Ch.104104. Didn’t I Just Show My Dislike Too?

“Isn’t it nice to bathe with your mother and sister after so long, my son?”

I let out a short sigh as I sat in the steaming hot bath with vapor rising all around.

“I recently bathed with Sister at Lake Manor.”

“I already heard about that from Miria. Bathing together without your mother… I was so upset when I heard.”

Is a mother really only upset about a grown man and woman bathing naked together just because they’re siblings?

There’s no answer to this, absolutely none.

I thought I could avoid bathing at the mansion because Elaria was there, but what’s this?

It’s like I’ve grown another tumor.

“Mother, don’t you bathe with my other brothers like you do with Sister?”

“I used to bathe with all my children, but now they say they’re too old and make it very clear they don’t want to.”

“…What?”

“So now you and Miria are the only children who still bathe with your mother.”

Didn’t I just show that I didn’t want to as well?

How exactly am I supposed to act to refuse this?

When bathing with Miria Alphonse, the saying “humans are creatures of adaptation” seemed somewhat true.

After bathing together a few times, it wasn’t terribly uncomfortable anymore.

However, now that Mother Elaria has joined in, I’m feeling confused all over again.

When was the last time I bathed with my mother?

I think it was in the early years of elementary school, before I possessed “Selden Alphonse.”

And besides.

Like Miria Alphonse, Elaria is family only on the surface; to me, she’s practically a stranger.

Fortunately, perhaps because some of “Selden Alphonse’s” soul remains, there’s no reaction from “that guy,” but this situation was still utterly absurd.

I gave Elaria Alphonse an awkward smile.

“Haha… it would be nice if my brothers joined us too.”

“Indeed. By the way, what were you talking about with your father? I heard the sound of someone hitting a table outside…”

“Oh, it was nothing. I was trying to sit on the sofa, but my leg gave way and I fell slightly onto the table.”

“A-are you alright!? You don’t have any bruises, do you?”

“Yes, I’m fine. I think my body has gotten stronger from all the training lately, so I wasn’t hurt at all.”

When I waved my hand to indicate I was fine, Miria Alphonse moved closer and examined my body.

“Let me take a closer look.”

“…I’m fine.”

“Oh? Are you talking back to your sister? Stand up now!”

Elaria, whom I thought would stop her, was just watching with a pleased smile, covering her mouth.

In the bath where even the smallest sound echoed loudly, only my pitiful screams could be heard.

*

“It’s been a while. I heard you’ve changed a lot.”

“Have you been well, Brother?”

After finishing the monster hunt, I waited for Jason Alphonse, the second son of the Alphonse family, right at the mansion entrance.

I appeared suddenly to see what expression he would make upon seeing me alive, but his pupils didn’t waver at all.

And so.

Without gaining anything, I entered Jason Alphonse’s study.

Shortly after, Butler Blackwell placed fragrant tea on the table.

Just as I had seen in the documents, he gave off the impression of a middle-aged man who was quite timid.

“I’ll enjoy this.”

“…Yes, young master.”

After Butler Blackwell left the study, I was alone with Jason Alphonse.

My original plan was to avoid the first and second sons until the wedding if possible, but I made the first move to catch the culprit.

Jason Alphonse pressed his fingertips gently on the teacup and spoke.

“I didn’t expect you to come looking for me first.”

“It’s only proper for a younger brother to visit his older brother first.”

“Haha, is that so? I’m surprised because you’ve never done this before.”

Despite saying he was surprised, Jason Alphonse’s expression didn’t change at all.

He was a person specialized in hiding his emotions.

Although I hadn’t met the eldest yet, I could understand why Padericks judged the second son to be more dangerous.

I adjusted my posture comfortably while seated in the chair.

“I’m trying to change from now on. I can’t live as a ruffian at the edge of the Eastern Continent forever, can I?”

“Hmm, I actually liked seeing you that way. I’ve never properly enjoyed leisure because I’ve been struggling against my eldest brother to inherit the family.”

“Then shall I recommend some good places now?”

When I smiled brightly and joked, Jason Alphonse’s brow furrowed slightly.

“You used to not be able to say a word in front of me… was that all an act?”

“Rather than an act, I’d say I gradually changed as I got older. After being exiled, I don’t have much to fear anymore.”

“So at least you’ve become a wolf cub, is that it?”

