4 The Loving Mother’s Perspective

In the lands of Sphera, that considered to be the purest form of Mana imparted by the Gods was once used by Druids and Fiends alike.

However, after the 'Divine Sword Disappearance Incident', the Mana residing in the bodies of both Druids and Fiends became more scarce. It didn't really matter much to Fiends due to their strong physiques, but for Druids who had mostly relied on their intricate Magic, it became an extremely fatal weakness.

The Druids at the time of the incident were stronger than the Fiends, so they came up with a reason to resolve their conflict with the Fiend Race in order to buy time for them to heal from their loss, which was by creating a magical contract that forbid both races from starting any full-scale wars. The Fiends accepted the contract unwillingly, but the condition that they put forth before signing the contract was that those of the Druid Race were forbidden from ever entering their Holy Lands, which was gladly accepted by the many Kings who ruled that era.

Now after hundreds of years, society has become less reliant on Magic and more reliant on Arts. A new form of Mana Manipulation was crafted by a genius Heroic King of the new 'Human' Race that were starting to replace the ancient Druids of the past.

The intelligent Heroic King of the past created a technique known as Aura Manifestation to make up for his Sun Mana's lack of purity and one day publicised the godly technique for all to learn.

The Aura Manifestation technique became the stable foundation that the current human society was built upon, and this is all due to his overwhemingly generous heart!

In the Civilised Lands of Sphera, I myself am merely a servant of Duke Swordwick's noble household. A thirty-year-old maid who was born with a childish-looking face. My last name was once known as Greenlock until I married my husband named Fredrick Rainglow, the Head Butler of the Swordwick Household and former companion in my days as a mercenary.

Hah... Just remembering those days of great adventures really makes me nostalgic. I can even imagine myself at the time with a rapier in one one hand and an emerald Magic Circle in the other. The speedy style of combat that was unique to Wind Swordsman is still ingrained deeply into my muscle memory~

As an adventuring Mercenary with a Silver Rank Adventuring License, my days as a freelancer was a lot better than most after I left my family to pursue my dreams. The cage of responsibility they trapped me in was something I ripped apart myself so I could experience the wider world. There were times I was put in danger while wandering the world as a Mercenary, but my positivity never waned considering how every action I made from that point on were all born from my own decisions!

I had never felt there was anything missing in my life until I found my soulmate, Fredrick. We hated each other at first due to a Hunting Request that went terribly wrong. The amount of injuries we received because of our terrible cooperation was enough to almost take out lives. However, it was only after the incident did I realise that it truly was my own arrogance that got in the way of our teamwork.

I had once thought myself to be untouchable in combat, but reality was really cruel as the opponents we faced had a deep understanding on how to counter those who used Wind Arts to boost their speeds. Oh just remembering how my handsome knight in shining armour saved me from death really makes me fall for him all over again~!

We experienced so much together after becoming life partners, to the point we were one day willing to settle down and become a 'normal' family. Well, I might say that it like we were the ones who made the choice to stop adventuring, but the truth is that the Duke of the Noble Household we now serve is the ACTUAL reason we settled down.

If it weren't for him, we would have all be long dead rather than getting off lightly with internal injuries. Us still living is all thanks to his grace.

Not that I'm complaining though. I may have experienced many joys in my time as an adventuring Mercenary for the Guild, but nothing in the past has ever made me as happy as today: The day I gave birth to my precious son~

It was a painful process but everything was well worth it, because now I can see my adorable child's lovely smile~ How cute~!

My heart was filled with surprise when I first saw my tiny, little baby son open his eyes and found that he wasn't fidgeting or crying straight after waking from his sleep. He looked at me in wonder in his eyes as he opened his mouth to make cute noises and sounds. A smile was on his face as he played with my hair.

I found his every action to be extremely adorable! However, after he fell back asleep, I found that there were a lot of strange things about his behaviour. It's strange... Other maids said infants were more mischievous.

I don't know if I was imagining it or not but I remember that deep in his eyes was a unfamiliar kind of calmness, as if he was watching my each and every movement with a hawk-like focus. The kind of eyes that would belong to a grown-up rather than a just recently born infant child.

He didn't pull my hair while he was playing with it, nor did he try to move his entire body to crawl out of my grasp. It's strange how he just quietly laid in my arms like an obedient child while speaking incoherent gibberish.

Maybe I'm just thinking too deep into this, it isn't like all children are full of mischievous straight after birth. He might be just tired. I held hin in my arms and softly sung him a lullaby from my youth. One that slowly but surely let him peacefully fall asleep.

I looked at his sleeping face and gently kissed his forehead once more before putting him in his own little bed. I felt a warm and fluffy feeling within the deepest parts of my heart whenever I thought of the bright future of my cutest child in the world!

"Martha, what will you name your child?" A maid who I was most familiar with asked in curiosity. I turned back and saw a tanned and rough-skinned beauty waiting at the door. Her eyes filled with great expectations for my answer.

