The Strongest Villain Sets Out: Reincarnated into a Merit-Based Clan, I Become the World's Strongest Swordsman - Chapter 17.5: Intermission: Norn-nee-san Wants to Celebrate a Birthday
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- The Strongest Villain Sets Out: Reincarnated into a Merit-Based Clan, I Become the World's Strongest Swordsman
- Chapter 17.5: Intermission: Norn-nee-san Wants to Celebrate a Birthday
This was a day in daily life.
With Luka’s birthday approaching in two weeks, eldest daughter Norn Salvatore was troubled.
“Hmm. I just can’t decide on a good present.”
“Ah, speaking of which, Luka-sama’s birthday is coming up soon. Are you planning to give him a present this year?”
The maid who had been watching Norn’s behavior asked with a sly smile. Norn nodded.
“Yes. Luka is the most promising child in the Salvatore family. I have great expectations for him too. Seeing that talent, all humanity would want to celebrate Luka’s birthday.”
“I-I see…”
The maid muttered inwardly, wondering what she was saying when she hadn’t even shown interest before Luka’s talent became clear… But she too was one of those captivated by Luka’s talent.
Luka had talent that might let him see a world no one else had ever seen.
“By the way, Norn-sama, what kind of present are you planning to give?”
“I haven’t decided on specifics yet.”
“Do you have some ideas?”
“A dragon’s heart.”
“—Excuse me?”
“I said a dragon’s heart. Eating it grants immense energy. The blood is also good. And the cursed flowers blooming on the eastern continent aren’t bad either.”
“…”
The maid was taken aback.
A dragon’s heart was an ultra, ultra, ultra, ultra, ultra high-class item that ordinary people couldn’t even touch. Even a small dragon’s heart had rarity high enough to be offered to royalty. She was planning to naturally obtain such a thing and give it to the youngest Luka.
It wasn’t something to give a child, and she was shocked in various ways by Norn’s calm attitude about killing dragons.
“I-I wonder… would Luka-sama be happy to receive a dragon’s heart?”
“Hmm. Now that you mention it, a dragon’s heart might still be too early for Luka’s body. But if he strengthened himself with aura, perhaps…”
“That’s dangerous, so let’s not. No matter how precocious and talented Luka-sama is, his body is still a child’s.”
“That’s unfortunate. I want Luka to become strong quickly.”
“? Why is that?”
“If he becomes strong quickly, I’ll go dragon hunting with him. If I give him one-on-one guidance until I become an adult, Luka will become the strongest in no time.”
“…”
The maid was taken aback again, wondering if that was really a good thing.
The people of the Salvatore ducal family were as far from common sense as ever. There were no normal people. Every single one of them was mentally abnormal yet great.
The maid became a little worried about how Luka would grow.
“Or perhaps if the two of us killed Father…”
“Please calm down, Norn-sama. If the head of house hears about this…”
“It’s fine. I’ve been telling Father for a long time that I’ll kill him someday.”
“…I see.”
No good. Even though she had been with her for many years, she couldn’t understand her heart at all.
The maid gave up thinking. Even familicide was condoned—that was the Salvatore ducal family. The strong oppressed others as befitted the strong. The weak were exploited by the Salvatores as befitted the weak. There was a kind of rule like that.
“More importantly, let’s think about a present for Luka-sama.”
“You’re right. I forgot.”
She succeeded in diverting the conversation, but watching Norn nod and rack her brains only filled her with anxiety.
After that, Norn came up with many Norn-like presents, but the maid woman rejected them all.
“I don’t think Luka would be happy.”
When told such things, the brother-complex Norn had no choice but to accept with “I see.” She probably vaguely understood it was questionable herself.
At the end of it all, she came up with the most terrifying answer.
“—Ah! That’s right! I’ve got it! A present that Luka absolutely needs now—no! That future Luka will definitely need too!”
“A present he’ll need in the future? What kind of thing?”
“Hehe. Don’t be surprised when you hear it, okay?”
She whispered in the maid’s ear with a smug face, adding that she must never tell anyone else.
However, the maid who heard it turned pale. She was genuinely taken aback. As expected, she was taken aback.
☆
On Luka’s birthday.
The person who should have been celebrating his birthday was calmly reading a book in his room.
The Salvatore ducal family basically didn’t celebrate birthdays. Because there was no meaning in it. Rather than celebrating the day you were born, celebrate the day you first killed something—that was the head of house’s teaching.
Following that, and having no particular desire to give presents to anyone, the siblings spent their usual day.
In the midst of this, there was a knock on Luka’s door. It was a modest sound.
“? Who is it?”
“I’m Arian, Norn-sama’s personal maid.”
“Ah, it’s you. What’s wrong? Isn’t Nee-san here?”
Usually Norn would come along with the maid. Luka felt a strong sense of unease that Norn herself wasn’t here.
But in fact, no one else was there besides the maid. Moreover, the maid was carrying something even more concerning than Norn’s absence.
“Norn-sama has stepped out. She asked me to give this to Luka-sama.”
“That’s quite a big box. What is this?”
What the maid placed in the room was a box large enough for Luka to easily fit inside. It was even carefully wrapped.
He somehow understood what this was. The maid spoke the answer.
“It’s a present from Norn-sama to Luka-sama.”
“I thought so… Nee-san went to the trouble of preparing such a big present.”
Luka’s troubled voice leaked out, wondering where he was supposed to put it. But Luka’s expression softened slightly. Since it was his first present from family, he seemed a little happy.
He slowly reached out and checked the contents. He peeled off the wrapping and opened the box.
“Ta-da! I’m presenting—”
Snap.
He closed the box. Somehow Norn was inside.
“…What is this?”
Luka glanced at the maid. The maid averted her gaze while breaking out in profuse sweat.
Her silence strangely seemed to provide an answer. Luka understood that Norn had gone on another rampage.
“Haah. You’ll get short of breath staying in a place like that, Norn-nee-san.”
He opened the box again and let her out. Norn hugged Luka and said:
“I’ll grant any wish for you. While we’re at it, shall I go take Kamren’s head?”
She said something ominous.
He sat Norn on the bed and held her down while patting her head. In a way, it became an unforgettable birthday for Luka (he politely declined the Kamren matter).