Milly's Wish

Two weeks had passed since I woke up. Now, Mark had finally regained consciousness after his long slumber. His recovery had taken much longer than mine, and he was still feeling the aftereffects of using demonic power.

When the maids informed me that Mark was awake, I decided to pay him a visit. I entered the room where he was being treated.

"Well, well, look who's finally up! A little princess waking from her beauty sleep?" I teased him with a smirk.

"Ugh… shut up!" Mark groaned, clearly annoyed.

"Huh, is this how you thank your big brother for saving your life?" I sighed dramatically, feigning disinterest.

"Hiikh… um… uh… t-thank you…" Mark mumbled under his breath.

"What was that? I didn't quite catch that," I said, leaning closer.

"I SAID THANK YOU!!" Mark shouted, his frustration boiling over.

"Hahaha! That's more like it! If you don't say it properly, I'll have to beat some gratitude into you again," I replied, chuckling as I raised a fist playfully.

"Ugh, enough already! I've had more than enough of your punches and sword strikes…" Mark grumbled, visibly shaken. He looked like a scolded puppy, completely submissive to his master.

As I enjoyed teasing him, the door suddenly opened, and the Patriarch entered the room. His presence, as always, was overwhelming, exuding an aura of authority and intimidation. This time, his focus was entirely on Mark.

"Hiikh! P-Please forgive me, Patriarch! I didn't mean to turn into… that…" Mark stammered, trembling as he pleaded with teary eyes.

"Hmph. Fine. But you'd better explain—*in detail*—where you got that demonic elixir crystal!" the Patriarch demanded, his tone sharp and uncompromising.

Mark gulped and began explaining. He had come across the crystal during a trip to the city center, where he was supposed to purchase elixirs. A merchant had approached him, offering a so-called "special elixir" at an incredible price. The merchant claimed it was far more potent than a regular elixir.

Tempted by the offer, Mark had bought it. However, he hadn't dared to use it until our fight. Instead, he had kept it hidden in his armor. Unfortunately, the crystal had a sinister property—it could activate on its own, transforming him into a demon during our battle.

"As I suspected," the Patriarch said, his expression dark and serious. "The Doomspire demons are extending their influence into Blackmore territory and inching closer to the capital."

Turning to me, he continued, "Naoki, ensure the success of your mission. If you can uncover concrete evidence of demonic activity in the Shadow Wolf's den, we'll have grounds to petition the kingdom to act against them."

"Yes, Patriarch. I've already prepared my forces and strategy," I replied with conviction.

"Good. And as for YOU, MARK!" the Patriarch roared, his stern gaze drilling into Mark. "This is the consequence of seeking power recklessly! Foolishness like yours endangers not only yourself but the entire family!"

"I mean, it's true, but…" I interjected, trying to soften the blow. "You're already strong, Mark. Even without that thing, you're one of our best."

Mark lowered his head, too ashamed to respond.

"Take this as a hard lesson, Mark," the Patriarch continued, his voice stern but measured. "You're lucky to be alive after what happened."

"Y-Yes, Patriarch. I'll accept any punishment you see fit," Mark said humbly, bowing his head.

"Good. Now focus on recovering. Because once you're healed, you'll be working twice as hard!" the Patriarch declared firmly.

"Y-Yes, Patriarch!" Mark replied, his voice filled with resolve.

With that, the Patriarch exited the room, leaving the atmosphere heavy. As I turned toward the door, I noticed Milly peeking in from the hallway. 

...

...

I left Mark's room, quietly closing the door behind me. The hallway was dimly lit, its silence broken only by my footsteps. As I looked ahead, I spotted Milly sitting on the floor, right in front of Mark's door. Her head was hung low, her shoulders trembling slightly. It didn't take long for me to realize—she had been listening to everything.

"Big Brother Naoki…" she murmured, looking up at me with tear-filled eyes. "Are you really going to take on such a dangerous quest from the Patriarch?" Her voice wavered, every word heavy with worry.

"Yes, that's right," I replied softly, kneeling down to meet her gaze. "This is a special quest. It's meant for the heir of the Blackmore family. Completing it is the final step to being officially recognized as the next hero of the family."

