September 13, 1496, Age of the Sea Circle
A month has passed since Orion returned to Pacific Town.
During this month, his life continued as normal.
In the mornings, he continued his sword training, and for the rest of the day, he divided his time between spending time with Giolla and performing various tasks to earn SP.
Giolla, after her personality had completely stabilized, changed her demeanor a bit. It could be said that while she maintained her innate eccentricity, she was much calmer and didn't explode when her emotions got slightly upset.
Orion explained about his relationship with Rouge, how she was his master's wife and he had no romantic feelings for her.
Giolla admitted her mistake and apologized to Rouge for trying to beat her up in a moment of madness.
Giolla, now much calmer, became good friends with Rouge, and the two women, who were both foreigners in this small town, often spent several hours a day together.
He had to admit that this wasn't an outcome he had hoped for, but he was glad things had ended well.
Furthermore, he had spoken to Giolla about Gion and told her that she was his official fiancée.
The reason for mentioning this was because he would soon have to travel to visit Gion, and he didn't want to have to lie to Giolla about it, but he also wanted to see how Giolla would react to the presence of other women in his life.
Orion feared that she would be extremely jealous and, just as had happened when she attacked Rouge, would try to eliminate any other women from his life.
However, to Orion's surprise, Giolla apologized for her previous behavior and told him that it was fine for him to have other women.
He was very surprised to hear her say that, and questioned several times whether that was truly what she thought or if she was simply going along with the situation to avoid conflict.
Giolla's response was that she really didn't care too much. In her own words, polygamy was quite normal in this world, and although not everyone practiced it, it wasn't unusual.
He could remember the beautiful artist's nonchalant expression when she told him
"I don't think there's anything wrong with it. My father had eleven wives and 36 children."
"And he was just a nobleman in my kingdom; the king had a harem of about one hundred women. In my opinion, that's a bit excessive, but the royalty of many kingdoms have similar traditions."
Orion confirmed it again and again, and finally had no choice but to accept that Giolla truly didn't care if he had relationships with other women, as long as her position wasn't threatened.
If any woman tried to eliminate her from Orion's life, she wouldn't stand idly by.
Orion could only sigh, reflecting that both his moral values and his concept of marriage were too influenced by his memories of his past life.
He considered himself a man skilled in the soft sciences, but he had made the most basic mistake of any ethnographer: ethnocentrism!
This was a new world, completely different from the old one, and he had to approach it as such, with an open mind. Only then could he live naturally here and cease to be a foreign entity.
With the reassurances that his first partner's words gave him, he felt more confident in pursuing his grandiose goals of improving the world... and perhaps marrying a couple of wives in the process. It was all for the good of the world!
... Probably.
One of the tasks he had kept himself busy with this month, was exploring the mountain terrain behind his village. Pacific Town was located on a large island, but the land area occupied by the village was insignificant.
Due to the presence of powerful beasts, no one had fully explored the island, and 99% of it was untouched.
Orion planned to explore the area in depth and then try to increase his village's sphere of influence. His wish for the future was to form his own military and political force and gain a foothold in this complex world.
To do so, he would need a base of operations, and establishing his base on his home island was his goal for the time being.
It would require a fair amount of work and time, but surely in ten or twenty years, he could transform this island into the place he had in mind.
Right now, Orion was in his backyard, playing with his two little siblings, Dante and Sofia, who had just turned one year old a month ago, a few days after his arrival.
The two little ones could already walk, and they loved running clumsily around the green garden chasing their older brother.
Orion had missed a little over half a year of the babies' lives, so during this month he had tried to spend as much time with them as possible.
As a result, his little siblings had grown very attached to him, much to Orion's relief and his parents' happiness.
He knew that in the future, he would probably have to spend a lot of time away from home and wouldn't be able to have a normal sibling relationship with the little ones, so he could only make up for it as best he could when he was present.
Orion lifted Sofia into the air, and the little girl raised her arms joyfully, giggling happily.
He tossed her lightly in the air a couple of times and set her back down.
Then Dante approached, and the two children began to play with some toys.
Orion looked up and saw the winter sun. Today was a beautiful day, very suitable for sailing.
He hadn't mentioned anything about going back to sea for a month because he didn't want to upset his parents. But it was already time to visit Gion, so he'd have to confront his parents about it.
