“Dear Ouga Veret,
Congratulations on receiving the [Saint] title.
With a heart as clear as the sky and wisdom overflowing like a spring, you will, I’m sure, continue to act for the world’s peace.
Therefore — as a future hero — I would humbly request you to name my newly born daughter.
Could you spare just a fraction of your wisdom for my daughter’s sake?
Thank you.
I sincerely pray for your continued success.”
What a ridiculous letter.
To the sender — let me say it directly — name your own child!
A name from a complete stranger isn’t worth the name lovingly thought up by the parents — that lasts a lifetime.
Or rather, people really send letters like this……
Frustrating to entertain such, but ignoring letters sent at non-trivial cost also feels bad.
One after another, I read; by the last, I was face-down on the table.
The reasons were mostly guilt toward the children, and disgust at selfish adults assuming [Saint] does everything for me.
“Amazing, Ouga-kun. You already have so many fans.”
”…… A passing fad. And half were please support me for free asks.”
“True! I read with you and was a little annoyed too!”
Mashiro puffed her cheeks.
She, the commoner who carved her path via effort, doesn’t align with these senders.
“You did well, Ouga-kun. Good, good~”
Mashiro hugged me from behind and praised me.
The Mashiro-pai pressed to my back filled me with energy.
“It’s fine, Ouga. We understand your greatness.”
Karen also patted my head.
I’d prefer being hugged from front and sandwiched by the ample bust, but I held back.
“Then I will too…… Ouga-kun is wonderful. Daily, you work hard — territory studies, magic training — undeniably. ……Whisper~”
Reina knelt and whispered praises into my ear.
The last sigh nearly drew a sound from me — my secret.
Stop…… everyone is too motherly……?
“Then humbly…… I’ll sing a song praising your greatness, Lord Ouga.”
“I’ll pass.”
”…… Understood.”
Sorry, Alice. But it’s just too embarrassing.
Even reading the occasional praise-poem about me in our letter exchange embarrasses me.
I can feel the cheer in the writing, so I don’t mention it, but each read scrapes my dignity.
I still remember “Lord Ouga is a first-magnitude star in the vast night sky that is this world”……
Anyway, energized by their praise, I felt I could focus on the magic-theory studies I’m cramming while physical training is off the table——
“——Ugh……!”
In an instant, sharp pain in the right arm.
Crap…… I was off-guard and let out a voice.
In front of Alice, I’d hidden it, but the pain frequency has been increasing.
Alone, I can endure; mid-conversation, I couldn’t suppress.
"""Ouga (-kun) (-san)!?"""
“I’ll bring the doctor!”
The three rushed to me; Alice hurried to fetch the doctor.
”…… Don’t make a fuss. Just a slight sting.”
“That pained expression…… can’t be a slight sting.”
Mashiro and Karen nodded along.
…… Damn. So my expression slipped that much.
Caught up close, no use bluffing.
“I see…… Father will scold me — more poker-face training needed.”
“Ouga-kun……”
“Don’t push yourself. Tell us when it hurts, okay?”
“The kindness of not wanting to worry us is lovely. ……But sometimes I want you to lean on us, you know?”
“And Alice would surely agree.”
Their kindness sank into me.
…… My body in this world is cheat-tier, but the greatest cheat I was granted is the luck of meeting these four.
Without them, I wouldn’t have worked this hard.
I’d have joined the corrupt nobles Alice hates.
”…… Sorry. I wanted to look good in front of you all.”
“Geez…… no need to do that. I — I love you, Ouga——”
“——Lord Ouga! I’ve brought the doctor!”
“Quick, thank you, Alice-san! But — wait just a few more seconds!”
“I don’t quite understand, but Lord Ouga’s every second is the world’s most precious time! Priority!”
“True! Sorry!”
Alice carried the doctor in princess-style.
Pressed by her intensity, Mashiro apologized for something.
“Lord Ouga. Detailed symptoms since the last visit?”
The doctor maintained complete calm, doing his work.
As expected of Father’s chosen physician.
Not flustered at being princess-carried in……
”…………”
With Alice listening too, I could deflect…… but the three just told me not to.
It’s fine. The right arm isn’t only Alice’s responsibility.
She’ll keep my request properly.
”…… The pain frequency increases daily.”
”……!”
Alice bit her lip hard enough to split it, but, noticing my gaze, immediately stopped and tried to maintain her usual face.
A step forward, fortune or misfortune.
For now, deciding how to face this pain matters.
Father knows the symptom but I haven’t told him it’s worsening.
Will this world’s medicine truly cure it?
Painkillers I’ve tried; weak effect.
Afraid of what if it doesn’t heal, I’d been postponing.
If I can’t fully recover…… meaning I lose combat strength.
Then I can’t protect everyone. That alone, I refused.
That immature hesitation slowed my decisions.
Father will scold me — my own fault. I’ll accept it.
“Lord Ouga. Let me palpate again. Tell me of any pain or strangeness.”
“Yes, please.”
Many issues arise from [Saint] activities and new social ties, but first I have to deal with this arm.
I glared at my arm, still uncooperative.