*-Kuroi-*

Aisha was now officially a month old, and in my entire lifetime time this has been my most stressful month out of all of them. Aisha's magic eyes are heavily tied to her emotions. When she got happy she would release a wave of void. This was harmless since the void wasn't in a gaseous state. Void in a gaseous state is similar to a deadly poison. I'd have to cast void magic at a higher level to cancel out the effects so no one got hurt. Thankfully she didn't seem to be able to cast gaseous void.

However, when she got angry or scared, really anything that made her stress out, she'd release the same wave of void, but would also teleport away. When she teleported she always went to either Lilia and I's bed, her crib, or directly in front of Lilia. When she teleports to Lilia she hovers for a second and then falls. Thankfully Lilia was able to grab her every time, even if the first time it happened she was caught off guard and almost missed her. Lilia has been on guard ever since.

Thankfully Thorn has made a small bracelet for her. It stops her magic eyes from activating when her mana spikes. Anytime Aisha tries to grab the bracelet her hand will just fazes through it. She was upset at first, but it quickly became her favorite toy. She'd lay there and giggle for hours as she tried to grab the bracelet and it would make a faze noise as her hand passed through it.

All in all Thorn has been an amazing help. When Lilia and I are busy he'll watch over Aisha while also watching over his new baby sister. Honestly I worry that Aisha and Norn will grow up to be spoiled. With how Thorn, Phoebe, Sylphie, and even Sara dotes on them I wouldn't be shocked if those babies owned the world by the time they were 5. The fact that they could own the world is what scared me most. Though it was more of a 'what am I gonna have to deal with now' kind of scared instead of an actual fear of what might happen.

I just don't want more work on my plate.

I flew down and landed outside Thorn's house. The door opened before I could even get to it, so I let myself inside. Lilia was making some kind of pasta for lunch from the looks of things. Sylphie was being shown things in a book by Phoebe. The book was labeled Mathematics. Over in the living room I could see Aisha napping in a crib. Sara was sitting beside Thorn as he held Norn is his arms. She was looking wide eyed at the stars Thorn was creating and matching together to make constellations.

*-Rudeus-*

I connected a line between some stars and formed the Little Dipper constellation as the door opened. Kuroi walked inside and smiled towards me. He walked over and peaked at Aisha as she slept soundly in a crib I made for her.

He moved over and sat on a chair.

"So how's your day been?"

"It's been great. I get to spoil my baby sister and my goddaughter nearly everyday. I've got no complaints. How about you?"

"Another day, another round of deliveries completed. The shed you made me is starting to run out of space. I might need an upgrade with how much business I'm starting to get."

"Haha. If that's the case I'll triple the size of the interior."

"Thanks. It's nice to just sit back and relax isn't it?"

"It is. If only there was a hot spring. That'd be heaven."

"What's a hot spring?"

Kuroi and I looked at Sara. I could see Sylphie's curious face peaking at us as Phoebe looked at me with a grin.

"Welp I know what I'm doing today. Phoebe can you come hold Norn for a bit?"

"Sure."

I held Norn towards Phoebe, and then Norn cried.

"Guess your coming with me then. There won't be anything dangerous anyway."

I took Norn back and went to the backyard. Norn was... well she was a crybaby. She cried in the mornings, in the afternoon, and at night. Hungry? She cried. Tired? She cried. Breathing? Yeah, she cried. I think you get the idea.

Oddly enough though she didn't cry when I held her, and when I picked her up when she was already crying she'd stop in less than a minute. It was adorable. To me at least. Momma seemed to be jealous that Norn liked me more than she liked her. Norn only ever lets four people hold her. Me, Momma, sometimes Phoebe, and on very rare occasions Paul. But if I was holding her and tried to give her to someone else she'd throw a fit, but she wouldn't make a scene if someone was holding her and I was nearby. She'd just let that person hold her while she stared at me.

To put it simply, I was her favorite. Momma noticed a pattern and started assuming that any little sister I had would instantly mark me as their favorite person.

Even Aisha seemed to like me more than she liked the others. She wouldn't cry like Norn, but she always giggled and smiled more when I held her. I suppose I'm just good with kids.

Norn gripped my shirt as a semi-strong breeze blew on us. I quickly put up a small barrier around us to protect us from the wind.

"Don't worry Norn. Your big brother's got you covered."

