anymore.」

​「...smiles... Thank you, Papa.」

​「You're welcome, Princess.」

​Iris shook her head in amazement.

​「I can't believe what I'm seeing. This is more than just got attached.」

​「Yes, five days ago he didn't want to be called 'Big Brother.'」 Saalin noted.

​「You OK, Princess?」 Jay asked Lena.

​「...Giggles... Papa worries too much, but yes, I'm OK.」

​「Anyway, why do we have to help? We're only Rank D.」 Iris asked Xander, cutting to the chase.

​「True, but the power you have is Rank S, or even double S!」

​「Oh? What makes you say that?」

​「The day you came to build that new freezer, and what little Lena said the day you brought her... So please, say you'll help!」 Xander pleaded.

​「OK, we'll take it.」 Iris agreed.

​「Err... who's 'we'?」 Jay interjected.

​「C'mon, Jay, it's a rescue mission. It can't be that hard.」

​「Tch. I don't care. I can't expose my little Princess to that type of danger. It's ludicrous!」

​「...Sighs... Think of it this way: the Pope will pay us, and he has deep pockets. And you can spend some of it with Lena.」

​Jay's ears perked up, a mercenary glint returning to his eyes.

​「...Serious... Hmm... How much is the hostage worth?」

​「Two hundred gold.」

​「OK. ...Stands up and holds Klaus' head... ~recall~ There, found him ...Lets go of Klaus...」

​Lena immediately seized the opportunity.

​「Papa, can we buy some cake after this?」

​「For you, I'd buy the whole bakery... That means free cake for life to give my li—」

​Iris cut him off with a firm hand on his arm.

​「No, you're not doing that. You're buying her cake, and not the whole bakery.」

​「Tch. ...Pouts... Fine.」 Jay and Lena grumbled in unison.