The Hero Party’s Moms Are Obsessed With Me

It’s warm.

It’s soft.

It’s fragrant.

It’s heavy.

Various sensations are felt simultaneously, and my closed eyes open.

“Oh, I must have fallen asleep. I’m sorry, Ellie.”

Even if she’s a knight, she’s a woman after all.

It must have been difficult to stand guard alone.

Thinking that I should apologize, I tried to get up, but…

“…?”

It definitely feels like I’ve opened my eyes, but it’s dark in front of me.

And it’s stuffy.

As I exhale uncomfortably and turn my head from side to side, the weight on my face slowly disappears.

The cold morning air caresses my cheeks, which were warm.

Yeah.

I must have fallen asleep from exhaustion.

But you see.

“Did you sleep well, dear?”

“…?”

Why am I in Olivia’s embrace?

The tent was spacious enough for two people to lie down comfortably.

Although the blanket was not as grand as that of the mansion, it was big enough to cover the two of us adequately.

Just as I was struggling to get my still-startled brain in gear to assess the situation, Olivia embraced me again.

Her ample bosom enveloped my face, and her hands gently caressed my head.

It was a mother’s affectionate gesture towards her beloved son, which we had certainly agreed to portray, but I never imagined it would be this enthusiastic.

“Is she trying to give me the love she couldn’t give her hero?”

I couldn’t fathom why she would be this affectionate with her fifteen-year-old son.

Anyway.

“Let’s get up for now, my dear mother. Ellie might be watching.”

I wanted to push her away quickly, but she was still holding me close.

Reaching out with my hand could potentially set off a minefield on her body.

Carefully, I found her shoulders and slowly pushed her away, and the light of the world greeted me.

A middle-aged woman who seemed to be puffing air into her cheeks in disapproval.

“My baby! You don’t like your mother’s embrace that much?”

Ah, no, that’s not it.

In my heart as a thirty-year-old, I’d like to be like this for the rest of my life.

I’d even like to go further and explore more.

But this isn’t the right situation, right?

Shaking my head, I thought, how simple this lady is.

“Is that so? You don’t dislike your mother?”

As she said that, she began to pinch my cheeks.

That’s right.

I don’t dislike it a bit.

“Let’s get up…”

After ending this non-war of wars and rekindling the dying embers by throwing firewood, Ellie stood up from her spot.

“Did you sleep well, Young Master?”

Until yesterday, she called me “Young Master,” but now it’s “Young Lord.”

It’s a bit confusing which tone to use, but this is all just an act.

“…”

Nodding her head, Elli blushed and took a step back.

Her gaze slowly descended.

Lowering my head to follow her.

“Oh, no! I didn’t have any strange thoughts at all!”

“…?”

What nonsense is that?

It has only been one night, but it feels like there have been so many changes.

After having a light breakfast with a sandwich, I started walking again.

Elli, who had been walking aimlessly ahead for a while, stopped and looked at us.

“Madam. Are you okay?”

“Yes. Please speak freely.”

“We need to properly set the goal of this journey.”

The goal of this journey.

To hide Olivia, the warrior mother, from the bad guys!

But it’s too vague.

Hide her?

How?

Nothing has been determined.

Elli suggested setting a second goal, to naturally disguise the real goal.

“That’s true… We can’t just walk aimlessly. How should we proceed, my dear?”

You should ask me~

Olivia looked at Elli awkwardly, with a blank expression as she shrugged her shoulders.

“What do you think, Elli?”

In response to Olivia’s question, Elli opened her mouth, tapped the sword hanging from her waist, and replied.

“I am the sword that protects you both. My opinion is not important.”

“Elli? Don’t say that. No matter how it started, you are also part of our family.”

“Madam…”

Elli was moved by Olivia’s textbook-like attitude.

“So, can you give me some good ideas?”

“Ah… Yes,” she replied.

But the excitement didn’t last long.

“Well then, may I share my thoughts on your consideration?”

“Of course! Please go ahead!”

“Ahaha… Yes. First, it involves settling down in a small village.”

“Settling down…”

With the increase in monster attacks, many people are leaving their hometowns and seeking refuge in other villages.

We also want to hide our true identities and follow the trend.

“It has its advantages of being easy, but the disadvantages are also clear.”

“That’s right. There’s also the constant threat of not knowing when the village will be attacked by monsters and the various difficulties involved in settling down.”

“Hmm…”

Olivia briefly stroked her chin, contemplating, and then smiled as if she had a good idea.

“What about becoming merchants? It’s only natural for merchants to travel between villages.”

“You’re absolutely right. With the support of the kingdom, we could postpone being merchants without aiming for big profits.”

However.

“I’ve heard that the world of merchants is scarier than the political scene.”

“What do you mean, scarier than politics?”

“Yes. Because profits are directly linked to their lives, merchants form factions and even resort to hiring mercenaries to stage attacks on rival companies.”

Having experienced all kinds of hardships during my three years in society, I simply nodded, thinking that I could definitely do that.

“I thought it was just buying and selling goods…”

Reality was harsh for Olivia, who had gone from being a small village farmer to a warrior mother in a rapid ascent.

“Moreover, credibility is crucial for merchants, so it seems unsuitable for us to hide our identities.”

“Yes…”

By the way, Ellie is taking it too far.

Olivia mustered up the courage to make a suggestion, and Ellie completely crushed it so perfectly.

