Harem of Moms and Milkers

Loreley’s promotion was an opportunity for the Church to start a campaign in the northern forest of elves. Thus, the Skylander family held a celebration before sending off their adventurers.

As the star of the party, Loreley wore flowing drape-like clothes that portrayed her as an ancient goddess of war rather than a soldier. Yet, she wasn’t as defenseless as she looked, as her metal accessories enhanced the potency of her aura.

She bawled as she lifted Asdel from his armpits. “I wouldn’t have worked so hard if I had known that ranking up would separate us!”

The few children of the family ran around. They threw flower petals at each other without caring about the food buffet getting covered in petals.

Asdel comforted his adoptive mother while stroking her hair. “Just hop on Ruty and go home between battles. Or should I go visit you in the northern forests?”

“I didn’t raise you all these years for you to walk to your death!” She glanced at her maid. “Viola, make sure to keep an eye on Asdel at all times.”

“Got it. He won’t leave my sight for even a second,” the maid locked her arms around Asdel.

Severine’s mother walked in the crowd to distribute food with platters. She chimed in to please Loreley. “Cousin, rest assured and take care of Severine. A mother-in-law is a mother nonetheless. I will do my part so that Asdel doesn’t feel lonely.”

“Speaking of Severine, I haven’t seen her at all. Don’t tell me she ran away because she’s scared of war?” Loreley led an impromptu research party around the estate.

...

They found the missing teenager polishing equipment in a workshop.

Severine blushed as if she was caught red-handed. She was intimidated that so many people came looking for her at once as if she messed up something. “A-aunty? What’s the matter?”

“Girl, why are you sulking here? We’re supposed to have a celebration before looting the forest.” Loreley raised an eyebrow.

Anxious adventurers might check and recheck their equipment before an expedition, but Severine was polishing way more equipment than she needed.

Upon that realization, Loreley’s voice became grave. “Severine… Is your party bullying you?”

“No, it’s not what you think!” Severine’s voice was strained. “They treat me well. It’s just that I’m a burden in fights, so they work extra hard to protect me. I have to repay their favor one way or another. They just wanted to look extra good for tomorrow.”

Loreley made an unconvinced pout. “Asdel, doesn’t it annoy you how they treat your fiance? Do you think you can train her?”

Severine pleaded. “Aunty, my party takes good care of me. They even get into scuffles with other families to protect my honor.”

Asdel made a wry smile. “It’s the classic family bond ‘I can bully her, but no one else is allowed to’. Sure, I can make her stronger but can she quit the campaign so easily?”

“Let’s hire Severine as your personal guard since I’m leaving your side. Take as much money from my salary as you need to get stronger.” Loreley made her decision and no one could overturn her authority.

Severine and her mother looked at each other in confusion, not knowing why Loreley trusted Asdel so much. ’Why should Severine train under a brat who’s not even an adventurer?’

After returning to the buffet, Loreley gave an earful to Severine’s party member. “Severine is my son’s fiance, how dare you treat her like that? Making her polish your stuff the day of the celebration? I’m afraid of how badly you treat your subordinates when no one is watching!”

One of Loreley’s cousins argued back. “Isn’t this the job of a squire? She’s not helpful in battle, so she’s in charge of the rest.”

“Good! If she’s so weak, I’ll give you the opportunity to replace her. Go hire another adventurer and join the fortress later on your own.” Loreley threw a handful of soul gems to her cousin.

“Only this much? Are you kidding me?” A vein popped on her cousin’s face, unsatisfied by the meager compensation money.

“What? If Severine was so weak to begin with, you obviously don’t need an expensive mercenary to fill your party.” Loreley made an even more intimidating grimace.

The other party could only comply with the C-rank griffin rider.

...

The estate quieted down after everyone cleaned up. The adventurers needed a good rest before marching North. That’s why Severine could sulk late at night on her own, as she had no plans anymore.

Sitting next to the farm fields, she gazed at the starry night sky with a forlorn expression.

Asdel joined her. “Your parents are looking for you… What? Don’t tell me you wanted to join the campaign?”

“And what’s wrong with that? It was an opportunity to be led by aunty, to become stronger and wealthier.” Severine sighed with a pained look. “I’ll never grow from F-rank at this rate. Do you know how my parents are treated because they are weak?”

’I see! She wanted to get carried and power-leveled by Loreley rather than being sheltered and given handouts.’ Asdel struck his palm in realization.

Tears streamed along her cheeks, shocking Asdel. “I didn’t want to end up like my parents, but it looks like I’m doomed to be treated as a useless accessory.”

He shook his head. “Not everyone can be the star of the show like Loreley. Your parents have humble jobs, but they are as essential as any. Don’t seek acknowledgement from the people who demean you and your parents, they’re just dumb rabbles. Instead, you should look for people who evaluate you well.”