I gave Norn a small peck on her forehead as I held my hand out and purple flame surrounded by stars sprouted from the ground. I decided to make a small entrance in the shape of an outhouse. It was a simple wooden box with a hole near the top of the door in the shape of a Sakura flower.

I walked inside and started giving form to the endless and empty space. Once you entered the "outhouse" you'd be brought into a small lobby area. It had a tiled floor and by the entrance had a cabinet filled with towels. Next to the towel cabinet was a bin. Any towels put in the bin would be cleaned and placed back in the towel cabinet.

At the end wall was three doors. Each one leading to a separate changing room that then led to a separate hot spring. The one on the left was for women, the one on the right was for men, and the one in the middle was for both. Each changing room had large lockers for a person's clothes and equipment. It also provided a small towel for someone to wrap their hair in if they didn't want to get it wet and a slightly bigger towel for the more self conscious types to cover up with. Any clothes placed inside were cleaned and repaired and equipment was cleaned.

The hot spring area was lined with stones and bamboo. It felt like home. The water was hot and steam rose from it.

"Perfect. What do you- aw~."

I looked down and Norn was sleeping and drooling on me. I doted on her as I walked back to the house. I then realized why Norn was napping, other than her being a baby. The sun was setting. Aw crap. I missed lunch. :(

"Oh your back. How'd it go?"

Kuroi looked at me as he bounced a void ball up and down in front of a giggling Aisha.

"I'll show you once everyone eats dinner. Definitely some of my best work."

"Good to hear. I'll be more than happy to try it out with you."

Phoebe smiled at me. Beside her Sylphie seemed to be struggling with her math work. Sara was also sitting at the table as Yoko was teaching her reading and writing.

Aurora and Cyrus looked at me curiously from their spot on the couch. From the papers sitting between them I could tell that they were practicing spell combinations. It's something they've been practicing recently.

Mom came down from the washroom and helped Sara with her literacy. After Dad got home we had dinner and I told everyone about the hot springs. I ran Sara and Sylphie by their houses and they got permission to spend the night at our house.

I explained the general rules to everyone. Put your clothes in a locker and rinse off before getting in the hot spring. If you want to cover up then use the towel in the locker, not the one from the cabinet.

After everyone understood the rules I put a temperature enchantment on Aisha and Norn. Now the hot air and water would feel like regular bath water to them. I didn't know the ins and outs of how hot a baby could get before it was too hot, but I wasn't taking any chances.

I started walking towards the men's side when suddenly three sets of hands grabbed me and pulled me into the middle area. The next thing I knew my clothes were morphed off of me with magic, I was quickly rinsed through a combination of shower water and water ball spells, and then shoved into the hot springs. Shortly after Phoebe, Sara, and Sylphie came out and sat on either side of me. Sylphie and Sara hid heavily blushing faces halfway under the water as Phoebe grinned and held onto my arm. I could hear a faint laugh coming from inside the lobby. It was Dad.

It didn't take long for Mom and Dad to come in. Mom was holding Norn, and both of them had covered up with a towel. Mom sighed in relief as she sat down and soaked in the water. Dad did the same. Norn giggled silently as she splashed in the water. Kuroi, Lilia, and Pin came in not long after them. Kuroi held Aisha as she waved her hands in the air and the steam danced around her fingertips. Aurora and Cyrus came in last. They both settled on their own sides of the hot spring.

It then hit me that everyone had covered up except me, Phoebe, Sara, and Sylphie.

'Man. I wonder whose idea that was.'

Phoebe giggled as she gripped my arm tighter.

'I've got no idea what you mean~.'

'Really? Maybe this'll help jog your memory.'

I cast a simple illusion spell so that no one would sense me manipulating the magic or the water.

@-@

'Had fun?'

Phoebe continued to keep her breath under control the whole time. Pretty impressive.

'As always with you. You'd better bring me back in here when we have some alone time.'

'If you'd like I could make us one in secret for our personal use?'

'Please! For all things holy please do!'

'I think this would be classified as unholy. I don't think there's anything holy about this.'

'No. But it feels heavenly. In more ways than one.'

Phoebe giggled to herself and the others looked at her a bit confused.

"As always, the young master makes something enjoyable for everyone."

