Battle Maids
"Don't joke around, Rosan, Elan, Vivin... Battle maids? What even is that supposed to mean?" I couldn't wrap my head around it. The three maids who had been by my side for as long as I could remember—just who were they, really?
Rosan, the eldest at 35, was an attractive woman with long dark red hair and a figure that could easily make women at her age jealous. Despite being an adult, she still looked youthful, always smiling and caring, but her attitude always firm. She was the one who often scolded me whenever I acted indecently.
Elan, a woman the same age as Rosan, she had long golden hair that flowed gracefully, complementing her slim, elegant frame. Her reserved and cool personality made her seem unapproachable, yet she exuded reliability—a quiet but ever-present strength.
Then there was Vivin, the youngest of the three at only 20. Slightly younger than me, she had short green hair, an ideal build, and a pair of glasses that gave her an air of intellect. But that impression was often ruined by her careless, blunt nature. It was her endearing clumsiness that made her an easy target for my teasing.
And now they were claiming to be battle maids. I'd never heard anything so absurd. Had they been keeping this from me all along? Or was this something Naoki—my past self before I lost my memories—already knew about?
I shifted my gaze back to them, my confusion evident. Rosan took a deep breath, her face set in a serious expression.
"We are battle maids who have served Ayame-sama, your mother, Lord Naoki."
"My mother?" I asked, still trying to process this revelation. "You've been looking after her since before I was born?"
"That's correct," Rosan nodded. "More specifically, Elan and I were her personal maids long before you came into this world."
"Even as children, we were trained to serve the Blackmore family," she continued, her tone softening as she recounted the story. "Before becoming maids, Elan and I were... slaves. We were trafficked and forced to fight for survival. One day, Ayame-sama and the Blackmore family rescued us from that nightmare."
Elan, standing beside her, nodded in agreement. "It's true, Lord Naoki. I will always be grateful to your mother for saving us and giving us a new life. Without her, we wouldn't be here."
Hearing this, I felt a strange mix of admiration and sadness. "I see... But what about Vivin? She's much younger."
Vivin chimed in, a hint of nervousness in her voice. "I joined much later, Lord Naoki. When I was ten, Rosan and Elan were searching for someone to succeed them in protecting you. That's when they found me and began training me as a battle maid."
"She showed remarkable potential," Elan said with a faint smile. "It was clear she had a knack for combat, so we decided to teach her."
I scratched my head, still feeling a little overwhelmed. "So, that's how it is... But honestly, isn't it a little embarrassing to have three women protecting me? Hahaha."
They didn't laugh. Instead, Rosan's expression grew somber.
"It's not a matter of embarrassment, Lord Naoki. It's our sworn duty. Your mother, Ayame von Blackmore, entrusted you to us before she passed away. Protecting you is a vow we've made to her."
Elan nodded firmly. "We will defend you, no matter the cost. That is the promise we made to Ayame-sama."
"And even though I'm the newest," Vivin added, her voice trembling slightly but filled with determination, "I swore an oath at your mother's grave. I promised to protect you, even if it means sacrificing my life."
I reached out and flicked Vivin on the forehead, making her yelp in surprise.
"Ugh! What was that for, Lord Naoki?" she asked, clutching her reddening forehead with both hands.
"Idiot!" I scolded her. "I don't want anyone dying for me! As the heir to this family and the future head of the Blackmore household, it's my job to protect everyone here—not the other way around!"
I let my words sink in for a moment before continuing. "So don't you dare talk about sacrificing your lives for me. Instead, promise me this: live! That's an order!"
The three of them stared at me, their eyes wide with a mix of surprise and awe. Then, as one, they straightened up and replied in unison.
"As you command, Lord Naoki."
For a moment, silence hung in the air. Then Vivin, ever the clumsy one, tripped as she tried to adjust her glasses. Her stumble broke the tension, and before I knew it, we were all laughing.
The weight of their revelations was heavy, but somehow, I felt lighter knowing that these three incredible women stood by my side. Even so, I resolved in my heart: I wouldn't let them shoulder the burden alone. No, I would become someone they could rely on, just as much as they relied on me.
...
...
Now, I was testing the capabilities of Rosan, Elan, and Vivin.