No matter how harsh reality may be, if you let it shatter your mental state like that, as a presenter, you’d be afraid and wouldn’t offer any new ideas.

“What about mercenaries?! I heard that mercenaries are the best for identity laundering!”

I thought she would give up, but…?

Olivia presented a new idea more forcefully.

Elie smiled at her actions.

In contrast to the determined merchant who had been pushing her away, Olivia smiled, leaving me with the expectation that she had succeeded.

“Mercenaries are absolutely out of the question.”

“Huh?! Why?”

It was the opposite.

“The goal of this journey is to keep Lady Sarmo safe from danger.

But mercenaries always come with death.”

Mercenaries.

The term encompassed those who engaged in dirty deeds that ordinary folks found difficult or unpleasant, such as monster hunting, targeted assassinations, and thievery.

Skilled mercenaries earned a lot of money and had some level of prestige, but they were a rare breed.

Furthermore, with the recent increase in monster attacks, the mortality rate among mercenaries had skyrocketed.

Yet, Olivia, a mercenary?

If I had proposed such a notion, I would have been thought insane enough to be grabbed by the neck.

But.

“Could it surprisingly be a good idea?”

From Ellie’s perspective, she worried about Lady Sarmo venturing all over the place, causing trouble. So, she drew a line, forbidding certain activities. But this wasn’t allowed, and that wasn’t allowed either. Eventually, we’d be roaming the village aimlessly throughout our lives.

In comparison, being a mercenary didn’t seem so bad.

It wasn’t just about life-threatening missions. You could enter the forest to gather herbs or hunt animals, and there were many non-dangerous tasks like delivering goods.

From Ellie’s viewpoint, gathering herbs in the forest might lead to encountering monsters, hunting animals might lead to encountering monsters, and even delivering something might lead to encountering monsters, right?

“Oh, is this the perspective of a safety manager my coworkers were talking about?”

What should I do?

Challenges can be beautiful!

“Among my acquaintances, some have become mercenaries and lost their lives.”

Elle, now trying to convince Olivia, grabbed her by the collar.

“About 50% of them! Huh? What’s going on, milord?”

Ellie nodded her head as she met eyes with the speaker, as if spewing blood.

“Of course! Don’t you think the prince is also not a mercenary?”

On the contrary.

As Ellie shook her head, her pupils began to tremble.

“Really?! Do you also think the prince likes being a mercenary?!”

As I nodded my head up and down, Ellie grabbed my shoulder with an expression of disbelief.

“Absolutely not! Mercenaries are-“

As Ellie tried to persuade me, Olivia came closer and began to stroke Ellie’s back.

“Ellie? The baby also likes being a mercenary. The majority rules. You know that, right?”

“But, but! Being a mercenary is really dangerous!”

“Oh, our baby~ Should Mommy be a mercenary with you?”

Ignoring Ellie, Olivia held me tightly and spoke with a determined heart of a first-rate mercenary.

“Yes! Then let’s go to the nearest city and register as mercenaries, Ellie!”

“No, that can’t be… It’s really dangerous…”

“Ellie~? A knight wouldn’t be unyielding to the results, right? Isn’t that right, my baby?”

“Ugh…!! Even the prince!”

I was just staying quiet, why are they clinging to me while looking at me?

In the end, Olivia became the mercenary. With the adoption process complete, our next destination became the closest city, Sabhatan.

I don’t know the geography of the kingdom.

I thought we would arrive in about a day since it’s the closest.

“It took a long time.”

“You didn’t say anything and took frequent breaks. I think we arrived just about right after 4 days.”

Ellie, who was leading the way, turned her head this way and that before pointing to a large road.

“You must be tired from the long journey, so I will find accommodations… I apologize in advance, milady.”

“Why apologize out of nowhere?”

“I have money but… upscale accommodations leave a paper trail.”

“Ellie? I was a farmer, remember? We’ve seen you sleep on the streets. Don’t worry too much. Isn’t that right, baby?”

“…”

So, can you please stop embracing me and talking to me about everything…?

Although the answer was given by Olivia in the end.

“Thank you for your consideration, Lord.”

How on earth can it work out as I suggested~

According to my decision, the lodging grade was determined and Ellie walked along the street as if it were familiar to her.

As Ellie led me into a building, a fairly spacious hall greeted us.

Though there were no customers during the day, it seemed like a bar inn where a drinking party would take place at night.

A man sitting at the counter, reading a book, noticed us and closed the book.

“You’re a new face. Meals are available starting from four hours later.”

“For lodging. First, if necessary, I will extend it for one night. And as for the room…”

As Ellie spoke smoothly, her gaze turned towards us.

The lodging was decided, but we hadn’t decided how many rooms to rent.

Olivia smiled and spread two fingers in response to Ellie’s gaze.

“Two should be enough.”

“One room for the Lord. One room for the Madam and me. Two rooms like this…”

“No~ Ellie has worked so hard, so please rest comfortably alone. I can share a room with the child, that’s okay. Isn’t that right, baby?”

Ah, really.

So, let’s express your opinion as I said.

“Innkeeper! One room!”

Why is this sister like this again?!

“Well… there’s no room that can accommodate three people. Besides, a man and a woman.”

This isn’t a modern hotel, it’s a medieval inn, so of course there wouldn’t be.

With a sigh, as I was about to express the phrase that means two rooms, Olivia gently grabbed my hand and stopped me.

“It’s okay~ We’re family, right? Isn’t that so, Lord?”

Ah, I don’t know anymore.