"Well I serve to please. Besides it's not like I don't get to enjoy these things as well. It's a nice change of pace from fighting Dragon Kings and Gods. A relaxing dip in a hot spring is always nice."

"Haha. Yes. I can see what you mean Rudy. Even the little ones can have fun."

Mom laughed as Norn splashed around in the water. Kuroi was keeping Aisha entertained by hovering balls of void above her like a crib mobile.

We all enjoyed our time soaking in the spring and just talking amongst ourselves for a while. Eventually dad got a little too handsy and mom took him to the house after giving me Norn. Thankfully they remembered what I told them about exiting the springs so they were able to get all the benefits. Dad wasn't exactly happy to wait for thirty minutes, but he put up with it.

Norn giggled as I made stars dance around her head. After Aisha fell asleep Lilia and Kuroi were the next to go. Pin went next after staying a little longer. Aurora and Cyrus got out once they got a little drowsy, so now it was just me, the girls, and little Norn.

"Aaaaw~! Isn't she so cute when she sleeps?"

Phoebe was leaning on my shoulder looking at Norn. Now that it was just us she felt no reason to keep her body hidden under the body.

"Look at how she's hugging Rudy. It's adorable!"

Sylphie also jumped into the fray. Even Sara would come in with a comment every now and again.

"He's so good with kids. He'll make a great dad."

Sylphie and Sara exchanged some quick glances after hearing Phoebe's comment. The two then quickly blushed and lowered back into the water.

"What? I'm not wrong."

"Heeheehee. Rudy as a dad."

Contrary to Phoebe's belief the two girls actually agreed with her more then she realized. The two girls quickly became caught up in their own fantasies about them as an adult with Rudeus's children.

Eventually we had to leave. Though I couldn't help but notice two small click sounds when I got up. I looked around, but all I saw was a smiling Phoebe and that Sara and Sylphie were blushing much harder than before. Probably just the heat getting to them. I got out and dried Norn off. She pouted a bit when she woke up, but after she opened her eyes and saw the stars around me she started giggling.

I rocked her back to sleep and laid her in her crib. I went back to my room and found that my bed was larger and Sylphie, Sara, and Phoebe all sitting in pajamas in a triangle. They hadn't seemed to notice me as they were caught up in their own conversation. I silently floated above them. Is it still considered eavesdropping if they're in my room and they knew I'd be in here soon?

"Wasn't he just so cute holding Norn though?"

"I don't know. I'd say he was more handsome than cute."

"Can't Rudy be both? He's nice to look at."

Ah. So I'm the topic of discussion? Honestly I'm not that shocked. I've caught small bits of their conversations before. Nearly all of them revolved around me. I'd gotten three stalkers and quite frankly I've got nothing against it.

Though... I wonder how long this conversation is gonna carry on before they notice me. I mean I know the stars and nebula clouds give a purple backdrop and I'm wearing purple, but I'm also floating directly above you girls. Come on! I trained you better than this.

"Oh I can't wait for when we're older! I wish I could marry Rudy right now."

"You just have to wait Sylphie. You know, maybe we should make you wait based on how many kisses you took from Thorn."

"H-huh?! No!"

"Huh? What's that about?"

"It was before you got here. There was one day where it was just Sylphie and Thorn up on our old tree, and Thorn ended up falling asleep."

"That's enough! She doesn't need to know more!"

Sylphie waved her arms in front of Phoebe as she blushed wildly. Phoebe pulled her into a hug, and all Sylphie could you was struggle in her abnormally strong arms.

"Well Thorn fell asleep laying his head on Sylphie's shoulder. Our little cinnamon roll here ended up stealing seven kisses from him."

"Seven?!... You didn't go for more?"

"Huh. Not the reaction I expected. But yeah, she tried going for eight but his head fell into her lap. She gave him a lap pillow until he woke up."

"A lap pillow?"

"Yeah. When you sit and lay a person's head on your legs so that they use you lap like a pillow. Usually you put the head on top of your thighs."

Sara started blushing again as she looked down.

"Sylphie kissed him and gave him a lap pillow, but you seem so much closer to him. What have you done with him?"

I floated down and sat in between them all.

"We'll tell you when you're older."

""Wah!""

Both Sylphie and Sara yelped at my sudden appearance.

"I was wondering when you'd come down. You've been up there for a while."

