บท 3: The Girl in the Red (1)
The Rineharbor Family's training grounds were indeed overtly spacious for such a prestigious swordsmanship family.
On a floor made of specialized material to absorb shock, and in the back was a large warehouse where the weapons were stored and hung.
Inside, various cold weapons were lined up, with swords being the most common.
There is no explanation for this.
The foundation of the Rineharbour family.
It's in the sword.
There are a few significant sentences that define the Reinhafer family, but the most famous is the Darkness and the Sword.
An arcane swordsmanship that imbues the sword with the power of darkness and then cuts through the enemy.
This Martial Art is known as the Supreme Black Sword and is only passed down to the next generation of the family, the future patriarch.
"I remember that the first three formulas were taught to the children of the fiefdom, but… they don't mean much. If you're going to keep fighting with them, you might as well learn other arcane sword techniques."
Not that the first three aren't good, of course....
Well, it's true.
Naturally, a second-grade swordsman who has mastered both the form and the formula by the end is better than a first-grade swordsman who hasn't mastered them.
Furthermore.
There are quite a few things you can get from a family besides swordsmanship.
For example, money… money… money…
Money.
"Money is king."
House Reinharbour is one of the most prestigious families in the world.
Naturally, they have a lot of money.
So much so, in fact… that it could pay for the family's youngest son, the family's castaway.
Theo, Knox's father, probably doesn't even care if Knox spends it on himself.
That's the kind of character Knox is meant to be.
The bastardized youngest son of a prestigious family.
Anyway, the character is solid.
"By the way. For now, this is the problem…."
I looked at the wooden sword in my hand and sighed.
My wrist is creaking from the effects of 'Sprained Wrist Lv 1'.
Was it because Knox's body was weakened?
Even the wooden sword felt quite heavy.
He felt an inexplicable respect for the people of this world who could wield such a thing.
Fuck. Swearing filled my throat, but I managed to hold it back and swung the sword in my hand.
Boom!
A sound like cutting the wind.
But I look like shit, my posture is terrible, and my breathing is garbage.
It's not my place to say, but I was an athlete before I was possessed.
The thought of being X'd intensifies.
I'll survive this, right?
"After...."
About a dozen times like that.
I made a decent show of swinging my sword and then tossed it roughly to the ground to get back to it.
I decided not to bother putting things back where they belonged. After all, I'm a household pariah now. The servants would sort it out.
With that, I moved on, holding my aching wrist.
Out of the corner of my eye, a middle-aged man with a low, bass voice approached me.
"Good evening, Master Knox."
He's an odd-looking man with all-black hair and a beard.
With his sunken cheeks, he looked very familiar to me. It was a face I'd seen over and over again within the Inner Lunatic.
"Rodwell. Why is the butler, who is supposed to be serving the patriarch, in this place?"
I said in a calm voice.
…Or rather, I pretended to be calm.
Rodwell de Ernarok.
He is the real head of House Rineharbour, and he is not a man I, a rascal, can mess with.
Knox's father, the butler closest to the patriarch, Theo von Reinhafer.
That was Rodwell.
"A tricky one right from the start.
But I have my own weapons.
First, I am the head of the household that Rodwell serves.
I'm the son of Theo von Reinhafer.
[Trait (Affirmative): The Gift of Acting is being activated].
The second was the talent I added along with the two Genius talents, [Talent of Acting].
This talent literally compensates for a character's acting talent.
In other words, it was a talent optimized for deceiving others.
It was the perfect talent to help you take a step towards becoming more shameless.
Indeed, it was the perfect skillset for a rascal Knox.
As I pondered this, Rodwell spoke up.
"I've come at your request to deliver a piece of news."
"News?"
"Yes. He has commanded that you be present at dinner tonight."
I've just been possessed, I don't know anything about it, and I'm tired, so let's just sit around and have a casual dinner?
Sadly, I can't be a good salesman like that.
I'm an asshole anyway…
You don't have to attend unless it's for your own good.
"…Tell him I'm not eating today."