"We've decided beforehand that the name of our child would be named Simon if it was a boy and Merilin if it was a girl." I replied joyfully with a blushing face. I couldn't look away from my son's sleeping face for too long after all. I feel so emotional...

This is the happiest day in my life!

"My child's name will be Simon Rainglow from this day forth. It's nice name right, Anna~?" I continued while asking the slightly muscular maid in front of me. Whenever I looked at her well-proportioned figure I couldn't help but let out a sigh in envy. Unlike my somewhat skinny figure, Anna's was strong and robust but that still didn't cause her to lose any of her natural womanly charms.

"It's a nice name." Anna praised wholeheartedly with a sincere smile.

I couldn't help but feel emotional again after seeing her full of joy. We have been part of the same Noble Household for a long time but it was only in recent years that Anna had warmed up to me.

I remember how detached her personality was when we first met and how she slowly opened up to me in these peaceful days of working together. The cold yet hardworking maid I could remember from back then and the Anna of now standing before me seemed like two entirely different people if one only judged entirely by her attitude alone.

I never knew Anna could be so fond of children... I let her hold Simon for a moment before finding that she seemed like someone who wanted to spoil him but didn't know how one does so... I was secretly amused by her antics. It was funny and adorable to see how she was trying to play games with Simon after he woke up~

Time passed slowly as I affectionately raised dearest son with all the love and affection I could give. Fredrick also took time off from work to be there for Simon in these precious years of his childhood. When Simon reached the age of three, he was blessed with a beautiful little sister.

I was worried inwardly that he would be jealous due to me not giving him as attention I did when he was younger. However, to my and Fredrick's surprise, he never once uttered a single word of complaint. He even helped the two of us take care of the young Merilin by bringing her over to us whenever she started to cry.

"I want to treasure my sister and spoil her to my hearts content!" Was what my son said at the age of four. His voice was so high and cute as he said something so heart moving. I couldn't help but give him a big hug for his keen perception and understanding~

Now that I think about it, Merilin was a lot more 'normal' as an infant amd while growing up since she cried like any other child her age would whenever she was upset.

Huh...? What am I saying...? Calling my own child abnormal... There must be other reasons I haven't seen him cry ever since he was born. Maybe that was just the natural personality he formed over time. I mean it's not like all children are the same while they're maturing over time. Right...?

At first I thought he wasn't as smart as normal children his age because even the Duke's daughter was able to speak fluidly at the age of three. I was worried that my son wouldn't be able to keep up with the children of his age but it seems that those worried feelings were for naught. He was able to quickly surpass those his age in terms of formal etiquette and mathematical studies. By the time he finished learning how to speak, he became as fluent as others his age without needing much support.

My child is so adorable! Yet... why do I always find his actions to a little more mature than his actual age? He never even once argued when I asked him to help with chores and keenly understood who were the people he couldn't be willful towards and who he couldn't... Even the Young Miss wasn't as mature as my dearest son~

He never cried when he hurt himself after accidentally falling and I'm sure I would have thought he was a young-looking old man if I hadn't been the one to give birth him. Just look at that mature expression he always makes sure to have on! But is he as mature as he seems, or is it all just an act?

"Merilin, you have to remember that you must walk if you cannot run. Don't make me worry needlessly. Oh, and at least try to be more independent by putting on your own clothes. I don't care if you can't do it right now but you must at least try practicing doing it by yourself for the future. You can't always have Mother helping you." Simon nagged many complaints like this to the only two-year-old Merilin every morning. I'd think he was serious if it wasn't for that mischievous light in his eyes as he played with her cheeks.

"Stop acting like an old man. It's creepy." I pretended to put on a face full of disgust and berated him while brushing his teeth. A luxury like brushing teeth could only be reserved for nobility like Barons and those well off people with high income like us.

I mean, as a Head Maid that keeps charge of the once mercenary servants, my pay is quite good. That's not even mentioning the pay from Fredrick's job as Head Butler.

"Mother, can't you be more gentle? You'll break my weak little heart~" Simon casually lied through his teeth after I finished brushing them.

This habit of his must be from his father! ...Lying without even blinking...!

"You're almost five years old. It's almost a good time to start training swordsmanship with your father. So stop nagging Merilin and acting like an old man." I reprimanded strictly-

This is rare! It's the first time I found a reason to reprimand Simon twice!

It must be my lucky day today~

Though... I do hope my luck rubs off on Simon since the hardship he's going to experience from now on will be more torturous than others.

Why is it I think that way? Well, it has to do with my son's poor innate magical talents despite being both my own and Fredrick's son. In this magical world where Beasts and Humans had to form a cooperative alliance to resist the invasion of the Blood Nation, weakness is itself a sin!

Is it my fault that my son was born with a poor innate aptitude for Magic...? I don't really know the answer to that question myself... All I know is that the enemies I and Fredrick made in our time might one day catch up to us. If they do, then we need Simon to be strong enough to protect himself when that time comes. After all, the first lesson everyone learns as members of the Mercenary Guild is that only the most competent are eligible to control their own fate!

If that is true then there's no need to hold back on training Simon to become someone who could one day independently stand on his own feet...