Sara and Sylphie kept trying to speak, but they kept fumbling over their words.

Once the others got over their initial embarrassment we stayed up for a while to play some games. There was rock-paper-scissors magic edition, tic-tac-toe, ...monopoly... we also made a rule to never play monopoly ever again. It brings out the worst in people let me tell you. Though I got a bunch of hugs and cuddles from Sylphie as an apology, so I guess it wasn't all bad.

Eventually we were all too tired to stay up longer, and by that I mean Sylphie and Sara got too tired. As long as Phoebe and I had enough mana we wouldn't get tired, and my room was very mana dense. I was fixing to make a bed for myself, but Phoebe grabbed me and pulled me on top of her as she held me like a large stuffed animal on her chest. Then Sara and Sylphie grabbed my arms and quickly fell asleep with their heads on Phoebe's shoulders.

'Now if only there was someone to lay on top of you. Then you'd be fully surrounded by ladies.'

'Aren't you the one who told me not to go crazy with my wives?'

'And I still think you should. It's just that this is nice. You know?'

'Yeah.'

'I'm not saying we should tonight for obvious reasons, but at some point in the very near future you owe me a private hot spring trip.'

'Your wish is my command.'

I rested my head under Phoebe's chin and fell asleep.

The next morning after breakfast I brought Sylphie and Sara home. They had some chores to do, and today would be one of my sword training days anyway. Practice was getting better and better.

My control over my Touki was limited, but I was started to beat Dad in these mock battles. However, every time I did beat him he'd hold back less on the next one. Once I got a better grip on my Touki and some more experience I'm positive I can beat him.

After one of our mock battles where I lost since my Touki broke my sword I sat down to start making a new one with life magic.

"Hey Rudy. Can I talk to you about something?"

"Hm? Sure go ahead."

"Well you see... it's about the girls. Sara and Sylphie to be specific."

"Is something wrong?"

"Yes actually. They're too reliant on you. If they don't learn to think for themselves now then they won't be able to think for themselves later. It wasn't too uncommon back in Ars. I saw it a lot when I was growing up. Girls who were raised with boys and the kids were signed to be married the day they were born. The girl wasn't allowed to do anything unless the boy was there. Because of that whenever the boy wasn't there the girl wouldn't do anything. She'd eat because that was the only thing she was allowed to do on her own. When she didn't eat she'd just sit there and wait for the boy to come back. She'd sit like a doll on a shelf waiting to be played with. What the girl didn't know was that the boy was out there playing with other dolls. Leaving her behind simply because someone else caught his interest."

"I don't plan on leaving anyone behind. An-"

"That's all you got from that? Rudy-"

"Let me finish. As I was saying, Sylphie and Sara aren't the same as the girl from your example. Have you given a look at some of the books I've given them?"

"No. I haven't."

"Inside those books are knowledge. Knowledge that if it were leaked Nobles would pay every coin they have just to get a single pages worth. Ranged weapons able to kill someone in one shot with the pull of a trigger from a mile away, or even weapons of mass destruction able to kill an entire cities worth of people with a push of a button and then leave the land uninhabitable for years to come. Simple equations that could allow you to see the world in an entirely different perspective. And on the days that I'm here training with you, Phoebe is bringing the girls around the town and giving them problems to solve using these things. It's not the most efficient way to do things, but it teaches how to think for themselves. Once I'm done writing them out I plan on giving them problems that we haven't taught them about yet. All they'll have is the problem and the book, and it's up to them to figure out how to solve the problem. We'll give them new problems every 2-3 weeks."

"You... really thought this through huh?"

"You aren't the only one who saw living puppets dad. I won't let them be reduced to that."

"Good. That's good."

Sword practice was a bit awkward for a bit, but we talked through it as we sparred. Apparently this was something Laws and Sara's father both approached dad about. He told them he'd talk to me, and once he did he'd get back to them.

We cut sword practice off as dad had to go on patrol. I went inside and Lilia gave me some lunch. I ate with Cyrus and then we went outside to do some magic practice. Or so he thought at least.

"Aw shoot. I just remembered I had something to do in the village today. Think you can keep me company while I do it?"

"Huh?!"

Cyrus froze up. Despite him leaving the house on multiple occasions he still hasn't walked through the actual village. He'd either go over it with Tora, or he just goes around it. He walked through one with Yoko, but Yoko ran on the roofs of houses so it doesn't count.

