Ch.321321. This is why life is truly unpredictable.

“Hey! It feels so great to go monster hunting with my eldest brother after such a long time, doesn’t it?”

Leonard Alphonse had been at Lake Territory for a week now.

He took a sip of tea from his cup before speaking.

“Where did Brother Evander go?”

“He said that after exploring the Miracle Forest all this time, he’s going to visit the Academy starting today.”

“Ah, is that so?”

“I was planning to visit the Academy with him, but I’m a bit tired from hunting today, so I’m thinking of going tomorrow.”

“If I had known Brother Evander was going today, I would have given Headmaster Rupert advance notice…”

Leonard snickered at my words.

“Come on, you know our eldest brother doesn’t like getting attention. He prefers wandering around alone.”

Well, I wouldn’t know.

I haven’t known Evander Alphonse for very long.

I scratched my head awkwardly.

“I see. Then will you also be wandering around alo—”

“No, make sure to tell Headmaster Rupert about me. I’m planning to have a meal there while I’m at it.”

“A-a meal?”

“A few days ago, when I went to the Miracle Forest with our eldest brother, we happened to chat with some Academy students, and they mentioned the food was incredibly delicious.”

“…Understood. I’ll let Headmaster Rupert know in advance that you’ll be having a meal there as well.”

Leonard seemed to remember something and glanced around cautiously, even though no one was watching, then continued in a whisper.

“Oh, right! And I understand now why the Miracle Forest became so famous.”

“…Pardon?”

“The beauty of the people working there is no joke. Before I knew it, I was buying things I didn’t even need!”

“Haha… Looks like you overspent?”

“Were all the residents of Lake Territory always this beautiful?”

Indeed, Levarin and the other succubi played a significant role in the Miracle Forest’s continuously growing number of tourists.

I should gather them all later and praise them for doing a good job.

I savored my tea once more and then raised my head.

“But, brother, you’re already married. Shouldn’t you avoid looking at other women?”

Leonard straightened his back with a flustered expression.

“W-well, that’s true… By the way, I wonder where our Seri is. Why haven’t we seen her at all?”

“Ah, your wife? She must be busy handling an important matter I requested of her.”

“What kind of matter?”

“It’s for the family’s sake. I’ll explain everything in detail once it’s settled.”

“I see…?”

Seri Familia.

Currently married to Leonard and my sister-in-law.

However, in the original story, she was one of the most notorious villains who died miserably at the hands of Serion Lycus.

Simply put, she was insane.

Not satisfied with monsters, she procured corpses from the black market for her research, and later even captured people, torturing and killing them.

But.

Even though she’s married to Leonard, would Seri Familia have changed?

The saying “old habits die hard” exists for a reason.

That’s why I made a proposal to her.

To be precise, it was a threat.

When I told her I knew all about her wrongdoings, she naturally denied everything at first.

I could have found evidence if I looked, but as you know, time was of the essence.

So I played my card first.

I said I would overlook everything she had done so far. In return, I asked if she would stop meaningless killing and use her abilities for good.

At that, Seri Familia’s eyes wavered.

I didn’t miss the opportunity and drove the point home.

“If you refuse, I will monitor you for the rest of your life to find evidence.”

After saying this firmly, I calmly explained about the intruders and brought up the topic of torture.

Sure enough, Seri Familia’s eyes lit up.

She looked like a fish that had found water.

Heh!

I wonder if by now she’s revealed that Prince Leonis was behind it?

Well, even if she did, Seri Familia isn’t the type to back down easily.

She’d probably pretend she didn’t hear and continue the torture.

But she wouldn’t kill them.

She has this perverted tendency to derive pleasure from slowly, very slowly, wickedly eating away at someone’s life force.

Anyway.

They say even dog poop has its uses, and here I am, receiving help from Seri Familia.

Life is truly unpredictable.

I cleared my throat and put on a somewhat serious expression.

“Brother.”

“Huh?”

“When Brother Evander returns to the family, will your feelings remain the same as before?”

“What do you mean?”

“Your determination to support Brother Evander even if you become the head of the family.”