Rodwell's brow crinkles for a moment at my answer, and another piece of information leaks in.
"We have a visitor from House Steiner. She has come to take knighting lessons, and I'm afraid the patriarch would be very upset if you weren't there."
Something like demonic energy emanates from his frighteningly glowing amber eyes.
…That asshole looks terrifying.
I'd believe it if it jumped out of a horror movie…?
"'Hmph."
As if I had no choice, I wiped my sweat with the towel the servant handed me.
I didn't answer, but it meant I would do as he said.
And so I did. As I passed Rodwell and headed for the family mansion.
Without even looking at me, Rodwell asked.
"You're acting a little strange today."
"…What are you trying to say?"
Suddenly, I felt my heart pounding.
Rodwell's words were clearly directed at me.
"You don't normally like to hold a sword… but today, for some reason, you've been walking all over the training grounds. Do you mind if I ask why?"
Rodwell's eyes bore into me.
My breath caught in my throat, and my hands began to sweat.
It was a dangerous situation, but I trusted the traits I had been given.
As calmly as I can, I look him in the eyes and open my mouth.
"I'll tell you one thing for sure."
An unknown aura bursts from the lavender-eyed boy I'm playing, Knox.
Rodwell, in front of me, seems to sense it too and shudders.
"Don't you dare creep up on your master, even though you're a butler. It doesn't matter to you what I did or what I moved. I decide what I will do."
"...I will correct it."
"If you ever do this to me again… it won't be just words."
With that, I walked past him.
My heart was still screaming, but thanks to my acting talents, Rodwell looked completely fooled.
Huh… to be dropped into a game and have this happen.
I felt a furtive glance from the back of my head, but I didn't flinch. If I make a scene here, it'll just blow up in my face.
For now, I must remain as calm as possible.
After all, traits only make me better at the behavior; they don't make me perfect.
…But.
As I walk away, trying to compose myself.
Eventually, I lost my poker face and turned into a grimace.
There was a name that worried me more than Rodwell.
What? The young lady of House Steiner?
Why would she suddenly come out of nowhere?
* * *
The dining room of the Reinharber mansion was as luxurious as ever.
A rectangular table with endless white tablecloths and chairs for thirty people, and a clock on the wall.
There wasn't a single thing that wasn't a specialty.
The silverware is so well made that you can almost see your face in it.
'Maybe there's more money to be made than I thought...?'
As I sat down at the table, I started to see the faces of the people who had already arrived.
The first thing that caught my eye was the twins.
They are one of the biggest tormentors of Knox in the family, and a big mountain I have to climb to get to Elysian Academy.
I will have the opportunity to face them at some point in the future. That will probably be soon.
I need to build up my strength to deal with both of them shortly.
"Hey, there's that little shit over there, ruining the meal. Nox, is that asshole still holding a grudge against the family?"
"Yeah. Dean. Honestly, I didn't expect him to stick his face in this far, but... his shamelessness is through the roof. I heard you've groped butlers and maids before, but you're an unreformable asshole."
As I wait, I hear my brother blatantly disrespecting Knox.
I felt an unnecessary surge of irritation at being unfairly criticized for something I hadn't done, but somehow I managed to hold it together with superhuman patience.
Then… I repeat it again. Nox the asshole.
"Here we go."
I continued to think.
Finally, I heard a familiar voice, echoing through the dining hall.
I jumped to my feet, my gaze immediately shifting to the direction of the voice, and there was a familiar face I recognized.
Theo von Reinhafer.
The patriarch of the Reinhafer family, Knox's father, stood there like a giant.
With a girl Knox's age behind him.
"This is the young lady of House Steiner. Miss Talia von Steiliner. She is staying with us for a short time to take her knighting lessons. Please make her welcome."
"Good evening. I'm Thalia von Steiliner, please take care of me."
"Of course."
"Of course!"
The twins, Hartz and Allen, said excitedly.
They must have fallen in love with Thalia's face. She's one of the leading candidates for heroine, even within the Inner Lunatic. Her popularity is in the top five.