"It'll be fine. Trust me."

Cyrus nervously walked with me towards the village. As we walked through he stayed glued to my hip. I saw some of the kids who used to bully Sylphie as we went on our stroll, but they ran away before I could say hi.

"Why are those kids running away?"

"Those are the kids who used to bully Sylphie. They've been terrified of me ever since I stuck them on the carousel from hell."

"The what?"

"I used space magic to spin them around in a circle just fast enough that their skin didn't tear off of their bodies."

"... You can be terrifying when you want big bro."

"I'm the husband-to-be of the Goddess of Fear. If I couldn't be scary then I'd be terrible at my role."

"Uh huh."

Cyrus got a bit closer as the villagers glanced at us as we had our conversation. I idly twirled my staff around my fingers as we made are way through. As we walked people started calling out to me. They'd simply greet me, thank me for my help in the clinic, thank me for the help with the fields, thank me for helping with the forest, and so on and so forth. The list goes on. Eventually Cyrus realized that not only were these people looking at us with joy and gratitude, but they weren't even looking at him. They were looking at me.

After he realized that he got more confident with his steps. He was still cautious, but he wasn't holding onto me for dear life anymore.

"So what did you need to do in the village anyway?"

"Huh. It's the darndest thing. I can't seem to remember. Oh well!"

"Huh?!"

"Hahaha!"

I ruffled Cyrus's hair as the gears in his head started turning.

"You brought me out to help me get over my fear, didn't you?"

"Bullseye. Nice to see you out and about without that worried look on your face."

Cyrus was about to speak up, but he flinched when there was a loud crack sound and my hand moved beside his face.

"B-big brother?!"

I brought my hand back and looked at the multiple large chunks of wood stabbing through my hand.

"I'm fine. It's just a splinter."

"J-just a splinter?! That's stabbing all the way through your hand!"

"O-oh my gods! I'm so sorry!"

I started pulling the chunks of wood out of my hand as a man came jogging towards us. He was dressed fairly well. Not well enough to be a noble, but well enough to not be a low-born. Probably a merchant of some kind. Behind him there was a cart with a woman and child inspecting the now broken wheel.

"I'm fine. You're just lucky my brother is unharmed. What happened?"

"We don't know. The wheel just suddenly snapped and exploded. I've never seen something like that happen before."

"Well in any case no one was harmed."

"B-but sir! Your hand!"

"What about it?"

I help up my perfectly fine hands.

"What? But I could've sworn..."

"It's water under the bridge. Would you like some help with the wheel?"

"Oh um. It would be greatly appreciated sir."

I walked over to the carriage. The woman and child stepped to the side of the merchant as I approached. To state their condition in one word... shit. Their clothes could barely cover their bodies and they reeked of body odor. The child shook as she held onto her mother's rags. Her hair was a mess and she was covered head to toe in dirt and grime.

"So sir. What might your business in Buena be?"

I knelt down, and much to the shock of the merchant, the woman, and girl, lifted the carriage with one hand.

"I-I'm planning on trading some merchandise for supplies. Then I'll be moving on to Ranoa."

"I see." I started using life magic to very slowly grow a new wooden wheel. "And who might these two be?"

"Oh those things? They are my slaves. Well the woman is. The child is mine and the woman's. The only reason I haven't gotten rid of it is because the bitch won't stop screaming any time I bring it up. Having another mouth to feed is annoying, but at least it's nice and quiet."

Cyrus flinched at the topic of slaves. He hadn't seemed to realize that slavery would likely be something that existed in this world.

"Uh huh. Ma'am do you or your child own anything in this cart?"

The woman meekly shook her head.

"Great."

The cart burst into flames, and roots shot up and grabbed the merchant.

"Here's what we're gonna do. First of all, these two are now free people. Second, they are under my protection. And Third, if you have any objection to this then I, Rudeus Greyrat the Star God, will kill you. I'm not a big fan of slavery see, and once I'm older I'll be abolishing the entire market."

"B-but their mine?! Besides how could a child-"

"Yoko."

A giant fox head shot up and swallowed the man whole. It then sunk back into the ground as if it were never there. I then used space magic to completely destroy the cart. I looked towards the woman and her daughter.

"Come with me. We can talk to my father about work you can do around the village for money, and I can make you a house to call your own."