"That's…" Milly hesitated, her voice trembling. "I—I don't agree!" she cried out suddenly, her small fists clenching in frustration. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "You'll come back half-dead again! How many times has this already happened…?"

Her words hit me harder than I'd expected. She continued, her voice breaking under the weight of her emotions. "I don't want to lose another family member. Yesterday, you and Mark almost died! I can't stand it anymore!" She buried her face in her hands, shaking as she tried to hold back her tears.

"Now, now, don't cry, Milly," I said, gently placing a hand on her head. I ruffled her hair lightly, hoping to calm her down. 

"Thank you for worrying about me," I added, offering her a small smile. "You're such a good girl. But this is my duty as the heir to the Blackmore family and the one destined to become its hero. I can't ignore it, no matter how dangerous it is."

"H-Hmph…" Milly stammered, her cheeks flushing red. "It's not like I'm worried or anything!" She glanced away, trying to hide her embarrassment. "I'm just… sad, that's all. But promise me one thing!"

"Anything," I replied with a soft chuckle.

"You have to treat me to something delicious when you get back! And not like last time! Your treat last week was so lame!" Her demand was forceful, but her tsundere nature shone through.

"Alright," I said, laughing as I nodded. "I promise I'll come back safe and sound."

With that, I ruffled her hair one last time. She sniffled but managed a small smile as she tried to compose herself. 

---

The next day came as a sobering reminder: only one weeks remained before the Blackmore quest would begin. Time was running out, and every detail of preparation mattered. 

I had already identified a few members of the Blackmore forces as potential candidates for the mission. With Freya and Lyra confirmed on my team, I still needed seven more to complete the roster. 

So far, I'd selected four elite warriors: Alan, Thorn, Theo, and Darius. Each of them was Rank B—skilled, reliable, and battle-hardened. 

- Alan, the spearman, was a swift and precise attacker. His mastery of spear techniques made him an ideal frontline DPS (damage per second) specialist. 

- Thorn, the tank, carried a massive shield and axe, boasting unmatched durability. He would be the team's wall, absorbing damage and holding the line. 

- Theo, the archer, was a master of precision and reconnaissance. His sharp aim and scouting expertise made him perfect for mid-range attacks and intelligence gathering. 

- Darius, the dual-wielding swordsman, excelled in speed and agility. His powerful, rapid strikes made him a dependable sub-DPS for any situation. 

Despite assembling this solid core, I still needed to find three more—another attacker, a mage, and a secondary tank. 

Sorting through the Blackmore forces for candidates was proving to be a daunting task. Each choice had to be perfect; there was no room for error. The pressure was mounting, but I had to press on.

Feeling overwhelmed, I went to the garden to clear my head. As I sat there, I began to daydream. Could I really pull this off? Would the demons interfere again? I clenched my fists, recalling how they always turned every situation into chaos. 

Lost in thought, I didn't notice three figures approaching me. 

"BOO!" 

"Ahhh!!" I jumped, startled, and found myself face-to-face with Rosan, Elan, and Vivin. 

"Hehe, why is Naoki-sama daydreaming in broad daylight?" Vivin teased with a mischievous grin. 

"Is something troubling you, Naoki-sama?" Rosan asked, her expression filled with concern. 

"Is there anything we can help with, Naoki-sama?" Elan chimed in earnestly. 

"Ah, it's nothing," I muttered, shaking my head. "I was just thinking about the team composition for the Blackmore quest. I still need three more members." 

"Oh, is that so? Well then, you're lucky, Naoki-sama," Rosan said with a bright smile. 

"L-Lucky? What do you mean?" I asked, puzzled. 

"The three of us—Rosan, Elan, and I—will join your mission!" Vivin declared confidently. 

"W-What?! Are you crazy?! You're my maids! How can you fight?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing. 

The three of them burst into laughter at my reaction. 

"Naoki-sama," Rosan said, her tone firm, "Maybe you're forget about it, but we are not just ordinary maids. We are Battle Maids." 

"Yeah, that's true! I know you had amnesia but just belief it, we can fight!" Vivin added, her eyes gleaming with determination. 

"And it is our sworn duty to protect you." Elan finished with a resolute nod. 

"W-What the heck?!" I shouted in disbelief. 

...

...

---Continued to the next chapter---