No wonder the hearts of adolescent boys are racing.
Of course, I merely nodded with a sullen expression. It's not the most appropriate demeanor to display in front of the patriarch, but oh well.
I'm an asshole anyway.
No one was going to write me up for having a bad attitude.
"For some reason, Knox, you're here this time."
The voice is too cold for a father calling his son. His icy gaze falls on me.
I shrugged it off and took my seat.
The meal was about to begin.
* * *
About an hour later.
I ate my roasted turkey and caviar-topped crepes in silence, listening to their small talk.
And then. Suddenly, I felt a pair of prying eyes on me.
Allen and Hartz. My two brothers.
"Father, I believe it's time to decide on the newest member of the family to be admitted to Elidane Academy."
Elidane. Now something is interesting.
In order for me to access the main story, I would need to enter Eldain Academy.
A little earlier than I expected.
But it's also something I've been anticipating since I first decided to complete the game.
Theo stroked his beard.
"Yeah… it was definitely about time...."
Elidane Academy.
It is the most central place in the Inner Lunatic.
It is the center of the Inner Lunatic, where the cadets fight demons and go through all sorts of hijinks at the academy.
Furthermore, I must enter it and gather my own allies without compromising the story.
... But first, I must somehow gain admission to Eldain Academy.
Theo's voice trailed off in thought.
" Hartz, Allen, Knox. As you all already know, there are only three tickets per family for admission to the Elidane Academy.
Since I've given one to the first and second in line, that means there is only one admission left for the Reinharber family."
The reason for limiting academy admissions in this way is simple. To prevent other families from becoming too powerful in the central government.
For reference, commoners only get one ticket.
Anyway.
I had a feeling I knew where Theo's story was going.
The House of Rineharbour I know. If you're Theo, go here…
"So. We'll choose the entrants the way our family does."
"You mean you're going to have brothers duel to decide who gets in."
Theo looked surprised for a moment, as if he hadn't expected me to say it first, but he quickly regained his composure.
"That's right. One month from now. We'll decide who will be admitted by a duel at the training grounds."
"I see."
I could feel the panic in the room at my calm response. Uneasy gazes swept over me.
However, I don't have a choice.
In order to enter the main story, I must enter the Academy anyway. There's no changing that fact.
"Little brother, I'll teach you a lesson, but in the meantime, take care to preserve your body, and tell me if you're thinking of giving up before then."
"Okay. It wouldn't hurt to give up. There's no way a weakling like you can beat us."
His tone was playful and sarcastic. I returned the taunt with a toothy grin.
"Isn't that what you say after you've fought and won?"
"What makes you think you can beat us?"
I snapped back at Allen and the Hartz brothers, who snorted in response.
I crossed my arms in a show of adult resignation.
"Of course."
A brief silence fills the dining room.
What the hell did I just hear?
Everyone has this look on their faces.
If I don't get past this gateway, I'm out of the main story. There was nothing to lose by blurting it out.
"I will do it."
The two brothers are silent for a moment under my icy gaze.
I picked up the momentum and spoke.
"I'm entering Elidane."
I felt the corner of Theo's mouth subtly lift.
Good. You've taken the bait.
At that moment, I felt a piercing gaze lock onto me.
A chill ran down my spine.
The reason was simple.
The owner of the gaze was the second daughter of the Steiner family and one of the heroines directly involved in the main story of Inner Lunatic.
Thalia von Steiner.
You continue to stare, and eventually, your eyes meet hers. Caught, the red-eyed, western-looking girl looks at me and says.
"Apparently, the youngest master is quite confident?"
As she smiles at me, I feel my heart sink once again.
Because as I said earlier, there is someone who makes me shiver even more than Rodwell, and that is Thalia.
Thalia von Steiner.
She plays the protagonist, who kills the villainous Knox at the end of Part 1.
Long story short...
This was the character who was going to put a sword through my heart in the future.
This… is going to be intense from the start.
With that thought, I shoved the fluffy stuffing into my mouth.
I had one month to go until my showdown with the twins and twelve months until my death.
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