“Are these the only two staff members?”
“Yes, unlike the room you just saw, the workload here is less demanding, so these two are sufficient.”
“I see.”
Only two female staff members gathered in response to the call. Kent felt the assigned number of staff was small, but he understood Cindy’s explanation because the mother would handle most of the tasks in this room, leaving the staff with only guiding and cleaning duties. However, if he were to ask them to do what he was about to propose, their workload would increase, making him feel a little guilty.
“We’ve prepared powdered milk for mothers who have difficulty producing milk or have low production. It can be dissolved in hot water and cooled to the right temperature to feed to infants as a substitute for breast milk. I’ll teach you how to prepare it, so could you please assist mothers who come to the room when needed?”
“Oh, is there such a thing?”
“I’ve heard that sometimes they give fresh goat’s milk as a substitute when a mother can’t produce milk, but for those living in town, it’s not easy to obtain. It would be a great help if there was something that could substitute for breast milk.”
The two staff members were surprised to hear Kent’s explanation, but it was clear that other mothers were also struggling with milk production and wished there was a substitute they could use.
“I’m interested too, so please tell me.”
“I would like to hear about it as well.”
Cindy and Josette, who had witnessed the interaction with the mother earlier, were also keen to listen to Kent’s explanation, wanting to help in any way they could.
“Then, I will explain.”
Kent demonstrated the entire process to the four of them, from washing new baby bottles, sterilizing them with a microwave, heating water with an electric kettle, to the proper amount of formula to use, how to feed the baby with a bottle, and how to wash used bottles.
“We’ve done it.”
“Is this correct?”
“It has a nice milky scent.”
“It’s amazing that you can make hot water so easily.”
Josette, Cindy, and the two staff members then tried making milk with a baby bottle. They were impressed by how easily the milk could be prepared. The prepared milk was then given to a mother who visited the room for feeding. After feeding, they practiced the entire process, including washing and sterilizing the bottles.
“Everyone seems to be doing well. If a mother who needs this visits the room, please follow these steps to assist them.”
“”Yes!””
With one source of anxiety removed, the two staff members gratefully responded to Kent.
“Thanks to you, Kent, we are greatly helped. Thank you.”
“It’s only natural to help those in need.”
“No one else would say that. As a priest, I pray for God’s blessing upon you, Kent.”
“P-please don’t say that with such a serious face. You’re more charming when you’re your usual self, Cindy.”
Kent felt embarrassed by Cindy’s earnest expression of gratitude and, trying to ease the tension, told her to be her usual self.
“R-right. I guess that wasn’t like me.”
Cindy blushed more than Kent had ever seen, and he found it incredibly cute and attractive.
*Squeeze*
“Ouch. Josette, why are you suddenly doing that?”
As Kent was having a pleasant conversation with Cindy, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in the back of his hand. Josette had pinched him. Noticing this, Kent protested to Josette.
“I-it’s your fault for being kind to any woman, Kent!”
“”Chuk chuk””
The two staff members watched the exchange between Kent and Josette with smiles.
“We use three rooms like this. You mentioned you were looking for places where you could help; I hope this was informative for you.”
“I learned a great deal.”
“Thank you very much.”
After Cindy led them through each room, Kent and Josette asked the staff to inform them if there were any problems with the supplies they had prepared, and then left the room, entrusting the rest to them.
“Kent, thank you for all your cooperation. It has greatly reduced the burden on the staff and has allowed the evacuees to feel more at ease. I intend to report this matter to the Saintess and express my sincere gratitude. Now, I have other work to attend to, so I will take my leave.”
As they left the room, Cindy bowed deeply to Kent to express her thanks and then quickly departed, stating she had other work to do.
“To take time out of your busy schedule for us is truly appreciated. Thanks to your thorough guidance, I’ve also found a place where I can help.”
“I see. That’s good. So, what will you be helping with?”
After touring the rooms with Cindy’s guidance, Josette seemed to have found a task she could assist with. Kent asked her what kind of work had piqued her interest.
“I’ve decided to help in the room where the children are being looked after.”
“Oh, in that case, I’ll help too.”
“That won’t do.”
“Huh?”
Kent had casually offered to help Josette, but her unexpected reply surprised him.
“While looking after the children is important, Kent, I believe you have other duties to ensure the evacuees can stay with peace of mind. I don’t know what that is specifically, but with your great power, which surpasses that of ordinary people, I believe there are more fitting tasks for you. I want you to find them.”
“If you say so, Josette, I’ll look for something I can help with.”
“Yes, I wish you success. Well then, I will head over to help immediately.”
“Good luck, Josette.”
“Yes.”
With that, Josette entered the room where the children were gathered.
“Josette seems determined, so I must also work hard to be useful to everyone.”
Seeing Josette’s resolve, Kent felt motivated to do his best as well.
“But then again, what should I help with? For the time being, I’ll head to the Saintess’s office and think about it later.”
Even though he had other things to do, Kent, unsure of what he could assist with at this stage, decided to return to the Saintess’s office, hoping it might offer some hints.
“I’m home.”
Kent returned to the Saintess’s office. Technically, he should have knocked and received permission to enter, but since Catherine was the owner of the room, he forgot about her status as an upper aristocrat and entered as if he were returning home.
“Kent, that way of entering is against etiquette.”
“Ah, sorry.”
As he opened the door, Yulia, who happened to be nearby, frowned and admonished Kent. Kent, recalling Catherine’s position in this place, apologized to Yulia.
“Yulia, Kent is like family to me, so you don’t need to say too much.”
“With all due respect, Saintess, I understand that Kent is like family. However, you have a position to maintain.”
“If I say it’s okay, then it’s okay. Yes, yes, Yulia, you’re diligently carrying out your duties. Well done, well done.”
“I’m older than you, so please don’t pat my head!”
Catherine, while somewhat heated, gently patted Yulia’s head to calm her down.
“Hahaha, Catherine and Yulia are as close as ever. It’s more like friends than mistress and servant.”
Gordon, who had fainted before leaving the room, had regained consciousness and was sitting with Patty on the sofa, teasing Catherine and Yulia. Patty admonished Gordon upon hearing this.
“Welcome home. Master!”
“Welcome home, Master.”
Amidst such conversations, Al and Emily bowed to their master, Kent, as he entered.
“Ah, that’s right. Al.”
“Yes? Master.”
Seeing Al’s face, Kent remembered the woman in the breastfeeding room who had difficulty producing milk and decided to ask Al to examine her.
“Actually, there’s someone whose health I’m a bit concerned about. Could you examine her later?”
“Ah, you mean the woman whose breast you were squeezing, Master?”
“Eh?”
Kent was stunned by Al’s words. He had spoken indirectly, considering Catherine, Patty, Gordon, and Yulia who were in the room, but Al’s blunt expression changed the atmosphere in the room dramatically.