He looked at the system screen and saw his SP.
*Available SP: 10185*
Finally, after much consideration, he decided not to level up his "Swordsmanship" skill for the time being. The reason was that he wanted to try raising it naturally, without any external help from the system. This way, he could save that large amount of SP, which he could undoubtedly use in other situations.
In any case, if he found himself in a dangerous situation and there was no other option, he wouldn't hesitate to level up his Swordsmanship to increase his combat prowess.
On the other hand, the skill that he had leveled up was "Strong Body." He spent 6,000 SP to level it up to level 5, which gave him six times the physical capacity of a normal person in this world.
When Orion first received this ability, he thought it was truly incredible to be so physically superior, and he believed he would be an all-powerful being if he continued to increase the level of this ability. However, after coming into contact with his master, Roger, he realized how deluded he had been.
In this world, there were incredibly powerful people, and the ability he had been so proud of was nothing more than garbage in the eyes of those entities.
For example, Roger had told him about the existence of Fishmen, who were innately ten times stronger than a normal human.
He still had a long way to go to be classified as strong in this world.
Speaking of Fishmen, Orion continued to chat daily with Shyarly, the clairvoyant mermaid. She had turned 5 a few days ago, and they had talked for hours on that special day.
The little mermaid's situation wasn't the best, and the environment she was growing up in was definitely bad.
Orion wanted to help her somehow, but he had no way to get to the mermaids' underwater island. He could only comfort her when she was sad and accompany her from a distance, trying to give her the best advice possible so she could live a full life.
Shyarly's favorability had increased significantly, and was now at 81. In the future, when he had the chance, he would go meet her in person and see the face of this friend from a distance, who had accompanied him in his daily life more than any other Named Character.
He felt a little anxious thinking about what his meeting with her would be like in the future, as if he were meeting a friend he had made online in person.
Back to the topic of skills. One skill that had increased unexpectedly was one of the newest, "Marital Bliss," which had increased by one level, and as a result, the amount of SP required to activate it had been cut in half.
Orion wondered if increasing the level of this skill would give it new features, but he had tried using SP to increase its level like he did with other skills, and found that this skill couldn't be improved that way. Its level could only be increased naturally.
As for how to increase its level, Orion had an idea. After all, during this past month, he had used the skill as much as possible, and he and Giolla had spent a lot of time communicating their feelings, in the deepest possible way.
Finally, Orion had decided to spend 5,000 SP from his reserve to activate the Frozen Time skill on Giolla.
Although it pained him to have to spend so much SP, the age difference between them was too great, and if he didn't stop the artist's aging, the gap between them would probably become more and more noticeable. After all, time is cruel, and waits for no one.
Orion simply gritted his teeth and used 5,000 SP to stop Giolla's aging. Those points had been earned thanks to her anyway, so there was nothing wrong in investing them in maintaining her youth.
For the time being, Giolla's aging would be practically halted for 500 days, which gave him a little time to find a solution to the massive SP drain this skill represented.
He refused to accept that there was no way to reduce the SP expenditure; he would just have to pay attention and have a little luck.
Another thing that had happened during this month was the completion of the Random Talent Card's charging.
This item, which he had obtained some time ago, finally finished charging naturally and was ready to be used!
Orion didn't hesitate for a moment and used it without a second thought.
However... The result wasn't very satisfactory. The notification was still in the system message log, like a mockery of his hopes.
*Ding*
*You have used a Random Talent Card*
*You have obtained the special ability "Squirrel Cheeks (Level 0)"
*Squirrel Cheeks: Your cheeks can expand like a squirrel's when you eat*
Orion had sworn loudly for several minutes when he obtained this ability, which worried his parents and reinforced their decision not to let him go sailing again. Their young son had never spoken so profanely before going out to sea! Surely it must be the influence of that mysterious teacher!
After obtaining this useless ability, Orion decided that the next time the card was available, he would try using it on other people to see if they had better luck with the type of abilities they obtained. Although it would probably take a couple of months to recharge.
Orion stretched, stood, and then gathered his two reluctant siblings into his arms, heading inside to place them in the large wooden crib, even though they clearly preferred playing in the garden.
He took a deep breath and saw his mother Lira, who was cooking while humming a classical song.