“You speak as if you’re a tiger cub, Brother.”

When I provoked him slightly, Jason Alphonse clapped his hands in surprise.

“Hahaha!! Selden!! How have you been holding back all this time? I thought you were just a cowardly ruffian since you never moved an inch in front of Leonard.”

“Well, as I just said, it’s not so much that I was holding back, but that I now feel I should speak my mind.”

Jason Alphonse’s smile faded as he looked at the teacup in front of me.

“But why aren’t you drinking your tea? Afraid it might be poisoned?”

Snickering, I downed the already cold tea in one gulp and placed it back on the table.

“I’m not fond of hot drinks, so there seems to have been a misunderstanding.”

“…Shall I give you a piece of advice?”

“Please do.”

“Don’t drink tea freely in front of someone who might be hostile to you. It could be poisoned, after all.”

As if I would trust you enough to drink it?

I drank it because I have immunity to all poisons.

Barely suppressing the laughter that threatened to escape, I spoke.

“Let me give you some advice as well.”

“You’re giving me advice?”

“If you don’t want to hear it, well, forget it.”

“…Fine, tell me. It’s a virtue for those in higher positions to listen to their subordinates.”

I picked up the empty teacup noisily and grinned at Jason Alphonse.

“If you ever find yourself in a situation where you need to poison someone, you should maintain your expression even after they’ve drunk it.”

“Why?”

“Because if you’re weaker than your opponent, your head might fly off before the poison spreads and kills them.”

Jason Alphonse’s cheekbones twitched slightly.

That’s more like it. How good did you think your poker face was?

What a joke.

Born a noble, have you ever had a proper verbal sparring match?

You seem to be striving for perfection, but I’m quite looking forward to seeing what expression you’d make if you had to crawl through the gutters.

By the way.

I haven’t seen the eldest yet, but if he’s similar to the second son, it’s going to be really tiresome…

I hate myself for thinking that Miria Alphonse, who tried to touch “that part” of me in the bathroom, seems the most normal of them all.

Jason Alphonse’s eyes remained still while he forced his lips to curl upward.

“By the way, wasn’t Rio Sergang supposed to come with you?”

“How do you know that, Brother?”

“Do you think there’s anything about the Alphonse family that I don’t know?”

“Is that so? I sent Rio Sergang on a sudden errand.”

“An errand?? Where??”

The words “Do I have an obligation to tell you?” tickled my throat, but I barely held back and continued.

For now, finding the culprit who threatened my life takes priority.

“I sent him to Silverwood territory.”

“Silverwood…”

“Don’t you know it? It’s a famous territory even in the Eastern Continent.”

“No, I know it well. But what sudden situation arose that made you send away the knight who was accompanying you to the family home?”

“When I was frequenting pleasure quarters, there was a woman I liked there, and I sent him to see if she’s still working there.”

I expected Jason Alphonse to sneer, but his expression gradually stiffened.

“Such an errand could have been handled by a servant after returning to the family.”

“The world is quite dangerous these days, isn’t it? It would be troublesome if I encountered bandits or assassins while walking.”

“…Hmm, I see.”

You must be curious.

If you’re the mastermind who recruited Baron Byron’s subordinates and employed assassins.

But what can you do?

I have no intention of telling you anything.

Knock-knock-!

Just then, a knocking sound was heard.

Jason Alphonse tilted his head and spoke.

“Come in.”

The door to the study opened, and Lightner entered, bowing his head to Jason Alphonse.

“Master Jason Alphonse, excuse the interruption.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“I have an urgent matter to discuss with Master Selden Alphonse.”

“…Ah? I understand.”

He then approached me and whispered in my ear.

Jason Alphonse leaned toward me, curious about what was being said.

“W-what!? Is that true?”

“Yes, it’s true.”

“I understand. I’ll leave right away.”

As I rose from my chair, Jason Alphonse predictably reached out his hand and spoke urgently.

“W-what’s happening that you need to leave so suddenly?”

“There’s something I haven’t told you because I didn’t want to worry you, but it seems we’ve found a clue about the incident.”

“A clue…?”

I answered Jason Alphonse with an artificial smile.

“When it’s confirmed, I’ll tell you then.”

I’ll be continuing with my third consecutive update!!

Chapter 105 expected upload time is 16:33!