Leonard stroked his chin, pondering carefully before speaking.

“Honestly, my feelings are changing.”

“…What?”

“When our eldest brother suddenly left Alphonse territory, I had to shoulder too many responsibilities.”

“…What?!”

“And then I suddenly thought, do I really need to become the head of the family?”

“…WHAT?!”

“But I couldn’t pass it to our sister, and if I mentioned it to you, I was afraid you’d turn me into a roast with your magic, so I’ve just been suffering in silence.”

This bastard…

After all the hard work I put into getting him closest to the family head position, why is he suddenly talking nonsense?

Of course, I wouldn’t mind if Evander became the head instead of Leonard now, but his sudden change in attitude was certainly surprising.

I twitched my eyebrows at Leonard.

“…So what exactly are you trying to say?”

“If you’re okay with it, I’d like to yield the position of family head to our eldest brother.”

“Wasn’t becoming the head of the family your dream?”

“I just vaguely wanted to be the head. Now I’ve finally realized my limitations.”

“Hah…”

“I also wonder how our eldest brother managed to carry such a heavy burden from such a young age.”

I sighed deeply and continued.

“Didn’t you say you’d take responsibility for my future if you became the head of the family?”

“That’s why I’m asking you.”

“What if I tell you to become the head of the family?”

“Then I’ll have to do it, what choice do I have?”

“Sigh…”

Leonard acknowledging his inadequacy…

Has he finally matured?

The childish boy seemed to have grown up a bit.

But.

That aside, I need to settle this.

After all the trouble I’ve gone through.

I put my teacup down on the table, stood up, and lightly dusted my hands.

Leonard flinched and trembled.

“W-why are you acting like that? I said I’ll be the head if you want me to!”

With firm steps, I stood in front of the reception room door.

Then, slightly tilting my chin, I bit my lip firmly.

“Let’s have a sparring match first and then talk again. A very long talk.”

*

“…Young master.”

“Yes?”

“If it’s not too presumptuous, may I ask you one thing?”

I smiled brightly at Pedericks who had come to the study.

“Feel free to ask.”

“…Have I done something wrong?”

“No, why?”

“Then why are you suddenly being so nice to me?”

Still maintaining my smile, I replied.

“Haven’t I always been nice?”

“Y-young master, you’ve been really strange since a week ago.”

“Why do you keep saying I’ve become strange?”

“You always smile at me, and yesterday you even asked if I had eaten??”

“Is it wrong to care for my butler?”

Pedericks sighed deeply at my words.

“…I’d rather you be honest with me. I’ll gladly accept any punishment. This is more painful.”

The scene of Pedericks taking his last breath on my lap is still vivid in my mind.

Even his concerned gaze in his final moments, wishing for me to live the life I wanted.

“There’s nothing like that.”

“Then I’m truly relieved.”

I felt guilty too.

Even when problems arose with the Western Continent, I had dismissed the anxious Pedericks, telling him everything was fine.

That’s why I can’t help but treat him well now.

I cleared my throat briefly and continued.

“Are you making sure the underground training arena is secure?”

“Yes, but how long are you planning to keep the intruders in Lake Territory? I think it would be better to explain the situation to the Eastern Continent Imperial Palace and hand them over.”

“Imperial Palace?”

“After all, wouldn’t the Imperial investigation team be more effective in revealing who’s behind this?”

“It’s fine. We have a more powerful ‘torturer’ here than the Eastern Continent Imperial Palace.”

“…Pardon?”

I smiled brightly at Pedericks.

“I’ll take care of finding out who’s behind this, so don’t worry. And the kids?”

“…They’re already at the training ground.”

“Really?”

“But aren’t you being too harsh on them lately? Especially Jawill Wilson’s face is in terrible condition…”

I acknowledge that the intruders have excellent ki sense.

However, that doesn’t excuse the fact that they breached our strict security.

If it were any other family, they would have been expelled immediately.

I’m being lenient by just training them hard.

I rose from my chair.

Then, holding the heavier and sturdier wooden sword newly crafted by blacksmith Lumina, I raised my voice.

“Shall we go crush them again?”