Severine looked as if she saw a demented brat. “Of all people, you, an orphan who survived because you pleased someone strong, dare to say that crap? What would happen if Loreley found a husband during the campaign and kicked you out? Are you just going to die on the streets while looking for someone to appraise you positively?”

’Shit, she’s just my fiance, and I’m already losing to her.’

Asdel coughed. “With that said, I can make you as strong as Loreley. Just trust me-”

Severine walked away while leaving Asdel’s words hanging.

He swallowed his curses and clenched his fist. ’Calm down, you’re the older one.’

...

The next day, the Skylander’s small estate was occupied with supply carts, ready to accompany the warriors and come back with loot and riches.

Loreley reluctantly bid her farewell as Ruty carried her away.

Asdel watched bitterly. ’I lost a waifu, but I gained huge funds. This time, I’ll have to train a waifu from the ground up.’ He glanced at his fiance with whom he still had an awkward relationship for a year without progress.

...

The estate emptied as the family members returned to their usual business. Naturally, Asdel wanted to visit the church school.

Viola wanted to accompany him everywhere, but reluctantly let him go with Severine.

On their way, Severine’s former party stopped them to stir some trouble.

Asdel covered Severine with his arm. “What are you guys up to?”

The uncle in his early twenties chuckled. “Relax, it’s very simple, really. We have trouble finding a replacement for Severine, so we are here to claim more compensation money.”

Asdel exclaimed in disbelief. “In other words, you’re here to mug me? Why do you think I have money on me?”

The uncle walked closer with a fierce smile. “There’s a little misunderstanding here. We’re not mugging you. We’re going to teach you a little lesson and you’ll give us your money by your own account.”

Severine threw herself on her knees. “I’m sorry! Asdel has nothing to do with us. I’ll go with you to the northern campaign. I tried to explain things to Loreley, but she didn’t listen.”

The uncle shrugged. “I wanted to replace you anyway. But you see, we don’t want to make the same mistake and recruit just about anyone. So, you’ll have to contribute a little more to our cause. Besides, we really have to teach him to know his place.”

Other teenagers of the Skylander glared at Asdel in resentment. “That’s right. You’re just an orphan sheltered by our family, don’t be greedy and chew more than you deserve just because you’re Loreley’s favorite.”

“You should have followed the example of that deaf maid, Viola. She’s an orphan just like you, but she obediently serves the Skylanders without greed,” another teenager added.

Asdel growled. “Do you think Loreley will let you off when she’ll learn about it?”

The party broke into laughter. “Do you have any idea how long campaigns last? Let’s see how many years you can hold out. Don’t even think that your letters can reach the fortress either.”

“So you aren’t really planning to hire a new adventurer and join the campaign, huh? You just want to leech off my funds!” Asdel roared. There was no talking out of this. His opponents were determined to ruin his entire childhood to enjoy an easy life off the money sent by Loreley.

The opponents closed in with their fists clenched.

Severine took a stance in front of Asdel. “Run! Go get aunty Viola!”

Asdel chuckled as he walked in front of Severine. “Bro is challenging a transmigrator? Don’t you know we come with cheats?”

The Skylanders laughed. From their point of view, he went crazy and spoke nonsense. “This kid hasn’t received a blessing. Where does his confidence come from?”

Severine pleaded with Asdel to leave. “Have you gone mad? They’re going to beat you up!”

Asdel snorted. “With what? I already read all the books in the Skylander’s library. Your martial art techniques are rank D at most and focus on weaponry, cavalry, and aura. Even if these runts have a blessing, they have no bare handed skill in their soul arsenal.”

He just stood dazedly in front of his charging opponents. “Severine, watch carefully. This is ki-based rank A martial art.”

The uncle dashed in and threw his punch. “Kid, you only have to blame your mom for this-”

Asdel’s standing figure blurred. His palm struck the uncle’s cheek with incomprehensible speed, shattering his aura and skin in a single hit.

The uncle’s eyes rolled up as he limplessly fell on the ground from being one-shotted.

The audience fell silent. The technique itself looked hilarious, but the situation was so bizarre that no one dared to laugh. It was unimaginable that a slap could deplete the uncle’s entire pool of hit points in a single strike and yet everyone saw cracks spread through the shimmering layer covering his body before breaking into countless fading lights.

The Skylanders already knew from a year ago that Asdel was bad news when he managed to have an aura blade skill in his soul arsenal before even receiving the Allfather’s blessing. But they never imagined he hid such a trump card.

“How’s that? Do you want to learn from me?” Asdel looked back at Severine with a smug smile.