Since you stopped reading early on and there's only seven chapters it makes sense!
Again, notable skills ae throughout it, but a big one comes in chapter seven, I assume you didn't read that far.
Ahlf spends most of his time fishing to provide for him and the MC so he wouldn't have the time to teach them anything. There were NO kind grandma's or kind people in that prejudice village. The only knowledge MC got was from books that Ahlf owned.
There wasn't anybody else to take care of Irus after Ahlf died. There was no later, Irus needed a companion and MC needed to carry out their fathers mission. If MC didn't accompany Irus as his protector/ advisor there would be no reason to accompany him at all because he wouldn't need them. Irus came to the village seeking Ahlf not MC, but since Ahlf died MC was all he had. It's not like either of them had proper training since Irus wasn't raised to be king.
Ahlf may have known the past would catch up with him, but if he did he likely would have tried to run with Irus and MC. He left his lil death note thinking more so if it happened not when it happened. If Ahlf had survived the village attack and escaped with Irus and MC, he would have started teaching them self defense and battle stuff then. All of that is gained through Oren, reading and experience though.
I will agree with you that the only time we've seen the non-character stats come into play is when you ask to learn about politics with Elora and you use that knowledge with the businessman Irus was hanging out with at the ball. This is only an early version so it will probably come into play later.
I'm responding with this all out of order but, the author could only make so many reactions. You could be indifferent, angry, sad, etc.. in response to the happenings. For example, after Ahlf dies, MC is sat at a river and you get to choose how they respond to his passing. I personally chose anger, and later (if you're not mean to Irus)he'll ask you how you felt about it. The emotions you chose at the river will come flooding back to you. This is minor but a consistent point!
When you say it influences MC's behavior bot not the outcome this is true, but nothing to do with MC'S choices. Take it like this, you have a crush on somebody who isn't attracted to you. You befriend them and try really hard to become more than friends but that just won't happen because they aren't attracted to you! No matter how had MC tries or doesn't tries, there will always be a wall in theirs and Ahlf father daughter relationship because Ahlf will not allow them to grow any closer to him.
The same thing goes for this debate I guess! I really enjoyed it though, but if you have different tastes then not much can be done, lol. I don't know if anybody will read this book of a thread but if they do then they might allow us some third party insight on this!