Vol 1 Chapter 11 – Mealtime

“Yeah. Delicious… the chef here really is amazing. They’re so skilled. I’d like to learn how to cook from them.”

After arriving at the Reesroy estate for the first time in a while, I’m now savoring dinner.

The meal served is well-balanced and properly nutritious. I want to live as long as possible. It’s good that I can end today having eaten a healthy meal.

I often eat weird things, after all. I need to supplement wherever I can. If I want to live long, I can’t die young.

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Seeing me eat with satisfaction, Mother nods with satisfaction as well.

“So…? How is your shop doing these days?”

And just like that, Mother brings up my shop as a topic.

“Is this really appropriate dinner conversation?”

“Whose fault is it that it’s no longer appropriate dinner conversation?”

“Oops.”

Easily losing that exchange, I shrug and smile wryly.

“That’s right! Why are you running a shop you can’t even talk about at the dinner table?!”

“Absolutely!”

“Big brother! I don’t remember raising you to be like this!”

Not just Mother, but Ryshia—who’s sitting at the table with us—and even my twin older sisters start laying into me.

“I don’t remember you raising me though?”

My twin older sisters, five years older than me. I tilt my head as I answer them.

“Wh-what?! I took care of you and doted on you so much!”

“I never wanted you to grow up into a pervert… I didn’t think that, and I didn’t raise you that way either!”

Though you took care of me with a pretty criminal level of excitement, didn’t you?

“…They’re right. I didn’t want you to turn out this way.”

“Isn’t it fine as long as I’m living happily and freely? I’m definitely the male living life to the fullest in this world, don’t you think?”

“We can provide money if that’s what you need. There’s no reason to run that kind of shop…”

“That’s fun too.”

“…I don’t understand.”

At my words, Mother shakes her head as if exasperated.

It certainly is impossible by this world’s common sense. But this is just how I am. I have my past life, after all. I’d like them to accept that.

“I-if you like sex that much, then we could…”

“Why won’t you lay a hand on us at all?!”

“N-no… doing it with family is…”

“Why not?!”

“…Hmm.”

Laying hands on family members? That’s just way too wrong, yeah.

Vol 1 Chapter 12 – Request

“So? What’s the real reason you called me here?”

After savoring dinner and finishing the meal, I speak up.

“Ah, right… do you know about the major disturbance happening in the north right now?”

“Hm? Of course I know. Right now, monsters are spawning en masse in the northern wastelands for some reason, and those hordes are flooding into our country, right? I heard it’s terrible.”

When Tail came to see me on leave after achieving great military feats as a hero on the front lines, I heard about it.

“Yes, that disturbance. Many of our forces are currently deployed to the northern lands to resolve it, and our nation is suffering from a serious manpower shortage.”

“Oh? Does this mean I’m being made to fill that manpower gap?”

“That would be correct.”

Mother nods at my words.

“The fact that you’ve devoted yourself to magical research is already widely known throughout the country. However, no one has ever seen you fight. With that in mind, let me ask again. Are you strong?”

“I’m confident.”

I answer Mother’s question clearly, saying I’m confident.

But the moment I give that answer, everyone present—including Mother—begins to give off a disappointed atmosphere.

“I don’t know what you want to ask of me, but I’m confident I can carry it out without any problems. So feel free to leave it to me.”

Mother and the others probably wanted me to say I wasn’t confident here. They probably didn’t want to send me to the front lines.

But I was actually pretty eager to go.

My current life is nice, but lately there’s been too little stimulation and it’s getting monotonous. I want to take a little trip.

“…As a parent, let me say this. I don’t want to entrust this to you. I want you to stay somewhere as safe as possible. That’s the kind of person you should be. More… refined…”

“No one can interfere with my freedom. Just coming here when called and showing my face should be enough.”

If I come here, they’ll definitely make snide comments about my shop.

I’m coming here knowing that. They should at least acknowledge that I’m a bit too free.

“So? What do you want me to do?”

“…The southern great forest. Extermination of High Poison Snakes that have been confirmed to be spawning en masse in the Oroy Great Forest.”

“Sounds like the perfect mission, doesn’t it? Please, leave it to me. I’ll handle it properly.”

High Poison Snakes.

That’s perfect. I was actually just thinking I wanted to use their materials for magical research. This really is ideal timing.

“Well then, tomorrow. Should I head out right away? I’ll sleep here tonight, so… Maids, please prepare my room and bath. Well then, thank you for the meal.”

“Ah, wait!”

The conversation is over.

Making that judgment, I quickly stand up and casually walk toward the bath.