He had to tell her about his trip to see Gion; he couldn't put it off any longer.
It had been over a month; there wouldn't be any problem with going out for a bit of sailing, right?
Orion took a step forward and prepared to face the toughest battle of his life.
.............................
Gion joyfully saw the result of her efforts.
A cake that looked very tasty had been successfully finished and was ready to be eaten!
"It's true that effort always pays off! I've finally made it. When Orion tastes the food I've learned to make, he'll surely fall in love with me all over again! Then he'll hug me tightly and... kyaa."
Gion was immersed in her usual daytime fantasies, while her mother watched her from a distance, one hand on her forehead and sighing. Her little daughter was good at everything, but she was a little precocious when it came to love, and she liked to fantasize often. This increased Mrs. Harewood's concern, as she feared that the children wouldn't have a future together and that this could negatively affect her little daughter.
"Gion, didn't you have to go to the dojo for your swordsmanship lessons?" Mrs. Harewood said, trying to bring her daughter back to reality.
"No problem, Mom. The instructor told me he couldn't teach me anything else, so it doesn't make much difference whether I go or not," replied Gion, still focused on her masterpiece, the cake.
"But you still have to train, don't you? Otherwise, your skills will deteriorate. The officers at the nearby marine base said you could be officially recruited at ten years old, and with your skill, you'd probably go far. Wouldn't it be a waste if you didn't seize the opportunity?"
"It doesn't matter, Mom, I have no intention of joining the marines; my dream is to be a housewife!" she said, lifting the cake, which was no longer as warm, and placing it in a small basket.
Mrs. Harewood heard Gion's words and felt a great deal of bitterness. Her daughter had great potential, and the marine had extended a recruitment offer, but Gion still insisted she didn't want to join! How many people would want the chance to be recruited directly into the headquarters? It was simply a waste to pass up such an opportunity.
In fact, the marine had informed Gion's parents that the family could be transferred to headquarters right now, where Gion could train with the best and increase her power exponentially. But the Harewoods hadn't told their daughter about this offer, for fear of hurting her feelings. She spent all day thinking about Orion, and her parents had a huge headache about it.
On the one hand, they believed that a career in the marine would take their daughter to unimaginable heights in the social ladder. After all, in this world, who had more power than the marines?
On the other hand, the couple actually cared for little Orion and thought he was the perfect match for Gion. If they could end up together, they could probably live a simple and happy life.
Faced with two options, Gion's parents had decided to wait a bit and see how things played out. It wouldn't be too late for Gion to join the marine in a few years, anyway.
"Mom, do you want to try the cake I made?" Gion asked with a big smile.
Mrs. Harewood paled, and small beads of sweat appeared on her face and neck. She shook her head vigorously from side to side, as if afraid her refusal wouldn't be understood, and said:
"N-No, no. No need, darling. I just ate and can't eat another bite."
Mrs. Harewood's voice was shaky, but Gion didn't think much of it. Sometimes his mother behaved strangely.
"Okay, I hope you don't regret it later! I'm going to take this cake to Mrs. Ren so she can tell me if I've improved or not."
Gion left the room cheerfully, grabbed a coat, and left the house for the Shimotsuki dojo, leaving Mrs. Harewood behind, who could only pray for Ren's well-being.
At the Shimotsuki dojo, a large number of students of similar ages to Gion were training with great discipline, under the watchful eye of the instructor.
In a room not far from the training grounds, a woman in her fifties sat on the open-air wooden floor, playing a small, three-stringed musical instrument that produced a peculiar but very beautiful sound.
Despite no longer being young, this woman's beauty was indescribable; she seemed like an image straight out of a dream. Her graceful movements, delicate expressions, and the aura of slight sensuality that contrasted with her lotus-like elegance gave her existence a touch of dreaminess.
This woman was Ren Shimotsuki, who spent her days composing poetry and playing beautiful music. Her family had an ancient lineage of swordsmen, but she seemed to belong to another world, and not once since they had arrived on this island 30 years ago had she cared about her family's dojo.
Suddenly, the beautiful woman looked up, revealing a fascinating depth in her eyes. She looked toward the horizon, where a few moments later, the small figure of Gion appeared, running happily, carrying her cake.