I had instructed all three of them to meet me at the Blackmore family's training grounds, fully equipped with their combat gear.
I began the tests one by one, starting with Rosan.
Rosan was a magic knight, specializing in support magic and water-based spells. She wielded a magic staff and wore an enchanted cloak. As a support mage, she excelled in both defensive and healing roles. But she wasn't just a backline supporter—her water magic allowed her to unleash devastating area-of-effect attacks. Her role as the team's central pillar was undeniably critical.
Elan, on the other hand, was an assassin-type knight capable of eliminating opponents in a flash. Armed with dual poisoned daggers, she was a silent and lethal attacker. Her assassin skills granted her immunity to poisons, making her a formidable damage dealer who could disrupt enemy formations with precision and stealth.
Then there was Vivin. Despite her feminine appearance, she turned out to be a tank-type knight. She wielded a massive shield and a one-handed sword, serving as the team's bulwark. I was shocked by her sheer strength—she lifted that enormous shield with ease. Her presence made her a natural defensive anchor in any formation.
Judging by their performances, they already seemed to operate at the level of B-Rank Knights—perhaps even approaching A-Rank. They moved with skill and familiarity, as if they had trained extensively without my knowledge. Given my memory loss, it wasn't entirely impossible. Still, I was missing key pieces of information about their past activities.
To push the tests further, I took them to the forest near the Blackmore estate, planning to observe their performance in live combat against monsters. I also participated as an attacker.
We spent two hours traversing the forest, encountering and defeating roughly twenty monsters. What truly impressed me was their exceptional teamwork. It felt natural to organize them, and they adapted quickly to my strategies.
Rosan provided defensive spells whenever we were pushed back and healed our wounds as needed. Her quick thinking often turned the tide of battle.
Elan excelled in swiftly dispatching enemies, often targeting monster leaders with surgical precision. Her ability to take down these key targets sent the weaker monsters into disarray.
Vivin was a wall of unshakable defense. She stood firm against heavy-class monsters like trolls, whose immense strength didn't even make her flinch. She also demonstrated defensive buffs like
By the end of the session, I was confident they were more than capable of accompanying me on future missions. Their coordination and skill were impeccable, and I had no doubt they could work seamlessly with the Blackmore family forces, as well as Lyra and Freya.
With a team this strong, I felt optimistic about completing the Patriarch's upcoming quest with ease.
---
After wrapping up the tests, I gave them my decision.
"You three were incredible. I'm honestly surprised by your abilities. I've decided to allow you to join me on the upcoming mission to explore the Shadow Wolf's den," I announced, my voice filled with genuine appreciation.
"Understood, Lord Naoki! We'll give it our all!" Vivin replied enthusiastically.
"I'll do my best," Elan said with her usual calm demeanor.
"Leave it to us, Lord Naoki," Rosan added, her tone graceful and reassuring.
The three of them exchanged smiles, their bond evident as they laughed and encouraged one another. Watching them, I felt a swell of warmth in my chest. These weren't just my maids—they were my comrades, my family. And while I was grateful for their strength, a part of me couldn't bear the thought of putting them in harm's way.
In a moment of unguarded sincerity, I spoke aloud without realizing it. "I'll protect you—Rosan, Elan, Vivin..."
They all looked at me with soft smiles, their expressions radiating trust and happiness.
"We believe in you, Lord Naoki," they said in unison.
---
With that, I officially added Rosan, Elan, and Vivin to my exploration team. I reported the finalized lineup to the Patriarch later that evening.
"I see," the Patriarch mused. "So, Lyra and Freya—those knights who defeated the Berserker Troll King—will also be accompanying you. Impressive. I approve."
He glanced at me with a knowing smile. "And as for Rosan, Elan, and Vivin... I'm not surprised. They've always been fiercely protective of you."
With a nod of approval, the Patriarch added, "Very well, Naoki. I approve of your team composition and strategy. Best of luck."
With the Patriarch's blessing, I resolved to spend the remaining week before the mission training with my team and leveling up my own abilities. This was going to be the start of something big, and I couldn't afford to hold back. Together, we would prove ourselves worthy of the Blackmore name.
...
...
---Continued to the next chapter---