In a World of Reversed Chastity, I Strive to Become an Honorable Male Knight, but Lustful Women Keep Targeting My Body - 302

Chapter 302: The Kukkoro Male Knight and the Baby

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I, for one, had never had a single child in either my previous life or this one. Well, that was only natural, since I had never engaged in anything that could result in having children. I was a pure, lifelong bachelor. I had absolutely no idea what it meant to take care of an infant.

Still, while listening to the opinions of those who had experience raising children or caring for babies, I somehow managed to set up a system that allowed us to take care of the infants while marching. Honestly, this was something that should have been decided before departure, but this was my first time ever marching with infants in tow. I simply did not understand how to handle it.

“All right, there we go. Drink your fill.”

Even during short and long breaks in the march, things remained hectic. Birdfolk and insectfolk who had children gathered together and began breastfeeding the infants. It was obvious that we were short on hands. Some even grumbled, “Why do I only have two breasts to work with?” Perhaps somewhere in the world, there were demi-humans with multiple breasts.

That aside, while the wet nurses had it tough, the fathers had it just as hard. Changing diapers, feeding porridge to those who had started weaning, they were constantly busy. Everything except breastfeeding fell on the fathers’ shoulders.

“Taking care of children… This is truly exhausting. It is as busy as the front lines.”

As I washed soiled diapers in the river, scrubbing them clean, I spoke to the young man beside me. The reason I was doing such work was simple. Seeing the fathers clearly pushed to the brink of overwork, I could not just stand by and watch. Laundry was not a lord’s duty, but with manpower so limited, there was no helping it. The soldiers needed rest in order to respond to future attacks, and the number of attendants and servants was limited. Every bit of labor counted.

Even in a modern world with advanced technology and civilization, people said childcare was like a battlefield. In a world like this, with so few tools available, it was even harsher. Ah, how I wished for disposable diapers and powdered milk. Ready-made baby food too.

“I am terribly sorry, to make a noble such as yourself do such dirty work…”

The young man spoke with deep embarrassment. He was the same one carrying both the elf and sparrow babies earlier. The elf toddler had been taken in by older children for now.

“My job involves being drenched in enemy blood and guts. If I called something like this dirty, I could never serve as a knight.”

I spoke while efficiently rinsing away the filth. Though I was technically of noble status, the Blondin family was merely a line of poor court knights. We had to handle our own household chores. Laundry was nothing new to me.

“Um, Al-sama, shall I help?”

“N-no, I will do it myself. Please, Your Lordship, you should rest.”

The knights and soldiers spoke like that, likely unable to relax while their superior was working. But I waved them off.

“Your job right now is to rest your bodies. Planning to slack off in front of your superior takes some nerve. When the time comes, I will be relying on you, so conserve your strength.”

“But Your Lordship is also a knight, is he not? You will have to fight just the same. And yet you are working…”

One of the soldiers objected. Honestly, these people were far too kind. If I were in their position, I would not hesitate to enjoy my break.

“I can just sit back and give orders from the rear. I do not expend nearly as much energy as you who fight on the front lines.”

“Al-sama, you say that, but you are always the first to charge forward…”

“Th-that is not…”

At the remark from one of my childhood friend knights, cold sweat formed on my brow. At that point, I was outmatched. In no time, the laundry was taken from me. The young man beside me suffered the same fate.

“Mm…”

Driven away from the riverside that had temporarily become a laundry station, I sat down on a rock and groaned. It was not a satisfying outcome. I had wanted to use this opportunity to learn more about childcare. Then again, at present, I did not even have any prospects of doing anything that would lead to having children.

“You are well respected, my lord.”

The young man sitting beside me said that with a wry smile. The two babies he had been carrying were now being held by an Arachne woman with children of her own, breastfeeding nearby. Quite literally, a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Though, he still had numerous baskets strapped to his body. I wondered what was inside them. Something seemed to be rustling from within.

“Is that so? Well, I suppose I have been blessed with good subordinates.”

“Yes, absolutely. Everyone is willing to lend a hand like this. My wife, on the other hand, never helps, no matter how much I ask. She always says, ‘Taking care of kids is not a woman’s job.'”

In this world, “wife” referred to the primary wife.

“That is different from subordinates, is it not? …By the way, that wife of yours, is she an elf?”

“Yes, she is.”

The young man nodded as if it were nothing unusual.

“…This may be difficult to ask, but you are originally from Liseben, correct?”

“Yes, just as you guessed. My wife is an elf soldier who kidnapped me.”

“I see.”

I crossed my arms and groaned softly. He too had come to the elf settlement under rather tragic circumstances.

“In that case… Do you wish to return to your homeland?”

“Of course, if I could, I would return. But that is not possible, is it? If I went back home carrying elf children, it would cause a serious problem.”

Sighing, the young man looked toward his children. The elf and sparrow infants clung to the Arachne woman’s chest, feeding eagerly. Arachne were demi-humans with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a spider. Even their human half bore spider-like traits, making them both beautiful and terrifying. Despite their striking appearance, the babies showed no fear. To them, Arachne were a familiar presence.

In the Kingdom of Galea, insectfolk were rarely seen. But in Liseben, there seemed to be a fair number of native insectfolk. Given their often inhuman appearances, they might prove even more difficult than elves when it came to integration with Galean settlers.

“Would it be difficult to accept elf children in Carrera City or the rural villages?”

“It would be difficult. Everyone hates elves. If things go badly, they might even be beaten to death.”

After saying that, the young man gave a sorrowful smile.

“To be honest, I still resent my wife. But the children are innocent. No matter how it happened, they carry my blood as well…”

“…”

I found myself at a loss for words. This was indeed a very difficult issue.

Although the migration of both Elfenia factions to Liseben had been decided, the people of Liseben would not accept it easily. They would likely refuse even to allow them into Carrera City. The same would apply to the rural areas. Even as a lord, I could not forcibly overturn such decisions. Lords in the Kingdom of Galea had less authority than one might think.

Under such circumstances, the position of these abducted individuals was extremely complicated. The people of Liseben would demand their return, while the elves would never let them go. Rather than reconciliation, this could deepen the divide.

“My wife was taken away by Lady Vanka, so I do not know what will happen from here… but since I have had children with an elf, I can only live alongside the elves now. That is how I see it. …So please, do not make that face, my lord.”

“…I am sorry. It is my lack of ability.”

If possible, I wanted to return them to their homeland. But without knowing what kind of political settlement would be reached, I could not promise them that. His willingness to say this of his own accord was, honestly, a relief. Even after suppressing Lady Vanka’s rebellion, issues like this would persist endlessly. Reconciling Liseben and Elfenia would require extraordinary effort.

…Really, what a troublesome land Duchess Olean had given me. I felt like complaining, but she had already passed away. There was nothing to be done. Recalling her face in her final moments, I let out a quiet sigh.

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