"Mrs. Ren, I've come to visit you!" Gion said, waving her hand as she approached Ren.
The woman put her instrument aside and smiled amiably at the little girl who had recently visited her daily. Even though she had closed her heart many years ago, she had to admit that this small, cheerful girl brightened her days with her mere presence.
"Gion, what did I tell you about calling me 'Mrs'?" Ren Shimotsuki said with a smile that wasn't a smile.
Seeing the expression on Ren's face, which could chill the blood of even the bravest person, Gion stopped in front of her and said in a tender voice, "Miss Ren, I've come to visit you!"
"Haha, what a sweet girl. I'm already an old lady, but I'll take it as a compliment," Ren replied, trying to display a humility that didn't exist.
Gion ignored her antics and, showing the cake she was carrying, said,
"Look, Ren, I brought you some cake. I finally managed to complete the recipe successfully."
Ren looked at the exquisite cake in the small basket, her eyes narrowing slightly, the side of her mouth twitching slightly. Finally, she managed to keep her expression unchanged, maintaining her image of an elegant and graceful woman in front of the little girl.
Gion cut a piece of the cake and offered it to the beautiful woman, who had no choice but to accept it.
"Gion, I understand that you want to express your love through your food, but there are better ways to do it. Don't you want me to teach you the geisha arts? I assure you, you'll have any man at your feet if you master them."
Gion nodded and said happily.
"One thing doesn't negate the other. Of course, I want you to continue teaching me the geisha arts, but I also want Orion to be able to taste my food and feel my efforts and my love."
Ren listened to the little girl and sighed inwardly.
The reason she, who had kept herself away from everyone for 30 years, had started interacting with this adorable girl was because Gion had asked her to teach her how to be a better woman.
Gion had seen Ren's elegance, as well as her timeless beauty and artistic abilities, and immediately thought she wanted to be like this mysterious woman.
During subsequent encounters, Gion gradually melted Ren's heart with her innocence and charisma. It must be said that little Gion was truly adorable, and it was difficult for Ren not to feel affection for her after several encounters.
Above all, Ren had seen in little Gion the image of her childhood self. Like the little girl, she too had been a person devoted to love, and had ended up heartbroken in this forgotten corner of the world.
Perhaps she didn't want Gion to end up like her, or perhaps seeing the little girl simply reminded her of happier times, but whatever the reason, she decided to teach her the geisha skills she herself had learned in her younger years, hoping to become a more complete woman and win over her beloved.
Ren Shimotsuki saw the cake in her hand, and little Gion, anxiously awaiting her opinion on her culinary masterpiece.
There was no need to taste it. She knew very well the girl's cooking skills. There were people in the world who simply weren't meant to master certain skills, and that was the case with Gion.
The food the little girl cooked was practically poison, and could even be considered a criminal act by some.
However, Ren couldn't bear to disappoint the little girl who looked up to her with hope. She felt an inclination to protect her from harm, even though she knew that might not be the best thing for her.
She brought the piece of cake to her mouth, and before the evil food could come into contact with her tongue, she moved her hand so quickly that Gion couldn't even perceive the movement, and discarded the cake, pretending to have consumed it.
Gion nervously clasped her hands in front of her chest and waited for the verdict.
Finally, Ren pretended to have finished eating, gracefully wiped her mouth, and said, "Well, you've improved a bit, but you still have a long way to go. My advice is not to let anyone taste your cooking until you reach your peak, otherwise it would be a betrayal of your faith!"
Gion nodded vigorously and solemnly swore that she would never stop cooking and improving her cooking.
Ren did her best to maintain her elegant expression and apologized in her heart to the poor guy who would have to taste this food in the future.
Inside Ren Shimotsuki's room, the cake she had hastily discarded lay in a small trash can on the floor. Behind it was a large wall covered with various paintings and poems that took up almost the entire surface.
In the center of this wall, however, was a beautiful and delicate katana.
For over thirty years, this katana had remained undrawn. The heart of its owner had died the moment she left that distant country, and the katana had lost its purpose.
It now slept in this room, surrounded by the nostalgia of the past, in the form of art.
No one on this island would recognize this sword even if they saw it, but if Orion were present here, he would see that the elegant sword in this room was none other than the same one that appeared in the system shop: Konpira!