"Th-thank you."

The woman spoke as if her throat were as dry as a desert. I used earth magic to make a cup and then filled it with water magic. I gave it to her and she drank it slowly. I was about to do the same for the daughter, but Cyrus had already handed her a cup.

"Thank you sir."

I led our little group and met back up with Paul at the gate of the house.

"Yo. Got time to talk business?"

"Business? Is this about the lady?"

"Yep. She needs a job."

"Uh huh. Well I'd be more than happy to think of something for her to do, but I'm not sure that many spots in the village would want to hire her while she looks like... that."

"I've got that covered. Can you talk to her for a bit while I make her a house?"

"Sure sure. Seriously at this point you might as well make a city with how many houses you hand out."

Paul led the woman and child inside. Cyrus went in with them.

I made a simple two bedroom two bathroom single story house with a kitchen connected to the living room. It was my simplest work yet, and it took me two hours of work to make it.

I went back inside and saw that the woman and her daughter had both gotten baths. Apparently Lilia didn't want them to dirty the furniture so she had bathed them.

As soon as I walked in the woman stood up and bowed to me.

"Any progress?"

"Well uh... about that."

"How may I serve you master?"

"Huh?"

So yeah. The only job the woman, Charlotte, would accept was to be my servant. She claimed that her life was mine to do with as I pleased, since I was the one to save it. I tried convincing her that it would be better to get a different job, but she was very adamant about serving me. I was at least able to convince her to be my maid instead of my slave.

As for her daughter, she was currently listening to my brother as he told her stories about me. More accurately it was the different types of magic I could cast and what I could do with them. It sounded like he was geeking out over his favorite comic book character.

"It is nice to see her like this. She is usually so empty. It makes me smile."

True to her word Charlotte was smiling as the girl listened to Cyrus with sparkles in her eyes. She'd cast a glance over to me every now and again.

"So what's her name?"

"Oh... my old master never allowed me to give her a name."

"I see. Well now that you're free you can do whatever you'd like."

"I suppose so. Do you think Eurydice might be a good name master? It was my mother's name."

"You don't need to ask me what you want to name your child, but if my opinion matters that much to you then you'll be happy to know that I think it's a good name."

"Splendid. Then her name shall now be Eurydice."

I continued to talk to Charlotte for the rest of the afternoon. Most of it was her thanking me and giving me her eternal loyalty. She was about 17 years old. Now that I looked more I could see it. Her face looked much younger now that the grime had been cleaned off. However, I was filled with rage at the merchant when I learned that Eurydice was 5 and about to turn 6.

Thankfully Yoko informed me that the merchant wasn't dead just yet. I had some magic experiments I'd been dying to try out, and thankfully I just got a new volunteer.

Charlotte and Eurydice stayed over for dinner and left after Charlotte helped Lilia clean. I'd been able to convince Charlotte to wait a few weeks until she actually started working for me, so that way she could spend some quality time with her daughter as free people.

Mom wasn't exactly thrilled about me having my own personal maid under my employment at 6 years old at first, but she showered me in praise after hearing about Charlotte and Eurydice's conditions.

Now that I think about it, I do have work Charlotte can do. Since Eris will be staying in Buena then someone needs to clean the Boreas house. I was gonna do it myself with magic, but if Charlotte is gonna devote her life to serving me, then I'm not gonna just make her stand around like a trophy. I'll be sure to go do some work before hand though. Can't just throw her into a dusty house. I'd feel terrible.

Now onto those experiments...

Descriptions for Charlotte and Eurydice:

Charlotte is a 17 year old girl who is about 5'5. She has freckles across her nose and has brown hair that goes down to her shoulders, and she also has green eyes.

Eurydice is a 5 year old girl with blonde hair. Her hair isn't as long as her mother's and barely goes past her ears. She has brown eyes and has freckles under her eyes.

Chapter 16 is here and we have some stuff happening. Though I guess stuff is always happening. Anyway, this is another short chapter. My apologies. School will be over soon, so I'm hoping to be back to 10k words a chapter once summer break starts. I'll see you guys next chapter, along with the entrance of a red headed fireball!

Also for those wondering why Paul talked to Rudeus about the girls instead of trying to send him off with a surprise attack like in canon. An explanation shall be provided next chapter.